DX LISTENING DIGEST 2002 ARCHIVE

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DX LISTENING DIGEST 2002 ARCHIVE, PART 2

NOTE: Since the first three months of 2002 file got so huge, >4 MB we have closed it, and renamed it dxldta02.html where it may still be consulted and searched. Likewise, this file containing the second quarter of 2002 is so huge that it is now closed, renamed dxldtb02.html and 2-106 from July starts a new html file taking over the name dxldtd02.html. ALSO NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DXLDS, JANUARY-JUNE 2002: On our own website we no longer have individual issues before July 1, 2002, just these massive quarterly archives. Individual issues are, however, still available at DXing.com, indexed here: http://www.dxing.com/dxrold.htm -- and 2001 archive is also there However, post-publication correxions and clarifications are normally only entered into these quarterly archives. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-105, June 30, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1137: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1137.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Mon 0000, Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230; Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB NETS TO YOU: New July edition by John Norfolk available shortly: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html ** AUSTRALIA. HF radio weather services There are adverts in the weekend press advising of changes to HF radio weather services, "providing improved services for the high seas and Australian coastal areas through new transmitters". From 1 July, frequencies and voice schedules will change. Service users are urged to test their equipment and tune to the best frequency. More info at: http://www.bom.gov.au/marine Advert also says that VHF broadcasts are being introduced for some areas by state maritime agencies and volunteer coastguard groups (Matt Francis, Australia, June 28, ARDXC via DXLD) Namely, change to only two HF stations: VMC Australia Weather East/VMW Australia Weather West http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/marine_weather_radio.shtml (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BELARUS. Radio Stalitsa, 24 June, 0337, 11960, morning exercises in Russian. Info broadcast in Belarussian followed then. SINPO 35443. (Dmitry Puzanov, Kustanay, Kazakhstan) Radio Station Belarus`, in Russian, 17 June, starting at 2000. Fair but a bit hummy on 7210 kHz, 44333. Very bad on 7105 kHz (31331), subject to severe QRM by Radio Sawa in Arabic (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal June 29 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. O biólogo e radioescuta Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé(AM), relata que a Rádio Educação Rural, da cidade de Coari(AM), emite na freqüência de 5035 kHz, entre 1000 e 1300. A emissora retransmite noticiários da Rede Católica de Rádio. Pertence à Fundação Santíssimo Redentor, de Manaus(AM), e seu lema é "uma rádio a serviço da evangelização". A programação local da Rádio Educação Rural é voltada para os ouvintes da cidade e zona rural vizinha de Coari, com música, informação e prestação de serviço (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 29 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [non]. By the way, I found ballgame coverage on ERT Thessaloniki (11595), Polskie Radio (225), Radio Rossii (17660), REE (15585), YLE (11755). The match was not covered by the BBC- Worldservice, Hrvatska Radio (9830) as well as Cesky Rozhlas (FM or 639/270). Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. New station on 1610: Looks like Canada's first full-time x-bander has hit the airwaves tonight. They're playing continuous Caribbean-style French music... no IDs heard yet, but judging from the strength here, this has to be the Montreal station that was approved last year by the CRTC. I haven't heard what the callsign is supposed to be, but they are 1 kW, so they should be widely heard. This pretty much puts the lid on TIS DXing for me... :-( [Later:] For the past half hour or so, they've just been running an open carrier. Power level appears to be fluctuating too. You may have to wait for another night to snag them (Barry McLarnon, somewhere in Canada, June 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) [non]. I'm really surprised that many people haven`t jumped at putting a station on 1610. This freq has the ability to be received by most of the older analog AM radios, thus making it receivable by almost all radios. I wouldn`t be concerned about any secondary users. Once I went on, they would have to move, and I wouldn`t have to pay for them to move. Maybe I'll apply for that position here in Florida. Then someone can buy me out for 50 grand or so... (Paul Smith W4KNX Sarasota, FL, ibid.) Why would Canada do that? With all their abandoning of AM frequencies, why interfere with hundreds of TIS stations? CIAO in Brampton is a fun DX catch, but why [not?] 530? 73 (-Kyle, ibid.) Good question, especially considering that there are abandoned allotments for the Montreal area (e.g., 1410) that could have been used. Perhaps the x-band frequency was preferred by the applicant to avoid the expense of putting up a directional array, which would no doubt be required for frequencies such as 1410. Why 1610 in particular was approved is not clear. I suspect that they did not have to do the sort of interference studies regarding their impact on TIS stations that would apply to regular broadcast stations. Given a choice of ex- band frequencies, it is pretty obvious why they would opt for 1610. > CIAO in Brampton is a fun DX catch, but why 530? No clue. Anybody? The 1610 station is again playing franco-caribbean type music tonight. (Barry McLarnon, QC, June 29, NRC-AM via DXLD) I received a phone call from a local broadcast engineer in Montreal who had worked with the owners of this station several months back. He helped them out with the preparation of their application to the CRTC and with their initial engineering specs. He is no longer working with the operation, and was quite surprised to hear that they were on the air. It appears that the station may actually be illegally transmitting. Although this station, owned by a prominent member of the Haitian community in Montreal, has received an approval from the CRTC, it is believed that they did not file an official request to begin testing. Also, they are not identifying themselves. According to CRTC regulations, they should be IDing regularly and making an announcement to the effect, plus asking people hearing them to report the quality of reception and to ask if there are any interference problems. I have been told that a complaint has already been filed with the CRTC and Industry Canada about the operation, but chances are nothing will happen to them until Tuesday, as government offices are closed until then for the weekend and the Canada Day holiday on July 1. I have also been told that the location of the antenna for the station is on the roof of a two-story building on Jarry Street East, just a few blocks west of Pie IX Blvd., directly across the street from a well-known electronics retailer, Addison Electronics, in the north- east sector of the island of Montreal. They are apparently using a one-tower vertical, presumably omni- directional; a new style of antenna tower apparently made of a material similar to fiberglass. I am trying to track down the information on the official application and approval from the CRTC which, if I remember correctly, included a name, address and phone number of the owners of the operation. I will post that information as soon as I have tracked it down. Until then, I would say log this one while you can. Things might get nasty on Tuesday! There are also a number of rival groups within the Haitian community in Montreal. There have already been some battles between the factions over programming currently being aired on various campus and community radio stations in the Montreal region. We could really see some things heating up on this one. I do remember in the application to the CRTC that this station was looking to serve various French speaking ethnic communities in Montreal, not only the Haitians, but some of the African and other French-speaking Caribbean communities in the city. The signal here in Montreal today has been good, but far from full- scale, at least in my location, off the island of Montreal to the south-east. More on this one as soon as it is available. [Later:] Here is the official text from the CRTC decision about the station which was approved for operation on 1610 kHz for Montreal. (Sheldon Harvey, QC, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Decision CRTC 2001-678 Ottawa, 7 November 2001 CPAM Radio Union.com inc. Montréal, Quebec 2000-2071-9 Public hearing of 19 June 2001 National Capital Region New ethnic AM radio station 1. The Commission approves the operation of a new French-language ethnic AM radio station in Montréal. The new station will provide programming to serve the Francophone ethnocultural communities of Haitian, Latin-American and African descent in the greater Montréal area. The terms and conditions of the licence as well as the commitments made by the licensee are set out in the appendix to this decision. 2. CPAM Radio Union.com inc. is a private commercial company owned exclusively by Mr. Jean Ernest Pierre. The proposed service 3. The applicant proposed to operate a French-language ethnic radio station with programming targeting three cultural groups in the following proportions: Haitians (50%), Latin-Americans (15%), and Africans whose first language or whose second language is French (35%). The Ethnic Broadcasting Policy (the Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1999-117) provides for programs in any language, including English and French, so long as they serve culturally or racially distinct groups other than ones that are Aboriginal Canadian or from France or the British Isles. While the Policy states that ethnic stations must generally devote at least half of their schedules to programming in third languages, it makes provision for service in English and French, where appropriate. In this case, the station proposes to broadcast 100% of its spoken word programming in the French language in order to serve the Haitian, Latin-American and African groups. The applicant therefore requested an exemption from the requirement of section 7(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 to devote 50% of its programming to third-language programming. The Commission approves this request. A condition of licence to this effect is included in the appendix to this decision. 4. In support of its application, the applicant pointed out that a new French-language ethnic service would contribute to the harmonious integration of the targeted ethnocultural communities into the larger francophone society, which would be enriched as a result. The applicant also underlined that the proposed service would allow young people to become interested in their culture of origin by addressing "issues that directly affect them". Music programming Category 2 music 5. Since the proposed station will primarily broadcast music aimed at the Haitian, African and Latin-American communities that is not broadcast on other greater Montréal area radio stations, the Commission finds it appropriate to limit, as a condition of licence, the percentage of the broadcast week devoted to category 2 French- language and English-language music. At the hearing, the licensee stated that it would accept a condition of licence specifying that it could not devote more than 15% of a broadcast week to French-language category 2 music and 15% to English-language category 2 music. A condition of licence to that effect is set out in the appendix to this decision. Category 3 music 6. At the hearing, the applicant made a commitment to devote 70% of its music programming to world beat and international music (sub- category 33), aimed at the three above-mentioned ethnocultural groups. A condition of licence related to this commitment is set out in the appendix to this decision. In this regard, the applicant underlined the importance of broadcasting Creole, Spanish and African music to expose young people to their own traditional ancestral music and culture, and to bridge the generation gap. Canadian content 7. The licensee will ensure that a minimum of 35% of all music selections broadcast each week from category 2 are Canadian. Also, the applicant has committed to devote 20% of category 3 music selections that it broadcasts each broadcast week in the first year of its licence term to Canadian music selections, increasing to 35% effective the second year of operation. The Commission imposes this commitment as a condition of licence. The condition is set out in the appendix to this decision. Spoken word 8. The new radio service will be hosted by new Canadians and will present news from Montréal and around the world that would be of particular interest to the target ethnic groups. At the public hearing, the licensee committed to devote between 35 and 40% of the 126 hours of programming per week to spoken word. Spoken word programming will include newscasts, reports, editorials, and public affairs programs. Canadian talent development 9. In the first year of its licence term, the licensee will devote $3,000 to a direct contribution for Canadian talent development. Each subsequent year of its licence term, this amount will increase by $1,000 to reach $8,000 in the final year. These contributions will be given to third-party organizations involved in the production of music for the station's target audience, in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-196, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. A condition of licence to that effect is included in the appendix to this decision. The creation of an advisory board 10. To best respond to the needs of the communities targeted by the new service, the licensee has committed to set up a nine-member advisory board, made up of three members of each target cultural community in its service area. The Commission requires the licensee to submit a list of board members within 90 days of this decision. The Commission`s determination 11. The Commission approves the application since it shares the applicant's views regarding the need to bridge the gap between the Haitian, African and Latin-American communities, their descendants, and the larger francophone society. The Commission also considered that the proposed station will contribute to the diversity of musical formats available in the market and will provide a new voice for news and public affairs by broadcasting French-language programming aimed primarily at the above-mentioned ethnocultural groups. Finally, the Commission believes that, given the nature of the new station, it will have a negligible impact on existing stations in the greater Montréal area market. Interventions 12. The Commission would like to thank all parties that filed interventions with regard to this application. The Commission is satisfied with the licensee's response to the interventions. Related CRTC documents • Public Notice 1999-137 - New licence form for commercial radio stations • Public Notice 1999-117 – The Ethnic Broadcasting Policy Secretary General This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca Appendix to Decision CRTC 2001-678 Terms, conditions and commitments of the licence for the new ethnic AM radio station in Montréal Terms of licence The licence will only be issued and effective when the licensee confirms in writing that it is ready to begin operation. This must take place within 12 months of today's date. Any request for an extension to the deadline requires Commission approval and must be made in writing within that period. The licence, when issued, will expire on 31 August 2008. The station will broadcast on the AM band, on the frequency 1610 kHz, with an effective radiated power of 1,000 watts. The Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources (PN 1992-59). Conditions of licence The licence will be subject to the conditions set out in Public Notice CRTC 1999-137. The licence will also be subject to the following conditions: 1) The licensee is exempted from the requirement of section 7(2) of the Radio Regulations 1986 that it devote 50% of its programming to third-language programming. 2) The licensee must devote all of its programming to French- language ethnic programming, targeting the Haitian community, the Latin-American community and the African community with French as its first or second language. 3) In place of subsections 2.2(3) to 2.2(10) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, in each broadcast week a) the licensee may devote a maximum of 30% of the musical selections that it broadcasts to selections from category 2; i) the licensee must devote at least 35% of all category 2 selections that it broadcasts to Canadian musical selections; ii) the licensee may devote a maximum of 15% of all category 2 musical selections that it broadcasts to French-language vocal music selections, and a maximum of 15% to English-language vocal musical selections. b) the licensee must devote at least 70% of the musical selections that it broadcasts to musical selections from subcategory 33: World beat and international; i) during the first year of the licence term, the licensee must devote at least 20% of all musical selections from subcategory 33 that it broadcasts to Canadian selections, and increase its percentage to 35% beginning at the second year of the licence term. 4) In the first year of its licence term, the licensee must devote $3,000 to a direct contribution for Canadian talent development. Each subsequent year of its licence term, the amount must increase by $1,000 to reach $8,000 in the final year. These contributions will be given to third-party organizations involved in the production of music for the station's target audience, in accordance with the guidelines of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-196, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. Commitments The licensee has committed to devote 35 to 40% of programming per broadcast week to spoken word that is of particular interest to the ethnocultural groups targeted. The licensee has committed to set up a nine-member advisory board composed of three members from each target group in its service area. The Commission requires the licensee to submit a list of board members within 90 days of this decision. Date Modified: 2001-11-07 ===== (via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) This is the listing of the company which applied and received approval from the CRTC for the station on 1610 kHz: CPAM Radio Union.com inc. 10 St- Jacques Street Suite 807 Montréal QC H2Y 1L3 TELEPHONE: 514- 287-1288 also (presumed to be a fax number) 514-287-3299 I just called the telephone number listed and got an answering service at the office of Maitre Jean Ernest Pierre. It appears that he is a lawyer here in the city of Montreal. The number on the file seems to be his business office. I left a message just now (7 PM Eastern Saturday evening) (Sheldon Harvey, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CANADIAN DTV POLICY Doug Smith W9WI - 16 June 2002 The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced its regulatory framework for transition to over-the-air DTV. Some main points: _ There are no fixed deadlines. No station will be required to start DTV operation at any given date, nor will they be required to shut down their analog transmissions any sooner than they voluntarily choose to do so. _ Stations are encouraged (but not required) to build DTV facilities that match their analog coverage. Stations are required to maintain their analog coverage throughout the transition period. _ Existing stations will have first opportunity to apply for DTV licenses. However, if they fail to do so in a ``reasonable`` amount of time, the CRTC will consider other applicants for their assigned DTV channels. _ DTV stations will be allowed to offer as much as 14 hours a week of programming not carried on the associated analog stations, provided that programming is high-definition, and at least half of it is of Canadian origin. _ Where a high-definition version of a program aired between 6pm and midnight exists, it must be aired. Stations ``...should also ensure that, by the end of December 2007, 2/3 of their schedules are available in the high definition format.`` _ It appears that the CBC will not be attempting to duplicate its analog coverage. They indicated they plan to operate digital transmitters only in the ten largest Canadian cities, covering 70% of the nation`s population. The remainder would receive CBC DTV signals via satellite. (It causes one to wonder whether private broadcasters will follow suit, whether there will ever be over-the-air DTV in smaller cities?) Canada has already adopted the U.S. ATSC format and 8VSB modulation scheme, and Industry Canada has already created a table of DTV allocations. To my knowledge the only DTV stations currently authorized in Canada are experimental demonstration stations on channel 66 in Ottawa and Toronto. One might now expect to see some applications for DTV operation in Canada. I do not expect them to appear rapidly. (July WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) See also USA ** CANADA. My suspicions expressed in my weekend schedule message for CBC were confirmed. CBC North Quebec carried the CBC Radio 1 broadcast of the Gold [sic] Cup final match. The audio was obtained from BBC- 5 Live. I was watching the match on ABC-TV (USA) and noted the narration on CBC was about 15 seconds ahead of what was happening on the screen. I found that amount of lead time to be annoying so I switched the TV over to the Spanish language Univision network. Univision was only a few seconds behind the radio play by play. That was interesting because now I could look away from the screen without fear of missing anything important. I presume the reason CBC did not have legal rights issues carrying this match on shortwave is because CBC North Quebec is a domestic service with a target area in the northern latitudes. Apparently the sidelobes reached the USA without the approval or knowledge of the legal folks. Did anyone else note any domestic shortwave services carrying the match? NOTE: MONDAY IS CANADA DAY. IN THE PAST CBC NORTH QUEBEC HAS CARRIED THE ENTIRE CBC NORTH QUEBEC SCHEDULE ON HOLIDAYS. CHECK 9625 (Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) You mean, the entire CBC Radio One schedule? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. An inside look at DXing and Broadcasting in China. In Danny Wu's article you can read about how the Internet has united Chinese DXers, and what the economic realities for DXers and radio stations are in today's China. Check it out at http://www.dxing.info/articles/chinese_dxing.dx 73 (Mika Mäkeläinen Visit http://www.dxing.info/ Join http://www.dxing.info/community/ June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. There is a picture of Varela on the Meridiano 70 website, but the legend does not carry any explanation. http://www.meridiano70.com ``LA FAMILIA MERIDIANO Y EL PERIODISMO DE ARAUCA ESTA DE LUTO, HOY SE FUE UN COMPAÑERO Y AMIGO...`` Same picture here; Varela founded Radio Capibaribe, 1240, was the co- founder of La Voz del Cinaruco 1050, ex-4865, and presently manager of Meridiano 70, 1170, ex-4865. This story will make big headlines on sites such as the one run by CPJ, RSF and similar sites. http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/coar/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-69983.html (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Junio 28 de 2002 EL TIEMPO ASESINAN EN ARAUCA AL PERIODISTA EFRAÍN ALBERTO VARELA NORIEGA A un frente de las Autodefensas fue atribuido el crimen del abogado y comunicador, de 52 años, director de la emisora Meridiano 70. Su cuerpo abaleado fue abandonado en el kilómetro cinco de la vía que de Arauca conduce a Caño Limón. A las cinco de la tarde, cuando regresaba de una ceremonia de grado en la Universidad de Arauca, a donde había sido invitado en calidad de reportero, Varela Noriega habría sido interceptado por un grupo de al menos 10 paramilitares. El abogado viajaba con su cuñado Nicolás Valbuena, fiscal de la Cámara de Comercio de Arauca. Los 'paras' tras reconocer a Varela lo obligaron a bajar de la camioneta que conducía y, tras conducirlo a pie a un sitio ubicado a dos kilómetros, le dispararon en repetidas oportunidades. El periodista era reconocido en Arauca por el contenido polémico del programa que conducía en la emisora local, en donde fustigaba con sus comentarios a diferentes sectores de la vida política de la región, así como a los grupos armados. A lo largo de su carrera, enfrentó varias veces las amenazas de los armados. Varela Noriega había sido concejal de Arauca y consejero intendencial del Vichada. También se desempeñó como presidente del Consejo Departamental de Paz y catedrático de la Escuela Superior de Administración Pública y de la Universidad Cooperativa. El periodista acababa de regresar de España, en donde asistió a un posgrado en Derechos Humanos VIOLENTOS ASESINAN OTRO PERIODISTA EN COLOMBIA Arauca.---- El periodista y abogado Efraín Alberto Varela Noriega fue asesinado en Arauca por sicarios que previamente lo raptaron, informó la Policía. Varela Noriega, director y gerente de la emisora Meridiano 70 en Arauca, al parecer fue interceptado por supuestos paramilitares cuando regresaba a la capital departamental, tras participar en unos grados. Los asesinos lo bajaron de su auto en el sitio conocido como Mata Palito, a cinco kilómetros de Arauca, en la vía que comunica con los campos petroleros de Caño Limón y lo obligaron a abordar un vehículo todo terreno. Posteriormente apareció el cadáver en el kilómetro 8 de la misma carretera, frente al Colegio Municipal Agropecuario. Trascendió que el comunicador, oriundo de la costa atlántica y uno de los más veteranos en el periodismo araucano, figuraba en una lista de más de cien políticos, comerciantes y periodistas de Arauca, amenazados por los paramilitares. A esta hora las autoridades realizan el levantamiento del cadáver e inician las investigaciones, pero no se tienen datos concretos sobre el origen del asesinato. Varela Noriega hizo parte de un grupo de personalidades que fundaron la emisora La Voz del Sinaruco, filial de Caracol en Arauca y en el pasado ejerció la política en los departamentos de Arauca y Vichada Conéctese a la actualidad Colombiana en http://www.caracol.com.co Caracol ... Más Compañía. Station in last para is La Voz del Cinaruco, ex 4865 (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Embarrassing reports: Several years ago, when editing the South and Central American sections of the WRTH, I noticed that in some countries the L.P. (Leading Personalities) info had to be changed from one year to another. In countries with a reasonable amount of 'official' broadcasting, Argentina for instance, there was a new 'interventor' every now and then for the different local Radio Nacional outlets. In other Latin American countries, even in private enterprises, changes are rather frequent. Venezuela is one such case. Changes may also occur as the result of internal political strife. This is the case of Colombia, where I have recently read or heard of managers of at least three stations being assassinated. This is the case of Radio Sincelejo, Radio Galeón and Meridiano 70. I do not have any recent copy of the WRTH, but in the 1997 edition the Meridiano 70 manager was listed as the manager of La Voz del Cinaruco, which was probably true at the time. I would therefore ask reporters to update their info as best they can (DXLD is a recommended source), or else refrain from including non- related personal stuff to your reports unless you are perfectly sure that the report will reach the intended party. (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, June 30, DXing.info via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. COLOMBIAN ON 6064.5 SOON ON A NEW FREQUENCY AND IN ENGLISH. Here is the email letter I received from Russ Stendal rms05001@neutel.com.co Dear Henrik, We appreciate your interest and prayers. Our short wave transmissions will be shifting over to 6060 instead of 6065 to avoid conflict with Family Radio out of Oakland California (on the same frequency). The 5 kW transmitter (which used to belong to Colmundo) is now located at Lomalinda (where we have restored several houses). We are also planning English language broadcasts as soon as we finish our test phase and can establish what would be the best times for this. Our signal also goes out on 88.8 FM and on 1530 AM. A year ago Radio Nuevo Continente here in Bogotá gave us a 30 year old AM transmitter which we set up on 1530. Later we traded this for the short wave transmitter from Colmundo and have been on the air off and on over the past couple weeks in a test phase. We are planning to install the new 10 kW AM transmitter next week. My book is still available and may be ordered via internet (gstendal@aol.com). May the Lord continue to bless you richly, Russ Stendal (via Klemetz, dxing.info via DXLD) When saying that the 5 kW transmitter is now located at Lomalinda, Russ implies that this is a new location. The previous one was a ranch named Bonaire. More about these facilities can be read in the Stendal Newsletter Archives on the Colombia para Cristo web site at http://gloriastendal.tripod.com/colombiaparacristo/id3.html To the Farc guerillas, Christianity is seen as a dangerous enemy, and so many churches have been closed and many more people forced to leave their homes. More on the the dangers American missionaries are facing in Colombia can be found for instance at http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/compass-columbia-2.html (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden,June 25, dxing.info via DXLD) {columbia sic} ** COLOMBIA. 2399.85 harmonic, Radio Súper, Cali. June 2002 - 1010 UT. Harmonic from 1200 kHz (2x 1199.93). 3599.77, harmonic, Radio Súper, Cali. June 2002 - 1025 UT. Seems to be more common on its 4th harmonic 4799.70 kHz. Harmonic from 1200 kHz (3x 1199.92). (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 30, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. BM Bandscan SW 51. Björn Malm. From July 15 I and my wife "Susanita" will be on Swedish territory for a few months. It shall be nice to change temporarily from the messy Quito to well-organized Sweden. For me it is a dream to have a little ``cabin`` here in Ecuador to rest, for example on the peninsula Santa Elena not far from Guayaquil. My mother-in-law has some land there close to the holiday cottage of the president. [also, incidentally, near HCJB`s new transmitter site! --gh] Just imagine how nice it will be to leave this crazy capital for a DX- pedition to the Pacific Ocean for a week or so. There it is possible to erect a long beverage as it is an uninhabited area. After a night with tough DXing I will take a 15-minutes walk on the several mile long beach falling to sleep to the roaring waves ... You can`t understand how tough life is nowadays here in Quito --- when I was here for the first time 5-6 years ago it was a pure idyllic spot. Now it has dramatically changed for the worse due to poverty spreading down even to the middle class. Although I have lots of examples, I will not bore you with this sad facts. It is better to go for the positive instead. It is nice to walk around in central Quito with all the old houses and churches - one more beautiful than the other. Central Quito suffers from heavy traffic but is built like a small town with narrow streets and even more. Otherwise you get narrow pavements and I can`t figure out how people reach their work --- you have to have ice in your stomach and walk ultra rapid. Otherwise you get pushed away out below one of the big and quiet, electrically driven Trolley-busses coming like an express train. From the beginning I learned from different Quito-people "not to push anybody..." otherwise you usually can be beaten up. It is also quite depressing to walk around when poor people are sitting very quietly every 10 meters, begging for some coins to survive another day. I think of among others an old Indian woman sitting very still and quiet every day looking down and with her right hand stretched out as a cup. I have seen lots of tourists from Europe standing with big eyes and open mouth looking at this enormous crowd of people with Indians, Mestizos, beautiful "morenas" from the coast, the huge amount of salespeople on the streets walking around trying to sell everything you can think of, all those small boys cleaning shoes who never are satisfied with a "no, thank you" but continue and continue saying that "your shoes are dirty and need cleaning" --- once I gave without thinking some centavos to a shoe-cleaner without needing to clean my shoes --- I just wanted him to stop harassing me. I shouldn`t have done that! 5 minutes later all of the shoe-cleaners from Plaza Grande market standing in a ring around me --- a crazy "gringo" giving money without the need to do a thing. 4899.80, La Voz de Saquisilí y Libertador, Saquisilí. June 2002 - 1445 UT. I have had no contact with Saquisilí y Libertador diuring the last years. If that depends on the fact that the station has been off air or that I seldom listen after 1200, I don´t know. 5900 /5905 USB, Radio Cosmopolita, Quito can still be heard but at the moment more sporadic. Mails are beginning to drop in, among others from our members Tore B. Vik/TBV and Johan Berglund/JB, mentioning that their reports are returned. I called up the station and heard that they have a new address: "Radio Cosmopolita, Morales 1224 y Garcia Moreno, Quito". Telephone: (+593 2) 228 30 96. Address your report to Sr. Alejandro Yautibug, who is in charge for the technical transmissions for the Indian programs. Otherwise the letters will be lying without being taken care of in the Spanish department. The Indians only hire program time. I asked if there is an email address but the answer was negative (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 30, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also COLOMBIA; PERU in this issue ** EGYPT. Egypt definitely has more than its share of marginal transmitters but fortunately the 2300 UT English to N. America service on 9900.0 comes in very well here and usually with decent modulation. Their female announcer does tend to sound a bit mushy, but the music sounds much better. 73, (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN - Icom R75 - Palstar R30C - Quantum QX Pro - Wellbrook ALA 330, hard-core-dx via DXLD) See also SYRIA ** EGYPT. 24 June, tuned in to Russian Service of Radio Cairo at 1800. The frequency was 7315 kHz. Carrier has been there already, then at 1802 music began, changed to an Arabic song. Audio stopped at 1806. Carrier cut at 1808. Then, in a couple of minutes, carrier has been re-established, but they probably forgot about its modulation at all... (Dmitry Puzanov, Kustanay, Kazakhstan, Signal June 29 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. (Bavaria): On 29 June 2002 several hundred citizens living in the neighbourhood of the IBB Holzkirchen short wave station staged another day of protest. The Holzkirchen station has been on the air for some 50 years and currently broadcasts mainly in Russian to the CIS via four 250 kW short wave transmitters. The protest movement caught momentum in the 90s already, leading to the close down of the medium wave transmitter (originally 719/720 kHz, later 1593 kHz). When the consolidation of VoA and RFE/RL facilities took place, it was announced that IBB would close the station, but this never took place. In mid-morning prominent electro-smog scientists told the public about their findings at the Holzkirchen, Moosbrunn and Schwarzenburg stations, while public comments of local citizens and politicians throughout the day were less "scientific" in tone. Summaries of the scientifists' contributions are available on the German website http://www.sender-freies-oberland.de/, while the English site http://www.sender-freies-oberland.de/e_index.htm is still very much under construction. [Caption:] "Sleepless thanks to US-station. Wake up now" The protest post card shows a huge sculpture which is at a road passing by the station (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Nürnberg, Germany, 30 June 2002 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. From Monday (July 1) Südwestrundfunk will carry on all its mediumwave outlets a new program called SWR Cont.Ra. This network will primarily offer spoken word content (hence the name which is just a paraphrase of Contentradio) primarily produced for other programs, i.e. this will be a mere recycling network to say it in plain language. SWR Cont.Ra was originally created as an attempt to push the Eureka-147 system but later it was decided to put it also on mediumwave for a real-life audience. Between 10 PM and 6 AM (2000-0400 UT in summer, 2100-0500 in winter) SWR Cont.Ra will relay infoRADIO, the all-news program of Sender Freies Berlin. Strangely the Südwestrundfunk website so far contains not any word about SWR Cont.Ra but Sender Freies Berlin expresses delightment about the infoRADIO relays in this press release: http://www.sfb.de/unternehmen/sfb_presse_akt.php3 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Another story on the topic of broadcast delays: Deutsche Welle just carried the same report on a certain event than two networks of Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg simultaneously (Antenne Brandenburg and Radio Eins), but with a delay of full two seconds. I already asked somebody with some knowledge in signal distribution if he knows an explanation for this heavy delay (when switching between ORB and Deutsche Welle the first impression was that both carry different reports); as far as I know Wertachtal is now fed by an Eurobird SCPC link but certainly this caused only a small part of the two seconds delay. Also Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk had a small delay of about one third of a second against ORB and Bayerischer Rundfunk (I found 6085 more or less in sync with 95.1 and 98.6), referring to mediumwave where the STL is a linear 2 Mbit/s link without a noticeable delay (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Some schedule updates for Deutsche Telekom transmissions, as usual from Jülich unless otherwise stated: DRM: On July 16 and 17 only 0900-1200 on 5975 (290 deg.; trade fair or something else in the UK?) Deutsche Welle: Since June 24 6140 now throughout 0600-1900 from Jülich (130 deg.), no longer Wertachtal Additional transmissions of Adventist World Radio: Since June 1 0600- 0730 on 11610 (Wertachtal 200 deg.), since June 24 1600-1659 on 15360 and 1700-1759 on 15235 (both 115 deg.), all daily. Additional transmissions of Universelles Leben: From June 30 Sundays only 1600-1629 on 15670 (175 deg.); from July 7 on Sundays only 1900-1930 on 15565 (115 deg.). WYFR / Family Radio: All transmissions cancelled from June 23. [no doubt due to new Merlin deal --- gh] A few pictures of the Jülich facilities as well as the Braunschweig/Königslutter (mediumwave) and Torfhaus (FM) sites are available at http://www.do1oli.de (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. A Shortwave Success Story. While there has been a gradual migration towards FM in Guatemala, just as in other developing countries, there is still a place for shortwave. Radio K'ekchi is a case in point.... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/guatemala020628.html (Media Network 28-06-02 via DXLD) ** IRAN. Allowing the DX-392 on the kitchen table to scan as I munched on a salad, June 29 at 2337 UT it landed on 15085, which I quickly adjusted to 15084, as a muezzin (or whatever the Iranians call him) was doing his thing, with long pauses between verses of 6 or 7 seconds. But the pauses were neatly filled by pre-echoes of the audio to follow a good 5 seconds ahead. They were softer, but clearly audible, despite a less than solid signal. There have been reports before about extraneous audio on this transmitter. Scenario: the VOIRI censor has his finger on the button in case the muezzin says something blasphemous, with a tape loop, or digital, delay, but the original audio is bleeding through... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non??]. After 1240 I listened to the Radio Rasant programme via IRRS. The last quarter of this broadcast consisted on mainstream pop with just three ID announcements in between, one of them in English. After this programme IRRS ID and theme music until abrupt cut-off at 1302. The signal was rather weak here and spot on 13840, it appeared to be full-carrier AM rather than USB with reduced carrier. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATIN AMERICA. Commentary THE TRANSFORMATION OF LATIN AMERICAN NATIONAL RADIOS INTO BONA FIDE PUBLIC RADIO NETWORKS IMER, the Instituto Mexicano de la Radio, which operates public radio stations and a public television station in México, in mid-June hosted an international conference of Latin American national radios. The theme was ``The Role of Public Radio in a Globalized Society.`` Attending were representatives of the national radio networks of Bolivia (Radio Illimani), Costa Rica (Radio Nacional), Cuba (Radio Rebelde), Guatemala (La Voz de Guatemala), Honduras (Radio Honduras), Paraguay (Radio Nacional del Paraguay), Argentina (Radio Nacional de Argentina), Chile (Radio Nacional), Colombia (Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia), El Salvador (Radio El Salvador), Peru (Radio Nacional del Perú), Venezuela (Radio Nacional de Venezuela), and Mexico (IMER, Radio México). The purpose of the conference was to advance the transformation of the national radios of Latin America into true public radio networks and stations, to move them out of the role of voice pieces of the administrations in power into true services for the public. The directors recognize that, at the moment, these national networks play an inferior role in civic life. Señor Julio Cabello of Radio Nacional de Venezuela pointed out that there are 225 privately owned radio stations for every 1 public radio station in Latin America. In his country, there are 500 privately owned stations but only 1 public radio. Radio Nacional de Argentina has played an important role in the crisis in which his country is living, says Señor Mario Giorgi, its director. His network, he said ``will help and accompany the planning of the future of Argentina, adopting the role of an integrator between the community and its political directors.`` IMER director Señor Carlos Zarur said that ``the role of public radio in a globalized society reemphasizes the importance in having the public receiving educational information but, above all, news about the government, done with modern sophistication and utterly trustworthy.`` He said the public radio ought to prepare itself for these new times, by looking towards technical perfection and credibility of its information. But he warned that governments must not look towards employing the national public radio networks as propaganda machines, ``but that they fulfill one of the most important precepts of democracy, rooted in adequately informing the population of governmental acts.`` Señor Moíses Jérez Morales, director of La Voz de Guatemala, said that the national radios need to integrate the process of change, even if they have to do it in forced marches. He says that public radios must strengthen fundamental concepts such as nationality, the geographic- historical factors, culture and human destiny, traditions and customs, the popular arts, literature, and folklore. ``It must capture the values, the riches of the matrices of the national soul.`` There were some differences among the conference attendees, of course, but generally speaking there was great harmony and agreement about what is to be done and what the objectives should be. One notable outcome was a consensus on the necessity of promoting the Asociación de Radios Nacionales de Servicio Públicos de América Latina (ARNASAPAL), which IMER created two summers ago with the help of UNESCO and Radio France International. A similar movement is underway in Mexico, where the two dozen university radio stations are working towards establishing a network and association to promote the public radio service these offer in a modern Latin American democracy, with programming directed to all strata of Mexican society. Meanwhile, IMER denies that the government is about to sell its radio stations and Channel 22 in Mexico City. Clearly, while a few countries (Guatemala and Portugal) are thinking of selling their public radio networks, these are aberrations. In an age when more countries are permitting foreigners to own radio and television stations, the public stations and networks become even more valuable, for they retain a local and national control and moral ownership. The national interests are the primary public radio interests, and a well run, independent public radio network is the primary voice of the people. The big challenge is to keep the politicians out of public radio management and administration, particularly the news. A viable public radio system must be a priori an independent one. Easier said than done, because in many countries, not just Latin American, the politicians in power see the national radio systems as a major tool in advancing their own interests. In France, for years the public radio and television networks gave most of their political and news airtime during political campaigns to the candidates of the party in power. Latin America, with its notoriously corrupt governments, has a real challenge here on its hands: Can these governments set up really independent public radio systems and leave them independent? I hope to God they can and will (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update July 1 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. According to the Voice of Mongolia, a frequency change is planned for the Japanese service from July 1, 0830-0900. The new frequency is 12085, ex 12015. Currently, 12015 is used: 0830 Japanese, 0900 Mongolian, 0930 Chinese, 1000 English, sign off at 1030. The Mongolian, Chinese and English services may also move to 12085 from July 1 (Koji Yamada, Tokyo, EDXP June 30 via DXLD) ** PERU. 2413.39v, Radio Paraíso, unknown QTH (Peru). Clear "Radio Paraíso" IDs and lovely Peruvian folk music with super audio quality in the program "Amanecer campesino". "Comunicados" can be a good way to find out the "departamento" of the station location. In this case a "comunicado" to a person living in "Santa Rosa". "Cajamarca" has also been mentioned. Varies some kHz up/down. 5499.25, Radio San Miguel, la provincia de San Miguel, el departamento de Cajamarca. June 15 2002 - 2330 UT. On April 26 all of you in SWB in a special preview got an alarm about an unID LA on this frequency --- obviously a test transmission with nonstop, mostly Ecuadorian, music without talk. Came back on May 4 again with nonstop music without talk, but this time with Peruvian music. On May 15 came the solution for this "problem" when "Radio San Miguel" was reactivated on this new frequency. Seems to broadcast regularly --- yesterday evening, Monday, they were a little higher up in frequency: 5500.58 --- announcing 5500 kHz, 1450 and 101.1. This date a lot of talk about election of a new mayor/"alcalde" --- mentioning several "distritos" among others "Llapa" and "Calquis". I logged "Radio San Miguel" the last time in May last year on 6339.67 kHz (see SWB 1458). At that time they gave ID as "San Miguel Arcángel Radio". Now I only hear "Radio San Miguel" IDs and sometimes "San Miguel súper radio". When you get this little `preview` San Miguel has been on air for a few days so maybe someone has got an ID. The above log was sent out as a "preview" to all in SWB June 18. Can still be heard and seems to have two frequencies: 5499.25 and 5500.58 kHz. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de San Miguel, cuya capital es San Miguel de Pallaques. Sus distritos son: Calquis, El Prado, La Florida, Llapa, Nanchoc, Niepos, San Gregorio, San Miguel, San Silvestre de Cochán, Unión Agua Blanca; con una población total de 59,641 hab. 5879.19, harmonic, Radio Imperio, Chiclayo, la provincia de Chiclayo, el departamento de Lambayeque. Has been a big mystery for a long time --- until now when I checked the MW frequency of the station and started to count - Radio Imperio on SW 4388.96 kHz plus Radio Imperio on MW 1490.23 kHz = 5879.19 kHz! A mixing product between SW/MW is probably a rare form of harmonic. They are not announcing co- transmission with Radio Uno, Chiclayo but instead with the FM- transmitter Radio Tropicana (Chiclayo?). Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Chiclayo, cuya capital es Chiclayo. Sus distritos son: Chiclayo, Chongoyape, Eten, Puerto de Eten, José Leonardo Ortíz, Lagunas, La Victoria, Monsefú, Nueva Arica, Oyotún, Picsi, Pimentel, Reque, Santa Rosa, Saña; con una población total de 625,183 hab. (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 30, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIA TV STARTS BROADCASTING TO EUROPE 1 JULY | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 30 June: The VGTRK [All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting company] government-owned television and radio broadcasting company will begin broadcasts to Western Europe on 1 July. The new project is entitled "RTR-Planet". The broadcasts will be transmitted via the Express-3A satellite that became available after a new satellite was put into orbit, VGTRK and RTR [Russia TV] executives told journalists on Sunday [30 June]. The broadcasts will include programmes from the RTR and Kultura channels and Euronews in Russian. "This is a non-profit project aimed at our compatriots living abroad," VGTRK chairman Oleg Dobrodeyev said. All news programmes will be broadcast live, he said. Only part of Western Europe will be covered initially, but after the signal is joined to the global cable network all European countries will be included. In September or October, RTR- Planet will begin broadcasting in the United States. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1105 gmt 30 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SYRIA [and non]. Re Poorest audio on SW [EGYPT, DXLD 2-104] R San Miguel 4926 is a bit distorted too, but one can actually understand what they are saying. The gold medal will be awarded to R Damascus on 12085. I needed four earpieces in order to really just *hear* what they are saying. The most undermodulated signal you have never heard. The signal itself is strong as you could suppose from "international broadcaster". (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. NEW TV DOCUMENTARY TO FEATURE AMATEUR RADIO Now news of a unique new television documentary series which will feature amateur radio in a big way. `The Human Race` is a project which pits two radio amateurs against one another in a race around the planet. One heads east and the other west. The racers are tracked on a website by fellow radio amateurs who participate in the race by transporting the racers from place to place. Both teams are followed by television production crews documenting the race. Throughout the production phase, amateurs will be interviewed on camera to tell the story of amateur radio to television viewers. The race will begin in the American midwest in June 2003 and will conclude when the two teams meet one another at a point half way around the world in December next year. The producer of the programme is William Desjardins, W1ZY (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News 30 June 2002 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) QNEWS brought you the first word on this PROPOSED new TV program some months back, Now read further then visit their own site in cyberspace. http://home.earthlink.net/~bdesj/ `The Human Race` is a project which pits two radio amateurs against one another in a race around the planet. One heads east and the other west. The racers are tracked on a website by fellow radio amateurs who participate in the race by transporting the racers from place to place. Both teams are followed by television production crews documenting the race. Throughout the production phase, amateurs will be interviewed on camera to tell the story of amateur radio to television viewers. The first ham host encountered by viewers is the oldest and attributes the origins of Amateur Radio to early wireless experimenters. The next ham host continues by relating to viewers the impact of the vacuum tube on amateur communications. The subsequent host explains to viewers how the transistor made possible Amateur Radio`s first forays into space. The final ham host describes how Amateur Radio has been at the forefront of the Telecommunications Revolution. This is but one example of how the documentary proposes ordinary hams explain Amateur Radio within the context of a race around the planet. The race begins in the American midwest in June next year and will conclude when the teams meet one another at a point half way around the world in December 2003. Every international society has been offered to endorse the project, societies from Bangladesh to Australia. The Bangladesh Amateur Radio League considers that ``The Human Race`` project, a television documentary series, would result in a wonderful exposure of Amateur Radio to the world community. Amateur Radio, the unique scientific hobby has the ability to enhance the international fraternity and bridges any gap among people across boundaries. The Executive Committee of Bangladesh Amateur Radio League (BARL) endorses the project and hopes that all concerned would extend their hands of cooperation at the time of implementation of the same. Nizam Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, S21B VP & IARU Liaison Officer, BARL Here in VK, our President, Ernest Hocking V1LK has said ``I have now had the OK from the majority of the WIA council for the endorsement. I just need to put some words together. Personally, I think it is a terrific idea.`` The producer of the program is William Desjardins, W1ZY. Keep up todate on proceedings, to visit their website go to http://home.earthlink.net/~bdesj/ (qnews/rsgb/earthlink, Wireless Institute of Australia Q-News June 30 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) Stunt? ** U S A [and non]. In many ways, religious and political broadcasting is like telemarketing and unsolicited commercial e-mail. On average, most people probably don't want to listen to you. On the other hand, the potential benefits to be reaped by landing one new convert or buyer justify the expenditure, in the mind of the person placing the call or funding the broadcast. In all these instances, the "cost to communicate" has fallen in recent years, so the originators can live with reduced response rates. We rail against UCE and telemarketing because all recipients "pay" for the message in bandwidth, diskspace, and the intrusion of an unwanted telephone call (Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. SW UTAH (AND SURROUNDING AREA) TIS UPDATE Many DXers from all over the west have logged TIS stations from SW Utah and the surrounding areas over the past 10 years. This month, Karen and I took a few days before and after a business trip to drive through some of the areas where these TIS stations are located, to check on their current status. Here is what we found: 530 === Hoover Dam, NV (KOJ876) -- Signal is improved, but still not great. Seems stronger in Boulder City than at the actual dam site, possibly due to all of the electrical noise around the dam. Male announcer. Tape loop mostly talks about the new security checkpoint and regulations. Gets out fairly well to the west but not very well in the other directions. Las Vegas, NV (WNRM758) -- Silent, not noted on my last 2 trips here. ex-1610 and has not resurfaced there either. HAR station once listed on this frequency has moved to 1610. St. George, UT (WPBF898) -- Washington County "Color Country" TIS at the Utah Welcome Center south of St. George is currently silent. Signs are still up on I-15 North. This one used to make it to southern California. 1490/1520/1540 ============== Capitol Reef NP, UT (KOJ738) -- These 0.1-watt stations are gone for good. See main listing on 1610. 1590 ==== Bryce Canyon NP, UT (KOP798?) -- New station here with general park information. The 1610 station now carries information about the park's new shuttle service (signs around the park, and the messages themselves, make this distinction). Both the 1590 and 1610 stations appear to be fairly near the park entrance. The 1590 station is either slightly farther north, or slightly stronger than the 1610 station. Both are barely audible middays in Panguitch. 1610 ==== Glen Canyon NRA, AZ (KOJ778) -- Frequently mis-reported as Utah, this station is actually just north of Page, AZ at the Carl Hayden visitor center. This has got to be the single biggest TIS pest in the west these days, as it is routinely heard all over the Southwest. Tape loop with female announcer emphasizes the Wahweap Marina and the visitor center, and includes call letters. Blue Diamond, NV (HAR) -- No sign of the NV DoT station that was supposed to be here. Jean, NV (HAR) -- No sign of the NV DoT station that was supposed to be here. Lake Mead NRA, NV (KOJ751) -- This one seems strongest at the Administration offices in Boulder City, not at the Lake Mead NRA area. Gets out fairly well to the west but poorly in other directions. Female announcer. Las Vegas, NV (Airport) -- Carrier-current station with control tower audio has reportedly moved to 1200, but I haven't been close enough to the airport to confirm this. Las Vegas, NV (KOJ446) -- Delete this listing. Have never noted this station on numerous trips. North Las Vegas, NV (HAR) -- NV DoT covers road construction and Hoover Dam security information. Gets out pretty well. Mesquite, NV (TIS or Pirate?) -- There is a new station located in the Riverside Commercial Center, broadcasting oldies and calling itself "Mesquite's new solid gold oldies, the greatest hits of all time, AM 16-10, the Boss." It sounds like it's running 5 to 10 watts. Bryce Canyon NP, UT (KOP798) -- This station's message is now limited to information about the park's shuttle system. General park information is now found on the new station on 1590 kHz (see listing above). This station currently gets out pretty well at night, as it was recently logged in Alberta, but not particularly well during the day. A few years ago however, many DXers mistakenly assumed they had this station when it was actually the Panguitch station (WPBE828) that was getting out well at that time with its "Welcome to Bryce Canyon Country" message. Capitol Reef National Park, UT (KOJ738) -- This station is gone for good, due to apathy of the current ranger staff. A previous ranger had maintained this station and set up 0.1-watt stations on 1490, 1520, and 1540. Once he left, they took everything down. If you hear a tape loop about Capitol Reef, you are hearing KCP260, Salina Canyon. Cedar Breaks NM, UT (KOE719) -- This station does not appear to exist. There are no signs for it, and I did not log it while passing through this area in 1986 or 2002. Fish Lake NF - Ivie Creek/Salina Canyon, UT (KCP260) -- This is a very interesting station, located at a rest area near the junction of I-70 and Utah highway 72. It runs a very long tape loop (3 male voices, 2 female, each representing a different county or agency in central Utah). One of the taped messages is all about Capitol Reef National Park, which could cause a DXer to mistake this station for the defunct KOJ738. Other messages mention Fremont Indian State Park and Sevier County, which may explain the listings for stations at these locations that don't seem to exist. (Note that Salina Canyon is pronounced with a short "I" like Salinas, CA, not a long "I" like Salina, KS). [?? Short I is as in ``it``. You mean like a long E --- gh] Fish Lake NF - Mackinaw/Fish Lake Scenic Drive, UT (KOQ516) -- This station, which uses the slogan "Mackinaw Radio", provides visitor information for people driving along the west shore of Fish Lake. It is probably located around Fish Lake Lodge halfway down the lake. Female announcer, mentions the Fish Lake Discovery Association. Fremont Indian State Park, UT -- Delete this listing. Either this station is gone, or someone heard the Fish Lake NF station (KCP260) whose message includes a section on Fremont Indian SP. Panguitch-Red Canyon, UT (WPBE828) -- This station got out like gangbusters in the late 1990s with its "Welcome to Bryce Canyon Country" message; for a while, it was a nightly catch on car radios in San Diego. The Garfield County tourism office runs this station, which is actually located in the Red Canyon area just east of the junction of US 89 and Utah highway 12. The station is nowhere near as strong as it used to be. It is barely audible in Panguitch middays, and its tape loop currently consists of the sentence "This is the Garfield County radio station at Red Canyon, Utah" read by a male announcer, followed by a long pause. Sevier, UT -- Delete this listing. There does not appear to be a station in Sevier. The Fish Lake NF station (KCP260) includes a section about Sevier in their message. Zion National Park, UT (KOJ761) -- There are currently 4 stations active in the park along Utah highway 9. There is/was a fifth station at the Northwest end of the park near Kanarraville (I-15 exit 40); although the signs are still up for this station on I-15 north at exit 36, I did not log this station while passing through in 1986, 1987, or 2002. The 4 active stations in Zion NP are as follows, moving from east to west on highway 9 (all use a female announcer): 1. Mt. Carmel Junction: Short tape loop for drivers heading west on Utah highway 9: mentions the $20 entrance fee, tunnel, scenic drive shuttle, and tells listeners to tune in again about 13 miles to the west (station #2). No call sign mentioned in tape loop. Gets out relatively poorly. Not audible in Kanab 17 miles to the south. 2. East Entrance: This tape loop has more detailed information about the shuttle schedule, wildlife, camping, and fire danger. It ends with a MALE phone operator saying "If you want to make a call, please hang up" followed by telephone error signals. It gets out relatively poorly, and the KOJ786 call sign is not currently mentioned in the tape loop. 3. Springdale/Watchman Visitor Center (KOJ761): This one begins with "Welcome to the gateway town of Springdale", and emphasizes the shuttle, visitor center, backcountry hiking permits, Watchman campsite, the Zion Lodge, and a bit about the tunnel farther east. This is the only Zion station that mentions call letters in its tape loop ("KOJ.......761" mumbled at the end of the loop). It gets out fairly well, but nowhere near as well as station #4. This one ends with a FEMALE phone operator giving the same error as station #2. 4. Virgin: This is the one that really gets out. It appears to be located just west of Virgin, UT, atop a high bluff. It covers a long stretch of I-15 middays and has often been heard in California and Nevada at night. The tape loop is oriented to visitors traveling eastbound on Utah highway 9. The tape loop begins with "This station provides important information about the Zion National Park Tunnel and Zion Canyon Scenic Drive shuttle. It refers to the town of Springdale as being "17 miles north on Highway 9", and says to tune in again about 13 miles north on Highway 9 for more information (station #3). There is no gap at the end of the tape loop on this one. There you have it! I hope this helps DXers in the west figure out what stations you are hearing. 73, Tim (Tim & Karen Hall http://www.inetworld.net/halls June 28, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) AM DX from NV/UT trip TIS AND OTHER: [is this in UT, or???] ============= 1610 KNEC996 CA Yosemite NP (area) - 6/16 0737 - CalTrans HAR for Yosemite (SW entrance?) noted still running winter message about drivers having to carry chains. Tape loop includes call letters. Had been listening to this station from Lone Pine, CA a few nights earlier. (TRH-UT1) 1610 TIS/Pirate? NV Mesquite - 6/21 2205 - Noted a station here running oldies and pre-recorded IDs. "Mesquite's new solid gold oldies, AM 16-10, the Boss." 6/25 1500 noted again on return trip, said they were broadcasting from the Riverside Commercial Center in Mesquite. (TRH-NV) 1610 WQO681 WY Bosler - 6/22 2155 - CO DoT / WY DoT station noted on E wire with usual tape loop, mixing with semi-local KOQ516. (TRH-UT3) 1700 WNCM749 CA Burbank - 6/22 0310 - Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena airport TIS station is really getting out these days! Noted on top of channel at Lone Pine, CA, and putting a good signal into Cedar City tonight. (TRH-UT2) TRH-NV/TRH-UT Tim Hall, on the road. Toyota car radio. TRH-UT1 NV/UT border along US 6/50. ICF-2010, Kiwa Loop, 1250-ft unterminated beverage aimed E TRH-UT2 Cedar City, UT. ICF-2010, Kiwa Loop TRH-UT3 Teasdale, UT. ICF-2010, Kiwa Loop, 400 ft. longwire aimed W, 200 ft. S, 575 ft. SSE, 575 ft. E. I recently bought a new Toyota Prius (gas-electric hybrid), which we took on this trip. I love the gas mileage (48 MPG) but unfortunately Toyota still makes the weakest car radios around! 73, (Tim & Karen Hall, June 29, amfmtvdx via DXLD) http://www.inetworld.net/halls ** U S A. 1620, FLORIDA UNID Haitian pirate, Orlando, 2130+ [EDT?] on this evening 24 June w/kompa and zouk mx, M FR/Kr annr w/ occ unreadable cart IDs w/ "vous écoutez Radio ..." with a last word sounding something like "Cigar." Poor/fair sigs through heavy QRN here (40 mi distant or so) via groundwave; music audio pretty good, voice audio less so. Suspect this will make it into Tampa Bay area around sunset greyline with few problems. Some French chatter buried on the freq around 0130Z through TX and VI outlets, maybe them still (David Crawford, FL, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** U S A. 1700 WSJZ IA, Des Moines, rec. QSL letter (handwritten) in 11 days for taped report. Address: 4143 109th Street, Urbandale IA 50322. V/S: Jack O' S.., (?) Not sure of signers name and the handwriting is hard to read. Mentioned that they only had the calls for a week before switching back to KBGG. Was surprised of my report, as they barely get out of town! I don't know if they mean night, day or both. I am pleased with this, as I did not really expect a reply as they only had the calls a week. A nice letter on letterhead. MW QSL #2805. [Later:] WSJZ/KBGG has new address: 4143 109TH, Urbandale IA 50322. Phone (515) 331-9200. I checked and the Verie signer for WSJZ was Jack O'Brian, Operations manager (Patrick Martin, OR, IRCA et al. via DXLD) ** U S A. DTV EXTENSIONS DENIED Doug Smith W9WI - 16 June 2002 Maybe one of the bigger news items this month is the denial by the FCC of several applications for DTV permit extensions. Fifty stations are involved, apparently including all of TBN`s full-power stations. Stations requesting an extension had to provide the Commission with justification for their failure to meet the May 1st deadline. Quoting from the request TBN submitted for KAAH-26 Honolulu: ``Coordination of the transition to digital has been extremely difficult and final equipment orders are just now being evaluated for placement with delivery to follow. Moreover, in an effort to initiate DTV service as soon as possible, focus has been on completing STA facilities based on the Commission`s determination that full allocation protection for UHF facilities would be maintained beyond May 1, 2002.`` The Commission didn`t buy it. Identical statements were filed for the other TBN stations. The FCC offered the opportunity to file an amended Form 337 providing a specific plan for how the extra 90 days would be used to ``further the construction of KAAH-DT``, and a specific date upon which TBN would expect construction to be complete. Just as TBN`s applications for their other stations were identical to KAAH`s, the FCC`s responses for the other stations werealso identical. TBN`s second response didn`t fare any better. The Commission wrote ``...you have failed to explain why you need an additional six-month extension merely to order such equipment.`` They also felt TBN`s statement that initial construction could be completed ``within the next twelve months or so`` to be too vague, not providing a reasonable plan or expected date of completion. So, TBN`s extensions were denied, and they were ``...admonished for its failure to comply with its DTV construction obligations.`` Does that mean TBN`s DTV permits will be cancelled? That after the transition, there will be no full-power TBNs? No.. TBN is getting an extension anyway. The timetable: _ By July 3rd : a report must be submitted outlining planned construction steps and an approximate date for completion. _ By September 3rd : another report is required detailing progress and justifying any delays. _ By December 1st : if construction is not complete, another six-month extension may be granted - but monetary fines will also be levied. _ On May 1st , 2003: unless good reason can be shown, the DTV permits will be rescinded. At any point, additional sanctions (presumably fines) can be levied if the reports fail to justify delays or show bad faith. It sounds like I`m beating up on TBN here. That`s only because they`re the group owner TV DXers seem to love to hate (grin). Seriously, they are not by any means the only offenders. LibCo, Inc., a group owner of secular commercial stations, also had several extensions denied. Several other regular commercial owners had one or two permits denied. (It looked like one owner was playing ``shell games``, bouncing antennas around their various stations!) The same extension process being applied to TBN will also apply to the secular stations. There remain two wildcards in this first phase of the DTV transition. First, what happens in November as those stations whose extensions were granted reach the end of their six months of extra time? Many stations with extensions are already completing construction, in the early part of the extensions. I think it`s reasonable to assume a fair number of stations will not finish by November. How hard will the FCC be on those who ask for another extension? Second, how are non-commercial stations going to fare when their permits begin to expire in May of 2003? I would presume a similar 6- month extension process will be provided - how many will need it? We`re in the middle of a wild ride. Hold on tight... And on a related subject... (July WTFDA VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) See also CANADA ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-104, June 28, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1137: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.ram (SUMMARY available later) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1137.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB BROADCASTS ON WRN1: 0800 Sat rest of world; 1400 Sun to North America NEW EDITION CONTINENT OF MEDIA, 02-03: FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1900, Sat 0100, 0700, 1300, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Tue 2000, Wed 0200, 0800, 1400 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0203.rm (STREAM) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0203.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0203.html ** ARGENTINA. No hay novedades con respecto a R. Rivadavia. A mí también me interesa lo que pase con ella, ya que es la primer emisora "grande" que se cae. Conociendo un poco desde adentro como se manejan los procesos de concurso preventivo y quiebras en la Argentina, te diré que va a demorar unos cuantos meses hasta que el particular o la empresa u organización que se haga cargo de la emisora pueda considerarse legalmente nueva titular de la misma. De todas formas, seguramente conoceremos a través de los medios quién será el beneficiado en poco tiempo. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 27, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Glenn, A summary of my monitoring of Armenia 11685. The sign on is somewhat variable around 1555. They switch into an ongoing program before 1600. At 1600 there is a home service ID, followed by what appears to be news. At 1610 there is a foreign service ID, followed by what appears to be a cultural service. Sign off has been noted at 1642 in mid programme. The frequency is exactly on nominal, but the odd s/off-s/on times seem to indicate that a transmitter at the Arinj ("old" Yerevan) site is used rather than a Gavar transmitter. Arinj has a 300 deg antenna, which is likely to the one used now, as NRG in England reports very good reception, while the signal here in northern Scandinavia is only in level with co-channel CRI Turkish. 73 (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Special to the SWPROGRAMS e-mail group: Just went to the ABC Radio National web site http://www.abc.net.au/rn and found a little surprise. It seems that Radio National is now available live in realaudio from that site. There are schedules there as well. Many of the programs are also available on-demand. Radio Australia carries many, but not all, programs from Radio National --- a few live, most delayed. This opens up further opportunities to hear some favorites you already hear on Radio Australia; and to hear other excellent programs produced by and for Radio National and not broadcast on Radio Australia's schedule. SPECIAL NOTE: At 8pm [Australian?] EST on 1st July, 1932 PM Joseph Lyons announced on-air the inauguration of the ABC. This weekend and on Monday, 1st July itself, Radio National celebrates 70 years of the ABC. As well as mining the archives, we look for the spirit of the ABC and debate the future of broadcasting. And you can hear it all --- LIVE --- via a special link to all of Radio National's program schedule. Click on http://www.abc.net.au/rn and follow the instructions there. As well, many of the programs from Radio National that are re-broadcast on Radio Australia also will carry this anniversary theme. BTW, if you want to know what time various programs are on "live" go to the Radio National site http://www.abc.net.au/rn and click on "schedule". AEST (Australian eastern standard time) is 14 hours ahead of EDT, 17 ahead of PDT. [and 10 ahead of UT! --gh] FEEDBACK - 2105 Fri.; 0005/0605 Sat.; 0305 Sun. on Radio Australia Join Roger Broadbent as he celebrates the ABC's 70th birthday. Although the old dear is know affectionately as Aunty she's determined to stay ahead of the pack and on Monday, her birthday, she'll be unveiling DIG, a birthday present to the nation. All will be revealed on the programme. And the conspiracy theory about the digitalisation of radio, raised by a listener last week, has elicited some interesting comments. Tune in and hear them (John Figliozzi, June 27, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 5025, VL8K, Katherine, 1950, noted still here the last couple of mornings. Alice Springs and Tennant Creek had both QSY'd to 120 mb (Paul Ormandy, June 27, New Zealand, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Received from Peter Hewitson On 30th June 2002 at 2359 UT C Australian Coast Stations Brisbaneradio/VIB, Darwinradio/VID, Melbourneradio/VIM, Perthradio/VIP, Sydneyradio/VIS and Townsvilleradio/VIT will officially close down. Our final broadcast will be made on frequencies 2182, 4125, 6215, 8291, 12290 and 16420 khz at approx 2350 UT. Australia's coast radio service started in February 1912 - two months before the Titanic disaster and has continued uninterrupted through two world wars but has not survived technology, business or government legislation. The guarding of the airwaves in the Australian Search and Rescue Region will now be handed over to a New Zealand company, TVNZ, who have constructed two new radio stations at Charleville in Queensland (Callsign VIC) and Wiluna in Western Australia (Callsign VIW) and will provide Digital Selective Calling (DSC) facilities with follow-on communications via R/T or FEC modes. At this time we remember and salute all the radio officers past and present who without their dedication and skill, many lives on the high seas would have been lost. Robert G4PYR http://www.coastal-radio.org.uk -- Robert Maskill G4PYR Peterborough Cambridgeshire Personal web site www.coastal-radio.org.uk Business web site www.clayton-internet.co.uk _______________________________________________ WUN mailing list WU-@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/wun (via Robert Maskill, June 26, via Pim Ripken, BDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. VNG CLOSEDOWN POSTPONED A letter dated 24 June from Dr Richard Brittain, Secretary of the National Time Committee of Australia's National Standards Commission (NSC) advises that the closure of Radio VNG will be postponed till 31 December 2002. This step recognises that some users have had insufficient notice of the closure and time to make the necessary alternative arrangements. A voice announcement regarding the end-of-year closure will be aired from mid-July. Further notification of the closure will be given in writing to VNG Consortium Users in July and September. In the event of any major equipment breakdown, the NSC will not be able to guarantee continuation of the VNG service for the full 6 months. So, for DXers wanting to get a QSL for VNG, there's now another 6 months left to log them on 2500, 5000, 8638, 12984 or 16000 kiloHertz. All frequencies are on 24 hours, except 16 MHz which operates from 2200 to 1000 UT. Voice announcements are carried on 2.5, 5 and 16 MHz only - the other frequencies carry Morse identifications. Reports with return postage (e.g. 1 IRC coupon) should be addressed to Radio VNG, National Standards Commission, P.O. Box 282, North Ryde, NSW 1670, Australia (Bryan Clark, New Zealand, June 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corp, 6035, full data QSL card via snail mail. with a personal letter for the delay in reply. V/S: Dorji Wangchuk, station engineer. The QSL describes "This card is printed on traditional Bhutanese handmade paper. The paper is made from daphne plant which is widely found in Bhutan". The QSL card, covering letter and envelope are made by the same paper (Swopan Chakroborty, India, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai`i FRANCIS ONA'S REBEL RADIO BACK ON AIRWAVES IN BOUGAINVILLE PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (June 27, 2002 - Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online) -- Bougainville rebel leader Francis Ona's clandestine radio station -- Radio Free Bougainville -- has resumed broadcasting during the Papua New Guinea's elections and amid renewed tensions between ex- combatants. The rebel station had not transmitted in four years following the ending of a decade-long secessionist war against Papua New Guinea. But Mr. Ona has largely stayed out of the peace process that is bringing Bougainville greater autonomy. His supporters control what they call their Me`ekamui nation area. The secessionist war had begun with the Ona-led rebellion against a huge Australian copper mine at Panguna, Bougainville. From its hidden jungle outpost, Radio Free Bougainville's pro- independence broadcasts became a powerful weapon against the Papua New Guinea government and its security forces. According to sources in Bougainville and the nearby Solomon Islands, Radio Free Bougainville returned to air June 17, just two days after the start of national voting. That same day Mr. Ona`s militants extended their "no-go zone" in central Bougainville by five kilometers (three miles). The aggressive move prompted ex-combatants from neighboring areas to re-arm some of their men. On June 19 they broke open containers of firearms surrendered under the weapons disposal program supervised by the United Nations and the regional Peace Monitoring Group. For additional reports from The Post-Courier, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Newspapers/The Post-Courier (Papua New Guinea). Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Website: http://www.pinanius.org (via E.Baxendale, UK, DXLD) WTFK??!! ** BOUGAINVILLE. Read this folks and I got a QSL about 4 years ago --- but gee the situation is pretty grim. From the Sydney morning Herald, Sydney Australia. 27 June, 2002. Radio Free Bougainville has reappeared after 4 years. (note in the same newspaper it is reported law and order on the mainland has again been forgotten). 10 women were raped in Chimbu province, 4 men beaten in the same area, also Pacific Helicopters who flew the recent ballot papers for the country's general elections are owed 1 megakina. They will not fly unless paid, according to Ken Blane. (So it appears that anything may happen with PNG and Bougainville solution.).... Try listening to 3850 or around this frequency till 1030 UT. I think Sam Voron of Roseville Sydney helped this group. And I think they run the station on coconut oil (Johno Wright, Australia, June 27, ARDXC via DXLD) Thanks for this info Johno; I'll have a look out for Radio Bougainville. You`re right about the coconut oil. I saw an ABC-TV or SBS "doco" on Radio Bougainville some 12 months back where they actually showed the generator used by Radio Bougainville and how they built it and fueled it. It was "inspiring stuff". Innovation at its best with the least amount of resource material. Disappointing hearing that the Bougainville situation might be flaring up again Political corruption in PNG is just mind boggling. BTW anyone know what ever happened to Gordon Darling a SWL from Port Moresby? I used to be in contact with him years ago regarding SW mods for the SONY 2001D. Anyone know? I think he came from the UK if my memory serves me correctly. Regards (Ian ---, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Cumbre DX Special 404.1 June 27, 2002 CLANDESTINE from ? to PAPUA NEW GUINEA Source: Post Courier newspaper, Port Moresby, 27 June 2002 REBEL RADIO BACK ON AIRWAVES PORT MORESBY: Bougainville rebel leader Francis Ona's clandestine radio station Radio Free Bougainville has resumed broadcasting during the PNG election amid renewed tensions between ex-combatants. The rebel station had not transmitted in four years following a decade-long secessionist war with mainland Papua New Guinea. The war, which led to as many as 20,000 deaths, was sparked by the Ona-led rebellion against a huge Australian copper mine on the island of Bougainville. From its hidden jungle outpost, Radio Free Bougainville's pro-independence broadcasts became a powerful psychological weapon against the PNG government. When it ceased broadcasting in 1998, many assumed the rebel station was too run-down to transmit. But according to sources in Bougainville and the nearby Solomon Islands, Radio Free Bougainville returned to air on June 17, just two days after the start of national polling. That same day Ona's troops extended their "no-go zone" in central Bougainville by five kilometres. The aggressive move prompted neighbouring ex-combatants to re-arm themselves, and on June 19 they broke open containers of firearms destined for United Nations weapons inspectors. That night the usually reclusive Ona took to the airwaves to talk about independence, sources told AAP. [End of Press Item] The station was last heard on 3850 lower side band with a 1000 sign on time. Seemed to be heard pretty well in Australia, but also logged in the USA, particularly on the West Coast. I just checked today at 1050, nothing there but a het (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Re DXLD 2-103: 9400 listed as due to resume on 1st July 2002. At least at 2100-2200 UT this has already resumed. I suspect the 2nd high power (500 kW) transmitter is already back in FULL service (Ken Fletcher, 2135 UT June 26, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. See MADAGASCAR; So the Democratic Voice of Burma broadcast at 2330 moves to Tashkent on the same frequency previously from Madagascar, but the 1429 broadcast on 17495 remains from Mad., viz.: 2330-0030 Tashkent 11715 131 200 DVB SE Asia 1429-1527 Madagascar 17495 055 50 Dem. V. of Burma SE Asia (RNMN website via DXLD) ** CANADA. HOT SHEET FOR WEEKEND OF JUNE 29 & 30, 2002 -- SATURDAY JUNE 29, 2001 -- BASIC BLACK: This is a bittersweet occasion for CBC Radio One: Arthur Black, one of the funniest people in radio - and possibly the universe - is winding up Basic Black for good. But he's definitely going with a bang, in a special program recorded in Thunder Bay, where Arthur's career began. Don't miss the very last edition of Basic Black, Saturday morning at 10:05 (10:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. THE BEST OF QUIRKS & QUARKS: This week on The Best of Quirks and Quarks...an encore presentation of the Great Question Show. Bob and the gang track down the experts who can answer your questions. Find out why we don't feel queasy As the World Turns, how chameleons change colour, why men have nipples, and more. That's Quirks and Quarks, with host Bob McDonald, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. SUMMER COMEDY SUMMARY: On the Summer Comedy Summary, Wes Borg of "Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie" explains why every computer invented is garbage, and describes his hobby of listening to movies on scratchy L.P records. Also, Harry Shearer...the talented mimic and "Simpsons" voiceover star does a one- man parody of showbiz during the Gulf War. That's the Summer Comedy Summary, with Al Rae, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 AT; 8:00 NT) on CBC Radio Two, Sunday afternoon at 1:00 (1:30 NT, 4:00 PT) on CBC Radio One. RADIOSONIC: This week on Radiosonic...host Grant Lawrence has The Canada Day Weekend Special: all Canadian music, all night long, including a special session with wayward Canadian Lisa Marr and her band The Experiment. That's Radiosonic, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. AT; 8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY JUNE 30, 2001 --- WORLD CUP SOCCER FINAL: Tune in to CBC Radio One this Sunday morning for the thrilling conclusion to this year's World Cup competition. Join Canadian hosts Kevin Sylvester and Bob Iarusci (former player with the New York Cosmos, and captain of the Canadian National Team from 1978 to 1984) will host a pre-game/half-time and post-game analysis, as Brazil and Germany square off for all the glory, starting at 6:30 a.m. (with an 8 a.m. kickoff in Newfoundland) on CBC Radio One. THE SUNDAY EDITION: This week on The Sunday Edition, the G-8: what do summits like the one in Kananaskis accomplish? Guest host Elizabeth Gray poses the question to a panel of distinguished guests, including Stephen Lewis and Lloyd Axworthy. Also, teaching history. The Spicer Report famously stated "Canada is dying of ignorance". In one recent poll, young Canadians answered 30 questions on a basic Canadian history quiz. Their average score was 34 percent. A panel discusses what we can do about it. And, New York writer Andrew Solomon on his award-winning book, "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression". That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: Sunday on Cross Country Checkup ...the G-8. This week's summit generated a lot of expectation. World leaders offered the possibility of progress on African development, and Middle East peace. In the streets, thousands of protesters demanded much more. What do you think? Can the G8 live up to such expectations? Join host Rex Murphy for Cross Country Checkup: Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. ON STAGE: This week, On Stage presents a concert from Glenn Gould Studio. The Jacques Loussier Trio gives an unusual twist to works by Bach, Vivaldi, Debussy and Ravel. That's On Stage, with host Eric Friesen, Sunday night at 8:05 (9:05 AT, 9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One, Sunday afternoon at 2:05 (2:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two. MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: Sunday night on CBC Radio One...a very special night: highlights from the 2002 Montreal International Jazz Festival! Join Katie Malloch and co-host Peter Downie for performances by John Scofield, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Richard Galliano, the Jefferson-Grant Quintet and Susie Arioli's Swing Band. That's the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Sunday night at 11:05 (12:05 AT, 12:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. --- RADIO TWO --- CHORAL CONCERT: This week on Choral Concert...just in time for Canada Day, a special concert performance by the National Youth Choir of Canada, under the direction of Lydia Adams. From the Podium 2002, the biennial conference of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors. That's Choral Concert, with host Howard Dyck, Sunday morning at 8:11 (8:41 NT) on CBC Radio Two. TIME TRAVELLER: Go ahead. Lose your head Sunday afternoon on The Time Traveller. This week on the show they're going to start the French Revolution. Join host Michael Bean and the rest of the mob heading for the Bastille, where the forecast is for a continued Reign of Terror with flashes of the most brilliant music of the time. That's a look at the 1790s on the Time Traveller, Sunday after the 1:00 o'clock news (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. Come along. It'll be a slice. SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...Richard Rodgers: The Final Years. A centenary tribute to Richard Rodgers concludes with the shows that filled the final 15 years of his life: No Strings, Do I Hear A Waltz?, Two By Two, Rex, and I Remember Mama, as well as a final look at some favorites from his incredible catalogue of songs. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. PEARLS OF WISDOM: This week on Pearls of Wisdom, in keeping with Canada Day, David Wisdom presents words and music written and performed by Canadians - everyone from The Travellers to Tommy Hunter, Oscar Peterson to Guy Lombardo. That's Pearls of Wisdom, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. AT, 8:00 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio Two. MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: Tune into CBC Radio Two Sunday for a very special night: a five-hour live broadcast from the 2002 Montreal International Jazz Festival! Join Katie Malloch and co-host Peter Downie for performances by John Scofield, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Richard Galliano, the Jefferson-Grant Quintet and Susie Arioli's Swing Band. That's the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (9:00 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. TWO NEW HOURS: ***pre-empted for extended live broadcast of Montreal International Jazz Festival*** CANADA DAY, MONDAY, JULY 1: EH CANADA 3 - THE PRIME MINISTERS: ***may not be heard in all locations*** Tune in to CBC Radio One on Canada Day for Eh Canada Part Three - the Prime Ministers - a comic look at our fearless leaders featuring Sean Cullen as Mackenzie King's dead mother! Also on the show: Greg Foster, Ron James, Brent Butt, Theresa Pavlinek, Derek Edwards and Three Dead Trolls give you their take on our floundering fathers. In the last half-hour, a celebrity panel debates "What makes Canadians so Funny?." Hear from Michael J. Fox, Eugene Levy, Martin Short and Lorne Michaels. That's Eh Canada Part Three, with host Al Rae, Canada Day at after the news at noon (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. (CBC Hotsheets excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. June 27, 2002 CBC/RADIO-CANADA LAUNCHES ITS DIGITAL ARCHIVES WEB SITES We are pleased to announce the launch today of CBC/Radio-Canada's bilingual Archives Web sites http://cbc.ca/archives and http://radio-canada.ca/archives. Drawing upon 70 years of radio and television coverage from the archives of the CBC, the Web sites focus on significant moments in Canadian history. This bilingual project is funded by Canadian Heritage. There is no fee to access the Web sites. The CBC/Radio-Canada Archives Web sites are a chance to meet the newsmakers and experience the events of our history. Watch Terry Fox as he runs across Canada in his Marathon of Hope. Listen to a young Leonard Cohen talk of poetry. Relive the frenzy around Trudeaumania. The sites look at dozens of other topics, including The Gouzenko Affair, Africville, Hurricane Hazel, Thalidomide, Punk Rock, Maurice "Rocket" Richard and the Creation of Nunavut. New topics are being added on a regular basis. Topics found on the sites are organized by theme: Significant Historical Figures, War and Conflict, Arts and Entertainment, Politics and Economy, and Science and Technology, to name just a few. The Archives sites contain more than 1,000 original pages of documents with comments and analyses accompanied by hundreds of radio and TV clips. Teachers and students can now experience these events first-hand, through audio and video clips, in-depth background information and suggested educational activities. A comprehensive educational package has been designed by a team of educators to reflect the needs of secondary schools complete with suggested activities and exercises, curriculum correlations and enhanced teachers' materials. Travel through time and relive unforgettable moments from Canada's history. We're proud to launch the Archives Web sites and to be able to give the extensive CBC/Radio-Canada archives a new lease on a digital life! Francois Boulet Mark Mietkiewicz Project Director English Project Manager Digital Archives Web site Digital Archives Web site National New Media (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** CHINA. This week`s edition of WAVELENGTH looks at a new ethnic TV station in Vancouver ===== Wave-Length China Radio International Beijing, China Attention: Lu Feng & Keith Perron e-mail: wavelengthcri@yahoo.com website: http://www.cri.com.cn/english Tel: 86-13661322248 (Keith Perron via DXLD) Ondemand till UT Mon? ** CHINA: INTERNET HAS "ENSNARED" MANY YOUTHS, NEWS AGENCY WARNS | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Nanning, 28 June: A recent fire in Beijing's Lanjisu cyber cafe that claimed 24 lives has focused attention nationwide on the country's burgeoning cyber cafes. China plugged itself into the Internet in 1994. With the number of users mushrooming from 8.9 million two years ago to 35 million now, the country's slightly sluggish pace of life is speeding up. Young people are getting used to receiving education online, dates online, shopping online and playing games online. The Internet makes it possible for ordinary people to take part in government decisions and law making. For example, when the tenth five-year plan for national economic and social development was being drafted, over 10,000 suggestions from ordinary people were sent to web sites opened by the central government, of which 300 were taken up by China's State Planning Commission. Both consumers and dealers have been trying E-commerce, trading items like computers, household commodities, books, videos and audio products. According to a latest survey, E-commerce volume will jump to 3.2bn US dollars by 2004. The Internet is also helping people find jobs in China. About 35 per cent of job seekers found employment online. Some Chinese farmers sell their products and learn about the world through the Internet, which helps them overcome such disadvantages as geographic isolation. In the country once famous for its special greeting "Have you had your meal?", nowadays more people may address each other with "Have you surfed on the net?" However, the net has ensnared many young people, especially students who are apt to get lost in the virtual community. Mishaps reported at cyber cafes include fires, the sudden death of middle-school students from fatigue and students addicted to the Internet getting poor marks or even dropping out of school. According to statistics from colleges in east China's Jiangsu Province, about 80 per cent of dropouts are Internet addicts. Some students just chat or play games online without using the net's other functions. The Internet is a kind of electronic encyclopedia, but only those with enough experience and ability can handle it, according to Xu Wenbo, head of the national internet popularization project. The Internet, with its combination of good and bad, may harm young people. Liu Xiaolin, a psychiatrist said, cyberspace could be a "trap" in children's development but most problems were attributed to poor management. Wang Yuesheng, manager of the biggest chain of cyber cafes in Beijing, says the side effects of cyber cafes are obvious. "However, we shouldn't ban them, just like people shouldn't stop eating because food can choke them." Since 16 June when the fire broke out in the Lanjisu cyber cafe, all cyber cafes have been suspended in Beijing and cafes nationwide are facing tough restrictions. Computer use has risen sharply in Chinese families in recent years. In Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 40 per cent of families own computers. However, some computer owners still prefer cyber cafes. A regular cyber cafe customer said it was cheaper to surf in cafes than at home. It also felt good surfing in a cyber cafe, just like in a cinema, bringing a feeling of merging into a crowd. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0230 gmt 28 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI noted June 27th 2325 on 7445, good reception on clear channel (Mike Barraclough, UK, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) A few days earlier I was surprised to find 7445-USB not only on the air as early as 2230, but audible. Does this mean 21815-USB is closing earlier? For a while they were avoiding having both USB transmitters on at the same time in order to avoid spur on 15m hamband (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CASTRO FEARS SHORTWAVE RADIO http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/06/26/castro.cuba/index.html (via Harry Helms, DXLD) ** CUBA. CASTRO WARNS HE MIGHT SEVER U.S. TIES June 26, 2002 Posted: 8:12 PM EDT (0012 GMT) From Lucia Newman, CNN Havana Bureau HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro warned he might sever his country's limited diplomatic relations with the United States in a speech Wednesday before the national assembly. He accused U.S. diplomats in Havana of violating Cuba's sovereignty and the norms governing diplomatic conduct. Specifically, he chided the United States for distributing hundreds of shortwave radios so Cubans can tune into the Florida-based anti-Castro radio station Radio Marti. "It is also inadmissible that contraband material can be brought into our country through the diplomatic pouch," Castro said, apparently referring to the radios. "It will be the responsibility of the government of the United States if it insists on continuing these practices, if this leads to the cancellation of our migration accords, and even the closure of the U.S. interests section in Havana." It was one of Castro's strongest statements to date regarding the American diplomatic mission in Cuba, which was established during the Carter administration along with a Cuban interests section in Washington. "This is not something that we wish, since it would signify a lamentable step backwards in the few advances we have managed to achieve in the relations between both countries," Castro added. Castro made the speech at a special session of the national assembly, which has been meeting this week to vote on a constitutional amendment declaring Cuba's socialist system "untouchable." Castro insists the assembly vote is a response to what he calls heightened aggression and threats from the Bush administration, which has vowed to tighten U.S. economic sanctions and travel restrictions on the island until Cuba implements democratic reforms, such as multi- party elections. The warning to close down the American interests section and sever the 1994-95 bilateral immigration accords are an effort to combat what Cuba sees as pro-opposition activism by U.S. diplomats here, U.S. Ambassador Vicky Huddleston in particular. Cuban officials have repeatedly criticized her for handing out the shortwave radios. In his speech, Castro also accused U.S. diplomats of trying "to organize networks and conspiracies" by traveling throughout the island and talking with Cubans who have made unsuccessful attempts to reach U.S. soil. The diplomats are granted rights to check on the welfare of these Cuban citizens, who in many cases were picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard and returned to Cuba. In an interview last month with CNN, Huddleston defended her practice of handing out the radios, saying the technology is openly for sale in Cuba anyway. The Cuban government, she said, "says that they're just tuned to Radio Marti. This is not true. You can move the dial around and listen to Radio Havana Libre or you can listen to Radio Netherlands or you can listen to Radio Marti. "What the Cuban government doesn't like [is] the choice the people have to listen to anything this little radio can pick up. This is something we do all over the world. We distribute information to try to empower people. We would like to see the Cuban people empowered," Huddleston said. © 2002 Cable News Network LP, LLLP http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/06/26/castro.cuba/index.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** CUBA. China may take over the former Russian spy base near Lourdes, in Cuba, according to the Moscow newspaper Izvestia. In a report quoted in the latest issue of Eye Spy magazine, Izvestia says: "Last autumn, a Chinese military delegation visited Cuba. The possibility of operating an electronic espionage centre was discussed with Castro during the visit. "According to sources, China responded positively in principle to the offer and, in fact, the Chinese have been offered a set of buildings in the Lourdes complex upon the final departure of the Russians". Eye Spy reports that around two dozen Russians remain at the Lourdes base as caretakers. It adds that, because of unpaid debts, the Cubans seized part of the base's eavesdropping equipment as the Russians were preparing to ship it home. Around a thousand Russians were employed at the base when it was operational (Roger Tidy, UK, June 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. The latest issue of Eye Spy magazine carries a long article on Cuban intelligence. Excerpts dealing with number stations follow: "A radio station situated in Cuba, probably using the Radio Habana transmitter at Bauta, sends a series of five character number groups via the shortwave. The clandestine agent copies down the numbers and decodes them to extract the message. ... "Miss Montes (the recently arrested Cuban spy in the US) received her messages from the number station (designated VO2 by the ENIGMA 2000 Group) on her Sony shortwave receiver. The particular message offered as evidence was received by Miss Montes at around 0200z on Saturday 6 February 1999. The frequency was 7887 kHz and that received was a usual VO2 message of 150 five figure groups; the total transmission lasting around 45 minutes. "The actual transmission commenced, "Atención!, Atención! tres cero uno cero siete, dos cuatro seis dos cuatro..." (30107 24624...). Continuing with other five figure groups until a total of 150 groups were delivered. No need for a one-time pad for Miss Montes. A second hand Toshiba laptop computer, model 405CS was used to do the decoding. "A programme received from Cuba decrypted the messages received via VO2 over the years. 160 floppy disks had been purchased by Montes from her local Radio Shack outlet between 1 May 1993 and 2 November 1997. "In days gone by, the return message would have been sent via a short wave transmission in a variety of ways, simple Morse or rapid transmission. The rapid transmission is referred to as a 'burst' transmission, the entire message being sent in a few seconds at high speed, either by a mechanical or electronic device. "The method used by Montes was nothing short of ingenious in its simplicity. She simply returned her message via the US pager network. She called a pager number from a public telephone booth and using the phone keypad (dialler) entered a pre-arranged number to convey a particular message, her last sending was on 16 September 2001 ..." "VO2, the number station used by Montes...can just as easily be intercepted and is easily heard with little problem in the USA. A particular trait of the signals of this station is that the audio quality is often particularly poor, sometimes with an annoying hum on the carrier. The 7887 kHz transmission was lately reported by an American monitor on 12 April 2002; however another monitor in London reported the sister station VO2a on 5417 kHz at 0200z 23 March 2002 as a very poor signal. "For those with an interest in hearing this station it can be heard in Great Britain, at the date of writing, on Wednesdays 0700z on 9063 kHz and Sundays at 0700z on 6837 kHz. The mode used is generally AM but USB is sometimes used.." (via Roger Tidy, UK, DXLD) ** EGYPT. What do you think about this poll about poorest reception quality of any radio station on SW. My choice will be R. CAIRO on 17675.07 kHz in Arabic. Very distorted audio! Could hardly detect them 1305 UT. They were broadcasting in Arabic. ILG verified that`s the case. R Cairo in Arabic on this frequency 1145-1700 UT. Any other suggestions?! (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, hard-core-dx via DXLD) A bit later in the afternoon they broadcast on 15375, allegedly in Bambara and Arabic, but I have only heard audio fragments twice in a period of several weeks. Most of the power seems to go into a (slightly distorted) 50 Hz hummmm...... I wonder if Radio Cairo has any listeners outside of the studio (Rik van Riel, Curitiba, Brasil, ibid.) ** ETHIOPIA. 6939.98, R. Fana, 0329 June 23, IS at 0326 with variable carrier, to 6938 at times. S7 level but weak audio. Male announcer with ID at 0330. Once again about 16 seconds later. One more ID at 51 seconds past 0330 (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Thanks, Glenn, I indeed found it, as well as a very informative site of theirs: http://www.kielradio.de Best, Robertas RE: A question on 8638 Hello Robertas, Glenn Hauser forwarded your email to me to answer since the HF utility bands are my regular beat here at Monitoring Times magazine. As Glenn noted below, you have probably monitored DAO Kiel Radio, Germany and their Pactor-II mode service on this frequency. The absolute best website on the internet to acquaint yourself with the various digital sounds heard in the HF spectrum belongs to veteran monitor Leif Dehio in Germany. While I can't be 100% certain what you heard based on the description below, you can go online to Leif Dehio's website at: http://rover.wiesbaden.netsurf.de/~signals/DIG_intro.htm to see if any of the digital sounds their match what you heard. I suggest clicking on the PSK link from the page above then once that page is loaded, scroll down page to the section labeled "Burst" and click on the PACTOR-II ARQ (PARALLEL) sound link. That probably is what you heard. As far as getting a verification is concerned, I have not seen anyone report getting one and I do not collect Ute QSLs, but you should be able to find out more on their website at http://www.kielradio.de/ 73 and good hunting, (Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Grove Enterprises Technical Support Department Monitoring Times Assist Editor, Fed File/Milcom Columnist Telephone: V-828-837-9200/F-828-837-2216/800-438-8155 via DXLD) ** GUAM [non]. Glenn, Stumbled onto a live feed of Jimbo last night from KFRU Columbia, MO. KFRU is a Surfer Network station requiring the installation of a 800k plugin called Surfer Player. You can reach the website at http://www.surfernetwork.com with KFRU available in the News/ talk /sports category (Mike Pietruk, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bohannon often mentions in passing some of the stations he`s on, so must keep checking them out for webcasts. Recently: KNRC `Denver` but after midnight; and KWTO Springfield MO. No, nothing from the latter and the former`s website not found (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR has started a SW transmission for their NATIONAL program in parallel to the MW 1566, 1134 kHz. This service can be heard at 1325-0040 hours on 9425 kHz. 73s/alok (via BC-DX, June 27 via DXLD) ** IRAN: RADICAL DAILY RIDICULES RADIO FREE EUROPE'S SUPPORT FOR JOURNALIST | Text of report with no title from "For Your Information" column, published by Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site on 27 June The Radio Free Europe, which is directly controlled by the American espionage organization (CIA), has expressed support for the sensational remarks of a member of the Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization [and pro-reform journalist], Hashem Aghajari. This radio station, while welcoming and endorsing Aghajari's remarks, said: His speech was a repeat of the points raised by Dr Ali Shari'ati during the 1350s [1970s] decade. Speaking at a ceremony in Hamedan last week to mark the anniversary of Dr Ali Shari'ati's demise, Hashem Aghajari said that in Islam there were no such words as "spiritual clergy" or "source of emulation" and that deforms should start by reforming the religion first. Source: Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site, Tehran, in Persian 27 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Controlled by the CIA? Where did they get that absurd idea? (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A recent letter from Sylvia Rapport, English news section of Kol Israel states that [reception?] reports are no longer required because the station engineers have stopped using them (Allen Dean, UK, July World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Here's the link to a new Jerusalem Post article (from today, the 27th) about the CNN controversy in Israel: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1023716560769 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) See also USA for a Turner interview ** MADAGASCAR. Radio Netherlands Madagascar update The situation in Madagascar means that power restrictions continue to be in force. A number of Radio Netherlands transmissions have been temporarily transferred to other transmitter sites. These arrangements will remain in force until further notice. Details of the changes are on our schedule page at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html While most of these may be of little interest to members of Hard Core DX, a couple of things jumped out at me when I was typing them: We're using Dhabiyya, UAE, in English at 1730-2025 on 7120 kHz beamed to South and East Africa. On 27 and 28 June only, the transmission opens one hour later, at 1830 UT. We've only used Dhabiyya once before, for a few hours in Dutch last month on election night. The changes also affect the Democratic Voice of Burma. The transmission at 2330-0030 UT on 11715 kHz has been switched to Tashkent (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, June 27, hard-core-dx via DXLD) See BURMA [non] ** NETHERLANDS [non]. See MADAGASCAR above ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI has got rid of its extraneous North American audience by moving to 9515 after 1100 – that, of course, is occupied by Sackville, at 1256 check June 27, but something under it was presumably RNZI (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI Previews for Sunday June 30 on 9885 include: 0806 - SOUNDS HISTORICAL with Jim Sullivan. This week: New Zealand's second TV channel went on air 27 years ago today. 1012 - MEDIAWATCH (via John Figliozzi, swprograms, via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. RADIO TO INSTALL THREE NEW MW TRANSMITTERS | Excerpt from report by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency Islamabad, 28 June: Secretary Information and Media Development Syed Anwar Mahmood Friday said three new transmitters on different locations would soon be installed to enhance coverage of Radio Pakistan. Addressing the passing-out ceremony of sub-editors of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) at PBC Academy, he said the step would enhance the radio's coverage of news and current affairs channel in the wider parts of the country and abroad. The transmitters having capacity of 100 kW mediumwave would be installed out of special grant of 150m rupees, earlier approved by President General Pervez Musharraf to enhance the scope and coverage of Radio Pakistan. Syed Anwar Mahmood said new professional blood is being inducted in PBC after a period of 12 years through a transparent recruitment procedure. He said the government has also approved the hiring of 30 producers on contract basis and after judging their performance, they will be offered regular induction in PBC. He said the government has launched a new scheme of internship for young talent in various government organizations. Under this programme PBC and PTV would soon be offering internship to them. He regretted that 450 unnecessary staff was appointed in PBC in 1994 while it had been direly in need of news related workforce... Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 0944 gmt 28 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??!! ** PERU. Además de las dos emisoras arequipeñas están llegando casi a diario en la banda de 49 metros, Radio Santa Rosa, de Lima, por los 6045,4 kHz y Radio Unión, también de Lima, entre los 6108 y los 6119 (sí, leyeron bien) variable, con audio distorsionado, aunque fuerte (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 27, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. Radio Tacna informa que el transmisor que utiliza para sus emisiones en 31 metros [9504.8] tiene tan solo 0.2 kW (200 vatios de potencia) (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 28, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. ORT TO START BROADCASTING TO USA, EUROPE | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 28 June: The Russian Public Television (ORT) can repay debt on a 100m-dollar loan from Vnesheconombank within the next five years without harming the TV channel's development. ORT General Director Konstantin Ernst made this announcement in an interview with Interfax after speaking at a session of the Federation Council information policy committee on Friday [28 June]. The TV channel is solvent now, and it has paid 45m dollars on other debts over the past six months, Ernst said. "We have completely repaid almost all of the rest of our debts to the television's technical centre, the VGTRK company and TV programme producers," he said. Commenting on ORT's plans, Ernst noted that "as early as at the beginning of next month, ORT will start broadcasting to the US". "We also broadcast in Europe, but we will start really covering Europe in autumn this year," he said. Ernst spoke in favour of improving Russia's media laws so that they would present tougher regulations for the domestic market and thus protect Russian producers. "Our legislation in media is among the most liberal for foreign partners and investors. Compared to the US, what we have here can be called not only a bulwark of freedom, but in fact a bit anarchistic," Ernst said. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0921 gmt 28 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ``Broadcasting to the US?`` Just how? (gh, DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. I have received a QSL from SIBC together with a programme schedule. In the programme schedule they say that the frequency of 9545 is to be operational by April 2002. Unfortunately no times are given but I would presume that it will operate while 5020 is off the air (Colin Richardson, Huntingdon, UK, July World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Listed as irregular by WRTH 2002 and not listed in the last two DSWCI Domestic Broadcasters Surveys though I know they have used this channel in the past (Mike Barraclough, ibid.) ** U S A. Got my item about Angel 1 being down just in time, as on June 27 check at 1255, it was back on 9495, at least; and June 29 at 0315 check on 7315 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1249.5 | USA | WKBR, Manchester, NH, Jun 20, 0036 UT - still on split freq., should be widely heard (Mark Connelly, Rowley MA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: Emergency operations for Arizona Wildfires I heard them all plus KZUA 92.1 and KRFM 96.5. Yes, there were times that the stations disappeared. I don't know if there were problems with electrical power or if the fire got so close to the transmitters that they had to leave for a while. I do remember them saying they would be on the air as long as the fire didn't cut off the power and the station didn't burn down. There was a major, major powerline going in the fire area over AZ 260 that was unpowered while firefighting was going on in the area. Perhaps this why the stations went off at times. The fire is now at 375,000 acres and 5% contained. The Mogollón Rim is the exact place where most of the trees are in the state and the prime fire area. The fire moved from the Rim to the White Mountains. It`s believed that the fire was started by some Apaches on the res but that awaits to be proven since there haven't been any arrests (Kevin Redding, Mesa, Arizona, AMFMTVDX mailing list, June 26 via DXLD) ** U S A. RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO AIDS AT ARIZONA WILDFIRE It`s hams to the rescue, again! This time it is the RODEO/CHEDESKI fire in Eastern Arizona. Over 350-thousand-acres -- more than half the size of Rhode Island and far from containment! The FCC reserved emergency frequencies for fire related communications only: during daylight hours, 7.265 MHz on 40 Meters and after dark, 3.990 MHz in the 75 Meter band. W7TSA, a club station operated by the Salvation Army set up at one of the evacuation centers. It operated as primary net control, with other Arizona stations picking up the duty in shifts, making sure the frequencies were monitored 24-hours a day. OFF AIR AUDIO HERE One of the priorities, was setting up a VHF repeater, to enable reliable, short-distance communications for mobiles and portables: OFF AIR AUDIO HERE The Forest Service has set up fire fighting headquarters in the town of Show Low, and one of the operators at W7TSA, located in the town`s high school, gave other monitoring stations a rundown of activity, Tuesday night, June 25th. OFF AIR AUDIO HERE Those two frequencies, 7.265 and 3.990, plus or minus 3 kHz, are reserved for fire only duties for up to 14-days. Watch for the FCC announcement when things return to normal. For some interesting short-wave listening, tune in -- but please don`t transmit on those frequencies unless you`re actively involved in the emergency response (Story written by Alan Kaul, W6RCL, Amateur Radio Newsline June 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. Another example of ads on a public station WNYE (FM and TV), Brooklyn, are owned by the now soon-to-be defunct Board of Education of the City of New York. (The State just passed a bill giving the mayor his desire to take over control of the public schools. On the other hand, the mayor is trying to give the local bus lines in this section of Queens, now on strike, to the state agency which runs the subway and most of the bus lines in New York City. They are currently franchised to private companies but heavily subsidized by the City.) Anyway, WNYE and WNYE-TV broker much of their time to ethnic broadcasters. And at least on TV (it's harder to tell on radio) at least some of these ethnic broadcasters run commercials for local ethnic businesses. (Joel Rubin, Queens, June 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TOWER PITS THE GARDEN CROWD AGAINST JONI MITCHELL FANS June 28, 2002 By ALAN FEUER Could there be a more profound existential crisis for New Yorkers of a certain breed - financially well off, intellectually curious and, for the most part, liberal-leaning - than having to pick sides between a world-class public garden and a commercial-free public radio station? Essentially, that was the choice hundreds struggled with yesterday at a public hearing in the Bronx to decide whether WFUV-FM, a station run by Fordham University, has the right to build a soaring broadcast tower above the conifers and glass conservatories of the New York Botanical Garden. This dispute has raged for eight years, but that did not stop the hearing, which was overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, from being a civilized affair. Caterers in bow ties welcomed the partisans to sample from a wide selection of Danishes served with coffee on a flagstone patio in the pleasant morning air. During the speeches, there were references to Robert Frost, John Dryden and aesthetic theory - with a few Latin phrases thrown in. Speaking of the issues, the crowd broke down between those who fear that without the tower, WFUV's irreplaceable, offbeat programs will go off the air and those who view the unfinished, 260-foot-tall structure as a hideous intrusion on the irreplaceable beauty of the garden. But speaking of the sociology beneath the issues, one could say the battle pitted the white-shoed against the tennis-shoed. Or even, Philippe de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who spoke on the garden's behalf, against college students with names like Phil. A brief history of the squabble may be useful. The tower was erected in 1994 on the northern edge of Fordham's Rose Hill campus, directly across Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard from the garden's main entrance. Starting in 1947, WFUV had broadcast by way of an antenna atop Keating Hall at Fordham, but the station felt the antenna was old and weak. It considered more than 20 sites but dismissed them all before settling on the tower in its current spot. In 1996, the State Supreme Court affirmed the university's right to build, although the next year, the F.C.C. ruled that the tower had an adverse effect on the garden by "introducing an obtrusive visual element" to its landscape. Negotiations started. They lasted about three years. They failed so badly that when the notion of the hearing arose, the university and the garden could not agree on where to hold it. The morning session was at the garden, the afternoon session on Fordham's campus. The F.C.C. is considering whether to move the tower to a new location, allow it to continue broadcasting at its current height or permit Fordham to build it higher. The F.C.C. will not rule on the tower for several months, but the hearing was remarkable nonetheless for how it highlighted differences between people who might, in other circumstances, be politically and socially aligned. Among the first handful of speakers were two men who perfectly personified the rift. Anthony R. Smith, president of the Horticultural Society of New York, offered his support for the garden. In a cream-colored suit, Mr. Smith called the tower an "inappropriate, unsightly affront" and its proximity to such natural beauty comparable to housing the Met's collection in a Quonset hut. Then he started speaking Latin, saying, "Res ipsa loquitur," which means, "The thing speaks for itself." This became his refrain: The tower is ugly. The thing speaks for itself. A few speakers later came Bob Paterson, a chemical engineer, who said, "I'm, like, one of the world's biggest Joni Mitchell fans." In a T-shirt reading, "No Tower, No Tunes," Mr. Paterson said the loss of WFUV would be devastating, and he looked as if he, personally, might bear the brunt of this devastation. His next statement drew applause: "This garden is a visual oasis. But WFUV is an audio oasis." The difference between the two camps was even more glaring during lunch. The garden gave a private lunch where young women in cocktail dresses checked names at a table in front of a canopied dining hall with chandeliers and waiters in 19th-century-style vests. Jessye Norman, the opera singer, sat on the dais next to Mr. Montebello. (Brooke Astor sent along a statement of her own, saying of the tower, "In a whole century, I have never seen anything so sad.") Meanwhile, in Fordham's McGinley Student Center, young women in tank tops sat on folding chairs to listen to a concert of Celtic music and folk crooners. Sausage pizza and spaghetti Alfredo were being served in the cafeteria downstairs. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/28/nyregion/28WFUV.html?ex=1026288469&ei=1&en=a99765b12a81dfcc Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. Posted on Tue, Jun. 25, 2002 AROUND THE DIAL/Kevin Baxter WLRN CHANGES MEET RESISTANCE Shortly after John LaBonia took over as general manager at WLRN-FM (91.3), he reorganized the office seating chart so that his closest lieutenants would have the desks nearest his own. That led one long-term employee to throw such a fit, he was suspended and eventually had to be escorted from the building by a police officer. That's a lot of fuss over rearranging some furniture, so LaBonia wasn't surprised to meet resistance to his latest reorganization: a sweeping two-phase plan designed to make the station more profitable and competitive.... http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/entertainment/music/3537044.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) PROFITABLE??? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Schedule changes at KCRW in July include, PDT = UT -7: THE POLITICS OF CULTURE, various hosts/topics, airs Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3 PM (previously aired Wednesdays at 2:30) THE TREATMENT, with host Elvis Mitchell, airs Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3 PM (previously aired Fridays at 2:30). REPEAT BROADCAST the FOLLOWING TUESDAY at 7:30 PM [but skips a week until July 10, per announcement June 28 –gh] LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER, with Matt Miller, Arianna Huffington, Bob Scheer, and David Frum, airs Fridays from 2:30 to 3 PM (previously aired Tuesdays at 2:30). REPEAT BROADCAST Fridays, 7 to 7:30 PM. [in order to `go national` as announced; already it is on KUOW UT Wed 0430, but suppose that will have to change to UT Sat?] ON THE AIR AT KCRW PDT = UT -7 ---------------------------------------------- JULY 4TH AND 5TH SPECIAL: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL ** - Thurs, July 4, 9 AM to 5 PM and Fri, July 5, Noon to 5 PM * The legendary Jerry "The Iceman" Butler hosts this 13 hour series that explores the Golden Age of R&B, from its roots in the 1940s swoon tunes of Nat King Cole and Louis Jordan to the politically charged sounds of the 1960s soul era. It's produced by one of the most inventive independent producers working in public radio, Lex Gillespie, through The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, and is distributed by Public Radio International. Thursday, July 4, 9 AM to 5 PM 9 to 10 AM * JUMPING THE BLUES - Meet the Father of R&B, Louis Jordan, star of radio, jukeboxes, and the silver screen, whose small dance band "jumped the blues," giving it a big beat. Visit Los Angeles, an early R&B hotspot that drew black performers from the South during the Great Migration, including Nat King Cole, Charles Brown, and Joe "The Honeydripper" Liggins. Sadly, many of these R&B pioneers endured financial abuse by industry profiteers. 10 to 11 AM * SINGING ON THE CORNER - In the '40s and '50s, black street singers filled their neighborhoods with the sounds of "doo- wop," and a few early-bird groups took flight The Ravens, The Orioles, The Flamingos. Show two explores the evolution of doo-wop and shares stories of classics like "Earth Angel" and "I Only Have Eyes for You." It also follows Richard Berry, who wrote "Louie Louie." His song became the most-recorded rock song of all time, but he died without receiving full recognition or compensation for his influential tune. 11 to Noon * THE ATLANTIC SOUND - One of the premier R&B labels was co-founded by Ahmet Ertegun, son of Turkey's U.S. diplomat. Launched in a tiny hotel suite in New York, Atlantic Records grew and developed an urbane sound that defined Rhythm and Blues of the 1950s and '60s. Its all-star roster included Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, and The Coasters. The program also visits with arrangers like Jesse Stone, who gave the label its distinctive sound. Noon to 1 PM * WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans was one of Rhythm and Blues' earliest hotbeds. Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and Little Richard recorded hit songs in the French Quarter studio run by Cosimo Matassa during the 1950s. Listeners hear from the Mardi Gras Indians, whose music, with its percussive rhythms, was a big influence on the city's R&B sound. They also hear stories behind New Orleans classics like "I'm Walking," "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy," and "Tutti Frutti." 1 to 2 PM * HONKERS, BAR WALKERS, AND SCREAMERS - Perhaps no instrument defines Rhythm and Blues better than a big, bold saxophone. Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, "Big Jay" McNeely, and Jimmy "One Note" Wright electrified audiences, playing while on their backs or walking across bars, and making their horns honk and scream as they blended the notes. Listeners hear the story of "Shotgun," the classic Motown tune by sax man Junior Walker, and get a profile of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, whose vocal style was inspired by a honking, screaming sax. 2 to 3 PM * BOLD, BAWDY, AND BANNED - Risqué lyrics in the blues date back to the 1920s, and they continued well into the Rhythm and Blues Era. Artists and songwriters like Hank Ballard, the original writer of "The Twist," explain the coded language, double entendres, and street slang that spice the tunes. Ballard shocked the nation with his sexually coded "Work with Me, Annie." Censors stayed busy, although banning a song often had the opposite effect it boosted its popularity! 3 to 4 PM * THE JET PILOTS OF JIVE - Disc jockeys were the pied pipers of Rhythm and Blues. These black and white spin doctors helped popularize the genre often for a price. Payola was common in the early days, ultimately forcing many DJs off the air. Show seven features several original platter spinners black DJs from Chicago like Al "The Ole Swing Master" Benson; Georgie Woods, "The Guy with the Goods"; and "Hot Rod" Hulbert. Listeners also meet white DJs, including Nashville's William "Hoss" Allen and Cleveland's Alan "Moondog" Freed. 4 to 5 PM * ROADHOUSE BLUES - In the segregated '50s and early '60s, black artists toured the so-called Chitlin' Circuit, a collection of clubs in African American communities around the country. Life on the road was difficult since most hotels and restaurants were closed to blacks. The program shares stories of hard travel and experiences performing live in roadhouses, nightclubs, colleges, and legendary spots like Harlem's famed pollo Theater. Friday, July 5, Noon to 5 PM Noon to 1 PM * GOING TO CHICAGO - Program nine visits the hometown of host Jerry Butler to explore the blues and soulful sounds of the Windy City. Butler began his singing career with The Impressions, whose members included Curtis Mayfield and whose first hit, "For Your Precious Love," soared in 1958. Next up are Chicago music icon Sam Cooke, Mitty Collier, Gene Chandler, and Fontella Bass. Blues Queen Dinah Washington is featured, along with Chess Records stars Bo Diddley, KoKo Taylor, Willie Dixon, and Muddy Waters. 1 to 2 PM * SWEET SOUL MUSIC - Show 10's spotlight is on soul music heavyweights, starting with the Godfather and the Queen of Soul, James Brown and Aretha Franklin. It profiles The Drifters, the 1950s vocal group who pioneered "uptown soul," blending gospel-drenched lyrics with lush string arrangements in their influential songs, "There Goes My Baby," "Under the Boardwalk," and "On Broadway." It heads to the hit factories of Memphis' Stax Records and on to Muscle Shoals, AL, where black singers backed by white musicians produced many soulful sounds. 2 to 3 PM * DANCING IN THE STREET - Everyone loves the '60s sounds of Motown Records, perhaps the most influential Rhythm and Blues record company of all time. Show 11 overflows with stories and songs from Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Miracles, and others. It also looks at the folks behind the scenes who helped produce Motown Magic session musicians, Detroit Symphony Orchestra members, arrangers, and the head of the label's "charm school." 3 to 4 PM * SOUL SISTERS - It was a man's world. Men dominated the music business as owners, artists, musicians, band leaders, and singers. But some of the most soulful singers in Rhythm and Blues are women, from Irma Thomas to Beverly Lee of The Shirelles. Program 12 explores R&B from a female perspective, and talks with pioneers Faye Adams, who did "Shake a Hand"; Barbara Lewis and her "Hello Stranger"; plus Little Esther Phillips and Big Mama Thornton. 4 to 5 PM * OUR DAY WILL COME - Rhythm and Blues was born in segregated black America during the '40s and '50s. But by the '60s, black artists had a large white audience. Success brought hope for social change, as songs like "Our Day Will Come" soared on both Pop and R&B charts. Listeners hear such artists as Curtis Mayfield, whose uplifting, soulful songs were dubbed the soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement, and Marvin Gaye, whose landmark "What's Going On?" explored themes of racial justice, ecology, and the Vietnam War. The series ends affirming the impact of Rhythm and Blues on American culture and politics. THE CAPITOL STEPS: POLITICS TAKES A HOLIDAY ** - Thurs, July 4, 7 to 7:30 PM * THE CAPITOL STEPS POLITICS TAKES A HOLIDAY The bi-partisan masters of satire in song spin their musical mayhem around the Fools on the Hill. Politics, parody and puns...Happy 4th! (KCRW Newsletter via DXLD) Also on MANY other NPR stations at various times and dates around 4th (gh) ** U S A. GOODBYE BROADCAST.COM Internet media giant Yahoo! Inc. said on June 26 it was discontinuing some Web broadcast operations including its FinanceVision and Yahoo! Radio, abandoning a strategy it set when it paid USD 5.7 billion for Broadcast.com in 1999. The company said no more than 30 employees would be affected through layoffs or reassignments. Yahoo has had mixed results in incorporating broadcast services into its media offerings since it made Web broadcasting a major part of its strategy in 1999 when it purchased Broadcast.com Inc. Its FinanceVision service was set up like a financial television station, employing its own anchors and reporters to cover business news and financial markets in a fashion similar to that of financial cable television channels like CNBC. But the program never gained as much traction as its main Yahoo! Finance site, which provides basic text and graphics. The Yahoo! Radio service had rebroadcast terrestrial radio stations from around the country. The company will discontinue that and instead focus on its LAUNCHcast service, which makes original music broadcasts designed for the Web. Yahoo will continue to offer some other broadcast services, including a Webcasting business for corporations. (Reuters) This seems like a real blow to Webcasting, as broadcast.com was a pioneer in providing Internet broadcasting services to radio stations across the United States, even if the rights controversy of the past couple of years has been a setback (SCDX MediaScan June 27 via DXLD) The economics of webcasting simply don't work. The Library of Congress set royalty payments to musicians so high last week that most independent webcasters will be shutting down and going out of business. You're starting to see that already. Ironically, the royalty structure was the result of a deal between Yahoo! and the RIAA, the recording industry trade organization. Why ironically? Because this week, Yahoo announced it was shutting down much of its webcasting operation, including FinanceVision and Yahoo! Radio. More information on the Yahoo! closing at http://news.com.com/2100-1023-939405.html?tag=cd_mh I believe that Yahoo! Radio is the part of the company that the BBC was using, so I expect they'll lose all that extra capability they were buying from Yahoo! There's one simple fact about webcasting that makes it impossible to break even with the net currently structured as it is: every new listener costs the broadcaster money. And that simple fact is killing webcasting right now. So enjoy it while you can. It won't be around for much longer. And don't throw away your radios (Ralph Brandi, swprograms via DXLD) Kim Elliott spotted this. Unfortunately, the business model that led to this wonderful proliferation of webcasters isn't working out -- between the royalty fees and the decline of advertising revenue, times are tough http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=1690 (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) YAHOO CLOSING STREAMING RADIO, VIDEO SERVICES http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/06/26/financial1632EDT0275.DTL (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. NPR RETREATS, LINK STINK LINGERS By Farhad Manjoo, Wired News 2:00 a.m. June 28, 2002 PDT In response to furious criticism of its online linking policy, National Public Radio will no longer require webmasters to ask permission to link to NPR.org... http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,53543,00.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, According to FCC data, WBCQ has a Harris MW-50 converted to shortwave operation. WWRB is authorized two MW-50C transmitters "modified for shortwave same as WBCQ". Quote is from FCC International Bureau data file transmitter.dat (Donald Wilson, June 28, DXLD) ** U S A. I have belatedly found out that despite Allan Weiner`s offer to simulcast WOR on 17495 as well as 7415 at the new time of 2200 UT Wednesdays, the 17 MHz frequency is currently not authorised beyond 2200. So --- never mind (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Historic coast station KPH to mark fifth anniversary of its closing: Historic coast station KPH will return to the air June 30 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of its closing. The well-known former RCA coast station is located north of San Francisco. Operation will begin at 2100 UTC. Commercial operators, including former members of the KPH staff, will be at the keys. ``This on-the-air event is intended to honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade at KPH where the `key still clicks` in the best tradition of maritime radio,`` said Dick Dillman, W6AWO, of the Maritime Radio Historical Society. The original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas will be used to activate frequencies in all the commercial maritime HF and MF bands. Operators will be located at the KPH receiving station in Point Reyes, California, while the transmitters and transmitter staff will be at the transmitting station 18 miles south in Bolinas. KPH will transmit on 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12,808.5, 17,016.5 and 22,477.5 kHz on HF and on 500 and 426 kHz on MF. KPH operators will listen for calls from ships on 4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12,552.0, 16,736.0 and 22,280.5 kHz on HF and 500 kHz on MF. KPH will send weather and press broadcasts as well as commemorative messages, many of which will be sent by hand. At other times the KPH ``wheel`` will be sent to mark the transmitting frequencies. Reception reports may be sent to D.A. Stoops, PO Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924-0381. On July 12, KPH and KFS will also mark the third anniversary of the last commercial Morse transmission in North America. KPH is operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the US National Park Service. Further information about the KPH restoration project may be found on the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site http://www.radiomarine.org (ARRL June 27 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. In case you haven't seen it, this is the original interview which got Ted Turner in trouble with Israelis. 73- Bill Westenhaver ------- TED'S TEARS Ted Turner has just been through the worst two years of his life. Ousted, divorced, bereaved and vilified, the multibillionaire founder of CNN was left feeling suicidal. But he's been keeping busy - saving the UN, making public gaffes and fighting for the Chiricahua leopard frog Oliver Burkeman Monday June 17 2002 The Guardian The walls of Ted Turner's international headquarters, 14 floors above downtown Atlanta, are lined with Oscar statuettes. If you try to pick one up - to brandish aloft, for example, the actual best-production award for Casablanca - you will discover that they are all firmly bolted to their glass display shelves, and Turner's aides, who pace the floors crackling with nervous energy, will break their frowns for just long enough to laugh at you. Turner isn't frowning, though. "Great Britain, huh?" barks the 63- year-old multibillionaire founder of CNN, former champion sailor, Rhett Butler lookalike and record-breaking philanthropist, bolting out from behind his desk with such force that he almost dislodges the best-picture Oscar for Gone With the Wind, which he seems to use as a paperweight. His famous pencil moustache is silver now, impeccably kept, and it twitches and leaps every time he smiles, which he does a lot - in amusement, but also in exasperation at conflict in the Middle East, impending environmental catastrophe, everything. "We've met, haven't we? No? Huh. Great Britain. Let me tell you something. I've got some great paintings of the Battle of Trafalgar..." The smiles seem particularly out of place because Turner has just emerged from the worst two years of his life - years that he has said left him feeling "suicidal". In spring 2000, he was suddenly sidelined from the broadcasting company he had built from scratch, kicked from the driver's seat into a meaningless advisory position by means of a fax message. Then his wife of eight years, the actress Jane Fonda, came home one night - the way he tells it - and informed him that she was now a born-again Christian; they divorced last year. Two of his grandchildren developed a rare genetic disorder, and one died. Turner's friends said he was inconsolable. Then, just when he felt it could get no worse, he brought the wrath of America upon himself by telling students in a speech in Rhode Island that the September 11 hijackers had been "brave". He was stung into silence. "Where's the upside in opening your mouth?" he says now, scissoring himself into an armchair overlooking the city, the shelves behind him crammed with more than 140 plaques and trophies. "It's kinda nice to keep quiet at a time when everybody else is telling everybody what to do." Instead, he threw himself into his charity work, which is dizzying stuff in itself: he pledged $1bn to the UN in 1997 and helped pay off the $34m it was owed by the US in 2000. Turner's UN Foundation, the biggest of his three charities, recently spent $22.2m in one month combating intestinal parasites in Vietnamese children, reducing China's greenhouse-gas emissions and helping women from Burkina Faso start businesses selling nut butter. "But I'm trying to force myself to relax," he says. He has just got in from Argentina, he explains, where he owns "a couple of ranches" - rather an understatement, since he has 128,000 acres there and 1.8 million in the US, making him America's largest individual landowner. "When I was young and ocean- racing competitively, and working the rest of the time, I was going 24 hours. I was on the verge of collapsing. But you've got to slow down a bit. That's what I'm finding from my..." - and here he punctuates his sentence with the weirdly drawn-out "awwww" sound he uses instead of "um" or "er" - "from my personal experiment with life." Nigel Pritchard, CNN's head of international public relations, who is sitting beside me, has prepared a memo outlining some things his boss might like to consider not saying. Craning my neck, I see that it politely suggests that he might steer clear of talking about AOL Time Warner, the company resulting from the merger of the internet firm AOL with the company that Turner Broadcasting was already part of. And, specifically, he might like to avoid reference to that Rhode Island speech. Nigel is only doing his job, but I suspect that he knows this part of it was never going to be very effective: Turner is notorious for doing as he pleases. Early in his career, he made a pitch wearing no clothes to advertising executives; later, he caused controversy by travelling to Cuba to get Fidel Castro to tape a promotional slot for CNN. "I made an unfortunate choice of words!" he cries when the subject of the Rhode Island speech is raised. "I chose, accidentally, to say that they were brave. That was a mistake. Because brave - it's the home of the brave here. And the home of the Braves!" (Turner owns the Atlanta Braves baseball team.) "All right! I use that word so often, it just pops out. It's on the top of my mind because I've owned the team for 25 years. I sing the song every time." He leans forward as if sharing a secret, except that his voice, amplified by encroaching deafness, never quietens. "Look, I'm a very good thinker, but I sometimes grab the wrong word. I say something I didn't think through adequately. I mean, I don't type my speeches, then sit up there and read them off the teleprompter, you know. I wing it." Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, is reported to have thought that Turner was playing a prank when he offered to spend $1bn on the beleaguered organisation. Nothing could have been further from the truth: in his various world-saving projects - everything from preventing the extinction of the Chiricahua leopard frog in the wilds of New Mexico to founding an influential nuclear non-proliferation institute - Turner really does seem to see himself as locked in a personal, elemental battle against apocalypse. "I'm doing everything I can to try and avert disaster while we kind of give us a little time to get our act together, because in time we'll have to do it," he says. "Either that, or, you know... it's goodbye." He doesn't just give money: his staff are sometimes taken aback to see him skulking in the streets nearby, picking up litter. Turner has always lacked a statesman-like gravitas in his philanthropy, and in his universe, it turns out, environmental apocalypse is basically like sport. "It's like baseball," he says, but he is too polite not to cater to his audience. "Or we could use soccer. We're down by one goal, with 10 minutes left to play. Well, the game's not over. But we're gonna have to not let the opposition score any more, and we're gonna have to get at least one more goal, and preferably two, to win the game. That's where we are right now," he says, careening recklessly into a pool analogy. "We're right behind the eight ball." He is baffled, enraged, driven to louder and louder pronouncements and bigger smiles of confusion by the fact that nobody else seems to be thinking about these matters at the moment, embroiled as we are in the war on terrorism. "But right now, aren't the Israelis and the Palestinians both terrorising each other?" he says, as Pritchard starts scribbling furiously on his notepad. "It looks to me like they're both doing it. When the Brits retaliated for the Germans, for the, awwww, Krauts... for the Nazis bombing London by bombing Berlin, weren't you both terrorising each other? The rich and the powerful, they don't need to resort to terrorism... The Palestinians are fighting with human suicide bombers; that's all they have. The Israelis... they've got one of the most powerful military machines in the world. The Palestinians have nothing. So who are the terrorists? I would make a case that both sides are involved in terrorism." But Pritchard is writing at warp speed now, and there has always been a part of Turner that wants to please everyone, including his worried public-relations staff. "The United States, I think," he says, pulling himself together, "would probably not be considered a terrorist example at the current time." It must get depressing, I say, to dedicate so much time to issues that seem to have faded from the agenda. And so much money: when Turner gave his first billion to the UN, he dropped 67 places on the Forbes 500 rich list, out of the top 10 for ever. (His fortune now stands at $3.8 giga) Even with his resources, he must feel powerless now compared with when he sat astride the world's biggest media conglomerate. Does he ever feel hopeless? "I remember, many years ago, at the height of the cold war, I was down the Amazon with [the explorer] Jacques Cousteau, and I had a hopeless thought, and I said, 'Jacques, I don't think we're gonna make it.' And he said, 'What difference does it make? What else can we do?' " Then he is suddenly quiet. "It is depressing," he says softly. "The Middle East, the environment, all these things - it is depressing." He turns his head away and his lips start pursing and unpursing, mashing his moustache. The skin around his eyes turns red, and he blinks, and it becomes apparent that Ted Turner is crying. "It is depressing," he says again. But it lasts only moments, and he is soon arching forward again, outlining his solutions. One of these has always been a spirited internationalism that can seem a little goofy these days - the simple benefits of getting to know your enemies instead of raising the barricades against them. CNN gained a reputation in parts of Europe as a sinister force of American imperialism, but in fact it has always dripped with this let's-all-get-along ethic, and Turner says his greatest pleasure, back when he had full control of the channel, was in "ordering them to cover this or that UN conference from gavel to gavel". It is the same with his theory of diplomacy. "The worst thing you can do if you want to start a fight is to use derogatory terminology," he says. "You go into a bar in Britain and say, 'I don't like you blokes' - you're gonna get punched in the nose, right? Whammo! You know - 'Britain stinks. Does anybody wanna defend it?' Whammo! Right? I mean, it's easy to start a war if you want to." It isn't hard to see how Turner's childhood might have instilled this sense of permanent crisis, of desperate insecurity, behind the frenzied activity that is his trademark. His father, from whom he inherited an advertising business that he turned into CNN, was prone to fits of rage, and beat him with a coathanger; he committed suicide when Turner was 24. Even before that, his younger sister had died from an immune disease when she was 12, and Ted was sent to a boarding school he hated. His father, he has said, not without admiration, believed that instilling insecurity in his son would help him to achieve. All in all, Turner seems to have been a well-qualified candidate for total psychic collapse. "But when everything goes wrong," he says today, "you can either give up or you can try to fight. I tried to fight." Initially, he really did want to fight: "When I was a little kid there was this book called A Yank in the RAF. That's what I wanted to be. A Yank in the RAF. The Battle of Britain! Biggin Hill! A Spitfire - I was gonna take off and shoot the Krauts out of the sky... but I was born in 38. By the time I was seven, the war was already over. And I saw what happened in Nagasaki and Hiroshima and London, I saw the little kids shaking and being put on the trains and sent to the countryside. I thought families ought to be able to live in their houses and not have to worry about bombs falling from the sky." He says his sense of responsibility comes from being taught in a Christian school; then again, he's prone to mocking "Jesus freaks", and didn't seem to think he could live with Fonda once she converted. "But I don't really want to talk about all that," he says. "It's personal." He's now seeing an old flame, a Frenchwoman called Frederique d'Arragon. "She's been, awwww, a part of my life for a long time," he says sheepishly. After a brief spell in the armed forces, he ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business, purchasing a radio station and using empty billboards to advertise it. His radio empire grew, and expanded to local television. By 1980, he was launching CNN, although it was not until the Gulf war that the often-derided channel came into its own. He bought Hanna-Barbera's entire back catalogue, creating the Cartoon Network, and hundreds of old MGM films, which he recycled on another lucrative channel, Turner Classic Movies. His firm eventually merged with Time Warner, also the publisher of Time magazine. But then came AOL, and Gerald Levin, the chief executive of the new giant, decided he didn't need Turner - or perhaps couldn't tolerate his unpredictability. Levin is gone now, and his replacement, Richard Parsons, has brought Turner back into the fold in a new vice-chairman position. The line from corporate communications is that Turner is back in the saddle. But this is not how Turner sees it. "It doesn't mean a whole lot, to be honest with you," he says. He often refers ruefully to himself as an "emperor of Japan" figurehead for AOL Time Warner, wheeled out for ceremonies. But his semi-detachment does let him indulge his penchant for needling his new bosses. He is full of enthusiasm, for example, about an eco-cartoon called Captain Planet. "But I can't get them to show it on Cartoon Network," he sighs. "They say they can't get the ratings." He gets his information on current affairs from the Economist these days, he says. "You better say that I read Time magazine, too. You better say that. But it's not really for me. It's too populist." "Oh, God," Pritchard moans softly. "Awwwww," says Turner, announcing a new thought. "I did not choose, awwww, to be phased out of the company. Out of active management. It was very painful for me. I was in the habit - I'd been working at this company for 40 years, only job I ever had other than being in the armed forces years ago. It was a very difficult transition for me. I love CNN. I love the Cartoon Network. I mean, I thought these things up. CNN is accepted all over the world, but I was like the British Expeditionary Force. I was one man, on an airplane all over the world, trying to convince people about a US-based network coming into their country... What I wanted to do, I figured, was to set an example for getting along. That's what Gandhi tried to do - bring the Hindus and the Muslims together. Nearly starved himself to death until they stopped fighting." When I ask why he didn't end up as more of a Rupert Murdoch figure, he just grimaces. "Whoaaa, God," is all he says. And then he remembers that he has got another appointment, and he is bouncing out of his chair, showing off his Oscar and his paintings, ushering me towards the door with a serenade of Rule Britannia. He stops only to offer, for inspection, a dollar bill, encased in plastic, which he keeps on his desk - a rare commemorative issue featuring a picture of a bison. The same bill is reproduced on his tie. Turner has a fondness for bisons: there are more than 25,000 of them on his ranches. His chain of restaurants, Ted's Montana Grill, serves bison burgers. "Pretty cool," he says to himself, turning the dollar bill over in his hands. He looks across to check that I am just as thrilled by it as he is. "Pretty cool, huh?" Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. A site disrespectful of Clear Channel: http://www.cheap-channel.com/ (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. FCC WRC-03 ADVISORY PANEL RECOMMENDS PHASED-IN WORLDWIDE 7-MHZ BAND NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 26, 2002--The FCC is requesting comments on the draft recommendations of its World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 Advisory Committee (WAC). Among the panel`s recommended draft proposals to next year`s international gathering is a plan--still subject to change--that would create a worldwide amateur allocation at 7.0 to 7.3 MHz by 2010. The deadline for comments on the proposals is July 12. The draft proposals ``may evolve as we approach WRC-03 and during the course of interagency discussions,`` the FCC noted in a Public Notice. ``Therefore, they do not constitute the final national position on these issues.`` While US amateurs already enjoy a 7.0 to 7.3 MHz allocation, only 7.0 to 7.1 MHz is available to amateurs in all three International Telecommunication Union regions, with 7.1 to 7.3 MHz available to broadcasting in much of the rest of the world. The draft proposal for WRC-03 agenda item 1.23 dealing with possible realignment of the 7- MHz amateur allocation calls for making 7.1 to 7.2 MHz available worldwide by April 1, 2007, and the 7.2 to 7.3 segment by April 1, 2010. Broadcasting allocations would shift upward by 100 kHz at the same time--to 7450 kHz by 2007 and to 7550 by 2010. The intervening periods would permit time for international broadcasters and other services to adjust their operations accordingly. The International Amateur Radio Union already is on record in favor of the approach. An earlier suggestion to shift the 40-meter allocation down by 100 kHz came off the table earlier this year to avoid affecting Fixed Service operations between 6765 and 7000 kHz. In other draft proposals affecting the Amateur Service, the FCC`s WRC-03 Advisory Committee has recommended no change to the table of allocations in the band 420 to 470 MHz. Agenda item 1.38 will consider providing up to 6 MHz of spectrum to the Earth exploration- satellite service (EESS) in the band. So-called synthetic aperture radars (SARs) are used to measure soil moisture, tropical biomass and Antarctic ice thickness, and to document geological history and climate change. At issue is whether the EESS allocation could be established without interfering with incumbent services, including radiolocation and amateur. The FCC cited studies that determined that SAR transmissions could periodically impact amateur reception and even ``the potential for significant interference.`` The FCC said the US recommendation was to maintain the status quo ``unless measures are in place to protect existing services`` and suggested that further study was needed to determine the degree of interference from EESS to other services. Agenda item 1.5 will consider spectrum requirements and regulations for new and additional allocations to the mobile, fixed, EESS and space research services at 5.15 to 5.725 GHz. The FCC expressed reservations about WAC proposals for this frequency range, citing concerns expressed by the ARRL and others. Amateur and Amateur- Satellite services allocations could be negatively affected by new mobile allocations. The FCC says it will consider the draft proposals and public comments in upcoming consultations with the US Department of State and the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) in the development of US proposals to WRC-03. Once those governmental agencies are on board, the recommendations will be used by US delegations at bilateral, regional and international meetings leading up to WRC-03. The full texts of the FCC WRC-03 Advisory Committee draft proposals are available on the panel`s Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/wrc-03. Commenters should submit an original and one copy to the Office of the Secretary, FCC, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 and provide a courtesy copy to Alex Roytblat, FCC WRC-03 Director, Room 6-B505. Comments should refer to specific proposals by document number. World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 9 until July 4, 2003 (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. USA/MIDDLE EAST: ARAB DAILY REPORTS US "WAR" ON ISLAMIST WEB SITES, CLOSURE OF AL-QA'IDAH SITE Excerpt from report by Muhammad al-Shafi'i in London entitled "US Authorities Close Down Al-Qa'idah Internet Web site and Fundamentalist Web site Criticizes Abu-Ghayth's Statement", published by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 27 June The US security organs have won another round in the war waged through the Internet on the fundamentalists' web sites that are close to Al- Qa'idah and Taleban and adopt their media message. These organs have succeeded in closing down Alneda web site, the Al-Qa'idah mouthpiece that had succeeded in evading the tight censorship by moving to another server less than one week ago under the name of "Dirasat.com". US sources believe that "Alneda" web site is Al-Qa'idah Organization's media voice because it was the only web site that carried Usamah Bin- Ladin's news these past months. The latest report it carried was the audio recording by Al-Qa'idah spokesman Sulayman Abu-Ghayth in which he claimed the organization's responsibility for the Djerba explosion [Tunisia] that killed 21 people, among them 14 German tourists. Al-Sharq al-Awsat received yesterday a statement from a Gulf fundamentalist who calls himself Abd-al-Rahman al-Rashid and runs the "JihadonLine" web site. He confirmed the closure of "Alneda" web site that belongs to the Islamic Studies and Research Centre. He said: "This is a relentless war. Even if the brothers return to the Internet, their web site will be closed down again." Al-Rashid added that he is expecting other fundamentalist web sites to be closed down very soon and urged the Islamists who have web sites to prepare themselves from now for their closure at any moment. He said: "It is not enough to fidget about this malicious situation but a search must start for other alternatives using the Internet. Mailing lists are the most important of these and the Islamists can set them up on the Internet and send news and other reports through them." He added: "We will track the reports of the brothers in the Islamic Studies and Research Centre and publish them on our web site, if it is not closed down too." Western sources had earlier referred to enquiries that US officials had made with communications companies in Malaysia and Singapore. Fundamentalists' sources in London are expecting the Islamists' web sites to publish the Islamic centre's reports and articles. The "JihadonLine" web site did exactly that yesterday when it put on the voice recording of Sulayman Abu-Ghayth's statement... Source: Al- Sharq al-Awsat, London, in Arabic 27 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VIETNAM: GOVERNMENT BANS ACCESS TO FOREIGN SATELLITE TV BROADCASTS | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 27 June Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) has protested the Communist Party's directive forbidding Vietnamese citizens from having access to foreign television programmes via satellite and called on the government to drop the measure. "Last week, the regime stressed it would keep the local media under tight control and now it forbids the Vietnamese people from hearing any criticism from abroad," said RSF Secretary-General Robert Menard in a letter to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. Under the ban, issued the week of 17-21 June 2002, only members of the government and the party, provincial governors and mayors, can view foreign TV programmes. According to the Associated Press, foreign media and news agencies operating in Vietnam, as well as international hotels, are also allowed to have satellite receivers. Anyone wanting to import such equipment must first get permission from the Ministry of Trade. The ban came soon after articles appeared in the government- controlled press denouncing the "harmful" nature of some foreign TV programmes. Last week, the head of the Communist Party's Culture and Ideological Commission, Nguyen Khoa Diem, said the media must obey the party's leadership. For further information, contact Vincent Brossel at RSF, 5 rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, Tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, E-mail: asie@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 27 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4417.27, Latin fading out 1010-1030, poor signal 27 June (Bob Wilkner, Margate, Florida, R-75, unbalanced dipole, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING FUROR BUILDS IN WAKE OF CIRCUIT COURT RULING AGAINST RELIGIONIZED PLEDGE http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pledge2.htm ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-103, June 26, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1137 available early UT June 27: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1137.ram (SUMMARY available later) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1137.html (ONDEMAND from Friday) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495, 7415; UT Thu 0415 7415 FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB [however, RFPI often does not start new edition until Sat 1800] NEW EDITION CONTINENT OF MEDIA, 02-03 available from June 25: FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1900, Sat 0100, 0700, 1300, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Tue 2000, Wed 0200, 0800, 1400 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0203.rm (STREAM) http://www.com/com/com0203.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0203.html WORLD OF RADIO SCHEDULE UPDATED: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WOR MASTER TIME SCHEDULE UPDATED: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html ** AFGHANISTAN. KABUL (Reuters) - Turkish troops have taken command of the international peacekeeping force in the Afghan capital from the British and promptly launched their own pop music station to boost morale. Radyo Turkiyem (Radio My Turkey) is broadcast from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on a local FM channel with a mix of music and messages from home. "The idea is to strengthen the morale and motivation of the troops," an official told Reuters. Music was banned under the destructionist rule of the Taliban who banned most forms of entertainment and made everyday life miserable in Afghanistan until their ouster under pressure of U.S. strikes last year. REUTERS (via Mike Cooper, June 24, DXLD) WTFK?? ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO STATION RUN BY AFGHAN WOMEN By Lee Keath, Associated Press Writer, Tuesday, June 25, 2002; 2:09 AM JABAL SERAJ, Afghanistan -- The signal only reaches a little way down the valley --- and only for four hours a day --- but the women at a tiny radio station in this mountain town hope to spread their message of women's rights and democracy far and wide. Radio Voice of Peace, which broadcasts from Jabal Seraj, a northern town watered by a river flowing down from the Hindu Kush mountains, is Afghanistan's only independent radio station. It's also the only station run by women, according to the staff. "We get 25 or 30 letters a day from women, men, children. They are happy to have our programs," Zakiya Zaki, the station's director said Monday. The station started in October on the day the United States launched its bombing campaign against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. As northern alliance troops --- based in and around Jabal Seraj --- pushed the Taliban back with U.S. help, the tiny station kept its small pocket of listeners informed on news from the battle. With the Taliban toppled, Voice of Peace broadcasts programs on children, women, religion and news --- mixed with popular Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani music. The goal is to promote stability and to tell women they must take part in rebuilding the war-torn country, Zaki said. Four female and two male announcers broadcast four hours a day --- two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. The FM signal only reaches a radius of about nine miles. Many of the 16-member staff --- including engineers and administrators --- work without pay. "We're hoping to expand our signal. We're asking for help to expand out audience," said Ibrahim Kawish, an engineer. A French organization, Droit de Parole (Right to Speech) helped the station with equipment and funds, but that assistance has run out. The U.S. military is looking to bring some help and an American team has provided it with music to play --- as well as U.S.-written scripts promoting the new Afghan government and other messages. "We want to help these people because they're promoting a message we believe in," said Bob, a captain in the team who allowed only his first name to be used. He said they are seeking military approval to give the station a new antenna to increase its range. "Fortunately, the nation's heroic women have thrown open the doors of schools and offices. So any conscientious woman can step toward progress," one of the Voice of Peace programs pronounces. Zaki said "there have been great changes" for women's rights since the fall of the Taliban --- who tried to prevent women from working and going to school during their six-year rule. Still, she said it will be a long time before women win greater rights in Afghanistan. She said that when she visits Kabul ? the relatively cosmopolitan capital ? she goes without the burqa; but in her hometown of Jabal Seraj, she wears it in the streets. "I'd be the only one without it if I didn't. It would look very strange." But the veil is not the main issue Voice of Peace addresses. The violence that has torn Afghanistan for years is one of the main problems facing women, Zaki said. The post-Taliban government "has not tried to disarm the people," she said. "Until the people are disarmed, they won't return to work, they won't have education and there can't be progress." © 2002 The Associated Press http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39691-2002Jun25.html (via Dave White, DXLD) Same as: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020625/ap_on_re_as/afghan_voice_of_peace_2 {via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]: R. Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari again with normal schedule effective June 20 0130-0327 (ex 0100-0557) on 15240 via DHA, strong co-ch Radio Australia in En 1330-1627 (ex 1230-1727) on 18940 via unID transmitter, not via Kvitsøy, Norway! (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, June 25 via DXLD) How can you tell? (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Free Afghanistan 0300 0500 IRA 02 17560 334 0300 0500 IRA 05 15705 340 0300 0500 WER 01 13790 090 0300 0500 HOL 01 11705 077 0700 0800 IRA 05 21815 334 0700 0800 IRA 03 19010 340 0700 0800 UDO 03 17775 300 0700 0800 WER 01 15345 090 0900 1100 IRA 05 21680 334 0900 1000 IRA 03 19010 340 0900 1100 UDO 03 17865 300 0900 1100 WER 01 15220 090 1000 1100 IRA 04 19010 340 1200 1300 WER 01 17740 090 1200 1300 UDO 03 17685 300 1200 1400 HOL 04 15370 057 1200 1400 IRA 01 15355 334 1200 1400 IRA 05 15265 340 1300 1400 UDO 02 17685 300 1300 1400 WER 01 15535 090 1700 1830 WER 01 15340 090 1700 1830 IRA 05 15210 340 1700 1830 UDO 02 12030 300 1700 1800 HOL 02 11835 077 1700 1830 UDO 01 9845 300 1930 2000 IRA 05 15340 340 1930 2000 WER 01 15190 090 1930 2000 UDO 01 9575 300 1930 2000 UDO 03 7285 304 2200 2300 IRA 05 13805 340 2200 2300 WER 01 11990 090 2200 2300 KAV 05 9690 095 2200 2300 IRA 01 7430 340 (June NDXC Newsletter via DXLD) Despite this hefty schedule, RFA gets a lot less press, DXer attention than the others (gh, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. Some deleted frequencies for Radio Tirana: Albanian to Eu 0300-0800 DEL 6100 CER 100 kW / non-dir 1400-1700 DEL 5985 CER 050 kW / non-dir now only 7270 CER 050 kW / non-dir 2030-2200 DEL 9575 CER 100 kW / 310 deg now only 7295 CER 100 kW / 305 deg Albanian to NAm 2300-0300 DEL 6090 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg now only 7270 CER 100 kW / 305 deg German to Eu 1730-1800 DEL 7185 CER 100 kW / 350 deg now only 9570 CER 100 kW / 350 deg Greek to Eu 1715-1730 DEL 7135 CER 050 kW / non-dir now only 6130 CER 100 kW / non-dir French to Eu 1900-1930 DEL 9520 CER 100 kW / 310 deg now only 7210 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg Italian to Eu 1800-1830 DEL 6100 SHI 100 kW / non-dir now only 7240 CER 100 kW / non-dir Serbian to Eu 2115-2130 DEL 7110 CER 100 kW / non-dir now only 6135 SHI 100 kW / non-dir Turkish to Eu 1700-1715 DEL 7140 CER 050 kW / non-dir now only 6130 CER 100 kW / non-dir (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, June 25 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. REPRIEVE FOR STANDARD FREQUENCY & TIME STATION VNG Mike Bird reports: "I have just been talking to Marion Leiba who is Honorary Secretary of the VNG Users` Consortium. She tells me that Radio VNG has been given a reprieve until 31 December 2002. The Australian National Standards Commission had announced that Radio VNG would close on 1 July 2002. It appears the Consortium and the National Standards Commission have received many protests from interested users of the service. Currently Radio VNG is transmitted from the Air Services Australia transmitter site at Llandilo in NSW (just outside Sydney.) It appears the VNG Users Consortium is currently in discussions with more than one interested party about re-locating the service to another site so that it may remain on air." The VNG Users Consortium was formed following the previous closure of the station in October 1987, and succeeded in raising sufficient funds to re-start the service. Contact details are as follows: Dr Marion Leiba, Honorary Secretary, VNG Users Consortium GPO Box 1090, Canberra ACT, 2601, Australia Tel: +61 2 6231 9476 E-mail: marion_leiba@yahoo.com (© Radio Netherlands Media Network June 25 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Have just come across Station X (Formerly on 102.9 FM) which seems to have plans of broadcasting on 1692 Gold Coast North & 1665 Gold Coast South. According to their web site http://home.iprimus.com.au/stationx/ they stopped broadcasting in November 2001 when they lost the fight to be awarded a full-time community licence. Station address is: P. O. Box 1921 Southport, 4215, Queensland (David Onley, Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia, June 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5953, every night from 2210- R. Pio Doce, Siglo Veinte. What in the world have they done with their transmitter? This is louder than Radiobrás, stronger than Ecos del Torbes (which seems to disappeared), and booms on S9+20dB signal level on daily basis (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, June 25, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. El próximo 30 de junio se celebrarán en Bolivia las nuevas elecciones presidenciales. Yo vengo siguiendo la campaña política por diferentes emisoras que emiten por onda corta, fundamentalmente por los 49 metros. Evidentemente, en esa jornada se van a producir emisiones o coberturas especiales y seguramente se prolongará más de una transmisión. Con viento a favor, tal vez alguna emisora reactive algún transmisor de onda corta o alguna que lo hace en horarios inaccesibles para nosotros emita en otro horario. Les recomiendo estar atentos a las bandas de 60 y 49 metros. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 26, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Additional freqs for Radio Bulgaria effective July 1: 15700 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 1000-1100 German to WeEu \\ 17500 WEu 1100-1200 English to WeEu \\ 17500 WEu 1200-1400 Bulgarian to WeEu \\ 12000 WEu 13600 PLD 500 kW / 185 deg 1500-1600 Bulgarian to ME \\ 17500 SAf 11800 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 1615-1700 German to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 1700-1800 French to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 1800-1845 German to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 11900 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 1900-2000 English to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 2000-2100 French to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 2100-2200 English to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 11700 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 2300-2400 English to NoAm \\ 9400 NAm 0000-0100 Bulgarian to NoAm \\ 9400 NAm 0100-0200 French to NoAm \\ 9400 NAm 0200-0300 English to NoAm \\ 9400 NAm 12000 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 0430-0500 Bulgarian to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu Mon-Fri 0400-0500 Bulgarian to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu Sat/Sun 0500-0545 German to WeEu \\ 9400 WEu 13600 PLD 500 kW / 306 deg 0600-0700 French to WeEu \\ 12000 WEu (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, June 25 via DXLD) PLD = Plovdiv ** CANADA [and non]. Freq change for Radio Canada International via SAC 250 kW / 176 deg: 2200-2300 English/Spanish and 2300-2400 French NF 15170 (45544), ex 15305. New time for Radio Canada International in Arabic: 2115-2145 (ex 2100- 2130) on 11755 WER (55555), 17820 SAC (55444) (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, June 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA. 740, CHWO, Canada, Ontario, Toronto: received a beautiful classy full color QSL card in 19d along with bookmarks, info on CHWO, etc. Really a nice package of stuff. V/S: Brian Smith-QSL Manager. Address: ODXA, PO Box 61, Willowdale, Ont. Canada M2N 5S8. I am really pleased with this! (Pat Martin, Seaside OR, KAVT Reception Manager, IRCA et al. via DXLD) ** CANADA. Next Saturday is Arthur Black's last show on CBC Radio One: Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to noon (International Radio Report June 23 via Ricky Leong, DXLD) Make that to 11:30 as lately (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC CHIEF GETS SERIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO COMEDY Sid Adilman, The Star, Jun. 15, 01:00 EDT THE PRESIDENT of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., of all people, was urging me to go after senior programmers at his TV and radio networks. "Where is the next generation of comedians coming from?" Robert Rabinovitch asked me during a nice lunch at one of his favourite downtown bistros. "That is a very, very important question."... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=013bf2d6054aeb2a&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1022100086124 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CHILE. 6010, 22.6. 2308- R. Parinacota, Putre. I heard - I guess - 7 or 8 times during 4 nights the same "las 24 horas, lo mejor de la radio" until I finally heard a proper ID. Pauli, living on the other side of the same lake, got his ID after 1 minute of listening to the frequency (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CHINA. FALUNGONG HIJACKS CHINESE TV BROADCASTS Members of the banned outlawed Falungong religious movement have adopted a new tactic in their battle against the Chinese authorities: hijacking TV broadcasts. Messages have appeared in short bursts on the screens of viewers watching regional programmes on state-run TV. On Sunday, broadcasts of Chinese Central Television Channel 3 from Laiyang, Shandong province, were interrupted for about 15 minutes by a caption that said 'Falun Dafa is good'. On Tuesday, viewers in the area of Yantai, also in Shandong province, saw a similar message for about 10 seconds. There are unconfirmed reports of other such incidents around China in recent weeks. Falungong spokeswoman Sophie Xiao said the broadcasts were aimed at "making people think", and serve as an antidote to the government's "one-sided propaganda". It was a deliberate ploy to broadcast a simple message - "Falun Dafa is good" - rather than engage in more complex arguments, she said. Falungong has been banned in China since July 1999, and is classified as an "evil cult". At one time, prior to the ban, the movement hired airtime on Russian shortwave transmitters and its broadcasts were widely heard around the world (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 26 June via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBAN TV: ALL CASTRO, ALL THE TIME On The Air With Marvin Kitman, By Marvin Kitman, Newsday.com La Nueva Cuba, Junio 23, 2002 The most popular program on Cuban TV is the Fidel Castro talk show. His talks and appearances at rallies get a 100 Nielsen rating and share (the percentage of sets in use). The secret of this astonishing achievement is having his appearances broadcast on two networks - Ch. 6 Cubavisión and Ch. 2 Telerebelde - simultaneously. His success is aided by the fact that there are no other channels. Strictly speaking, there is a third network, a new educational TV channel [4] as of last month. But it also carries the same program. In backward nations like ours, there are alternatives to State of the Union messages and other important political programming. A classic of American democracy-in- action is a rerun of "Casablanca." Counterprogramming is considered counterrevolutionary in Cuba, even if it was possible. Which it isn't. It's all Castro, all the time. There are no options. They don't care if the Olympics or the World Cup is on. The hype for the show is low-key. The news-at-noon lead story might be, "Tonight at 6, Fidel is speaking." Or, "There will be a march at 7 tomorrow morning." Often, Fidel will come on the air the night before and do a promo. The spot can last for what seems like four hours. Like a TV weatherman, he will predict it will be hot and muggy and will forecast scattered showers or high winds that come from the Batista "thugs" in Miami. "If you have a heart condition or other health problems," he will warn, "do not come out." In the United States, we call political rallies "demonstrations," in France "manifestations." In Cuba, they are called "concentrations." There is usually a concentration every Saturday morning. It can be called for a variety of reasons. On May 1, there was one in honor of the Chicago Eight, as it was explained to me, "the eight martyr workers who were shot for striking by the patrones in 1887." It also could be a march to say, "We like to be Communists" or "We like to be soldiers." I happened to be in Havana and caught a special midweek concentration on June 13. This was the famous 2 million man march, not only along the Malecón in La Habana Vieja, but in every major city in Cuba. All of which were shown live on TV on all three stations from 7 a.m. to about 1 p.m. As an added attraction, the highlights of the concentration were rerun in an edited version that may have run four or five hours in the evening. I got the point earlier and stopped watching. This one was a rally to protest the speech to the Batista thugs in Miami by Bush II - as they call our El Presidente in the only newspaper in Cuba (Granma). It also was in support of a constitutional amendment that makes it unconstitutional to amend the constitution ever again. A contradiction in terms, perhaps, but one that is popular with the Fidelistas. Fidel was not scheduled to speak on this very hot and muggy day, only to lead the march. But this did not keep many away. (Crowd estimation is an inexact science. I remember when Richard Nixon came to Manhattan's Garment Center one day during the 1968 campaign and, reportedly, 1 million turned out to see Mr. Republican, the great friend of labor. But some people knew it was lunch hour, and at that hour, 1 million garment workers would "turn out" to see Martin Bormann.) "What a spontaneous demonstration," my wife said of the Cuban crowd on the screen in our hotel room. Whether it was a 1 million or 2 million hombres march - I didn't want to press anybody for a more exact count, a sign of a running dog Yankee imperialist - it was a spectacular production. Thousands of Fidelistas in their red Che (Guevera) and Jose (Marti) T-shirts waved little Cuban flags as they approached the cameras, while a loudspeaker exhorted: "Viva el socialismo." "Libertad para los heroes" (the five Cuban spies who had been jailed in Florida for infiltrating exile organizations). "Viva Fidel." In case you missed the loudspeaker, every few minutes, the words were emblazoned in fat, red type on the screen. This was subliminal TV! Occasionally, news people interviewed marchers. Sound bites in Cuban TV journalism are more like a full meal, with brandy and cigars afterward. I didn't understand everything that was said. My Spanish is muy malo. But it was great political theater. The only thing missing was Fidel speaking. There is a tendency for him not to speak when it is too hot. Last fall, he passed out one morning. "Six-hour speeches are things of the past," one source said. "Intelligent people know he is not well. Lucky if one hour now, or half hour." The advantage of watching on TV is seeing what he looks like. He has bags under his eyes the size of the gladstone bags the mob used to deliver payoffs to Batista officials in the old days. He walks stiffly, as if on a forced march. After about four hours, I decided I had seen enough. It began to drag like the Emmy telecast. I also felt I was missing something not seeing it "live." So, I jumped into a 1955 Chevy Impala Deluxe cab to the Hotel Nacional on the Malecón, six or seven lines of police and soldiers away from the concentration route. The Nacional is that great American Meyer Lansky's contribution to Cuban culture, along with gambling, prostitution and dope. From the windows of the Lounge of History, underneath murals depicting celebrities who slept there (Tyrone Power, Humphrey Bogart, Carol II of Romania, Errol Flynn, Johnny Weismuller, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner, Gary Cooper, Aly Khan, Rita Hayworth), I saw the real thing. Could this be like the May Day parades in the early days of Stalin, I wondered, when the Red Army circled the block and came back to impress and frighten foreign dignitaries with their numbers? No. The crowd was authentico, I could certify as I spent the rest of the morning drinking Cuban coffee (four sugars) and a mojito or two, and smoking a Cohiba. "Viva el socialismo," I was able to say with more than usual enthusiasm. They also have other programs on the two major Cuban networks. The second most popular program is Hollywood movies. A Cuban TV producer goes to Blockbuster in the States, buys or rents a tape, brings it back to the commissar in charge of programs, who then throws it on the air. They don't worry about the FBI warnings. No copyright problemos here. American film copyright laws don't apply in Cuba. This probably pains Fox, Disney, Sony and other financially pressed movie corporations. But the Cuban people love it. Even this broad range of broadcasting does not satisfy Cuban media freaks. Man does not live by strawberry and chocolate alone; he needs his ESPN, Cartoon Network, HBO, Discovery and CNN on satellite TV. The second major indoor sport in Havana, next to watching satellite TV, is hiding the dish. "It is hidden in the house of the dog," one source explained, "in swimming pools, with the plants, in the shower, with the garbage outside. The imagination of Cuban people is very big in finding a way to hide illegal dish." So a strange alliance has evolved in Cuba. Fidelistas and DirecTV capitalist swine are in the same boat for different reasons. DirecTV is against watching its service for free on principle. It's a bad business plan. The Fidelistas are against satellite TV because they are against the dissemination of uncontrolled information. Castro is not the first dictator not to understand the way the media work. Given open access, people do not tend to watch news and public-affairs documentaries. They watch sex, violence and unreal reality shows: "The Bachelor" and "Fear Factor." They have nothing to fear but fear itself, which in a totalitarian state apparently is quite a lot. Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, and Tom Roche, Atlanta, DXLD) ** CUBA. CLOSED CAPTIONING FINALLY COMES TO CUBA LOS SORDOS CUBANOS EN UN EXCLUSIVO GRUPO DE 'FANS' DE TELEVISION ANÁLISIS. Cuba acaba de ingresar en el exclusivo grupo de países en el que los sordos dejaron de depender del lenguaje de señas para acceder a los programas televisivos, al introducir un ultramoderno sistema generador de carácteres escritos. Viernes, 21 junio 2002 IBLNEWS La Nueva Cuba, Junio 23, 2002 La iniciativa impulsada por el Estado cubano ya beneficia de manera experimental a buena parte de las 120.000 personas que en la isla viven sin disfrutar de los sonidos. Entre julio y diciembre, el programa no sólo abarcará los telediarios nacionales, sino que permitirá el disfrute de telenovelas y espacios variados, según Carlos Moncada, uno de los activistas de la idea. Moncada encabeza la Asociación Nacional de Sordos de Cuba (ANSOC), organización no gubernamental que agrupa a este segmento de la población y que se ha propuesto llevar la iniciativa hasta los rincones más apartados del país. El "Close Caption", como se denomina el sistema, es un generador automático de caracteres escritos surgido en los años 1960 y explotado hasta ahora sólo por las grandes televisoras del planeta. El sistema combina programas computarizados y receptores de televisión con menú para subtitulaje, a fin de romper las barreras del silencio. "Es un auxiliar comunicativo para disfrutar disímiles programas de televisión", dijo a la prensa Alina, una de las "operadoras" del sistema. Alina se sienta cada mañana frente a la pantalla chica con audífonos puestos, en un estudio de tv, para en el primer telediario que sale al aire reproducir las palabras del locutor, de modo que una de las computadoras del sistema convierta el mensaje sonoro en letra escrita. La acción es instantánea, y mientras Alina reproduce las palabras desde el estudio, Aida González, jubilada de 65 años, disfruta del telediario matutino en su casa, con todos los parlamentos subtitulados. Atrás quedó el lenguaje de las señas para que Aida se informe de lo que pasa en su país y el resto del mundo, y dentro de algunos meses ella, como otros cubanos con la misma limitación, podrán acceder también a las telenovelas y a los programas de participación. Las autoridades no han informado del costo de este proyecto y no faltan quienes critican la inversión cuando el país vuelve a adentrarse en una etapa económica delicada. Desde los atentados terroristas del 11 de septiembre contra Estados Unidos, el turismo hacia Cuba ha caído (14 por ciento en el primer trimestre del 2002), y ese sector representa la principal fuente de ingresos de la país. Otras exportaciones como el níquel y el azúcar de caña padecen la baja de sus precios en el mercado mundial y todavía Cuba soporta el peso del embargo (bloqueo para los cubanos) que Estados Unidos le decretó hace 40 años. Sin embargo, las autoridades cubanas dicen que "el costo es lo menos importante", que lo que cuenta "es la voluntad política de hacerlo" y en consecuencia el segmento de la población privada de los sonidos en la isla aumenta así sus niveles de conocimiento y de disfrute de la vida. "Es algo extraordinario que contribuye a superar limitaciones impuestas por enseñanzas eminentemente oralistas y que sirve incluso hasta a los ancianos que han perdido la audición por la edad y las enfermedades", comentó Moncada. Cuba, que vive una cotidianidad signada por las limitaciones, entró en una especie de club de países selectos y son más los cubanos que aplauden que aquellos que critican el gesto. (Por Victorio M. Copa, IBLNEWS-Dpa) 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. CUBAN SPY - Various newspapers reported the arrest by the FBI of Ana Belen Montes, an employee at DIA since 1985. Using typical Spycraft, Montes received her instructions via short-wave radio. The messages were in numerical code which she converted into Spanish text through the use of a computer program she had been given by the Cuban Intelligence Service (DGI). Using public pay phones, Montes sent coded numeric messages to a DGI pager. The FBI analysis of her Toshiba computer hard drive revealed a coded message of 150 5F groups. The FBI matched this text with one broadcast on February 6, 1999 on a frequency of 7887 kHz in AM mode with a female Spanish announcer who began the broadcast with the words "Atención!, Atención!". The FBI "AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, ARREST WARRANT, AND SEARCH WARRANTS" contains very interesting details relating to the investigation and arrest of Ms. Montes. Go to http://www.fas.org/isp/ops/ci/Montes_092101.pdf (Don Schimmel`s Radio Intrigue, May 1, DXing.com via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. SEARCH FOR NEW CZECH PREMISES TO HOUSE US RADIO UNDER WAY | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 25 June: Real estate agencies have started looking for alternative headquarters of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) because the government has not found any new building which would suit the radio station, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan told journalists today. Although he indicated that the costs of the removal would also be borne by the USA, the financial question was not yet quite settled, Kavan said after a meeting of the National Security Council (BRS). Kavan said that the new site would be found "very soon". "If there is not at disposal any government-owned place and since it is necessary to remove RFE from the centre of Prague on security grounds, we must also look at the opportunities which may be offered by real estate agencies," Kavan said. But the question of financing would be very complex and require more time, he added... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1652 gmt 25 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) See also LATVIA ** EGYPT. Radio Cairo, 17595, full data QSL card (site and power missing) after several email follow ups & then via snail mail. V/S: Nil. Encl. full sked & letter by Eng. Niveen W. Lawrence, Head of SW Dept. (Swopan Chakroborty, India, June 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. CONFERENCE APPROVES ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FOR DIGITAL RADIO | Text of press release from London-based World DAB Forum on 25 June The WorldDAB Forum, which represents companies and organizations from all sectors of the radio broadcasting industry from 25 countries, welcomes the decision by the European Conference for Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT) to allocate a further seven blocks of L-Band spectrum across Europe to terrestrial DAB. The decision, reached at the planning meeting in Maastricht on 18 June, is the third such allocation of spectrum to DAB digital radio, and confirms continued high interest in terrestrial DAB across Europe. Says WorldDAB President, Annika Nyberg: "We're delighted with the results of the Maastricht planning conference. The allocation of seven extra blocks of L-Band confirms the findings of the Spectrum Demand Report drawn up by WorldDAB in April 2000 which showed that Europe is hungry for more spectrum. The extra L-Band now available will create more opportunities for digital broadcasting services and will pave the way for competition, particularly in densely populated areas." In 2005, it is hoped that a revision of the Stockholm Plan, drawn up in 1961 to organize and plan frequencies across Europe and northern Africa, will address the issue of extra spectrum for terrestrial DAB in Band III. [Eureka 147 DAB services are currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.] For more information contact Lisette Cooper at WorldDAB on 020 7288 4641 or email cooper@worlddab.org. Visit the WorldDAB website at http://www.worlddab.org Source: World DAB Forum press release, London, in English 25 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. UNIDENTIFIED. Dear Glenn, I am a DX-er currently based in Colchester, UK. I have a question for you. Yesterday at 2213 UT I tuned in to 8638 kHz in an attempt to catch VNG from Australia. What I caught, however, was something different. The format was the following: 10 pulsing tones with approx. 2.5 secs pause after each tone, then three such tones consecutively (with much shorter pauses). This sequence repeated 5 times, and then the following combination in Morse was transmitted: YQBDAO8. Then pulsing tones again, and the above sequence repeated continuously. What was it? And what is the address for reception reports? Many Thanks for your help. I would appreciate if you could share with me your opinion/guesses, without waiting for the next WOR issue. I am really eager to identify this! Thanks a lot (and also for your extremely informative WOR bulletins). (Robertas Pogorelis, June 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is beyond my area of expertise, so readers` help is requested. Looking in the Klingenfuss frequency list, I see besides VNG on 8638, there is on 8638.5 DAO Kiel Radio, Germany, digital, Pactor-2; does it sound like that? And on 8636 HLW Soul R, Korea on CW (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Dear Glenn, It was certainly DAO-8 from Kiel (pactor e-mail service), as this is the second half of the Morse combination I heard: YQBDAO8. Can you help me with their mailing address please? Many Thanks. (Robertas, ibid.) Sorry, I don`t have addresses of these. Should be findable on some internet sites, or lists devoted to utility DX, such as WUN. 73, (Glenn to Robertas via DXLD) ** GREECE [non]. A few days ago I noticed VOG via Delano 17705 missing after 1600 UT, when checked on the car radio, where it`s hard to tell if an open carrier be running. At home, June 26 at 1545 there was an OC. Guess they are having satellite feed problems. 1602 finally started fill music from VOA, In the Mood, etc. 1611 cut to VOG feed in Greek, breaking up somewhat (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM [non]. We at WDWS are a Jimbo affiliate: we were told directly we were NOT to webcast the Bohannon show. This from Westwood One (Eric Loy, Champaign IL, WDWS Radio, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. U.S. Newswire 14 Jun 16:19 FOUR HIT BY CAR AS HUNDREDS PROTEST XM SATELLITE RADIO Direct Action Likely Against Companies That Install XM Products WASHINGTON, June 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- More than two hundred National Association of Black Organizations (NABO) and National Action Network (NAN) demonstrators watched in horror as four fellow demonstrators including a grandmother and two children, were run down by a car in front of XM Satellite Radio's Washington, D.C., headquarters. The extent of the injuries is not known. The injured were transported by ambulance to the hospital. A male adult hit by the car suffered head injuries and was moved by stretcher to an ambulance. A number of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks responded to the accident and the front of XM Satellite was cordoned off with yellow police crime scene tape. The purpose of the demonstration was to highlight NABO and NAN's national campaign to have the nation's satellite and cable broadcasting industry provide value positive programming for African Americans. NABO/NAN is disappointed with the results of prior discussions with XM executives. Those discussions focused on NABO/NAN concerns that XM Satellite Radio programming reflects a glaring lack of positive programming options to those XM channels that glorify the cultures of violence, drugs and female debasement that is pervasive in urban America. "We pray for the injured that were fighting for value positive programming. That is why we respect broadcast giants such as DirecTV, Comcast Cable, Charter Communications, Time Warner, The Armed Forces Network and AT&T who have set the tone for corporate broadcast responsibility by agreeing to carry value positive programming such as The Word Network," said Reverend Horace Sheffield III, CEO of NABO and the president the Michigan Chapter of NAN. Sheffield also commended Sirius Satellite Radio for being sensitive to value positive programming. NABO/NAN crisis management consultant Sam Riddle said that the demonstrators will return to XM and that civil disobedience may be the order of the day. "XM has made a racist effort to pit NABO/NAN against a business concern, Radio One, that is headed by a female African American entrepreneur. The mind-boggling nature of satellite radio plantation politics will not endure. No one individual or broadcast entity is endowed to be the broadcast gatekeeper for the African American community. We will stand strong for value positive programming that brings urban ministries to satellite radio even if it means going to jail-again," said Riddle. NABO and NAN demonstrations for value positive satellite broadcast programming in Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Missouri, Warren and Novi, Michigan, Denver, Colorado, and New York have attracted hundreds that marched in protest with some demonstrators being jailed for civil disobedience. http://www.usnewswire.com Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. I received a personally written letter from Kol Israel, saying there would be no cuts, and their transmissions will continue 'indefinitely'. (Jon Kempster, BBC, UK, June 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Here's an updated article -- but it doesn't say much that's new... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1023716553320 IBA ENGLISH NEWS GOES INTERNATIONAL Gil Hoffman Jun. 26, 2002 The Israel Broadcasting Authority's first ever broadcast of a nightly English news broadcast to the Middle East and Europe went smoothly last night, beginning a new era in Israeli television. The half-hour program at 8 p.m. was the first time the IBA English News broadcast for more than 15 minutes and the first time it broadcast to an international audience on the IBA's new Arabic-English satellite network. The network is intended to reach viewers from Casablanca in the west to Kuwait in the east, from Cairo in the south to Copenhagen in the north, on the same satellite that broadcasts the powerful Arabic Al- Jazeera network. The channel premiered at 2 p.m. yesterday with an Arabic-language broadcast of the World Cup semifinal. IBA English staffers were nervous after reports all day of local cable companies delaying airing the new network due to a financial dispute with the IBA, but after Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin and Minister-without-Portfolio Ra'anan Cohen intervened, the network was fully operational by the time the English news began. IBA anchorman Yochanan Elrom ushered in the new program, which aired a retransmission of the 15-minute English news show that was broadcasted earlier on Channel 1, followed by a new in-depth segment. Elrom anchored the show from a studio in Jerusalem's JCS Studios. The IBA hopes to eventually broadcast the entire show live, but until then it will continue to rely on the retransmissions of the Channel 1 broadcasts and taped interviews. The program can be viewed locally on digital cable's Channel 100 on Golden Channels and Matav cable systems and Channel 810 on Tevel, and on YES's channel 169. IBA English news officials, who were skeptical about the project from the beginning, said they were proud that they had finally reached such a milestone, 12 years after the show premiered in October 1990. "Today we were given a birthday, so now the question is whether we will see a bar mitzva," IBA English news in-depth editor Steve Leibowitz said. "We were able to do it today, but we will need constant support to sustain it." The news team questioned whether anyone in Arab countries tuned in to the show, but expressed hope that as word spreads, the program will have an impact on Israel's relations with the Arab world. "Even if random viewers picked it up in an Arab country and stayed with us for a few minutes, then we will finally have a small but substantial moment of communication," said IBA diplomatic correspondent Leah Zinder, who is to conduct exclusive interviews today with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Minister-without- Portfolio Dan Meridor. "It's exciting and new and I hope it will be seen." Last night's in-depth segment was devoted to the issue of separation, featuring interviews with Bar-Ilan University Prof. Gerald Steinberg and Jerusalem Post reporter Matthew Guttman. When the show ended, the IBA news team celebrated and already began working on tonight's show. "We succeeded today, but we have to do the same thing tomorrow," IBA English news head Steve Edwards said. International viewers should point their satellite dishes to the "Hotbird-3" satellite at 13 degrees east. The channel is at 12220 megahertz. The polarity of the reception is horizontal, with a 6161 symbol rate from the symbol 3/4 FEC. The channel is called "Channel 3 Arabic IBA TV." -------- (via Daniel Rosenzweig, June 26, DXLD) ** LATVIA/CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. RFE/RL EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO PREMIER FOR INVITATION TO MOVE TO RIGA | Text of report in English by Latvian news agency LETA Riga, 25 June: Prime Minister Andris Berzins has received a letter from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), expressing gratitude for the invitation to relocate to Riga. As LETA was informed by the communications department at the State Chancellery, RFE/RL is continuing negotiations with the Czech government on the possibility of moving to another building in Prague, however, the Czech government has insufficient funding for the move. Representatives from RFE/RL's council will arrive in Prague in mid- July to tackle the issue. The RFE/RL council will evaluate the offer on moving from Prague to Riga, and as soon as the decision is made, they will inform the prime minister. RFE/RL provides daily news broadcast and analysis of international events for 26 countries in 34 languages. Source: LETA news agency, Riga, in English 1333 gmt 25 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) See also CZECH REPUBLIC ** LITHUANIA. RADIO NORD SPECIAL BROADCAST FROM LITHUANIA ON JUNE 30 Dear radio enthusiasts, On Sunday June 30, a two hour memorial program of Swedish offshore station Radio Nord will be broadcast on 9980 kHz (100 kW) at 1900-2100 UT from the station in Sitkunai, Lithuania. This day marks the 40th anniversary of the close-down of Radio Nord. The programme will contain interviews with former staff members, listeners, a potted history of the station, vintage recordings, music from this era (1961-62) and more. Reception reports are highly appreciated (please include an IRC or a $ for a QSL) and the address is: Radio Nord Special Programme Light Valley Media Box 90, SE-82723 Ljusdal, Sweden The programme will be in Swedish. Welcome to tune in for two hours of radio nostalgia. Visit Rock'n Records on http://www.rock.x.se today - the home of good ol' vinyl records! (Ronny Forslund, June 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. LIVINUS TORTY WITH THE STORY OF RADIO NIGERIA Our African DX reporter is Livinus Torty and he lives in Nigeria. He sent us this Station Profile on the radio services in his country, compiled from several sources, including his own observations, which we have edited for broadcast. This is what he writes:- The original government radio service in Nigeria was organised as NBS, the Nigerian Broadcasting Service, in April 1951, at which time the three low powered shortwave stations already on the air were amalgamated into a single broadcasting body. This organisation was modified exactly six years later to NBC, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, at which time they moved into a new studio and office complex at Tugwell House in the capital city, Lagos. At that time, the NBC was organised into two major sections; the Home Service produced programs for broadcast to listeners living in Nigeria, and the External Service produced programs for broadcast to listeners living in other countries, mainly within the continent of Africa. The External Service was later re-designated as VON, the Voice of Nigeria. Radio Nigeria introduced a commercial service in 1960, though this was abolished some 18 years later. However, the commercial service on radio was re-introduced again in 1987. A television service was introduced to viewers in Lagos in 1962. At first, the TV service was fostered by Radio Nigeria, though nine years later the two services were separated and the TV service was designated as NTA, the Nigerian Television Authority. FM broadcasting came to Nigeria in April 1997 with the introduction of ``Radio Nigeria 2FM`` in Lagos, the ``Sunshine Station``. These days, Nigeria is literally covered by radio, with more than 100 mediumwave stations, a national network of FM stations, all supplemented by local and regional shortwave stations. Currently, FRCN, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, is upgrading its entire network of radio stations. They are going digital, as well as modernizing their shortwave facilities. The national headquarters is located in Abuja, and they operate four regional production centres. So, why not give Radio Nigeria a listen. You can check the World Radio TV Handbook for scheduling, and you can check your favorite DX magazine to find out just which channels are heard in your area (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan June 23 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KOMA News Talk: http://komanews.com/ (via Artie Bigley, June 25, DXLD) Not much there, but would have us believe 1520 is News Talk, CBS News, rather than Oldies, format change coming?? Or is this an old, forgotten site? While the current site says Oldies, nothing about talk: http://www.komaradio.com/2000/ Then I checked 1520 at 0020 UT June 26, and sure enough it`s still oldies, not newstalk, but at 0030, like a ghost out of hell, a hoarse heterodyne started talking ``From Walterboro, South Carolina.....`` [q.v.] Must be an image from SW on the bathroom Panasonic RF-569D AM/FM radio. Subsequent spot checks show no change in oldies format (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. PALESTINIAN RADIO OFF AIR SINCE ISRAELI TROOPS ENTERED RAMALLAH ON 24 JUNE Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine (Ramallah, in Arabic - official radio station of the Palestinian National Authority) on 26 June 2002 continues to be off the air for the third consecutive day. It has been unheard since 24 June, when Israeli forces entered Ramallah and surrounded Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's compound. Voice of Palestine's second programme in Arabic, broadcasting from Gaza, can be heard with good reception on Nilesat at 7 degrees West on 11823 MHz vertical. The radio was observed to carry Koranic recitation at 0400 gmt on 26 June, followed by the Palestinian national anthem and then songs by the Lebanese singer Fayruz. The radio has been carrying news summaries and love and patriotic songs and a variety of social, political, health, and economic programmes. Palestinian TV (Gaza, in Arabic) continues to broadcast normal programmes, consisting of newscasts, documentaries and talk shows. The Palestinian news agency WAFA continues to transmit items on the latest Palestinian developments, as usual. Sources: As stated (BBC Monitoring June 26 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290, Port Moresby. Seems to have set up a high- powered transmitter, and noted with morning service some days from *2000-2100, late fade-out; the 90 mb PNGs usually go by 2020 (Bob Padula, Victoria, EDXP June 26 via DXLD) Chris Hambly has been hearing open carrier well before 2000 (gh, DXLD) ** QATAR. ARABIC TV NETWORK A VITAL LINK http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1022100308338&call_page=TS_News_Columnists&call_pageid=970599109774&call_pagepath=Columnists (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** QATAR. AL-JAZEERA TV TO DUB PROGRAMMES INTO ENGLISH WITHIN 10 WEEKS - SAUDI DAILY | Text of report by Faysal Balhaj Ali published by Saudi newspaper Al-Watan web site on 25 June Muhammad Jasim al-Ali, director-general of Qatari Al-Jazeera news channel, told Al-Watan that the channel will begin to dub its programmes into English within 10 weeks. He added that Al-Jazeera's internet site [al-jazeera.net] will also be published in English in three months. On the other hand, Al-Ali played down expectations that the popularity of the TV channel will decline after the signing of an agreement with the Arab Distribution Association, ADD, to join Al-Awa'il scrambled television channels run by the company as of 1 July. Jasim said Al- Jazeera will continue to be accessible for free on other satellites such as Arabsat and Hotbird. He said signing this agreement would cut costs and increase revenues for the channel, but declined to discuss the value of the contract. Asked about the motive behind this decision and whether the financial standing of Al-Jazeera has anything to do with it, Al-Ali denied rumours that the channel is going through financial difficulties. He added that the channel made some profit in its sixth year and attributed this to the increasing paid advertisements; cable subscriptions around the world, which includes the Americas; the sale of special pictures to other international stations; as well as coding, from which Al-Jazeera will make considerable profit. Source: Al-Watan web site, Abha, in Arabic 25 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. ALL TV, RADIO BROADCASTS TERMINATED TO VLADIVOSTOK | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Vladivostok, 26 June: The cities of Vladivostok and Artyom in the Russian Far East with the overall population of more than 750,000 have absolutely been cut off from all television and radio broadcasts because power supply has been cut to the Primorye regional teleradio broadcasting centre. Initially, it had been planned to cut only federal television broadcasts, but local energy workers finally decided to tighten the sanctions, terminating broadcasts of local television and radio companies altogether. Spokesman for the Far Eastern Energy Company Mikhial Tsedrik told ITAR-TASS that one of the reasons for the blackout on radio and television was VGTRK central television, which failed to comply with the terms of the agreement on debt settlement reached six month ago. The Dalenergo energy company which supplies power to radio and televIsion broadcasting centres has been paid only nine per cent of the negotiated sum since the agreement was reached. Besides, the terms of current payments have not been observed either. The overall debt owed by the Primorye regional teleradio broadcasting centre has totalled 25m roubles. Soccer fans angered by the move have expressed strong indignation over the act, saying that the problem of debt settlement could wait until 1 July at least so that soccer fans could watch the exciting events in the finals of the world soccer championship. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 0635 gmt 26 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) And what about broadcasts *from* Vladivostok, as on shortwave??? *Sigh* --- things were so much simpler when the government owned everything (gh, DXLD) TV BACK IN RUSSIAN FAR EAST, POWER SUPPLIER TAKES PITY ON WORLD CUP VIEWERS | Text of report by Radio Russia on 26 June Television broadcasting has resumed tonight, local time, in Maritime Territory, after the electricity was cut off for several hours because of unpaid bills. The press service of the joint-stock company Dalenergo [Far East energy] says that the company decided to resume supplies of electricity to the Maritime Territory television transmitters, including central channels, at the request of the Territory's administration. The Dalenergo management also took into account the interests of football fans, who would not have been able to see the final games in the World Cup if the blackout had continued. The Territory's radio and television broadcasting centre owes the power company more than R21m in all. Moreover, despite repeated warnings, the centre has still not reached an agreement with Dalenergo marketing on power supplies for 2002. Source: Radio Russia, Moscow, in Russian 0900 gmt 26 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Brother Stair's radio programs appear to be unaffected, at least the ones I listen to. On 5070, 5975, etc., on all the normal frequencies on which I hear him he's still there, ranting just the same as always. This guy must have tapes of EVERYTHING he's ever said, a whole storage room full of them! They're mixing his sermons together, so that one hears a 1997 sermon on such-and-such topic followed by a 1983 revival meeting followed by Y2K predictions for 2000 recorded in 1999, all strung together just the same as normal. I'm convinced that 99% of his listening audience has no idea Brother Stair is gone. I've heard only 2 minor references to the situation on his own broadcasts, and those were weeks ago. The only other thing I can think of to add at this time is: this morning they played a tape of him predicting that some kind of celestial calamity will occur in the year 2000, asteroids colliding with something or another. Dunno what it was exactly. And, as recently as two days ago I heard them rebroadcasting a recent sermon which Brother Stair has been running on and off for at least 6 months now, predicting that "Planet X" will strike the earth in March or May of 2003 (I forget which, it's either March or May) and that this will cause the earth to topple over and shift in its orbit about the sun. My impression is that Brother Stair has no clue that if such a thing were to occur, all human life on earth would end from the ensuing consequences; the effects would be much more significant than merely having to re-write the charts showing sunrise, sunset, solstice and equinox, as he seems to imply. Anyway, for what it's worth, I thought you'd like to know that they're still re-running not only the Planet X sermon for 2003, but earlier sermons having to do with 1999 and 2000, including one in which he predicts that Bill Clinton will refuse to leave the White House on January 20, 2001, and another in which he predicts that Ronald Reagan will die in late October or early November 2000. If you have any psychologists out there listening to you or reading your newsletter, I wonder if they have any comments on what purpose is served by continuing to re-run old predictions that we know did not actually prove to become true, all the while continuing to make new predictions for the future nevertheless? My own amateur theory is as follows: Brother Stair is laughing at his audience, taunting them, in effect, saying, "I know you're so stupid that you will continue to listen to me and financially support me, notwithstanding the nonsense I'm broadcasting in your ears!" Perhaps it's a defense mechanism so that he can in the future argue, "Hey, I didn't hide anything from my audience. They knew that not all of my predictions were accurate." By the way, for accuracy's sake, I need to add one disclaimer (to make my conscience feel better): With reference to the prediction that Ronald Reagan would die a week or so before the 2000 elections, he did say that he was making that prediction in his own capacity as a human, not in his capacity as god's anointed last day prophet. And with reference to Clinton refusing to leave the White House at the end of his term, Brother Stair was reading from the newsletter of another right-wing nut, and said, "Isn't that interesting, Bill Clinton wants to stay on as leader of the free world." Stair certainly endorsed the prediction, but wimpily enough that he could later claim he was merely reading from someone else's article. That's it for now. Still awaiting a reply from Stair via the two sheets of paper and the self-addressed, stamped envelope I sent him directly at the county jail (Robert Arthur, June 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. SCANNER BUFF BREACHES ROYAL SECURITY The security of Britain's Royal Family has been put at risk by a scanner enthusiast, the BBC claimed on Tuesday. Scanner buff Paul Way admitted in an interview that he had monitored frequencies used by the Royal Protection Squad and Scotland Yard's Special Branch and listed them on the internet. His actions, which security chiefs consider a major breach of national security, have prompted calls for a ban on the sale of scanners in the UK. Speaking on Radio 4's "Today" programme, Way said the frequencies he monitored included a channel connected with the London branch of Mosad, the Israeli intelligence organisation. He said he had also monitored the Diplomatic Protection Squad while they were guarding the visiting Indonesian president, as well as security officers protecting Prime Minister Tony Blair. An anonymous intelligence officer told the BBC: "The frequencies and the information published on the site, particularly the files published on the site, contain what we would term highly restrictive information which in the wrong hands could be to the detriment of the Crown and government... It could be used by terrorists to perpetrate fairly serious atrocities." She stressed: "Way is a menace, a severe danger to the public and to national security. I mean our personal view is the site should be closed down. We would like to see scanners and the possession and ownership of them made illegal. They can only be used for illegal activity." Mr Way acknowledged that the information he published could be of use to terrorists but added that "they would be aware of these things whether I publish them or not." He admitted he could be a threat to security "to a limited degree". Liberal-Democrat home-affairs spokesman Simon Hughs told the BBC that the police, who have been pressing for a better communications system, should be provided with the latest equipment that could prevent illegal monitoring. Asked whether scanners should be banned, he said: "It's something that the security and intelligence committee and the home-affairs committee should look at, and we'll need to look internationally because if you ban things in this country ...it doesn't necessarily mean that they can be banned automatically abroad." The top penalty for illegal monitoring in the UK is a £5000 fine and confiscation of equipment (By Roger Tidy, June 25 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. I think they may want to outlaw those nefarious shortwave radios too (Fred Osterman, Universal Radio, DXLD) CHEAP SCANNERS PUT ROYALS AT RISK By David Graves (Filed: 26/06/2002) from http://www.telegraph.co.uk Police and intelligence services called yesterday for a ban on radio scanners, saying that they could put the Queen and ministers in danger. At the centre of their concern is Paul Wey, 36, who runs an internet notice-board that publishes supposedly secure frequencies used by the Royal and Diplomatic Protection Groups, Special Branch and the armed services. Intelligence sources described the notice-board as a "severe danger to the public and to national security" and called for it to be closed down. The information on it would be "invaluable" to terrorists, they said. One intelligence officer described Mr Wey as "a menace". But Mr Wey, who carries a scanner wherever he goes, said the problem was not the availability of the £200 devices but the failure of British communications to be scrambled, as they were in many countries. "They are only blaming me because I am the messenger rather than spending more money on secure communications," he said at his home in Baldock, Herts, where he lives with his mother. "I am a royalist and the last thing I want to do is put a member of the Royal Family in any danger. The problem is the insecure communications equipment the security services are using. If they are that concerned, they could have closed the site years ago." Mr Wey has traced classified radio frequencies used in the protection of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and visiting heads of state, as well as other police and military frequencies. His internet notice-board has 1,481 members and says its purpose is to "exchange frequency information of emergency/military and private mobile radio users in the United Kingdom". Thousands of messages are published by Mr Wey and other scanner users every month. Intelligence officers say it will be "almost impossible" to close down the notice-board because it is registered in America. Mr Wey and fellow scanner users have formed a group called the Professional Radio Operators Monitoring Association. He said police officers were members and that everything was "above board". He and other monitors vetted new members, he said, although he accepted that people might give false names. Possessing a scanner is not illegal, but using it is. Offenders can face fines of up to £5,000 and confiscation of their equipment. But they must be caught red-handed. Critics say that the legislation, based on the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, should be updated urgently. Mr Wey, who started using a scanner as a schoolboy to listen to aircraft communications, said: "It amazes me that our close protection boys still mainly use this stuff. In every other country in the world, even the smallest countries, their channels are secure." He admitted that he was putting national security at risk "to a limited degree". But he insisted that terrorists or criminals "would be aware of this sort of thing whether I published it or not". A Home Office spokesman said the Government was working to agree new international protocols to help crack down on all forms of internet misuse. © Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 2002 (via Fred Osterman, DXLD) ** U S A. Arizona Wildfires: I followed some of this from Utah this weekend. KDJI [1270 Holbrook] was very much in evidence. KVSL-1450 (co-owned or co-managed with KVWM-970) was conspicuous by their absence as the fire got nearer. I never caught the 1400 station on Springerville-Eager, which is where most of those poor folks had to evacuate to (Tim Hall, amfmtvdx June 25 via DXLD) Tim, Both Kevin Redding and I heard the simulcast between KDJI-1270 and 1450, so KVSL was on. Mentioned as simulcasting the emergency coverage were 92.1, I think an FM in the 93 MHz range, and the 96.5 in Show Low, as well as KVWM-970 and the 1450. The 970 seemed to be absent periodically, but the 1450 was on. Kevin almost always receives the 96.5, but not on Saturday night (Rick Lewis, AZ, June 25, ibid.) ** U S A. DTV INTERFERENCE ISSUES LOOM http://www.tvinsite.com/broadcastingcable/index.asp?layout=print_page&doc_id=&articleID=CA224264 AS STATIONS MOVE TO FULL POWER, PROBLEMS AMONG STATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO INCEASE --- By Ken Kerschbaumer, Broadcasting & Cable 6/24/2002 Industry experts warn that, when broadcasters get on-air with full- power DTV signals, interference issues like that being experienced by WBOC-TV Salisbury, Md., may be the norm rather than the exception. "I think it's inevitable that there are going to be a lot of these problems, and a lot of it was predicted," says William Meintel, president of Chantilly, Va.-based TechWare, which was hired by the FCC to create the software used to make the DTV propagation tables. "We just haven't seen it because there aren't a lot of stations on the air and an even smaller number on-air at their full power. And I think that, once these stations start firing up with their full-power signals, we'll see a lot of interference to NTSC, and it may be worse than what was originally predicted." Two weeks ago, WBOC-TV filed an emergency request asking the FCC for relief from interference that its signal is getting from the 950-kW DTV signal of WHRO-DT Hampton Roads, Va., located nearly 120 miles away. In April, when WHRO-DT made the move to full power, WBOC-TV began receiving consumer complaints (even from cable subscribers) not only from the area of its viewing audience closest to Hampton Roads but also from Dover, Del., which is about 150 miles away from Hampton Roads. The cause of the interference in the case of WBOC-TV is "duct skipping," a phenomenon in which the signal skips across a body of water, causing interference where it usually wouldn't occur. It is not just a DTV phenomenon. Analog stations, typically in Florida or Louisiana, have been subject to duct-skipping interference for years. WBOC-TV General Manager Rick Jordan says the situation is unique because ducting was not taken into account in the FCC's DTV interference modeling. WHRO-DT's tests showed interference of only 0.9%, well within acceptable limits, but they do not take into account the ducting interference. "I wish that 0.9% was all that we were receiving, but I have cable systems as far north as Dover, Del., receiving an unbelievable amount of interference," he says, adding, "It's also unbelievable that propagation can have that much impact" from so far away. The concern is obvious, Jordan says: The analog signal is the station's livelihood, and there are only a handful of DTV viewers. "I'm hoping that this will be resolved with a gentlemen's agreement," he adds. "And I hope everyone sits down at the table and says this is a real-world issue and not that the computer model says this doesn't exist so we're done." WHRO-DT plans to file a reply to the FCC concerning WBOC-TV's complaint, according to spokeswoman Donna Hudgins. "Everything that we've built and constructed has complied with the FCC's regulations," she adds. "And our engineers don't see that the facts presented really demonstrate a reception problem that needs extraordinary action by the FCC." The situation is similar to one experienced in 2000 on Lake Michigan. WMVS-DT Milwaukee's signal was interfering with that of WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Mich. The solution then was for WMVS-DT to voluntarily cut its transmission power by 75%. That was a temporary solution, because the FCC told WOOD-TV that the interference from WMVS-DT was acceptable within the Grade B contours. Today, WMVS-DT is back on at full power, and WOOD-TV has spent about $200,000 putting in an LPTV translator transmitting its signal on ch. 46 to serve cable headends and viewers within that Grade B contour. "The rules provide up to 10% interference within a Grade B signal," explains Mike Laemers, director of engineering for WOOD-TV, WOTV(TV) Battle Creek, Mich., and WXSB(TV) Grand Rapids. "That doesn't sound like a lot of people, but, if you have a cable headend that is considered one of those 10% being affected, that equals a lot of people. That headend is serving 40,000 households." The potential number of complaints about DTV interference seems destined to rise to flood levels when it comes to stations on or near large bodies of water. "Anytime there's a large body of water with an unobstructed path," says Laemers, "interference is going to happen a lot, not only when temperature inversions occur." Complaints may spread to land-locked stations as more stations increase DTV power levels, although just how large of a problem it will become remains to be seen. "The root problem is that some people think that the DTV spectrum was spectrum that wasn't being used," says one industry source. "For all practical purposes, there was no available spectrum on the East and West Coasts." MSTV Vice President, Technology, Tom Gurley points out that the spectrum of a digital station is noise-like: Any interference raises the noise level and creates snow and sparkles in the signal. Analog- station signal spectrum is very concentrated around the visual and aural carrier, causing interference that is much more distracting to viewers. Meintel concurs. "Digital is different than analog, and the interference characteristics are different. The FCC knew there was going to be interference, but it was the only way to assign the digital channels." So what is the solution? Meintel says lower power levels may be the only way to solve interference troubles because changing channel assignments is not easy and may just move the problem elsewhere. "You can play with the statistics all you want, but it's not going to solve the problem." The problem with lowering the power is that digital broadcasters then lose service in some areas. Meintel says that the extent of interference problems from DTV signals remains to be seen. But everyone seems to agree that it could become a fairly large number. The question is, what can the FCC do? "If the interference is a temporary thing, then the commission is not likely to do anything," says Meintel. "If the station causing the interference is complying with all of the commission's regulations, I don't know if there is anything the commission can do about it." Gurley says that, if the digital station is operating at a power it was licensed for and the allotment table says it can operate at, what the FCC can actually do remains to be seen. "If the FCC does something for a station that is getting interference from that signal, then they almost have to start looking at the whole table again." © 2002 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved (via Jeff Kadet, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Next Monday, Dave Letterman will be Ted Koppel's guest on the first "expanded for summer" Nightline. The new second segment that follows the first 11:35 pm EDT Nightline program. It's a "one on one". Last Politically Incorrect is this Friday at 12:05am EDT [early Sat]. (Brock Whaley, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oh? That`s news to TV Guide, which still shows P.I. in its usual slot next week, 12:05 am EDT, presumably reruns for a while (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. June 25 was supposedly the "drop dead" date the state's Attorney General had said a state budget must be in place. However, it appears yet another deadline will come and go without a definitive state budget for FY '03. The bottom line is we STILL do not know if WUOT will be receiving ANY of its state appropriation for FY '03, which begins on Monday. As we edge ever closer to July 1st without a state budget in place, there is a possibility that all of state government, including WUOT, will "shut down" until such time the Legislature (or the courts) enact a state budget for FY '03. Hopefully, the state and WUOT will be operational on July 1st. However, some of WUOT's purchased programs run on a July through June fiscal year and those contracts are now due. Uncertainty over FY '03 funding makes it impossible to sign annual contracts for several programs and it may be necessary to drop some syndicated programs. Fortunately, major National Public Radio (NPR) programming is purchased on a federal fiscal year (October through September) and we have a little more time before having to sign those contracts. Thanks for your continuing support. Stay tuned to the website for updates as they become available. Information about how to contact your representatives is available at the links below. In addition, WUOT listeners may want to send a note to UT's new president, Dr. John W. Shumaker, welcoming him to the University of Tennessee and letting him know that UT Public Radio is important to you. You may write President Shumaker at 831 Andy Holt Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 (WUOT website June 25-26 via DXLD) ** U S A. Commercials on Public Broadcasting: Some years ago, KCSM-TV, owned by the College of San Mateo, the county junior college district just south of San Francisco, tried, for a short time, playing Safeway supermarket and other commercials in a little framed box. I have a lot of trouble distinguishing between a few of the enhanced underwriting announcements on public television and commercials. In particular at 8 P.M. when WNET tells me who has paid for that evening's prime time broadcasting if they run a Volvo non-commercial it sure as hell sounds like a Volvo commercial (Joel Rubin, NY, June 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KERA CUTS 25 PERCENT OF STAFF 06/14/2002 By MANUEL MENDOZA / The Dallas Morning News KERA, Dallas' public broadcasting organization, has laid off a quarter of its staff because of a revenue shortfall of more than $1 million, station officials said Thursday. Like other nonprofits, North Texas Public Broadcasting - which operates KERA-TV (Channel 13), KDTN/KERA2-TV (Channel 2) and KERA-FM (90.1) - has experienced a drop in both individual and corporate donations since Sept. 11. "We're in the same downturn slump everybody else is in," said KERA chief executive officer Gary Ferrell. "We expect fund-raising will come back to some extent as the economy comes back." The stations laid off 27 employees, including two television producers, and canceled the nighttime radio show, Conversations with Krys Villaseñor. Ms. Villaseñor was among those laid off. The new lineup will have a repeat of Fresh Air at 7 p.m. and a new National Public Radio program, The Tavis Smiley Show, at 8 p.m. Nine other vacant positions were also eliminated, saving KERA a total of $1.3 million in salary and benefits. None of the 11 senior staff members, including officers, senior vice presidents and vice presidents, were among those laid off. http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/stories/061302dnmetkeralayoffs.ae2fe.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA NEWS CHIEF HONORED FOR DEFYING WHITE HOUSE The news director of the Voice of America, Andre de Nesnera, has discovered that it sometimes pays to resist pressure from the White House. Less than two weeks after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, de Nesnera took the decision to go ahead and broadcast a controversial interview with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on VOA, despite strong pressure from the White House not to air it. Originally, VOA management agreed to the request, but gave in after three days following massive opposition from VOA staff who felt that their journalistic integrity had been compromised. Now, de Nesnera is to receive a "constructive dissent" award from the American Foreign Service Association, the labour union representing US diplomats. The citation reads that "his efforts to defend VOA's charter and preserve the integrity of its news broadcasts demonstrate the qualities of intellectual courage and constructive dissent that exemplify the award". De Nesnera, will receive the award at a ceremony in the State Department to be attended by Secretary of State Colin Powell, whose deputy, Richard Armitage, was a main source of the pressure (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 26 June via DXLD) ** U S A. EDITORIAL: 'SAWA' WON'T DO IT Sawa is working. In a few months, the US government financed radio station has claimed a considerable percentage of radio listeners across the region. There is no scientific research to support this observation. But any one who rides taxis in Amman will agree it is a safe conclusion. The credit for this success goes to professionalism and good taste. This new FM radio station has succeeded in working out a just the right mix of Arabic and Western music and fast beat news that many find appealing. The audience is growing by the day. But radio Sawa is an organ of the United States government that seeks to promote American policies and counter attempts to spread anti-US feelings. To many, it is a propaganda arm that wants to alter Arab peoples' opinions of the US and its policies in the region. This is an enormous task. The initial performance of Sawa should not lead to the wrong conclusion. It is easy to win people's attention to hit songs and albums. But changing their political beliefs is a whole different story. Media can help. But it cannot do the job. Doing the job will require a deep assessment of American policy towards the Arab world. It also demands a complete reversal of the policies and actions of Israel, the US' main ally in the region and which is mainly responsible for the negative image of the United States in the Arab mind. That, unfortunately, is not happening. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is continuing with aggressive policies that are pushing the whole region towards the adoption of hardline policies. Millions of Arabs believe that only the United States can pressure Israel into ending its usurpation of the rights of the Palestinian people. Progress in the peace process will ultimately produce a change in the negative views people hold of America. And Washington certainly can exercise a more assertive role in reviving peace negotiations. There is no reason for further delaying the promised US blueprint for peace in order to stop the violence and move towards a political settlement of a conflict that threatens the stability of the whole Middle East. If Washington succeeds in doing that, it will have an easier job changing its image. Peace will provide the necessary environment for the strengthening of moderation. It will allow for the opening of channels of communications that could bring peoples together rather than drive them towards military, political, cultural and religious confrontations. Absent that environment of peace, Sawa will succeed in no more than getting people to tune in to the sounds it offers. But the daily news of the acts of an occupying power will have the biggest role in forming political views and attitudes. The Jordan Times, June 24, 2002 http://www.jordantimes.com/Mon/opinion/opinion1.htm (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. Tho it`s hardly missed here, WHRI`s so-called Angel 1 appears still to be off the air, with nothing but a trace of jamming on 15105 at 1645 UT check June 26. Also vacant, 9495 after 1700. Checking the website http://www.whr.org you`d never know it`s been off for weeks --- nothing under What`s New, and the entire schedule of frequencies and programs still displays. The webcast was confirmed working as per schedule. Zimbabwe-clandestine hunters of 7310v at 0330-0430 are elated (mutedly so, out of respect for DXing with Cumbre) that WHRI is gone from 7315 for the time being, but its other frequencies are also open: 1000-1300 9495, 1300-1700 15105, 1700-2400 9495, 0000-1000 7315 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. UK/USA: MERLIN SIGNS CONTRACT WITH FAMILY RADIO | Excerpt from press release from UK transmission company Merlin Communications on 25 June Merlin Communications International, now part of the Vosper Thornycroft Group, has signed a contract with religious broadcaster, Family Radio to deliver current Family Radio programming on its global short wave network. In addition to the existing transmissions, Merlin will provide an additional seven hours programming a day. Merlin will transmit Family Radio programming from sites in the UK, Ascension Island, UAE and South Africa, providing Family Radio with extensive coverage of their key target regions, which include Central, South and West Africa, Russia, India and the Middle East. Family Radio programming is received by Merlin in its Central London Control Room via FTP and fixed circuits, and they are then distributed via satellite to its UK and overseas sites for distribution on short wave. The contract, which commences in June 2002 for one year, will see Merlin provide Family Radio with first hop coverage utilizing its extensive global short wave network and significantly improve audibility of their programming. David Hoff, Family Radio's International Manager said: "Family Radio is committed to broadcasting the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide, as faithfully and as extensively as possible. To this end, we are very grateful for our expanding relationship with Merlin Communications. This contract will allow us to broadcast a much clearer signal to Africa and other key locations." Merlin's Head of Transmission Sales, Richard Hurd said: "We are delighted to be given the opportunity to develop our relationship with Family Radio and that they have entrusted us to deliver their programmes to some of their key target markets. We look forward to being able to provide an enhanced and extended transmission service to our customer in the future." Family Radio Transmission Details Time (UT) Transmitter Site Coverage Area Programme Language 1400-1700 Abu Dhabi (UAE) India English & Hindi 1900-2000 W[o]offerton (UK) Middle East Arabic 1700-1900 Wo[o]fferton (UK) Western Russia Russian 1700-1800 Ascension Island Central Africa English 2000-2100 Ascension Island Central & West Africa English 1900-2100 Meyerton (South Africa) Southern Africa English [passage omitted-background] For further information about this press release, please contact: Laura Jelf, Marketing Manager Merlin Communications International Ltd, Tel: +44 (0)20 7969 0000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7396 6223, Email: laura.jelf@merlincommunications.com Web: http://www.merlincommunications.com Source: Merlin Communications press release, London, in English 25 Jun 02 (via BBCM; also via Richard Cuff, via DXLD) WTFK??!! ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-102, June 24, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1136: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1136.html NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB WORLD OF RADIO SCHEDULE UPDATED: http://www.radioskd.html WOR MASTER TIME SCHEDULE UPDATED: http://www.wormast.html ** ANGOLA. Graças à excelente propagação dos últimos dias, tive o privilégio de acompanhar, novamente, o programa Hora Certa, levado ao ar pela Rádio Nacional de Angola, em 4950 kHz. Foi em 19 de junho, a partir das 0410. Resultado: após a morte de Jonas Savimbi, líder da UNITA, em janeiro passado, o formato do programa já não é o mesmo de um ano e meio. Naquela época, o apresentador Otávio Capapa dizia, a todo instante, frases do tipo: "Savimbi, a tua hora vai chegar! O indivíduo psicopata e assassino Jonas Cidônio Malheiro Savimbi mata crianças inocentes!". O programa que acompanhei deu grande guinada. As mensagens do apresentador, agora, são: "Está na antena uma mensagem de paz! Estamos vivendo um momento histórico! O país necessita do esforço de seus filhos: para a paz vamos todos trabalhar com afinco!". E até música tem no programa. Foi ao ar uma canção cujo refrão era: "Angola, meu país, a guerra ficou para traz!". Para completar a audição, foi apresentada entrevista com militar da UNITA que entregou suas armas e foi anistiado pelo governo. O jornalista usava, a todo momento, o verbo "aquartelar" ao se referir à deposição de armas do grupo guerrilheiro. Em tempo: um pouco antes, o Jornal da Hora apresentou notícia dando conta de que empresários da África do Sul visitaram a província de Benguela, onde pretendem, em breve, reativar uma fábrica de papel. As boas e emocionantes notícias dos nossos irmãos de Angola chegam sempre via ondas curtas! Após todos esses anos de guerra, a melhor notícia que um radioescuta poderia receber de Angola, além do fim dos combates, é que a Rádio Nacional está enviando, novamente, respostas aos ouvintes. O radioescuta espanhol Josê Hernández Madrid, de Cartagena, acaba de receber o cartão QSL da emissora, em 233 dias. Anote o endereço: Rádio Nacional, Caixa Postal 1329, Luanda, Angola (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Berkeley is publishing old Soviet military maps of Armenia and Georgia on the scale of 1:100,000 on the Internet. The map http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/maps/x-ussr/K-38-138.jpg shows a.o. the eastern part of the greater Yerevan area. In the northern outskirts of this area, a short distance NW of a town named Arinj (Arindzh), the map shows a group of three radio mast symbols. This is likely to be the "old" Yerevan site. The Tactical Pilotage Chart shows a multiple obstruction at this position with the maximum height given as 700 ft. (=213 m). The geographical coordinates of the center symbol are 40.14.14 N/44.33.30 E. Shortwave transmissions seem to have started very early from Yerevan. This is no wonder, considering the large number of Armenians living in neighbouring countries. 4810 still appears to use the old site. The presumed but not fully confirmed SW transmitter set-up at Yerevan consists of 2x100 kW and 1x50 kW. In addition, the site is also likely to house the old MW and LW transmitters (863 and 254 kHz), both in the 150 kW range. The TPC estimated mast height of 700 ft. clearly indicates the presence of a LW or MW transmitter (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. I hear 11685 every day (when I try!) and sign on appears to be approx. 1600, perhaps slightly earlier. I don't know the language, but it MIGHT be different during the first ten mins to what it is after 1610 - when ID is usually given (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 23 via DXLD) 11685 still on air, when switched on at 1552 UT, usual strong as regular 500 kW outlets from Gavar. But very distorted audio. Program started at 1600 UT with usual funeral songs by female, to remind of 1.2 million Armenian nationals who massacred in the Osmanian empire collapse in 1918-1922, of war of liberation like in Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kurdistan, Syria, and Iraq at same time. I guess that Armenian service is meant to thousands of Armenian nationals who live in Western Europe. At 1557 UT RCI [! CRI transmit RCI relay 1500-1557 UT to India on other Xian channel!] ID signal occurred on air co-channel. It's coming from Xian, China, acc to HFCC entry: 11685 1600-1630 to zone 39 XIA 100 kW 306 degr CHN CRI RTC (ed, BC-DX Jun 23) I can hear the co-channel, which I thought sounded like China, but Armenia is usually a very strong and dominant signal. I guess it is meant for Armenian nationals in Europe as you say, but the first 10 minutes just sounds a little different. CRI Xian should be in Turkish at 1600-1630 on 11685 \\ 11740 U1 acc to the NDXC schedule (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. For past few days have only noted VNG on 5 and 12.984 MHz. 5 MHz by far the best received at my QTH (Ian Baxter, Australia, June 24, ARDXC via DXLD) VNG Closure: Opposition grows! Information from the APC Newsletter (20 June 2002 edition) by VK3YE Users of Australia's VNG HF time signal bcs are stepping up efforts to keep the service going. Earlier this month they were advised that VNG radio transmissions would cease on July 1. VNG users, which include seismologists, astronomers, surveyors, navigators and radio amateurs are upset that they were given less than a month's notice of the closure. They say that the closure would disadvantage them as there are no cheap and easily accessible timebase replacements. Internet and telephone time services suffer propagation delays and GPS systems are not yet affordable to many amateur users. VNG's users want the closure deferred by at least six months and consultation with affected parties. Users of the service have been urged to write to the National Standards Commission and the responsible Minister, the Honourable Ian MacFarlane MP, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. The letters should state how they use the VNG service and why there are no convenient replacements at this time. It goes without saying that with the closure less than two weeks away, this should be done immediately. VNG provides accuracy to one millisecond and is readily available to anyone with a general coverage HF receiver. The service has operated almost continuously for the last 38 years and has been the only easily accessible time and frequency standard within Australia and New Zealand. Frequencies most commonly audible here in Melbourne include 2.5, 5, 8.638 and 12.984 MHz as well as 16 MHz (Info via VK1ENG, Stephen Newlyn, Australia, VK5VKA, Jun 20, BC-DX via DXLD) VNG EXTENSION. Below is a copy of an email letter sent to VNG users protesting about the VNG closure. Dear R VNG user, Re: R VNG Australia's Standards Frequency and Time Signal Service Following representations to the Commission from R VNG users regarding the closure of this service I am pleased to advise you that the Commission has decided to postpone the closure of this service. Despite the clear understanding that under the present contractual arrangements the service would cease on 30 June 2002, the Commission has been convinced that some users were not fully cognisant of this matter and have not yet made the necessary alternative arrangements. In order to ensure that all users be given every opportunity to make such arrangements, the Commission has agreed to extending its support of R VNG for a further six months until 31 December 2002. This offer has been agreed subject to the following conditions: The VNG Users Consortium provide a voice announcement for broadcast on R VNG from mid-July 2002, advising all users that the service will close on 31 December 2002. The VNG Users Consortium inform its members in writing, before the end of July 2002 and again before the end of September 2002 that they will need to make their own future arrangements to receive time services from other sources after 31 December 2002. It is clearly understood that the National Standards Commission is unable to provide any alternative to R VNG and the VNG Users Consortium needs to encourages users of R VNG to develop means of obtaining the time information that they need from the alternative sources available in Australia after 31 December 2002. In the event of a major breakdown in equipment, the Commission will not be able to guarantee the continuation of the service for the full six (6) month period. Yours faithfully, Dr Richard Brittain, Secretary, National Time Committee (via Dave Zanto, and John Norfolk, DXLD; also via Stephen Newlyn, Australia, VK5VKA, WWDXC via BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) Short notice? I thought this was talked about for a year or more (gh) ** AUSTRIA. Radio Austria International's "Intermedia" weekly communications magazine will broadcast an extensive interview with Ed P5/4L4FN in North Korea, his personal, ham, and professional background; how he succeeded to operate from P5; current situation and future plans ... in issue #275 Friday 5 July (UT) 1704, 1830 Sat 6 July 02:03*, 1903 Sun 7 July 1630 German Service to EUR on 6155, 13730 (-1800) and 5945 (1800-), *only via satellite and via ASTRA (ORF-DVB 12.692 H, SR 22000, FEC 5/6) RealAudio and MP3 for download German and English versions: via http://roi.orf.at/intermedia "#275" and http://www.qsl.at Wolf Harranth OE1WHC ORF-Radio Austria International Redaktion Computer und Medien A-1040 Wien, Argentinierstr. 30A, Austria Fon +43-1-501 01-160 71 Fax +43-1-501 01-160 56 Mailbox +43-1-501 01-160 70 mail wolf.harranth@orf.at http://roi.orf.at Intermedia Hotline (Wolf Harranth OE1WHC, ORF A-DX Jun 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. Radio station Belarus` schedule: 0100-0130 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz (Belarussian) 0130-0200 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz (Mo-Sa Belarussian; Su Russian) 0200-0230 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz (Mo/We/Fr-Su English; Tu Belarussian; Th German) 0230-0300 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz (Mo English; Tu-Sa Belarussian; Su German) 1900-1930 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz (Belarussian) 1930-2000 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz (Mo Belarussian; Tu/Th English; We/Sa/Su German; Fr Russian) 2000-2030 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz (Mo-Th/Sa Russian; Fr/Su Belarussian) 2030-2100 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz (Mo Belarussian; Tu/Th English; We/Sa/Su German; Fr Russian) Address: ul. Krasnaya 4, 220807, Minsk, Belarus Fax: + (375-17) 284 85 74. Phone: +(375-17) 239 58 31, 239 58 32, 239 58 75 Web: http://www.tvr.by (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus, via Kvadrat, via Signal June 22, via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. See PAPUA NEW GUINEA ** BRAZIL. Depois de muito tempo, a Rádio Brasil, de Campinas(SP), voltou a ser sintonizada em Porto Alegre(RS). Foi em 21 de junho, às 1007, na freqüência de 4785 kHz. Foi ouvida a identificação: "ZYG 857, emissora da Rádio Brasil, ondas tropicais de 4785 kHz". Em seguida, foi ao ar programa de variedades, apresentado por Carlos, que anunciou eventos sociais que ocorreriam em Campinas (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Será que a Rádio Anhangüera, de Araguaína(TO), deixou de retransmitir a programação da Rede Somzoom Sat? A emissora foi captada, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 19 de junho, às 0138, em 4905 kHz. Apresentava programa religioso, com participação de ouvintes, por telefone e carta. A recepção era sofrível, mas deu para entender que o programa era patrocinado pela "Padaria Belém, do nosso irmão Paulo!" No sítio da Rede Somzoom, a Anhangüera permanece listada como afiliada (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Aqui vai o horário de transmissão da Rádio Educação Rural, emissora de Campo Grande(MS), em 4755 kHz: das 0700 às 0300. Foi captada, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 20 de junho, encerrando a programação às 0300 (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Nacional da Amazônia está emitindo, novamente, na freqüência de 11780 kHz, em 25 metros, devido ao excelente trabalho da equipe de engenheiros da Radiobrás. Eles estudaram e colocaram em prática um sistema onde os velhos transmissores, que esquentavam muito, recebem boa refrigeração. O trabalho chamou a atenção dos professores da Universidade de Brasília. E o trabalho da Radiobrás não ficou só nisso. Além de economizar 8 milhões de dólares no conserto de 3 transmissores, a direção resolveu alugar um deles para a Rádio Senado. Resultado: recebeu um milhão de reais, de adiantamento. Com o dinheiro, restaurou seus 3 transmissores. As interessantes informações são do presidente da estatal, Carlos Zarur, em depoimento prestado em audiência pública, realizada na Comissão da Amazônia da Câmara Federal, no mês de maio (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Câmara dos Deputados poderá ter sua rádio de ondas curtas. A proposta foi apresentada pela direção da Radiobrás aos deputados. A freqüência seria em 25 metros. O acordo seria igual ao que foi estabelecido com o Senado, que já emite sua programação em 5990 kHz, em 49 metros. A Radiobrás pede adiantamento de valor, com o qual consertaria mais 2 transmissores. Entretanto, num primeiro momento, o Departamento Técnico da Câmara rejeitou a oferta (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX June 23 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. For some weeks, tried to listen to a new DX-related (?) broadcast Além Fronteiras, of Rádio Canção Nova. It must be on the air on Saturdays, 2130-2300, on 4825, 6105, and 9675 kHz. This year, 9675 does propagate, but is subject to much QRM. Radio Cairo (in Yoruba) dominates on 9675 kHz before 2159. After that moment, Portuguese talks are audible, covered by an Arabic voice for a minute, till 2200. The latter must be Saudi Arabia. DW in Indonesian comes with a splatter from 9670 kHz, starting at 2200. RAI interval signal appears at 2230, but it does not cause any inconvenience. Then, at 2250, DW signs off, and Rádio Canção Nova can be heard with fair quality for 10 minutes. At 2300 Chinese CNR1 joins the company on 9675 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal June 22 via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. U.S. has rung wrong number on phone history, MPs say. Follow up on U.S. HOUSE DECLARES BELL DID NOT INVENT TELEPHONE MOTION NAMING BELL AS TRUE INVENTOR PASSES By OLIVER MOORE, Globe and Mail Update Jun. 22 OTTAWA (CP) - Canada is fighting back in the long-distance war of words with the Americans over who invented the telephone. Just before rising for the summer break yesterday, the House of Commons passed a motion officially recognizing Alexander Graham Bell as the true inventor of the telephone. The move came after the U.S. Congress passed a resolution declaring Italian-American Antonio Meucci as the inventor. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps says Bell was a visionary, calling him "an inspiring example of a Canadian inventor who ... contributed to the advancement of knowledge and the progress of humanity." Bell, a Scot who came to Brantford, Ont., in 1870 with his parents, has long been recognized as the person who invented the telephone there. His revolutionary device was patented in the United States in 1876. Bell also carried out extensive experiments with kites, boats and hydrofoils at Baddeck, N.S., where he had a summer home. He died at Baddeck in 1922. The U.S. resolution was an expression of opinion by Congress and does not carry legal weight. But many saw the declaration as an American attempt to rewrite history. "In the past number of years, historical records and scholarly research have concluded that Meucci was the original inventor of the telephone, long before Bell," said Craig Donner, a spokesperson for Vito Fossella, the U.S. congressman who authored the resolution. The resolution says Meucci gave notice of an impending patent on his early phone in 1871, but couldn't afford the $10 to renew it in 1874. If he had, it goes on, Bell would not have been granted his patent two years later (via Brian Smith, ODXA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. I have contact the office of the director of Fujian PBS. They tell me their station will verify reception reports from foreign listener. You and your DX friends could send the report to me, and I will deliver it to them. My address: Mr. Wu Dong, Distribution Dept. Ping An Life Insurance Company of China, Fuzhou Branch 30/F., Ping An Building, No.88, Wuyi Zhong Road Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China, 350005 My email: dxfans@hotmail.com P.S. Fujian EBS belongs to Fujian PBS indeed. (Danny Wu, China, June 21, dxing.info via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de su Conciencia: Siguiendo con la investigaciòn sobre los 6064.4 les cuento que durante las últimas noches he captado la identifiación de la emisora así: "... En emisiones de prueba, transmite 6065 La Voz de su Conciencia desde ??? para el mundo..." El lugar que menciona me parece un poco raro y no quiero mencionarlo hasta que no lo tenga confirmado. Así también ayer sábado presentaron un programa que era conducido por dos personas con acento extranjero sobre la tan anhelada paz en mi país; mencionaron que escribiendo al Apartado Aéreo 95300 de Bogotá, a vuleta de correo se recibiría el folleto "Rescate a su Familia". El apartado es de la librería Colombia para Cristo. El colega Jerry Berg a través del amigo Henrik Klemetz me hace llegar unos enlaces a la página de Colombia para Cristo donde aparecen algunas fotos de la misión y del operador de la radio; cabe anotar que esta región es de fuerte presencia guerrillera y paramilitar y es de mucho valor montar un proyecto como lo es una radio en un lugar como así. http://gloriastendal.tripod.com/colombiaparacristo/ http://hometown.aol.com/gstendal/StendalHome.html (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, June 23, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Hoy Lunes a las 0725 UT en la frecuencia 6064.7 logré captar en forma muy clara la señal que sale por esta frecuencia. Como ya lo informó el colega Rafael, se identifica como: La Voz de tu Conciencia. Por mi parte la identificación completa escuchada por mí dice lo siguiente: ``Transmite 6065 La Voz de tu Conciencia, en transmisiones de prueba, desde Bonaire para el Mundo.`` A esta hora estaban con programación religiosa. Si algún colega está interesado en este sonido con mucho gusto se lo podemos enviar por este medio. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, June 24, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Bonaire? = un lugar dentro de Colombia? See below (gh, DXLD) I have been checking this one, which looks to me like 6064.54. At my QTH they can be hrd early evenings and post-midnight. I found them at arnd 2330 Jun 18, all Colombian-style mx with very brief anmts--just a few wrds, seemingly bible references--after every few songs (roughly every 15-20 mins.). Strength just so-so at this hour, but improving until blocked at 0100 by WYFR on fqy. PWBR says WYFR leaves fqy at 0430, and I did find the "unid." in the clear at 0510 Jun 20 with the same format--local instrumentals and vocals with very brief anmts by man, tho more frequent at his hour, roughly every 6-10 mins. Signal strength was pretty good, and improved over time. At 0654 they switched format and began what appeared to be a religious prgm, mostly low-key studio talk, a little piano mx at the start, an echoey service briefly at another point, but not a big production item. This went on until 0724, when they gave what may have been a prgm ID: "A la verdad . . . la verdad, transmite . . . La Voz de . . . en . . . el mundo, para el mundo." Some more talking, then back to the mx-and-brief-anmts format arnd 0730. My tape recorder stopped at 0920 and they were still on, same format. I notice that there is a website for "Colombia Para Cristo" http://gloriastendal.tripod.com/colombiaparacristo/ and a linked URL of the Stendal family http://hometown.aol.com/gstendal/StendalHome.html which, under "Russell and Marina," makes reference to "Russell" running a 24 hr. Christian radio stn in the SE plains of Colombia "which reaches into an area that is mostly guerrilla controlled, but also reaches some drug traffickers and some paramilitary." Link to the pictures doesn't work. Don't know if this has any connection with this stn or not. -- Hrd again at 0645-1000 Jun 23, decent strength, again mostly mx-and- short-anmts, seemingly Bible references, but a brief "ID" at 0700: "A la verdad, todo la verdad. Transmite [seis mil-?] . . . La Voz de la . . . en . . . prueba, desde . . . para el mundo." Then religious talk, back to mx-and-anmts. Still going at 1000, tho going out quickly by then (Jerry Berg, MA, DX-plorer via DXLD) Thanks to two clips submitted by Jerry Berg, who is hearing station around 0700 with prerecorded programs, I have been able to work out a preliminary transcription of what sounds like their canned ID: ``La pregunta a través de los siglos, desde los tiempos de Poncio Pilato, ¿qué cosa es la verdad? (...) usted. (...) un nuevo concepto, y su precio. (......) A la verdad, sobre la verdad, transmite Seis mil sesenta y cinco [6065], La Voz de la Conciencia, en emisiones de prueba, desde el aire, para el mundo``. To Rafael Rodríguez, who has heard the ID at other times of the day, it sounds more like La Voz de su Conciencia, and considering this possibility, I believe he could be perfectly right on that one. The ending tag, ``desde el aire``, as well as the whole ID, is absolutely uncommon, so other interpretations would also be possible. Whatever the actual transmitter site, I would like to add that here was an SIL missionary station (Summer Institute of Linguistics) at Lomalinda, Puerto Llera, Meta department until 1995 when it was closed following harassments from the Farc guerilla. They have murdered one of the American missionaries, while others have been abducted and eventually liberated, with or without payment of ransom. If the transmission is from this area, it would be surprising to expect any further on-the-air clues to the actual location, as the Farc guerillas have shown that they are totally opposed to all churches, especially if evangelical. In areas under guerilla control, especially on the Llanos east of the Cordillera, practically all churches have been ordered to close down. In a perilous, warlike context like this, sending out veries to foreign listeners becomes a rather secondary issue. But who knows, perhaps the supporting organization, Colombia para Cristo, with offices in Bogotá, might care for some DXing extravaganza. [Later:] I have been pursuing further info related to the presumed Colombian on 6064.5. Here are my findings. I have had the chance to listen to Jose Elias Diaz' recording from yesterday morning at 0725, and on it there is no doubt they say ``La Voz de tu Conciencia`` and ``desde Bonaire``. However, Rafael Rodríguez, in Bogotá, says he has been hearing ``su``, ``mi`` and ``la`` on other occasions. If ``desde Bonaire`` means from Bonaire, in the Netherlands Antilles, Jose Elías, who lives in Barcelona, Venezuela, would most certainly be in a position to hear the station during the day from his home QTH. Well, I asked him if he could, but his answer was negative. As Rafael Rodríguez, on the other hand, says that he can hear the station all day long from his QTH in Bogotá, this would certainly be consistent with the previously suggested QTH of Puerto Lleras, in Meta, especially as he has been hearing a local ID for the Puerto Lleras AM station called Radio Alcaravan. (A similarly sounding ID – Sistema Radial Alcarabanga - had been reported previously by Björn Malm, in Quito, Ecuador). On the ``Colombia para Cristo`` webpage Rafael has found a mention of a family ranch called Bonaire, located on the outskirts of Puerto Lleras. He has also been in contact with a bookshop in Bogotá, whose phone number has been mentioned on the air. When the representative heard Rafael play Jose Elías` audio file on the phone, she said that Bonaire was the station location at the outset. Today they were at Lomalinda, which is the place where the Summer Institute of Linguistics were housed until withdrawing from Colombia in 1995 as a result of threats from the guerrilla. For reports, Rafael obtained the following email address Colombia-para-Cristo@neutel.co However, Rafael thinks the second part of the address should be @neutel.com.co instead. I hope this info will prove helpful. Thanks to Jerry Berg, Rafael Rodríguez, José Elías Díaz for their help, and Björn Malm for discovering the UNID station in the first place (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, June 24, dxing.info via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. GABON/CONGO [tentative] 9770: What is the African station I heard yesterday and today opening at 1600 in vernacular on 9770.0? They are in the clear until co/channel VOA Phil carrier appears 1648 approx. Same station believed heard at 1843 re-check in French, quite strong, with lots of references to Congo and Congolais, to eventual 1900 s-off. I could hear a station on 9770 from about 1600 but the signal here is very very weak and unusable. I have now found a listing in the current DSWCI DBS May 2002: 9770 500 kW GAB RTV Nationale Congolaise, Kinshasa, via Moyabi 0400- 0600, 1600-1900. I guess this is the broadcast being heard. I believe I can recollect reading something about it but not any loggings. 9770 - this one signs on at 1600 and has now been heard to s-off with anthem??? at 1900. I hear it but splash from V of Russia 9775 is too strong here for a clear copy. The language is mostly French with some vernaculars - and typical African music. It matches the listing in the DSWCI DBS for a Moyabi broadcast of Kinshasa - maybe a satellite fed relay? It is also listed for an 0400-0600 broadcast. I can't hear Sri Lanka on 9770 currently - and CRI hasn`t been heard either. VOA PHL is active 1700-1800 Mon-Fri only and VOA KAV daily from 1800 - in English. Olle - do you know if CRI is still using 9770 at 1600 for their sce in Hakka 1600-1657? I couldn`t hear their IS when the above signal appeared (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 21/23 via DXLD) Also SLBC Ekala-SLK-CLN is registered there til 1630 UT. 9770 1230-1630 41 EKA 100 350 1234567 3103-271002 CLN SLB SLB (BC-DX) ** COSTA RICA. TIDGS seems to be off frequency, below nominal 11870 at 2352 UT June 23 (George S. Thurman, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I put him very close to 11869 (gh, OK, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 72.5 MHZ MUSIC CHANNEL For a long time I was looking for the exact frequency of the ambient music channel called "Tele Onda Musical" here in San Salvador, El Salvador, because I only have an analog receiver for this band (72-76 MHz) but yesterday I read an old newspaper with the notifications of some frequencies to be renewed by the government regulator organization (the publications is law mandatory) and this includes 72.5 MHz as "Servicio de música por suscripción" I think this could be a good frequency to listen to during the Es opening to Central America; listed with 3.5 kW. Regards (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, El Salvador, June 24, WTFDA topica list via DXLD) May still be imprecise; how about a couple more decimals? ** GUAM [and non]. The Jim Bohannon Show is about the only general- interest national talk show we can stomach, and have listened off and on for years. Altho he has strong opinions, he is glib, clever and tries to be fair and civil to callers. Fortunately, in Enid, Jimbo is on KGWA-960 (usually; except when the automation screws up, i.e. some human misprograms it). He`s allegedly on hundreds of stations, but no thorough listing is available, it seems, as Westwood One considers that info proprietary. Jimbo has never had a website of any quality, but it was improved somewhat in the last year: http://www.jimbotalk.com There is an admittedly incomplete list of affiliates. I looked thru them trying to find one, just one station that webcasts him live UT Tue-Sat at 0206-0459. Several stations on the list, once one finds their websites (not linked, and not always obvious), do not show him on their schedule, if any, currently. Worse, some that do show him, no longer carry him, in the few cases where we could also get a webcast. That is so with WNDB Daytona Beach, which we thought a good candidate, and entered into MONITORING REMINDERS. But someone else is now on in that timeslot. Finally, the very last station mentioned, K57, in of all places, Guam (whatever its real calls may be), has a working webcast, http://www.radiopacific.com/k57/24hrs.ram and he is on the posted schedule, but long delayed till local evening 11 pm-2 am in the UT plus 10 timezone. So we`re waiting to confirm whether Jimbo really can be heard UT Tue-Fri at 1306-1559 – and the Friday evening show is longer delayed until the following Sunday at 1405-1659. A few years ago, Bohannon was on a fair number of 50 kW clearchannel blowtorches, but one is hard pressed to find him now in the evening live slot, tuning across the AM band. Trouble is, he is an `extreme moderate`, and stations want the far right, the wacky, or the filthy dirty instead. Most of Jimbo`s affiliates are in small towns or cities, where a few stations are glad to have network access to some quality talk in the evening. A few bigger stations may still be carrying him in the middle of the night as on the schedule. The website has been promising guest previews for months, but none show up yet, tho if you want to know who guested on a certain night two years ago, that info is to be had. Yes, we`ve complained to the webmaster about all this, but suspect no one is there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. TEHRAN BEGINS HEBREW BROADCASTS. The Islamic Republic News Agency announced on 10 June that Iran would begin a 30-minute daily Hebrew-language shortwave radio program called the "Voice of Davud" on 11 June. IRNA explained that the program is meant to "provide accurate information to peoples and oppose the one-sided news monopoly." Tehran also supports the Voice of the Palestinian Islamic Revolution and the Voice of the Al-Aqsa Intifada from Tehran. The two radio stations use Iranian radio's external-service transmitters and broadcast on frequencies that also carry Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's Arabic programs. These stations carry pro-Intifada commentary, glorify violence against Israel, and encourage future acts of "resistance." The Voice of Davud appears to be different from these other services in some aspects. AP writer Brian Murphy reported from Tehran on 11 June that the new Iranian broadcasts mark an effort to "bypass politics and reach out to Israelis and others," and the first Voice of Davud broadcast lacked the usual anti-Israeli diatribes. Indeed, that program contained items about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to Washington, about Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank, and an interview with a Jewish Iranian. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting website's (http://www.irib.com) outline of the Voice of Davud, on the other hand, accused Tel Aviv of "racial discrimination and cruelty to the real owners of occupied Palestine" and appealed to "freedom-loving" Israelis to open discussions about "justice, friendship, and security." "By this radio we try to show the real face of the liars -- those who play a lot of tricks on the Jews in order to bring and settle them in the bloody ruins which used to be Palestinian homes," the website message said, according to AP's Murphy. ("RFE/RL Iran Report," 17 June via RFE/RL Media Matters June 21 via DXLD) Consistently above spelt DAVUD, as in original BBCM item we figured was a typo. Is the name spelt with a U in Hebrew and/or Farsi? Of course, vowels are variable/optional in such languages. However, in English on the homepage http://www.irib.com it is DAVID, and they even offer audio, ``Latest Archive of Hebrew`` at http://www.irib.com/WorldService/Archive/ram/heb627.ram I suppose the number may change; if date-keyed, it`s futurely (Glenn Hauser, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. From israelradio.org : OVERSEAS BROADCASTING CONTINUES The Israel Broadcasting Authority had announced on March 24 that overseas broadcasting would end on March 31, 2002 but following a large number of protests the deadline was at first extended and now it has been decided by newly appointed Director-General Yosef Bar-el to continue the service including by shortwave. Some schedule changes will take place on July 1 and details will be provided here in the coming days. [Later:] Regarding the July 1st 'schedule changes' - this is due to a domestic move of foreign language radio news broadcasts of off REKA. I would think that Russian and Amharic would remain on REKA – but I'm waiting for confirmation on that one. Those were the sole two languages broadcast when REKA was created over ten years ago. REKA stands for "The Network for Immigrant Absorption." Russians and Ethiopians are two major groups of immigrants. The network was started within days of the immigration of thousands of Ethiopians to Israel. (Later: BTW, I was told that Russian and Amharic would be the languages remaining on REKA.) The decision of the meeting on June 20 was (as you can see, they haven't finalized things yet): Reshet Alef to host: 0700-0730 Israel Time (0400 UT/Midnight Eastern) English and French (as it currently does) Up to 60 minutes at lunch time for French, English and Spanish but exact time is still being discussed and MAY be 1400-1500 Israel Time (1100 UT, 7 AM Eastern) Up to 60 minutes in evening (Israel Time) for French and English time not yet decided but will depend on final time of English TV news. Other languages from REQA to go to Reshet Moreshet (the 'Heritage Network') 88.5 FM (Ladino, Moghrabi, Romanian, Hungarian, Yiddish etc). [Later2:] I've now heard that the continuation of Shortwave is now official (a letter has been sent to Bezeq from the IBA). The network changes will now probably be on July 21 and not July 1 (Daniel Rosenzweig, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. http://www.jpost.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1023716539704 NIGHTLY ENGLISH NEWS FROM ISRAEL PREMIERES TUESDAY By GIL HOFFMAN, Jun. 23, 2002 Israel's long awaited Arabic-English international satellite network is set to première on Tuesday, featuring a half-hour English news program broadcast nightly at 8 pm Israel time. [1700 UT] The network will be available via satellite throughout the Middle East and Europe on the same French satellite that broadcasts Al- Jazeera and other top Arabic networks. The broadcasts can be picked up throughout North Africa, the Gulf States, Iraq, and as far north in Europe as Scandinavia. The IBA hopes to eventually run the entire program live, but initially, the broadcasts will open with a news update followed by a retransmission of the 15-minute IBA English news that will be continued to be aired locally on Channel 1 at 6:15. For the remaining time in the broadcast, the program will air special interviews and in-depth features that will not be shown locally. IBA diplomatic correspondent Leah Zinder is set to anchor the maiden broadcast. Eight hours of daily Arabic broadcasts will begin at 2 pm Tuesday with a broadcast of the World Cup semifinal and will feature Arabic movies, dramas, and cultural programs. Some English language broadcasts will be interspersed into the programming, but not locally produced. Minister-Without-Portfolio Ra'anan Cohen, the minister responsible for enforcing the IBA Law, emphasized in Sunday's cabinet meeting that the news broadcasts would be high quality and not propaganda. The IBA has invested a NIS 97 million budget in the project at a time when cuts are being made in local news broadcasts and contracts are being restructured. International viewers should point their satellite dishes to the satellite "Hotbird 3" at 13 degrees east. The channel is at 12220 megahertz. The polarity of the reception is horizontal, with a 6161 symbol rate from the symbol 3/4 FEC. The channel is called "Channel 3 Arabic IBA TV." The network will be available locally on Arutzei Zahav and Matav's channel 100 and Tevel's channel 810 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) The 8 PM TV news is mostly a recording of the Channel 1 news at 6:15 due to the current issue of staffing. The IBA doesn't want to hire new people, and the current staff doesn't want to produce the new shows also. So, at the moment at least, we're getting a recorded 8 PM broadcast (Daniel Rosenzweig, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Ibrahim Rustamov in Tajikistan managed to (re-)discover the English program of Kyrgyz State Radio: 0200-0220 on 4010 kHz + MW/FM. This is part of the home service program 1 (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Jun 20 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI, 9515, 24th June, 1300. News in English by woman. Closing announcement at 1307 by man. Good signal. 9515 is QSY from 11675 kHz. Schedule via closing annt as follows. 1650-1750 6095 1750-1850 11725 1850-2215 15160 2215-0500 17675 0500-0700 11820 0700-1100 9885 1100-1300 9515 Beamed to Bougainville and Solomon Isl. (Masahiro Umemura, Japan, JH9RUI, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Superseding application to move KGYN 1210 Guymon to Oklahoma City is this: application to move city of license to Tulsa, OK, for this 50000/10000 U4 facility (FCC via Buffalo K. Foonman and his imaginary friend Jerry Starr, AM Switch, NRC DX News June 24 via DXLD) So much for news-talk KTOK OKC getting on that transmitter. However, the further east the better, still nulling toward Philadelphia. This way they could cover both Tulsa and OKC -- and Enid without ``forgetting`` to go to night pattern (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3325: They're back on the Island of Bougainville. They were audible last night (June 23 from fadein around 0800 until Palangkaraya overwhelmed their signal). Also audible for the first time in several months (here) was 3385 RENB. Other PNG bandscan included (at 1000-1200) were 2410, 3204.92, 3235, 3245, 3275, possibly!-> 3290 R Central - playing PNG music but with poor audio and 2 utes cochannel - mark this one as only tentative, 3305 R Western, 3315, 3355 (Simbu, with an excellent signal), 3365 (only early around 0830-0900, not even a het after 0930), het only on 3375 (never resolved to audio), 3905, 4890. Not heard - 3220 (there was a nice HCJB program on, however until 1000.), 3260, 3335, 3345, 3395 Pacific Bandscan: (various times 0730-1000) Australia 4835, 4910, (5025 under Rebelde) until 0829 then sudden switch to 2310, 2325, 2485. Vanuatu 7260.84 under heavy ham QRM 0830 Solomon Islands 5019.9 fadein at 0730 and on until 1330+ New Zealand RRS 3935 0730-0840+ (Don Nelson, Oregon, SWBC via DXLD) 3220 Morobe is back on, so is 3290 R Central. Most stations into extended format with election results. Many of the stations of PNG are on late their evening times June 24 with election results (most usually sign off at 10:00 pm local time, 1200 UT). Likely this will continue for a few more days as the results are tabulated. Here's a few of the more interesting: 3220, R Morobe 1144-1218 Pop PNG music, then into parallel news feed with 4890 at 1200. At end of the news at 1210 into program with feed from // 4890 with F speaking on responsibilities of new government. At 1217 M with numbers of votes cast and election polling currently underway. Nice to see this one back on (not noted for past few days) 3290, R Central 1144-1210 Pop Western music, mixed with PNG String Band music. Off air with no announcements suddenly during mid-song at 1210 (transmitter carrier gone). 3305, R Western 1144-1225 Pop PNG music, into news feed // 4890 at ToH, then back into pop music program at conclusion of news at 1210. At 1220 suddenly left the music format, and into M with vote cast results // 4899 and 3220. This was results reported by Radio Western. 3355, R Simbu 1144-1202 Pop PNG Music, into sign off and usual anthem at 1202 Surprised that they did not cover the election results. 3275, R S Highlands 1202-1219 Surprised to see this one on after its normal signoff at 1200. Mixture of Pop W Music. Surprisingly, 3385 which was very strong on 23 June 0830-1200, was not heard this evening (Don Nelson, OR, June 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290, R Central, 0943 June 21, MA with talk in Pidgin English at fair level, noted 21st only. Seems to be an irregular operation. Thanks to Chris Hambly who reported this one a week ago (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, Host of The South Pacific DX Report, http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4677.5, R Paz Perú Internacional, (tentative) 0433 June 21, poor signal with light non-descript music, announcements muffled and lower level than music. Gone by 0453 re-tune. Thanks to Björn Malm who noted them on a slightly higher freq; wonder if they moved to avoid Paitití? (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, Host of The South Pacific DX Report, http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. AGREEMENT PAVES WAY FOR RELEASE OF CLASSICAL-MUSIC ARCHIVE After years of legal disputes, many thousands of hours of classical- music performances from Soviet archives have been cleared for commercial release in the West, AP reported on 13 June. Los Angeles- based Pipeline Music intends to release the first 20 compact discs in the series this year. The archives -- which include about 400,000 recordings including performances by pianist Van Cliburn, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, American singer Paul Robeson, and many others - - were discovered in Soviet vaults more than a decade ago, but their legal status has been in doubt ever since. A new agreement between Pipeline and the Russian government has broken the logjam and paved the way for the material to be released. The archives also include a smaller amount of video material, including rare footage of ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 14 June via RFE/RL Media Matters June 21 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Mass Media in Russia (including VoR) OUTLOOK FOR NEWS MEDIA MARKET IN RUSSIA According to Russia's Minister for Press and Information Mikhail Lessin, the trend toward less state interference in the news media will continue but all related decisions must be weighed and consistent. Mr Lessin was summing up a recent conference in Moscow devoted to the media industry and expected reforms. More details from reporter Lada Korotun. Russia now has some 3,000 television and broadcasting companies and about 33,000 print media. Internet publishing is also gaining momentum. In every large city there are ten or more TV and broadcasting stations, and scores of newspapers and magazines are published. As for the future, Minister Lessin promises the media market will be regulated by nothing but competition very soon, but he fixes no date. Asked about prospects for the Voice of Russia, which broadcasts in 32 languages to 160 countries and regions, Mr. Lessin said: Since the Voice of Russia is the mouthpiece of Russia and has a social task, it will develop under the eye of the state. To this Mr. Lessin's assistant, Mikhail Seslavinsky, adds: Broadcasting to foreign countries is probably the one news media area which in all countries is government-financed. It pursues important government objectives. On the one hand, it popularizes the cultural values and language of our country, and has political objectives too. On the other hand, it provides a link with the homeland for max [sic] compatriots of our who are scattered all over the world. So the Russian Federation believes the Voice of Russia broadcasting Co. must continue to develop. It sees this as a priority. 06/21/2002 Source: http://www.VoR.ru (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) Name is normally spelt LESIN, e.g. in RFE/RL Media Matters (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA: FORMER RTS BOSS JAILED FOR 10 YEARS OVER NATO BOMBING 21 June 2001 Former head of Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Dragoljub Milanovich, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for failing to order staff to be evacuated on the night of 23 April 1999 when NATO bombed the RTS building in Serbia. 16 members of staff were killed, and 16 others injured. A court in Belgrade found that Milanovich had failed to act despite being aware that the building could be targeted, and that loss of life would inevitably result. Milanovich said he was "not surprised" at the sentence (© Radio Netherlands Media Network June 21 via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. 5670, 0200 Radio Slovakia Int'l, Rimavska Sobota, IS and ID. French 243 18/06. Mixing 5930 kHz x 2 minus 6190 kHz = 5670 kHz (Graham Powell, Wales, Online Logbook, via Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** TAHITI. I understand there is no more SW from here, but how about DXing Tahiti on MW? (gist of inquiry by Duane W8DBF Fischer, MI, swl via DXLD) AFAIK, there is only one MW frequency there, 738, or at least the only one commonly DXed --- if you`re on the west coast, as far as possible from KCBS. But in Michigan it would be quite a challenge. This figures in the March Grayland WA DXpedition report in June 24 NRC DX News: R. Tahiti, Papeete, 1218 24 Mar. Fair audio; man in French briefly dominant over the splatter; also with fair signal 1300 24 Mar, news in French (Nick Hall-Patch) Papeete, 0554 3/24, loud with island music, woman in Tahitian (Bruce Portzer) RFO Mahina, Mar 22 0750, fair; discussion in French, het against 740 KCBS San Francisco, at 0910 an improving signal (Bruce Conti) RFO Tahiti Papeete, Mar 16 0930, noted here nightly throughout the DXpedition, sometimes at good levels (John Bryant) (via gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN. CHINA : Not 'New Star BC Station' but 'Star Star Radio Station' The name of numbers station in Taiwan is not New Star Broadcasting Station but Star Star radio station. I sent an e-mail to this station and received a following reply from the station on Apr. 22. (T. Yamashita, Japan, Jun 20, 2001 for CRW) From: "win win" [ w2789@hotmail.com ] To: Toru Yamashita Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 6:52 PM Subject: Re: YOUR STATION'S NAME Dear Mr. Toru, Thanks for your e-mail dated on 15th April. It is great to know you are interested in our program. We are ``Star Star radio station`` and our current subject is issues of APEC between Taiwan & Mainland China. If you have any information of it, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, we would to know more details about you before we offer further proposal to you. We are very appreciated it we could send your resume to us. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Star Star (Toru Yamashita's webpage for the Asian Broadcasting Institute ABI can be found at http://www.246.ne.jp/~abi CRW) (Clandestine Radio Watch June 30 via DXLD) OK, but this needs a bit further explanation. Is the confusion a translation problem? What is the actual name in Chinese? And what is APEC? How does this fit in with numbers transmissions?? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. TORIES PROPOSE PAY-PER-VIEW BBC IN RADICAL SHAKE-UP PA 06/19 1442 By Andrew Woodcock, Political Correspondent, PA News Conservatives today laid out a radical plan for the future funding of the BBC which would see the licence fee cut dramatically and viewers asked to pay for some services. Under the scheme, the licence fee would be retained only to cover a narrowly-defined public service broadcasting element, excluding most sport, entertainment and drama. The BBC would be free to launch subscription or pay-per-view channels to carry programmes deemed not to fall under the public service remit. Outlining the scheme in an article for the Financial Times, shadow culture secretary Tim Yeo said that the licence fee was a relic of a bygone age, unsuited to the modern world of multiple channels and viewer choice. Mr Yeo, who was today addressing a Social Market Foundation conference on the future of public service broadcasting, told the FT: "To ensure the BBC eases rather than obstructs progress, three changes are needed. "Public service broadcasting must be redefined; the BBC must be given freedom to exploit its own powerful brand name and assets; and viewers and listeners must be empowered." Mr Yeo denounced the licence fee, which raises2.2 billion a year for the BBC, as "a compulsory and regressive television tax". It was "astonishing" that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - also due to address today's conference - appeared to have ruled out any changes to the licence fee when the BBC's charter came up for renewal in 2006, he said. The existence of multiple channels made it "doubtful" whether entertainment programmes could any longer be viewed as forming part of the BBC's public service remit, said Mr Yeo. "Most people would agree that the BBC could carry out its public service responsibilities for a significantly lower sum," he argued. "In return for accepting a cut in the licence fee, the BBC could be released from its present shackles and set free to offer subscription or pay-per-view services. "BBC channels devoted to sport, drama, entertainment, films and many other subjects could be offered to viewers. "Freedom to develop in this way would give the BBC and its customers more opportunities, not fewer, as a result of slimming down its public service role." :: BBC News 24 now attracts more viewers than Sky News in multi- channel homes, according to the latest TV viewing figures. Around 3.8 million viewers each week tuned in to the BBC's rolling news channel during April and May, according to the latest research from Barb, the broadcasting body which monitors viewing figures. Sky News attracted 100,000 less on 3.7 million viewers per week. Roger Mosey, head of BBC television news, said: "These figures represent a massive endorsement of News 24's distinctive programming. No other channel can match the quality, range and depth of our output and viewers are turning to News 24 in increasing numbers." Nick Pollard, head of Sky News said: "If you look back at last week, or last month or last year Sky News has consistently been ahead in terms of share of viewers. The reason the BBC has slightly higher raw figures is because they have a wider distribution on digital and terrestrial as opposed to cable and satellite. They simply have more homes able to view them. "Their viewers watch News 24 for a much shorter period of time. The quality of our output is shown by the fact that Sky News has won all the major TV awards over the past two years." BBC chairman Gavyn Davies dismissed the Tory proposals as unworkable and said they would create a "ghetto channel". Cutting the licence fee would leave the BBC so under-funded that it would be forced to pad out its schedules with cheap programming, while BBC2 would close altogether, he said. Mr Davies told the Social Market Foundation conference that separating public service broadcasting from the channel's sport, entertainment and drama output would not work. "We have always existed to make the good popular and to make the popular good. To try, artificially, to separate the two into two distinct channels would be difficult and damaging. "For example, would the rock concert at Buckingham Palace count as public service, or entertainment? And if the latter, how many would have watched on a subscription channel?" he said. Under the Conservative plan, the millions of viewers who claim they will not choose to have pay channels after analogue switch-off may have to pay to watch the World Cup or EastEnders, Mr Davies said. The lines between entertainment and public service broadcasting are often blurred, he added. Programmes such as EastEnders address serious social issues, while nature documentary The Blue Planet was classed as public service broadcasting but gained such big audiences because the series was trailed and scheduled around entertainment shows. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, who also addressed the conference at Bafta in London's Piccadilly, said she welcomed debate on funding of the BBC but said no-one had yet come up with a viable alternative to the current licence fee system. "Is public service broadcasting going to be scrapped in the next four years? No. Has anyone come up with a formula for replacing the licence fee that would actually work in the circumstances of the next four years? No. "I would be happy to hear genuine proposals for how the BBC could be funded, but this is a well-worn path and I'm not expecting to be surprised," she said. Jowell said the BBC had been a "great servant" to the nation but called for new debate about its future. "The last ten years have seen more change for the BBC than in any decade preceding. It must continue to change. "But that does not mean chasing every commercial opportunity, every development in the commercial TV world," she said. Regarding the issue of regulation of the BBC, she said: "The BBC has great privileges, so must carry the most responsibility. We want light-touch regulation, but the regulatory touch must bear the heaviest on the BBC." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. The local public affairs program on KRWG-FM, Las Cruces NM, Images, Sats at 2330 UT, June 22 is about a magnet middle school there which has a TV `station` for some time, and just started a `radio station` for the Sierra Middle School students, officially on the air since June 6, `K-Star`, KSTR for Sierra TV and Radio, on 1540 AM. Person in charge is Cissy (sp?) Lujan Pinkham. Not clear about transmitter, power, or license class, but I suspect carrier current or Part 15. This summer is testing with music loops, and liners, adjusting the antenna and claims to be `on the air`, as well as wired around the campus, in preparation for fall term. Meanwhile, some students are getting experience DJ-ing (which means playing records at dances). More student AM stations are planned, such as for high school. She is glad to use AM, rather than face all the competition for LPFM. However, there is some `bleedover`, so close to the Mexican border – meaning interference to, or from? She started the process of applying for LPFM, but had to learn all the FCC regs; took hours to download the FCC application alone. Put in a year of work on this and in the community. The KRWG engineers suggested she try AM instead. Images shows are eventually archived at the KRWG website, and the interview is to be continued at a later date. This one in a couple weeks should be at http://www.krwgfm.org/realaudio/images178.ram (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. My housemate here in the Big O reports to me that he heard both KVWM-970 in Show Low and KDJI-1270 in Holbrook running day power late last night, probably operating with emergency authority because of the fires in eastern Arizona. A good opportunity for those in the western half of the U.S. who don't yet have these two bagged to go after them (Rick Dau, Omaha, NE, June 22, NRC-AM via DXLD) Thanks to Rick Dau's tip earlier today on the NRC list, I've been listening since 8:40 Pacific/11:40 Eastern to KDJI-1270 Holbrook and KVWM-970 in Show Low. They are part of a network of AM and FM stations in eastern Arizona with a single emergency broadcast; the announcer is female with road closure information, location of emergency shelters (one has been set up in Winslow for those with respiratory problems), evacuees are being urged to register with the Red Cross so their families can locate them, etc. KDJI-1270 is well atop the channel here (normally KJUG, KXPS, and XEAZ fight it out there) while KVWM-970 is way under KZTK; IDed via a parallel with KDJI. I'm using the R8B and Quantum Loop tonight. Just heard the emergency action "buzzer" over KDJI-1270; "Vicky Dempsey" believed to be the announcer, residents are being told to evacuate Pine Top and Lakeside and warned to wear a long-sleeve shirt and long pants in case they have to go through flames. "Please try to remain as calm as possible. . . . . get in your car and leave immediately." Damn! (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, June 22, NRC-AM via DXLD) All kinds of Emergency comms are on AM here. EAS activated! Female announcer from the Show Low Sheriffs office is on the air. People are being told where to evacuate. Show Low AZ is being evacuated, see 970 AM, Holbrook 1270 is on high power with details. The fire is now at 235,000 acres and going out of control. The towns of Pinedale, Linden, Overgaard all cease to exist and Heber, AZ is about to go. Turn on your radios now! [Later:] These are the stations you can try to hear with this emergency.... 970 KVWM Show Low, AZ 1270 KDJI Holbrook, AZ 1450 KVSL Show Low, AZ These are all networked now with evacuation news. 550 KFYI Phoenix, AZ has coverage that blankets the state with its own news coverage of the fire disaster (Kevin Mesa, Arizona, June 22, amfmtvdx via DXLD) On 1270, KDJI in Holbrook, AZ, is carrying live, constant evacuation and emergency instructions regarding the major fires there. Kevin Redding tells me that KVWM-970 was signing off due to the evacuation of Show Low, AZ. There is some radio which performs a public service left ( --Rick Lewis, AZ, ibid.) 1270 KDJI AZ Holbrook - 6/23 0147 - Good signal with special coverage of the wildland fires in the area. Issued several warnings, lists of evacuation centers, and plea for donation of personal hygiene items. Mentioned that they were staying on full power 24 hours a day during the emergency (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO Drake R-8 and Kiwa loop, June 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) I truly am one that finds Clear Channel disgusting. Now that I said this, I will tell you that the best coverage in the Phoenix area has come from Clear Channel station, KFYI 550. They have had more coverage than any station in the state other than the stations in the immediate area. I can't complain about Clear Channel this time. They have done a great job. The most intense coverage is from KZUA 92.1 Holbrook, KRFM 96.5 Show Low, KDJI 1270 Holbrook, KVWM 970 Show Low, and KVSL 1450 Show Low. These stations are all owned by the same company and run the same programming. Bitch all you want about Clear Channel, there is much to complain about but there is nothing to complain about this time. They have done a magnificent job with their coverage on KFYI (Kevin Redding, Mesa, Arizona, June 24, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. SB QST @ ARL $ARLB038 ZCZC AG38 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 38 ARLB038 From ARRL Headquarters, Newington CT June 24, 2002 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB038 ARLB038 General Communications Emergency Declaration On June 24, 2002, under the authority of Section 97.401 of the Federal Communications Commission's Rules and Regulations [47 C.F.R. Part 97] a General Communications Emergency is declared to exist in Arizona requiring the protection of amateur emergency communication frequencies. Amateurs are required to refrain from using 7265 kHz (daytime), and 3990 kHz (night time) plus or minus 3 kHz unless they are taking part in the handling of emergency traffic. This order is effective immediately until rescinded but may be as long as 14 days. Arlan K Van Doorn, Senior Advisor for Public Safety Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC. W1AW will discontinue its 3990 kHz phone bulletin, transmitted daily at 0145z, until the declaration is rescinded. NNNN /EX (via Bill Smith, W5USM, and John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. SATERN TAKES THE LEAD AS ARIZONA AMATEURS SUPPORT WILDFIRE RESPONSE NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 24, 2002 --- As a massive wildfire continues to threaten several communities in Arizona, Amateur Radio operators are pitching in to assist responding agencies. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) has taken on the job of coordinating communications during the emergency. ARRL Arizona Section Manager Cliff Hauser, KD6XH, says hams are supporting Red Cross facilities in Flagstaff, Holbrook and Phoenix. Effective immediately, the FCC has declared a communications emergency and ordered amateurs not involved in handling emergency traffic to stay clear of 7265 kHz during daylight hours and 3990 kHz after dark, plus or minus 3 kHz. The FCC said its order sequestering 7265 and 3990 kHz for emergency traffic could remain in effect for as long as two weeks. ARRL Maxim Memorial Station W1AW, which normally transmits its bulletins on 3990, has suspended operation on that frequency until the ban is lifted. Over the weekend, the so-called Rodeo and Chediski fires joined to form a single wildfire that`s now consumed more than 320,000 acres, some on Native American tribal lands and the rest on national forestland. The two fires have destroyed more than 225 structures. More than 2000 firefighters, assisted by aircraft, are battling the flames. Hauser said the Arizona State Emergency Net on 7265 and 3990 is being used extensively for emergency traffic, along with the Cactus Intertie System of VHF/UHF repeaters http://www.cactus-intertie.org/ Operators from the Arizona Amateur Radio Club`s W7IO are on the air at the State Emergency Operations Center in Phoenix, the capital. SATERN has set up stations at Mesa, Winslow and Eager. SATERN Western Territory Coordinator Warren Andreasen, K7CWA, says SATERN is using the call sign W7TSA at its Southwest Division headquarters in Phoenix. The organization has requested assistance from the ARRL, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and other Amateur Radio volunteer resources to help in the emergency. ``Stations coming in will need to be self contained,`` Andreasen said. The Salvation Army is sheltering evacuees at Salvation Army sites in Mesa and Glendale as well as in a sports dome and at high school in Edgar. The number of fire refugees has been estimated to be as high as 30,000. Additionally, The Salvation Army is has been coordinating in-kind goods for the state`s emergency wildfire response and is additionally providing mobile feeding support for the shelters and for fire responders. Nearly all of the 8000 residents of the town of Show Low were evacuated over the weekend. Hauser reports that Dave Eply, N9CZV, who lives in Show Low, has been handling health-and-welfare traffic for those town residents who, despite the warnings, have chosen not to leave. Eply, who works for the local utility company, is staying behind to deal with the emergency. Other communities evacuated were Pinedale, Clay Springs, Linden, Heber, Overgaard, Pinetop, Lakeside, Hon Dah, Forest Lake and Wagon Wheel. SATERN`s Web-based health and welfare information system is active. Those seeking information on Arizona residents possibly affected by the fire emergency may visit the SATERN Web site http://www.satern.org and click on ``Health and Welfare Information Request`` to start the process. (ARRL June 24 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Anybody know who that C&W station is on 1090 tonight? Seems to be a daytimer running on autopilot with a satellite feed. At midnight EDT there was this non-ID: "Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and Italy: we're playing the best variety of country music in world... we are Country Music Radio", then right back to music. Ring any bells for anyone? (Barry McLarnon, Canada, June 24, NRC-AM via DXLD) Barry, Has to be daytimer WJKM in Hartsville, TN. Pulling this trick at night is a way of life for them. Listen for "CMR" mentions. Call letters are very seldom given (Steve Francis, Alcoa, Tennessee, ibid.) I can confirm this is WJKM, Hartsville TN. Legal ID at 1 am CDT, followed a few minutes later by two local ads (and now I'm hearing yet another one as I type at 1:48 am). This is reported as a perennial offender, though this is the first time I personally have heard this semi-local after hours. Completely dominant on the channel here, about 50 miles west of the transmitter (Doug Smith, W9WI, Nashville TN, ibid.) ** U S A. NEW RADAR DETECTORS INTERFERING WITH SMALL SATELLITES © Copyright 2002 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY New model auto radar detectors are interfering with small satellite data systems across the USA, disrupting credit-card transactions at gas pumps, Muzak systems in fast-food outlets and even stock trades. "It's a very large problem for the industry," says Richard Dalbello, executive director of the Satellite Industry Association. Affected are the wide range of businesses that use small dishes to link ATM machines to central databases, supply weather information to private pilots and run paging networks. These services had coexisted peacefully with radar detectors, which operate in a different frequency band. But in the past three years, detector makers have customized their new units for the nearby satellite band to elude more sophisticated police radar guns, which can spot detectors in the old frequencies. Radar detectors are illegal for many commercial vehicles nationwide and for all motorists in Virginia and Washington. The detectors have not been subject to Federal Communications Commission interference limits because, as receivers, they emit a small amount of radio waves that, until recently, were innocuous. Interference problems are sporadic but have spread the past six months with the increasing sales of the latest units, satellite executive say. These models comprise about 20% of the 10 million to 20 million radar detectors on the road, industry officials say. Especially vulnerable are small businesses with low rooftop satellite antennas and heavy traffic from radar detector-toting motorists. Among the main victims: Gas stations. In a filing with the FCC, ChevronTexaco says interference at pay-at-the-pump credit card terminals "can result in lost or incorrect sales." Sometimes retailers do not get paid. Fast-food outlets, convenience stores. Muzak systems have been disrupted at many of its 200,000 retail locations, causing music and advertisements to skip or mute. Small airports. Several private pilots have been unable to get weather updates because of radar detectors in airport employees' cars parked nearby. "The satellite industry is seeing interference in all sectors," including financial service firms that handle stock trades, says Joslyn Read of Hughes Network Systems, a satellite service provider. Radar detector makers say they are switching back to the old frequency, and 73% of newly made units are compliant. They say they will be 100% compliant by January. "We have solved it," says Mitchell Lazarus, lawyer for the Radio Association Defending Airwaves, which represents the makers. But that won't address the millions of offending detectors on the road or on stores shelves. "You poisoned my pond, and now you just want to leave," SIA's Dalbello says. The FCC could order the makers to upgrade the new units more quickly. "We expect to take action very soon," says the FCC's Julius Knapp. But it's unlikely the agency would order a recall, officials say. http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2002/06/17/radar.htm (via Dave White, DXLD) WTFK?? ** U S A. UPDATE: The clock is ticking and STILL, we just don't know… Although the state legislature met in session again on June 19th, there was no definitive action taken regarding the state budget for FY '03, which begins on July 1st. As a result, WUOT is still in limbo. The WUOT staff appreciates all the calls, letters and emails of support we've received during the past few weeks. (Click here http://www.wuot.org/SaveWUOT.htm to see pictures and read about the rally held recently.) You've let your voices be heard that public radio is important to you and to this community. Now it's up to the legislature and the University. Information about how to contact your representatives is available at the links below. In addition, WUOT listeners may want to send a note to UT's new president, Dr. John W. Shumaker, welcoming him to the University of Tennessee and letting him know that UT Public Radio is important to you. You may write President Shumaker at 831 Andy Holt Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 (from http://www.wuot.org June 23 via DXLD) ** U S A. The Atlantic Monthly March 2002 Pursuits & Retreats RADIO MISSING PIECES THE STRANGE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING ARIAS AND ADAGIOS by Stephen Budiansky For several years something distinctly odd has been happening to the classical music played on WETA-FM, the National Public Radio station I listen to in Washington, D.C. From time to time I've read complaints that classical stations were "dumbing down" their programming, or playing only the most popular warhorses, or swearing off twentieth- century pieces, but none of those diagnoses ever seemed quite to match the symptoms... http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2002/03/budiansky.htm (via John Wesley Smith, KC0HSB, MO, March 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Gerd Horten, RADIO GOES TO WAR The Cultural Politics of Propaganda during World War II Publication Date: February 2002 Subjects: History; United States History; Media Studies; American Studies; Television and Radio Rights: World 232 pages, 6 x 9 inches, 23 b/w photographs, 2 tables Clothbound: $45.00 0-520-20783-1 £29.95 Available Now "By focusing on the medium of radio during World War II, Horten has provided us with a window into an important change in radio broadcasting that has previously been ignored by historians. The depth of research, the book's contribution to our understanding of radio and the war make Radio Goes to War an outstanding work."-- Lary May, author of The Big Tomorrow: Hollywood and the Politics of the American Way "Radio broadcasting, and its impact on American life, still remains a neglected area of our national history. Radio Goes to War demonstrates conclusively how short-sighted that omission is. As we enter what is sure to be another era of contested claims of government control over freedom of speech, the controversies and compromises of wartime broadcasting sixty years ago provide an ominous example of difficult decisions to be made in the future. The alliance of big business, advertising, and wartime propaganda that Horten so convincingly illuminates takes on a heightened significance, especially as this relationship has tightened in the last several decades. When radio and television go to war again, will they follow the same course? This is cautionary reading for our new century."--Michele Hilmes, author of Radio Voices: American Broadcasting 1922-1952 DESCRIPTION Radio Goes to War is the first comprehensive and in-depth look at the role of domestic radio in the United States during the Second World War. As this study convincingly demonstrates, radio broadcasting played a crucial role both in government propaganda and within the context of the broader cultural and political transformations of wartime America. Gerd Horten's absorbing narrative argues that no medium merged entertainment, propaganda, and advertising more effectively than radio. As a result, America's wartime radio propaganda emphasized an increasingly corporate and privatized vision of America's future, with important repercussions for the war years and the postwar era. Examining radio news programs, government propaganda shows, advertising, soap operas, and comedy programs, Horten situates radio wartime propaganda in the key shift from a Depression-era resentment of big business to the consumer and corporate culture of the postwar period. CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction: Radio and the Privatization of War PART I. RADIO NEWS, PROPAGANDA, AND POLITICS DURING WORLD WAR II Chapter 1: Radio News, Propaganda, and Politics: From the New Deal to World War II Chapter 2: Uneasy Persuasion: Government Radio Propaganda, 1941-1943 Chapter 3: Closing Ranks: Propaganda, Politics, and Domestic Foreign- Language Radio PART II. SELLING THE WAR TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: RADIO ENTERTAINMENT AND ADVERTISING Chapter 4: The Rewards of Wartime Radio Advertising Chapter 5: "Radio Propaganda Must Be Painless": The Comedians Go to War Chapter 6: "Twenty Million Women Can't Be Wrong": Wartime Soap Operas Epilogue: The Privatization of America Notes Index ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gerd Horten is Associate Professor of American History at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon (University of California Press http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9102.html via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. On a visit to Provincetown in about 1988-89, I tried to stir up Ernie Cooper, but could not find him. Years later I wrote a story about that trip and put it on my website as part of my internet travel book site: Four Corners – A Literary Excursion Across America. It wasn`t long after that Ernie wrote me a nice letter thanking me for the story! He of course had read it by then. The story is still on the web. Type DANPHILLIPS.GO.TO in the URL place on your browser, then open THE DISTANT LISTENER story when the main page opens. It gives an overall view of Ernie and his accomplishment and a somewhat interesting coverage of the NRC during the early days... (Dan Phillips, TN, NRC DX News Musings of the Members, June 24 via DXLD) i.e. http://edge.net/%7Edphillip/DistantListener.html (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. ELAINE ELIAS'S BRAZILIAN SWING AT VOA Monday, June 24, 2002; Page C09 When it comes to playing and programming music, the finest jazz artists excel at improvisation. Witness Brazilian pianist Elaine Elias's performance at the Voice of America Auditorium on Saturday night. When bassist Marc Johnson busted a string during a vigorous and evocative trio salute to jazz legend Bud Powell, one of Elias's chief influences, the aborted tribute gave way to an impromptu solo piano recital in which Elias demonstrated winning resourcefulness and harmonic finesse. Capping the Smithsonian Associates' "Música de las Américas" series, Elias often found inspiration in the music of António Carlos Jobim. "Waters of March" was set in motion by splashing harmonies and cresting rhythms. "Desafinado" juxtaposed sparse thematic variations with the trio's brand of exhilarating swing. "Don't Ever Go Away" tenderly recalled Elias's early infatuation with the composer's music. Having clearly developed a close rapport with Johnson and drummer Joey Baron, Elias was free to exploit a wide range of piano dynamics as she moved from soulful musings to complex and sometimes racing harmonic schemes. Occasionally singing in Portuguese, her voice soft, wistful and sensual, Elias created a series of romantic interludes that were quietly enhanced by Johnson's warm tone and Baron's artful brushwork. The drummer also helped distinguish several of the trio arrangements with lighthearted touches, including sly rhythmic displacements, curious and sometimes clangorous accents, and abrupt suspensions of time. Johnson countered with lyrical bow work and several beautifully contoured improvisations that could easily have stood alone. -- Mike Joyce © 2002 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, June 24, DXLD) Repeated inquiries to VOA about *when* and *if* these occasional concerts on its premises are ever broadcast, have resulted in no information whatsoever (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I don't know if this is the program broadcast by WWCR, but there is a long-running television channel (available on analog C-band satellite) called Shepherd's Chapel, which is based in Arkansas and consists largely of a guy sitting at a desk conducting Bible studies. I know very little about the outfit, but it's been on the air for at least 15 years. It seems to have a much greater ratio of Bible verse to pleading-for-money than most religious broadcasters (Mike Cooper, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. I got a pleasant surprise this morning at 8 am (2200z) [UT June 23] when I came across R. Zambia apparently signing off with their National Anthem. I presume that they share the same one as South Africa "God Bless Africa", as it was the same hymn that the ANC used and was incorporated along with an Afrikaner song. I am going on PWBR 2002 as it shows 6265 kHz s/off at 2200 which corresponds to midnight locally. After the hymn/anthem finished which incidentally was sung, a 1000 Hz tone came up for about 2 minutes and the carrier ran for a minute or so. SINPO 35433. RX Icom R70. I should point out in my former QTH I was down in a valley with a long hill to the west, which completely blocked signals from central and southern Africa on the short path. There are no western hills here as I am higher and therefore should be able to receive more SP African signals. Again this was on the 21 feet of wire strung along the curtain rail (Robin L. Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-101, June 22, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1136: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1136.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, 1200 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB BROADCASTS ON WRN: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 to North America MUNDO RADIAL, INFORME DX DE GLENN HAUSER, JUNIO-JULIO 2002: Escuchar: Cada viernes 2115 (ó 2110) TU en WWCR 15825 Bajable: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0206.rm Corriente: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0206.ram Guión: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0206.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. During the large and important Afghan Tribal Council (Loya Jirga) in Kabul, Jun 11-19 with more than 1600 participating tribal leaders who were electing a President (Mr. Hamid Karzai) and a temporary Parliament, R Afghanistan extended its morning broadcasts on 15240 via Al Dhabbaya, UAE (?) to sign off at 0600* instead of 0400*, and the evening broadcasts via Norway on 18940 to *1230–1727*. The early morning broadcasts were heard under R Australia, but the `` evening`` broadcasts were heard daily in Denmark on a clear channel with SINPO varying from 25333 to 55444. They opened with patriotic Afghan songs and then the usual programmes in Pashto and Dari, both with ID: ``Radio Afghanistan, Kabul.`` On the Hour there was in most cases a time signal, an announcement heard as ``Soat Hastu Sitakesha``, an orchestral fanfare and then the ID above, followed by a long newscast read by two persons. Other program items were political and other comments, Afghan folkmusic and some drama before an abrupt sign off. Most interesting, however, were the live reports from the Loya Jirga which I heard on June 14 at 1357-1454 and on Jun 17 at 1423-1445. It was possible to hear the engaged speeches in Dari mentioning Hamid Karzai and Loya Jirga, and in between low talk between the participants and the Chairman announcing the next speaker. These were historical broadcasts - nobody had thought this possible 8 months ago! The Norwegian company NORKRING which owns the four 500 kW transmitters at Kvitsoy(K) and Sveio(S), decided to cut off some of the scheduled transmissions from R Norway and R Denmark during the extended broadcasts from R Afghanistan: 1200-1230: 18920(K) was off. 15705(K), 15735(S) and 18950(S) were heard. 1230-1255: 15705(K) and 18920(K) were off. 15735(S) and 18950(S) were heard. 1300-1355: 17525(K) and 18920(K) were off. 9590(S) and 15735(S) were heard. 1400-1455: 15735(K) (or now (S) ? Ed) and 17525(S) were heard. 1500-1555: 15735(K) was off. 13800(now from (S)) and 17525(S) were heard. 1600-1655: 13800(K) and 15735(K) were off. 9595(S) and 17525(S) were heard. 1700-1730: 13800(K) and 15705(K) were off. 7490(S) and 17505(S) were heard. 1730-1755: 13800(K) was off. 7490(S), 17505(S) and from 1730:45 15705(K). Obviously the 15705 Kvitsoy transmitter had been in use for R Afghanistan on 18940 from 1230 until abrupt sign off 1727:00. The carrier came on 17505 at 1730:30 and there was modulation at 1730:45. ``Good Morning Afghanistan`` is still relayed on 15240 and can be heard here at 0200-0300 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) So is it your assumption that the schedule would shrink back to previous hours after June 19?? Has it? (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Could somebody help me with the e-mail address to Lt. Edward E. Shank, chief of 193rd Special Operations Wing, regarding the 8700 kHz broadcast. Since some of you have reveived QSL- s, I thought that I would try my luck (Goran Hardenmark, June 19, hard-core-dx via DXLD) "Shank, Edward" edward.shank@paharr.ang.af.mil (Reijo Alapiha, Joensuu, Finland, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. 1610.06 MW, Maranatha AM, Jun 6, 0007-0014, 0058-0103 – Initially Portuguese religious, ID at 0009 with ``Radio Baluarte`` being the clearest bit, then religious songs without any announcements (that I heard) until 0056. I flipped over to // 6215.03 intermittently 0015-0056. At 0056 there was a detailed ID with the address and an E-mail address that I could not copy, and an appeal for letters; ``Atencion Paraguay...`` announcements at 0057 and 0103. The signal was fair to weak with deep fades, QRM was from Dr. Gene Scott on 1610 [Anguilla]. No other Argentinean X-bander was audible (Jean Burnell, Newfoundland, via Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Concerning live coverage of the World Cup we should also keep an ear on communications channels like 29810, 20276, 15780, 15770 SSB etc. I can remember that during past World Cups many SSB frequencies outside the broadcast and amateur bands were active relaying broadcast stations from several Latin American countries, not just Argentina. Several frequencies below 14000 and above 14350 were quite active, seemingly reaching for listeners in the Antarctic Peninsula. Good hunt (Harald Kuhl, Germany, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Aussie time station to QRT: Radio VNG, Australia`s time and frequency standard service, will cease transmitting July 1. The National Standards Commission has announced the closure, which follows many years of funding difficulties. VNG operates on 2.5, 5, 8.638, 12.984 and 16 MHz. It has been on air since the early 1960s. A ``talking clock`` announces each UTC minute on the 2.5, 5 and 16-MHz frequencies. The Commission will continue to respond to reception reports seeking QSLs until December 31, 2002. Listener reports should be sufficiently detailed for verification and include return postage. Send reports to Radio VNG, National Standards Commission, PO Box 282, North Ryde 1670, New South Wales, Australia (WIA/Victoria News Online via ARRL June 20 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. I dimly remember that when the hand-over to Christian Voice was due the Darwin transmitter were tested with the "Waltzing Matilda" IS theme of Radio Australia, described as only available source of modulation at the transmitter site then. In other words, the "Waltzing Matilda" was evidently inserted locally at Darwin. Provided that the IS machines (carts or whatever) were kept at Darwin this observation would be not too mysterious. Such a local insertion of interval signals seems to be not too uncommon. Nauen does it, and I guess Wertachtal, too. It also seems that Litomysl inserts the IS / announcement loop which precedes Radio Prague broadcasts locally, too: I found the German programme via Rimavská Sobota starting without IS, simply with audio kick-in after open carrier. And remember how Bijeljina played the Radio Yugoslavia from its own source prior to the programming from a very poor telephone feed when the microwave STL was destroyed during the Kosovo war (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. CLANDESTINE from CIS to NIGERIA. 12125, V.O. Biafra International, 15 June, 1916-2000, Speech by M with mention of Nigeria. Into pleasant Afro music. What sounded like an ID at 1929 but couldn't be certain. Long live impassioned speech by M 1929-1945 with mentions of "people of Nigeria...", "We have free...", and military. 1945 M announcer briefly, into more easy Afro music. ID at 1952 and deep-voiced M with speech. 1957 ID and address by W, followed by final ID by M as "This has been the V.O. Biafra Int. coming to you from Washington D.C. transmitting on... Thank you for listening to our program... our next broadcast, goodnight". Then instrumental Afro music. At 2000 there was an ID for R. Canada Int. then ID/satellite info by M, and beam/frequenies/ID by W. This signal wasn't quite strong enough to copy program content (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6883, R. Bartolina Sisa, La Paz (Cf. DX Window 196). Bartolina Sisa was a heroic woman who fought against oppressors of the Bolivian area in the XVIII century, and died tragically. For all women of the Aymara nation, she is the most important person and fighter for freedom and human rights of the Aymara women (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re DXLD 2-099, Canada: Interesting to see the notes of the German guy who was listening to local DAB stations in Montréal. The "Stations Privées" for which he mentioned parallel frequencies would be: TEAM 990 would of course be CKGM-990; RADIOENERGIE would be CKMF-94.3; MTL BEST MUSIC would be CHOM-97.7. For the two others, ROCKDETENTE would be CITE-107.3; I would presume that RADIOMEDIA would be CKAC-730, but it could be an unID FM owned by the same corporation. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Re CHNX QRT: The engineer's name was Mark Olson. Since Mark has now left and the station is without an engineer (something I confirmed with the station by telephone this morning) let me add a bit to this story. When Mark reported to Cumbre DX that they were gone in Sept last year, the official reason as "We have no [transmitter] replacement and no money in the budget for operating." No operating budget is the key phrase, because a replacement transmitter was available and offered last summer. Larry Baysinger [of Radio K'ekchi and Radio Amistad fame] offered to donate a 500 watt unit. The Cumbre DX radio project offered to pick up the costs of shipping the unit to CHNX. Mark seemed interested but would never give us the go ahead to ship the transmitter. But if his management wouldn't give him any operating funds, then a replacement transmitter would hardly have been needed. It is a shame that this couldn't have been worked out. We certainly tried to show that the SWL/DXer community was very interested in keeping the station on the air, including to the extent of paying to keep CHNX on the air (Hans Johnson, WY, Jun 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Saturday on The World This Weekend: the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is the stuff of legends....of Shangri La, Mount Everest, sherpas and spiritual quests. But cutting through the dreamy images are the realities of civil war and royal massacre. Daniel Lak takes us inside contemporary Nepal. Also, Andy Campbell reports on the threatened strike in major league baseball. That's Saturday on The World This Weekend at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2001 --- THE SUNDAY EDITION: This week on The Sunday Edition, Michael Enright hosts a public forum on "The Asper Effect: Power, Politics and The Wayward Press." Is the firing of Russell Mills, publisher of the Ottawa Citizen, the final nail in the coffin of a free press in Canada, or merely a tempest in a teapot? And, Arlo's new religion: a documentary look at the spiritual awakening of hippie-era folksinger Arlo Guthrie. That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. TAPESTRY: This week on Tapestry... Armenia: The Country That Was, The Country That Will Be. Alisa Siegel explores the culture and the often tragic history of a country that has embraced Christianity for seventeen centuries. Also, Don Hill talks with author Ruth Ellen Gruber about her book Virtually Jewish: Reinventing Jewish Culture in Europe. It's a look at the revival of Judaism in Europe, sixty years after the Holocaust. That's on Tapestry, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (2:30 NT; 4:00 p.m. MT; 3:00 pm. PT) on CBC Radio One. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: This week on Cross-Country Checkup...The publisher of the Ottawa Citizen has been fired over an editorial critical of the prime minister. The incident is just one in a series of conflicts over who-can-write-what in Southam papers. Critics are calling it an attack on freedom of the press. Others argue that a media owner has the right to set rules. What do you think? How much say should owners have on what's written in their newspapers? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend: the Japanese attacked North America during the second World War with a secret weapon called Fu Go. 10,000 balloons made of mulberry paper floated by jet stream over the Pacific Ocean, carrying lethal payloads. But recorded sightings of the balloons were relatively few. That's because of war-time censorship...and the failure of Fu Go. Dave Miller lifts the veil on Japan's secret weapon gone awry. Also, Anne Spencer brings us the story of Woody Guthrie and the songs he recorded before his death. That's Sunday on The World This Weekend at 6 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheet excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. JAMMING OF RADIO SIGNALS AUTHORIZED --- Special permission for RCMP, military restricted to G8 summit, Pope's visit By PAUL WALDIE, Friday, June 21, 2002 TORONTO -- The Canadian military and the RCMP have been given special authorization to jam radio and cellphone signals during the G8 Summit next week and the Pope's visit to Canada in July. It's the first time police or the military have ever been allowed to block signals, an official said. The authorization allows the Department of National Defence and the RCMP to use jamming devices around Calgary and Kananaskis, Alta., from June 17 to June 29 for the summit of leaders from Group of Eight nations. They will have the same power to jam signals in Toronto from July 16 to July 31 -- the Pope is scheduled to arrive in Canada July 23 and depart July 29, with three Toronto appearances in between. RCMP spokesman Corporal Benoît Desjardins said jamming is an important part of the security measures for both events. "The RCMP must ensure the safety and security of those attending," he said yesterday. "It could be used, for example, if there was threat of a detonation of some type of a remote-controlled device. We could jam the frequencies to make sure nobody could send a signal to that bomb." He did not know, however, how the jamming would affect cell phones or commercial radio transmissions. The order, signed by the Minister of Industry on June 6, exempts the army and police from provisions of the Radiocommunication Act, which prohibits "the interference with or obstruction of radiocommunication without lawful excuse." The exemption "will provide a way to address the problematic application of the prohibitions," the order says. It specifies that "every reasonable effort shall be made to confine or restrict to the extent possible interference with or obstruction of a radiocommunication . . . to the smallest physical area, the fewest number of frequencies and the minimum duration required to accomplish the objectives of the interference or obstruction." David Warnes, a senior adviser in Industry Canada's telecommunications branch, said yesterday that it is the first time this kind of order has been granted. He added that cellphone jammers are illegal in Canada, but the department will soon release a policy on the devices. The department held public consultations on cellphone jammers last year and it is considering permitting them in theatres, hospitals and other public places. Jamming devices are also illegal in the United States, but there is a growing underground market for the devices, which can be bought for about $2,200. A survey of 2,000 people last year by Decima Research found about 50 per cent support for jammers in public places (Toronto Globe & Mail June 21 via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** CANADA. From globeandmail.com, Thursday, June 20, 2002 BUILDERS OF THE TEAM'S ALL-SPORTS NETWORK MUST FACE THE MUSIC [by] WILLIAM HOUSTON The architects and builders of CHUM's all-sports radio network took the fall yesterday for 14 months of futility. Fired by CHUM Group Radio were vice-president of programming Ross Davies and vice-president of sales Tim Steele. Also dismissed were Paul Williams, the vice-president and general manager of The Team sports radio network, and his No. 2 executive Gerald McGroarty. Other dismissals included The Team's marketing director and sports director, according to sources. (Calls to Davies, Williams and Jim Waters, the president of CHUM Group Radio were not returned.) Bill Bodnarchuk, who is now vice-president and general manager of CHUM's Team 1050 in Toronto as well as CHUM-FM, said the sports radio network is alive and reasonably well, but will become more decentralized, with an increased emphasis on local content. "There will be some programming that will still run coast to coast," he said. "But we will be moving as quickly as we can to add local programming to our markets across the country, and that includes Toronto. "We're committed to sports, but we want to turn the focus to compelling local radio content." In Vancouver and Ottawa, the CHUM all-sports stations have enjoyed some success. CHUM will attempt to improve in its other main markets - - Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, Halifax -- with beefed up local content. Bodnarchuk described CHUM's Toronto station, Team 1050 as a "superstation" that will provide some national content to other stations. CHUM is also sticking with its all-sports concept because it is locked into long-term contracts with sports talent, such as afternoon drive host Jim Van Horne, who's earning more than $200,000 a year. Although CHUM airs an old-time rock 'n' roll format on the Internet, there are, apparently, no plans to reformat some sports stations with that programming. The departure of Williams, who sold CHUM on the idea of a national all-sports network more than a year ago and put together the operation, was not a surprise. His exit and that of McGroarty had been the subject of speculation for months because of the Team's meagre growth and weak content. It appears that Davies, who has been with CHUM for about 20 years, paid the price for accepting the Williams sports network strategy. "It's really too bad, but CHUM blew up Davies because he bought, lock, stock and barrel the Williams plan," a radio source said. "And the plan was a loser right from the start." Why network has failed Notes on why the CHUM sports radio network has not worked: Sports radio is a niche concept that excludes half the potential audience (women) and, therefore, succeeds only in large markets, such as Toronto. The problem was, Toronto already had a sports station (The Fan 590). CHUM's national programming concept was questionable from the start. Radio sports is mostly about local coverage and there is not enough national advertising to pay for a product that skews locally. Montreal listeners, for example, don't care a lot about the Toronto sports teams. Williams hired poorly. After more than a year, not one CHUM sports host has emerged as a high-profile personality. The Team was criticized for inadequate marketing and promotion, particularly in Toronto. Williams, who formerly worked at The Fan, attempted to copy The Fan programming strategy rather than developing something new. Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. Though it's not really radio, it could fit into the next edition of "World of Telephones."73-Bill Westenhaver U.S. HOUSE DECLARES BELL DID NOT INVENT THE TELEPHONE By OLIVER MOORE, Globe and Mail Update The mayor of Brantford, Ont., last night dismissed a move by the U.S. House of Representatives to give credit for inventing the telephone to a previously obscure Florentine immigrant named Antonio Meucci. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps was unavailable to comment on this blow to Canadian pride, but Brantford Mayor Chris Friel rose to the occasion, defending one of the Southwestern Ontario town's great claims to fame. "Absolutely, the credit remains with Graham Bell; he was the one who brought it to a successful conclusion," Mr. Friel said. "There was a whole bunch of people rushing for it; the question was who was going to get it done. And Alexander Graham Bell got it done." Brantford residents have long claimed that Bell came up with the telephone in their town. The Bell Memorial Homestead proudly proclaims that Melville House which the family moved into upon emigrating from Scotland "provided the stage for a budding young inventor to change the realm of communications forever." And Bell Canada's corporate legend confidently says that the inventor told his father about the idea for a telephone while in Brantford, in 1874, and summoned his assistant by placing the first telephone call two years later in Boston. "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you," he said using his Liquid Transmitter. But backed by several Italian-American groups, the resolution's sponsor, New York Congressman Vito Fossella, remains unconvinced, his press secretary, Craig Donner, said yesterday. He cited evidence that Meucci had in fact demonstrated his teletrofono years before Bell took out his patent. "This was probably the biggest idea he had," Mr. Donner said. "He continued to work on it through [to] his death in the 1880s. It was his life's work." According to Mr. Fossella, Meucci was too poor to buy a proper patent and was forced to purchase a series of renewable, one-year, notices of impending patent. After 1874 he was unable to renew even the notice. Two years later, Mr. Fossella says, Bell patented his own device. "Antonio Meucci was a man of vision whose enormous talents led to the invention of the telephone," Mr. Fossella says, "and while he did not receive the recognition he deserved during his incredible life, his time has finally come." Meucci did retain lawyers to pursue his competitor but died before the case could be heard. Mr. Fossella says that the U.S. government was, in fact, preparing to annul Bell's patent on grounds of misrepresentation and fraud when the case was discontinued. "The U.S. Supreme Court acted appropriately during Mr. Meucci's lifetime," the Congressman said in a statement the day his resolution was adopted, "and Congress has acted appropriately today." Mr. Friel says that Bell would certainly have been willing to give credit to other inventors, where credit was due, but that he is also on the record as saying in 1917. "The telephone was conceived in Brantford in 1874 and born in Boston in 1876," he said at the dedication of a memorial. Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CUBA. Cuban national organization to mount Field Day station: Now that ARRL Field Day is open to amateurs throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, the Cuban national Amateur Radio organization plans to participate. Near Havana, the Federacion de Radioaficionados de Cuba (FRC) will activate a contest station with the call sign T40AGR. FRC President Pedro Rodriguez, CO2RP, says the station will use noncommercial electric power and have two transmitters on HF. T40AGR also will be active on 6 and 2 meters. The FRC wants to stress the importance of Amateur Radio in emergency situations and has invited media and plans demonstrations of digital modes as well (Pedro Rodriguez, CO2RP via ARRL June 20 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Field day URL: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2002/rules-fd-2002.html ** CUBA. Dear Mr. Hauser, I apologize for bugging you about something so trivial again, but I was just listening to "World of Radio" on RFPI and heard you mention a story about one Michael Finney, a broadcaster on Radio Havana, which left me flabbergasted. For years I've suspected that "Langston Wright" is a pseudonym combining Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, both noted African-American writers and members of the Communist Party, but I never imagined that whoever it was behind the mike had sought asylum in Cuba under such dramatic circumstances. I failed to get the source from which you quoted; could you please email me at your convenience with that information? Thank you for that little gem, it made my evening. Sincerely, (Brian McNeil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sent him WSJ story from DXLD 2-100 (gh) ** CUBA. LAS AUTORIDADES PROHIBEN EL PC Carta de Cuba, la escritura de la libertad 29 de marzo de 2002 Por: Régis Bourgeat, Despacho Américas / Americas desk Reporters sans frontières, París Francia Nota del editor de Internet: En lo que es obviamente una reacción al poder que conceden los avances informáticos a los individuos comunes en todas partes, el gobierno cubano ha prohibido el acceso a estos recursos a la mayor parte de los ciudadanos. Como toda sociedad represiva, emulando a Hitler, Stalin y otros, Castro y sus secuaces temen al libre fluir de la información. No obstante esta prohibición, sabemos que cada vez mas cubanos logran conocer la realidad a través de la Red, visitando páginas como esta. Debemos señalar que, tal como reportamos hoy 29 de marzo de 2002, esta prohibición no ha logrado impedir que se forme el primer centro educativo informático independiente, con la expresa misión de preparar y diseñar cursos y brindar servicios de búsqueda de materiales de Internet para los disidentes, opositores y periodistas independientes. En Cuba, un decreto aprobado por el Ministerio del Comercio Interior prohíbe, desde el 16 de enero de 2002, la venta de ordenadores personales (personal computers, PC) a los particulares. Según un artículo publicado el 25 de marzo en el periódico digital wired.com, el decreto n' 383/2001 prohíbe "la venta de ordenadores, impresoras, máquinas de policopiar, fotocopiadoras y cualquier otro instrumento de impresión masiva" a cualquier asociación, fundación, organización civil sin interés de lucro y a los particulares. En el caso de que se considere indispensable la compra del equipo, o de sus piezas sueltas o accesorios, deberá solicitarse una autorización al Ministerio del Comercio Interior. En efecto, según una fuente local consultada por RSF, en un centro comercial del barrio de La Playa, en La Habana, un cartel publicitario indica que "a partir del 16 de enero de 2002, se suspende la venta de piezas sueltas, o de accesorios informáticos, a personas privadas". Otros establecimientos, consultados por teléfono, han confirmado esta información. Sin embargo, un establecimiento de La Playa no ha aplicado todavía esta medida cuya adopción, según wired.com, provocó una polémica en el seno del gobierno. La medida se extendió a toda la provincia el 1 de febrero de 2002. Se ignoran las razones que han llevado a adoptar tal decisión. Aunque siempre ha estado estrictamente controlada la venta de cualquier material de reprografía, para impedir la aparición de publicaciones independientes, la de ordenadores personales y faxes se había liberalizado en los últimos meses, siempre que se pagaran en dólares. La prohibición se ha producido después del lanzamiento de una página web del Instituto Cubano de Economistas Independientes -ilegal- http://www.cubaicei.org dirigido por la célebre economista disidente Marta Beatriz Roque. El acceso a la página desde Cuba fue bloqueado el 7 de diciembre, cuando aun no se había cumplido una semana de su lanzamiento. Elaborada en Miami, se trata del primer sitio que ofrece informaciones sobre la disidencia, únicamente procedentes de la oposición interna. Luis Fernández, portavoz del gobierno cubano en Washington, respondió con evasivas a las preguntas de wired.com sobre la realidad de la prohibición de los PC: "Si no tuviéramos que hacer frente a un embargo, habría ordenadores para todos". "¿Cómo no se va a restringir el acceso a Internet en un país que se enfrenta a un embargo, y en el que faltan los medicamentos?", explicaba el 7 de febrero de 2001 Sergio Pérez, entonces director de la empresa pública Teledatos, en un artículo en el diario oficial Granma. Pero en Cuba, las dificultades para el acceso a Internet no tienen solamente causas económicas. El acceso a la red se encuentra estrictamente regulado. Su utilización está sometida al respeto "a los principios morales de la sociedad cubana y a las leyes del país". Solo pueden acceder las empresas extranjeras y las instituciones gubernamentales. Aunque existen dos cibercafés, el primero de ellos está reservado para los turistas, y al segundo solo pueden acceder los miembros de la asociación oficial de escritores y artistas cubanos, la UNEAC. Desde septiembre de 2001, cuatro oficinas postales de La Habana ofrecen a los cubanos la posibilidad de crearse una dirección electrónica y de acceder a la red. Sin embargo, la navegación está limitada a las páginas aprobadas por las autoridades, denominadas "la Intranet". En cuanto al precio, es disuasorio: 4,5 dólares norteamericanos (5 euros), cuando el salario medio mensual es de 12 dólares. Algunas organizaciones de la sociedad civil y de defensa de los derechos humanos publican frecuentemente artículos en sitios de Internet con base en Miami, enviándolos por fax o dictándolos por teléfono. En Cuba, donde la Constitución establece que "la libertad de palabra y de prensa está sometida a los objetivos de la sociedad socialista", solo está autorizada la prensa oficial. Un centenar de periodistas independientes, agrupados en una veintena de agencias de prensa y de asociaciones, no reconocidas por el Estado, son objeto de un constante hostigamiento. Medio centenar de periodistas han tenido que abandonar la isla, desde 1995. 73'S (via Oscar, Miami, June 21, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. GRANMA -CUBA- 19 de junio de 2002 RADIO-TV MARTÍ: EL NIDO DE VÍBORAS CUESTA DEMASIADO Muchos norteamericanos no soportan más que en un momento de serias dificultades económicas, el dinero del contribuyente sea derrochado por causas perdidas POR JEAN-GUY ALLARD -especial para Granma Internacional- TEORICAMENTE, Radio-TV Martí tiene que derrochar sus millones para provocar "disidencia" en la Isla. Así lo decidieron sus creadores de la Casa Blanca y de la CIA. Pero desde hace algunos meses a esta dependencia de la Miami Connection, los tiros le han salido por la culata. Y la disidencia, Salvador Lew, el director, la tiene entre los propios miembros de su personal. Sin hablar de la otra controversia que se manifiesta en el Congreso, donde el número de críticos de la OCB -Oficina de Transmisiones hacia Cuba-, organismo responsable de las mal llamadas Radio y TV Martí, va creciendo al mismo ritmo que el de los oponentes a las prohibiciones de viajar a Cuba y al bloqueo. Según el Nuevo Herald, existe en la emisora nada menos que "un ambiente de suspicacia interna que ha provocado un virtual estado de sublevación en el personal". El diario explica que el "programa federal para transmitir información a Cuba", se ha convertido, según sus empleados, "en un acopio de amistades y conocidos de sus directivos, cuyos sueldos han comprometido ya los $25 millones del presupuesto de este año". Desde su llegada a la emisora, Salvador Lew, el septuagenario director de la OCB, nombrado personalmente por George W. Bush -con un salario anual de 132 000 dólares- ha transformado el lugar en una "embotelladora", también según el Nuevo Herald. Y una "botella", en el lenguaje popular cubano miamense, es un puesto de trabajo conseguido por influencias. LUCRATIVAS COLABORACIONES PARA CUARENTA "SOCIOS" Más de cuarenta "amistades" del veterano periodista han encontrado así un trabajo bien pagado desde su nombramiento el 26 de julio del 2001, es decir, en menos de un año. Casi todos obtuvieron prebendas de "colaboradores" con sueldos "que nunca se habían pagado". En su investigación del caso Lew, el Nuevo Herald nombra a unas de las más "jugosas" contrataciones del polémico director, protegido del Presidente, entre las cuales está la de Olga Connor, una amiga, quien "cobra" por dos programas culturales, de una hora cada uno, la "humilde" cantidad de 45 770 dólares... ¡440 dólares la hora, un record en la historia de Radio Martí! Comentario de Lew: "Yo no sabía que ella ganaba eso". El "presidencial" director ha "ubicado" también a sus socios Antonio Rivera, anteriormente apartado de la estación, y Lázaro Asencio, de 75 años, un amigo de la infancia en Las Villas -provincia al centro de Cuba-, quien cobra 80 000 dólares anuales, y dirige la "orientación" noticiosa de la emisora tras la partida de Roberto Rodríguez Tejera. Su brazo derecho es Agustín Alles, también de 75 años, quien fue director de noticias de la emisora desde 1991 hasta 1995... un puesto del cual fue catapultado tras demostrar varias veces su total incompetencia. Lew ha atribuido también una sinecura pagada con 275 dólares la hora a su amiga Sassy Alfaro, poeta clarividente, quien dirige un programa de fin de semana consagrado a la santería, la religión sincrética cubana. Otro amigo de Lew, Rolando Espinosa, famoso por ser un ex socio del negociante bandolero Demetrio Pérez Junior, "enseña" la historia de la Isla, a cambio de 125 dólares la media hora. TERRORISMO "PATRIOTICO" Para justificar estas nuevas contrataciones, Lew a menudo ataca el "patriotismo" (anticubano, por supuesto) de sus antiguos empleados. "No tienen amor por su patria", comentó públicamente. Se supone que este "amor" debe traducirse por una cobertura noticiosa manipulada en función de los sectores más extremistas de la retrógrada ciudad. Así, Lew seleccionó, entre sus amistades, a algunos de los elementos más fascistoides de la camarilla miamense. Un hecho poco sorprendente cuando uno sabe en qué círculos se mueve este amigo de George W. Bush..., quien, en La Habana batistiana, pertenecía al gabinete de abogados encargado de las causas del famoso padrino Santos Traficante. Personajes como Armando Pérez Roura, "destacado" batistiano miembro de los grupúsculos Alpha 66 y Unidad Cubana. Para hablar en claro, un terrorista. Y esto a pesar de que Pérez Roura, el "rey de la radio miamense" es gerente general de Radio Mambí. Lew le otorgó cuatro horas y cinco minutos de programación semanal, recalentando las grabaciones de las emisiones ya difundidas. Pérez Roura no le cobra para sus predicaciones (dice), pero su personal manda cada semana una factura de 175 dólares a Lew para el transporte de los preciosos casetes. Otro terrorista acogido por Lew: Rafael Díaz-Balart, el padre del congresista mafioso Lincoln Díaz-Balart. "Don Rafael" tuvo el privilegio de ser viceministro de Gobernación de la sanguinaria dictadura de Fulgencio Batista, aplastada por la Revolución. Una amiga de Lew, Nancy Pérez-Crespo, también empleada de Radio Mambí, recibe un salario anual de 45 000 dólares para dirigir una emisión diaria donde invita, sistemáticamente, nada menos que a la furibunda y vituperante Ninoska (Lucrecia) Pérez-Castellón, hija y esposa de terroristas batistianos. Además de ser la voz de la estación WQBA, Ninoska es ahora la líder (más o menos autoproclamada) de su Consejo para la Libertad de Cuba -Pérez-Castellón pertenece a esta misma tropa histérica que no niega su solidaridad con los Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada Carriles y los demás partidarios de la violencia extrema. Gracias a esta brocheta de fanáticos de la Cuba de "antes", Radio y TV Martí -el "programa federal para transmitir información a Cuba", según la terminología usada por el Herald-, oficialmente financiados (con 26 millones de dólares para el 2002) por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, difunde diariamente hacia la Isla el mensaje de individuos vinculados, a la vez, al terrorismo y a la dictadura batistiana. Tremendo resultado para un Presidente (no electo) que da a Cuba lecciones de democracia. Como si esto no fuera suficientemente escandaloso, Lew ha añadido a la larga historia de abusos de estas dos emisoras oficiales del gobierno norteamericano, unos casos de discriminación sexual en contra de cuatro mujeres. Dos de ellas, Christina Sansón y Martha Yedra, respectivamente directoras de noticias y de la programación, fueron reemplazadas por hombres menos calificados, y en sus declaraciones juradas indicaron que han estado sujetas a comentarios discriminatorios. Otras dos, Michelle Sagué y Carmen Steegers, no sólo no obtuvieron promociones, sino que fueron desplazadas hacia puestos inferiores. Las cuatro depositaron quejas oficiales al Broadcasting Board of Governors, la autoridad en materia de radio y teledifusión. Sin resultado alguno. Por otro lado, un colaborador negro de Radio Martí (uno de los muy pocos trabajadores de color en el personal de 200 empleados) ha visto su cheque de pago pasar de 100 dólares a 85, mientras veía los de sus nuevos colegas alcanzar niveles nunca vistos en la emisora. TELEVISION INVISIBLE Y RADIO SIN PUBLICO Los excesos de Salvador Lew y su tropa serían seguramente ignorados si no fuera por los mediocres resultados de Radio Martí y la invisibilidad de TV Martí. Dos sondeos difundidos por Lew en enero pasado "demostraban" un nivel fenomenal de audiencia de Radio Martí en Cuba. Realizados por "periodistas independientes" (de los que atiende económicamente la CIA), la encuesta revelaba que un 90% de la población escuchaba la estación ocasionalmente, mientras el 60% la oía "todos los días" y "todo el tiempo". Un nivel tan "fenomenal", que todo el mundo se burló de Lew y sus asesores de relaciones públicas. Otro sondeo, hecho a solicitud del propio Gobierno de EE.UU., revelaba, seis meses antes, que la audiencia de la emisora era de menos del 5%, la más baja de su historia. En cuanto a TV Martí, el propio Lew reconoce que está virtualmente "fuera del aire". La estación fantasma difunde (al desprecio de todas las leyes internacionales) a partir de un aeróstato, en Cudjoe Key. La operación extremadamente costosa fracasó desde el primer instante, al no poder penetrar el espacio radial cubano. Pero esta situación molesta siempre a más políticos: ''Es mi intención llevar este problema a la comisión de asignaciones de la Cámara. Nadie ve sus transmisiones'', declaró al Nuevo Herald el congresista republicano por Arizona, Jeff Flake. Mientras, su colega demócrata por Massachusetts, Bill Delahunt, se preguntaba "si es legítimo usar esos fondos en algo que no funciona". LA LOBA Y SUS CACHORROS Algo desmoralizada, la "Loba Feroz", Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, congresista mafiosa de Miami, quien preside el Subcomité de Relaciones Internacionales y Derechos Humanos de la Cámara de Representantes, convocó a unas audiencias sobre el futuro de Radio-TV Martí, "una iniciativa creada hace 17 años para difundir mensajes contra el Gobierno de Fidel Castro", según el texto del despacho de AP. Según esa agencia norteamericana de noticias, la oficina de Ros- Lehtinen precisó que las audiencias tendrán "el propósito de responder a la pregunta básica de qué efectividad han tenido los mensajes transmitidos por Radio y TV Martí desde su creación". Curiosamente, la AP señala que "las posibilidades de que el servicio fuera entregado a terceros por un menor costo de operaciones" sería también planteado. Seguro que la Loba ya tiene listo algún socio que se encargará de este negocio redondo. Entre los participantes anunciados para el debate, estará Dan Fisk, asesor del inefable Otto Reich. En los últimos años, cada intento para eliminar de los presupuestos la radio sin audiencia y la televisión invisible fue contrarrestado por los cachorros de la "Loba Feroz". Pero los tiempos cambian y son más numerosos los políticos como los representantes Flake y Delahunt, quienes no soportan más que, en un momento de serias dificultades económicas, el dinero del contribuyente sea derrochado por causas perdidas (via José Alba, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA [NON]. VOICE OF FOUNDATION IS BACK ON THE AIR Radio show builds a bridge between exiles and islanders By Madeline Baró Diaz, Miami Bureau, Posted June 17 2002 MIAMI The Cuban American National Foundation is back on the airwaves with a show that's reaching Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits. "The goal of this project is to bridge all distance," said Ramón Humberto Colás, one of the show's hosts. "We want to transmit a little hope and optimism." The new program, Entre Cubanos, began broadcasting on May 17 and airs from 10 to 11 a.m. [1400-1500 UT – got it right this time – gh] on WQBA 1140 AM on Fridays. The foundation pays for the air time but hopes it will catch on as a daily show, said CANF Executive Director Joe Garcia. The show debuted 10 months after the foundation announced the controversial decision to end its Voice of the Foundation short-wave broadcasts to the island. The end of the broadcasts was among the reasons cited for an exodus of foundation directors that included former spokeswoman Ninoska Pérez. At the time, foundation leaders said they were exploring other ways of broadcasting to Cuba. Pérez, who has her own show on WQBA, said the foundation's new program is far from replacing the Voice of the Foundation, which she directed. From 1990 to its demise, the Voice of the Foundation was broadcast several hours a day, six days a week, Pérez said. "I was disappointed that they closed the Voice of the Foundation, which had served the Cuban opposition for so long," she said. "To think a one-hour show locally will replace that is absurd. In any event, I'm glad that they're at least broadcasting once a week." Entre Cubanos, or "Between Cubans," features interviews with dissidents, independent journalists and others living in Cuba, Colás said. During each show a topic is discussed, such as labor rights in Cuba. The hosts are Colás, a Cuban dissident and co-founder with his wife of the independent library movement in Cuba who came to the United States late last year; Omar López Montenegro, executive director of CANF's Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba; and Brenda Moreira, who has been involved in several foundation and community projects and is the wife of CANF Director Domingo Moreira. WQBA can be heard in parts of Cuba, Colás said. When he lived on the island, he could pick up several Spanish-language stations from the United States on his radio, including Radio Martí and the Voice of the Foundation. On Entre Cubanos, there are no call-in segments like on many other Spanish-language radio shows. Garcia said the program is supposed to focus on issues Cubans have in common, rather than on differences. "The program is not about debating or disputing what we know," Garcia said. "It is about moving beyond and getting a clear vision." Max Castro, senior research associate at the University of Miami's North-South Center, said he had not yet heard the show, but it seemed the foundation was moving into a new phase. "There's no debate in Miami, in the sense that it's already a won debate," Castro said. "It makes more sense to reach out to Cuba from a strategic standpoint." Other radio hosts have been talking to dissidents on the island for years, long before the foundation's new show came along, Castro said. "It hasn't really changed the political equation in Cuba," Castro said of other programs that have incorporated dissidents. But Colás said hosting a radio show will give Cubans on the island hope. "It is like speaking to your brother, your friend and also the adversary you had in the neighborhood," Colás said. "It is speaking to a people that need to see the light and need to dream." Source: sun-sentinel.com (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** FINLAND. As for your musing that the Yleisradio address might not be complete, I think that it is, as I remember. (I didn't tape the show.) It certainly sounded like the address given on the Radio Finland website, and the 00024 Yleisradio address is correct, according to the Finnish post office's postal code search page: http://www.posti.fi/postinumeroluettelo/ I guess that the FBC HQ gets enough mail that it has a separate postal code (Bill Westenhaver, QC, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. French language course is aired on RFI Sats in the 1200, 1400 and 1600 UT broadcasts. The approach is different than the typical language course. The program I heard was tied to different items of French literature. In the course of learning phrases and words, you also get to learn a bit about some of the different French writers (or writers who wrote in French). The course book I received seems to be different. It is tied to French songs. The entire book is in French. The songs, which will be used in the course, are transcribed in the book. I don`t know the level of the course (beginner, intermediate, advanced). It may help to have some basic understanding o French (Kevin Cozens, Programming Matters, ODXA Listening In, June via DXLD) Indeed! Just like the French, expecting you to learn their language without the inconvenience of presentation in the language you already speak! (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. DW not in English to NAm, UT 0300 on 15105 past 3+ days. It`s in Swahili! (Bob Thomas, CT, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Subject: Information on RADIO RASANT Special Broadcast. From: scipark@erols.com (Myke Weiskopf) Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: 19 Jun 2002 15:48:28 -0700 Dear Listeners and DXers, On 12th April 2002 we startet [sic] transmissions of RADIO RASANT, the students' radio from the Städtische Realschule Sundern, a modern type of secondary school in Sundern, Germany. It is a students' radio project, all speakers are aged 14 up to 16 years. As far as we know: It's a unique project: there's no other project like this, done on shortwave by students. The first broadcast about activities against hostility against foreigners here in Sundern was a great success. We got a lot of reports and criticism to this broadcast. That was great. Thanks so far. Now we managed our second broadcast via IRRS. It is about a local employment project where companies, schools and employment agencies work together to minimize unemployment situations here. We think that this project is unique and we would like to introduce this project to all our listeners. The broadcast will again be in German. This is the schedule: Saturday, 29th June 2002, 1200-1300 UT on 13840 kHz and Sunday, 30th June 2002, 1200-1300 UT on 13840 kHz (repetition) and as Internet- Radio at http://mp3.nexus.org at the same times. We want to ask you to spread this information among all listeners as far as possible. We would like to receive a lot of reports. Perhaps there will be a third transmission of RADIO RASANT. We will not be back before September 2002 because the students will celebrate their summer holidays in the near future for about 6 and a half weeks. Thanks again and good reception. vy 73s Reinhard Marx, RADIO RASANT project manager, at Städtische Realschule Sundern, Rotbuschweg 28, D- 59846 Sundern, Germany phone: ++49 (0)2933 77021/ -22 fax: ++49 (0)2933 77073 http://www.radiorasant.org (via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** GREENLAND. Re 3812: Tasiilaq is the largest town in East Greenland with a population of around 1700 inhabitants. It was formerly called Ammassalik, or in Danish: Angmagssalik. It is located on 65.35 North, 38.00 West. The town is beautifully situated in a fjord surrounded by high mountains. You can read more about Tasiillaq and see beautiful photos on its website: http://www.greenland-guide.dk/ammassalik/tasiilaq.htm According to WRTH 2002 KNR broadcasts from Tasiilaq on 96.0 MHz FM with 50 watts. If any DX-er is lucky enough to hear this station, the address is: Tasiilaq Tusaalaa, Ittimiini B.883, DK-3913 Tasiilaq, Greenland. However, that will be very difficult both on FM and SW. During the present Polar summer with sunshine 24 hours a day north of the Arctic Circle the propagation on 3.8 MHz with 100 watts is hardly more than within the local area! During mid day the band is not open here in Denmark, but I tried Jun 10 at 2000-2200 and nothing was audible on 3812. At that time the Maximum Usable Frequency towards Denmark is still around 16 MHz. The town is located so close to the Polar circle that today, Jun 19, Sunset is at 0129 and Sunrise two hours later at 0337. So much daylight is not favourable for transmissions on the low SW frequencies. In the old days KNR used to broadcast on SW within the ITU authorized bands, but this is in the amateurband outside the 75 meterband. It is also strange that it comes from a small town on the East coast, when KNR has its basis in Nuuk (Godthaab in Danish) on the West coast (DSWCI DX Mirror Ed. Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 19 via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Staff at Radio Budapest were not shouting that rallying cry last week, I`m sure, when they heard that their department was going to be trimmed down. It`s even worse than I thought, so a listener tells me. Tibor Gaal writes from Hungary to say that the transmissions in Hungarian on shortwave are now virtually relays of the first domestic programme, Kossuth Radio. In January the DX programme in Hungarian was scrapped. The only DX program they`ve got now in Hungary is a sporadic one on a station called Civil Radio, which is on 98.00 MHz in Budapest, a local FM station. It`s a non- profit operation and shares its frequency with two other operators, Fiksz Radio and Harmonia Radio, two other non-profit stations. For listeners who understand Hungarian, you can go and visit the DX program`s website: http://www.mediatortenet.hu and click on DX Magazin. You`ll find an archive of DX Programmes. This is the beginning of the May edition. Apparently they produce one half-hour programme per month: SOUND DX Magazin (FRANS VOSSEN, RVI Radio World via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Long rave about satellite radio: http://salon.com/tech/feature/2002/06/19/satellite_radio/print.html Salon without the ads: http://test.angel.net/nic/salon-home.cgi (via Chet Copeland, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. All the following is from the New York Times web site: '2182 KHZ': ARCTIC DISTRESS CALLS By DWIGHT GARNER 2182 KHZ By David Masiel. 294 pp. New York: Random House. $22.95. The title of David Masiel's first novel, ''2182 kHz,'' refers to the international distress channel -- the place luckless captains of ocean vessels go to report dire situations. It's a cold title but an apt one: Masiel's confidently anarchic book broadcasts distress on six or seven frequencies at once; it's its own little pirate radio station of weirdness and pain. ''2182 kHz'' takes place almost entirely at sea, along the lonely expanse of Alaska's North Slope, and it concerns itself with the kind of guys who sign on to work up there on oil rigs, ocean tugs and icebreakers. (Masiel, who's in his early 40's, spent 10 years doing this sort of work.) You've got to be a little nuts to be attracted to this life -- the hours are appalling, the food is subhuman, you can be away from land for months at a time, temperatures can hit 60 degrees below zero, waves can run 50 feet in storms -- and Masiel's characters are indeed a little out there. They're like zonked-out refugees from a Ken Kesey novel smuggled into Jack London's world -- miscreants who can make Paulie Walnuts of ''The Sopranos'' look like Walter Cronkite. Men Without Ritalin. Among the most appealing of these lunatics is a tug captain who's known as the Chemist. What's great about the Chemist isn't that he's a self-described anarcho-fascist who wears leather and rows of silver earrings, nor that he's just pierced his own nipples with a sail needle, nor that he likes to read ''Finnegans Wake'' in the control room and listen to brain-scrambling metal bands like Throbbing Gristle. (It's no great feat for a writer to create characters like this; just add eccentricities.) What's great about the Chemist is that he prowls the deck of his tug, like some punk-rock Ahab, never issuing direct orders but instead simply screaming these two words at his crew: ''Do Things!'' The good news about ''2182 kHz'' isn't that the Chemist's men follow his instructions -- they barely listen to him -- but that Masiel does. Anyone who reads much fiction by young American writers is used to hoping, often in vain, that a novelist will do things -- that is, that he or she will bother to hang his or her clever observations on an actual story. Masiel isn't the most ingenious, or artful, first novelist you're going to come across this year, but he may be the most natural storyteller. Even the mistakes he makes (and he makes his share) are the kind you secretly don't mind, the kind that keep his plot fully in gear. The protagonist of ''2182 kHz'' is a likable hard-luck case named Henry Seine. Henry's spent 10 years working the Arctic offshore, and the time has taken its toll: he's 32 but looks 40; his attractive wife back in Washington State, tired of living alone for months at a time, has just sent him five Dear John letters (she would have sent fewer, but she was worried they wouldn't get through) that he received in one brutal clump. The men Henry works with generally like him, even though he's a bit of an ''environmentalist whack-nut,'' a guy who cares too much about niceties like the proper disposal of human and bilge waste. They begin to like him a little less when men start dying all around him. Through Henry's eyes, we get an expert (and frequently hilarious) tour of a world that's ostensibly presided over by huge, bland corporations like Exxon but in reality is subcontracted out to a few hundred borderline psychopaths, the sort of guys who were ''beaten senseless every day of the seventh grade,'' men who are students of prison highs -- chewing nutmeg, drinking Listerine -- and who frequently operate heavy machinery while stoned out of their minds. One of the achievements of Masiel's book, however, is that with one or two exceptions he doesn't turn his manic characters into caricatures; he resembles the short-story writer Thom Jones in his ability to combine an eye for madness and absurdity with a deep feeling for the lives of people in extreme situations. At its heart, ''2182 kHz'' is a series of search-and-rescue missions that are as engrossing as anything this side of ''A Perfect Storm,'' with an offbeat love story thrown in for good measure. The first of these rescue missions is Henry's own. He's the only survivor of a capsizing brought on by the Chemist's unrequited love for a woman named Julia on another boat; the Chemist takes a risky (and deadly) shortcut through dangerous water while trying to beat Julia's boat back to port. Henry is thrown clear of the tug but lives, because he's managed to climb into a survival suit. The scenes of him bobbing in the frigid ocean, alone, in the dark, adrift on a raging sea, have an austere grandeur: ''He climbed and dropped and sensed a thousand feet of black ocean eating him from below. . . . The pit seemed 10 miles deep, 20 miles, stretching down and down, his body falling until he realized his falling was actually rising, a sensation of flying too fast as his inner ear struggled to keep up with the reality of his body's movement.'' O.K., so maybe this quotation doesn't sing out of context (Masiel isn't that kind of writer), but you'll have to trust me -- this scene, which goes on for pages, will leave you feeling as seasick and horrified as Henry is. The woman responsible for Henry's eventual rescue is Julia, the object of the Chemist's obsession and the only woman within what feels like a million miles. Henry becomes obsessed with her, too, and has better luck. (Their sex is so exuberant he begins to worry that in a fit of ecstasy she's going to rip out the series of fresh stitches in his cheek.) Henry and Julia hatch a plan to save a scientist stranded on a rapidly melting ice floe hundreds of miles away, an adventure that will ultimately cost a few more crew members' lives. Masiel is capable of pushing his plot over the top; there's a ridiculous bit where Henry and his men knock out a captain in order to steal the tug needed to reach the stranded scientist. But no matter. What keeps ''2182 kHz'' grounded is Masiel's intimate knowledge of this world. As the plot skims along, you're treated to gripping little disquisitions on things like ''free radicals'' (monster waves that can pop out of fairly calm seas) or how to properly lash down tug lines or how to sleep in rough weather without getting your nose broken. In Henry Seine, Masiel gives us a man who's haunted (almost literally) by ghosts -- those of his dead shipmates, his lost wife, his emotionally remote father. Henry's father was a crabber who died a few hours after fighting with Henry, who'd tried to warn him that his boat was overloaded; among his final words to his son were, ''Gonna whip some college on me, huh?'' The best thing about ''2182 kHz'' may be that David Masiel would never dream of whipping any college on us. His book is proof that good instincts, and a lack of pretension, can take you a surprisingly long way. Dwight Garner is an editor at the Book Review. (via Stefano Valianti, Italy, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. CLANDESTINE from? to IRAQ. 9154.7, V of Ashur heard at tune in 1830 June 18 during an Assyrian* folk song followed shortly by an Arabic ID by male voice 'Izaat Ashur min al-Watan'. I heard some other vernacular IDs by a female voice apparently in Assyrian languages. They broadcast news in Arabic at 1840 with commentaries hostile to the current Iraqi regime, no trace of them after 1857. S7 with intense utility interference and frequent fading. *The name "Assyria is the chronicle of Arbela (modern Arbil); they are not by any means affiliated to the northern Iraq Kurdish community and in fact they are historical enemies (Mahmud Fathi, Germany, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAELIS THREATEN TO DROP CNN AFTER TURNER COMMENT Ewen MacAskill and Oliver Burkeman in New York Thursday June 20 2002, The Guardian Israelis yesterday began to take punitive action against the US global television network CNN, whose founder, Ted Turner, accused the country of engaging in terrorism. One of Israel's biggest satellite companies, Yes, bowed to the furore Mr Turner's remarks created by allowing in CNN's biggest rival, Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch. Some Yes board members also threatened to pull the plug on CNN for 24 hours or even longer. But a spokewoman for CNN, Susanna Flood, said that at a meeting between CNN and Yes in London yesterday Yes "gave us an assurance that it has no intention of taking CNN off". In a further protest, the Yesha council, which represents Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, banned CNN reporters from entering settlements. The council accused CNN of being "unfair and unbalanced". CNN has faced criticism from Israelis for its coverage of the Middle East crisis. Accusations of bias were fuelled by Mr Turner's interview in the Guardian on Tuesday in which he said Israel was engaged in terrorism against the Palestinians: "Aren't the Israelis and Palestinians both terrorising each other?" Mr Turner later put out a statement seeking to cool the row: "I regret any implication that I believe the actions taken by Israel to protect its people are equal to terrorism." But the Israeli communications minister, Reuven Rivlin, said that if Mr Turner had made his comments in Israel, he would have been declared persona non grata. Celebrating Fox's success in making inroads into Israel, Doug Murphy, vice-president for international distribution, said: "We've been in negotiations since about October 2001, and we're thrilled to be up and running now." He added: "It's a necessary channel there. Our mantra is 'fair and balanced', and that has sunk in with Israelis who have been spending time here in the United States. Then they've gone back to Israel and said that's the type of viewpoint that they want." But Fox has been the target of much criticism in the US from those who accuse it of a rightwing and pro-Israeli bias. A report last year from the pressure group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, said that "Fox's entire editorial policy revolves around the idea that the mainstream media have a liberal bias that Fox is obligated to rectify". The channel recently adopted a policy of referring to Palestinian suicide bombers as "homicide bombers". In Israel, a Yes broadcaster and a source close to the head of Israel's three cable providers, now engaged in a merger, told Reuters the companies will consider whether to take CNN off the air. At least two board members had demanded that Yes take CNN off the air for at least 24 hours. A source close to Ram Belinkov, who will be chief executive of a merged company of the three cable providers, Matav Cable Systems Media, Tevel and Golden Channels, said: "Turner's comments were the latest in a long line of biased coverage" against Israel. Yes, 45% of which is held by state-controlled phone company Bezeq Israel Telecom, competes with the cable companies in providing television services. It has about 300,000 subscribers in Israel. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ITALY. 3170 R Studio X , Momigno, Jun 01, 0450–0530, English announcements, and songs in English and Italian, 35434. (It broadcasts regularly on MW 1584) (Gian Luigi Naj, Asti, Italy, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD). Thus it is a harmonic (DSWCI Ed) And ought to be on 3168 – a WORLD OF RADIO affiliate (gh) ** ITALY. We have had to reduce our schedule as the fees for broadcasting from Italy have gotten out of hand. These high fees also forces out the AWR operation in Forlì (Alfredo Controneo, IRRS to Hans Johnson Jun 18, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Sked is now: M-F 0530-0630 13840 Sat-Sun 0800-1200 13840 (Norton IRRS via Cumbre DX via DXLD) However, when I looked at their website the other day, the morning broadcast was not listed (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY [non?] Another point: ´´Information on the exact location and technical characteristics of this transmitter will not be available for public disclosure at this time.´´ also not really fits to Jülich. On Sunday I quickly tuned into 13840 and found a quite weak signal which seemed to match the tiny Milano outlet, so I did not monitor it more closely, at this time not suspecting that this could be in fact a transmitter abroad... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 2624, Frontline Soldiers R, Channel 1, reactivated June 1, 1940-2000*, Korean ann, revolutionary songs, not // 3025.6. Low audio and strong QRN, QSA 3. It is very seldom on the air. (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) Not reported since May 2001 (DSWCI Ed). 3025.6, Frontline R, Channel 2, Jun 1, 1940-1956*, Korean program. QSA 4 (Schulze, ibid.) ** MOROCCO. The official government site http://www.rtm.gov.ma was not working when I checked it out; however, R. Mediterranée Internationale does work at http://www.medi1.com – very little about SW other than a mention of their solitary SW frequency but this site certainly has a very interesting collexion of recipes! (Dr John Barnard, AB, Signals Unlimited, June CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. I can confirm that the station on 15070 kHz was indeed Radio Alpha [Lima] International. Program details were correct. I was very surprised that they are allegedly using on 250 watts, judging by their website. It sounded louder but again the time of 0400z was probably at their grayline. It did rapidly fade-out. It was the first time I have logged and importantly had confirmed an authentic hobby pirate station (Robin Harwood, Tasmania, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. [Re AUSTRALIA]. From Ray Moore's details of 1503 AM reception on June 9, it sounds like he was listening to Radio Sport, New Zealand. They operate synchro transmitters from Wellington (5kW) and Christchurch (2.5kW) in New Zealand on 1503. On June 6, a charity boxing match 'Fight for Life' was held for youth suicide victims, and it may have been an excerpt from a rebroadcast of this match, or another boxing match. It's midwinter (in fact solstice is today) down here, and we hear Florida AMers with regularity so no reason why Radio Sport hasn't got to N. Ft Myers in return (David Ricquish, NZ DX Times, Wellington NZ, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI Revised Frequency Schedule 0000-0458 - 17675 0459-0658 - 11820 0659-1105 - 9885 1106-1305 - 9515 (ex 11675) (via John Figliozzi, June 21, GRDXC via DXLD) John habitually omits schedule before 0000 as basically inaudible in ENAm (gh, DXLD) ** OMAN. 15355, R Sultanate of Oman, Jun 14, 0208-0325, clearly audible with Arabic and English (Ray Merrall, UK, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ** OMAN. 13725 (ex 15140) June 16, 1520 R Sultanate of Oman talk in Arabic SINPO 35333 (Swopan Chakroborty, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. On Jun 16, the Peruvian Minister of Defence, Sr. Aurelio Loret de Mola, declared the southern city of Arequipa in Emergency after three days of severe uprisings against the Peruvian Government. Active SW stations in Arequipa are: 3375 R San Antonio 1000-1330 2200-0130 5940 R Bethel 1000-0300 5996 R Melodia 24 h 6141 CPN R. 0845-2300v (AFP in Danish Press, and updated DBS-4, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) Already reflected in R. Tacna on 9404.8 at 1100 as previously ** PERU. Lo que puedo decir es que para quien quiera escuchar noticias de tienen que sintonizar: Radio Tarma en 4775; el noticiero empieza a las 1200 UT Radio Cora 4914, noticias desde las 1000 una radio arequipeña Radio Melodía en 5995 - y Oriente en 6188 con senhal fuerte... [Yurimaguas] Recomendaría Unión, pero tiene una pésima modulación... aparte he llamado un millón de veces a la radio y nadie sabe dar razón el por qué transmiten tan mal... te responden: pero sí, estamos saliendo ...y uno le explica y no entienden... en fin, cero criterio. Saludos (Alfredo `spacemaster` Cañote, Perú, June 20, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 5499.25 /5500.58 Radio San Miguel, la provincia de San Miguel, el departamento de Cajamarca. June 15 2002 - 2330 UT. From a BM preview of April 26 all in SWB got an alert re an unID LA on this frequency -- obviously a test transmission with nonstop, mostly Ecuadorian music without any talk. Back again May 4 with nonstop music without talk, but this time with Peruvian music. May 15 came the solution to this "problem" when "Radio San Miguel" was reactivated on this new frequency. Seems to broadcast regularly -- yesterday evening a little higher up in frequency: 5500.58 -- announcing 5500 kHz, 1450 and 101.1. This date a lot of talk about the election of a new mayor "alcalde" -- mentioned several "distritos" among others "Llapa" and "Calquis". I logged "Radio San Miguel" last time in May last year on 6339.67 kHz (see SWB 1458). At that time they have ID as "San Miguel Arcángel Radio". . Now I can only hear "Radio San Miguel"- IDs and sometimes "San Miguel súper radio". Now when you get this little "preview" San Miguel has been on air for some days so perhaps some of you already got an ID. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de San Miguel, cuya capital es San Miguel de Pallaques. Sus distritos son: Calquis, El Prado, La Florida, Llapa, Nanchoc, Niepos, San Gregorio, San Miguel, San Silvestre de Cochán, Unión Agua Blanca; con una población total de 59,641 hab. 73 från (BM in Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es SW Bulletin via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Dear Glenn: It appears that the VOA is planning a major overhaul of one of their transmitter sites in the Philippines at the former Wallace Air Station, Poro Point, La Union province. In an advertisement in the June 18, 2002 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the IBB called out to interested parties to qualify themselves with the agency to perform demolition and construction work on the site, as well as the erection of a five-tower antenna array for a 1 MW medium-wave transmitter and related facilities. The value of the contract is expected to be in the $1 million - $5 million range. Thanks and regards (Paul Santos, Philippines, June 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Dear Glenn: I read your commentary in DX 2-097 on the death of Martin Burnham in the Philippines and was struck by what I thought was an uninformed remark about why he and his wife Gracia were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf more than a year ago. True, they were in my country on religious business but they were not seized because of it. They were merely on vacation when the Abu Sayyaf swooped down on them and took them hostage. It could have happened to anybody. God rest Martin Burnham's soul and that of fellow kidnap victim Ediborah Yap who died with him that fateful June day. Thanks and regards (Paul Santos, Philippines, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Leader of group that killed him was subsequently hunted down and killed by forces, per news reports (gh, DXLD) ** POLAND. During a recent program answering listeners` letters, the presenter mentioned that R. Polonia no longer carried Polish language lessons. The rather lengthy series was repeated many times over the years. However, it was decided to discontinue the series due to programming restraints and the fact that the texts were a relic of the old communist era. Some of the text material reflected that era, which the station didn`t want to emphasize. It was not economically feasible to write a new series or set of text books (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, ODXA Listening In, June, via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The Voice of Russia has celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Indian broadcasts. The director of the Indian cultural center in Moscow Satbir Singh underlined the extreme importance of the broadcasts that were first launched in the years of World War II. He pointed out that broadcasts in the languages of various ethnic communities of Indostan let people learn many things about new Russia. The first foreign minister of Russia Vyacheslav Trubnikov spoke about the Voice of Russia's contribution to the efforts to promote relations between Russia and South Asia (Voice of Russia News, 06/19/02 via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. OK, wedged in between South Africa and Syria, with those two asterisks you use to denote a country, is a listing for the nation of. . . . . South Carolina. As someone who grew up there, I agree a strong case can be made that South Carolina isn't really part of the United States. . . . . or, hell, Western civilization when you get down to it. But has something happened back there my relatives aren't telling me? Or are you, as those wacky young people like to say, yanking our cranks? As Desi Arnez used to say, "Splain plez!" 73, (Harry Helms, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Harry, Nothing personal, I assure you, but I felt it appropriate for us -- spelt U-S -- to distance ourselves from the Bro. Stair case, and it makes it easier to find instead of mixing in with all that USA stuff. I do, of course, also treat OKLAHOMA as a special heading, if not country, for quite different reasons. SC of course does have a history of separatism, and I have also come out in favor of autonomy/independence everywhere, producing as many radio countries as possible. 73, (Glenn to Harry via DXLD) Glenn, Thanks for the explanation! I knew you were goofing, but the genesis of the joke sailed over my somewhat bewildered head. 73, (Harry Helms, ibid.) ** SPAIN. 15290 kHz, Radio Exterior de España. June 18 at 2035-2055*. SINPO 35443. Interview about scientific research in English. Spanish by radio at 2045. The same program was also heard on 9570 with SINPO 24332 (NAGATANI Iwao, Kobe, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Swedish LF Transmitter On Air Next Sunday. LF enthusiasts will be interested to note that the annual transmission from the historic Alexanderson alternator at Grimeton Radio, SAQ, in Sweden will take place on 17.2 kHz next Sunday, the 30th of June, at 0830 UTC. The transmission will be repeated at 0845, 1230 and 1245 UTC. The amateur special event station SA6Q will be active from 0700 to 1400 on 7015, 7050, 14035 and 14215 kHz plus 136.8 kHz LF. Reception reports can be sent by e-mail to: info@alexander.n.se or by fax to 0046 340 674195. (RSBG Main News for June 23 via G4RGA, uk.radio.amateur via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. The Voice of Tibet (via Yangi-Yul, Tajikistan ?) was heard as follows with SINPO-ratings mentioned: 1213-1300: 15170 (New) Jun 16 22332 15225 (New) Jun 15 25333 (at 12:43:30 shift to 15330) 15330 (New) Jun 15 24232 (from 12:43:30) 15635 Jun 15 34333 15660 (New) Jun 16 24333* (at 12:43:30 shift to 15670) 15670 Jun 16 25343* (from 12:43:30) 21560 Jun 15 22332 (Beijing voice jamming) 21570 Jun 16 21221 *Voice of Tibet changed frequency exactly at 12:43:30. The CNR2 voice jammer continued on 15660 until 1248 and was effective again on 15670 from 1249 ! Both the Voice of Tibet and the CNR2 jammer signed off at 1300. 1430-1515: 21570 Jun 16 23433 21650 Jun 14 25433 21650 Jun 15 44444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Want to be a script writer? You have the opportunity at the Voice of Turkey. No pay, but our script will be read out in full without any editing and with your by-line. Osman Erkan is the head of the English department at VOT. He badly needs material for DX-Corner. He, himself, is not a SW listener. No doubt, you have something to say on some SW subjects. Write it out on paper. No need to be brief; expand all you want. Mail to: TRT-Voice of Turkey, Osman Erkan, DX Corner, P O Box 333, 06.443 Yenisehir, Ankara, Turkey. Also, the VOT English service has a call-in show ``Live from Turkey``, every Tuesday 1841-1920 on 9785, 500 kW. This call-in show has few, if any callers. To participate, phone Turkey near the start of the show at 90-312- 4912896. Give your own number and hang up. You will not be asked what you want to talk about. VOT will call you back, at their expense, and you can converse with Osman Erkan as long as you want about any subject matter. Erkan is even willing if you would like to read a poem over the air! The people at VOT are very nice, so I expect that you should at least alk about Turkey and shortwave. You can be heard, worldwide! (David Crystal, Israel, June CIDX Messenger via DXLD) Unless, of course, you wish to express your loyalty to ex-presenter of both shows Reshide Morali... BTW, Yenisehir is supposed to be spelt with a cedilla (comma) under the S, making it an sh sound, but I haven`t found any way to produce this character with MS Word or extended ASCII, altho I do have its equivalent š. C-cedilla is easily done with control-comma-c, but not its essy counterpart! Lacking that, it ought to be respelt Yenishehir. And what about the unique Turkish I`s, upper and lower case, with and without dots? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UNITED KINGDOM See story in DXLD 2-092 Chris Bickerton, presenter of the BBC World Service`s Focus on Africa for more than 30 years, died of cancer two weeks ago. His demise was reported in the World Service`s main news bulletins, prompting hundreds of messages of condolences from listeners all over the continent. ``Chris was the rock around which Focus was built,`` an official obituary on the BBC website observes. ``Some listeners even named their children after him.`` What this devoted audience did not know was that early in 2001 Bickerton was told by BBC bosses his services would not be required beyond the end of the year - partly because he had reached the age of 60, and, partly because managers wanted to `Africanise` the presenters. He was offered a few hundred pounds as a `goodwill gesture`. There was dismay and anger among his colleagues, who pointed out that other BBC presenters are allowed to continue beyond the age of 60 - or even 90, in Alastair Cooke`s case. A petition, signed by every member of the department, urged the management to think again since ``Chris is the most professional, knowledgeable and experienced presenter we have in this department``. The signatories, most of whom were themselves African, also noted that ``listeners want presenters that have a feel for the story/items in the programme. Chris, with 30 years` experience, certainly has as much sensibility for the stories as most Africans on staff.`` The suits agreed to postpone his departure, whilst negotiating an improved settlement. Meanwhile, Bickerton was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus, though he continued to to come to work when he was well enough. A month later he had surgery to remove the tumour, but in April he learned that the cancer had spread aggressively and was inoperable. No leaving party was ever organised for Chris Bickerton: not so much as the carton of orange juice and packet of crisps customarily produced at the departure of someone after a few weeks works experience. No speech was made, no gratitude expressed. Now, however, the fine words are flowing: the BBC website has dozens of tributes, and it seems that some corporate celebration of his life is to be organised. Many old colleagues think the suits should spare themselves the effort and hypocrisy, and hand over a large cheque to his widow and young son instead (Private Eye, June 14th, via Mike Barraclough, UK, June 21, DXLD) ** U K. Thought you might like to see this piece from the New Statesmen by a UK gentleman who has a DAB digital radio, and his impressions thereof: http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/site.php3?newTemplate=NSArticle_Life&newDisplayURN=200206170036 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DXLD) ** U K. BBC FACES UNFAIR DISMISSAL CLAIMS AT RACE TRIBUNAL Ashley Davies Tuesday June 18 2002 The Guardian The BBC was today accused of running parts of the World Service like the "old empire" at an employment tribunal. John Barsby, the chairman of the National Union of Journalists, said the BBC was not making enough of an effort towards racial equality. He was speaking at the tribunal of Perry Grambas, a former BBC World Service contract producer who claims he was sacked because of his race. Mr Grambas, who is Greek, had worked for the BBC World Service for seven years before being moved to BBC news and current affairs. Barsby said: "In our experience, we fear people in the World Service language service have not had the same opportunities as those in other areas of the BBC. "It is incumbent on them to make more of an effort. Many people there do try but some people there believe we are still in the old empire." The tribunal also heard from Julian Siddle, who was programme output producer on the World Today programme when Mr Grambas worked there. Referring to BBC claims from earlier on in the tribunal that Mr Grambas learned new production skills too slowly, Mr Siddle said he felt Mr Grambas had been given "an unnecessarily hard time". "He was as good as, if not better than, other producers," he said. The tribunal continues. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, June 19, DXLD) ** U S A. FLORIDA MAN CONVICTED IN DELIBERATE INTERFERENCE TRIAL NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 20, 2002 --- A Florida Citizens Band enthusiast accused of jamming Amateur Radio operations and transmitting without a license has been convicted in federal court on eight misdemeanor counts. The jury took about 30 minutes to decide that Willam Flippo of Jupiter was guilty of four counts of operating without a license and four counts of deliberate and malicious interference. Federal District Court Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley noted that, while the charges were misdemeanors, it was important that the amateur airwaves be free of interference in the event of an emergency. He ordered that Flippo remain in custody and undergo a psychiatric evaluation prior to sentencing. The prosecutor in the case, Neil Karabdil, credited members of the Amateur Radio community with bringing Flippo to justice. The list included ARRL 1999 ARRL International Humanitarian Award winner Ed Petzolt, K1LNC, who helped the FCC gather evidence in the case; Bert Morschi, AG4BV; Palm Beach County Emergency Coordinator Dave Messinger, N4QPM; and Chuck Mulligan, N4SDW. "This is a very good day for Amateur Radio, and a very good day for justice," Petzolt said following the trial. "Let the word go out that we will not tolerate this sort of thing on our frequencies, and you will be caught." Petzolt cited local amateurs and the efforts of the FCC, including Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth "and everyone else who kept the faith," for helping to bring the case to a successful conclusion. "Never give up and never surrender," Petzolt advised those facing similar malicious interference situations. "If you do, they win." According to Petzolt, who testified in the trial, Flippo primarily had targeted the Jupiter Tequesta Repeater Group for jamming and regularly interfered with amateur operations, especially on 10 and 2 meters, over an approximately three-year period. Following up on the amateurs` complaints, personnel from the FCC`s Tampa District Office visited the Jupiter area at least twice in 1999 and reported tracking the offending signals to Flippo`s residence. Anything But Routine The six-and-a-half-day trial that began June 10 was anything but routine. A day after attempting to fire his public defender attorney, Robert Adler--who countered that Flippo was trying to undermine his own trial--Flippo, then still free on $100,000 bond, drove himself to the hospital June 13 claiming he`d suffered a stroke. He was released the following day. Hurley recessed the trial but took the unusual step of revoking Flippo`s bond June 17 after a physician told the judge that medical tests determined that Flippo had not had a stroke. Known as "Rabbit Ears" within the CB community, Flippo reportedly begged Hurley not to return him to jail because he had high blood pressure. The federal trial was twice postponed last year after Flippo, now 60, argued successfully that serious health problems would prevent him from participating. He made similar claims earlier this month during another hearing to determine if he was capable of standing trial. A federal magistrate determined, however, that Flippo was competent to stand trial, and the trial date was set. Flippo conceded during testimony that he did not have a license to transmit, but he claimed to have a letter of authorization from the Palm Beach County Emergency Management Office to use his radio during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and that he considered it still valid. He did not admit to transmitting on amateur frequencies, however. The letter`s alleged author, Mulligan, testified that the letter had been altered. Flippo further testified that he`d been given a 10-kW amplifier by the FCC after he`d complained of suffering interference while handling emergency communications during the hurricane. He also claimed that amateurs had planted listening devices on his property and taped his voice to play back on ham frequencies to frame him. Some members of the Palm Beach County CB community also showed up for the trial, but only as spectators. None testified on Flippo`s behalf in the case. Tape-recorded evidence of a 911 call Flippo had made in 1999 while also alleged to be transmitting on 2 meters supported a jamming claim by Petzolt. At the time, Petzolt and then-FCC agent Larry Sowers were in Petzolt`s vehicle behind Flippo while Sowers was gathering evidence for the case. The jury apparently did not believe the argument, made by Adler, that Petzolt had "jammed himself" by retransmitting Flippo`s mobile public address system audio via his own 2-meter transmitter. Flippo was convicted last year in state court of criminal mischief-- also a misdemeanor--after ramming Petzolt`s vehicle the same evening the 911 call was made. Following his state conviction, Flippo was sentenced to a year`s probation. The judge also ordered him to dispose of any radio equipment in his possession. A ban on possessing radio gear also was a condition of his bond in the federal case. Taking the stand for the prosecution, Sowers detailed the allegations against Flippo. His testimony included the introduction of taped- recorded and other evidence gathered by the FCC. Anthony Burgos of the FCC`s Tampa office also testified for the prosecution. Federal authorities arrested Flippo in July 2000. The criminal charges of which he now stands convicted covered violations allegedly committed between June 1999 and April of 2000. The defendant already faces a $20,000 fine levied in 1999 for unlicensed operation, willful and malicious interference to Amateur Radio communications, and failure to let the FCC inspect his radio equipment. Further Charges Possible Following Flippo`s conviction and after the jury had left the courtroom, Hurley expressed concerns that Flippo had committed perjury during the trial. "It is clear to me you made an effort to sabotage this case," he told Flippo. Hurley also said he was concerned "regarding the violence in this case" and said he was convinced that Flippo was the aggressor in the car-ramming incident. Further worried that Flippo might not return to court for his sentencing hearing, Hurley remanded him to the custody of US marshals and ordered him returned to jail. Flippo`s wife, Jan, and his two daughters, one of them in a wheelchair, were in court on the trial`s final day. Flippo reportedly hung his head after the jury returned a guilty verdict on the second count. He had no comment for a reporter as he was led back to jail. Sentencing could take place in about a month. According to the FCC, Flippo faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison--one year on each count. He also faces up to $80,000 in fines (ARRL June 20 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ARNL June 21: ENFORCEMENT: FLIPPO IS TRIED IN WEST PALM BEACH A non-ham who allegedly jammed ham radio communications has been convicted in West Palm Beach Florida on charges of operating a radio transmitter without a license. We have this report. A federal jury in Florida took less than two hours to convict a Jupiter Farms man of broadcasting without a license and maliciously jamming ham radio operations in northern Palm Beach County. According to the Palm Beach Post, 60 year old William Flippo sat with head bowed and eyes closed as court deputy James Caldwell read out eight counts of "guilty." But getting to this verdict took years of investigation by local hams and the FCC along with a trial that lasted 6 1/2 days. It was described by the newspaper as an often bizarre trial that included testimony about mysterious jamming devices found in trees, strange events going back to Hurricane Andrew and a forged letter that surfaced at the last minute. Flippo`s conviction caps years of conflict between him and the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group. This is a 70-member Amateur Radio club whose members claimed that Flippo had jammed their transmissions and had made threats against them. So club members complained to the Federal Communications Commission. An FCC Engineer involved in the investigation testified that he had tracked the interference to Flippo`s home and two of his vehicles. Club members said that the interference stopped when Flippo was arrested in July 2000. By way of defense, Flippo maintained that most of the radio equipment found in his home, in three of his vehicles and filling a 24-by-24- foot building behind his house belonged to other people. He also asserted that some of it was given to him by Palm Beach County for emergency use after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and other gear was part of a vintage radio collection. Flippo also claimed to have a letter, written in 1994 by the emergency coordinator for amateur radio operators in Palm Beach County, authorizing him to test his emergency equipment daily. But the alleged author of the letter, Charles Mulligan, testified that it was a forgery. Mulligan believed it was created from a 1992 letter to Flippo dealing with events surrounding Hurricane Andrew. And this is where it got even stranger. Halfway through the trial, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hurley took the extraordinary step of revoking Flippo`s bail. This, even though the charges were all misdemeanors. Hurley ordered Flippo into custody, saying that the defendant was trying to sabotage the trial by feigning illness. Flippo had checked into a hospital, claiming symptoms of a stroke, which delayed the trial for two days. After the verdict, Judge Hurley ordered Flippo to remain in custody until sentencing and to undergo psychological testing. The judge said he was deeply concerned about the escalating cycle of violence in the case. He singled out an incident in which Flippo rammed into a vehicle owned by club member Ed Petzolt, K1LNC. The judge also questioned whether Flippo had perjured himself by repeatedly denying he ever used amateur radio frequencies. When he is sentenced, Flippo faces a maximum of 8 years in a Federal prison and an $80,000 fine. This is in addition to an earlier 20,000 fine levied against him back in 1999 for unlicensed operation and other violations of the FCC`s rules. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Don Wilbanks, KC5MFA. Norm. More on the Flippo case in future amateur Radio Newsline reports (Palm Beach Post, Miami Sun, numerous others, Amateur Radio Newsline June 21 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. It seems that the operation of KBGG-1700 as WSJZ-1700 was rather short lived, as per the FCC site at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=87105&Callsign=KBGG Current Call Sign: KBGG Facility ID Number: 87105 Call Sign Begin Date KBGG 06/18/2002 WSJZ 06/06/2002 KBGG 11/12/1997 It appears that they were WSJZ for only 12 days :). Was this an FCC error that was soon corrected? It seems that a WSJZ-1700 QSL will be a rarity:). 73,(Deane McIntyre, AB, NRC-AM via DXLD) 1700, KBGG IA, Des Moines, They have indeed changed back from WSJZ, after using those calls for a few days. Heard at 0259.50 EDT 6/20 ID ".......KBGG Des Moines." Into CNN Headline News. I wonder why the change back? FCC messed up? (Pat Martin, OR, ibid.) * U S A. I see an experimental digital AM station is slated for New Jersey, operating on 1700 kHz with 50 watts. There`s been a lot of controversy about how well the proposed IBOC digital system will work on AM, particularly at night, so it should be interesting to see how that experiment works out (Nigel Pimblett, Medicine Hat, The Broadcast Band Column, June CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** U S A. AM IBOC OPPONENTS: MANY LISTENERS WILL SUFFER "Millions of listeners will lose their choice of radio if full or partial [IBOC] conversion is achieved," argues C. Crane Company, an equipment manufacturer that produces radios it says offers "AM reception with audio fine-tuned to reproduce the human voice." Crane says there are too many questions about interference that must be answered before IBOC can be deployed and suggests that more portable IBOC receivers be tested. It also wants iBiquity to compile a list of receivers that have "adjacent-channel interference problems or inadequate filtering." For its part, while acknowledging that further testing is necessary for nighttime AM IBOC, iBiquity says the tests for daytime service found "little or no noticeable impact" on third- adjacent analog channels and that the benefits of AM IBOC "greatly outweighed any impact" to first- and second-adjacent analog channels.`` Above From Radio and Records June 19. BTW, I like first and second adjacent AM stations. That's why I have a loop at home and selective radio in the car. Sorry to see them go! Regards, (Brock Whaley, Atlanta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. John and Frank, hosts of The Right Perspective, UT Sat 0200- 0400 on WBCQ 7415, have started their own ``The Two Friends Radio Network`` lately. They`re live out of the Hal Turner studios. Both continue to dis their old digs citing broken promises, being strung along, lies, not having we site maintained, etc. All of this John & Frank are in the process of upgrading and remedying. So, they have left Omega Radio Network (Bob Thomas, CT, June 17, DX LISTNENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Allan Weiner was upset June 14 during his live show Friday evening [UT Sat 0000-0100 on 7415], due to reports that got back to him regarding his upcoming ship project. Someone spread rumors he was going to outfit it with transmitters and antennae and set sail. Not so! All he was going to do was take the Katy for a spin and conduct remotes via cell phone. He`d use one of the three 50 kW transmitters in Monticello, Maine. No pirating! Everything by the rules. Not going to put anything at risk. So, he scolded those who put out the rumors and suspended raising funds form listeners. The project will be privately funded. Ship is in Boston harbor (Bob Thomas, CT, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn! Managed to get home in time to catch the first run of WOR at 2200 Wednesday. (Usually I'm not home by 6 PM EDT, which is why I preferred the previous 7:30 PM EDT airtime.) Reception on 7415 was pretty good, though there was a bit of QSB about 10-12 minutes in. I wasn't getting 17495, but then, it was presumably skipping over me. I think that, while you called it WOR#1136 at the beginning of the show, you called it #1135 in the middle and at the end (Bill Westenhaver, QC, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oops. Did it again! For some reason, WBCQ 17495 was *much* stronger when checked Sat June 16 at 1605 during Allan Weiner [non] Worldwide playback, than during WOR Wednesday at 2200 (gh, OK, DXLD) Reception on yesterday's WOR at 2200 on 17495 was poor. About an S1 or S2 sometimes fading out to nothing. Are we experiencing a solar flare or something? I'm in the Atlanta, GA area using a DX-390 (Lou Johnson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. INTERNET RADIO AUTHOR BLASTS PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES "As if the government were going out of its way to discourage the Internet." FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2002 The decision today to impose performance royalties on Internet radio, royalties broadcast stations do not have to pay, was decried by the author of the first published guide to Internet radio. "It is as if the government were going out of its way to discourage the Internet," said L.A. Heberlein, author of the recently-released ROUGH GUIDE TO INTERNET RADIO. THE ROUGH GUIDE TO INTERNET RADIO says the changes radio is going through now are as large as the advent of the transistor which allowed radios to become portable personal devices in the 1960's. The book lists thousands of radio programs of all kinds now available over the Net. Heberlein, a Seattle novelist and software entrepreneur, says the year he spent listening to Internet radio researching the book was "a chance to experience the amazing diversity of human creativity, something I would love to see everyone share." The royalties imposed by Billington today were not as high as those proposed by the Copyright Arbitration Rights Panel (CARP) in May. "Billington's decision avoids the worst of CARP's excesses," Heberlein says. Heberlein's statement is reproduced in full below. Further information is available at: http://www.heberlein.net #### PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES ON INTERNET RADIO STATIONS Today, June 20, the Librarian of Congress, James Billington, delivered a final ruling on performance royalties that will be charged to Internet radio stations, bringing an end to a hot controversy that has raged for months. In February, the Copyright Arbitration Rights Panel (CARP) proposed a royalty schedule that small Internet radio stations said would put them out of business. Many small stations did, in fact, pull their streams off the Net out of fear of the onerous royalties. On May 20, Billington issued a stay which halted implementation of the CARP plan for 30 days, and set today's date for delivering a final decision. Today that much-anticipated decision was delivered. The biggest disappointment to most Internet radio stations is that Billington did not adopt a percentage-of-revenue model, such as that currently used by all radio stations to pay songwriters' royalties. Instead, Internet radio stations are required to pay a flat fee for musical performances, whether they have any revenue or not. Poor struggling radio stations pay the same as the richest. Billington did bring the fees down from the stratospheric charges proposed by CARP. Net-only stations will now pay half as much as CARP proposed. CARP would have billed them twice the royalty paid by stations that also own transmitters. Net-only stations will now pay the same rate as stations that own transmitters - .07 cents per song per listener. Noncommercial stations pay less - .02 cents per song per listener. Billington eliminated CARP's strange notion that royalties at noncommercial stations should be higher for archived shows than for live shows. (Under CARP's plan, if you listened to a program as it aired, say at 10 a.m., the royalty would be one rate. At 11 a.m., it would have cost twice as much. Now both incur the same royalties.) Billington's decision avoids the worst of CARP's excesses. The royalties will not put Internet radio out of business. They will be the death-knell for some individual stations, especially small web- only streams dependent on scarce web advertising dollars. And they will be present an impediment to the rapid spread of Internet streaming. But it will not be an insurmountable obstacle. Internet radio will continue to grow rapidly, and to thrive, until the Internet becomes so much a part of our radio experience that it changes the very definition of the word "radio." There is probably no way Billington could have avoided imposing the royalties, because of the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). But this only illustrates how bad a law the DMCA is. Passed by a Congress heavily paid off by the music industry, which was terrified of being put out of business by Internet piracy, the DMCA is actively anti-Internet. Nothing more clearly illustrates the anti-Internet bias of the DMCA than this difference in royalty rates. There is no performance royalty for broadcast radio. There is now a performance royalty for Internet radio. The exact same program is treated completely inconsistently, depending on how you listen to it. When I am listening to the radio in the car on the way home from work, there is no performance royalty. When I get home and turn on the computer to continue listening to the same program, a performance royalty is now charged. Why? What possible difference is there between the listening I was doing five minutes ago and the listening I am doing now? This isn't Napster, where I get a copy of the music, and can trade it to my friends. I'm still just listening to the radio. Why does listening to the same radio station on a different piece of hardware invoke a royalty? It is as if the government were going out of its way to discourage the Internet. It is exactly the opposite of the way sales taxes are treated, with Net users avoiding sales taxes they would have to pay in stores. In its knee-jerk fear of all technology, the music industry has forgotten that radio is its best friend. Record companies break down the doors of little radio stations trying to get their music on the air. Occasionally they face charges for illegally paying radio stations to play their music. (This is called payola.) Now they have successfully demanded reverse payola. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act and these royalties on Internet radio are only one act in a continuing drama. Owners of "intellectual property" are daily gaining further and deeper restrictions on what has traditionally been considered fair use. Future observers looking back may say that this struggle over ownership of ideas, concepts, songs, pictures, thoughts and even individual words was the major issue of this period we are now living through. Today anyone with an interest in wider access to diverse voices lost one more small battle. L.A. Heberlein, 6041 Palatine Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 +1 206 915 5727 la@heberlein.net http://www.heberlein.net L.A. Heberlein is the author of THE ROUGH GUIDE TO INTERNET RADIO (just released), which catalogues the wonderful diversity of radio programming available over the Internet. For further information, contact: David Wechsler, Rough Guides Publicity, 345 Hudson / 4th Floor, New York, NY 10014 Phone #212 414 3712 Fax # 212 414 3352 dwechsler@roughguides.com (From: L. A. Heberlein, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CURTAIN CALL FOR WEBCASTS? SOME DECRY ORDER TO PAY ROYALTIES TO MUSICIANS By Christopher Stern, Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, June 21, 2002; Page E01 Thousands of Internet radio stations may find their transmissions financially jammed after the Librarian of Congress yesterday adjusted the royalty fees that the webcasters must pay musicians and record companies for broadcasting their songs online.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20412-2002Jun20.html (via Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, DXLD) ** U S A. WEB RADIO DECISION UPSETS INDUSTRY By REID KANALEY, Philadelphia Inquirer Webcasters and recording-industry officials alike expressed unhappiness with a system of music royalties dictated by the Librarian of Congress yesterday for the nascent Internet radio industry. Webcasters said they would fight the royalties because many small operators and basement disc jockeys could be crushed by the new charges they now must pay to the record companies, even though the top rate is half what an arbitration panel proposed in February. "We'll not be able to survive under this structure," said Kevin Shively, spokesman for the classical music site Beethoven.com, one of thousands of Web sites that offer radiolike programming accessible to anyone with an Internet connection and a computer equipped with a sound card and speakers. Representatives of musicians and record labels were also displeased. The decision "disregarded voluminous economic and business evidence supporting a significantly higher rate," said John L. Simon, executive director of SoundExchange, the entity set up to collect the royalties. The Librarian of Congress, who oversees the U.S. Copyright Office, set the rates after a two-year review of the matter. Shively and others said Webcasters had no choice but to lobby for legislation to ease the royalties - which range up to 7/100 of a cent per song per listener - or seek court action to stop their Sept. 1 implementation. Webcasters said they would prefer to be charged a percentage of their revenue, as is the case with royalties collected from traditional radio broadcasters for payment to music publishers. The recording industry had asked the librarian, James H. Billington, for 40/100 of a cent per song per online listener. The charges might sound minuscule, but with millions of people now listening to Internet radio, the per-play fees would add up to tens of thousands of dollars for some Internet radio operators making little or no money - and the fees are retroactive to 1998, when the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the legislation requiring the royalty, was signed into law. Because they operate primarily on advertising revenue, "the majority of Webcasters really are not making that much money," Susan Pickering, director of the International Association of Webcasters, said. Pickering said the industry needed a payment model based on a percentage of the Webcaster's revenue to benefit both the Webcasters and the music industry. "The more these companies grow, the higher the revenue, the more they pay," she said. But, Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America, said the royalties set yesterday meant that "artists and record labels will subsidize the Webcasting businesses of multibillion-dollar companies." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) What no one has yet mentioned in anything I've read is that this could negatively impact DRM via shortwave. This is because shortwave transmissions go far beyond the 150-mile exemption, and the transmissions will be, after all, digital. Thus, shortwave radio stations broadcasting digitally could be liable for fees owed for copyrightable programming. Interesting in that all this legalese had special "nonsubscription" wording -- it won't apply to XM or Sirius because they're subscription based. Apologies in advance if I have interpreted these issues incorrectly. While I'm good at translating legalese, I haven't been a student of copyright law nor the DMCA. The folks at http://www.saveinternetradio.org have a very thorough review of this -- better than I could have done. Two members of Congress have already come out in opposition to the process. Apparently Congress' original instructions focused on the "willing seller / buyer" model -- and Kurt Hanson believes that instruction may have forced the Library of Congress into today's decision without any clear options (Richard Cuff, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Yet another look at what's been happening to Pacifica. 73- Bill Westenhaver - - - - - - - - - - - - THE BATTLE FOR INDIE RADIO By Jesse Walker http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2002/06/20/pacifica/index.html Another long article, including i.a. news of KPFX, a separate web station from KPFK (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Every two or three years when there's a city of Dallas budget shortfall the WRR issue comes up. According to the most recent article in Dallas Morning News, the city council is debating whether or not to fund a study to appraise the value of the station in today's market (in 1996 it was appraised at 38 Million). There is lukewarm support on funding an appraisal and parting with the station. The station is self supporting and turns a small profit by design. Ad revenues are down 40% from last year though. I think there was an article about this in Monday's Dallas Morning News which still might be available on their website (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV Dallas, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ** U S A. CITY COUNCIL TO GET AN APPRAISAL OF WRR-FM DALLAS GETTING OFFERS; REGARDLESS, IT WON'T STOP CLASSICAL BROADCASTS 06/18/2002 By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News The Dallas City Council agreed Monday to seek an appraisal of its classical radio station, WRR-FM (101.1), in response to recent offers from companies that want to buy the station's frequency. The overtures have come from two stations that want to trade places on the dial with WRR and make up the difference in value with cash. "Every few years somebody shows up and asks the city if it would be willing to sell WRR," said Ramon Miguez, the assistant city manager who oversees the station. "There is sufficient interest for us to explore it." Council members, cautious about major changes to their prized radio station, gave the idea a lukewarm endorsement during a meeting of the arts, education and libraries committee. Whatever happens, council members and city staff stressed, they would not stop broadcasting. "The staff feels we should consider exploring our options," said Veletta Forsythe Lill, the committee's chairwoman. "My greater fear is that we are considering getting rid of our important cultural assets." Council members said seeking the appraisal has nothing to do with trying to find funds to pull the city out of a projected $81 million budget shortfall. WRR has been a classical station since the 1950s. It is the only city- owned commercial radio station in the country, and its broadcasting radius reaches 100 miles. Although advertising revenues have dipped this year by 40 percent, the station will still earn a profit, officials said. The station has been profitable since 1994, general manager Greg Davis said. Mr. Miguez declined to identify the companies interested in WRR's signal or their buyout offers. He said he hoped to have an appraiser selected by early August. The council would then have to vote to authorize funds for the appraisal. Some council members said Monday that they were less than enthusiastic about paying for it. "If there is somebody out there who is very serious about changing frequencies," council member Mary Poss said, "I would hope they would pay for these experts." WRR was last appraised in 1996, when consultants pegged its value at $38 million. That was the last time the city considered selling the station, which was coveted by an Ohio-based radio chain offering $25 million. Council members decided against selling it. At Monday's meeting, some members said that changing frequencies could result in fewer listeners. Mr. Davis said the station should not give up its position on the dial for a less-desirable frequency. "Classical music demands the best dial position and the best frequency," he said. (Dallas Morning News via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO BEAT: PANEL TURNS UP VOLUME ON VOICES FROM THE PAST Thursday, June 20, 2002 By BILL VIRGIN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER Not many current radio listeners were around to hear Wally Nelskog when he was one of the top disc jockeys in the Seattle area, but they can still catch him on the air. Of course, they have to be able to tune in amateur radio or "ham" broadcasts to do it. A more practical way to hear Nelskog is to see him in person at a Museum of History and Industry presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29. The "Talk of the Town" panel includes representatives of more than 40 years of music radio in Seattle: Nelskog from the 1950s, Pat O'Day (whom Nelskog once hired at a Yakima station) from the 1960s, Bruce Murdock from the 1970s and Jim Keller from the 1980s. An Everett native, Nelskog was a big deal in Seattle radio, on such stations as KRSC and KJR, and had his own television show, "Wally's Hi-Jinks." But he was also a significant figure in the radio business for owning, operating and starting stations, from Anchorage to California. He got out of ownership in 1986 with the sale of three stations including KIXI AM and FM. Nelskog remembers a business that was "more fun" with more personality than today's radio. It was certainly good for stories likely to be told at the MOHAI forum. During one broadcast from the window of a Spokane record store, Nelskog interviewed an up-and-coming entertainer named Sammy Davis Jr., who danced on the store's counter -- and scratched it. The irate owner, not realizing Davis' future, made Nelskog pay to repair it. Now 82, Nelskog stays active on the amateur radio bands. "Once a ham, always a ham -- and I mean that both ways." In other radio notes: KSER-FM (90.7) has resumed online streaming of its broadcasts. While many stations have dropped such Webcasts because of the debate over music royalties, KSER manager Ed Bremer said he decided to go ahead. "I'm confident public radio stations will be able to stream without the same considerations online-only and commercial radio face," he said. ©1999-2002 Seattle Post-Intelligencer (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. 'FUV: FLAP OVER TOWER COULD SILENCE US By DAVID HINCKLEY, Daily News Staff Writer With another FCC hearing coming next week on the eight-year battle over a new antenna for WFUV (90.7 FM), frustrated Fordham University officials say the stakes for their campus station are simple. "If we can't construct a new tower, at some point WFUV will go out of business," says station manager Ralph Jennings. "It will be gone." The question is where the tower should go. Fordham started building a 480-foot structure in January 1994 near its border with the New York Botanical Garden. That July, when the tower was 260 feet high, the Garden got a stop-work order. The garden argued it was ruining the view and ambiance of the historic Haupt Conservatory. "A tower there is just not acceptable," says garden spokesman Karl Lauby. "It's a jarring intrusion." Today, with the tower in limbo, Jennings says WFUV is broadcasting with a temporary antenna that delivers about 56% of the station's authorized power. Since public radio stations depend on listeners/donors for operating cash, this reduced reach has had a financial impact beyond the $1.8 million Fordham says it has spent on the case. Lauby says the garden does not want to put WFUV out of business, but is firm in insisting it find a less intrusive site. Fordham spokeswoman Elizabeth Schmalz says the school has tried. "We've looked at more than 30 sites," Schmalz says. "But the only one so far that meets all of our criteria -- technologically, politically and financially feasible -- is the one on campus." She says Fordham has offered to drop the tower height to 380 feet, an offer Lauby says "is really no offer at all. "They're required to do that by the city Department of Buildings," he says. "But 380 feet is unacceptable, too. So is 260 feet. There's no way to mitigate something this size. You can't grow vines on it and pretend it isn't there." In the '70s, WFUV's antenna was on top of the university's Keating Hall. Fordham petitioned the FCC to move it in 1983, saying it damaged the historic building and did not meet radiation standards. Engineers hired by the garden argue that Fordham could put the antenna back atop Keating, using modern construction techniques to solve the old problems. "An antenna on Keating would have 93% of the reach of a signal from a 380-foot tower," says Lauby. Fordham disagrees. The FCC has scheduled two hearings on Thursday, June 27 -- one 10 a.m.-noon at the Conservatory and one 2-4 p.m. in the McGinley Student Center at Fordham. The subject is environmental impact, and no final decision is expected. The biggest question may be whether a mysterious new potential off-campus site is revealed, though Fordham was making no promises. "We're very encouraged the process is going forward," says Fordham vice president for government and urban affairs Joe Muriana. He says the university's current view is somewhere between cautious optimism and wait-and-see. But while the case seems to have gone on forever, Jennings says it will not. "We can't go on indefinitely with temporary transmitter permits," he says. "At some point, if we're not using our full range, other stations will petition to move into the places we can no longer be heard. "I think it's been demonstrated that people want WFUV [which averages more than a quarter million listeners a week]. To the garden, this tower would be a blip on the horizon -- one of many in an urban environment. To us, it's the difference between existing and not existing." Original Publication Date: 6/19/02 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, have you read this book? (Artie Bigley, DXLD) http://ishi.lib.berkeley.edu/history/grads/dissertations/1994/horten.html No, perhaps not published as book, just dissertation, viz.: RADIO GOES TO WAR: THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF PROPAGANDA DURING WORLD WAR II Author: Horten, Gerhard Jakob Field: America since 1607 Year: 1994 Committee: Lawrence Levine, Chair James Gregory Todd Gitlin Pages: 350 UCB Call Number: 308t 1994 800 Abstract: In the 1940s, radio was the primary medium in the United States. Well over ninety percent of American families owned at least one radio set, and listened to it for an average of four hours daily. When the country converted to a "wartime culture" beginning in 1941, radio became the primary propaganda vehicle, because it provided a continuous daily link between the American people and the U.S. propaganda agencies. Surprisingly enough, while there are numerous studies on Hollywood's involvement in the war effort and on the importance of international U.S. broadcasting, no one has written a study about the role of domestic American radio during the war years. My dissertation fills this void: it provides a comprehensive analysis of the cultural politics of radio propaganda during the Second World War. Propaganda, as I show, permeated every aspect of radio broadcasting: government information series and radio addresses, to be sure, but also radio comedy and soap operas as well as radio advertising. My argument focuses on what I call the cultural politics of wartime radio propaganda. Radio was unique in that it combined entertainment, propaganda and commercial sponsorship. Because of its ability to smoothly fuse entertainment and advertising, it had always been the favored medium for goodwill advertising and corporate public relations campaigns. During the war, it quickly absorbed propaganda into this creative mixture. No straight-forward propaganda could compare with the entertainment value of shows like Jack Benny, Bob Hope or Fibber McGee and Molly, nor did government propaganda have the same manipulative potential. At the same time, however, no product advertisement even came close to the patriotic propaganda voiced by popular radio stars in the name of commercial sponsors. As advertisers and commercial sponsors became the semi-official spokesmen for the American propaganda effort, radio wartime culture reflected and facilitated this enhanced role of corporate political leadership. The cultural politics of wartime radio propaganda re-legitimatized the corporate order and solidified its position for the post-war period (University of California Berkeley via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB TESTING NEWLY CONSTRUCTED ANTENNA TO SOUTHEAST ASIA Press Release For Immediate Release 20 June 2002 POC: Peter J. Taggart Today, the Federal Communications Commission approved tests of Radio Station WWRB's newest antenna system, the 340 azimuth dual feed rhombic antenna. The frequencies that the FCC has authorized tests on range from 5 to 27 MHz; more specifically, 5.070, 5.085, 7.315, 9.495, 12.160, 12.172, 15.825, 17.495, and 26.800 MHz. The testing will occur at various times and frequencies with no defined schedule as of now. Radio Station WWRB is the only private for hire radio station offering widely varying antenna directions; for coverage maps, please visit our web site at http://www.wwrb.org or http://www.worldwidereligiousbroadcasting.org (Dave Frantz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 26800??? Means 25800? Which is inside the 11m SWBC band. Why go out- of-band way up here? Note all the other frequencies have already been pioneered by other US stations, but presumably WWRB must avoid using them when they are on: WWCR, WHRI, WINB, WBCQ. Reaching SE Asia over the pole from Tennessee will hardly be reliable (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB heard testing new antenna on 5070, June 21 at 2245 (George S. Thurman, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR is now carrying a program called Shepherd's Chapel with Pastor Buddy Johnson. I only listened to a bit of the program, but a program with this same title and pastor's name was carried by Steve Anderson's United Patriot Radio last year (Hans Johnson, WY, Jun 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) When? The closest I can find in the June 1 online schedule is: Sunday = UT Monday on 3210: 0300 10:00-11:00P Shepherd's Call (L) G. Haygood/B. Johnson Sunday on 12160 2200 5:00-6:00P Shepherd's Call (L) G. Haygood/B. Johnson (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Tnx to Ed Kusalik, a photo of WINB`s 40th Anniversary Pennant appears on page 4 of ODXA`s Listening In, June. This was a probably vain attempt to get enough mail to convince clients that people are actually listening to this dismal station, which has never reached anything near its potential, as America`s oldest extant private SW station. The pennant is really too much. The (presumably golden) fringe is larger than the body of the pennant, which consists of a US flag, with WINB 1962-2002 OVERLAYED on top of the flag. Is this not unpatriotic improper use of the flag??? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. All-news WTOP's 50,000-watt 1500 AM, Wheaton, MD transmitter will be off the air from 9 PM on Saturday to about 5 AM on Sunday for scheduled electrical work. 73, (Larry - N4VA -Springfield, VA amfmtvdx via DXLD) Larry Vogt? 50 kW powerhouse, all news WTOP 1500 kHz will go off the air 9 PM on Saturday (0100 UT Sunday) to about 5 AM on Sunday (0900 UT Sunday). This is according to http://www.dcrtv.com Good time especially for us in the Washington DC metro area to hear what else is out there (Ulis Fleming, MD, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/061702.html "R.I.P., P.I." by Arianna Huffington The last episode of "Politically Incorrect" will be broadcast on June 28. I'm going to be on it one last time, and I've promised myself I won't cry on the air. Once the cameras go off -- well, that's another story. You see, the show has been a touchstone for me over the last nine years -- both in the evolution of my political ideas and the changes in my personal life. My first appearance was in November 1993, when the show was on Comedy Central and taping in New York. I was on with Harry Shearer, Rep. Jim Traficant, and Dr. Peter Kramer, who had just published "Listening To Prozac." Since then, Shearer -- the brilliant satirist, and voice of half 'The Simpsons' characters -- has become a close friend and co- conspirator, Traficant has been convicted of racketeering, and I've gone on to launch a mini-crusade disagreeing with Dr. Kramer's rosy assessment of the miraculous effects of Prozac. Doing "PI" was always a stimulating two-way street. Sometimes it gave me the chance to mount my soapbox and sound off on subjects I care passionately about, and sometimes it opened my mind to new topics and ideas that I then went on to write about. For that initial appearance, I had flown up from Washington, where I was living with my Republican congressman husband and our two preschool daughters. When I do the last PI next week, it will be from Los Angeles, where, after a divorce from my husband and the Republican party, I now live as a registered independent, with my 5-foot-6-inch teen-age daughter and her tweener sister. In between, I made a few dozen appearances on PI, crossing swords -- sometimes playfully, sometimes earnestly -- with everyone from Michael Douglas to Jesse Jackson to Cindy Crawford to Chevy Chase to G. Gordon Liddy to Tom Arnold to Coolio. PI's appeal has always been the simple notion of bringing together eclectic groups of pundits, politicians, and performers and letting the fur fly. In the process, the show challenged the larger shibboleths of 'proper' comment and debate in America. People tend to talk mostly to like- minded people who communicate in the same way. We naturally tend to fall into cliché. PI was about breaking those clichés, and the best moments came from unexpected juxtapositions: when a comedian popped the balloon of a pontificating politico, when a rapper had the last word on campaign finance reform, or when Jerry Falwell revealed -- yes, it's true -- a playful sense of humor. In fact, the show was responsible for unleashing my own long- suppressed inner clown. In bed, no less. In 1996, during the Republican and Democratic national conventions, Bill Maher lured Al Franken and me between the sheets to do political commentary from a specially constructed bed for a segment called "Strange Bedfellows." It was the beginning of an oddball act of the same name that Al and I took on the road, trading barbs and double entendres at colleges, conventions, and trade shows. As an added bonus, I was probably the only woman in my profession to claim a tax deduction for lingerie. (I'm not sure whether Al deducted for his or not). Another thing I'll miss is traveling around the country -- to places like New Orleans, San Francisco, Aspen and San Diego -- to tape special on-location editions of PI. It was on one of these road shows that Chris Rock and I covered an Al Sharpton rally in Chicago, chanting "No justice, no peace" in our Greek accents (O.K., maybe that was just me.) For nine years, PI has been the best place on television to find edgy, political satire. But, because it's a comedy show, people often forget the fact that it also offered a rare forum for certain "orphan issues" -- important topics overlooked by the mainstream media. PI delved into such knotty matters as the ongoing madness of the war on drugs and the destructive role of money in politics not just once in a blue moon, but night in and night out. I regularly marveled at the ardor and wonkish knowledge Bill brought to these issues. In fact, he gave two rousing speeches on these topics at the 2000 Shadow Conventions that rivaled the experts in detail and far exceeded them in entertainment value. It is this blend of skills that makes him a first class satirist in the tradition of Jonathan Swift, wielding his savage wit in the service of passionate conviction. For some weird reason, I always ended up doing PI on emotionally charged days in my life, including the show we taped the day I moved in to my post-divorce home in LA. The movers were still carting in boxes when I hurried off to the studio. Then there was the now infamous show I did a few days after Sept. 11. It was the first post- attack PI, and showed Bill at his best: respectful of what truly mattered but courageously challenging everything else. As "Politically Incorrect" ends its remarkable 1,600-plus show run, the appropriate farewell is not a eulogy but a 21-pun salute to a man -- and a show -- that encapsulate what our culture needs now more than ever: independence, fearlessness, and an increasingly rare willingness to speak truth to power. On the personal side, it's also a time to celebrate a treasured friendship that, thankfully, isn't at the mercy of the whims of skittish sponsors and network executives. Bill has said that he considers his last show not so much an end as a new beginning -- "kind of like being transferred to another diocese." Well, my friend, you can count on me to sing in your choir, whatever parish you wind up in (via Tom Roche, June 20, DXLD) Maher belatedly has an active website, with a message board; he`s not getting universally positive reviews like Arianna`s – http://www.billmaher.com (gh, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. 17775, R. Tashkent 1340-1400 June 17. Exotic middle easternish music, program on Special Olympics in Uzbekistan. Female sign-off announcement w/ "Goodbye-everyone at Radio Tashkent", and IS. I was getting ready for work, listening to SW on a "boom-box" with SW bands, a 2 foot long antenna, not good for serious DXing. But I noticed the 17 MHz band seemed to have unusually strong signals, so I turned on R-8 rx to find Radio Tashkent with full 555 signals (Rick Barton, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** YEMEN. Can anybody assist me identifying this station. 9780.6 kHz, 2230z 19/6. Man chanting similar to Qur`an but continuously. It didn't exactly sound like those I have frequently heard from Islamic stations. Yemen is listed but I am unsure if it was that. Today we had some early morning rain which damped down the powerlines and other electromagnetic radiation around this village. Probably need more information to positively ID. Once again I am only using 21 feet of wire strung along a curtain rail. Actually there might be more as the end of the wire is coiled up, possibly adding extra induction. My receiver is an Icom R70 thru a AT 230 tuner. I do wonder what reception will eventually be like when I graduate to an outside antenna (Robin VK7RH Harwood, Tasmania, June 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I would certainly suspect Yemen, which is perpetually off-frequency, tho it`s a bit late for them to be on (gh, DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, R Zanzibar, Tanzania, Jun 17, 0259, IS, OM and YL ann, Qur'an, 23422 (Samuel Cássio, Brasil, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE from MADAGASCAR to ZIMBABWE. 7309.97, Radio V. of the People, June 15 *0330-0338, OC on at 0329, brief mic feedback-like noise, 0330 pleasant instrumental music w/M announcer giving ID "This is Radio V. of the People. Good morning World. In today`s talks...." and mention of rights, Zimbabwe, and Africa. Immediately into W host w/interview of M but it was difficult to get the topic due to heavy accent and horrible 7305 slop QRM. Signal was fairly strong though (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) WHRI appears to still be off 7315 as of Jun 21. It also seems that VoP has a lot more English in their transmissions now (Hans Johnson, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 6076.2v, East Asian station, May 31, 1320-1400, very muffled audio, female and male talks, from *1400 covered by another station. Weak signal (Roland Schulze, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6080, South East Asian, May 31, 1320-1400, Hill tribe music sounding as coming from Vietnam, talks about a radio theatre, 1350 Chinese music. Weak signal (Roland Schulze, DSWCI DX Window June 19 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CLANDESTINE +++++++++++ OBSERVER #194 / 21-06-2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov & Angel Datzinov Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER-BUL". All times in UT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOME INTERESTING CLANDESTINE STATIONS (in time order): IBC Tamil Oli Radio in Tamil: 0000-0100 Daily 11570 NVS 100 kW / 180 deg Radio Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari: 0100-0557 Daily 15240 DHA 500 kW / 045 deg [NOT cland -gh] Voice of Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0400-1200 Daily 15675 TAC 100 kW / 256 deg Radio Ezra in English: 0500-0530 Sun 17735 P.K 100 kW / 068 deg [NOT cland –gh] Radio Avaye Ashena in Farsi: 1000-1100 Sun 9710 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg Voice of Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 1200-1600 Daily 11530 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Chinese: 1212-1300 Daily 15635 DB 100 kW / 117 deg (alt. 15645) 15655 A-A 100 kW / 135 deg (alt. 15670) 21585 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg (alt. 21520) IBC Tamil Oli Radio in Tamil: 1230-1330 Daily 17495 MDC 050 kW / 055 deg Radio Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari: 1230-1727 Daily 18940 KVI 500 kW / 095 deg [NOT cland --gh] Radio Afghan Voice in Pashto/Dari: 1330-1430 Daily 17870 MOS 500 kW / 090 deg Voice of Khmer-Krom in Khmer: 1400-1500 Tue 15660 VLD 250 kW / 230 deg Radio Free Vietnam in Vietnamese: 1400-1430 Mon-Fri 15235 TAC 200 kW / 130 deg Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Chinese: 1432-1520 Daily 21650 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 1430-1530 Daily 5945 TAC 100 kW / 132 deg 9500 RAN 100 kW / 325 deg 17495 MDC 050 kW / 055 deg Voice of Iran in Farsi: 1530-1730 Daily 17510 ISS 500 kW / 090 deg Radio International in Farsi: 1630-1715 Daily 9940 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg IBRA Radio in Pashto/Dari: 1645-1715 Daily 13590 WER 125 kW / 075 deg [NOT cland – gh] Radio Barobari in Farsi: 1645-1730 Daily 7480 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg Netsanet Le Ethiopia in Amharic: 1700-1800 Wed,Sun 12110 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg <<<<< not active / cancelled??? Dejen Radio in Tigrina: 1700-1800 Sat 12110 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg <<<<< not active / cancelled??? Sagalee Oromiya in Oromo: 1730-1800 Mon,Thu 12110 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg <<<<< not active / cancelled??? Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost in Farsi: 1800-1830 Daily 7480 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg IBRA Radio in Hausa: 1900-1930 Daily 13710 NAU 125 kW / 205 deg [NOT cland – gh] Jakada Radio International in English: 1900-1930 Mon,Wed,Fri 12125 ARM 200 kW / 235 deg Voice of Biafra International in Igbo/English: 1900-2000 Sat 12125 ARM 200 kW / 235 deg Fang Guang Ming Radio in Mandarin: 2100-2200 Daily 5925 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg 9945 ARM 100 kW / 285 deg IBRA Radio in Arabic: 2230-2330 Daily 9405 JUL 100 kW / 190 deg [NOT cland - gh] Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 2330-0030 Daily 9490 JUL 100 kW / 080 deg 11715 MDC 200 kW / 055 deg 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 21 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM +++ The crucial point: Where is the market, the "target audience" for DRM in the so-called first world? There seems to be a common belief that hardly anybody listens to shortwave anymore due to the weaknesses of the "ancient modulation". Is it simply the lack of sense for the smoky charm of AM broadcasts that people keeps away? I doubt it. A friend of mine recently wrote me that his shortwave-capable radio is almost unemployed now. Not because he mislikes the AM sound so much. Not so, instead he states that shortwave would offer nothing of interest. I do not want to deepen this thought further for obvious reasons (YLE could be elsewhere soon); anyway such observations are the primary reason why I do not join the DRM hype, away from the already discussed point that 22 kbit/s are no "FM quality". (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MAP SITES +++++++++ Amigos de la Lista, Seguidamente, una serie de sitios interesantes con los MAPAS más diversos, desde rutas y calles de todo el mundo, hasta planisferios celestes, mapas antiguos y accidentes geográficos que pueden ser de interés para radioescuchas y diexistas: El Universo: http://e-universo-iespana.es/el-universo/Marte.htm Mapas de Asia: http://www.asiaondemand.com/asianmaps Mapas de Africa: http://www.newafrica.com/maps Maps On Us: http://www.mapsonus.com Ciudad Internet Mapas: http://www.ciudad.com.ar/ar/servicios/mapas/home.asp Climas en espaNol: http://espanol.weather.com Todo Mapas. Ciudades: http://www.todo-mapas.com.ar/ciudades.htm Espacial.com: http://www.rutasargentinas.tv Fotoargentina: http://www.fotoargentina.com.ar/mapimag1.htm Mapas de Yahoo: http://maps.yahoo.com Boletin de Meteored.com: http://www.meteored.com/isobaras.htm Planisferios y mapas celestes: http://www.astrored.org/efem/planisferios.html Guia del Mundo: http://www.eurosur.org/guiadelmundo/01_paises.htm Mapas físicos del mundo: http://chollolinks.tripod.com/mapas/mapas_fisicos_mundo.html Galería de Mapas: http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/spanish/modules/mapglry.htm Mapas y guías del mundo: http://www.internet-comunidad.net Netmapas: http://www.netpmapas.com/priFm.html UN Atlas de los Océanos: http://www.oceansatlas.org/index.jsp HRW Atlas Mundial: http://go.hrw.com/atlas/span_htm/world.htm Maps: http://www.maps.com Todo Mapas. Mundo: http://www.todo-mapas.com.ar/mundo.htm Netmaps: http://www.netmaps.net Mapas del Mundo: http://www.ofertaturistica.com.ar/Mapas_Mundo.htm Atlas Mundial: Mapas y Geografia del Mundo http://www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm?PM=ss11_geography Mapas del mundo antiguo: http://www.culturaclasica.com/mapas/central_mapas_del_mundo_antiguo.htm De viaje: http://www.deviaje.com/cartografia Planisferios celestiales: http://leo.worldonline.es/observat/efem/planisf.htm (Fuente: Clarín, via Gabriel Ivan Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-100, June 19, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1136 [available late UT June 19]: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1136.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1136.html [summaries may not be posted for a day or two] FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 on 17495, 7415; UT Thu 0415 7415 FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400. on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB [however, RFPI has usually not been starting new WOR till Sat 1800] ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. New schedule for Radio Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari: 0100-0557 (ex 0130-0327, re-ex 0200-0357) 15240 DHA 500 kW / 045 deg co-ch RA English 1230-1727 (ex 1330-1627, re-ex 1400-1657) 18940 KVI 500 kW / 095 deg (55444) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. RFE/RL/Radio Free Afghanistan in Pashto and Dari noted on June 15: 0300-0500 on NF 17670 (55444) <<<<< additional \\ 11705 13790 15705 17560 0700-0800 on NF 21815 (45444) <<<<< additional \\ 15345 17775 19010 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Re the Armenian schedule in BC-DX #577: I was tuning across the 11 MHz band c1600 June 12 and came across a strong transmission on 11685 at 1610 with music and then an ID for Yerevan. I assume the language was Armenian. Terminated abruptly at c1641. I note the HFCC shows an Armenian registration for 11685 towards W Eu at 1600-1700 so this is probably it - but not included in their schedule! 11685 1600-1700 zones 27&28 ERV 500 kW 305 degr ARM ARM MCB (Noel R. Green, UK, Jun 13, BC-DX Jun 19 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 1503, unID Aussie produced audio for the third time this month June 9 1015-1024 with a good three minute peak 1019-1022 with two men discussing a sporting event, a brief burst of music and short comment by a woman, then a third man introduced as the "director of [liveright ?] boxing here" who spoke for a short time. All in Aussie accented English. A little further on, as the station was fading back into the noise, music could be heard in the background sounding like it was played in a stadium and then perhaps announcer starting to describe the action. Local sunrise 1034 this morning. This is by far the best "down under" signal this spring. 1512, 1629 and 1638 produced traces of audio back on April 29 but nothing intelligible. (Ray Moore, N Ft Myers FL - Receiver: Drake R8 and Homebrew - Antenna: 23" Spiral loop, Comdel pre-amp, IRCA Soft DX Monitor June 19 via DXLD) see also MALAYSIA ** AUSTRALIA. VNG AUSTRALIAN TIME STATION TO CLOSE Compiled by Bryan Clark The following letter has come in from Dr Richard Brittain, Secretary, National Time Committee, National Standards Commission, P. O. Box 282, North Ryde, NSW 1670. Re: Radio VNG Australia's Standards Frequency and Time Signal Service. ``It is my unfortunate duty to confirm that this service will finally cease to operate from 1 July 2002 after approximately 38 years of service as a unique part of Australia's technical infra-structure. Therefore, sadly this is likely to be my last general communication with the users of Radio VNG. I am very proud to have been associated with the service over the last eight years, and I will retain many fond memories of the people, challenges and successes associated with operating this service. Responses to all QSL requests that we have received are about to be dispatched. Further, the Commission will continue to respond to QSLs for receptions up to the 30 June 2002, This facility will continue until 31 December 2002. The Commission also continues actively seeking alternative means of disseminating traceable time and frequency in Australia through its National Time Committee. This has been recently reconstituted following the retirement of Dr John Luck its long serving Chairman, and will continue to promote the development of the national time system. Finally, the Commission is keen that the plant and equipment from Radio VNG be found a suitable home in retirement. Ideally this will reflect the contribution that Radio VNG made to Australia's national time system and technical infrastructure for so many years. Should you have any suggestions and/or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact me at the Commission, Ph 02-9856 0328 (direct), e-mail rbrittain@nsc.gov.au Thank you again for your support and interest in Radio VNG over the years; it has been a great honour and pleasure working with you.`` For DXers wanting to get a QSL for VNG, there's only a couple of weeks left to log them on 2500, 5000, 8638, 12984 or 16000 kiloHertz. All frequencies are on 24 hours, except 16 MHz which operates from 2200 to 1000 UTC. Voice announcements are carried on 2.5, 5 and 16 only - the other frequencies carry Morse identifications. Reports with return postage (e.g. 1 IRC) should be addressed to Radio VNG at the above North Ryde address (Bryan Clark, NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JUNE 2002 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. A strange thing is happening on Voice International, Australia. After a tipoff, I tuned their Hindi service - this is now at 1300-1600 (NOT 1100-1700) on 13635. At 1255 the R. Australia IS Waltzing Matilda is played before VI opens at 1300. I have noticed that 13635 is not as strong as 13685 but both are supposed to be beaming 303deg. I wonder if 13635 is coming out of Shepparton for some reason? (Noel R. Green, UK, June 17, BC-DX via DXLD) Re Voice International - Australia. I tuned in to 15365 and 13685 just before 0900 this morning and heard very weak signals at s-on. Interestingly, both were playing Waltzing Matilda as an IS! I thought this was exclusive to R Australia, but obviously not! I could also hear 13775 but didn`t note Matilda on there, although it was almost buried in splash from DW 13780, so I could have missed it. So - 13635 at 1300 is probably Darwin (not Shepparton as I wondered), but why it should be weaker than 13685, and both listed via 303 deg, I don't understand (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Jun 18 via DXLD) May you can explain something about "Waltzing Matilda" theme, is that rather a folk song freely used by everyone ?? (wb) I don't think that the Walzing Matilda song is particular to Radio Australia ... it used to be a "quasi National Anthem" ... instead of God Save the Queen or Advance Australia Fair ... however may some sort of problem with switching ... Radio Australia's gear is nearing the end... (John Wright, Australia, ARDXC Jun 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) I wondered if it might be a switching problem, but I doubt that now. The song "Waltzing Matilda" is well known to me - and all that it means in Australia - but they now tend to make a big thing of their new anthem "Arise [sic] Australia Fair" - I think that`s the correct title. At least we are aware now of what VI is doing so shouldn`t be confused if someone reports a mix up! Thanks for this (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 19 via DXLD) Well, there is a certain version of WM used by RA; was it the same? Maybe VI and RA are sharing a feedline to Darwin thru RA Melbourne, whence the Waltzing Matilda IS originate? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB World Radio - Australia plans to commence operations on Dec 22, 2002, from its new facility at Kununurra, WA. Stage 1 is underway, involving construction of the transmitter building on the 200 acre site, which will be air-conditioned and capable of housing two 100 kW transmitters. The first transmitter has been donated to HCJB Australia by its American colleagues and is scheduled to arrive on-site in November. There will be three antennas, each mounted on 37 metre tower some 300 metres away from the transmitter hall. These are aligned to give broadcast signal coverage to those Asian countries which lie at 307 degrees to Kununurra, including India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand. Another antenna is directed to the East to cover the South Pacific, including New Zealand and Fiji. Two of the antennas will operate in the 19 mb and 16 mb, as it is believed that two frequencies are required to ensure high signal strength coverage. The studios are here in Melbourne, in the suburb of Kilsyth, and will allow for five hours daily to Asia, five hours daily to the South Pacific plus one hour weekly to Ethiopia in Oromo. The planned schedule is: 0700-1200 to South Pacific 1230-1730 to India Stage 2 requires release of land adjacent to the Kununurra property. Personnel are being recruited in Melbourne (program producers, presenters, technical officers,, business manager, publicity manager, personal assistant), and in Kununurra (transmitter technical operators) Program, feed to the transmitters is being studied, and may be via a satellite link, a wide-bandwidth telephone circuit or the Internet (HCJB News via Koji Yamada, Tokyo, EDXP June 18 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 19130, 1617 18/6, Belaruskoye R, 2 x 9565, bizarre patriotic program, OM: "belarus, belarus, belarus, belarus!!" then list of sporting achievements, then patriotic song (Tim Bucknall, N.W England, Icom R75, Welbrooke ALA 1530 loop, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) In English? ** BURMA [non]. I heard a station on 9500 playing music at 1525 today before close down at 1530. The signal was only poor and no ID was heard - DVB via NZL? (Noel R. Green, UK, June 17, BC-DX via DXLD) Not audible on either 9500 or 15620 at 1430 check June 19 (gh, OK, DXLD) 9500, According to IBB monitoring database, Democratic Voice of Burma via Rangitaiki, NZ is scheduled at 1430-1530 [15620 replaced by 9500], though opening occurred from about 1410 UT some days. 9500 doesn't propagate into Eu this season, ed. (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX June 19 via DXLD) See also PAKISTAN ** CAMBODIA. 11940, V. of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Jun 6, *0000-0105*, probably a test program, En, Fr, Thai and Cambodian, but from 0100 just a carrier tone. The transmitter still has the same modulation problems as before. Last time I could hear it was on Oct 2, 2001. QSA 5 with splatter QRM *0100-0200* from Chinese music jammer on 11945 which covered 11935- 11952 [against TWN 11945, I guess, BC-DX ed.]. Same day there was a test tone 1156-1203, then modulation until 1210 when the tx broke down for the rest of the day! On Jun 7 I heard an unmodulated carrier 0000-0005 when it broke down. At 0018-0020 it was back with Fr talk after which it broke down for the rest of the morning (Roland Schulze, Philippines, dswci DXW Jun 7 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. This might be old news, if so bear with me. If not, well .....read on. I received a letter from Scott Snailham yesterday in reply to my letter addressed to him stating that he no longer works for CHNS/CHFX/CHNX having left in April 2000. Scott was the last prime veri-signer at the station until that time. He states: "Unfortunately, to my knowledge, CHNX is no more, as of at least this year, if not before. The transmitter was scrapped, and the whole thing was a victim of the bottom line mentality that exists in commercial radio today. If it doesn't generate revenue, then it's a waste, and thus not worth doing. A shame really, as it existed since 1930 in one form or another........" (his letter goes on). He also states that the station CHNS/FX is again without an engineer (overworked amd underpaid being the reason for the previous engineer leaving). An end of an era, folks with the demise of CHNX (an all too frequent occurrence for my liking in the radio operations world, I'm afraid, with radio staffing/economics amd with shortwave stations disappearing...hmm) RIP CHNX. I last heard it in May 2001. (Ian B.[axter?], ARDXC via DXLD) I think that`s about when they went off after one last gasp (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. Voz Cristiana, Santiago, plans a reduction in on-air hours from Jun 16. As of that date, the schedule becomes: 6070 2200-1200, 9635 1200-2000, 11745 2100-1100, 11935 1100-1300, 15375 0000-1400, 17680 1400-0000, 21550 1300-1400. (11690 will be deleted completely) (EDXP June 18 via DXLD) Wonder what`s going on here; rather drastic Changes for Voz Cristiana in Spanish via Santiago 100 kW / 340 degrees effective June 16: 11690 0100-0800 <<<<< DELETED 11935 1100-1300 <<<<< RETIMED ex 0800-1300 21550 1300-1400 <<<<< RETIMED ex 1300-0100 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6064.4 continúa con emisiones de prueba muy irregulares con música llanera y en las noches boleros, en la hora en punto o media hay un pequeño mensaje de predicación. En la visita a Cristina, administradora de la Librería "Colombia para Cristo" fue muy poco la información que me pudo ampliar, no por falta de interés, sino por falta de la misma. Me comentó que la emisora es operada desde la zona rural de Puerto Lleras en una finca donada a la organización, es operada por voluntarios con muy poca preparación radial pero "con mucha voluntad del señor". Cada semana hay un envío a la misión por lo cual recomienda que las cartas para reportes se han canalizados a través de ella en : Calle 44 No. 13-69, Cristina Miranda (Rafael Rodríguez R., Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia, June 18, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. Tuesday, 18 June, the Wall Street Journal, Leisure & Arts, p. D-9, features a story about Radio Havana with a picture of Simon Wollers at the microphone. Some parts of the WSJ Website are free and others are paid, so non-subscribers might need to visit a local library if interested (Anton Kasemacher, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The free part of the Wall Street Journal Linkname: Radio Havana Cuba newsman is a former San Francisco travel agent URL: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB1024357492496569200,00.html (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) No pix here, unfortunately OUR MAN IN HAVANA, By BRETT SOKOL Havana Like many newsmen across America, Simon Wollers often finds himself at odds with his radio station's management. Of course, since Mr. Wollers works in the newsroom of the Cuban government's Radio Havana Cuba -- whose CEO is el presidente, Fidel Castro -- he picks his battles carefully. "This isn't about million-dollar contract disputes; this is pure journalism," Mr. Wollers explains inside Radio Havana Cuba's aging downtown studio, a ramshackle mix of broadband Internet connections and 30-year-old reel-to-reel tape machines. Every weekday from 6 p.m. to midnight the station's English-language service goes live, beaming a powerful shortwave signal across the entire U.S., easily heard at 6000 khz on the Eastern seaboard and at 9820 khz in the Midwest and on the West Coast. A tropical communist take on NPR, Radio Havana Cuba leavens its sober pronouncements on world affairs with sports scores and Latin jazz. "We're not on the air just as an excuse to sell advertising," Mr. Wollers says, heaping scorn on his American news colleagues. "We're not driven by ratings." Which is a good thing, since it's hard to tell just who -- if anyone -- is listening. But then Mr. Wollers has more on his mind than market share. The station, founded on May Day 1961, is charged with bringing "the truth of the Cuban revolution" across the Florida Straits, a counter to the U.S.'s own Cuba-aimed Radio Marti and "the voice of all those who fight for their self-determination and against imperialism." That's a heavy responsibility to place on any comrade's shoulders, especially one who looks less like a steely-eyed guerrilla fighter and more like the 47-year-old former San Francisco travel agent that Mr. Wollers is. Still, the salt-and-pepper-haired, dual British and American citizen takes his mission seriously. Unlocking a door marked "90 Pesos Fine For Smoking," Mr. Wollers leads the way into a room whose shelves are lined from floor to ceiling with tape reels -- Fidel Castro's speeches dating back to 1959, more than 15,000 hours worth and counting. "It's a lot of words," Mr. Wollers agrees with a chuckle. But, he insists, this dusty archive is no ideological morgue. "I believe in the social project Cuba has embarked upon," he declares earnestly. "For all of its faults and contradictions, this is the best system in the world." Such a conviction may seem downright bizarre in the post-Soviet world, particularly to the masses of Cubans navigating their economy's black market, or relying on cash remittances from Miami relatives, just to get by. Still, Mr. Wollers (the name is an alias) isn't the only foreign true believer who has opted for a life in Havana and a monthly salary of about $150 (not including food rations and a state-assigned apartment). After being "vetted by security" four years ago (Salvadoran union activists he'd worked with in the '80s vouched that he was no CIA spy), he took a desk at Radio Havana Cuba alongside several other Americans -- including Langston Wright (aka Michael Finney). A member of the black militant Republic of New Afrika (RNA), Mr. Finney was involved in a 1971 New Mexico shootout that left a state trooper dead. With two fellow RNA members, he subsequently hijacked a passenger jet off the tarmac at Albuquerque's airport and landed in Havana. Although the FBI remains unable to apprehend Mr. Finney (he's one of 77 Americans granted asylum by Mr. Castro), they can at least hear his soothing tenor delivering the latest news bulletins on their radio every night. Asked how he feels working alongside a wanted fugitive, Mr. Wollers merely rolls his eyes and says the true criminals are in the White House. Mentioning Cuba's freedom-of-speech record elicits the party line as well. "There are restrictions on the press here," he concedes, "but we're at economic war with the most powerful nation on earth. There have to be elements of defense. Fidel himself has said if the embargo is lifted, there will be more freedom to criticize." In the meantime, American listeners shouldn't hold their breath waiting for coverage of the Varela Project, a dissident-organized petition drive demanding a public referendum on civil liberties and private enterprise. Radio Havana Cuba managed to find the time for detailed javelin-throw results from the Athens Athletic Grand Prix, sunspot-activity updates and the always earth-shattering "World of Stamps." But "we don't have the resources to do in-depth reporting on everything," Mr. Wollers offers, a bit sheepishly. Not even one brief story? He frowns and counters testily: "I don't think we need a plebiscite. Cuba has one of the most democratic systems ever. Fidel is up for election every five years, just like everybody else." Not that Mr. Wollers doesn't have his own frustrations. Sometimes a superior will appear just before airtime, bearing a new anti-George W. Bush diatribe from Communist Party leaders, or even a missive fresh from the pen of Mr. Castro himself. Mr. Wollers might agree with its sentiments, but the language is often painfully stilted, a mishmash of leftist jargon that grates against his station's otherwise cultured style. "Miami Mafia?" he says with a grimace, incredulously repeating the official term for Miami's virulently anti-Castro Cuban-exile community. It's a linguistic improvement on Fidel's previous sobriquet for exiles -- the worms -- but one just as apt to set American chins a-scratchin'. "People listening to us in New York don't know what Miami Mafia means. It would be better to say Cuban-American right- wingers." Mr. Castro's own recent alternative isn't much better: "Miami terrorist mob." "Sometimes you have to just throw up your hands," Mr. Wollers sighs. Mr. Sokol is a staff writer at the Miami New Times. Updated June 18, 2002 (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) This is one of the VERY FEW articles about an international broadcast station in a non specialist publication that INCLUDES the frequencies. A new trend? (I can not resist) OF COURSE NOT! (Larry Nebron, ibid.) ** CUBA [non]. Re TV Martí, DXLD 2-099: UHF channels -- at least at one time -- were allocated for use on Channels 18, 50 and 64. An old document I have archived still links to the FCC dB with this information at: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/1995_Orders/fcc95160.txt If the Washington technocrat powers-that-be had any neurons still firing, they'd parallel TV Martí evening TV broadcasts with one or two shortwave frequencies and/or an AM channel. Every time I've been in the lower Keys, I've tried for the early morning TV Martí transmissions on UHF as well as Channel 13, but with no luck. In most cases, a tethered balloon at Cudjoe Key was noted in the sky the afternoon before. Go figure (Terry L. Krueger, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Note: tho I am not positive, the surname is most likely Montés, but never seems to be accented, at least not in English text like that following. I tire of fixing them one by one, as the Replace funxion in MS Word does not support accents. Not to mention Belén, László, Ávila. --- gh] ** CUBA [and non]. Posted on Sun, Jun. 16, 2002 SHE LED TWO LIVES -- DUTIFUL ANALYST, AND SPY FOR CUBA BY TIM JOHNSON PARKVILLE, Md. - In a brief e-mail message laden with emotion, the mother of Ana Belen Montes -- a top spy for Cuba -- lays bare the anguish she feels over her daughter's plight. ''We do not agree with what Ana did but I still love her very much,'' Emilia B. Montes wrote to a reporter. ``She was my first born, a very good daughter who never gave me any heartaches until now. She is still a good, smart and loving person. She had the best intentions, [but] just went about it the wrong way.'' Exactly how Ana Montes went the ''wrong way'' is not obvious at first glance, a worrisome phenomenon at a time when investigators are searching for telltale signs of alienation in order to spot potential terrorists. Indeed, Montes appears to have enjoyed an all-American upbringing. But a more probing look reveals the contours of an emotional makeup that may have led her to betray her country -- and even her family -- to become the most important known spy for Cuba to penetrate the U.S. intelligence apparatus. Meticulous and trim, the 45-year-old Montes seemed the antithesis of a rebel. She had climbed a career ladder at the super-secret Defense Intelligence Agency, becoming the most senior analyst on Cuba. She carefully saved her substantial salary, kept her apartment neat, went to the gym almost daily and kept to routine. She refrained from gossip, even with her most loyal friends. If anyone seemed safe and reliable, it was Ana Montes. But somewhere along the way, Montes entered a labyrinth of mirrors where deceit and reality intermingle. When she emerged, even her own family did not recognize her. ''I'm still flabbergasted,'' her mother said in a brief telephone conversation, talking with more than a little reticence. ``We waited and waited to find out it wasn't true.'' No such luck. In March, Montes confessed in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit espionage. She had become a crown jewel for the Cuban intelligence service, one of the most effective in the world. Experts say she spilled a flood of secrets to her Cuban handlers. ''They wanted everything. They just sucked everything out of her,'' said one security official knowledgeable about the case. ``[Fidel] Castro trades in this kind of information.'' A LIFE OF PERIL Clandestine activities belied no-risk demeanor Close friends were stricken. They discovered that Ana Montes, who seemed to shun risk, led a life of enormous peril. She rose at odd hours to listen to high-frequency coded messages from Havana. She trooped from one pay phone to another to send beeper messages. And she disappeared on exotic vacations -- often alone. ''Her family is devastated, her reputation is ruined, and her money and all that is gone,'' said an old friend, who insisted on anonymity. It is no ordinary family. Montes has a brother who works for the FBI in the Atlanta area and a sister who is a translator for the FBI in South Florida. The sister helped bring down a large Cuban spy ring, the so-called Wasp Network, last year. Montes is now held in a secret location, where debriefers are assessing the damage she caused. The Justice Department says Montes began working for Cuban intelligence by 1985. They now know whether she was a ''walk-in'' who offered her services, or whether she was recruited or blackmailed to work for Havana. But they are not sharing what they know. And they won't reveal it until Montes appears in September for sentencing. It is then that a judge will hand her a 25-year term, and five additional years of parole, if federal officials attest that she has cooperated fully. NO SIGN OF ENRICHMENT Motivation seemed to come from ideology and emotion By all indications, Montes did not receive a penny for her betrayal. She worked for Havana out of ideological conviction, dismay at U.S. policy, and perhaps an amalgam of emotions sown in adolescence along the leafy streets of this northern Baltimore suburb. It is here that Montes began to battle most strongly with her father, Alberto L. Montes, a Freudian psychoanalyst who dealt sternly with his four children and tried to inculcate his conservative values in them. ''He was a very strict disciplinarian,'' recalled Emilia Montes, who later divorced her husband. ``When I was young, people used to say that the children of psychiatrists have problems. They clashed. He was strong-willed, very much like her.'' Dr. Montes, who was born in Puerto Rico in 1928, went to medical school in upstate New York, then joined the Army in 1956, going first to West Germany, where Ana was born, then moving with his family to Topeka, Kan., for seven years. He specialized in adult psychiatry at the respected Menninger Clinic. By the time the Montes family moved to the Baltimore suburbs in 1967, the father had quit the Army and the family appeared to live the American Dream. Dr. Montes earned a large income in private practice, the family lived on a cul-de-sac in an upper middle-class neighborhood, and the children attended top-notch public schools. ''Dr. Montes was a good psychiatrist, very well regarded in the community,'' said a fellow psychiatrist, Jaime Lievano, who still lives in Baltimore. ``He had specific training in Freudian analysis.'' The family clung to its Puerto Rican roots, even as Ana Montes and her younger sister and two younger brothers stood out at the local Loch Raven High School for their Hispanic heritage. ''Look at the faces,'' Principal G. Keith Harmeyer said as he flipped through the school yearbook for 1975, when Ana Montes graduated. Only two other students had Hispanic surnames. Next to her senior photo, Ana Montes noted that her favorite things were ``summer, beaches, soccer, Stevie W., P.R., chocolate chip cookies, having a good time with fun people.'' While Dr. Montes kept his psychiatric practice at a local clinic, his wife developed her own career as an investigator for a federal employment anti-discrimination office, and grew active in Hispanic community affairs. It is there that Emilia Montes had a serious run-in with Cuban exiles. ''The Cubans and I had our encounters. They don't fight clean,'' she said, speaking with a candor that appears to be part of her feisty nature. A SPAT WITH EXILES Mother was involved in immigrant activism Even today, Hispanic community activists remember the spat in the mid- 1970s, when Emilia Montes led a federation of Hispanic immigrants from all over Latin America in a quest for a slot in a Showcase of Nations city festival. A rival group of well-connected Cuban exiles said that it should win the slot. ``Emilia Montes said, `This is not true. The Cubans don't represent everybody. We've got more than just Cubans around here, said Javier Bustamante, a fellow activist. ''They had a knock-down, drag-out fight,'' added Bustamante, who is from Spain. Backed by the umbrella Federation of Hispanic Organizations, and speaking on her local radio program, Emilia Montes succeeded in defeating the Cuban exile group. ''She was out for the little guy,'' recalled Jose Ruiz, who is a city liaison with the Hispanic community. Chuckling, he added: ``She was a character. She had her moments.'' By 1977, when Ana Montes had left the family home and was attending the University of Virginia, the parents fell into an acrimonious divorce and custody battle for the two youngest children, Alberto M. and Juan Carlos. The court awarded Mrs. Montes custody of the two sons, the family home and a 1974 Plymouth, and a small alimony. If Ana Montes ever mended her troubled relationship with her father, it wasn't readily apparent. ''At one point, she actually wrote him a letter trying to make peace with her past,'' recalled a friend of Ana's from her time at the University of Virginia. ``He wrote back. He was totally unapologetic.'' Dr. Montes eventually remarried, rejoined the Army and moved to the Hawaiian island of Oahu. He retired from the Army in 1995 with the rank of colonel, divorced his second wife and moved to South Florida, where he died of a heart attack two years ago. Ana Montes graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a degree in foreign affairs. She moved to Washington, D.C., where she enrolled in 1982 in a two-year master's degree program at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She focused on Latin America. Her degree was not awarded until 1988. While she was studying, Montes got a clerical job at the Department of Justice that required a security clearance. She moved to the Defense Intelligence Agency as a junior analyst, focusing on Nicaragua, in September 1985. By then, she already was a spy for Cuba. How the Cuban intelligence service enlisted Montes is the subject of endless speculation among Cuba watchers. Some say it was a romance. Others say it was blackmail. Still others, including her lawyer and her mother, say it was sympathy for a small nation in the shadow of a colossus. ''She felt sorry for the Cubans,'' Emilia Montes said of her daughter. ``It wasn't Castro. It was seeing them living in misery. She was very young and idealistic.'' Wherever the truth, Ana Montes rubbed elbows with scores of people inside and outside the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and at the State Department, taking part in and eventually leading briefings on Cuba. Colleagues and acquaintances describe her as no-nonsense. ''She was an unusual person,'' said an official who knew her casually and like many of her acquaintances declined to speak for attribution. ``She could be very warm and engaging on a personal level. She was kind of witty. She had a very sharp mind. But when you're discussing work or in a work environment, she could be very aloof and dogmatic.'' PRESSURE TO MARRY Boyfriend was employed by U.S. Southern Command Montes dated occasionally, and like many daughters of Hispanic mothers came under pressure to find a partner and head to the altar. 'Her mom was on her all the time: `Why aren't you married?' '' recalled the old friend. Montes did, in fact, have a boyfriend in recent times -- Roger Corneretto, a civilian employee in Miami of the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the hemisphere, including Cuba. ''She was going to get married,'' said Lilian Laszlo, a Baltimore resident and close friend of Emilia Montes. Corneretto was transferred to the Joint Chiefs of Staff office in the Pentagon after Montes' arrest last year, shocked and grieving at the discovery of his girlfriend's double life. Corneretto declined to talk with The Herald. Montes is known to have traveled to New York City regularly, as well as to have taken overseas vacations alone to places like the Dominican Republic, where she may have received Cuban training to master the coded radio messages and computer decoding software that her espionage demanded. How U.S. counterintelligence agents got onto Montes is not clear. A former Cuban Interior Ministry cryptographer, Jose Cohen, who now lives in exile in South Florida, said he believes U.S. counterintelligence engineered a huge feat by cracking an encrypted Cuban message, perhaps to Montes. ''It is easier to win the lottery three times over than to break these codes,'' Cohen said. APARTMENT SEARCHED FBI reportedly found evidence on computer Whatever the tip-off, FBI agents 13 months ago searched Montes' apartment and surreptitiously copied the hard drive of her Toshiba laptop computer, recovering 11 pages of text between her and Cuban intelligence agents, court documents say. Montes' failure to fully erase the material appeared to be an act of carelessness unusual for her. The Justice Department says Montes had turned over photos, documents and abundant classified material to Cuba. It says she revealed the identity of four undercover U.S. agents, handed over information about U.S. military games, and provided assessments to Cuba taken from the most top-secret internal files of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Montes, with a top-level clearance, had access to the Intelink computer network that connects about 60 federal intelligence, defense and civilian agencies involved in intelligence gathering and assessment. ''She had access to basically everything,'' the security official said. ``You're talking about programs that cost millions of dollars to develop. And she could get anything.'' As she funneled secrets, Montes also molded debate about Cuba on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon and the State Department. In 1998, she was a principal drafter of a Pentagon paper that concluded that Cuba no longer represented a military threat to the United States. In 1999, Montes was a principal briefer on an inter-agency war-game- like exercise about Cuba that may have required her to review U.S. military capabilities toward Cuba should turmoil erupt on the island, one U.S. official said. Montes became a ''vociferous'' advocate of a controversial proposal to allow active U.S. military personnel into Cuba to develop relations with officers of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, the official said. Critics feared that such a plan would expose U.S. military personnel to possible recruitment or compromise by Cuban intelligence. Normally, with a spy like Montes in their sights, FBI agents would shadow her for months, even years, with the intention of identifying her handlers and bringing down an entire network. But nine days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the agents swooped in to arrest Montes, fearing that she represented an overriding security risk. To this day, the Montes arrest has not generated the publicity of other major spy cases, such as the 1994 arrest of Aldrich Ames, a CIA employee whose betrayal of his country may have cost the lives of nine U.S. moles in the Soviet Union, and the early 2001 arrest of Robert Hanssen, a veteran FBI counterintelligence officer who earned $1.4 million as an agent for Russia. Some think Montes ranks in the league of major turncoats. ''You could make the case that the potential for damage was more severe than with either Hanssen or Ames,'' an official said. ``She could have told them what, where and when [eventual U.S. military action would occur], and it would cost a hell of a lot of lives.'' As it is, some of the victims are alive and suffering silently. Montes' brothers and sisters declined to speak about her. ''I'll be happy to talk to you sometime down the road, but not right now,'' said Juan Carlos Montes, the youngest sibling at 40, who operates a restaurant in South Florida. ''I still have sleepless nights,'' Montes' mother said. ``Your precious child in handcuffs in a jail. I can't bear it.'' ---------- Herald staff writer Juan O. Tamayo and researcher Elisabeth Donovan contributed to this report. © 2001 miamiherald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. Posted on Sun, Jun. 16, 2002 BY TIM JOHNSON INFILTRATION, SEDUCTION AMONG CUBAN SPY TACTICS IN U.S. WASHINGTON - Ana Belen Montes' confession in March brought the latest evidence of how Fidel Castro's regime seeks to spy on the United States, targeting the Cuban exile community, Capitol Hill, the military and CIA, and universities, experts say. Time after time, Cuba's Directorate of Intelligence has run double agents, letting them fall into U.S. hands, or wash up on U.S. shores, as presumed defectors. After insinuating themselves into exile groups, Radio Martí or federal agencies, they would sow discord, or bolt back to Havana to publicly discredit the U.S. government. Cuban spies based in the United States are ''very smooth, very acculturated and really very, very professional,'' one retired counterintelligence official said. They operate from the Cuban Interests Section in Washington and the huge Cuban mission to the United Nations in New York City, which has more than 70 accredited diplomats. ''I'll just flatly tell you that almost every one of them are intelligence officers,'' the retired official said. At Cuba's mission in New York City, intelligence gathering is such a principal task, another U.S. official said, that many of the Cuban personnel ``frankly don't even know where the U.N. is.'' By the mid-1970s, Cuban operatives were gathering information not only for Havana but also to pass on to the Soviet spy agency, the KGB. ''The Cubans were much more successful at bringing people aboard and gathering information,'' the official said. ``They were Latin and they were kind of glamorous. We're much more open to Latins than we are to people with steel teeth and a Slavic accent.'' Cuban intelligence agents practice literal and figurative seduction, spending months and even years looking for weak points in their targets, experts say. ''They investigate everything,'' said Francisco Avila, a former Cuban double agent who came clean in 1992 and now lives in South Florida. ``Do you like to smoke? Do you like to fish, hunt? Go to the movies? Or maybe a man is a real womanizer, and they send a woman to seduce him.'' Avila, who was tasked by Cuban intelligence with infiltrating Alpha 66, a Miami exile paramilitary group, voiced amazement at how many Cuban agents penetrated the group. ''One time, I was one of six people aboard a boat belonging to Alpha 66, and I looked around and realized that three of us were from [Cuban] state security,'' Avila said. Before his break with Havana, Avila said, he would receive instructions in Miami every three months or from a contact, who would give him a large hollowed-out bolt with a paper inside. The paper would instruct him on how to meet his Cuban intelligence handler in New York City. 'It would say something like, `We'll see each other in Queens at such and such an hour in front of a Kentucky Fried Chicken,' '' Avila said. When Avila would show up there, ''almost always it was the first secretary of the U.N. Interests Section'' waiting for him. The FBI counterintelligence unit has about 40 to 50 agents nationwide assigned to watch Cuban spies -- not nearly enough to keep tabs on every Cuban diplomat who wanders the streets of New York, Washington and Miami. ''It's not like the movies,'' the security official said. ``You put two people out on somebody and they'll lose him. It's very hard to surveil somebody.'' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2001 miamiherald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miami.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. - Wm. Pitt, 1783 (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Freq change for Radio Prague in English/Czech to S Asia effective June 17: 1300-1357 NF 21735 LIT 100 kW / 107 deg, ex 21745 to avoid DW in Hausa \\ 13580 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI. AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR TRANSMISSION OF US ARABIC RADIO PROGRAMMES FROM DJIBOUTI | Text of report by Djibouti news agency ADI web site on 18 June Mr Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, the minister of communication and culture in charge of posts and telecommunications, who is also the government spokesman, and the US ambassador to Djibouti, Mr Donald Yamamoto, today signed an agreement on the setting up of radio relay stations financed by the USA. The agreement, which involves between seven and eight million dollars, allows for the installation of a mediumwave transmitter and a 5-kW FM transmitter at [state-owned] Radio-Television Djibouti's (RTD) relay station at Arta [southern Djibouti]. The transmitters will relay Arabic-language radio programmes to the east African region and the Arabian Peninsula. A 2-kW FM transmitter will also be installed at RTD's premises to relay Voice of America programmes in English, French and Arabic to listeners within Djibouti. Djibouti has granted the use of the 1431 kHz frequency for the mediumwave broadcasts, and the 100.8 and 100.2 MHz channels for the FM broadcasts. An official at the Ministry of Communication said: "Djibouti has become the centre for the transmission of radio and television broadcasts for the region." The official said the department consequently had "signed a protocol agreement for the setting up of a 5-kW FM transmitter for [Paris- based] Radio Monte Carlo (RMC) Middle East for the transmission of Arabic-language programmes". Source: ADI news agency web site, Djibouti, in French 18 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9754.4v tentative, at 0140. It surely sounded like Mokottam with awful audio and a totally unstable transmitter. Typical Holy Qur'an chant sequence at S4-5 and variable light QSB. The frequency was extremely erratic - at tune in it was 9754.8 and drifting slowly LF, but having reached circa 9754.6 at 0153, it then bounced about in 100-200Hz steps down to 9754.3 ; this situation persisted thro' until 0254, when it either left the channel or the LUF/MUF band limit was reached. At 0300, R Monte Carlo aired its Arabic (via Sackville) with a potent S9+ signal and off at 0320. Nothing further was heard from Egypt? After that and only CNR2 heard on 9755 at circa 1400 (Ray Merrall, UK, dswci DXW Jun 14, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. Glenn, Ref. DXLD 2099: Radio Ethiopia on 9560 is seriously unstable, though always on the high side of the nominal frequency. I've heard it as high as 9562.2. Their other 9 MHz channel (nominal 9705) is also off-channel, though stable on 9704.2. One list I keep meaning to compile is "African stations that you can identify as they are off-channel but stable". One question I have never seen answered is why so many African nominal frequencies end in 6 (e.g. Sierra Leone 3316, Nigeria 3326, Ghana 3366, Uganda 4976/5026, Congo 5066, historically Zimbabwe/Rhodesia 3306/3396). Regards from (Chris Greenway in the Nairobi winter, June 19!, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Bad news came from Radio Finland this week. On Wednesday June 12 the Board of Governors of Yleis Radio met in Helsinki to work out plans for the entire broadcasting services between 2003 and 2005. The least we can say is that the future does not look bright for Radio Finland. Programmes in English, German and French will be scrapped. Radio Finland will continue to broadcast programmes in Finnish for Finnish people living abroad. Also broadcasts in foreign languages for foreigners living in Finland or tourists, might continue. This is another serious blow to international radio. Mind you, this is a proposal, and as always there might be interference from the government or politicians in general, so there`s still a bit of hope. Time once again to write off to a station. In this case you should put pressure on the director of the Yleis radio department. His name is Seppo Härkönen (with two dots over the a and the o), and the address is PL 100; 00024 Yleisradio, Finland. (RVi Radio World June 16 via John Norfolk, DXLD) It is very sad that Finland is going to only broadcast in its national languages and thus no longer try to broadcast to potentially larger audiences (particularly in the English services). The fact that shortwave audiences have been declining (as many stations see as their excuse to stop foreign language services) has been a scary reason, and as far as I can see not many people are making an effort to write the stations and tell them they want their programs retained. Instead, as it will be with Israel in two weeks, and yeah it will happen with YLE, the shortwave broadcasts in English are declining, and so shortwave continues to be the target, the one area of broadcasting that is easy to use (and you can take it with you unlike a PC, as had been addressed in the BBC debate from last year) and affordable. I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of Finnish DXers such as former EDXC Secretary General Risto Vahakainu at previous Winter SWL Festivals, and given their appearances at the event, I feel we are as fortunate of having an opportunity to learn something about DXing in the north of Europe. We in North America, along with your part of the world, should take the time to let Radio Finland's people know that we want this valuable service of Finnish news and views to be retained, and that time to let your opinions be known is NOW! (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DW: Sightseeing tour to Deutsche Welle Broadcasting House Cologne and Radio Telescope Effelsberg-Eifel, between Bonn and Trier. Besuch der DW und des Radioteleskops Effelsberg. Am Freitag, 12. Juli 2002 um 1400 Uhr (MESZ) wird der RMRC die Deutsche Welle in ihrem alten Gebaeude [in Koeln] besuchen. Waldemar Kraemer wird uns fuehren und mit allem versorgen, was die DW zu bieten hat. Alle DXer sind herzlich eingeladen. Nach einer Uebernachtung werden wir am darauf folgenden Tag, dem 13. Juli 2002 ebenfalls um 1400 Uhr (MESZ) das Radioteleskop in Effelsberg besichtigen. Dazu sind ebenfalls alle eingeladen. Wir bitten jedoch um Anmeldung. H.Gabler - RMRC Vorstand Clubtelefon 0179 442 9992 oder e-mail DrGabler@t-online.de (Dr. Harald Gabler, Germany, BC-DX Jun 18 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. North American listeners to Radio Deutsche Welle on 15105 (Bonaire relay) at 0300 GMT on 17 June heard RDW Swahili instead of the usual English. Wanting to hear the English program I tuned away after 5 minutes, so perhaps this was corrected before 0345 program end (Anton Kasemacher, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 10224, Radio Florina's 8th hrmonic heard here at 1200 UT in Greek (fundamental MW 1278 kHz), May 25 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jun 12 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 13865U, Útvarp Reykyavík Ras 1 SW relay, 2318 June 18, Noted with good signal here, running about an S8. NX report from tune in till 2326 when WX was read. Rain in western Iceland with temperatures between 5 and 15 degrees C. Off at 2328 (David Hodgson, Nashville TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re DXLD 2-097: If "peacekeeping" by the "international community" is indeed something other than Orwellian Newspeak for "postwar occupation" by the "imperialist powers", then perhaps public availability of live U.S. military aerial photography is not all bad. Suppose many villages in a "peacekeeping" zone had satellite telephones. Suppose they could call in TV coverage when a column of panzers rolled into town. Knowing a massacre would be on live Pentagon TV might discourage a politician from giving the order in the first place. In some circles, it is fashionable to accuse the Pentagon of being a fountain of self-serving propaganda. Imagine it becoming THE source of live see-for-yourself truth for the entire world. It could add a new dimension to "the pen is mightier than the sword." If this sounds crazy: who could imagine the Internet 40 years ago? (Anton Kasemacher, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Hi Glenn and DXLD-readers. I got this right now from TIME's World Watch Newsletter, June 17, 2002 (full credit to them of course). Perhaps it is nothing for the DX-er, but once again it shows how much the conquest of the minds mean. It would be interesting to know how much money is used in the war on the airwaves. I think that even a moderate estimate would show astronomical figures, hard to grasp. 73 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOICE OF DAVID Iranian state radio launched a daily broadcast in Hebrew aimed at countering what Iran sees as "the monopoly of one-sided news" coverage in the region. The bulletin called the Voice of David is aimed at Middle Eastern Jews, mostly in Israel, and will be broadcast nightly during the half hour before midnight. The broadcasts will not be heard by the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside Israel --- the 25,000 Jews who live in Iran itself. The move is partly a response to Israel radio's broadcasts in Farsi. (via Johan Berglund, DXLD) That would be 1900-1930 UT on 9745 and 7175 as previously reported here (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. In the email that I sent yesterday I mentioned that the English TV IBA News on IBA Channel 1 will stop, when it moves to the new network. In a Jerusalem Post article, it said that they aren't sure about whether the English news will remain on Channel 1. I emailed the source of my info to see if I can obtain more details (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. RAI-International. Effective Jun 16, RAI will be deleting two of its three channels for the daily morning service in English to Australia and Asia. Only the single frequency of 11900 will remain, and 15265 and 9675 will be cancelled (EDXP June 18 via DXLD) ** ITALY. Some freq changes for RAI International effective June 16: 0435-0455 Amharic to EaAf NF 11900 ex 15250 0455-0530 Italian to EaAf NF 11900 ex 15250 0530-0550 Somali to EaAf NF 11900 ex 15250 0600-0620 Arabic to EaAf NF 11900 ex 15250 0600-0620 Russian to RUS DEL 15290 <<<<< now only on 11800 1500-1520 Turkish to EaEu NF 11700* ex 11895 \\ 9690 1520-1540 Greek to EaEu NF 11700* ex 11895 \\ 9690 1540-1600 Bulgarian to EaEu NF 11700 ex 11895 \\ 9690 1605-1625 Russian to RUS NF 11700 ex 11805 to avoid RFE in Arabic 1605-1625 Russian to RUS DEL 15290 1630-1655 Arabic to EaAf DEL 15240 <<<<< now only on 11910 1630-1655 French to NoAf NF 11700 ex 11730 to avoid RTTunisia in Arabic 1700-1800 Italian to EaAf NF 11795# ex 15115 to avoid RL in Ukrainian 1910-1930 Somali to EaAf DEL 15240 <<<<< now only on 11890 2025-2045 English to EaAf ADD 6185 \\ 9670 11880 2205-2230 English to EaAs DEL 15265 <<<<< now only on 11900 * co-ch China Radio International in Persian till 1527 # co-ch Radio Free Asia in Mandarin Ch plus Chinese jammer New schedule for IRRS in Italian/English/German: 0530-0630 Mon-Fri and 0800-1200 Sat/Sun on NF 13840.1 AM (55544) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Radio Kurdistan is re-activated. Heard on 4130 kHz at 1846 UT, on May 31. Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan 1600-1955* heard on new 4095 (x5850) and \\ 4085, on May 15th, but today June 11 heard only on 4085. Also noted on June 1st at 1200 UT on 91.5 MHz FM. With ID like "Eira Dendzi Shachmasati Kurdistan", the stn in Kurdish and Arabic was noted 1700-1734* on 4240, May 4th, at 1230 UT on 91.7 MHz, Jun 1 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jun 12 via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA [and non]. 1386 Kaunas tests. RFE/RL via Kaunas on MW 1386 kHz was heard as scheduled Monday evening at -2045-2130-. Bolshakovo had VOR until 2100 and then left the carrier on [air]. Generally Bolshakovo was much stronger than Kaunas. One of the transmitters, apparently Kaunas, had a low frequency (50 Hz?) carrier instability (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 10) Today's "schedule" on 666/1386: 666 s/off 2000.30 2006.30 1386 s/on, short prgr 2010 off? 2013 on 2018 RFE Lit 2100 RL RR, nothing on 666 2132 program off 2136 off 2138 666 s/on, carrier, music, presumed to be LTU 2040.30 off 2772 2 x 1386 went off and on in synchro with 1386. The 1386 carriers were almost perfectly synchronized, but a slowly varying phasing effect caused distortion and periods of low audio (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 12) In Russia the reception situation appears to be different, with Lithuania comfortably dominating over Bolshakovo: a report from Moscow yesterday talks about a very good signal after 2100, only slightly worse than the local RFE/RL relay on 1044 kHz (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Jun 12) There seemed no activity at all from Europe on 1386 last night (Wednesday) around 2145. But there was another signal fading in and out which was probably Labe, Guinea - the music was African style. I thought there was another carrier at one time but no other station appeared. Perhaps the reason for good reception of Lithuania in Russia is that the Bolshakovo directional aerials only produce weak signals in the east? I think we can safely say that CRR2 are "annoyed"!!! Does their station still have the capability of operating at 2.5 MW as once listed? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 13) Meanwhile I also received a report that 666 indeed closed down at 2000 yesterday. The carrier on 1386 appeared at 2017, then cut-in into RFE Lithuanian audio at 2022. So it appears to be quite evident that they do the 1386 tests with the 666 transmitter. Interesting that Radio Vilnius transmissions were cancelled for the 1386 test (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX Jun 12) Actually, the s/off at 2000 is not new (see WRTH) and there was no cancellation of R Vilnius: the regular schedule of 666 since several years is 0300-2000. R Vilnius in En is carried on LR-1 (666+FM) at 1900-1930. At 2100-2130 LR-1 now carries the Lithuanian edition of the FS, but on FM only (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Jun 13) e-Mail-QSL von R. Baltic Waves International of yesterday tests (QSL Nr. 1! :-)) v/s Rimantas Pleikys riplei@takas.lt 1386 MW, R Baltic Waves International, via Sitkunai, 750 kW, Jun 10, *2030-2130*. The test announced was heard in Denmark with this result: 2030 SINPO 31431 totally covered by V of Russia in English via the 1200 kW transmitter at Bolshakovo (54554). After VOR signed off at 2100*, the test with "Radio Svoboda" could be heard with 55554 with some hum on the frequency (Anker Petersen, Denmark, dswci DXW, Jun 19) Rimantas Plelkys, head of R Baltic Waves told me that the Lithuanian Telecommunications Administration is in the process of talks with the Russian Administration to eliminate the harmful interference on 1386. The Russians will be forced to shut down their transmitter or go low power. The frequency is registered with the ITU as Lithuanian, and the transmitter in Skaisgiriai [Sovetsk] operates on this channel without a legal basis. Radio Baltic Waves International will broadcast from Sitkunai on 1386 with a non-directional antenna 0300-2000: 250 kW, 2000-0300: 750 kW; Future plans are 1000 kW (1600 kW ERP). (Herman Boel, Medium Wave Circle, DXW Jun 11) Ein volldetaillierter QSL-Brief hing als Word-Attachement dran. Demzufolge betraegt die Sendeleistung 750 kW, Antenne ist die beruehmte Rundstrahlantenne russischer Bauart ARRT-1, 257 m Hoehe. (Martin Elbe-D, A-DX Jun 12, ALL: via BC-DX June 19 via DXLD) ** MACEDONIA. I checked the 810 channel two weeks ago, while on holiday in Central Italy, but couldn't observe any spectacular signal strength. But today Jun 11 at 2200 UT a very powerful signal from Orchie Polje noted so far, here in Southern Germany (Wolfgang Büschel, Jun 11, WWDXC Top News via DXLD) 810 also heard well in Denmark Jun 17 at 1830-2200 with ID "Radio Skopje", but at times much QRM from R Scotland (Anker Petersen-DEN dswci DXW, Jun 19 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. There is a possibility to listen to MBS "live" at web page http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara.org though this seems to be rather unreliable connection. After some days of trying I finally today, June 17 got connection thru. It cuts often for short periods. Listening at the same time on 7130 (1840 UT with poor reception) the program was not in synchro but seemingly same, with abt 3 minutes delay on webcast. No e-mail/mailing address found so far. -------- (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxing.info via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA? 1475, unID. Suspect Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Recapping my experience with this station during the 2001-2002 season, their signal has been very consistent here, producing at least a trace of carrier on 54 different mornings from August 26 when it first appeared to its last appearance on April 19. Best signal was March 12, 1128-1130, with a good carrier on verge of audio. At first I thought this could be a deep South American but it can't be since all of South America was in sunlight during December and January when I often heard this carrier. The average of six direction finding bearings which I was able to make was 335 degrees, close to the true bearing of 330. The path may be skewed since it skirts the auroral zone on almost the same bearing as Japan (327 degrees). I believe the consistency of this signal is because the station is beamed towards the Philipines from 1030 to 1300 which is exactly the bearing for Florida from Sabah, meaning they are effectively pumping two or three megawatts in this direction. I'm confident that I will be able to pull audio from them next season as the sunspot cycle wanes and conditions improve. I hope others will try for this on a consistent basis around 1030 come September. I'm sure most of us need Sabah and at 10,000 miles it would make a nice addition to our logs (Ray Moore, N Ft Myers FL - Receiver: Drake R8 and Homebrew - Antenna: 23" Spiral loop, Comdel pre-amp, IRCA Soft DX Monitor June 19 via DXLD) See also AUSTRALIA ** MALI. Has changed its transmitters with strong one being on 4783 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI Wellington recently hosted local members on a tour of the National Radio, Concert FM and RNZI facilities. SW broadcasts are now so well planned that on 17675, RNZI can sometimes power down to 50 kW and still deliver a first rate signal into the target area. Most of the time though, they remain at 100 kW. As part of a global co-operation program, RNZI maintains a computer controlled SW receiver at RNZ House which monitors SW broadcasts to the South Pacific. A growing number of other SW broadcasters log on from their own location and listen to a sample of what their signal sounds like in Wellington. Adrian is able to do the same and demonstrated current reception of RNZI in Guam and Bangkok. The automatic DXer! This system covers technical details very well, but at the end of the day, real people are listening. Adrian's weekend in tray included DX reports from Ukraine, Japan, USA, Russia, Spain and New Zealand and all reports are welcomed. (Some photographs of the visit will hopefully be in next months DX Times. Chief-Ed) (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JUNE 2002 via DXLD) See also BURMA; PAKISTAN ** PAKISTAN. I received a reply from Pakistan about the logging on 7213, and here it is... The report you mentioned about a Ukrainian listener is confirmed. Yes the current affair frequencies has been replaced with 7205 in the morning from 0100 to 0300 and 7215 in the evening 1200-1700. So 7095 is dropped. There is another change - viz... You may have noticed that 9425 was replaced with 9500 on 18th May. This is for the Turki & Russian service at 1245-1400 in \\ 7355. PAK on new 9500 at 1245-1400 should NOT clash with NZL, which starts at 1430 - doesn`t it? There are now so many of these clandestine outfits that it`s difficult to keep them all in the mind! I cannot hear PAK on this new frequency - no propagation - and have not yet heard NZL either. The lower bands are not currently propagating - or if they are, signals are very poor - until later in the afternoon (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Jun 13 via DXLD) See BURMA ** PERU. It appears there are civil disturbances in Tacna and Arequipa; R. Tacna continues to be heard for reasons other than fútbol (gh, DXLD) 9504.8, Radio Tacna, Tacna. 1100-1135 Junio 17. Transmisión en español. Programa informativo. Reporte de la hora: "6 de la mañana en todo el Perí". ID: "Radio Tacna...la radio de la sintonía mayoritaria". Contacto con Radio Libertad, de Arequipa con un reporte sobre la revuelta y rebelión popular en la Ciudad Blanca. El locutor de R. Tacna dice: "desde hace muchos años conozco la Ciudad Blanca y sabemos del coraje del pueblo arequipeño y de su alcalde". Anuncio: "en las próximas horas, en la ciudad de Tacna se tomarán medidas de apoyo a la lucha del pueblo arequipeño". Reporte de la hora & anuncio: "seis con 30, vamos con la pausa comercial". Comerciales: "En Tacna....con lo mejor de la cocina tacneña...". ID: "En todas partes Radio Tacna, la emisora más popular". 24432/3 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 5384.2, RADIO HUARMACA, Huarmaca. 0040-0106* Junio 17 "Congratulaciones" musicales para oyentes con música de alabanza. Mencionan predicación del evangelista Élmer Rodríguez. A las 0100 vino el cierre de emisión así: ".. A todos...traea cumplida; efectivamente amigos de la ciudad y el campo, hasta aquí está llegando por hoy la programación de Radio Huarmaca. A la espera que nuestros espacios y mensajes ofrecidos hayan sido del verdadero agrado de la familia huarmaquina, piurana y nacional; Radio Huarmaca onda corta, onda media y frecuencia modulada, siempre primera, les desea a través de su señor gerente profesor Simón Zavaleta Pérez un feliz y reparador descanso, y desde ya esperando tenerlos en nuestras frecuencias y juntos hacer la comunicacion popular de Huarmaca..." Mencionan nuevo QTH en Jirón 9 de Octubre No. 110 (Rafael Rodríguez R., Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia, June 18, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDPi / Rádio Portugal. (Carlos da Silva, Djaci, Wilson, Margaretha, G.Maroti: a info. contida neste correio e seu anexo tornam supérfluos os correios de 11 e 12/6, que não vos chegaram // the info. in this mail plus its attachment now make my 11th & 12th inst. messages redundant) Refª: A) m/ correio de 11 de Junho e subsequente correcção em 12. B) anexo c/ correio electrónico da RDP. Pelos pormenores só ontem dados por responsável do Grupo Redes de Emissores da RDP, constata-se, afinal, que as informações prestadas telefònicamente por determinado funcionário do CEOC pecaram por inexactidão e defeito. Tratou-se, sim, de um telefonema do signatário, não da RDP que, apesar de, pelo menos, dois pedidos recebidos, nunca chegou a informá-lo sobre a data exacta da entrada em funcionamento do novo equipamento, v.g. no sentido já anunciado de divulgar o acontecimento em boletins DX, tal como está a ser feito. Há uns dois dias, a página WWW da RDP ainda anunciava que o "novo equipamento para onda curta" entraria em funcionamento em Junho... Tal anúncio deixou de fazer sentido, mas talvez ainda não tenha sido retirado. Qualidade de modulação. Um emissor novo não significa automàticamente modulação, áudio de boa qualidade, se - na origem, por exemplo - o processamento apresentar falhas. Tal sucedeu em 1989 com o emissor de 300 kW da AEG, e ainda sucede. Como será no presente? De amiúde, noto áudio pouco claro, daqui, a pouco mais de 35 km a oeste de São Gabriel. Vamos aguardar e observar. ___________ Ref.: A) my mail dtd. 11th June e its subsequent correction on the 12th. B) attachment w/ RDP message (pse. see E transl. below) sent to the HFCC on 17/6. The details disclosed only yesterday by a responsible at the RDP's Transmitter Network Group clearly testify the info. given over the phone by a certain RDP employee at the stn HF site at São Gabriel was both inaccurate & insufficient. That happened during a phone call to the RDP HF site, not the reverse, as requested more than once. In fact, despite at least two requests sent by the undersigned, the RDP never really informed him about the exact date when the new equipment would be put into service, viz. so that it could be known via dedicated DX bulletins like it's being done now. Some two days ago, the RDP's webpage still carried the "new SW equipment" announcement whereby it explained it would be put into service in June... Such announcement became part of the past now, but it's probably still there. Modulation quality. A new transmitter doesn't mean modulation must be good, should the audio processed at control room present any trouble. That happened back in 1989 when the then new 300 kW AEG was put into service, but the same phenomenon can still be observed. In fact, being at roughly 35 km westwards from the HF site, São Gabriel, I can actually detect audio problems quite often. Let's seen how things develop now. Break "B") Broadcasts using the new THALES equipment: To Europe 45º (*), i.e. instead of 52º, M-F 0500-0755 on 9840 kHz, 0800-1200 on 11960 kHz & 1600-1900 on 15525 kHz; Again to Eur 45º, Sats & Suns 0700-1345 on 13640 kHz & 1400-2000 on 15555 kHz. *) Translates into a POR-F-D beam. To Brazil 226º, i.e. instead of 215º (**), M-F only 2300-0200 on 15295 kHz. **) Checking on an azimuthal map, one can see the former 215º beam was a compromise in order to include Cape Verde & Guiné. Coincidentally, 225º is my SW coast 300 m Beverage beam for SAm. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RDP Internacional - novos equipamentos. Caro Sr. Carlos Goncalves, Este e o texto que enviei hoje, para conhecimento, aos meus colegas da Conferencia de Coordenacao das Transmissoes em Onda Curta (HFCC): "As I informed before, the modernization of the SW stn at S. Gabriel, which meets the wishes of thousands of listeners for several years, included the installation of a new 300 kW SW tx, type TSW 2300, an antenna matrix 300 ohms (65 switches), a test load and two curtain antennas specially designed to Europe and Brazil target areas (HR2/2/.3, 45 degrees azimuth to Europe and HR4/4/1, azimuth 226degr to Brazil). Thales supplied the equipment. The installation's works are concluded and with this new equipment RDP Internacional hopes significantly improve its SW transmissions to Europe and Brazil from today". Mais quero informar que, neste momento, as transmissões que estão a ser refectuadas com este novo equipamento, são as seguintes: EUROPA 2+ a 6+ feira (Mon-Fri) Freq. (kHz) UTC 15525 1600-1900 9840 0500-0755 11960 0800-1200 Sábado e Domingo (Sat + Sun) Freq. (kHz) UTC 13640 0700-1345 15555 1400-2000 BRASIL 2+ a 6+ feira (2300 Mon-Fri, -0200 Tue-Sat, in UT !!) Freq. (kHz) UTC 15295 2300-0200 Quero chamar a sua atenção para o facto de o azimute da antena para a Europa ser de 45 degr e o de Brasil 226 degr. Gratos pela sua colaboração, apresentamos os nossos cumprimentos. P' Grupo Redes de Emissores (Teresa Beatriz Abreu, Portugal, RDP Lisbon, via Carlos Gonçalves, BC-DX Jun 17 via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. New 300 kW transmitter heard in Denmark at sign on at 1600 on 15445 with SINPO 44554. 2300 on 15295 with SINPO 45444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, dswci Jun 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. 13535 and 13865, RDP, 0037 June 18, I noted a couple of very distorted symmetrical spurs 165 kHz above and below the fundamental frequency of 13700. ID was given at 0045 (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. TCHAIKOVSKY INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION The 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition, the first in the new millennium! - will be held in Moscow from June 6 through 23. In our upcoming programs we'll try to figure out the biggest musical stars of the new era. Competition Updates will be coming out on the Voice of Russia World Service at 1940 UTC on June 10, at 0640 UTC on June 11, at 1940 on June 14, at 0640 UTC on June 15, also at 1940 UTC on June 17, at 0640 UTC on June 18, at 1940 UTC on June 21, and at 0640 UTC on June 22. Our weekly program MUSIC AND MUSICIANS offers hard-to-find recordings made by international luminaries, winners of each and every previous Tchaikovsky competition! (first run at 1610 UTC on June 8). The winners of the 12th Tchaikovsky Competition will be playing for you in the upcoming edition of MUSIC AND MUSICIANS - on the air for the first time at 1610 UTC on June 22. We wish you all good listening (VOR via Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) Times changed from previous item. Try to find it on the two daily hours ondemand from WRN (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. KAZAKHSTAN relay, 9355, *1530-1600*, Voix de L'orthodoxie, France, 14 June. Bells at 1530 sign on and male announcer with Russian identification then religious talks and music/songs. Sounded like Russian Orthodox to me although I'm no expert in this area. Songs and talks continued to 1600 then another identification, more bells and off. Scheduled Tuesdays and Fridays only. Equipment used was... Receiver NRD515 with NCM515 Aerial 75' wire (Mike Ford, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. 9440, *0700-0730*, Insight Central Europe, June 9 and 16 [Sundays]. Female announcer with "Radio Slovakia" identification in English at 0658 sign on then review of local news. At 0703 male announcer with "Insight Central Europe" identification and news and talks about central European issues. Another "Insight Central Europe" identification at 0726, music to 0728, "Radio Slovakia" identification and abruptly off (Mike Ford, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. I've been checking the TWR Swaziland schedule since hearing the station closing at 1802 with IS on Tues on 9930. I don't know what the language was, and it was spoiled by. But this does not appear on their SWZ list of frequencies or those from Meyerton. What 9930 may be is a replacement for 9535 from Meyerton which is in Ethiopian languages 1645-1800. I'll do some more checking later today (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 19 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "HeartBeat" Friday: Special Midsummer program Saturday: "Studio 49" Sunday: "Sounds Nordic" (SCDX/MediaScan June 19 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE 2003 RESCHEDULED FOR GENEVA NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 18, 2002--ARRL has learned that World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, next June and July. The conference was set to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, but the Venezuelan National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) rescinded the invitation earlier this month, citing economic concerns. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to issue a formal announcement regarding the new WRC-03 venue in the near future. ``The ITU staff has managed to arrange suitable meeting space in Geneva for the dates that were originally agreed,`` said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, who will serve as administrative officer for the International Amateur Radio Union delegation to the conference. ``It is quite an accomplishment for them to have achieved this on such short notice, and those of us who will be attending the conference appreciate the uncertainty being removed.`` Sumner said that while the new WRC-03 arrangements have not yet been formally ratified, planning for the global gathering will be able to go forward in the meantime. Several issues of importance to radio amateurs are on the conference agenda, including harmonization of the 7-MHz amateur and broadcasting allocations. Other Amateur Radio-related issues on the WRC-03 agenda include the revision of Article 25 of the international Radio Regulations--the basic rules for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services. Among other issues, this includes the issue of whether to retain the treaty requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency for access to amateur bands below 30 MHz. WRC-03 will take place in Geneva from June 9 until July 4, 2003 (ARRL June 18 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. The next HFCC/ABU/ASBU meeting will be held in Bangkok in the last week of August, to determine freq allocations for the B-02 period which starts on Oct-28 (EDXP Jun 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. John Peel said this evening his domestic shows will now be archived for a week as Real Audio files at the Radio 1 Website. I haven't checked it out yet. It seems this is part of a larger plan, as outlined in this story in Monday`s Guardian. (Tom Roche, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DOMESTIC BBC RADIO SHOWS NOW AVAILABLE AS ARCHIVE FILES Andy Kershaw anytime Web radio is finally getting its act together, says Owen Gibson Monday June 17, 2002 The Guardian Whether it be Andy Kershaw's eclectic mix of world music late on a Friday night, a Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 that is well past your bedtime, or Jon Carter mixing on Radio 1's Breezeblock after midnight, it's far easier to miss out on your favourite radio show than it is a TV programme. After all, radio shows don't have countless magazines and newspaper supplements devoted to telling you when they're on, and you're unlikely to tape them to listen to later in the same way as you would with a TV and video recorder. Add in the fact that people tend to be tuned into their station of choice rather than making "appointments to listen" to specific shows and an awful lot of enjoyable and relevant radio content passes most of us by. But for those prepared to listen to the radio on the web (and put up with the attendant loss of quality that this entails), that could all soon change, thanks to a new radio player developed by the BBC's interactive arm, BBCi. It allows web users to listen to any specialist show from across the BBC's national stations over the past seven days, picking and choosing from hundreds of hours of content.... http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,738639,00.html (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Some frequency changes for BBC: 0445-0700 ADD 13645 DHA 500 kW / 045 deg to ME in English WS 0445-0700 ADD 21735 RMP 500 kW / 085 deg to ME in English WS 0700-1000 ADD 21735 RMP 500 kW / 085 deg to ME in Pashto/Persian/English/Persian 1300-1400 ADD 17795 ??? in English WS 2230-2300 NF 11965 ATG 250 kW / 160 deg to SoAm, ex 11765 in Portuguese (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. R. Ezra: He has bought and paid for this block of time [thru June 30] from Petropavlovsk, and he's going to use them, despite little response from listeners. He had hoped for much more targeting such a large population base (US/Canada). I noted at his website, that there had only been some 280 hits, with the average being 1 to 1 1/2 mins per hit. The QSL he offers is nice, and it did arrive promptly, however. Perhaps more feedback might encourage him to try again. He does use some interesting sites from Russia (Walt Salmaniw, BC, DXplorer Jun 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. I can only assume WJIE is currently off the air, since I have heard no trace of it at the time I was formerly able to detect it on 7490, around 0500 UT both June 18 and 19 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Some freq changes for High Adventure Ministry/Voice of Hope: 1230-1330 unID NF 15590 DHA 500 kW / 085 deg to SoAs, ex 17795 1600-1630 Hindi NF 11695 DHA 500 kW / 085 deg to IND , ex 11705 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. MESSAGES TO ARAB YOUTH, WRAPPED IN SONG June 17, 2002 By FELICITY BARRINGER From a ground-floor office in a nondescript building in Washington, the United States government's newest radio station is sending a message to the Arab world: "Oh kiss me, beneath the milky twilight, lead me on the moonlit floor, lift your open hand, strike up the band and make the fireflies dance . . ." Then, as the American pop sounds of "Kiss Me" by the band Sixpence None The Richer fade, Arabic pop music kicks in. Among the featured artists is the Egyptian singer Amr Diab, who croons: "Habibi, Habibi, Habibi ya nour el-ain, Ya sakin khayali . . ." ("My darling, my darling, my darling, the light of my eyes, you live in my dreams . . .") This is the sound of three-month old Radio Sawa: 85 percent pop music, 15 percent government-generated news, slickly packaged with market research in hand. To counteract the anti-American diatribes on the Middle East's airwaves, a senior American radio executive has persuaded Congress to use the simple syntax of the young and lovelorn to sell the United States to the youth of the Arab world. Anyone who tunes in gets, every half-hour, a dollop of news about President Bush or developments in the Middle East. Three to five minutes later, the station goes back to backbeats. Radio Sawa, whose name means "together" in Arabic, represents a sharp turn from the traditional, long-form news, analysis and cultural programming of the Voice of America, whose shortwave and AM broadcasts to the Arabic-speaking world have been eliminated to make way for the bubble-gum pop music of stars like Britney Spears and the Lebanese singer Rashid al-Majid. With the approval of local governments, the station broadcasts in FM from four points in the Arab world: Amman, Jordan, whose radio signals reach Palestinians in the West Bank; Kuwait City; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The station's AM signals, from the Greek island of Rhodes, can reach all the way to Egypt. Early, scattered reactions to the $35 million American broadcasting effort are mixed. People are listening - to the music, at least. If they do hear the news, it is not clear that they like it. Ayman Bardawil, a Palestinian broadcaster with Al Quds Educational TV in Ramallah, in the West Bank, said the station's signal was hard to hear where he was but its music format, alternating Western and Arabic pop, is appealing. "We have plenty of local stations for pop music - but it's only Arabic music," he said. "This one is unique. It's targeting young people who like to listen to both languages, the ones who are more educated and more cosmopolitan." But he found Radio Sawa's news irritatingly America-centric. "I am fed up with hearing everything through the American filters - how the president reacts to this and that and how the American government is reacting to whatever action is happening, rather than the action itself." Friends, he said, suggest that it is a mouthpiece of the C.I.A. However, Mr. Bardawil, who is past 30, is not part of the demographic Radio Sawa has set out to reach. Roxanne Contractor, 24, a Dubai resident looking for a marketing job, is closer to the target audience. She is of Indian descent and speaks English and Arabic. "I like it a lot," she said. "First of all, there's no one talking, it's just continuous music. The Arabic music is songs you'd hear at clubs. The English is whatever's popular at the moment." She added, "There are no ads, and maybe one news bulletin." The idea, according to Radio Sawa executives, is to layer in more news and public affairs programming over time - once the audience is built. Ms. Contractor is already part of that audience. But Radio Sawa's news will mean little to her. Like many of the middle-class professionals in Dubai - which is also a major media center - she speaks Arabic as a third or fourth language, and prefers to get her news in English from the BBC or CNN. Norman J. Pattiz, chief executive of Westwood One, the largest radio company in the United States, and chairman of the Mideast subcommittee of the United States government's Broadcasting Board of Governors, has been the moving force behind Radio Sawa. And he is not disturbed to hear that a Palestinian dislikes the news he hears there. "Of course they will at first," he said. "They don't like America." Mr. Pattiz had made plans for Radio Sawa long before the Sept. 11 attacks. He found his Congressional audience even more receptive afterward. His idea was to build an audience with commercial-type programming, then sell it a product - in this case, American news and American values. He joined the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees all nonmilitary international broadcasting, including the Voice of America, 19 months ago and soon started pushing for the commercial radio format. He sees Radio Sawa as "the future of the Voice of America," the prototype for future government radio - and perhaps, eventually, television - broadcasts. The Voice of America's previous Arabic-language programming, which had been broadcast on shortwave, has been canceled; almost all the Arabic- language news staff has been dispatched to work at Radio Sawa. As Mr. Pattiz put it in a recent interview: "What we wanted to do is go out and attract an audience. We're doing that. We wanted to create some good feelings about Americans with that audience. One only has to look at a Gallup poll to see feelings about America among Arabs at a low ebb." Once that is accomplished, he said, "we'll start to present more and more programs, more and more dialogues, more and more discussions of policy, more interviews with people who are germane and important to that audience. We're in a building process, but ahead of schedule." The idea that the Voice of America, whose core work for the last six decades has been broadcasting news, sports, entertainment and official government opinions, could be bypassed - or even eliminated - in favor of a headline news service - rankles deeply among the editorial employees who work one flight up from Radio Sawa. But few are willing to comment on the record about their discontent. Myrna Whitworth, a longtime V.O.A. employee who was acting director from last June through November - a period when the service broadcast a report based on an interview with Mullah Muhammad Omar over the State Department's objections - applauded Mr. Pattiz's drive in getting friendly Arab governments to give the new service access to their FM frequencies. But, Ms. Whitworth said, "I am concerned about the message. I look forward to the day when some of the other elements that have been promised are included in the format and when we are heard in more than a very few friendly Arab countries." While it will take months, if not years, to determine if American news really can be marketed to an audience seeking pop music, Mr. Bardawil, the Palestinian, is skeptical. "The news might prevent some people from listening to the music instead of the opposite being true," he said. "Everybody that I talked to said that it's a good station in terms of music but they are suspicious about the station in general. They don't like to be trapped with the music and get the American point of view." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/17/international/middleeast/17RADI.html?ex=1025489431&ei=1&en=545b206cc345bd80 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. AFRTS Schedule: http://www.npr.org/worldwide/shortwave.html (Neil Greenidge, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The SW frequency grid is as usual, questionable, but it does show 4278.0 as the evening Key West frequency. The huge program schedule is only one of several streams, the one carrying a lot of NPR programming, but it may not be the one heard on the SW frequencies. They really ought to make this clear (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. AMATEUR RADIO WARS LAND IN COURT From The Palm Beach Post By Mary McLachlin, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Monday, June 17, 2002 WEST PALM BEACH -- Airwaves have crackled with taunts, threats and insults for years across northern Palm Beach and southern Martin counties, as a band of amateur radio operators battled a wily and elusive jammer. Unmarked cars carrying signal-tracking equipment prowled the unpaved roads of rural Jupiter Farms, searching for the source of the interference, which seemed to come from a fixed site at times and be on the move at others. By the time federal agents were ready to file charges, the radio war had escalated from accusations, complaints and civil suits to tense confrontations, death threats and a car-ramming incident. The furor finally landed in federal court last week for a showdown: The United States of America vs. William "Rabbit Ears" Flippo on charges of transmitting without a license and interfering with radio communications. Each of the eight counts is punishable by a year in prison and a $10,000 fine. Flippo was arrested in July 2000 and released on $50,000 bond. The trial had been delayed twice at his request because of various medical complaints -- a heart condition, kidney lesion, back pain, strong medication -- but a magistrate rejected another petition for delay on June 5 and ordered the trial to proceed. On Thursday, the third day of hearings, Flippo, 59, checked into Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, claiming symptoms of a stroke. "Hoax," said the prosecutor. "Mistrial," the defense attorney insisted. "Recess," the judge declared wearily. U.S. District Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley halted Flippo's trial until today, but said: "Depending on the doctors' reports, I reserve the right, unilaterally, to take some other action toward guaranteeing Mr. Flippo's attendance at trial." That could include revoking his bond, as suggested by the government, and ordering him into custody for examination by prison doctors to determine whether he's really sick. Flippo, 59, was released from the hospital Friday. Flippo engaged in airwave combat with members of the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group through much of the 1990s, according to court filings and testimony. The 70-member club operates two repeaters -- towers that pick up signals from amateur radio sets and rebroadcast them at higher power to increase their range. One tower, next to a fire station on Indiantown Road, is part of the American Radio Emergency Service network, which maintains communications during natural disasters and other emergency situations. Club members complained to the Federal Communications Commission, which licenses and regulates "ham" radio operators, that someone was interfering with signals relayed by the repeater and with set-to-set communications between operators. They described the interference as whistling, whispering, name-calling and continuous clicking or holding down the switch of a transmitter to break up or blank out any other communication. The FCC began surveillance in the area in November 1998. In court last week, former FCC agent Larry Sowers played tapes of transmissions he said were recorded on patrols between June 1999 and April 2000. Hurley cautioned the jurors to focus only on the interference and not the conversations, which at times degenerated into derogatory comments, puerile sexual references and silly name- calling: Bert, the squirt, somebody's calling you a crybaby! You're dead! Flippo's an A-hole! Sowers said he tracked the interference to Flippo's property on 98th Trail North in Jupiter Farms, west of Jupiter, and to a Ford truck that Flippo crashed into the car of Edwin Petzolt, a radio club member from Hobe Sound, as Sowers watched. Car-ramming incident Sowers and Petzolt, chairman of the repeater group's interference committee, testified that they were tracking a jamming signal and following Flippo's truck on the night of Aug. 31, 1999, when Flippo put the vehicle in reverse and rammed the front of Petzolt's Mercury Topaz. Sowers played tapes of radio transmissions and 911 calls, telling the court that Flippo continued to jam Petzolt's efforts to radio for help while calling the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on a cell phone to report "someone hit my truck." For that incident, Flippo was convicted of criminal mischief in Palm Beach County Court, put on probation for a year and ordered to dispose of all his radio equipment. The FCC had tried to impose a $20,000 civil fine on Flippo in early 1999 for operating without a license, malicious interference and refusing to allow inspection of his equipment. Flippo argued he had received authorization from Palm Beach County emergency management officials to use his radio equipment in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and that authorization had never been rescinded. He also maintained he had no obligation to let anyone inspect his equipment without a search warrant, which the FCC agent didn't have. When he refused to pay the fine and the interference complaints continued, the FCC turned the case over to the U.S. attorney's office for prosecution. "All of us hoped it would go away," said Peter McGovern, vice president of the radio group. "None of us wanted to see him get into trouble this way. But he persisted until the law had to do something." Flippo has a contentious history with neighbors, law enforcement agencies and the courts. Sheriff's office files contain dozens of incident reports by him or about him during the past 20 years, alleging threats, harassment and interference with CB or ham radio communications. While Flippo was doing battle with the FCC in 1999, he also was fighting accusations by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club that he was preying on two elderly women to get their money. Flippo had set up a joint trust account containing more than $650,000 belonging to Frances Doucet, the club's former executive director, and her sister, Florence VanLandingham, both in their 80s, with himself as trustee. The club went to court to have Doucet declared incompetent and put under a guardianship. At the same time, Flippo was in court with another woman who claimed he took over more than $300,000 of her assets through a similar trust. Suzanne Beck regained control of the money after two years of litigation and more than $67,000 in expenses, which she tried to collect from Flippo and which he claimed weren't legally collectible after he declared bankruptcy. A federal bankruptcy judge ruled in November 2000 that Flippo had committed fraud and embezzlement and was responsible for the debt. Conspiracy theory In April, Flippo filed a complaint in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against more than 30 people and businesses -- including Petzolt, the radio club, several neighbors and even members of his own family in Virginia -- alleging they had conspired since 1992 to commit a long list of offenses against him, his wife and two daughters. The list included vandalism, stalking, advertising their house as a brothel in public restrooms, electronically hacking into their bank and credit card accounts and denying him the use of radio frequency bands. Flippo says the people who have been after him for years are behind the federal prosecution. "It's just the same bunch that's always been out to get me," he said during a break in court proceedings. "This is just their latest thing." His defense attorney told Hurley that he was concerned about Flippo's mental condition. Assistant U.S. Public Defender Robert Adler said Flippo claimed never to have seen a tape transcript on which he had written detailed notes. "He was totally shocked," Adler said. "It concerns me about his ability to testify." Prosecutor Neil Karadbil said Flippo's medical problems always seem to coincide with court appearances. "I consider what he's doing an attempt to sabotage these proceedings to set up an issue of competency," Karadbil said. Life-threatening illness should always take priority over legal matters, Hurley said, then added: "There's no question there should be a healthy skepticism in this case." (via Mike Cooper and Mike Terry, DXLD) Nice guy ** U S A. FCC INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NEW AMATEUR BAND PROPOSALS NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 18, 2002--Public comments on FCC proposals to create two new amateur bands and to make the Amateur Service primary at 2400 to 2402 MHz are due July 29, and reply comments are due by August 12. In response to an ARRL petition, the FCC last month released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ET Docket 02-98) that proposed to create a new 5-MHz HF allocation and a new low-frequency band in the vicinity of 136 kHz in addition to elevating amateurs from secondary to primary at 2400 to 2402 MHz. The FCC adopted the NPRM May 2 on a unanimous vote. The NPRM was published June 14 in The Federal Register. A copy of the petition</a> is available on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et02-98/ Interested parties may file comments via the FCC`s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html ``Click on Search for Filed Comments`` and enter ``02-98`` in the ``Proceeding`` field. Although the formal comment period did not begin until June 17, some 90 parties--most of them individual amateurs--already had filed comments in the proceeding. All comments and other correspondence-- plus a copy of the NPRM--are available for viewing via the ECFS. If the proposals eventually are approved, amateurs would gain a new, secondary, domestic (US-only) HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.40 MHz and a new LF ``sliver band`` at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz. The 5 MHz band would be the first new HF allocation since the early 1980s, when amateurs got 30, 17 and 12 meters. The LF allocation would be the first ever for US hams. The FCC said it agreed with ARRL`s assertion, made in its Petition for Rule Making, that the vagaries of propagation and interference in the 80 and 40-meter bands occasionally hinder effective HF communication and that a 5-MHz allocation would be a viable complement to those bands. The Commission has recommended permitting amateurs to operate at full legal limit on a new 5-MHz allocation, but it left open for further discussion whether to restrict band access to certain license classes. The FCC also has invited further comment on whether the band should be broken down into mode-specific subbands. In its Petition, the ARRL proposed opening the entire band to RTTY, data (including CW), phone and image emission types. The band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz now is allocated worldwide to Fixed and Mobile services on a co-primary basis. On 136 kHz, the FCC has proposed limiting output to 1 W effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and with a transmission bandwidth of only 100 Hz. The ARRL has asked for than 2 W EIRP and a maximum transmitter power of 200 W PEP. The FCC proposed no restrictions on antenna size or design, saying it did not want to inhibit experimentation by hams. It proposed to limit access to the band to General and higher-class licensees, as ARRL had proposed. The FCC did not go along with an ARRL request to establish an amateur allocation in the 160 to 190-kHz band, which for many years has been home to hobby-type experimentation under FCC Part 15 rules (ARRL June 18 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, and Mike Terry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. FCC COMMITTEE APPROVES WARC 2003 DRAFT PROPOSALS Glenn, The FCC Daily Digest for June 17, 2002 includes, THE FCC's ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2003 WORLD RADIOCOMMUINCATION CONFERENCE APPROVES DRAFT PROPOSALS. (DA No. 02-1415). IB. Contact: Don Weiland DA-02-1415A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1415A1.pdf This is a 56 page document mostly covering Satellite and other items at microwave frequencies. Pages 37 to 41 deal with changes to the Amateur and SW Broadcast bands at 7 MHz. WRC-03 Agenda Item 1.23: to consider realignment of the allocations to the amateur, amateur-satellite and broadcasting services around 7 MHz on a worldwide basis, taking into account Recommendation 718 (ARC-92). The proposal would expand amateur frequencies to 300 kHz, 7000 - 7300 kHz world wide. Broadcast frequencies would be 7300 to 7550 kHz world wide. Change to be in two stages first April 1, 2007, second April 1, 2010. The deadline for comments on the draft proposals and NTIA letters is July 12, 2002 (Donald Wilson, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More broadcasters moving out of 7100-7300 would obviously clog up the present `out of band` range 7300-7550 plus. So may we expect that to extend further up in consequence, to, say, 7800? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC TO COMBINE REWRITE OF TV, RADIO OWNERSHIP CURBS From http://story.news.yahoo.com/news Mon Jun 17, 12:40 PM ET By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission, stung by several court decisions undercutting media ownership limits and under pressure from Congress, said on Monday it would embark on a lengthier, over-arching effort to rewrite rules for television and radio ownership. In a blow to some media giants, like Tribune Co. that is anxious to go on a buying spree of television stations and newspapers, the FCC will combine several efforts into one with the goal of adopting new rules by spring of 2003. "All of these rules are really distant cousin in some sense, and you can't think about one of them without also at least contemplating what is happening in another," Kenneth Ferree, head of the FCC's media bureau, told reporters. "If you free up one industry segment first, they have an arbitrage advantage over other potential buyers in a market," he said, adding it was "quite an undertaking" but "to do this by spring of '03 is actually quite aggressive." The endeavor also follows pressure from Congress where some lawmakers are warning that the FCC will relax ownership limits, which could hobble diversity and competition in the media industry, while others are pushing for faster easing. As part of the big review, the agency is undertaking several studies on the television and radio marketplace, advertising, programming and the impact of common ownership of properties, among other issues. New rules, which analysts expect to be less stringent than the old ones, could touch off a wave of consolidation and the creation of new, massive conglomerates, which consumer groups fear would crowd out local mom-and-pop operations that provide diverse voices. REACTING TO HARSH CRITICISM The move comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in recent months harshly criticized the FCC for not adequately justifying its rules and struck down several limiting television stations and cable companies. The court ordered the FCC to reconsider rules that bar a company from owning television stations that reach more than 35 percent of the U.S. audience and a limit on the number of television stations that can be owned in a market by a single entity. The agency will wrap together a review of the national television audience rule, limits on local radio station concentration, and a ban on some common ownership of a television and radio station or a television station and a newspaper in a market, Ferree said. It will also consider whether to modify the ban on two television networks being owned by the same company, and limits on the same ownership of more than one station in a market, he said. Separately, Ferree said the commission will try to complete its work by the end of the year for rewriting rules that had limited how much of the cable market one company can serve, previously set at 30 percent but was struck down by the court. The FCC's rules came under fire after challenges by media giants like the No. 2 U.S. cable operator AOL Time Warner Inc., CBS network owner Viacom Inc., and television station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Was wondering if anyone close to the Midwest (other than me) can monitor 1700 over the next few evenings and see if KBGG in Des Moines (which simulcasts CNN Headline News) has changed its callsign. My housemate thinks the FCC has messed up and given a W call to this station. At least, he SWEARS he heard something like "WSJZ" or "WJSZ". I highly doubt that's the case, but I just want to see if someone can check into this. 1700 in Des Moines is inaudible here during the daytime, BTW, thanks to a mixing product from KOMJ-590 and KFAB-1110. (Rick (yes, I have College World Series fever!) Dau Omaha, Nebraska, NRC-AM via DXLD) Although it's not appeared in the FCC Call Letter change notices, their database now lists 1700 in Des Moines as being WSJZ (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, June 15, ibid.) Radio Locator shows WSJZ as well (Art Blair, Folsom, CA, ibid.) 1700, WSJZ IA, Des Moines, fair on top with CNN news at 0255 EDT 6/18. Then ID at 0300 "CNN Headline News.....This is AM 1700 WSJZ Des Moines. All News all the time.", ex KBGG. An easy way to log another "W" call. Drake R8 1500' Eastern beverage antenna term (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) This just in from the AM Stereo E-mail list: KBGG 1700 Des Moines, IA has apparently been sold. It has been reported that the new owners plan to flip the format from CNN Headline News to Smooth Jazz as WSJZ. That's right: WSJZ! Anyone care to shed light on this? 73 and good DX from (Eric Bueneman, June 18, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. The X-band list is ready, and can be found on: http://www.dxing.info/lists/x_na.dx I hope everyone with access to updates on the X-band station can be helpful with information on these stations. Either slogans, postal and email addresses...whatsoever. I appreciate all your help. 73's and good dx! (Alf Aardal, DXing.info June 16 via DXLD) ** U S A. WRR-FM, the classical music station in Dallas, is endangered. It may have to sell the frequency and move to a lesser facility in the educational band (Mark Sills, TX, via George Thurman, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Couldn`t find anything about this on their website http://www.wrr101.com or in a quick look at http://www.dallasnews.com I suppose it`s the same old story; the facility is just too valuable a property to allow it to continue with such minority programming. But there is no room for a new station in the Metroplex educational band. A similar situation occurred in Omaha last year, and many other commercial classical stations have suffered downgrades if not abolition (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KRLD-1080 Dallas has an interesting site. It's in Garland, TX (rhymes with "Arlen" for you Hank Hill fans) and today is surrounded by homes, apartments and some park area. It's your standard two tower DA with the original thick faced towers. To the west of the site along Garland Rd. is a railroad track and modern style poles for high voltage electrical lines. For about a mile in each direction you can plainly see a detuning skirt running the length of each tower (looks a bit like a folded unipole). The story I've heard was that the power company installed the poles 10-12 years ago and never took KRLD's site into consideration. To solve the re-radiation problems, the power company had to detune each of the new "mini towers" they mistakenly added to KRLD's array. I've been told it was an expensive fix! I'll try to get a picture of what it looks like and send it to Fred for posting on the NRC site. On the other hand, WBAP is "out in the country" but in an area poised for growth and 1190's 50 KW day site sits next to the Irving, TX city dump (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, NRC- AM via DXLD) ** U S A. On Thursday June 20th, The Librarian of Congress will announce the royalty structure for Internet Webcasters. There's already a consensus that Live365 will begin to charge ALL netcasters. How much, is yet to be determined. I recently began to purchase Live365 stats to help keep Live 365 (and CyberShortwave) "on the air". I hope you wrote to all the appropriate parties during the past few months. When Live365 announces the cost to netcast, I will at that time decide if I can afford to continue CyberShortwave. In the meantime, you can help by LISTENING and telling your friends about Cybershortwave and having them listen. Details are on my web site http://www.n1dk.com CyberShortwave, The Voice of the Radio Monitoring Enthusiast! Currently running is our netcast from June 9th. KG8KO and KD0AR stopped by the shack during the live netcast. Mike KD0AR, talked quite a bit about antique radio and restoration, among other radio related topics. The following message is taken from the Live365 site and is from one of the administrators: I wanted to give you an update re: the performance royalty rate so you're all aware of what we're thinking. As you probably know, the Librarian of Congress will announce the royalty structure this coming Thursday. Over the past month, we've modeled a variety of different scenarios, and are taking steps to ensure we'll be around for the long haul and with as few changes as possible. This takes into account the lull in the ad market - which might have covered the costs associated with the royalties in a better market - with a variety of possible outcomes with the Digital Sound Recording Performance royalty. To these ends, we will most likely attach a monthly, recurring royalty administration fee to all broadcasts. It will be applied to all personal broadcasts equally. There will be a grace period during which those who aren't paying will have the chance to input credit card info or send in a money order to cover the costs of these fees. At the end of the grace period, those who are not paying the royalty administration fee will probably go off the air. The amount will be determined based on the outcome of the rate itself. I will certainly keep you apprised of the fee amount, as soon as we process the info from Thursday's decision. This is something we take very, very seriously. Indeed, if we're going to continue providing you guys tools to revolutionize radio - founders and non-founders alike - we have to be around to do so!! (Betty, Live365.com via Dave Kirby, N1DK June 18 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. From ARRL Jun 18, 2002. ARRL has learned that World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, next June and July. The conference was set to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, but the Venezuelan National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) rescinded the invitation earlier this month, citing economic concerns. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to issue a formal announcement regarding the new WRC-03 venue in the near future (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) See also SWITZERLAND ** VIETNAM [non]. RUSSIA. New schedule for V of Khmer Krom R. in Vietnamese via VLD 250 kW / 230 deg: 1400-1500 Tue NF 15660 (34543), ex 1400-1500 Fri on 15690 to avoid VOA in Pashto (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 18 via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Soeben von RNS erhalten, new e-mail address: Dear listeners and friends: We have pleasure to communicate the new e-mail address for RNS (Radio Nacional Saharaui) for sending your messages right to RNS: rasdradio@yahoo.es Thank you very much for your support (from tlpgahij@vc.ehu.es via Rudolf Sonntag, Germany, A-DX Jun 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ EDITOR LEAVES WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK Many of you will have heard about the departure of David Bobbett as Editor of WRTH, who has left to pursue a different career. As a result there has been some talk about the future of WRTH, and I would like to reassure you that WRTH will continue to be produced and updated and that the 2003 edition will be published in December 2002. As many of you know, I took over responsibility for the National section of WRTH last year and, through the hard work of a much larger world wide contributor network, we produced the most up to date National Radio listings for many years. We are working to improve on this for the 2003 edition. More contributors have joined us this year, most notably Dave Kenny and Alan Pennington of BDXC with their extensive knowledge of the situation in Africa, and Mauno Ritola and Bernd Trutenau have agreed to join our panel of Contributing Editors - dedicated DXers who help shape WRTH as well as providing country- specific information. Sean Gilbert, who worked as Assistant Editor to David Bobbett, will now be the Editor in charge of the International section, and our Technical Editor, John Nelson, will continue to review new equipment and provide technical articles. As Publisher I will be in overall charge of this activity. While this is going on I will be reviewing the position of Editor of WRTH, but I am sure that with the help of all these great people and other members of the team we will produce a great edition for 2003. The point of WRTH is to provide you with good information and that is what I am determined to do (Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher, WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK - 17 JUNE 2002, hard-core-dx via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE ++++++++++++++++++++++ Concerning DRM it might be useful to know that it is planned to introduce this system for listeners in industrialized countries first. Other regions of the world will follow some years later. Here in Germany DRM receivers are available now (f.e. a modified Grundig Yacht Boy 400). These radios still need an external PC for decoding DRM signals. But it is still quite a cheap possibility for listening to digital AM compared to the high end AR7030 solution. The next step will be the release of a cheap software solution, which as I am informed will happen soon. So, hopefully we soon can discuss a system we not only have heard and read about, but can also try out in our homes. DRM also has quite an interesting aspect for DXers: around 26 MHz they plan to use DRM for domestic broadcasting, not only here in Germany. There have been tests in the U.K. (Harald Kuhl, Germany, DL1ABJ, DXplorer debate Jun 18) I honestly wonder why they bother with this DRM an unwanted, unneeded technology which, like DAB, will not receive enough interest to warrant mass production of receivers on any real scale. The term 'flogging a dead horse' comes to mind, only this one's carcass is starting to smell! Instead of wasting resources on DRM and other 'big boys toys' they should concentrate on Short Wave AM and normal SSB and Satellite which between them provide a good quality, reasonable cost and efficiency, in my humble opinion hard to beat (Roger Parsons-UK, BDXC 782) I agree 100% with what is said about DRM and all that. I have yet to listen to any radio program via the Internet as an alternative to SW radio, and DRM and such will be just the same. I have a computer, internet account, but I see no logic of listening to radio on a computer when I can get it on my radio. Without all the fuss if Computer Manufacturers will make computers cost the price of a small portable radio and make telephone calls free, then I see some challenge to SW radio. The Web and all that is a means of getting out of radio broadcasting and transferring to the listener the cost of broadcasting. People talk about providing telephone services to Africa, bypassing the stage of land lines. That is the way to go, but if people think that Africans who can hardly afford basic things in life are going to use mobile phones for radio ... something is lop sided in the whole thinking process. It is crazy really the way some people say such things. (Victor Goonetilleke-SLK 4S7VK, DXplorer Jun 13) I'm not sure I agree that DRM is a bad idea. We're not the target audience here for the most part. We're used to listening to fading and static. But the majority of radio listeners in the (developed) world prefer their programming without all that romantic crackling. In the developing world it's likely much the same, except that outside the main cities the opportunities for listening to a variety of stations on FM, for example, are far more limited, so people will put up with the crackling of SW. The idea of DRM is to make inroads into *that* potential audience, the one that would listen to radio from around the world if only they didn't have to strain to listen to it. (This of course assumes that stations are producing programs that people want to listen to, something that's pretty wide of the mark in most cases.) Of course, whether DRM is a good idea and whether it will succeed are two different things. I think it's a good idea. I also think that the organization responsible for it is a bureaucratic mess who have done absolutely nothing to get the word out to the masses that this is coming. I suspect that as a result, when the radios finally do become available, they'll be met with indifference and incomprehension. If I'm wrong and DRM is taken up by the market, then it likely won't be too many years before economies of scale make the radios affordable even in the developing world. In some ways, it should be cheaper to make a decent quality DRM radio than a decent quality analog SW radio. Listening on the computer and listening via DRM are two different things, though. Using mobile phones for phones, on the other hand, is a pretty good idea, particularly in areas like Africa where the monopoly land-line providers are so hide-bound that the mobile companies really don't have to provide a terribly high level of sce to blow the incumbents out of the water. In an area where it takes years to get a land line, the ability to get a mobile phone in minutes has got to look attractive. Interesting program on NPR several weeks ago ... one of the people speaking was from Tanzania. (Program wasn't on DRM). The first purchase a family makes is often a radio. It often costs a months wages for just a small radio. Wonder if the masses are willing to turn in all their existing SW radios and pay for a new radio just to hear a static free sound. I doubt it. But by the time that radio dies, DRM radios may have come down in price enough to make it possible for their next radio to be one. I don't think the broadcasters are under any illusion that they can make a flash change from analog to digital broadcasting; that's why DRM supports both. I fully expect analog broadcasts to survive long after the introduction of DRM for exactly this reason. They may survive even longer for the other reason I mentioned, that the DRM group is doing a lousy job getting the word out. (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DXplorer Jun 13/14; ALL: via BC-DX via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary May 21 2002 through June 16 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 5/21 186 10 4 minor minor 5 22 181 9 1 minor minor 5 23 180 43 3 strong minor 5 geo storms 24 189 3 0 minor minor 2 25 183 3 2 none minor 4 26 183 9 4 none minor 6 27 187 17 3 minor minor 6 28 186 12 3 none minor 5 29 185 8 2 none minor 3 30 180 8 2 minor minor 3 5/31 182 3 0 none minor 3 6/ 1 179 5 4 minor minor 6 2 175 17 3 minor minor 6 3 170 11 2 none minor 4 4 170 16 4 none minor 6 5 159 8 2 none minor 5 6 155 6 3 none none 4 7 158 6 1 none none 4 8 155 13 3 none none 7 9 157 16 4 none none 7 10 152 16 3 none none 8 11 148 11 2 none none 7 12 142 8 2 none none 5 13 133 8 2 none none 5 14 131 5 2 none none 6 15 135 5 3 none none 7 6/16 137 9 1 none none 4 ********************************************************************** (IRCA Soft DX Monitor June 19 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-099, June 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1135: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1135.html NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB ** ARGENTINA. SE FIRMÓ LA QUIEBRA DE RADIO RIVADAVIA Luego de la convocatoria, se confirmó la quiebra de Radio Rivadavia, a pedido de Nefin SRL. La Iglesia del Reino Universal de Dios de Brasil, a cargo de su FM 103.1 MHZ Alfa, realizaron una interesante oferta para la compra de ambas señales pero todavía no ha prosperado. Otros interesados pero con una menor propuesta de dinero, fue ESPN a cargo de la programación deportiva de la emisora. La verificación de créditos se hará hasta el 2 de agosto. http://www.deradios.com (via Nicolás Eramo, June 17, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Entonces no se repitirá en onda corta, con formato religioso en vez de deportes, etc.? Quiebra = bankruptcy, asumo (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. AN ERA HAS ENDED Yesterday I closed the monitoring station at 5 Helen Street, after 45 years of pleasurable listening and DXing. I started off early in 1957 with a Kreisler D/W mantel radio, which had 540 to 1650 kc\s and 6 to 18 mc\s. In those days there was no digital readout so one had to rely on the announced frequencies. The set on short-wave also had a 910 kc image which made if difficult knowing what was the frequency. I can remember the first station I heard and logged in 1957, which unsurprisingly was the ABC Domestic Short-wave service from either Melbourne or Sydney. Both operated on the 49 meter band at night and it was hard to differentiate as they had networked programming but it was probably Melbourne. Sadly they are no longer with us, being closed for almost 30 years. My first antenna was just a string of wire slung up on to a curtain rail. It worked until I managed to get a proper outside antenna up a few weeks later. It was approximately 54 feet in length and was a single strand wire. Ironically I have come full circle as my antenna here in this unit is 21 feet of wire slung along a curtain rail at 9 feet. I am in a retirement village and I received permission to put up an outside antenna, provided it was not for transmitting and was confined to the structure of the unit. I can remember then it was easy hearing the BBC Pacific Service on 7150 kc\s with the 4 pm News, followed by "Radio Newsreel". Ironically it used to relayed by one of the domestic networks on weekdays and I used to compare reception quality. Another regular was Noumea on 7170 kc\s and later on when I attended Scotch College, used this station for my French comprehension. ORTF was about from Paris yet not regular or as strong as Noumea. Sadly they have also gone from short-wave. Even their MW signal on 666 kHz has now been completely wiped out by domestic Australian stations. It used to be a clear channel station. The highlight of my early listening was hearing a scoop that Russia had launched the first man in space [April 12, 1961]. I remember hearing a very excited announcer from Radio Peking, probably "Peking Pearl" read the announcement from TASS. It was not announced over our radio stations for several hours and I well remember excitedly blurting out that Man was orbiting in space. My family was incredulous and naturally assumed I was making it up and did not believe me until several hours later when there was a headline on the local ABC station on 710 kc\s. Another major highlight was the Kennedy assassination on November 23rd [1963]. I was woken early at around 6:30 am by my parents who had heard an item on the early morning news from Sydney that the President had been shot. I immediately turned on the AFRTS which was on 11715 kc\s I think. They were relaying news from the various American networks that he had been assassinated. This feed was later rebroadcast over a country station on 540 kc\s. I can also remember hearing the Apollo Space Missions being relayed via Ground stations back to Houston. They had audio in the midst of a multimode channel and it was difficult to get the speech out of the hash. It was very close to the 20 metre amateur band and the audio from the HF link was between 8 to 30 seconds ahead of the audio as from the domestic media. There were other highlights from my monitoring at 5 Helen Street, including the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and hearing Radio Prague's appeals for help. Also hearing activity from American activities in the Vietnam War. The channels around 9000 kc\s were very active with air traffic from the Pacific as well as the "Sky King " messages for the B52 endlessly circling the earth. Also I followed the Falklands War in 1982 from the BBC and hearing mysterious numerically encoded messages in English and Spanish. Now I have finally closed the receivers and had the antennas pulled down from the Newstead site after 45 years of activity. The final station I logged was on 15070 kHz and it is a mystery one at that. At around 0359 UT on the 17th of June. There was a weak station broadcasting "Please Release Me" with Englebert Humperdick. After the song ended, this signal dramatically faded out, thus preventing any identification. I have cited that a Dutch pirate station known as "Radio Alpha Lima" has been previously monitored here yet I am uncertain that this was it. Did anybody else hear this signal? It was on AM with rapid fading, indicative of low power or even a harmonic. [Later:] I want to clarify my earlier posts about being the end of an era. From early 1957, the actual date escapes me until June 16 2002, I did the majority of my monitoring from my family home in Newstead. As I said in my earlier post, all the receiving equipment and antennas have been dismantled and packed away. I have NOT given away short-wave listening or monitoring within the confines of this independent living unit at this retirement village. It is not on the scale of my previous set-up and perhaps one day I will be able to get away from here and once again do some serious listening and/or monitoring. It is the end of an era because short-wave today is not as exciting or as romantic as it was in the sixties and seventies or earlier. Stations are disappearing replaced by digital signals. There are sections of the spectrum now completely free of any signals whatsoever, which is so different from the days when the same spectrum was jam packed with all sorts of modes. In reality this should make it easier to hear signal without interference. Wolf asked the question about my QSL collection? Well the truth is that it was never a large one but I have kept them. It is only my amateur radio ones which are a problem :) I should have added that in my final days at 5 Helen Street on 12th October of last year, I got an unexpected scoop on approximately 8700 kHz when I heard a station on USB, playing Indian style music. I was puzzled why it was apparently operating within the maritime telephony allocation. Later it was identified by the BBC Monitoring Service , after reading my query in Glenn Hauser's "DX Listening Diary" as being a Psychological warfare station. This was perhaps the high point of my monitoring. To me it is the end of a era in my monitoring activities as I very much doubt that this location will ever be as good as Newstead. Norwood is only 1.5 kilometres from it but is higher and I am surrounded by more people and RF sources. I just live in hope that when an outside antenna is erected, that the reception will improve sufficiently to keep me motivated. Robin L. Harwood, 20/177 Penquite Road, Norwood TASMANIA 7250 61-3 63 44 9794(International) (03) 63 449794 (domestic) e-mail : rharwood@iprimus.com.au rharwood@7250.net robroy@elaunceston.com (Robin L. Harwood, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Best of luck to you, Robin, in your new abode. There should still be lots to hear on SW (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6054.4, Radio Juan XXIII, San Ignacio de Velazco. 1039- 1055 June 17. Spanish transmission. Greetings: "llegamos hasta toda la zona del Alto Paraguay con nuestros saludos....y un gran saludo para la gente bonita...; y muchos saludos para todos los que están en las zonas de las colonias". Very nice Andean music. ID as: "juntos por Radio Juan XXIII". The program`s name is "Voces de nuestra Tierra". Commentary about the educative reform law. Ann.: "estaremos próximamente con Voces de nuestra tierra... muchísimas gracias, hasta mañana y a levantarse señores oyentes...". At 1055+ I heard a Catholic commentary in Spanish by male. 34322. In WRTH 2002 and PWBR 2002 the station is listed on 6054.4 and the ILGradio A02 on 6055 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So Bolivia is a.k.a. ``Alto Paraguay``? Or referring to upper reaches of a river? (Glenn Hauser, Alto Tejas, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Har fått følgende fra Rogildo Fontenelle Aragão i Bolivia. (Kopi er sendt LES). Hoy de visita a R. LV del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, Cochabamba, para obtener dos confirmaciones de colegas de Finlandia y Australia, el dueño habló que había recebido dos cartas y entregome una fotocopia; una era de su informe de 26/abril, y otro del Lars E-Svensson de Suecia. Tengo conocimiento que una tarjeta preparada no tiene valor en una parte de Europa, pero hay un problema: es la única manera más segura y rápida que puedo conseguir, porque la radio no tiene papel propio, y esperar que hagan es difícil. Pienso hacer una tarjeta como tengo de estas 2 confirmaciones ya com sello y firma de la emisora y tentar preparar una carta en una hoja preparada por mí, y sólo faltaría que el director firme y selle la carta. Esta semana tengo ya su confirmación para despachar de LV del Campesino. El Director es el Sr. Enrique Carvajal y el teléfono de la radio es: 591 4 4361929. Um grande abraço, Rogildo Fontenelle Aragão, Cochabamba - Bolivia, raragao@supernet.com.bo (från TBV, Tore B Vik, SW Bulletin Jun 16 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11724.97, 9.6 2155, Rádio Marumby Novas de Paz with "Informativo Marumby Novas de Paz". I thought Marumby was the station on 9665 but instead it is Radio Marumby in Curitiba on 730 kHz. 3-4 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11815, 0255-0300*, R. Brasil Central, Jun 16. Lively programming with full ID and frequency announcements in Portuguese at 0258. Off promptly at 0300 without any fanfare (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11829.955, 0113-, R. Anhanguera, Jun 15. Portuguese news and variety program. Many interviews, mentions of São Paulo. Suffers from splatter from BBC via WYFR on upper side, and to a lesser extent on the lower side from Voice of Russia via Vatican. Otherwise a very strong signal. Can't be 1 kw as listed in some sources. Seems more likely 10 kW, as I see in other sources. Can anyone confirm the correct power? Nice ID at 0123, after mentions of noticias. Signed off sometime before recheck at 0158, as nothing then was heard (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6030, 0031-, CFVP Calgary, Jun 11. Nice clear signal at S5 from CKMX, with 1-800 number and mentions of the broad coverage area of CKMX. Financial planning news. Don't know if the partial eclipse of the sun allowed some enhancement (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, in case you wanted to present some detailed information on the DAB situation in Montreal, Canada, in one of your DXLD, feel free to use my observations given below. These were made locally (and differ slightly from what is on Internet, and are technically more correct and complete), during a recent trip - I usually reside in Munich, Germany. DAB, DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING IN MONTREAL Observations on 18-May-2002 show that the current digital audio broadcast offering in Montreal is two DAB ensembles. The one DAB ensemble identifies as "CBC Radio-Canada", it is broadcast in the LD band (center frequency is 1458.096 MHz) and includes 4 program services, all at 224 k bit rate, DAB mode is TM3. The 4 program services are CBC Radio One (PID = C020), CBC Radio Two (C021), R-C Premiere (C022), R-C Culturelle (C023). The other DAB ensemble identifies as "Stations Privées"; it is broadcast in the LA band (center frequency is 1452.960 MHz), DAB mode is TM3, and there are 5 program services: TEAM 990 (PID = 000C, bit rate is 128k), RADIO ENERGIE (000D, 192k), ROCKDETENTE (000E, 224k), MTL BEST MUSIC (000F, 224k), RADIOMEDIA (000B, 224k). TEAM 990 is in parallel on 990 kHz AM, RADIO ENERGIE parallel on 94.3 FM, and MTL BEST MUSIC paralle 97.7 FM. These observations were made with the DAB receiver TerraTec DR Box 1. (Dr. Anton J. Kuchelmeister, Munich, Germany, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. "Rogers keeps CBC a.m. slot" http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id=421CBCBF-11DB-49BC-9742-FAF25C47F5C0 (via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 4799.70 (Harmonic), Radio Súper, Cali. June 2002 - 1000 UT. A surprise when I almost never manage to log harmonics in the 60 mb. Of course the reason is that the band is mostly covered with strong transmitters. Just remember one occasion, Radio Panamericana (Ecuador) on 4767.88H kHz --- a station our member Roland Åkesson/RÅ also logged back home in Sweden. Religious program until 1000 UT when a local "Súper Cali" ID came. Then music. Nice signal. Harmonic from 1200 kHz (4 x 1199.92). (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 16, translated from Swedish by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 6064.55, "Sistema Radial de Alcarabanga" (Venezuela?). June 7 2002 - 0120 UT. The station was heard for the first time Thursday evening June 6 2020 local time here in Quito and closed down at 0245 UT with out ceremony. Checked the frequency this morning and the started around 1100 UT. The programme seems to have two variants. One is purchased (?) religious program. I have heard "Voz Cristiana"-programs and religious programs produced in SF de Bogotá --- at least they gave Bogotá- addresses: "A.A. 95300, Bogotá" and "...calle 44 #3-79, Bogotá" and telephone numbers: "3 31 38 07 and 3 4? 14 19, Bogotá". The other variant is nonstop Venezuelan "llanero" music, which can last for more than a full hour, only interrupted by some short, religious phrases from the male DJ. I have been listening for almost 5 hours and only heard an ID at two occasions, when interrupting the "llanero"-music giving ID as : "Están en sintonía de Sistema Radial de Alcarabanga 1530 AM". There is nothing matching on 1530 kHz. The second time I only heard sole words sounding like: "...estudios en "Banaminda"(?) transmite ... de "...- tumbe"(?) La Voz de ...". The above info was sent to SWB as a "BM preview" June 7. Thanks go to our members Kenneth Olofsson/KO and Björn Fransson/BEFF who both sent e-mail regarding this station. Kenneth has it as an unID with, as he believes, Colombian music and suggests "Colmundo Radio", which is listed on the frequency. BEFF has it as an uncertain "carrier" next to Family Radio and also mentions "Colmundo Radio". Our member Henrik Klemetz/HK sent my info about 6064.55 kHz directly to his Colombian friend Rafael Rodríguez in Bogotá. In DXLD from June 11 there is a long and exciting "story" about what Rodríguez knows regarding this unID. Take part of this in Glenn Hauser`s "DXLD" at the address http://www.worldofradio.com Written in Spanish so I will make a fast and short translation: Rafael has, after taking part of our "BM preview" in SWB from June 7, listened on the frequency for several hours without getting an ID but managed to catch a telephone number to the book store "Colombia para Cristo" mentioned in the broadcast. There a lady told him that Colmundo Radio sold their transmitting equipment to the Colombian radio station "HJV82" (in WRTH the name is given as "Alcaldía de Puerto Lleras") -1530 kHz in Puerto Lleras situated in "departamento del Meta" pretty near the town Villavicencio --- but the lady in the book store says that the transmitter is called "Alcaravan Radio". This matches pretty close with the ID I also heard: "Sistema Radial de Alcarabanga". So HJV82-1530 kHz is now performing test transmissions on SW 6064.55 kHz and will later have separate programmes on MW and SW. Exciting, isn´t it! 73 from BM i Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 16, translated from Swedish by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Adventist World Radio in Latin America Time Lines ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Location Year Date Event ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TI4NRH Tri-Cities 1924 Dec 1st MW broadcasts 1938 May 4 1st SW broadcasts 1957 Sold to Columbia 1963 New station launched 1983 Sold to Adventist church Impacto 3 sites 1952 Radio Atenea MW begins 1984 Radio Impacto launched 1990 Radio Impacto closed 1991 Sold to Adventist church Lira Hatillo 1983 Nov 30 MW inaugurated Lira Alajuela 1986 Oct 22 1 kW SW inaugurated 1989 Jul 5 kW SW inaugurated 1989 Aug 27 50 kW inaugurated 1994 Apr 15 Final broadcasts Alajuela Lira Cahuita 1991 Nov 1st test broadcasts 1992 Jul 7 & 8 Dedication services 1998 Nov 6 Final broadcast 1998 Nov 7 Sold to Wescott (Adrian Michael Peterson, appendix to AWR Wavescan June 16 via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. USA/CUBA: TV MARTI STARTS EVENING BROADCAST ON UHF | Text of report by press release by Voice of America on 14 June Washington, DC, 14 June: In a recent departure from its 12-year-old early morning schedule, TV Martí is now available in Cuba in primetime (6 p.m.-10 p.m. [2200-0200 gmt]) via a UHF signal. Anecdotal reports and phone calls from the island suggest that more viewers in Cuba are able to see the telecasts, including some living outside of Havana. Callers from Matanzas province, areas of Colón and elsewhere have provided descriptions of TV Martí programmes. Surveys of actual viewership will be conducted later this summer. Since its inauguration, TV Martí had followed a 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. [0730-1230 gmt] schedule via a VHF signal in order to prevent interference with Cuban television. At the time, few if any Cubans on the island could receive UHF. Today, although Cuba does not have a UHF TV network, many more Cubans own television sets that can receive both UHF and VHF. Along with Radio Martí, TV Martí provides balanced, uncensored news and information programming for the people of Cuba. For more information, contact Joe O'Connell at (202) 619-2538 or jdoconne@ibb.gov Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 14 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Well, what are the UHF channels??? As I recall, there used to be three of them alternating or at once. Cf. Recent reports that new Panda TV sets imported from China are having their UHF tuners removed or disabled. Has Arnie talked about UHF TVDX lately? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 50-SCAN-JUBILEE! October 24 1999 SWB was hit by a "stroke below the belt"! "Bandscan SW-1" was sent to SWB and editor Thomas Nilsson. 50 bandscans from BM in Ecuador almost without any break. I must say thank you TN for your untiring and stubborn work with my bandscans. Today even more "work" as Thomas also translates everything to English for the benefit of our exchange partners: DXLD, Cumbre, HCJB and DXing.info Forum. /BM (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) See COLOMBIA, PERU in this issue ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6249.35, R Nacional, Malabo, 2145 UTC, 14th June: African hi-life music, announcements in Spanish. Still audible after 2240. Best on LSB to avoid utility QRM but generally poor (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR AR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK June 16 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Bandscanning 31m, June 17 at 1330, found a het on the Chinese language station on 9560, pinpointed to 9561.4 or so, nondescript continuous talk, could not make out language, but unseemed Arabic, and soon losing out. I then started searching the by-frequency logs in major DX club bulletins for past few months, and the Online Logbook, but nothing at all reported between 9560 and 9565. Then searched all 98 DXLD issues so far in 2002, and found two reports, both by Hashimoto in Japan Premium: R. Ethiopia, 9561.7 3/10 at 1606, in DXLD 2-043; and R. Ethiopia, 9561.5, 3/30 at 1611 in English, so this logging gets to be a tentative rather than an unID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. I don`t get ``It`s All Greek to Me``, Sunday June 16 after 1800, on the publicradiofan.com link; it`s not the same service as heard on 17705 via Delano; same when I click on the I Foni tis Helladas link at the ntua website (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I see that the ERA5 Real Audio stream (ntua's live3.ram) is no longer linked on ERA's web site, and as you noted, it has some audio in Greek, not the expected program in English at this hour. However, they have replaced it with a Windows Media stream of ERA5: http://195.170.27.247/era5.asx which I was able to launch just in time to hear the closing message of IAGTM about 1856 UT. So I'll change my link to that. Thanks, (Kevin Kelly, http://www.publicradiofan.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. An alarming message from R. Budapest was received this Thursday: told their staff that from July, programmes in Serbian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian and Ukrainian would be discontinued. This would represent a spending cut of 90 kiloeuros per year. Most of these program makers at RB only earn something like 250 Euro per month. Nothing said about other languages, so expect them to continue (Frans Vossen, RVi Radio World June 16, notes by gh for DX LISENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. QSL INFORMATION I've really been feeling sorry for myself since sending our a flurry of MW reception reports after our late-March 2002 Grayland DXpedition. I had only a 50% reply rate, with NONE of my three new Alaskans coming through (KENI-650, KFQD-750, KRSA-580.) I was also missing CNR 1 on 1377 (though a separate report for 639 came through promptly) and RRI Sorong. Well, today the PO box had this lovely letter in it from RRI Sorong. The letter is so interesting that I thought that you might enjoy it.... Here is the text: Dear Sir, We say thank you very much for your letter, Mr. Professor John H. Bryant. We are very happy and glad to receive your letter in Sorong. You wrote in your letter that "none of these experiences was as thrilling as listening to RRI Sorong on 909 kHz medium wave from the Pacific Coast of the state of Washington." I also reply your letter on the air. I called your name and read your letter. About your reception report, that was right (correct), because you are pleased to hear RRI Station Sorong and to catch my wave, I am going to tell you [about] the station of Radio Republic Indonesia Stasiun Sorong (RRI Station Sorong.) Transmitter: SW Harris BC 10 HT Wave: 61,53 metres Power: 10 kilowatt Frequency: 4785 kHz Antenna: Broadband Dipole - 18 metres Transmitter: NEC.MET, 4080E, MW Wave: 330 metres Power: 10 kilowatt Frequency: 909 kHz Antenna: 80 metres Transmitter: NEC FM 100 WIT Power: 100 watt Frequency: 96.7 MHz Antenna: 40 metres Well, that's all for now, Greetings from Station Manager and Staffs of RRI Station Sorong to all of you and I hope you send me some other reports in the future. Yours Sincerely, STATION MANAGER (signed) Umar Solle (station stamp) END OF LETTER Very interesting letter. First, it appears to have been typed by Mr. Solle himself on a typewriter (not a printer) that needed cleaning. Secondly, Mr. Solle's English might be a bit rusty, but it is very good, under the circumstances. So, as long as he is station manager, there appears to be no need to send reports in Bahasa Indonesian. The postage on the letter was 9,500 rupiyah... A huge amount (more than double the cost from a few years ago. The correct station address is Radio Republic Indonesia Stasiun Sorong Jl. Jend. A. Yani No. 44, Sorong 98414 Indonesia. I sent the report with $2.00 USD, an English-language report, an Indonesian language report, an audio CD and several postcards of the Washington Coast. I also included copies of my QSL card and letter from RRI Sorong on shortwave which I received in the mid-1980s. I'm really overjoyed with this QSL, to put it mildly. I specialized in Indonesian shortwave broadcasting for many years and even wrote two small books about it. This Spring 2002 reception of Sorong on 909 kHz from Grayland, WA was a real team effort between three or four of us on that DXpedition and was my first-ever reception of Indonesia on medium wave... after trying for a goodly number of years. I'll be sending Mr. Solle a very nice "thank you" letter and a small gift..... Its things like this that keep me sending out reception reports, despite the declining response rates and escalating costs. Inna word, "Goodie, Goodie, GOODIE!!!) (John Bryant via DXplorer, via Jembatan DX via DXLD) RRI Sorong on 4874.6 kHz seemed to be inactive (Jun 14, 2002, Juichi Yamada, JAPAN) 9741.7, RRI Sorong. Heard often here until 0758* About the last issue of list of Indonesian stations, please add RRI Sorong on 9741.7v (Jun 14, 2002, Craig Tyson, Western AUSTRALIA, Jembatan DX June 15 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Glenn Hauser had a mention of this article in DXLD 2-097. There's an interesting discussion board with 72 comments posted (as of 6/15/02 10:30 PM). A few of the comments mention shortwave. Most don't give satellite radio much of a future SATELLITE RADIO ON THE ROAD TO OBLIVION http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s=1500&a=27904,00.asp Copyright (c) 2002 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. 6th ANNUAL WORLDWIDE MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND is being sponsored by the "USS Salem Radio Club" during July 20-21st, 2002. It begins at 0000z and runs for a full 48 hour period. They are expecting participation by more than 70 Museum Ships from throughout the World. Each participating ship will issue their own QSL cards. A certificate will be available from the "USS Salem Radio Club" for working 10 or more ships during the weekend event. The certificate is available by sending a 9 X 12 SASE along with log information of ships worked to KC1XI: George Clisham, 126 Billings Rd, North Quincy, MA 02171 gclisham@attbi.com Suggested operating frequencies are: SSB - 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960, 28360 and 50160 CW - 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18099, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz QSL for K1USN contacts: Send Business Size SASE to K1RV - Harold Pugh, 78 Temple St. Abington, MA 02351 k1rv@arrl.net DX stations via bureau. For additional information and complete list of paarticipating ships check their web page at: http://www.qsl.net/k1usn Also, many ships plan to activate some of their original equipment during this event! Check their web site for particulars. The "USS Salem Radio Club" is continually looking to get more Museum Ships on the air. If any Clubs or individuals wish to activate additional vessels please contact W1QWT, Bob Callahan, 56 Acorn St. Scituate, MA 02066 or via E-mail at: w1qwt@arrl.net (KB8NW/OPDX June 17/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL-MIDDLE EAST TV STARTING JUNE 25TH. Note: as a result of the below, IBA TV news will no longer be seen on IBA TV Channel 1. It will only be available via this new Cable/Satellite TV channel. ---- The Israel Broadcasting Authority is launching a TV service in Arabic and English to Europe and the Middle East with nine hours per day of news and current affairs programming. Israel – Middle East will take over the present IBA Channel 3 that is also widely known locally as Cable Channel 33. Programming will commence daily in Arabic at 1600 Israel Time (1300 UT) and at 1900 and 2400 (1600 and 2100 UT) there will be 30 minute newscasts in English from the same team that had for many years produced 'IBA News' on Channel 1. Outside of its own broadcast hours the TV channel will relay the sound of Kol Israel`s Arabic radio service. Transmission of the service will be via the existing IBA Channel 3 on cable and satellite within Israel, and with the addition of direct-to- home satellite to Europe and the Middle East via Hotbird 3 at 13 degrees east on 12.220 MHz. [make that GHz --- gh] Newly appointed IBA Director-General Yosef Bar-el was previously Controller of Channel 3 and personally took charge of the development of the service (via Daniel Rosenzweig, June 17, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. "LONG-AWAITED DEBUT" OF ARABIC, ENGLISH SATELLITE CHANNEL ON 25 JUNE | Text of report in English by Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post web site on 17 June The often-delayed English and Arabic-language satellite network will make its long awaited debut on 25 June, Minister Without Portfolio Ra`anan Cohen, the minister responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority [IBA], told the cabinet yesterday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Cohen said the network would be Israel`s answer to the propaganda coming from the Arab world. Cohen said he would give more details about the network in next week's cabinet meeting. Until then, details remain sketchy about the content of the network's programming, which will mostly be in Arabic, but will at least initially include one English newscast. IBA management and English news department officials are expected to meet throughout the week to finalize decisions about the English broadcasts. IBA spokeswoman Shlomit Golan said that the English news would initially be shown at 8 p.m. [local time] and then would be moved to its permanent time of 7 p.m. The length of the broadcast could remain at its present 15 minutes, or it may still be expanded to half an hour. The most sensitive subject under discussion is the question of whether the present IBA English news will remain on Channel 1. The new satellite network will only be available locally on digital cable systems and the Yes satellite network. IBA Arabic news officials have been told for certain that their current hour on Channel 1 will remain until the infrastructure is prepared for the new network to be available to viewers who have neither cable nor satellite. The Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting said the more than 20 per cent of Israelis who do not subscribe to cable or YES includes a disproportionate number of Israeli Arabs. Sources in IBA English news said it will become clearer in upcoming days whether they will broadcast only on the satellite, or continue to be seen on Channel 1. Although there has been talk of making the network available to viewers in North and South America, at first it will only reach viewers with satellites throughout the Middle East and in parts of Europe. Many logistical, budget and content issues remain unresolved at the IBA, which has recently fired high-profile journalists and restructured contracts in order to cut costs. Source: The Jerusalem Post web site, in English 17 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Making SW even more expendable, no doubt, in their thinking (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY [non?]. Subject : IRRS / NEXUS I am just going through the reports about the new NEXUS schedule which is limited to a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays on 13840 instead of usual 3985/7120 now. On the NEXUS website I stumbled over this: >>>13 MHz band tests on Dec 16, 2001 IRRS-Shortwave will be testing next Sunday Dec. 16, 2001, between 0800-1200 UTC on a new frequency of 13.840/13.835 from a transmitter located outside Italy. Information on the exact location and technical characteristics of this transmitter will not be available for public disclosure at this time. The planned target area will be Central and Northern Europe, as well as N Africa and the Middle East. <<< See http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules/IRRS-SW_tests.html And what's this: 13840 1630 1715 39,40 JUL 100 80 1234567 310302 271002 D D IBR DTK 13840 1400 1559 19,29N WER 500 045 1234567 310302 271002 D RUSSIAN D DWL DWL Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmmm, indeed. But surely DTK would not be several hundred Hz off frequency, unless they were *really* trying to deceive us. Sounds like another TDP client. Bulgaria, anyone? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. From: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com For Your Listening Pleasure: (Some fifty years after its inception radio is still the most powerful, far-reaching form of media in Jamaica. More than 2 million of the island's 2.5 million people are said to be radio listeners.) Almost everywhere one goes in Jamaica one hears the sounds of music and voices of people expressing their opinions on numerous talk shows. Offices, street corners, restaurants and bars ­ anywhere you find a group of Jamaicans gathered, you will more than likely find a radio playing. Radio's relationship with the national psyche began as early as 1939 when the first broadcast was transmitted via a shortwave "ham" operated unit from the Seaview Ave. home of the unit's owner, John Grinan. The call sign was VP5PZ and it offered wartime news and information for a half-hour once a week. By 1940, Grinan had negotiated with the colonial government to set up a station that became known as ZQI and the frequency and variety of broadcasts increased. But listenership never totalled more than 100,000 given the relatively high cost of radio sets. Then on July 9, 1950, (fifty-one years ago) commercial radio broadcasting began when the government, like those in many other Caribbean territories during that decade, granted a license to the Jamaica Broadcasting Company a subsidiary of the British Rediffusion Group. This signalled the birth of the Radio Jamaica and Rediffusion Network or, as we know it today, RJR. Four transmission sites were established across the island to carry the medium wave signals. This early RJR was quite British in character, producing a very BBC-like format. Slowly but surely, however, more and more Jamaicans moved in and some of the flavour of Jamaica began to be heard. Popular shows included Talent Parade, opened by Karl Magnus' regular "Well, look, here's something that just came to me!" line, and originally produced by Archie Lindo and Hugh Wilson. Talent Parade showcased local talent broadcast from the Carib Theatre and helped to launch the careers of well-loved entertainers including Ranny Williams and Louise Bennett. Other popular shows included Alma Mock-Yen's Tea Time and Marie Garth's Busy Bee Club for children. Favourite announcers and programme hosts emerged including: Merrick Needham, possibly best known for his ceremonial outside broadcasts, Dorothy Hosang (Lannaman's Lollipop Land for children) Adrian Robinson, Tony Verrity, Roy Reid (Reid at Random), Radcliffe Butler (The Butler Did It, Midnight Mood), and Dorothy La Croix, better known as Dottie Dean. In an effort to broaden listenership in the early 1950s RJR distributed some 200 "little brown radio boxes" (rediffusion boxes) to communal locations like police stations, schools and shops so that more Jamaicans would have access to radio information and programming. By 1954 over 57,000 Rediffusion sets were in use and over 285,000 Jamaicans were confirmed radio listeners (a major increase from the 75,000 in 1947). Radio programmes also began to be sponsored by companies that increasingly used the radio as a medium of advertisement - these proceeds were the station's only sources of income. These commercials were either pre-recorded or voiced live from the studio. Between 1950 and the mid-1960s RJR became a household word and improvements in radio transmission occurred. 1951 ushered in wire radio service - meaning that transmissions were sent from a central station, better able to withstand atmospheric conditions and reach a wider listenership. But to receive them you had to be a rediffusion subscriber, paying three-pence a day. As Merrick Needham describes, this early form of radio transmission was "a bit like cable TV but with sound." Radio TimeLine: 1939: First broadcast transmitted via shortwave 'ham' radio. 1950: Gov't granted licence to the Jamaica Broadcasting Company for commercial radio broadcasting. 1951: RJR moved to a new studio on Lyndhurst Rd. 1953: FM Band transmission was introduced ­ Jamaica was the first British colony to boast of such a service. 1956: RJR began a schools broadcasting service and placed radios in schools across the island. 1959: Government started its own station, JBC radio through The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. The name of the company under which RJR operated was formally changed to that of Radio Jamaica Limited, the name by which it is known today. 1959: Government started its own station, JBC radio through The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. The name of the company under which RJR operated was formally changed to that of Radio Jamaica Limited, the name by which it is known today. 1962: RJR began a service known as 'Reditune' which allowed for non- stop music. This was replaced later in the 1960s by 'Musipage' which allowed for live broadcasts of musical performances from radio stations. Dates when stations began broadcasting: RJR radio 1 1950 JBC radio 1959 RJR radio 2 1972 FAME FM 1984 KLAS 1989 Hot 102 1989 Irie 1990 Power 106 1992 LOVE FM 1993 (via Mike Terry, June 16, DXLD) ** JAMAICA. CARIBBEAN LEADERS PAY TRIBUTE TO VETERAN BROADCASTER | Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency on 15 June Kingston, Jamaica: Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Edwin Carrington, has expressed deep regret at the passing of veteran broadcaster Hugh Crosskill, who is scheduled to be laid to rest here [on] Thursday [20 June] at the University Chapel, Mona. "It is with deep regret that I have learnt of the unfortunate and tragic death of Hugh Crosskill," Carrington said in a statement of condolence, dispatched [on] Thursday [13 June] from his office in Georgetown. He said Crosskill's contribution to the development of the media in the region was an outstanding one. "From his early beginnings as a broadcaster in his native Jamaica, then on to the fledgling Caribbean News Agency (Cana) before going on to head the Caribbean Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), he displayed a real talent," Carrington said. He added that Crosskill, who returned to the region in 1996 as general manager of Radio Jamaica, would be remembered for his commitment to his profession and for the quality of his work "in furthering the development of his profession and indeed the entire region". In a separate interview, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas and his St Vincent and the Grenadines counterpart, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, also offered condolences to the family of Crosskill, who was shot and killed by a security guard a week ago at a medical complex in Kingston. In an interview on OAS Radio in Washington on Thursday, carried live on ZIZ Radio in St Kitts and NBC Radio in St Vincent, both Caribbean leaders said the region had lost a fighter for press freedom in Crosskill. Douglas reaffirmed the region's strong commitment to the advancement of the propagation of different shades of opinion to ensure that the media is as free as ever in order to continue to make a contribution in the development not only of the Caribbean society, but human society as a whole. "He was a young man, just 47, just started to live. I want to take this opportunity to extend to his family, his children, his father, his brothers, his ex-wife and his many, many friends throughout the region, our profoundest condolences," said Dr Gonsalves. "He was an extraordinary able man, a fighter for press freedom and democracy. We will miss him greatly," he added. The two were in the United States capital for the annual meeting of the Caribbean Group for Cooperation in Economic Development (CGCED.) Crosskill is survived by his ex-wife, three children, father and two brothers. Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 1808 gmt 15 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. To monitor the current conflict, from the Pakistani side, Azad Kashmir Radio is at 1430-1700 on 4790, only in Urdu and Kashmiri; V. of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom, 1300-1430, on 5101 including very interesting political commentary in English at 1400. India`s official station, R. Kashmir, Srinagar, 4950, 1300-1740* (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Murtiwave Feedback June 2, notes by gh for DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Han Hee Joo`s new co-host on Murtiwave Feedback is Jennifer Downey (sp?), from Québec but with a multinational background. Expect her to vanish about a year from now as the others have (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [and non]. 15205/15660/17635/17695, Libyan R via Issoudun relay, 1845 UT, 15th June: Phone-in in Arabic. Presume domestic service at this time as not // 15435/17750 direct from Libya, which were presumably relaying Voice of Africa external service. Best on 15660 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR AR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK June 16 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Looking thru Fred Cantú`s website to see if R. Mil has a webcast yet, to hear Encuentro DX --- it does not ---, I noticed that altho it no longer exist on 830, XELA, the classical music station, still has a webcast, and it works, prefaced with this: AMABLE AUDITORIO: Estamos trabajando para darle un mejor servicio, rogamos a ustedes su paciencia y comprensión en tanto nos acabamos de organizar. Es probable que la programación que aparece en nuestra página no coincida con lo que está escuchando, por ahora usted podrá contar con el audio de la buena música, posteriormente daremos la información completa sobre el autor, obra, intérpretes, movimientos, etc., como XELA lo ha venido haciendo. Agradecemos muy sinceramente a todos ustedes el invaluable apoyo que nos están demostrando y les rogamos permanecer en contacto con nosotros enviándonos todos sus datos como son: nombre, dirección, teléfono y correo electrónico. Todos los que laboramos en XELA deseamos a todo nuestro QUERIDO AUDITORIO que el año que inicia esté colmado de salud, amor y buen trabajo. ¡ F E L I C I D A D E S ! Presione aquí para escuchar nuestra señal en formato Real Audio http://www.xela.com.mx/xela.ram (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. 15069.67, 0204-, Alfa Lima International, Jun 16. Tentative logging with slow female vocal in AM mode. Poor to fair reception, with a ute on USB. Wonder whether this is a relay of a south American pirate? Weaker audio when rechecked at 0241. Confirmed at 0245 with ALI ID and www site as http://www.alfalima.net in English. Fading up again. S-I-O later was 2-4-3 around 0400, with usual ALI programming (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4678.86, Radio Paz Perú Internacional, Chiclayo, la provincia de Chiclayo, el departamento de Lambayeque. June 12, 0155 UT. Ought to be a new station, at least on SW --- but as usual you have to be careful with "new station" as it is absolutely impossible for me to know everything. Probably been on air for only a few days. Got ID pretty fast but QTH took some more days. Says a SW frequency but I can`t get it. ID often as: "Radio Paz Perú Internacional para todo el Perú y el mundo". Sometimes various IDs: "Radio Paz Perú", "Radio Paz Internacional" or only "Radio Paz". Says email-address as radiopaz@terra.com.pe The street address given a few times together with education on distance by radio and ads for clothes, include the number "47" and "Chiclayo". The audio quality is not the best. The programme consists of Peruvian music, both secular and Christian. Transmitting schedule seems to be 2300-0300 UT. The above logging was sent out as a `BM preview` to SWB June 13. The station continues to be heard with good signal but the quality of the audio from the DJ´s mike is not the best --- the music anyhow sounds good. Except for the Bolivian on 4681.48 kHz there is in the neigbourhood another station with good signal but almost no audio --- sounds more or less like the afterburner from a jumbo jet and drifting some kHz up/down. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Chiclayo, cuya capital es Chiclayo. Sus distritos son: Chiclayo, Chongoyape, Eten, Puerto de Eten, José Leonardo Ortíz, Lagunas, La Victoria, Monsefú, Nueva Arica, Oyotún, Picsi, Pimentel, Reque, Santa Rosa, Saña; con una población total de 625,183 hab. 5384.30, Radio Huarmaca, Huarmaca, la provincia de Huancabamba, el departamento de Piura. June 6 2002 - 0240 UT. "....estamos en la transmisión de prueba en onda corta de Radio Huarmaca" means that they are testing on SW. The programme consisted of this "phrase", repeated all the time, TCs and Peruvian folk music. The female DJ also greeted the technician of the station (Sr. Alberto Luzano?) and director. Close down 0321 UT without cd-ceremony. Good signal and very frequency stable --- kept its 100-part perfectly. Checked the frequency this morning but unfortunately too late, 0830 local time, but heard that the station was on air on exactly the same frequency: 5384.30 kHz. There is a small possibility that this "Radio Huarmaca" has nothing to do with the "Huarmaca" logged earlier on SW but that is perhaps only wishful thinking! In June last year I logged Radio Huarmaca on 2828 kHz which is a harmonic from the listed fundamental 1414 kHz --- in WRTH the only listed MW-station in the town of Huarmaca. The station has probably not been on air on SW for several years. The last log I can find is from 1999 in Mark Mohrman`s list. In "Dateline Bogotá" 1996 our member Henrik Klemetz/HK writes: "5485.4 PERU. New Peruvian spotted Aug 4, 2300, thanks to alert and query from Havukunnas via Österholm. Female DJ read quite a lot of local ads but did not ID properly, only said in the passing that this was R Huarmaca, su emisora amiga. An ad for Inversiones La Loretana, a local firm, gave a clue to the whereabouts of the station, Av. Grau 454, a espaldas de (behind) Radio Huarmaca. This is the third SW station to appear in the little town of Huarmaca, in the Huancabamba province of Región Grau in northern Peru. R Altura, 7143.2 continues active as before, whereas R Los Andes, 6479.8, seems to be silent for the time being". The above Huarmaca-info was sent out to SWB as a "BM preview" June 6. Regularly heard with good signal and superb audio quality. Also extremely frequency stable. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Huancabamba, cuya capital es Chanchaque. Sus distritos son: El Carmen de la Frontera, Huancabamba, Huarmaca, Lalaquiz, San miguel de El Faique, Sóndor, Sondorillo; con una población total de 125,458 hab. (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin June 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 9504.8, Radio Tacna, Tacna. 1100-1135. June 17. Spanish transmission. News program. Check time: "6 de la mañana en todo el Perú". ID as: "Radio Tacna...la radio de la sintonía mayoritaria". Contact with Radio Libertad, Arequipa with a report about the revolt and popular rebellion in that city: "desde hace muchos años conozco la Ciudad Blanca y sabemos del coraje del pueblo arequipeño y de su alcalde". Announcement: "en las próximas horas, en la ciudad de Tacna se tomarán medidas de apoyo a la lucha del pueblo arequipeño". Check time and announcement: "seis con 30, vamos con la pausa comercial". Local ads.: "En Tacna....con lo mejor de la cocina tacneña..." ID as: "En todas partes Radio Tacna, la emisora más popular". 24432/3 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** QATAR. 17755.25, R Qatar, 1045 UT, 16th June: Generally weak, off- channel, sounded like news headlines in Arabic at 1045, talk, announcements, Arabic music, ID. Also monitored this the previous day and seemed to peak around 1045-1115 on each day, otherwise extremely weak (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR AR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK June 16 via DXLD) Had been believed inactive on SW ** ROMANIA. 17735, 0454-, R. ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL, Jun 16. RRI in English, totally blown away by Petropavlovsk's 900 Hz test tone. Radio Ezra should boom in tonight! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, 0155 [no date], UNAMSIL, Freetown finally also here. Played music more or less nonstop interrupted for an occasional ID. At 0300 some sort of program started. Difficult to report! S 2. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6137.85, 12.6 2115 Radio UNAMSIL. Good speed of talk and music, but difficult to hear despite QSA 2. Also "good" later at night. JE/RFK (Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Had wondered if UNAMSIL is still on as not reported lately (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CARLINA. Latest rant from Sister Stair, dated Friday, Flag Day, June 14, 2002, with hilarious P.S. Do also note that internal dissension is noted between the lines. Not all is solid in Stair- ville. As for his broadcasts, he remains on 5070 in the exact same time slots as previously, and 99% of the time the listeners have no clue Stair is out of commission. Only twice have I heard references on his own show to his own absence. She has not yet responded personally to me by e-mail (these are all bulk) and Brother Stair has yet to respond to me using my self-addressed, stamped envelope which I sent directly to him at the jail (Robert Arthur, June 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Following all sic: I greet you all in the name of the Lord, Yahshua. Dear Saints, please forgive me for not writing earlier. I HAD INTENDED TO WRITE EACH DAY THIS WEEK. SATAN HAS HINDERED... Thank you all for all your letters - even those that oppose me as I only obey my husband in keeping you informed. Pray that I can and will continue to stay in my place. Even here on the farm, the enemy is more than angry. Truly, he knows that his time is short, and he uses those I have loved and known for years to accuse the chosen of God. I love the Lord, I love my husband, and for the work's sake, I want to stay in my place. Also I know that I can only be saved by totally submitting to my husband and, as I have stated, after 25 years of being saved, I have learned that submission is really a beautiful thing! Such an easy thing... just to obey in everything. However, this veil of flesh is still upon me, housing the hidden TREASURE (Christ in me), and, at times, does not want to submt in all things. Please pray for me. I want to make it into the Kingdom with the saints. I want to see YAHSHUA, my Lord and Saviour who saved me - only by His great GRACE.. I will end this with this, the very urgent purpose of this letter.... BROTHER STAIR HAS CALLED AND WRITTEN; NOT ONLY TO ME (A LOVE LETTER), BUT ALSO TO THE WHOLE CHURCH - AN EPISTLE. THANK GOD. HE HAS BEEN FASTING AND SEEKING GOD. TODAY IS A CRUCIAL DAY. IT MAY MEAN HE GETS OUT OF JAIL OR STAYS IN FOR MANY MORE DAYS, OR EVEN WEEKS. Dear friends, my faith is STRONG, and I hope he can come home to me; however, something very deep within assures me that the will of God will be done. I pray to this end. THY WILL BE DONE! Pray ernestly for Brother Stair. That he will be willing to instruct the church in righteousness, even in his bonds. Last Sunday, during our visit, he was literally in shackles..what an awesome thing! He is truly making the mark of the high calling. We will all soon follow - the sufferings of Christ. God, help us all and prepare our hearts to receive the judgment that is upon His whole body! I ASK YOU TO PRAY, IN THE NAME OF YAHSHUA. PLEASE SAINTS. I FEEL I"M EVEN A LITTLE LATE WRITING. I HOPE NOT. THE LORD JUST REMINDED ME OF THE VERSE...HE HEARS US EVEN BEFORE WE ASK. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU...I'LL SEND THE LETTER FROM BROTHER STAIR SOON. BROTHER CHIP WILL READ IT TOMORROW TO THE WHOLE LISTENING AUDIENCE DURING THE SERVICE. AGAIN, YOUR LETTERS, WORDS AND SCRIPTURES ARE A BLESSING AND ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME. DON'T STOP NOW!!! WE NEED EACH OTHER, SAINTS. THIS IS THE END...! ONLY IN THAT CAN I REJOICE AND HAVE PERFECT PEACE AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS. REMEMBER THOSE THAT ARE IN BONDS AS BEING BOUND WITH THEM...WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. Also pray for all in authority. And remember to pray for the lawyers, chosen and proven of God - TRULY - Satan would like to discourage even them! They are Brother Stair's Simons of Cyrene. Precious in God's sight. Lift them up before our God now... They are hated in that they believe in the man of God and long to see righteousness done in this. Satan's time is SHORT!. We will be with the Lord in the end. AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU. HAVE A GOOD SABBATH. REST IN HIS LOVE. Write soon. Please pray. I love you with the pure love of God. Sis. Teresa Grace Stair P.S. If you would like to be removed from this e-mailing please reply with REMOVE in the subject line. (via Robert Arthur, DXLD) ** TIBET. 9490, 1549-, Tibet Peoples BS, Jun 15. Hoping to hear their English segment at 1630, but reception has gone from fair to good, to just a carrier when rechecking at 1623. All other // are too low for this time of the year (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. <2 days left to comment on IBOC Boys and Girls, There are two days left to comment on IBOC. I know that if IBOC gets implemented all of you here will be singing the blues about having to buy new radios and tuners because of all the interference to analog reception. There are only 252 comments and each one carries a lot of weight. Here`s the URL and the docket number is 99-325. http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi I hope to see you take the 5 minutes it takes to make a comment. (Kevin Redding, Mesa, Arizona, June 16, IRCA via DXLD) I have done so, and bookmarked it for future commenting (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO TRACKS CRICKETS 14 June 2002 VIRGINIA GEWIN © D. T. Gwynne A few unlucky crickets will become unwitting informants this summer. Agricultural researchers in the United States have fitted them with radio tags equal to half of their body weight to track their movements across the Utah desert, in an effort to understand the cues directing their devastating march. The signals will enable the scientists to record the kinds of topography, plant communities and weather patterns that favor the insects, hopefully helping them to predict future outbreaks. The southwestern United States is set to experience the worst invasion of mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) since the 1930s. One of the researchers, Greg Sword of the US Department of Agriculture's Northern Plains Laboratory, says that "10,000 to 50,000 insects, weighing a few grams a piece, moving up to a mile a day, can be a formidable threat". In 2001 the crickets cost the state of Utah $25 million. But apart from the insects` propensity to wander little is understood about when they invade, where or why. "The cues that determine what direction they march to might be set early on," says Sword. "We're trying to track these bands to predict what direction they will go." "Part of the problem is that there has been a 10-year period where nothing much was happening," explains Pat Lorch, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Toronto at Mississauga in Ontario, Canada. The crickets reach usually reach substantial numbers every seven or so years. Some speculate the current outbreak is tied to recent dry conditions, which may facilitate successful egg hatching from the soil. Major outbreaks happen only every 50-70 years What the scientists do know is that the crickets swarm over the land, stopping at any food source in their path - crops, carrion, even fallen brethren - and become a traffic hazard along the way. As the crickets pause to cannibalize roadkill, the ensuing mass suicide causes notoriously difficult driving conditions. Mormon crickets plague much of the western United States. But the impact they've had on Utah is cultural as well as economic. The seagull was designated Utah's state bird specifically for its cricket- devouring ability - legend has it that seagulls miraculously saved the state from crop devastation years ago. © Nature News Service / Macmillan Magazines Ltd 2002 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) WTFK??? ** U S A. RADIO STATION TAKES HUMAN ELEMENT OFF THE AIR Originally published Jun 16, 2002 by Michael Olesker THERE ARE roughly three dozen radio stations around Baltimore, but only one Ken Jackson. And now he's gone. Forty years after he arrived in town, he becomes another headstone marker along radio's drumbeat march to homogenization. Two weeks ago, the bosses at WLG, 1360 on the AM dial, delivered an ultimatum: Either get with the new style, or get another life. They've brought in the trend of the moment, called voice-tracking. All it does is remove spontaneity, and timeliness and energy. Instead of live broadcasts, the station's broadcasters now tape much of their programming in advance. Management says it tightens the format. Jackson says the very idea feels fraudulent. "I could go in on a Monday," he was saying the other day, "and do voice-tracking for the whole week. You insert 20 or 30 seconds at a time into a computer, and they stick the tracks between songs and commercials for later on. Nobody's in the studio any more; everybody's gone home. "They told me it's an industry trend. But it's not live radio. I like the challenge of the moment, live, spontaneous. You hear the news that Sinatra's just died, so you play his music. Or Rosemary Clooney's playing the Lyric, so you do a live interview with her. "With the new system, it sounds robotic and stilted and unnatural. It's hard to be enthusiastic on Monday for something that's to be played on Thursday. Or maybe there's a tornado in the news. But you don't know it, because it hasn't happened yet, so you can't talk about it." Jackson, 70, arrived here in June 1962 and delivered news at WCBM for 25 years, then worked four years at WBAL before spending the last decade playing music at WLG. For a couple of reasons, the station plays a small song on local airwaves: Its signal doesn't stretch very far beyond the metro area; and, in a time when FM radio is mostly rock and AM is mostly talk, WLG is the last station in the area playing pop music that predates rock 'n' roll. In other words: Sinatra and Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, and Tony Bennett and Streisand and Mathis. Jackson played it and always brought to it something rare in modern radio: a sense of civility, musical authority and history. And a sense of the community. In a time when most radio stations are part of national conglomerates, WLG and its sister station - the talk-show format WCBM - are locally owned and staffed on-air by locals. WLG's morning man, Alan Field, has been around since the glory days of rock 'n' roll at the old WCAO. Where Ken Jackson drew on a big-band sensibility, Field specializes in a Broadway background and charm. But these, too, are fading from the air. Slowly, the station's introducing more and more music from the rock era. (And not the best of it. Are there really people who still want to hear Pat Boone's pale cover versions of Little Richard songs?) "The station is constantly evolving," WLG General Manager Bob Pettit said last week. "We have the oldest audience. We've got people in their 70s, plus what we call the newly disenfranchised, the baby boomers who don't want to hear the latest rock 'n' roll. We're straddling two generations. But, as those listeners get older, they die off. We have to update the music to keep an audience." So it's the changing of a culture. But it devalues the benefits of performers whose music became, for a lot of listeners, the classic American pop sound. Also, in a market with three dozen stations, it questions whether there isn't a slice of audience space for something different, something out of our national attic. And then there's the computerized voice-tracking, which has now led to Ken Jackson's departure. "By recording in advance," Pettit said, "it gives more control. It makes sure they have a tighter time period for talking, and there's less stumbling." Less stumbling? "They tend to ramble, they're looking for words, they're going two or three minutes before they get to the point," Pettit said. "We need them to be more concise." With all due respect, he is talking about professionals who have been in the business for generations. Does Pettit understand how breathtaking his remarks are? "Mm-hmm," he says. Well, we live in a fast-paced world. The music reflects it, and so does the radio patter. Our trigger fingers are quick to hit the car-radio buttons. The question is: Is there no room left for the change of pace? None for Alan Field handing us Rodgers and Hart in the middle of a workday, or Ken Jackson taking a moment to remember when Ellington cut "Take the 'A' Train?" Jackson could have stuck it out. He could have laid down the voice tracks in advance. He chose not to. Try it, Jackson says he was told. So he walked into the little taping room to pre-record, and found himself getting sick. He turned around, walked out, and went home. And ended a career, and set up one more headstone marking the closing of a radio era. Copyright © 2002, The Baltimore Sun (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Great story. But WLG??? No such station. We have all the remaining 3- letter broadcast calls stashed away in the memory bank, and this one doesn`t figure. It`s really WWLG. Could it be the station conveniently drops the first W to garner unmerited prestige; and/or the writer doesn`t know the difference? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ALTERNATIVE RADIO STILL HAS A PLACE ON THE DIAL Associated Press June 16, 2002 MERIDEN [CT] — Choral music played through the studio speakers monitoring the WMNR-FM broadcast as Carol Babina described the station's three-decade metamorphosis. "It's all been done through listener support. Our broadcasters are all volunteers. They know their music and they share that with the listeners," she said. Using the slogan "fine arts radio," WMNR has grown from a low-power high-school station inaugurated in 1973 to serve the Fairfield County suburb of Monroe, 25 miles southwest of Meriden. Now a $600,000-per-year operation, it is a major listener-supported music station covering most of western Connecticut and parts of the state's central section. Gradually extending its reach by setting up a group of secondary transmitters to relay its broadcast, WMNR now relays its broadcasts over 10 low-power transmitters and a total of four regular FM stations. At the studios in Monroe's high school, the sound of Verdi's "Requiem" told an important part of the WMNR story. Even in the small radio programming niche, vocal music has been put aside. Many listener-supported noncommercial stations, such as the Hartford- based Connecticut Public Radio system and the Fairfield-based WSHU-FM station group in southwestern Connecticut, have cut back on classical music programming. Following trends reflected in the offerings from Washington, D.C.-based National Public Radio, they have moved toward other entertainment programs and increased news coverage. With its all-music format, which includes weekly smatterings of jazz, folk and big-band recordings, WMNR sees those changes as its opportunity for continued growth. "We still will play long-form classical," said Babina, one of the founders of the station 29 years ago. "We don't have to deal with fitting our programming in between news on the hour. We have the luxury of being able to work without those constraints." WMNR also broadcasts its programming over WGRS-FM (91.5) in Guilford, a 3,000-watt station that can be heard in some parts of Wallingford. If the FCC approves its recent application, WMNR plans to double the power of the Guilford transmitter, improving the signal significantly in Wallingford and providing some coverage of Meriden, Anderson said. Whether it's WMNR, or Connecticut Public Radio, or college stations such as WWUH at the University of Hartford, noncommercial, listener- supported stations provide an antidote to complaints from media critics about lack of variety and originality in programming on commercial stations. The public radio research consortium contends that listener-supported radio is growing in popularity. Nationwide, a few stations, including those in Tallahassee, Fla., and Asheville, N.C., command more than 10 percent of the audience in their areas. In medium and large radio markets, the highest-rated stations often capture only 10 to 15 percent of the audience, sometimes less. In the Hartford-New Britain-Middletown radio audience measurement area, an average of 11.9 percent of the audience listens to top-rated WRCH-FM, according to the most recent Arbitron survey. WPKT (90.5) — the public radio station of central Connecticut — has a 3.9 percent share of the radio audience. WFCR-FM (88.1) — the National Public Radio affiliate in Amherst, Mass. — has a 1.5 percent share, according to the winter 2002 Arbitron ratings. Their combined 5.4 percent ties for sixth place among the 28 stations listed in the rankings. In its primary coverage areas, WMNR attracts 2 to 3 percent of the radio audience. The fall 2001 Arbitron report credited it with a 2.7 percent share in the Danbury area, ranking it 11th among three dozen competing stations. In the New Haven area, WMNR scored a 2.5 percent share. Listener-supported stations don't just provide programming aimed only at a tiny potential audience, said Babina, of WMNR. Her station relies on its 6,500 members, each paying at least $35 per year, for 75 percent of its budget. "Each station does what they think their audience is most interested in. I look at it as a soft competition with other listener-supported stations," she said. "Basically, you're serving your listening audience." ©New Haven Register 2002 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) WMNR also webcasts and has a few distinctive programs in our MONITORING REMINDERS (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WHY INTERNET RADIO MAY FADE Byline: James Turner Special to The Christian Science Monitor Date: 06/17/2002 The Librarian of Congress is usually not considered a magnet for controversy. But on June 20th, the eyes of Internet broadcasters and music industry insiders will focus on James H. Billington as he decides what royalties Internet radio stations will pay to record labels. Depending on how the rates are set, some insiders believe the announcement could put some Web broadcasters out of business. The issue of Internet-radio royalties was first raised when Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in 1998. This law, intended to strengthen the copyright protections of digital media such as software and CDs, also required the recording industry to negotiate with Internet broadcasters to determine how much artists should be paid when their music is played on an Internet radio station. The sides failed to reach an agreement, so Congress directed Mr. Billington to form a panel to set the rates. Traditional radio stations pay royalties to songs' copyright holders - not necessarily the artists performing the music. The operating philosophy: The promotional value of songs played on the radio outweighs the artists' loss in revenue from royalties. But the music industry has never been happy about this exemption, and saw the DMCA as an opportunity to prevent the same thing from happening to music broadcast over the Internet. "Our performance rights in this country are more limited than they are in most other modern countries around the world," says John Simson, executive director of Sound Exchange, which manages the distribution of digital performance royalties for artists and record labels. "We only have digital cable and satellite rights, we don't have terrestrial radio or television rights, unlike most of the other countries. It's an inequity in US law and it's finally been corrected, at least in some small part." At least on the surface, Internet broadcasters agree. "We've known that there was going to be some kind of performance royalties," says Kevin Shively of Beethoven.com, an Internet-only classical station. "We had always assumed that, and had budgeted for it to be somewhere in the range of what the songwriting royalties were - about 3 percent [of gross revenues]," he says. But in February, the panel chose a pricing model based on a per-song rate - roughly $1.40 per song for every 1,000 listeners, or 70 cents for terrestrial broadcasters simulcasting online. Web-only broadcasters claimed that the rates would force them to shut down. Hundreds of Internet broadcasters went silent for one day last month in protest. Many listeners, who feared the loss of their stations, flooded Congress with complaints. Perhaps as a result of the outcry, Billington rejected the proposal, leading up to the final resolution of the issue next week. Had the royalty structure been approved, it would have spelled disaster for Internet broadcasters, according to Kurt Hanson, publisher of RAIN: The Radio and Internet Newsletter. "What was surprising about the [panel's] decision is that in the current advertising environment, that's about 200 percent of revenue," says Mr. Hanson. "When you have to pay 200 percent of your revenue to somebody, it kills your business." But those representing the recording industry argue that this is beside the point. "It's not really our job to figure out their business model, that's their job," says Mr. Simson. "We've just asked that we be paid fair market value for our service." Simson adds that if the smaller broadcasters believe that the proposed royalties would drive them out of business, it may be because they were poorly represented on the panel. Larger players like MTV and Yahoo! had greater influence on the panel. They favor per-play royalty rates. "[Small] stations like us couldn't afford to be in it," rebuts Jim Atkinson of Internet broadcaster W3K. "In the end, since it was the participating stations and record companies that had to pay for the judges that presided over that [panel], the number we kept hearing was that every business that participated ended up owing something like $300,000" - a figure that small Internet stations could not afford. Internet radio stations let computer users connect to a website and listen to music using special software. According to Sven Haarhoff, spokesman for MeasureCast in Portland, Ore., company that tracks Web broadcasters, as many as 10,000 broadcasters operate on the Web. "In the US, some 77 million people have tuned in at some point to an Internet radio station," he says. "It's largely a workplace phenomenon - 76 percent of listening takes place during the traditional workday." High-speed connections at work makes it easier for workers to tune in to webcasts. But as Internet access becomes more ubiquitous through technologies like wireless devices, Internet radio is likely to become more popular in the home. Internet radio broadcasters say they fill an important role by playing and promoting music that would never be played on traditional stations. "Today, the Internet is almost a savior for the small artist," says Doug Balogh of alternative station and Internet simulcaster, XOXY. But Simson says such exposure may not translate into sales for artists. "If someone can turn on a Chicago blues channel on the Internet and listen to great Chicago blues all day long, will they feel a need to go out and buy a great Chicago blues record?" Classical broadcaster Mr. Shively disagrees. "Last year alone, just from people clicking through our website, we sold over $20,000 worth of CDs, and that doesn't count any CD sales that might have gone directly to the retailer." Mr. Atkinson of W3K, who says his station would have had to pay 342 percent of its revenue in royalties under the panel's proposal, is hopeful that Billington will either choose a system based on a small percentage of gross revenues, or send the problem back to a new arbitration panel with greater representation of smaller broadcasters. "Things will work out properly now; artists will finally get paid," he says. Click here to email this story to a friend: http://www.csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/send-story?2002/06/17/text/p16s02.txt Click here to read this story online: http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0617/p16s02-wmgn.html (c) Copyright 2002 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. (via Jim Moats and Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT GIVING WSM WEB SITE NEW LOOK By CRAIG HAVIGHURST Staff Writer The online presence of WSM-AM 650, which already may be one of the nation's leading streaming radio stations, will expand beginning July 11 with new content, country music news, song information and CD retail, station officials said yesterday. John Padgett, Gaylord Entertainment Co.'s radio group general manager, said the 76-year-old radio station already has a global audience for its real-time Webcast, attracting about 100,000 listeners per month. The new Web site will feature a new look, including dedicated, branded audio-video players that will display a picture of the host who's on the air at the time, as well as the name of the song and artist being played. The player will feature a new button allowing surfers to purchase the music they hear, through a partnership with the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, said Padgett, speaking at a Ryman Auditorium press conference. The site also will add round-the-clock country music news, as well as an artist search with information about country performers. ''We want the site to be very up-to-the-minute,'' Padgett said. WSM operations manager Kyle Cantrell compared the changes to other technological advances WSM has made through its history, such as offering the nation's first FM commercial broadcast station and building what was then the nation's tallest radio tower. Padgett and Cantrell said the Webcasting plans will go forward despite the lack of a settlement over the rates stations must pay record companies and artists for the rights to stream music online. Padgett said the Webcast of the Grand Ole Opry would continue, because the controversial rates don't cover live programming. Nick Green, WSM's director of new media, said WSM does not subscribe to Webcasting ratings services. He added, however, that, based on the amount of data the station transfers to Internet listeners, it is in the top 10 nationwide. © Copyright 2002 The Tennessean A Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you that the local weather radio is using Perfect Paul for the station IDs, the new male voice for most of the reports and the female voice for special events such as thunderstorms. I haven't read anything about this yet, hence the report. Thanks for the great work you do with DXLD (John H. Carver Jr., Mid-North Indiana, June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I just discovered an interesting radio show devoted to English news reports from different international broadcasters recorded right off the short wave. It's run out of California. The Shortwave Report can be downloaded from: http://www.outfarpress.com/outfarpress/shortwave.shtml The statement from the site: The Shortwave Report is a 30 minute review of news stories recorded from a shortwave radio. Times and frequencies for English-language programs are included to encourage you to listen on your own. It's easy. There is a new show posted every Friday morning, record it in mono! FREE TO REBROADCAST! Please notify. It's also can be heard on IRRS' streaming channel at http://mp3.nexus.org:8000/irn.mp3 on Sun. from 0025 UT (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually, we`ve mentioned this in DXLD several times previously, and have it on the MONITORING REMINDERS calendar (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 17494.87, 15.6 1620, WBCQ - Allan Weiner talked about the "enemies" who in different ways will harm WBCQ. The station is off frequency. 3-4 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** U S A/MIDDLE EAST: RADIO SAWA LAUNCHES STREAMING AUDIO ON INTERNET SITE | Text of press release by Voice of America on 14 June Washington, DC, 14 June 2002: Radio Sawa, the new Arabic-language broadcasting service that reaches across the Middle East, on Friday [14 June] began streaming audio on its internet site http://www.radiosawa.com Radio Sawa, run by the US government-funded Middle East Radio Network (MERN), features news, information, music and other programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "We always envisioned Radio Sawa as being a station where we have a lot of interaction with our listeners," said Norman J. Pattiz, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees all US non-military international broadcasting. "Our Internet site will help us do that. It will help us stay in touch and communicate with our audiences." Pattiz, who helped develop the new radio service, said streaming audio will also allow listeners around the world, not just in the Middle East, to tune into the radio. In the coming months, the Internet site will add content, including news, information and archives in Arabic. Launched on 23 March 2002, Radio Sawa is a pilot project of the Voice of America (VOA). It is available to millions of listeners across the Middle East on mediumwave (AM), FM and shortwave frequencies as well as on the Internet and through the digital radio satellite channels of Nilesat, Arabsat and Eutelsat Hotbird. When fully operational in the fall of 2002, the service will broadcast news, analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, roundtables, sports, weather, music and features on a variety of political and social issues in five regional Arabic dialects. For more information, contact: Joan Mower (202.260.0167 or 202.401.3736) jmower@ibb.gov, or http://www.bbg.gov Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 14 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Checked 17750 Sunday June 16 at 1550 to see whether Aló Presidente via Habana still be there: it is, an annoying subaudible heterodyne of a few Hz beneath WYFR parallelable to poor 15230. Will they ever catch on? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR. 7309.99, 0330-, VOICE OF PEOPLE, Jun 16. Good solid S7 signal without any QRM, and a minor amount of QRN. Unfortunately, transmitter did not start until just after 0330, and audio did not kick in for another 15 seconds, missing the sign-on announcement. A very different program. Usually a lot of politics, but today is a music program, highlighting particular African artists. Looking back to 1948, and the Congo. When rechecked at 0400, signal was about S5, and from there gradually deteriorated to poor/fair by sign-off. Best ever reception of Radio VOP. DXing the world using AOR 7030+/ERGO, Rockwell-Collins HF-2050, Racal 1792, JRC NRD 535D, Kenwood R5000, Collins R390A, Sony 2010, and Sony 1000T with the following antennae: T2FD, K9AY, 60 meter horizontal loop, Eavesdropper, 25 meter dipole, 25 MHz vertical, and random wire. (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I've run into a Spanish language unID on 9285.1, I've heard a few sound bites like: "... nacional de ..." (de Chile??) "Nacional, responsabilidad para informar ..." Does anybody know which station this could be? I'm listening in Curitiba, Brazil with an R75 and a 15 meter T2FD. regards, (Rik van Riel, 0012 UT June 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time? Maybe it`s XERMX, reported previously in DXLD with spur around here (gist of Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Doubt it ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STANDARD DISCLAIMER What IS a standard disclaimer?? thanks! Charlie (Charles S. Robbins, DXLD) ``The opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this station, its advertisers, or contract engineer, and vice versa.`` (gh to Charlie) OK cool. You rock!! Charlie (Charles S. Robbins, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-098, June 15, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1135: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1135.html [available from 2215 UT Sat; apologies for delay] NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070; 0730 3210; Mon 0000, Wed 0930 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830? 2430? on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 NAm DXERS CALLING Hi Gang, All new Glenn Hauser's World of radio is up and running http://www.worldofradio.com as well as Marie Lamb's Dxing with Cumbre http://www.cumbredx.org Fred Conk's Random Transmissions, dxers calling media report from Tim Gaynor and not forgetting Paul Ormandy's South Pacific DX Report http://www.radiodx.com all available via dxers calling: http://www.geocities.com/nri3 or http://www.angelfire.com/myband/tjg dxers calling audio:- http://www.live365.com/stations/280578 or for Winamp :- http://www.live365.com/play/280578 Cybershortwave:- http://www.n1dk.com A netcast of Mountainview radio is available, hosted by Jen the DX YL with fantastic, swinging alternative music from Colorado 'The Rockies' and the 'DX Quiz'! http://www.live365.com/stations/280591 All sorts of Shortwave and streaming links available at http://www.geocities.com/nri3 http://www.angelfire.com/myband/tjg http://nrin.hypermart.net enjoy it people 73 (Tim Gaynor, 'Dxers calling', DX Audio from Australia and the World! June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. É excelente o sinal da LRA-36 Rádio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, que emite desde a Baze Esperanza, na Antártica, em 15476 kHz. Foi captada, em Porto Alegre, em 14 de junho, às 1830, iniciando a programação. O apresentador informou que a emissora está no ar de segunda a sexta-feira, a partir de 1830. O programa apresentado era De Esperanza al Mundo (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. R. Rivadavia, 20276-LSB, June 8 0140-0320+, Spanish phone talk. Many IDs, ads, jingles, Spanish ballads. Very good, strong signal. No parallels heard. R. Rivadavia, 29810-LSB, June 8 1227-1300+, IDs at 1227, 1228. Spanish talk and into soccer game at 1230. Fair. No parallels heard (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. ¿Alguien escuchó en las últimas semanas a Radio Bosques? Yo vengo intentando su escucha por los 11420; 11423; 6460; 5301, frecuencias en las que la escuché en los últimos meses y nada!! Espero sus opiniones (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Amigo Arnaldo, Debido a la mala situación económica del país, lamentablemente también se vió afectado el ánimo de su operador y por ende, la salida al aire de Radio Bosques. No tener trabajo hoy en dia a cualquiera le tira el ánimo por el suelo, más aún cuando se tiene que alimentar a toda una familia. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA. Did anyone share my enjoyment of the Background Briefing on the Australian Outback. It's very sad about conditions in the Outback and the Background Briefing really opened my eyes on a area I enjoyed visiting. Last week`s Australia Talks Back on Telestra in the Outback was also interesting. It's interesting to compare Australia's telephone problems with ours: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/mod/bbing_26052002_2856.ram (Larry Nebron, CA, June 10, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Tomorrow's highlights from Radio Austria are on their website, http://roi.orf.at/english/en_report.asp (Richard Cuff, swprograms, June 10 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 6 Jun, 0315 - 5134 kHz DSB, Mayak (55555). Judging from the strength, transmitter is somewhere near my location. Parallel heard on 4982 kHz, DSB as well (45554). (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Educação Rural, de Tefé (Amazonas), está lutando para sobreviver, devido às dificuldades enfrentadas para fazer e manter uma emissora no interior da Amazônia. As informações são do biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, que também é radioescuta e trabalha no Instituto Mamirauá http://www.mamiraua.org.br -- um projeto que trabalha em prol da biodiversidade e proteção das florestas tropicais. A emissora faz parte da Rede Católica de Rádio. Mesmo assim, quando está no ar, entre 1000 e 1500 e entre 2000 e 0200, a maior parte da programação é local. A freqüência da Educação Rural, de Tefé, é 3385 kHz, em 90 metros (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 15 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Obviously Kostinbrod transmitter does not operate correctly, because it produces a harmonic on 15000 kHz (2nd of 7500 kHz). Heard it on 6 May on 0432 in Bulgarian, on 13 May at 1450 in Russian. (Sergey Rogov, Lithuania, via Kvadrat) 15000, Radio Bulgaria, 25433, 1400 and later, 23 May, in Russian. It's the 2nd harmonic of 7500 kHz (Alexander Beryozkin, St. Petersburg, Russia, both Signal via DXLD) ** CANADA. I have received word from CINW 940 News and CINF Info 690 that BOTH 690 and 940 will be off the air here in Montreal for maintenance from Midnight Eastern Tuesday night to 4:30 am into Wednesday June 18th (that's Wednesday 0400 to 0830 UT) and from Midnight Eastern Wednesday night to 4:30 am into Thursday June 19th (that's Thursday 0430 to 0830 UT). (Sheldon Harvey, QU, June 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [and non]. In case you're interested, there's a local Toronto radio forum online at: http://members2.boardhost.com/scrapbook It`s very Toronto-centric, but I know that you have a passing interest in things Canadian. Lots of rumour, innuendo and speculation but little in terms of hard news and links (which I know you like) - we also get a couple PDs from the local stations posting from time to time. Just in case you've never seen it (Brent Taylor in Aurora, just north of Toronto, June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. "COPPS MAY STEP IN TO SAVE HOCKEY NIGHT IN FRENCH" : http://www.nationalpost.com/national/story.html?id=726028E8-ABC9-4096-88C6-2CDE6FFAE4E2 Of course, having the public broadcaster unable to provide this service in one of the official languages could be considered contrary to the Official Languages Act. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CRTC SETS OUT RULES FOR TRANSITION TO DIGITAL TV OTTAWA (CP) — Federal regulators are assuring both broadcasters and consumers that the transition from analogue to digital TV will be market driven, without imposed deadlines. The Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission released a framework Wednesday it says is designed to ensure the transition to DTV, or HDTV, will happen "smoothly and efficiently."... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1022100060950&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Having replaced a tube last week, the 10 kW RFPI transmitter on 15038 no longer has a backup; if this new one blows, that frequency will be off the air. Replacements cost $650. Had a piece of equipment taken out by lightning strikes, a compressor- limiter, need a replacement, so sometimes program audio is overdriven, or underdriven on 7445 SSB. Operators have to watch the levels closely. Someone in Europe wanted this frequency on air earlier than 0200, so have been experimentally opening it as early as 0100 or even 0000. Is it really propagating? Reports wanted. Far Right Radio Review has a new edition this week discussing clandestine radio in Central America (James Latham, RFPI Mailbag June 14 first airing at 2000, notes by gh for DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. History of R. Reloj, which claims on website still to be on 6006: http://escazu.infoweb.co.cr/radioreloj/Default.asp?s=pri&ss=gr&t=cto&d=2002/03/2\2&fl=cteprigr220320021.txt (via Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB Bloopers: I enjoy many of HCJB's programs: some Christian, but my favorites are HRT and DXPL. Listening to HCJB is fun - waiting for bloopers. May 7th at 0230 UT on 21470 I heard somebody say that 21470 is for North America (The signal was very strong, but it was the service to India). A week or two later they announced on a North America frequency that they were using 11890 (A winter frequency for Europe). (KA2HPU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Pirate, R. Nova International, 9290.54, June 8 0200-0320+, pop music, full IDs. Also heard ``RNI`` IDs and ``Radio Nova`` jingles. Weak. Still there at 0620 but very weak. Last heard these guys back in late January (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS. THE FALKLANDS GET WIRED A Scottish printer played a crucial part in the fight for the Falklands - without leaving his cottage. Twenty years on, he has travelled to the islands and is discovering how the information revolution has changed things... http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/hi/english/uk/newsid_2042000/2042375.stm (BBC News Online via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** FINLAND. SHARP CUTS AT RADIO FINLAND Radio Finland will end foreign service broadcasts on shortwave in English, German and French. Some foreign language programming will however continue to be broadcast locally for the domestic audience, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) announced on Wednesday. While trying to cut costs, YLE will maintain a shortwave service in Finnish and Swedish to serve license fee payers traveling abroad. Company sources say that Russian broadcasts will continue to be heard at least on the AM band, which reaches Northern Europe. Foreign service in English, German and French is bound to end when the current schedule expires on October 27th 2002. The cutbacks are part of a Development plan, which was approved by the YLE Administrative Council on June 12th to guide YLE operations in 2003-2005. Official decisions to confirm the proposed measures are expected in late August (DXing.info June 12th, 2002 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. The media authority at Magdeburg allocated the Burg 261 frequency to Europe 1 and sells this license as one "for digital use". Further down in the text the qualification "as soon as possible" is given, so 261 is to go digital when (if ever) DRM car radios are common on the market. The planned program is described as a full service program, aiming especially at car and truck drivers. Anyway this will be a new program, in German of course and to be produced within Sachsen-Anhalt, no relay of the French program from Paris (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. GOVERNMENT WANTS TO GIVE TV STATION TO CHURCH Guatemala City, June 12 (CRU) --- The President of Guatemala wants to give the government`s TGCE-TV channel 5 to the Catholic Church in Guatemala, but the Church is wary of the gift, according to an informed source. International news organizations reported the proposal this week, the president saying that the government does not have the funds to operate the station, one of the nation`s five most important stations, and that it wants to give the station to a national nonprofit organization. Guatemala`s four other major stations, all commercial, are owned by a Mexican living in Miami, and the government wants to keep TGCE-TV in Guatemalan ownership. The Catholic Church, which does not have a station at all, is the likely benefited of the educational and cultural station, which reportedly belongs to the military. The matter is not as straightforward as it looks, according to the informed source. ``Some days ago, Señor Presidente made it official that channel 5 broadcast television would be given to the Catholic Church as a civic [nonprofit] organization but with the condition that it would have to be open to other such institutions among which logically would be evangelical churches, political groups, labor unions, and so on. As you can see then, the Catholic Church would only have a part in the programming but the government wants the Catholic Church to administer the channel, and that would be a tremendous expense for the Church because in any bad situation could happen, the channel would be the direct and total responsibility of the Catholic Church.`` According to this source, the Church would then be exposed to the criticism of politicians who would take advantage of the situation in one or another manner solely for their benefit and not that of the Church. The present government, said to be extraordinarily corrupt, is in large part composed of evangelicals who have assumed much of the power in this central American nation. The evangelicals now make up 40% of the population, according to some estimates. During the 36 year-long civil war that saw 140,000 killed and disappeared, and constant human rights atrocities, the evangelical churches grew at a great rate, reportedly financed by the United States Central Intelligence Agency as a counterweight to the Catholic Church, which was deeply involved in social justice for the Indians and mestizos that make up 90% of Guatemala`s 11 million people. Next year is election year in Guatemala, and the gift of Channel 5 may have that event in mind also as a way to win Catholic votes for the FRG party. If TGCE-TV were given to the Church, it would have total responsibility but only part of the broadcast time, the source told CRU. ``This is a decision more political than collaborative,`` said the source; ``then they can say, `We gave it to them but they did not want it` or `We gave it to them but they did not know how to run it.``` Guatemala, along with Nicaragua, is the only Central American country in which the Catholic Church has no broadcast television station. In Costa Rica, the Archdiocese operates Telefides, Channel 40; in El Salvador channel 57 and the new Television Agapé, channel 8; in Honduras, Televisión Solidaridad channel 48; and in Panamá, Telecinco, channel 5. In the Caribbean, the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic operates Televida, channel 41, which is now on satellite and is being transformed by Catholic bishops, priests, and laymen into a continental television network (Catholic Radio Update June 17 via DXLD June 15) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SOLAR ECLIPSE DATA DOCUMENT DROP IN SUN`S MICROWAVE INTENSITY: On June 11, a partial eclipse (technically, an annular eclipse) began just after 0000 UTC, covering roughly half of the sun at maximum, which occurred at around 0120 UTC. For continental US viewers, the event was visible primarily on the West Coast. The Solar Radio Burst Locator at Caltech`s Owens Valley Radio Observatory near Bishop, California, continuously monitors the sun`s microwave output over the entire solar disk. Caltech`s Brian L. Dougherty has provided graphs of the solar microwave eclipse. A data plot shows a relative dip in intensity observed within three frequency ranges. To prepare this plot, averages were calculated on the day of the eclipse and the day before the eclipse within the 2-4, 4-8, and 8-16 GHz bands. Then the ratio of fluxes on June 11 versus those measured on June 10 was formed. To view the graph, visit the microwave eclipse Web page http://srbl.caltech.edu/020610.html -- thanks to (Bob Gonsett, W6V, ARRL Letter June 14 via John Norfolk, DXLD) If it`s an annular eclipse, which it was, far more than 50% of the sun is covered. Do they really think the Moon`s orbit is so eccentric that it could apparently cover as little as 50% of the sun??? The 50 percent figure applies to parts of CONUS. Not to the maximum eclipse. Nor did it begin just after 0000 UT. Maybe for Americans. We realize everything revolves around the USA, but must we also include celestial bodies? (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Media Network has published their review of the Sirius direct broadcast satellite radio service. You can read it at: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/sirius020614.html When they reviewed the XMSR competitive system last week, they pointed out that the XMSR folks had chosen to use geosync satellite orbits which cause low elevation angles for receivers in northern latitudes. The elliptical orbits used by Sirius provide a higher angle and thus reduce the need for terrestrial repeaters to fill in the canyons of the big cities. I commented here that I was anxious to see if Media network pointed out any of the disadvantages of the elliptical orbit in their coverage of the Sirius system. In my opinion they pointed out a fact about a disadvantage of the elliptical orbit but failed to explain why that fact could be a problem. MN ignored another significant disadvantage altogether. MN did point out that the Sirius receivers are more complex as a result of their choice of elliptical orbits. MN shrugged this off as unimportant because the sale price of the Sirius and XMSR receivers are about the same. MN ignored the fact that reliability is normally inversely proportional to complexity and parts count. Time will tell if the Sirius receivers are as reliable as the XMSR receivers. MN pointed out that the system uses command and telemetry relay stations in Panama and Ecuador. The reason for that added complexity is that in order to adjust the height of the top of the orbit (apogee) it is necessary to fire thruster engines at the bottom of the orbit (perigee). At perigee the elliptical orbit satellites are below the horizon as seen from the United States. NASA learned many years ago, that locating important command and telemetry facilities in foreign countries, made these facilities vulnerable to political changes and extortion by the governments. Facilities essential to the operation of the Sirius system are now vulnerable to the often chaotic political conditions in Latin America. The article was totally silent on another aspect of the elliptical orbit which could be detrimental to spacecraft life. The elliptical orbit requires the satellites to dip down into the area known as the "Van Allen Radiation Belt." This is a region of intense radiation resulting from interaction of the earth's magnetic field and the solar wind. The high radiation levels require special techniques and radiation-hardened components to be used in the manufacture of the satellites. The radiation can cause premature component failures and cause solar arrays, that generate the electricity used by the satellite, to degrade faster than they would at geosync altitude. In my opinion the article did a good job of pointing out that XMSR chose to locate its headquarters in the slums of Northeast DC while Sirius elected to locate in the McGraw-Hill Building in high-rent Midtown Manhattan. But so what? I personally think a radio service can be located anywhere in these days of excess fibre-optic cable capacity. The studio location is essentially transparent to the customer except for the quality of the sound and program material that comes out of the radio. A high-rent headquarters location does nothing for the customer except possibly raise the subscription fee. It seems to me that Sirius has gone out of their way to choose orbital complexity over simplicity, and a fancy address over more frugal options. Neither decision benefits the customer. It seems like, given a choice, the Sirius management elects the more expensive option. (Joe Buch, DE, June 14, swprograms OT via DXLD) Looks to me --- the non-technical person here --- that the articles parse the technical plusses and minusses vis-à-vis the two services pretty much down the middle. OK --- but what of the programming? This discussion, to me, underlines the lost dimension in almost every shortwave, satellite or internet discussion these days. Everyone waxes poetic, philosophizes and deeply inspects the technical features of the delivery mechanisms. Few, if any, give the same degree of attention to the product being sent over those mechanisms. The mantra I keep hearing is "100 channels...100 channels", as if the sheer number should convince one that there is something of value there. To me, music is fine; and the fact that I can get some styles that I can't get over terrestrial "free" radio is a draw, to some extent. (Of course, I can get that from CDs as well.) What would be of more interest is HOW that music is presented. What is the mix? Are the presenters knowledgeable about the music and free to share that knowledge with the listeners? Is that knowledge infused into the way the product is presented (such as the way classical music is presented over CBC Radio Two, for example)? Or is it just a fancier, but still pedestrian random sampling of tunes related only by the fact that they fit the definition of "80s rock" or "new country" and the like. Of greater interest to me, a shortwave listener and international broadcasting fan, is the "spoken word" programming. There seem to be far fewer of these than the music channels and less effort seems to have been expended in this area. Several of them seem to be just the audio portions of TV channels. An interesting dilemma for me is to which of the two to subscribe for international coverage. XM has the BBC Info and Entertainment feed; Sirius, on the other hand, has WRN but only the BBC News feed. Was this BBC arrangement (and juxtaposition with WRN) an accident or by design? Both services have C-SPAN; why can't or don't they both carry WRN? Why aren't both BBC feeds available on each service? Why not approach other international public networks like the CBC, ABC (Australia), RNZ, RTE to place their channels on these services? (I actually personally asked Lee Abrams of XM this question and he seemed interested in the suggestion. But he also explained that he was "channel-locked" at this time.) One weakness, again to me, is the fact that both services ape exclusively the singular approach taken today by commercial terrestrial radio that divides channels along the lines of narrowly defined interests. This is understandable to a point on a number of levels (targeting ads, establishing brand loyalty, etc.); but it would seem to me that the advent of services like these should have within them the capacity to encourage a greater degree of exploration and experimentation in this regard. Right now, it seems that XM and Sirius is largely more of the same -- much more of the same, to be sure; but, more of the same nonetheless (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) Andy asked me to pass along to everyone the following comments back regarding the satellite radio series: "Andy Sennitt has read with interest the points made by Joe Buch and John Figliozzi. Johan de Koster is RN's Head of News Production, and Rene Corjanus is RN's Head of Automation. They went to visit XM and Sirius specifically to study the technical production facilities, and that was the subject of the presentation which was adapted for the Web. The issues of programming and the satellite transmission systems raised by Joe and John are important, but were outside the remit of the presentation. MN intends to continue its coverage of XM and Sirius in future articles, when these and other matters can be addressed." (Rich Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** IRAN. MASHHAD RADIO REPORTING ON U.S. SHOWS CHANGES... Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's Mashhad station broadcasts the news in Dari twice a day. Each show is 30 minutes long. In all, Mashhad radio transmits for 11 hours a day. A survey of the 44 news broadcasts from 14 May-5 June shows some changes in the pattern of anti-American and anti-Israeli items and reports on Iranian activities in Afghanistan. There were 69 reports or commentaries that were hostile to the U.S. Some of these were fairly straightforward. In the 5 June evening broadcast, a report that the U.S. had referred to Iran as part of an "axis of evil" was followed immediately by a commentary criticizing allegations that Tehran supports terrorism. In the morning of 3 June, Mashhad radio reported that more than 5,000 Afghans have been killed by U.S. bombing. And on 29 May, there was an item about Amnesty International's report regarding losses sustained by Afghan civilians as a result of U.S. bombing. There were reports about civilian casualties in Khost Province during the 18 May and 17 May broadcasts, and on 15 May, it was reported that a cleric was killed by the bombings. A 14 May commentary said that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is responsible for explosions in Karachi. Sometimes, the U.S. was portrayed as the enemy of Islam, which is the predominant faith in Afghanistan. A 30 May report that the Afghan people oppose the U.S. military presence in their country was immediately followed by a report that the U.S. is using the Afghan issue as a pretext for maintaining a presence in Central Asia and the Caucasus. A 23 May report about American bombing raids was followed by a report that the U.S. soon would establish a special military headquarters in Afghanistan. In the 14 May evening broadcast, a coalition of Pakistani clerics asked their government not to allow the establishment of U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation offices; then there was a report that American forces would be deployed in the border regions, and this was followed by a report that U.S. forces disguised as Afghans had launched operations in Pakistan's tribal areas. ...AS DOES ITS PRAISE OF IRAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS. There were at least 50 reports about Iran's contributions to Afghanistan during the 14 May-5 June period. Iranian contributions in the educational sector were emphasized by Mashhad radio. On 4 June, the rector of Kabul University described the presence of Afghan students in Iranian institutions of higher learning. Iran is also portrayed as a defender of the Islamic faith. On 4 June, a Lebanese official was quoted as saying that Muslims should emulate Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini if they want to live proudly, and in the morning of 3 June, the first five stories were about religious issues. On 30 May, a Pakistani official was interviewed about the Islamic unity celebrations in Iran. The extent of anti-Israel reporting was relatively limited during the 14 May-5 June period. During the 17 April-10 May period, Mashhad radio's reports about domestic Afghan themes covered: (1) refugee repatriation; (2) news about Herat Province and promotion of its governor, Ismail Khan; (3) counternarcotics news; and (4) Loya Jirga news. In the 14 May-5 June period, news about the Loya Jirga greatly increased in frequency. There were 82 reports about the Loya Jirga during the 14 May-5 June period. Mashhad radio carried at least 36 reports about refugee issues. There were seven reports about problems encountered by Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Refugees in Iran, on the other hand, were portrayed as receiving better treatment from official institutions. There was only a handful of narcotics-related reports by Mashhad radio during the 14 May-5 June period. ("RFE/RL Iran Report," 10 June, via RFE/RL Media Matters June 14 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. This is, of course, the former Atlantic 252 from Ireland. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) TEAMTALK STAFF VOTE ON STRIKE ACTION OVER JOB CUTS Dan Milmo, Wednesday June 12 2002, The Guardian Staff at Teamtalk, the sports news website and radio station, are threatening to black out the company's World Cup coverage in a dispute over job cuts. Journalists have held a strike ballot and have earmarked June 21 as the first date for industrial action. The World Cup quarter finals kick off on that date and England face a possible clash with Brazil on June 22 if they overcome Denmark this weekend. The National Union of Journalists stepped in after Teamtalk executives announced plans to axe 75 staff from the 280-strong workforce. John Hogan, the father of the chapel at Teamtalk, said many staff on flexible contracts had been handed their P45s and given short notice periods. "It has not been generous at all and it has not given people time to sort out their futures elsewhere," said Hogan. "There have been stacks of redundancies in internet sports journalism, so it will take them longer to get new jobs. "We have to be realistic - and we know the company is in trouble - but the packages on the table are disgraceful." Hogan said he expected the strike to go ahead and the ballot results are expected over the next 24 hours. Teamtalk has 80 NUJ members out of an editorial staff of about 120. All are based at the company's head office in Leeds. The job losses are part of a strategic review of the business, which is being taken over by online bookmaker UKBetting. Last year Teamtalk posted pre-tax losses of £15.3m on a turnover of £9.7m. Doubts are also surfacing over the future of radio station Teamtalk 252, which launched only three months ago on the frequency used previously by pop station Atlantic 252. Despite gaining about 400,000 listeners, Teamtalk 252 suffers from a weak long-wave signal and a lack of sports rights. Analysts doubt the station will be able to lure listeners away from the BBC's Radio 5 Live or Kelvin MacKenzie's TalkSport. Teamtalk executives were not available for comment. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ITALY. [SW-pirates] Schedule and frequency change at IRRS-Shortwave Hi There, IRRS-Shortwave has changed their main frequencies, and reduced their operating schedule on Shortwave. For the current period we are now broadcasting (only) in the 22 m.b. as follows : Monday through Friday: 0530-0630 UT (0730-0830 Central European Time) on 13,840 kHz Saturday and Sunday 0800-1200 UT (1000-1400 CET) on 13,840 kHz All transmissions on Shortwave may be heard in Europe, N Africa and the Middle East. We expect DX reception in USA, Australia and NZ. Transmissions are in parallel to our Internet audio streaming service at http://mp3.nexus.org (24 hrs). We will appreciate receiving reports, please send reception reports to: e-mail: reports@nexus.org or to: IRRS-Shortwave, PO Box 10980, I-20110 Milano, Italy, We will gladly confirm reception on the new frequency by QSL. QSL and verifications requests my also be sent directly to the addresses that you hear on the air. More information will be available at http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules. Please feel free to pass on this information to other listeners and DXers. Thanks. 73, Ron / reports@nexus.org (swpirates egroup June 15 via Mike Terry, DXLD) [SW-pirates] Radio 510 International Frequency Change Howdy! IRRS has changed their frequency to the 22 Metre Band on 13840 kHz. This means that 3985 and 7120 are not in use for the time being. Radio 510 International will now be reduced to a two hour show every week on Saturday and Sunday (repeats only!) 13840 is coming in very strong at my QTH in Switzerland. I'd be very very grateful if any listener out there could check the signal at these times: Saturday and Sunday 0800-1200 UT on 13840. Radio 510 International programmes are not being relayed at the moment BUT will resume in the next coming weeks. More information will follow soon. Many thanks for your ears! 73's DJ Stevie Station Manager "Visit us before the whole world does!" We update every day - do you? http://www.radio510.org (swpirates egroup Jun 15 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA/RUSSIA. Please find below a response of Mr. Mikhail Timofeyev (GPR-2, St. Petersburg) and our comments at http://www.zilionis.lt/history/1386-e.htm (R. Pleikys, Lithuania, Jun 3, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) [It follows a comment of Mikhail Timofeyev, frequency manager (?) for the Bolshakovo transmitting site and thus 'responsible' for the frequency 1386 kHz against the Lithuanian usage of this QRG. CRW] ** MACEDONIA. I've been trying to hear Macedonia on mediumwave for several years and finally successed yesterday evening - thanks no doubt to this new 1,200 kW transmitter, which the report failed to mention, is operating on 810 kHz. Radio Skopje was clearly audible here at 1930 UT tune-in on 810 kHz, with news in Macedonian. It was in the clear for several minutes before being lost under the co-channel Spanish station and BBC Radio Scotland, both of which were just starting to fade in. Looking at the sunset/sunrise charts for June, the best window for reception of Macedonia in southern England at the moment is likely to be early evening from approx 1800 until around 1930 UT when the Spanish co-channel interference starts to increase. North of the Midlands, reception is not going to be so easy unless you can null out R Scotland! (Dave Kenny, Caversham, AOR7030+Welbrook K9AY amplified loops June 12, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** MEXICO. INICIO DE LA RADIODIFUSIÓN EN MÉXICO Y LATINOAMÉRICA [history of XEH Monterrey] Ingeniero de profesión, Constantino de Tárnava fue pionero de la radiodifusión en México y Latinoamerica. Nacido en la ciudad de Monterrey, México, su infancia no fue muy diferente a la de los chiquillos de su época, pero en la adolescencia empezó a mostrar un gran interés por la electrónica... http://www.geocities.com/familiatarnava/ CIRT: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Radio y Televisión ANTECEDENTES HISTÓRICOS DE LA RADIO El ingeniero Constantino de Tárnava, es reconocido como el iniciador de la radio en México, ya que en 1919 instala en la ciudad de Monterrey, Nuevo León, la primera estación experimental en nuestro país. En octubre de 1921 su proyecto radiofónico se consolida al inaugurar la emisora CYO, posteriormente identificada como XEH... http://www.cirt.com.mx/historiadelaradio.htm (Via Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. Radio Estrella del Mar of Managua, Nicaragua, has completely redone its website and has added much more information and links, including a page with the latest Radio Católica al Día, the Spanish edition of this newsletter. You can visit them at http://www.radioestrelladelmar.com (Catholic Radio Update June 17 via DXLD June 15) ** PERU. NOVA PERUANA. Rádio Paz Perú Internacional transmitindo desde Chiclayo, na província homônima no departamente Lambeyeque é uma nova emissora puvida em 12 de Junho à 0155 nos 4678.86 kHz. Identificações como Radio Paz, Radio Paz Internacional ou Radio Paz Perú. Divulgado o seguinte endereço eletronico : radiopaz@t... [truncated by yahoogroups] ([reporter not given], Short Wave Bulletin, Suécia via Play DX via @tividade DX June 15 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. From http://www.tmtmetropolis.ru/metropolis/stories/2002/06/07/102.html TCHAIKOVSKY CONTEST SET TO BEGIN, By Raymond Stults Beginning Friday morning at the Moscow Conservatory, the first of 125 young piano and violin contestants from 29 countries opens the initial round of the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition. Cello contestants, 65 in number, begin their part of the competition Saturday at the Concert Hall on the Arbat, while some 92 vocal contestants start their first round on Wednesday at the Dom Soyuzov. Founded in 1958 and held every four years since, the competition remains an important event in the musical life of Moscow and of Russia. But it no longer seems to hold the same prestige it once did internationally, in particular among young musicians from the West. Some of the Tchaikovsky Competition's decline in standing can no doubt be traced to the enormous growth in the number of musical competitions worldwide over the past four decades, many of them offering larger prizes and greater professional opportunities. But at least as important in contributing to the competition's loss of prestige have been the controversies it has engendered in recent times and what is perceived as its strong bias, both in choice of contestants and in prize-giving, toward musicians from the former Soviet Union. The last three competitions have all been marked by scandal. In 1990, as the Soviet Union entered its final stages of disintegration, the air was filled with complaints, by foreign contestants at least, about shabby accommodation and poor food. In 1994, none of the juries in any of the instrumental contests could find a contestant worthy of first prize, an outcome which until then had occurred in only three of the nine earlier competitions. And four years ago, the clear favorite for first prize, England's Freddy Kempf, found himself relegated to third place, behind two pupils of jury member and Moscow Conservatory professor Sergei Dorensky. Just as in 1998, this year relatively few Western musicians appear on the competition's overall list of 267 contestants from 35 countries. In the vocal contest, more than half are Russians. In each of the three instrumental categories, musicians from the former Soviet Union and three Asian countries -- China, Japan and South Korea -- together form a substantial majority. Once again, as in 1998, the now 89-year-old dean of Russian composers, Tikhon Khrennikov, has been chosen as the competition's chairman. He remains a curious choice to lead such an event in the new Russia given his well-known efforts, as long-time head of the Soviet Union of Composers, to suppress all that was new and innovative among his colleagues. Some hope for a break with the past, however, lies in this year's selection of jury members, which has a distinctly more international flavor than in any previous competition. Although all four juries are chaired by Russians -- in each case a previous competition first- or second-prize winner -- only the vocal jury has a majority made up of current or former citizens of what was once the Soviet Union. Vladimir Kraynev (first prize as pianist, 1970) heads the piano jury, which includes, among its better-known members, local favorite Eliso Virsaladze, France's Brigitte Angerer and Brazil's Nelson Freire. Chairing the violin jury is violinist and artistic director of the Russian National Orchestra Vladimir Spivakov (second prize, 1970). His colleagues notably include the near legendary Zakhar Bron, who, as one-time professor at the Novosibirsk Conservatory, taught both of today's top young Russian violinists, Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin. The superb cellist-conductor Alexander Rudin (second prize, 1982) leads the cello jury, whose membership amounts in part to a Who's Who of Moscow cellists. Vocal jury chairman, the distinguished and now nearly retired Bolshoi Theater bass, Yevgeny Nesterenko (first prize, 1970), leads a group which includes such renowned singers as Peruvian tenor Luigi Alva, American soprano Martina Arroyo and Russian baritone Sergei Leiferkus. The first round of the competition serves to separate the chaff from the wheat and is largely attended by hardcore competition addicts. Much more interesting is the second round, when contestants give virtually concert-length recitals. As in the first round, the pianists play solo, while the violinists, cellists and singers perform with piano accompaniment. The real excitement of the competition arrives with its third round, when eight finalists in each category perform with orchestra, playing or singing a work by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and another chosen from a designated group of works by other composers. As usual, all eight pianists will no doubt pick Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and at least half will feel compelled to play that lengthy virtuoso show-off piece, the Piano Concerto No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninov. Third-round performances take place June 18-21 for the pianists, violinists and cellists. The third round of the vocal contest occupies but a single evening, that of June 21. Leading prizewinners of the various contests then display their talents once again at concerts on June 24 and 25. Whatever its defects and no matter what scandal it produces this time around, the 12th Tchaikovsky Competition should, like its predecessors, provide a great treat for local music lovers. And, along the way, it is bound, as always in the past, to uncover some superb young musical talent. (via Ivan Grishin, June 10, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. BANDITRY AS USUAL? By Robert Coalson "It's only business" was the mantra of the Russian government and its apologists throughout the dismembering of oligarch Vladimir Gusinskii's media empire in 2000-01. That process ended with the closing in April 2001 of the daily "Sevodnya" and the weekly news magazine "Itogi" -- although a publication under that name continues to appear on newsstands -- and the death of the popular television channel NTV, although a channel continues to broadcast under that name. Even those who believed the whole thing was "only business" -- if there were any such people -- would have to admit that the public was poorly served by the loss of these three media outlets, which, for all their faults, demonstrated as much potential for competent, independent, and popular journalism as any in post-Soviet Russia. By attributing these losses to "market forces," the Russian government may be undermining public support for reform and bolstering antimarket sentiment over the long term: The public knows very well who won and who lost from this particular business deal. Far more quietly, but also under the rubric of "business," the weekly newspaper "Obshchaya gazeta" suspended publication at the end of May. The newspaper, and its creator and editor in chief, Yegor Yakovlev, were among the few who passed through the entire post-Soviet era with their reputations unsullied. Yakovlev, it should be noted, dismissed the NTV business dispute as "plain banditry." "Obshchaya gazeta" was created in August 1991, bringing together the editorial teams of several newspapers that were banned during the abortive coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Throughout the Boris Yeltsin era, it maintained a reputation for principled liberal criticism, reporting aggressively on the controversial issues of Chechnya, state corruption, and privatization. During the 1996 presidential election campaign, when virtually all the country's media -- including NTV and the rest of Gusinskii's empire -- thoroughly disgraced themselves in their eagerness to support Yeltsin's re- election, Yakovlev's "Obshchaya gazeta" quixotically endorsed Yabloko leader Grigorii Yavlinskii. True to its origins as a sort of communal response to crisis, "Obshchaya gazeta" also served over the years as a rallying point whenever journalists felt the state was encroaching on the public's right to know. Seven special editions of the newspaper were published at critical moments, most recently on 7 April 2001 in reaction to the NTV crisis. That issue bore the logos of nearly 160 national and regional media outlets and public organizations. A special edition of "Obshchaya gazeta" was also issued in February 2000 in connection with the Russian government's detention of RFE/RL's Chechnya correspondent, Andrei Babitskii. However, good journalism and a clean reputation are, it seems, hardly the ingredients for market success in Russia. Yakovlev is over 70 years old and can be excused for wanting to bow out. However, in his carefully worded final editorial comment for "Obshchaya gazeta," he cited economic factors for the paper's change of fortune: "The money ran out." So the respected journalist sold his newspaper to a 33-year-old businessman from St. Petersburg named Vyacheslav Leibman, a man without any publishing experience who is best-known for parlaying his romantic association with the daughter of former St. Petersburg Mayor Anatolii Sobchak into success in the oil-export business. By all accounts, Leibman is someone who knows exactly what the phrase "it's only business" means in Russia. "Kommersant-Daily" reported the selling price of the money-losing paper as $3 million. Leibman's first step as owner -- a tactic that he apparently borrowed from the takeover scenarios played out at "Segodnya" and "Itogi" -- was to fire the newspaper's entire staff. Firing the talented editorial staff wholesale at the beginning avoids the potential embarrassment of them walking out if they find that their idea of journalism and his are not compatible. Then he suspended publication of the paper until at least the fall. Whatever, if anything, emerges from this reconstruction process will certainly bear no resemblance to Yakovlev's "Obshchaya gazeta." Why would Leibman buy the paper and then immediately discard its only real asset, its staff? On the one hand, the point could be just to quietly close down an independent paper and remove it from the hands of a journalist who is widely respected and supported throughout Russia and around the world. Three million dollars might not seem like a lot to pay to avoid an NTV-style scandal. On the other hand, although "Obshchaya gazeta" itself had an insignificant Moscow circulation of just over 18,000 copies, it also had a well-developed network of inserts in leading regional papers in cities around the country. That network's circulation was reportedly 127,000. Getting a tailored message from the center out to the regions has been a daunting task in Russia, at least until the Kremlin's steady process of reining in the media over the last two years made it easier. So, an aging lion of Russian journalism gets a well-earned rest, a newspaper's fate is decided according to the rules of the Russian "market," and a cantankerous voice that kept a sharp eye on the Kremlin for the last decade falls silent. Yakovlev is, of course, far from an ideal model of an independent journalist. He is very much a product of the Soviet system in which he was formed, and throughout his long career he subscribed unabashedly to the idea that the media's job was to educate the public and to form public opinion. Despite the 1996 presidential election fiasco, Yakovlev still maintained in early 1997 that the main task of journalists is "to prepare the people for the next presidential election" and to help them choose "correctly." Responding to these comments, analyst Laura Belin wrote in "The New Presence" that "the quality and professionalism of news coverage will suffer as long as most journalists conspire to protect the public from 'dangerous' information at crucial political junctures." Yakovlev was one of the greatest figures of the greatest phase of Soviet and Russian journalism -- the heyday of glasnost when, for a moment, all the forces of nature and politics seemed favorably aligned. The government paid all the bills, but censorship was increasingly relaxed. The public seemed to live for each new issue of the leading papers, some of which had circulations in the millions. And at that time there were no business interests -- or, more accurately, political interests posing as business interests. However, Yakovlev was always mindful of the looming danger inherent whenever the media are financially dependent on the state. He welcomed as progress the shift toward a market-oriented media sector, even if "Obshchaya gazeta" never made the leap. "After all, in order for a monkey to become a human being," Yakovlev quipped, "it had to fall out of the tree and break its tail." While the image of falling out of a tree and getting hurt seems apt, it is hard to imagine that what is going on in the Russian media now - - exemplified most recently by the fate of "Obshchaya gazeta" -- is anything like evolution. Robert Coalson is an RFE/RL editor and analyst. (RFE/RL Media Matters June 14 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Radio Hargeisa (non). Ich höre auf 7530 kHz immer noch kein Somalia, sondern nur chinesische Nonstop-Musik mit Signalstärke bis 9. Das ist natürlich nicht Radio Hargeisa, eine Stationsansage war nicht zu hören. Sendeschluss ist immer kurz nach 1900 UT (H. Kuhl, Germany, Jun 10, 2002 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. June 14 2002 http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=2605 Reporters Without Borders called today on the government of Somaliland (an autonomous region of Somalia) to reverse its 5 June ban on all privately-owned radio stations. The information ministry had announced that "no other voice" could be heard on the air except the government-run Radio Hargeysa and that privately-owned stations would not be allowed because of "potential dangers." It warned anyone with transmitting equipment to hand it over to the authorities and said those who did not do so would be punished. "This move is a serious obstacle to press freedom and the growth of independent and diverse expression in the region," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard in a letter to Somaliland's president, Dahir Riyale Kahin. "The government has taken this step because it knows most of the region's inhabitants get their news from the radio." The country's only radio station is the official Radio Hargeysa, but several people and opposition parties have applied for broadcasting frequencies. Several privately-owned newspapers are published and sold in Somaliland's main towns. Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but yet to be recognised by the outside world. Reporters Without Borders notes that in Puntland, another autonomous Somali region, the authorities last month shut down the main privately-owned radio and TV station. (Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world, as well as the right to inform the public and to be informed, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Reporters Without Borders has nine national sections (in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom), representatives in Abidjan, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Montreal, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Tokyo and Washington and more than a hundred correspondents worldwide). (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. ÁFRICA DO SUL/ QSL UTILITÁRIA: 16816 - ZSC, Cape Town Radio - 40 dias. Recebido cartão QSL e carta contando história dos serviços prestados pela ZSC. QTH: Private Bag X01, Milnerton 7435, South Africa (Ânderson Oliveira, Itaúna, MG, Brasil, @tividade DX June 15 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. I just tune around to catch what`s still running, active, formats, themes, hosts, etc. on SW talk genre. Anti-Stair shows still run local Wed and Thu nights over 7415 WBCQ. Guests on phone are former followers. They ``testify`` vs. R. G. Stair on the shows (Bob Thomas, CT, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. 13610, Radio Damascus, 31 May, 2011, in English criticising Israel, SINPO 54442, interfered by heterodyne whistles. As usual, carrier level was good, but due to low audio rate program content was hardly readable. (MIDXB No. 270 - Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand, 9885, June 8 1230-1258* English news, ID, program about smoking; and on Thai culture. Local music. Fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. In past years BBC did air the championship match of the World Cup in its entirety; that is probably the only oppurtunity to hear a live Cup game on BBCWS. So, shortly before 1100 UT on June 30, you should expect to hear live coverage of the championship game, which will be played in Yokohama, Japan, on the "Beeb". How shameful FIFA (like the IOC) has become, preventing live BBCWS streams... another reason as to why shortwave coverage in North America really needs to be reconsidered! If you can't get live streaming, then with no SW you are out of luck. It's time that international organizations realize that the future of electronic media coverage, whether the World Cup or Olympics are going on or not, is now, and that it's time to take advantage of the opportunity that the Web offers to its users (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, June 14, swprograms via DXLD) Stupid ballgames. I rarely have occasion to refer to BBC On Air any more, but the June issue ought to say something about this, no? Page 26 has a FIFA schedule showing the 2002 World Cup Final is on June 29, not 30, but ``all dates subject to alteration``. The stream schedule folder makes no mention of this on Saturday or Sunday, except for a strange entry only in the Europe And North Africa stream (also one of those webcast) for Saturday at 1405-1600 (a bit late in Jakorea), ``FA Cup Final`` but the date shown is 4th, which is not a Sat or Sun in June tho it was in May! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Joe, I wish you could have sat in on some of the discussions at the IOC meeting last summer. It didn't matter where one was from, US, UK or the Pacific, I didn't run into one person who supported the IOC foot-dragging on the webcasting issue. Other sports were also brought up in private conversations (one person also mentioned the World Cup to me) ---- the consensus was that such organisations are cutting their nose to spite their face and saying "no" to a possible source of lucrative revenue income. The issue of possible piracy of signals was raised by François Carrad of the IOC to us and I got the impression from him that if the IOC ignores the issue, it will eventually go away. We in the press pool were not impressed and not amused, to say the least. I mentioned if someone was visually impaired and didn't have access to a TV (i.e. if they lived in developing countries for example)... I could see webcasting of such events helpful to those individuals to be able to enjoy what us sighted folks are able to. It would also lead to creation of jobs, which is important to any country's economy. It is a win-win situation on both sides and FIFA and the IOC better "get it's game on"---before someone else beats them to the punch---and the $$$$$. The refusal of such organisations to embrace webcasting and bring their events to many more people, is, in my opinion, a total disgrace. 73 (Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) I am not sure that 'developing country' users without TV access would have webcast access, though I could envision where an Internet- delivered feed could be feasible for a local rebroadcaster. With the IOC and FIFA, the piracy / redistribution angle is an interesting one. I could envision a radio pirate paying the subscription fee, patching the audio to his/her transmitter, and then putting the audio out on the air. How could one control that? In the days since the speculative Internet bubble burst in early 2000, business-to-consumer based websites have been struggling to come up with a model for doing business that makes money. Early on, banner advertising paid the bills. It doesn't anymore. Further, the bandwidth required to provide event-sized webcasting isn't cheap, either. Remember the Victoria's Secret webcast debacle of early 2000? Remember how you couldn't reach many news websites on 9/11/2001? There was an Interactive Week (I think it was) article just yesterday that cited that most Internet users for consumer purposes won't pay for content -- this came out in some sort of consumer behavior survey. I also suspect no one made the IOC or FIFA a good-enough offer to make them reconsider their stance. On the TV side, broadcasters are in a quandry regarding hard disk TV recorders (TiVO and Replay TV). It's quite easy for people to skip over commercials, which means advertisers feel they're being overcharged for advertising fees. Sports have become spectacle. Spectacle creates demand, but spectacle also costs money. How much would it be worth to you to be able to listen to World Cup live audio? No, I don't want to debate those answers here, but it's a question that needs to be answered. I know people who have cheerfully paid for the NBA and baseball season webcast packages. This suggests that, if any audio webcast content could survive in a for-fee business model, sports are the ticket. On TV in the US, soccer matches carry an "ad box" in one corner of the screen while the action is proceeding. Not sure how you could do that with audio/radio content. Subliminal messaging perhaps? Just kidding, of course. In general, I'm anti-big league sports nowadays. It's all about celebrity and greed, it seems; I can do without both of those. Curmudgeonly yours, (Rich Cuff, ibid.) ** U S A. RADAR BLIMPS PROPOSED TO GET DEFENSE SYSTEM UP, RUNNING Jun 12, 2002 By TED JACKOVICS TAMPA - Blimps larger than a football field - carrying radar to detect aircraft, missiles and ships - would soar 13 miles above the Earth under one proposal for improving homeland defense. In another, the Air Force would reopen sites in North Florida and two other states where it operated a different radar-balloon system intended to detect drug smuggling aircraft and other low-level intruders.... http://www.tampatrib.com/MGALX479B2D.html (via Terry Krueger, FL, June 11, DXLD) ** U S A. Have you heard ``The Right Perspective`` hosted by onetime listeners and radio talkshow callers Frank and John? It airs UT Sats 0200-0400 over WBCQ 7415. A few weeks ago, they left the Omega Radio Network and have used John Lightning`s IILR [?] studio and Hal Turner`s own studios. The R.P. hosts have been vocal about Omega *not* following through on promises made (they`ve used the word *LIES* too), updating TRP website, etc. Omega produces Spectrum and a couple of other SW shows. Spectrum is UT Sun 0300 on WWCR 5070 (Bob Thomas, CT, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. UNIVISIÓN BUYS BIG HOLDER OF HISPANIC RADIO STATIONS June 13, 2002 By JIM RUTENBERG In another sign of the huge growth expected in Spanish-language media, Univision Communications announced yesterday that it would buy the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation - the largest holder of Spanish- language radio stations - for roughly $3 billion in stock. If approved, it would be the largest acquisition among Spanish- language media in the United States - larger than NBC's purchase of the Telemundo television network for $1.98 billion earlier this year. Taken together, the deals underscore the mounting belief among media companies that Madison Avenue realizes the growing importance of the Spanish-speaking audience and will surely funnel more and more money into the media outlets that focus on it in the coming years. But if there is any doubt that Univision will remain the most dominant player in Hispanic media for the foreseeable future - and likely beyond - yesterday's announcement should dispel it. The deal will considerably increase Univision's reach and power. Univision humbles the market share of its rival, Telemundo, drawing nearly 80 percent of the Spanish-language television audience of about five million people nightly. The Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation - 26 percent of which is owned by Clear Channel Communications - has 55 Spanish-language radio stations, including the No. 1 stations in 7 of the top 15 Spanish- language markets, Miami and Los Angeles among them. Upon the deal's completion, Univision would have at least 2 television stations and up to 8 radio stations in 10 of the top 15 Hispanic markets. Univision executives said they would use the new radio stations to promote the Univision television stations and networks - and vice versa - while using the combined reach of the radio and television outlets to draw more sponsors into Spanish-language advertising over all. Univision officials said they would be able to do that by offering one-stop shopping that sponsors had never seen before in Spanish-language media. "There are still many, many advertisers that are not buying Spanish media," said Ray Rodríguez, president and chief operating officer of Univision Networks. With the radio stations, he said, "we can give advertisers a chance to really see the big advertising picture in one shot." "You can buy drive time in radio and in the afternoon be on TV," Mr. Rodríguez said. Despite years of pressure on the companies to come to a deal, Wall Street pummeled Univision's stock yesterday. By the end of trading, the stock price was down $5.84, to $31.86. Hispanic Broadcasting closed up $1.55, to $26. Analysts, however, ascribed much of the drop to typical investor jitters about acquisitions, uneasiness among media investors in general and perhaps even a belief that Univision's purchase meant it was not interested in being bought - a point of serious speculation recently. Analysts interviewed yesterday said they were by and large in favor of the deal, despite recent doubts about media mergers in general, and said they agreed that new promotional opportunities would help drive ratings for both sides. While cross-promotional synergies have failed to live up to expectations in English-language media, there are fewer challenges to them in Spanish-language media, they said. There are so few Spanish- language outlets that the ones that do exist - especially the market leaders - tend to hold tremendous sway with their audiences, they said. "The notion of taking the No. 1 Spanish-language radio presence and combining it with the No. 1 Spanish-language television presence should help accelerate a very good growth story into a great growth story," said Niraj Gupta, managing director and senior broadcasting and cable analyst for Salomon Smith Barney, which upgraded its recommendation on the Univision stock to buy yesterday. Officials at Univision and Hispanic Broadcasting said they did not expect any significant regulatory hurdles to the merger. The purchase of Hispanic Broadcasting is one in a string of moves Univision has made to raise its profile. Within the last couple of years it started a new network, Telefutura, after buying more than a dozen stations from USA Networks for $1.1 billion; began a music division by taking a stake in Disa Records of Mexico and acquiring the Fonovisa label for $210 million; and began a Univision Web site. The company - like NBC - is betting that advertisers will come to Spanish-language in a big way soon. Hispanics account for about 13 percent of the population, yet advertisers spend only 1 percent to 3 percent of their budgets on Spanish-language media by analysts' estimates. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/13/business/media/13SPAN.html?ex=1025064412&ei=1&en=6c186882cecdd33f Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) UNIVISION BECOMES MAJOR MEDIA PLAYER WITH RADIO ACQUISITION Thu Jun 13, 6:14 AM ET By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES - With its acquisition of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., leading Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc. has gained the mass necessary to attract cross-media advertising deals offered to media conglomerates such as Viacom and AOL Time Warner, analysts said.... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020613/ap_wo_en_po/us_hispanic_media_deal_3 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Business SPANISH TV GIANT MOVING INTO RADIO By Sanford Nowlin, Express-News Business Writer Web Posted : 06/13/2002 12:00 AM Univision Communications Inc., the largest U.S. Spanish-language television broadcaster, is buying Spanish-language radio-station group Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. in a $3.5 billion stock deal that will broaden advertisers' access to the nation's fast-growing Hispanic population.... http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=110&xlc=730365&xld=110 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) UNIVISION MAKING RADIO WAVES Thu Jun 13, 2:26 AM ET Jesse Hiestand LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Depending on who you are, buying into the fast-growing U.S. Spanish-language media market got either easier or more difficult Wednesday with Univision's $3.5 billion acquisition of radio group Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. For advertisers, it means ready access and potential discounts for buying across Univision's already market-leading platforms, which include broadcast and cable networks, Latin record labels, an online portal and now -- filling a gap in its portfolio -- radio outlets... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/bpihw/20020613/en_bpihw/univision_making_radio_waves (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) EXECS DEFEND TV DEAL UNIVISIÓN STOCK DROPS 15.5% ON PLAN TO BUY HISPANIC BROADCASTING 06/13/2002 By DIANNE SOLÍS / The Dallas Morning News The merger of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. of Dallas with Univisión Communications Inc. of Los Angeles will give the combined company the multimedia girth to provide corporate America with one-stop shopping as it targets Latino America. On Wednesday, advertising and marketing executives were optimistic. But Univisión stockholders weren't. The official announcement that Hispanic Broadcasting agreed to be bought by Univisión sent Univisión's stock tumbling 15.5 percent to $31.86. Hispanic Broadcasting's stock rose 6 percent to $26, after soaring even higher during the day. The overall effect discounted the value of the deal from $3.5 billion at the time of the announcement to $2.97 billion by the trading day's close. Also Online --- For Univisión, success is spelled fútbol The trouncing of Univisión's stock had many analysts defending the acquisition. Some investors may have been shorting Univisión shares, selling them and buying Hispanic Broadcasting shares, said David Joyce, a media analyst at Miami-based Guzman & Co. "And some investors considered it a pretty high price, but it is an all-stock deal, so there is no debt," Mr. Joyce said. "The buy will fortify Univisión's balance sheet as it adds about $3 billion in equity." Univisión operates 50 television stations, and Hispanic Broadcasting owns 55 radio stations. Each is No. 1 in its medium. The synergies of radio and television were touted Wednesday as perfect. "This transaction is really about 1 plus 1 equals 3," said Andrew Hobson, Univisión's vice president of communication. "There is no question that our shareholders will be better off." The combination will result in a shift of general-market advertising dollars to the Spanish- language market, Mr. Hobson predicted. In Dallas, Victor Ornelas, the head of advertising agency Ornelas & Associates, said the merger should create efficiencies that will drive prices down as corporations make bulkier purchases of commercial time on radio, television and the Internet. "Believe me, that is what our clients are looking for," Mr. Ornelas said. "When you have that dollar to spend, they want to know what the most effective way is to spend that dollar." Hispanic Broadcasting chief McHenry Tichenor was effusive about the deal. "This is a tremendous day for Hispanic Broadcasting and for me personally," said the 47-year-old chairman, chief executive and president, who inherited a company started by his grandfather in Harlingen. "My family has been in the radio business for over 50 years, and we could not have found a better partner than Univisión." Opportunities He told Wall Street analysts in a conference call that the merger presented a fine opportunity to "catch the money." In the last five years, Mr. Tichenor spent $600 million to build the company into a 55- station chain, covering 60 percent of the Hispanic market. During that period, the Latino populace and its buying power swelled. Today, one out of eight people in the United States – and one in six under age 35 years – is Hispanic. Asked whether the company had been on the market, Mr. Tichenor said that the Hispanic Broadcasting board "considered a number of alternatives and concluded that this was the best for our shareholders in immediate and long-term value." Hispanic Broadcasting had earlier indicated it was interested in a merger with rival Telemundo. Under the deal, Hispanic Broadcasting would become Univisión's radio division and remain headquartered in Dallas with existing management. Mr. Tichenor would head the division. The deal, approved by both boards, still must pass federal scrutiny. There could be problems in Dallas-Fort Worth, due to overlapping signals, an Univisión executive said in a conference call with analysts. Univisión owns two television stations and Hispanic Broadcasting owns five radio stations in the market. A Univisión spokeswoman later clarified that the company doesn't expect to sell any stations. San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications Inc., the biggest U.S. radio company, owns a 26 percent stake in Hispanic Broadcasting. And its involvement as an industry consolidated is bound to catch the eyes of some regulators. On Wednesday, Hispanic Broadcasting rival Spanish Broadcasting System Inc. sued the company and Clear Channel, accusing them of earlier violating antitrust law. Clear Channel tried to get underwriters to withdraw Spanish Broadcasting's initial share sale in 1999 and has pressured securities analysts not to publish research on the company, Spanish Broadcasting alleged. Spanish Broadcasting, which is based in Coconut Grove, Fla., also accused Clear Channel and Hispanic Broadcasting of bidding for stations that Spanish Broadcasting wanted to buy, solely to increase the cost. The company hired attorney David Boies, who represented the U.S. Justice Department in its antitrust suit against Microsoft Corp. Clear Channel CEO Lowry Mays said in a prepared statement that the charges are false. Shares of the San Antonio-based company fell $3.91, or 7.9 percent, to $45.89. Univisión dominance Before the merger, Univisión already operated the dominant Spanish- language television network. It regularly scored far higher ratings than Telemundo, which was recently purchased by General Electric Co., operator of the NBC network. In January, Univisión launched another network, TeleFutura. It also operates a cable network, Galavision. Last year, Univisión developed a music unit by purchasing Fonavisa Records and taking a 50 percent stake in Monterrey, Mexico-based Disa. Disa is a leader in the norteña, banda and ranchera genres popular in northern and central Mexico, sources of great migration to the United States. Hispanic Broadcasting does particularly well in those genres. In Los Angeles, for example, its KSCA-FM station has regularly been No. 1 in the market – for any language. Though based in Dallas, Hispanic Broadcasting gets about 40 percent of its revenue from the Los Angeles area, the nation's top Latino market. Marketing executives at Plano-based J.C. Penney Co., a longtime advertiser on Univisión and a retailer with a large Hispanic consumer base, welcomed the merger and the expanded reach it will give a potential advertiser. "It is going to be very good for the Hispanic market because you are now seeing more of a national presence for the Hispanic media," said Manny Fernández, the retailer's manager of multicultural marketing. But there was also caution among the Hispanic marketers. "I think that, in concept, it is very exciting, but we need to wait to see how it is all going to fall out," said Victoria Varela, chief executive officer of the San Antonio-based Cartel Group. As an orchestra, Univisión's diverse sales force is full of many soloists, Ms. Varela said. "The national guy is just out for national sales, and the local guy is just out for local sales, and online is just out for online sales." The Associated Press contributed to this report. (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) UNIVISION TO BUY RADIO FIRM HISPANIC BROADCASTING Reuters Wednesday, June 12, 2002; 8:05 AM LOS ANGELES, June 12 -- Univision Communications Inc., the No. 1 U.S. Spanish-language television group, on Wednesday said it would buy leading U.S. Spanish-language radio broadcaster Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. for $3.5 billion in stock, as it solidifies as a media powerhouse targeting the 35 million U.S. Latinos... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36873-2002Jun12.html (via Dave White, DXLD) Reuters Business Report June 12 SBS SUES RIVALS ON ANTITRUST ALLEGATIONS By Derek Caney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Spanish Broadcasting System Inc., a Spanish- language radio company, on Wednesday sued rivals Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. (NYSE:HSP) and Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE: CCU), accusing them of antitrust violations and moves to depress its share price. ... http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/020612/media_spanishbroadcasting_2.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Another version: http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20020612-000745-2028 (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. CLEAR CHANNEL SAYS STRATEGY MISUNDERSTOOD AS "EVIL" By Sue Zeidler LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Despite accusations it has used its market clout to muscle out competitors, the chief of Clear Channel Communications Inc's market-leading radio unit Friday stood by the company's bigger-is-better strategy, which he said had been misunderstood as "evil." Randy Michaels, chief executive officer of Clear Channel's radio unit, told an industry conference that the company's strategy of merger-driven growth had just begun to pay off and had not impinged on the diversity of offerings for listeners. "The evil intentions attributed to Clear Channel are not true at all," said Michaels, chief executive officer of the San Antonio, Texas-based company's radio unit said during a panel discussion at the Radio and Records convention. When asked what concerned him most, Michaels said: "I think the perception that we do everything to drive cash flow and that we are evil. Because we are leading change, we are perceived as evil," he said. Clear Channel, the nation's largest radio operator with 1,200 stations as well as the largest concert promoter, was sued this week by competitor Spanish Broadcasting System Inc., alleging antitrust violations, and by a Chicago-area woman who says the company gouges concert-goers with high ticket prices. Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold also said this week he was preparing a bill that would impose new restrictions on the recently deregulated radio and concert industries. Feingold and other lawmakers have raised concerns about the wave of consolidation that since 1996 has allowed a handful of companies, led by Clear Channel, to scoop up a large portion of the nation's radio stations. Feingold plans to introduce a bill in the next few weeks seeking to rein in the alleged anti-competitive practices of industry behemoths like Clear Channel. Recording artists, smaller radio companies and local promoters allege that Clear Channel and other large players use their dominant position to shut out competitors, punish artists who do not use their promotion services, and exceed ownership limits by using shell corporations. Additionally, many listeners bemoan the lack of variety or local flavor on radio that they say now features bland, market-research- driven formats. Michaels on Friday defended both his company and the medium. "In the larger scheme of things, radio is holding up better than other mediums like TV and newspapers," he said. "There's more variety than ever. There's never been as much variety or as much money spent on finding out what audiences want," he said. FINGER POINTING Another point of controversy in the industry has been radio firms' ties with independent middlemen paid by record labels to pitch songs to the broadcasters. Record companies have complained as those promotional fees have risen. Several radio executives at the conference accused the recording industry of trying to blame radio for its problems as music companies grapple with its worst downturn in years. "The record companies are having their second sucky year, and that's what's driving all this noise right now," said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Radio, a unit of Emmis Communications Corp. Michaels of Clear Channel agreed. "The labels invented the system to support their music and going to Congress and asking them to review it ... is desperate," he said. Cummings, however, said he was deeply concerned about the effects of consolidation on his and other smaller radio companies. "The whole business is in a redefinition mode," he said during the panel. "I worry about Clear Channel and Infinity. Smaller companies like Emmis can't play the game," he said. Clear Channel's Michaels said the company's aggressive acquisition pace was just beginning to bear fruit: "We make decisions that are driven by long-term issues. We're just beginning to unlock the potential of our strategy." In the House of Representatives, California Democratic Rep. Howard Berman has called for hearings and asked the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department to investigate anti- competitive claims. Reuters/Variety 06/14/02 18:14 ET (via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. SENATOR PREPARING TO TAKE ON BIG RADIO From: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/3471463.htm Posted on Fri, Jun. 14, 2002 BY ANDY SULLIVAN AND SUE ZEIDLER WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES - (Reuters) - Prompted by growing complaints from recording artists and music fans, a Wisconsin senator is preparing a bill that would impose new restrictions on the recently deregulated radio and concert industries. Sen. Russell Feingold, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor Thursday that he was alarmed by a wave of consolidation that since 1996 has allowed a handful of companies to buy up a large portion of the nation's radio stations. Feingold said he would introduce a bill in the next few weeks that would seek to rein in the alleged anti-competitive practices of industry behemoths like Clear Channel Communications Inc., which owns more than 1,200 radio stations as well as the nation's largest concert-promotion company. "The concentration of ownership, both in radio and other facets of the concert industry, has caused great harm to people and businesses that have been involved and concerned about the radio and concert industry for generations," Feingold said. Recording artists, independent radio stations and local promoters allege that Clear Channel and other large players use their dominant position to shut out competitors, punish artists who do not use their promotion services, and exceed ownership limits behind shell corporations. Music fans say the nation's radio stations have sacrificed musical diversity in favor of bland, market-research-driven formats. In the past two days, Clear Channel has been sued by a competitor alleging antitrust violations, and by a Chicago-area woman who says the company gouges concert-goers with high ticket prices as it builds a monopolistic empire. Feingold also said he would look into radio companies' relationships with independent middlemen who record labels pay to pitch songs to radio stations. The recording industry has called for an investigation into the practice as these promotional fees have spiraled. SLOW SALES AT FAULT, EXECS SAY At a convention in Los Angeles, several radio executives said the recording industry, suffering with the worst downturn in years, is trying to blame its woes on radio. "The record companies are having their second sucky year, and that's what's driving all this noise right now," said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Radio, a unit of Emmis Communications Corp. A Clear Channel executive said recording companies should not call on Washington to resolve internal music industry disputes. "The labels invented the system to support their music, and going to Congress and asking them to review it ... is desperate," said Randy Michaels, CEO of Clear Channel's radio division. While competitors have long complained about Clear Channel's hardball tactics, several gave the company a grudging nod of approval. "They've angered a lot of people, but they're really innovative," said Fred Jacobs, president of radio-consulting firm Jacobs Media. A radio-industry spokesman said an independent study found that there were more diverse radio formats now than before 1996, but declined to comment on anti-competitive concerns or any pending legislation. "I'm not sure that people who make the claim that the radio has fewer formats today are actually listening to the radio," said Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters. In the House of Representatives, California Democratic Rep. Howard Berman has called for hearings and asked the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department to investigate anti-competitive claims. An artists' representative said that even though Congress was running out of time to consider new legislation this year, Feingold's statement brought needed attention to the issue. "We're very heartened to see that Sen. Feingold and others see and share our concern, because this has harmed the public and artists," said Ann Chaitovitz, national director of sound recordings for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Reviews of a couple of new books about Philo Farnsworth: 'The Last Lone Inventor': The Crime Behind Every TV June 9, 2002 By JOEL BRINKLEY IN the summer of 1921, a 14-year-old Idaho farm boy was plowing his father's potato field when he glanced back at the long, straight furrows he had just dug and was struck with an inspiration. The boy, Philo T. Farnsworth, had been ruminating about how to transmit and display ''telegraph pictures,'' as the concept of television was known then, when radio was still a novelty. And the furrows suggested a solution: why can't pictures be transmitted line by line, one line followed by another, and displayed so quickly that a viewer would see a full picture? Today every television in the world works in just that way, but hardly anyone knows the genesis of the idea, or that Farnsworth was the true inventor of television. He is little known largely because the Radio Corporation of America drove right over him, even though he held the patents that left no doubt about the legitimacy of his accomplishment. The story of Farnsworth, one of the last major inventors working on his own, not as part of a corporate research office, is both inspirational and discouraging. His history is paired, in real life and in these two books, with the story of David Sarnoff, the ruthless and cunning executive who rose to head RCA when it was a hugely powerful monopoly holding all the significant patents for radio. Sarnoff was driven to ensure that RCA captured the market for television as well, and he was willing to do whatever it took... http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/09/books/review/09BRINKLT.html?ex=1024912896&ei=1&en=34009e57187c743a (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. `Rewind` has gobbled up another casualty. From July 1, South Dakota Public Radio takes the one-hour version at the expense of its long-running `Riders Radio Theatre`, at 1700 UT Sats, which had been followed by the half-hour `Rewind` at 1730. See program grid at http://www.sdpb.org/radio/radio_progra_grid.html In fact, on June 15 at local noon, they mistakenly played the opening commercial --- oops, underwriting announcement for Rewind, but RRT still ran. I`ve tried the hour-long version of `Rewind` and found it drags. I much prefer the half-hour version (and another half an hour of my life to listen to something else). RRT is a really clever, funny show, and I urge everyone to try to find it on some other station if not SDPB, e.g. from PublicRadioFan.com at http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=1040 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. For those who have had problems getting this information from VOA's website, here are some suggested times and frequencies for hearing "Jazz America" on shortwave. For those in North America who have asked, you may do best with some of the transmissions for Europe and North Africa. Some on the West Coast of North America might also want to try the ones for Asia and Oceania. [Sat and Sun following news on the hour] 0900-1000 on 11930, 13610, 15150 (to Far East Asia, South Asia, Oceania) 1300-1400 on 6160, 9645, 9760, 15160, 15425 (to Far East Asia, South Asia, Oceania) 2100-2200 on 6040, 6095, 9530, 9760 (to Europe/N. Africa) 2100-2200 on 6035, 7375, 7415, 11975, 15410, 15445, 15580, 17895 (to Africa) 2100-2200 on 9705, 11870, 15185, 17740, 17820 (to Far East Asia, South Asia, Oceania) (Marie Lamb, swprograms via DXLD) Marie also posts advance playlists of this on swprograms et al. (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Wednesday night-Thursday is, on the Jewish calendar, the death anniversary of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, believed by some followers of the Lubavitch Chassidic movement http://chabad.org to be the Messiah. Accordingly it might be a good time to look for Lubavitcher pirates particularly in Brooklyn (Joel Rubin, Queens, swprograms via DXLD) Other than 1710? (gh, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Re: So how was reception [of 6140] during the 0630 June 11 silly ballgame? (gh, DXLD) Glenn, In the Uruguayan local radio scene, the rights for play-by-play radio transmission of the World Cup are being owned exclusively by CX44, AM Libre on MW 1410, Montevideo, which, BTW, has no SW. There are no Uruguayan SW channels carrying play-by-play soccer transmissions for the World Cup. For the first time, classic narrators from several radios in Uruguay have lost rights of transmission since negotiations only benefited CX44! Desperate last minute favorable negotiations among cable TV consortium in Montevideo and the owner of "Multimedio Plural" (AM Libre, Señal 1 -cable channel-, Diario "La República"), Señor Fasano, finally allowed TV viewers -cable and open TV- to watch the matches with full coverage. This was only a few hours prior to the beginning of the Cup! In radio, things were different, only one station. And no SW... Regards, (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, June 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent, 17775, [Sat] June 8 1200-1227* English news, IDs. Radio quiz. Acknowledged listeners` letters. Local pop music. Strong. Good on \\ 15295. Also heard in English at *1330-1358* on 17775, 15295 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN/RUSSIA. On 1 May I wrote a report to Vatican Radio Russian Service, and noted that audio on 6210 kHz (44444, broadcast in Russian at 1610) is 17 seconds behind compared with parallels 9585, 11715, and 15185 kHz. Surprisingly, on 8 May 6210 kHz was 37 seconds ahead (Sergey Rogov, Lithuania, via Kvadrat via Signal via DXLD) ** YEMEN. Radio Sana'a heard 5 May at 1802 on 9780 kHz. Broadcast in English (33543), with QRM caused by Voice of Russia (English, 9775 kHz). Reception became even worse at 1825, when Voice of Turkey signed on with test carrier on 9785 kHz, preparing to start its English transmission scheduled for 1830. O=2 after that moment (Sergey Rogov, Lithuania, via Kvadrat via Signal June 14 via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-097, June 14, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1135: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1135.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1135.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; 0730 3210; Mon 0000, Wed 0930 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830? 2420? on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB BROADCASTS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 NAm ** AFGHANISTAN/FRANCE. PARIS-BASED ORGANIZATION TO HELP AFGHAN TV RECONSTRUCTION | Text of press release from the Paris-based DISCOP organization on 14 June Paris, 14 June: Within hours of the Taleban's retreat from Kabul on 12 November last year, Afghan TV was back on air - with a female announcer. Now on air for only a few hours a day and offering a blend of news, music, sport and movies, Afghan TV has returned as the main source of entertainment in Kabul and in parts of the country where the signal can be received. The station can get up to 500,000 viewers a night. In pre-Taleban times Afghan TV broadcast six hours a day, but it now suffers dramatically from a lack of funding. In order to help the Afghan television industry to get back on its feet five years after it was shut down by the Taleban, the DISCOP organization has decided to launch the TV for Afghanistan initiative - an international pledge to provide up to 10m dollars in expertise, equipment and programming to Afghan TV within the next year. The existing Afghan TV technical infrastructure, which dates from 1976, must be replaced, while journalists, production and programming executives need to be provided with modern tools and immediate training. Most importantly, with less than 200,000 TV sets in place across the devastated country, the Afghan television industry desperately needs more TV sets as quickly as possible to allow it to reach more viewers. The TV for Afghanistan initiative will debut during the inaugural party of the 10th DISCOP programme showcase - the most important film, thematic channel and TV programme distribution market aimed at emerging television marketplaces. In the presence of more than 450 television professionals from over 50 countries, the 10th edition of this major industry event will be held in Budapest from 27-29 June 2002, and will be moderated by the CEO of Vandusseldorp and Partners, Monique Van Dusseldorp. An overview of Afghan TV's development strategy, and a detailed explanation of its immediate technical and programming needs will be presented by Mr Abdol Hamid Mobarez, vice-minister of culture in charge of media and radio-television, and Mr Ghani Safid, general engineer in charge of the reconstruction of Afghan TV. This will take place during the inaugural DISCOP Budapest 2002 party to be held in the evening of 27 June in Budapest, in the presence of 250 major emerging broadcasters from Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia and South-East Asia who will be attending the 10th DISCOP programme showcase. As guests of honour of DISCOP Budapest 2002, Mr Abdol Hamid Mobarez and Mr Ghani Safid will be presented with their first pledge from Geolink, a leading provider of mobile satellite telecom and broadcast and the first company to spontaneously join the TV for Afghanistan initiative. Geolink will offer Afghan TV their DVonSAT kit, the same complete satellite TV solution they provided to major broadcasters such as TFI, France 2 and Rai to ensure their coverage of the recent Afghan conflict. Thanks to the DVonSAT kit, and despite the devastated state of their telecom infrastructure, Afghan TV will be able to cost-effectively feed international broadcasters with local news reports. Mr Abdol Hamid Mobarez and Mr Ghani Safid will be guests of honour of the 10th DISCOP programme showcase and will be officially welcomed by Mr Patrick Jucaud, general manager of the DISCOP organization. The DISCOP organization is a leading provider of market intelligence and organizer of industry events facilitating business in emerging television marketplaces. The Paris-based DISCOP organization is managed by Key3Media East - a division of the New-York Stock Exchange- listed Key3Media Group, a major organizer of international trade shows and conferences. Press contact for the DISCOP organization: Coco Coppola; Tel + 33 1 4639 5577; coco@discop.com Press contact for Geolink: Françoise Lazard; Tel + 33 1 4561 6191; flazard@geolink.fr Source: DISCOP press release, Paris, in English 14 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4950, R. Nacional, 0044-0106 June 10, End of discussion by man and woman, soft MOR songs, 4 time ticks at ToH, ID by W, news intro by M w/fanfare, nx brief by M w/short instrumental music piece between items. 0104 canned R. Nacional Angola ID by M at end of news, another canned announcement, and into lively instrumental music. Fairly strong but modulation a little low (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Re: ARGENTINA Websites in DXLD 2-095: There's a good and regularly updated website on Argentinian radio at: http://www.geocities.com/luciano139/index.html 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm and dxlinks.info http://www.dxlinks.info/ and Finnish DX Association http://www.sdxl.org/ ** AUSTRALIA. From The RSGB updated Friday, 14 June 2002. Test transmissions are being carried out by two new Australian Bureau of Meteorology stations. The test co-ordinator, Brendan McMahon, has asked for feedback on the tests by e-mail. His address is b.mcmahon@bom.gov.au Station VMC at Charleville, Queensland, is on the air on even days of the month and station VMW in Wiluna, Western Australia, on odd days. The schedule is the same for both stations: 0800 to 2100 UT on 2056, 6230, 8113 and 12356 kHz upper sideband; and from 2100 to 0800 UT on 4149, 8113, 12356 and 16546 kHz upper sideband. A fax test service is transmitted 24 hours a day on 5755, 10355 and 18060 kHz (RSGB via Mike Terry, DXLD) So what is content of the USB transmissions?? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. See TURKEY ** BELIZE. Belize refuses to allow Radio Martí relay: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/3440735.htm Posted on Tue, Jun. 11, 2002 BELIZE REJECTS U.S. PROPOSAL TO BEAM RADIO MARTÍ SIGNAL By TIM JOHNSON, Miami Herald WASHINGTON - Belize may be tiny, but it knows how to say ''no'' to Washington. Belize has flatly rejected a U.S. proposal to convert a Voice of America relay station to beam U.S.-operated Radio Martí signals toward Cuba. The denial has dismayed Cuban-American supporters of the radio station, who say the Belize facility might have helped Radio Martí sidestep efforts by Cuba to jam its signal. But Belize, a former British colony in Central America, sought to avoid getting ensnared in U.S.-Cuba frictions. It did not want to risk that Havana would retaliate by withdrawing more than 100 doctors and nurses it has sent to Belize. ''We do not want to get involved,'' said Vaughan Gill, a spokesperson for the Belize government. ``Belize has good relations with both Cuba and the United States.'' The United States operates two AM radio transmitters near the town of Punta Gorda in the southernmost part of Belize. The transmitters send both English and Spanish Voice of Americas broadcasts throughout Central America each evening. As a sister facility to the Voice of America, Radio Martí was established in 1985 to offer an independent source of news and entertainment to Cubans. Radio Martí is beamed toward Cuba on AM from Marathon in the Keys, and on short wave from Greenville, N.C. and Delano, Calif. In late 2000, U.S. officials began scouring the Caribbean looking for alternative broadcast sites to send the signals of Radio Martí toward Cuba from a different latitude, making it more difficult for Cuba to block its signals. ''They went to the Turks and Caicos. They went to the Bahamas. They went to the Caymans,'' said one official, insisting on anonymity. Then they noticed the Belize facility, and quickly allotted $750,000 in the 2002 fiscal year budget to enhance the site. An appeal went out to Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize for permission to change the use of the facility. No one seriously expected Belize -- an unspoiled nation popular with U.S. scuba divers and Maya archaeology buffs -- to refuse. But two months ago, it did just that, setting tongues wagging around Capitol Hill about how the Bush administration took it on the chin from Belize. Belize felt it had too much to lose. Since 1999, Belize has hosted an increasing number of Cuban physicians and nurses working in remote villages. Gill, the government spokesman, also noted that more than 100 Belizean students are in Cuba on full scholarships, some of them studying medicine. As word arrived in Washington this spring that Belize might turn down the U.S. request, the State Department sent two diplomatic notes to Belmopan, Belize's capital. ''The second one was apparently sternly worded,'' the congressional staffer said (via Kim Elliott, DC, and Artie Bigley, OH, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then again, Belize may not be tiny (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: Friday, June 14: IDEAS: Tonight on Ideas...Ice Cream. It has its own mythology, dating back to Nero. It boasts its own statistics. The biggest sundae ever made was twelve feet high. A celebration of the lore and lure of ice cream by Marilyn Powell, tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. Saturday, June 15: QUIRKS AND QUARKS: This week on Quirks and Quarks...Fine Tuning the Mind: Are Human Brains Hard-Wired for Music? Of all the mammals on earth, humans are the only ones that create music. And from drumbeats to symphony orchestras, virtually every human society and culture - no matter how sophisticated or primitive - have a form of music. That's prompted scientists to explore the human brain, to try to understand how and why we possess that unique ability. Is it genetic? Is physiological? Also, Moby Dick, the walloping whale. That's Quirks and Quarks, with host Bob McDonald, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. DEFINITELY NOT THE OPERA: This week on DNTO...What makes Winnipeg so funny? Is the cold? The mosquitoes? Or is there something in the water? David Steinberg gets to the bottom of why Winnipeg has produced so many great comedy minds when he talks with some of them in a panel recorded at the CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Also, an auditory exploration of British accents. They say so much more than just where you're from. And in the final hour, a great concert by Ron Sexsmith, caught live at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Definitely Not the Opera, with guest host Robert Veri, Saturday at 1 pm (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Saturday on The World This Weekend...The overwhelming majority of Turks are Muslim, but not all of Turkey's Muslims are of the every-day garden variety. Millions follow a little known sect of Islam called Alevism. Alevis embrace a more inclusive faith that recognizes and draws on other religions and treats men and women equally. Dorian Jones reports that the new assertiveness of this branch of Islam threatens to re-ignite old tensions within Turkish society. Also, Teddy Katz reports on the blossoming of soccer in Canada. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Saturday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY JUNE 16, 2001 THE SUNDAY EDITION: This week on The Sunday Edition, guest host Christopher Thomas talks with - Jasper Becker, outspoken reporter with the South China Morning Post, who was recently fired for his criticism of the Beijing government. Also, the quest for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. It hasn't been sighted in 50 years, but birders around the world keep the dream alive. That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend...The waves of fear that followed September 11th are still affecting tourism, even in Canada's Yukon. Last fall, many people preferred to stay close to home, and cancelled the kind of expensive wilderness adventure tours that are a Yukon specialty. And bookings for this summer are way down, too. Dave White reports this is bad news for a northern economy that's struggling. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. TIME TRAVELLER: Sunday on the Time Traveller, travel back to the 1920s - the age of the flapper. This was the time of the Winnipeg General Strike, Prohibition and the rise of popular music, notably jazz. Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata was ambushed and killed; the Group of Seven began to exhibit their works; and George Gershwin composed his Rhapsody in Blue. Time Traveller, Sunday afternoon at 1 (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...Part Two of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Richard's centenary tribute to Richard Rodgers continues with musicals from the early years of the partnership: Oklahoma!, Carousel, State Fair and South Pacific, with singers from Ezio Pinza and Gordon MacRae through Nancy LaMott and Cynthia Dale. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheets excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP; I always like to check this one when I arrive back in Wyoming. Still on; heard at 2222 June 11 with a time check for 4:22 and "1060" ID (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. CKCK Returns From The Dead Legendary radio station CKCK, which left its home of 620 last October, has risen again. The new owners fired up the transmitter sometime on June 11th on 94.5 on the FM side of the radio. So far, just a continuous loop of three songs, one country, one heavy metal, and one "lite" song, ending (or beginning) with the announcement "94.5 CKCK Regina." No word what the final format of the station will be or when the official start-up date is, but there is not a country music station on the FM dial in this market, so my betting money would go there (Terry Keyowski, Regina, Saskatchewan, June 13, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** CANADA. TORONTO GETS TEMP FM STATIONS Special event radio programming undertakings The Commission received an application from Gary Hooper for broadcasting licences to operate 18 limited duration low power FM radio programming undertakings in Toronto during the World Youth Day celebrations to be held from 22 July to 28 July 2002. The applicant indicated that the proposed undertakings would be used to inform persons participating in World Youth Day about events and facilities on the site, and that most of the target audience would access the programming with portable receivers. The undertakings would broadcast programming in Arabic, Croatian, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovene, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian as well as in Aboriginal and Chinese languages. The applicant initially requested broadcasting licences to operate 18 undertakings and proposed 18 potential frequencies for use. In its technical comments, the Department of Industry (the Department) advised the Commission that the applicant had withdrawn eight of those frequencies from further consideration. The Department stated that the remaining 10 frequencies were conditionally technically acceptable and that it would issue broadcasting certificates for these frequencies when it had determined that the proposed technical parameters would not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services. Based on the foregoing, the Commission approves in part the application by authorizing the applicant to operate ten FM radio programming undertakings on the following frequencies, each with an effective radiated power of 10 watts: 89.9 MHz (channel 210LP) 90.7 MHz (channel 214LP) 91.9 MHz (channel 220LP) 96.9 MHz (channel 245LP) 98.7 MHz (channel 254LP) 99.5 MHz (channel 258LP) 101.7 MHz (channel 269LP) 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) 103.9 MHz (channel 280LP) 104.9 MHz (channel 285LP) The licences will be effective from 22 July to 28 July 2002. The applicant must cease all radio broadcasting activities when the limited duration licences expire via Shawn Axelrod, Manitoba, June 13, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Toronto gains 10 special events LPFM stations for World Youth Day in July. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-154.htm (via Ricky Leong, June 14, DXLD) ** CONGO. 9610, Rdiff. TV Congolaise, Jun 5 1611-1622, French, Talk. ID at 1615 and 1619 and 1621; and Jun 6 1645-1656* French, Africa pops and local music. ID at 1648. 1656 s/off (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** CUBA. Posted on Wed, Jun. 12 ¿BASE DE LOURDES O BASE DE BEJUCAL? [por] MANUEL CEREIJO La Unión Soviética construyó en Lourdes, en La Habana, una base militar de espionaje electrónico con equipos, antenas parabólicas, satélites, computadoras, etc., de 28 millas cuadradas, donde en su época más activa llegaron a trabajar 1,500 ingenieros y técnicos soviéticos. En 1996 Rusia hizo mejoras a esta base por un valor de $110 millones. Desde su construcción hasta su clausura, la URSS y luego Rusia, invirtieron $3,000 millones de dólares. La URSS, y luego Rusia, pagaba a Cuba $250 millones al año por usar la base. Sin embargo, el uso de esta base de Lourdes le estaba vedado al gobierno cubano, y sólo se le daba información editada de acuerdo con el interés y objectivos de las actividades soviéticas en cada época. Esto fue creando fricción entre Rusia y Cuba, y en 1995 llegaron a un acuerdo por el cual Rusia construiría una base similar a Lourdes para el uso del gobierno cubano. El acuerdo principal fue que mientras durase su construcción, los rusos no le pagarían los $250 millones anuales a Cuba. La construcción duró tres años, de 1995 a enero de 1998, o sea, una inversión de $750 millones de dólares. La base empezó a funcionar parcialmente a mitad de 1997, y con plena actividad en enero de 1998. Los equipos para la base salieron del puerto de Riga, en Latvia. No es coincidencia que el Departamento de Defensa de EU denunció un aumento enorme en las actividades de penetración de sus computadoras a partir de 1998. La base fue construida en Bejucal, relativamente cerca de Lourdes. Tiene una extensión de 20 millas cuadradas; más pequeña que Lourdes, pero más moderna. Para la función de espiar telecomunicaciones, utiliza equipos tanto de computadoras de alta velocidad y funcionamiento conocidas como HPC, adquiridas de China, quien a su vez las adquirió en los Estados Unidos, así como equipos de reconocimiento de voz, sintetizadores, etc. Hay tres sistemas de redes computacionales: las de uso general, las dedicadas a funciones fijas, así como las de reconocimiento del patrón de voz. La base de Bejucal tiene 10 antenas conectadas a satélites. Lourdes tenía 12. En 1999, después de extensas negociaciones entre Raúl Castro y el ministro de Defensa de China, Chi Haotian, así como el general Dong Liang Ju, se llegó a un acuerdo entre China y Cuba donde personal militar chino utilizaría la base de Bejucal junto al personal cubano. Pero más importante aún, la base utilizaría los satélites de comunicación de China y no los de Rusia. Esto independizó completamente a Bejucal de la base de Lourdes. China es el país que más satélites de comunicación ha lanzado al espacio en el periodo de 1999 a mayo de 2002: más de 25 desde su base de Taiyuan, cerca de Pekín. El personal chino, en colaboración con los cubanos en el Proyecto Titán, han también construido dos bases de antenas, una en Wajay, La Habana, y la otra en Santiago de Cuba, conocida como la finca de las antenas. Desde estas dos bases se realizan innumerables investigaciones en las áreas de interferencia de telecomunicaciones, alteraciones meteorológicas, emisión de radiaciones de radiofrecuencia, etc. La base de Bejucal puede realizar actividades aún más importantes y peligrosas para la seguridad nacional de EU: introducirse en las redes computacionales de este país para obtener información de los files; alterar dicha información sin conocimiento del usuario, y lo más peligroso, cambiar las órdenes de mando de los sistemas computacionales, lo que puede paralizar o alterar la infraestructura básica de un país. Sorpresivamente, el presidente ruso Putin anunció la clausura y desmantelamiento de la base de Lourdes, después de los atentados terroristas del 11 de septiembre. Esto provocó la ira del gobierno cubano. Y se consideró como un gesto político y militar de acercamiento de Rusia a EU, y un alejamiento de su antiguo aliado, Cuba. En estos momentos el periódico Izvestia ha denunciado unas negociaciones entre China, Cuba y Rusia para que China alquile o compre lo que queda de la base de Lourdes. Esto tiene unas implicaciones políticas, económicas y militares muy serias. Desde el punto de vista técnico, es innecesario: ya los chinos están trabajando en Bejucal, y los ingenieros y técnicos cubanos están capacitados no sólo para operar Bejucal, sino Lourdes, si quisieran. Los chinos, en los últimos años, han aumentado notablemente su presencia en este continente, en especial en Panamá, Brasil, Bahamas y Cuba. De ser ciertas estas actividades de negociación para que Lourdes vuelva a operar, ahora mediante personal, equipos y satélites chinos, en colaboración con Cuba, esto representaría una amenaza muy seria para la seguridad de EU. Es una forma muy grave de ataque asimétrico cibernético. (© El Nuevo Herald via Oscar...) NOTA: Los oyentes interesados en lo referente a la guerra asimétrica pueden sintonizar a través de Radio Martí el programa "Cuba hoy, Cuba mañana" que conduce el Ingeniero Manuel Cereijo los dias Sábado y Domingo a las 1730 UT (considerar horario de verano) en las frecuencias de 11845, 11930, 13630 y 13820 kHz. Les resultará de interés. 73's (Oscar, Miami, DX LISENING DIGEST)) CUBANET.INDEPENDIENTE 12 de junio, 2002 EL CANAL 4 [por] Ramón Díaz-Marzo HABANA VIEJA, junio (http://www.cubanet.org) - Desde varios meses a la fecha el gobierno cubano ha reinaugurado en la banda de VHF (canal 4) el "Canal Educativo" con una programación que a mi juicio llena un vacío intelectual que estaba padeciendo la televisión cubana con su vulgar y casi siempre mediocre programación dirigida a mentes donde durante los últimos 43 años no se vislumbran cambios hacia una percepción más digna de la realidad. Desde las 8 de la mañana hasta bien entrada la noche el material que este canal ofrece se apoya en documentales de probada calidad internacional: culturales, científicos, educativos, desprovistos de cualquier propaganda política y de cualquier pretensión de poseer la verdad. Por ejemplo, los sábados en la noche, después del noticiero, los que no deseamos sufrir el "sabadazo" del canal 6, podemos optar por un espacio de cine serio y responsable, y no sufrir más esas películas de estúpida violencia cuyo guión siempre es el mismo. Los domingos en la noche ofrecen óperas y conciertos de famosos directores e intérpretes internacionales, un verdadero regalo para las personas que necesitamos algo que eleve nuestro espíritu. Sin embargo, la parte técnica de la emisión de la señal de este canal tiene problemas con el sonido y la imagen. Aquí en la Habana Vieja, en diferentes casas, he podido comprobar que la imagen y el sonido del canal educativo tiene un margen muy delgado de convergencia. Algunas personas (en tono de reproche) me han comentado que finalmente contamos con un tercer canal después de 43 anos de totalitarismo televisivo. A estas personas les he respondido con el viejo refrán que reza: "Más vale tarde, que nunca" Este canal también ofrece cursos valiosos conducidos por excelentes profesionales sobre idiomas, geografía, historia, música, literatura, teatro, cine, medio ambiente, y otros temas específicos del conocimiento universal. El diario "Juventud Rebelde" publica en sus páginas cada domingo la programación semanal de este canal educativo. Sin embargo, considero que esta programación debiera ser divulgada por los demás periódicos, pues a veces este diario tiene una tirada muy pobre. Finalmente, y por primera vez, felicitamos a las autoridades totalitarias del gobierno cubano por hacer algo con sentido común que le brinda una alternativa espiritual a las pobres gentes que conformamos esta Isla enloquecida y caliente. Esperamos para el futuro que la carga política y de mal gusto no suba de tono en este canal educativo para que no se convierta en algo que la mayoría del pueblo cubano detesta: la repetición por la repetición misma. Ramón Díaz-Marzo es el autor de la novela "Cartas a Leandro", publicada por CubaNet. (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. I have information that indeed the new Radio Sawa broadcasts will start broadcasting sometime in August 2002 from Cape Greco, Cyprus on frequency 981 kHz MW. This is a joint pilot project of Voice of America, Radio Sawa Arabic service for Arabic speaking adults under 30. Broadcasting 24 hours a day 7 days a week. An agreement was signed this month with the Cypriot Communication Dept. Unquote. I am in the process of sending an e mail to the VOA to find out when the other languages will come on line. Thank you in advance, Regards, (Costa Constantinides, May 17 [sic, presumably wrongly dated E-mail, received June 14], DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. Last night in the other hotel I also work at I met an engineer from Russia who did some antenna work at the new Russian based station in Limassol. Andrei was telling me the name of the station is called After Radio and the signal is relayed by satellite from Moscow where the programming is done. The station`s Limassol studio is in downtown Limassol I presume by the seafront. He will be giving me all their address and other details when he gets back to Russia. He is a Radio amateur with the callsign RX 3 AFV. His e mail is cbplus@online.ru The Frequency 102.2 FM antenna system is not operating properly as the signal is directional and Andrei has recommended to the owners to solve the problem by broadcasting onmi directional. Andrei is also a shortwave listener and listens to all modes of broadcast but does not collect QSL cards on SW stations. Listening to him at 1 am over a glass of beer for a hour was great until he parted at 3 am to go off to sleep eased my night duty at the Hotel. Tonight I am back at the other Hotel Apartment. Here we have no decent TV signal nor beers. Plus we are heart broken as Paraguay took our place in group B in world cup in Korea. But we did well so far in the tournament. That`s all for now; I posted away for the new 2002 World Radio TV Handbook so later this month I should enjoy the copy after a break of 5 years. 73,s. (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [and non]. Radio UNMEE has resumed broadcasts via the Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea. Per UNMEE, these can be heard every Wednesday at 0700 on 7100. The transmissions via VOBME had been suspended for a number of months. Broadcasts for Eritrea are on Tuesdays from 0430-0530 on 15215 and are in Eritrean Tigrinya, Arabic, Tigre, and English. Transmissions for Ethiopia are at 1900-2000 on 13735 and are in Amharic, Afan Oromo, Tigrinya, Ethiopian Tigrinya, and English. These latter broadcasts are via the United Arab Emirates (Hans Johnson, Jun 10, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Radio Finland Cutbacks. Radio Finland is making drastic cuts to its foreign language services. Shortwave broadcasts in English, French and German are set to end once the current season is over, on 27 October 2002. The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) approved the cost cutting measures on Wednesday 12 June but added that shortwave services in Finnish and Swedish will continue. It is also likely that Russian broadcasts will still be heard on AM throughout Northern Europe. Official confirmation of the cutbacks is likely to come in August 2002 (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 13 June 2002 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. [dx_india] June quiz from DW radio. If you listen to our Europe in Transition series on Newslink every Monday you will have no trouble in finding the right answer to our June Quiz June quiz The European Union is set to expand in the next few years. A whole series of Eastern and Southeastern European countries are vying for membership as the EU prepares to take in up to 12 or even 13 new members in the next decade. In this month's quiz we want to know the name of the politician at the heart of this process, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement. Is it: Romano Prodi Helmut Kohl Joschka Fischer Guenter Verheugen or Martin Bangemann? Please write your answer on a postcard – stamped no later than 30 June 2002 - and send it to: Deutsche Welle – English Service – Post Code 50588 Cologne – Germany or e-mail it to: Newslink@dw-world.de no later than 30 June. Of course, we can only accept one answer per person and multiple entries will be disqualified. We'll be awarding a short-wave radio to the winner and consolation prizes to the first five runners up. You can check out the quiz on our website at http://www.dw-world.de on the Newslink page. Good luck! March quiz winners The question: Which country in Western Europe will elect a new president in April? Answer: b) France Runners-up (Consolation prizes): Nana Offi Alex, Ghana M.D. Sunam, Bangladesh A. Balendra, Sri Lanka Vicky Moi Lang, Malaysia Ab Rouf, Keen Listeners' Club, India Winner: (shortwave radio): Wynard Haynes, St. John's Canada (via Ardic DX Club via dx_india via DXLD) ** HONDURAS: I received some info from Radio América- Honduras about a "network" apparently carried on several Honduran outlets. "Cadena Sonora" or "Radio Sonora" listed as being on Choluteca 1110; Tegucigalpa 1270; Danlí 800; Siguatepeque 1070; La Ceiba 780 and San Pedro Sula 1010. Uses slogan "Energía Positiva". (Greg Myers-FL, NRC IDXD June 13 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 11620, All India Radio 1430 June 9. Stumbled on to this while bandscanning. Solid 555 SIO signal, strongest copy on India I have heard here my QTH. Program on women's rights struggle in India. Music, news at 1455. Although signal very strong, their programming still hard to copy with audio hum, muddy audio, and accented English (Rick Barton, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, I was away to my native place in Kerala, South India for some weeks and am just back. Here are some details on AIR. 1. AIR is to be relayed on FM in Mauritius. 2. A new AIR FM station is getting ready in Manjery, Kerala State. It is technically ready. Only the staff has to be appointed. One friend informed me that he even heard the tests. 3. AIR Panaji was recently noted recently one day on 7205 instead of 7250 at 0130-0230 in Nepali. (Somebody punched the wrong kHz!) 4. AIR Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala is using a brand new 20 kw transmitter on 1161 kHz. (I visited this station as well as AIR Thrissur during my latest trip to my native place, more details later.) 5. Doordarshan TV's National Channel DD1 has an interesting program around 1500 UT inbetween the English and Hindi News. In the short program some "controvorsial" clippings from Pakistan TV news are shown followed immediately by the Indian version of that news item! Sincerely, Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad 500082, India Important Dates for Broadcasting by AIR : 1927 - July 23 - 2002 : Platinum Jubilee of AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (dx_india June 14 via DXLD) ** INDIA. FIVE RADIO STATIONS ON AIR IN MUMBAI | Text of report by Hong Kong based E-Broadcastnewsasia on 13 June Commercial FM radio in Mumbai (Bombay) is all the buzz in the city. Five stations are all going on air within the space of two months since the government opened up the airwaves. Radio City has been the latest (22 May). While it is early days yet, it appears that Radio Mirchi and Radio City would focus on more mass programming, dominated by Hindi film music, while GO 92.5 and Radio Win will orient to urbane, English-speaking audiences. The response to Radio Mirchi has been overwhelming. Initial research conducted by the IMRB company shows that even after the launch of Win and GO 92.5, two out of three car listeners tuned into Radio Mirchi. Another recent survey conducted by Madison Media shows overall FM listenership has gone up significantly, with 56 per cent of people surveyed tuned in to FM, of which a surprisingly high 70 per cent tune in from home, and not just during drivetime. Radio Mirchi is the most listened to station. Source: E-Broadcastnewsasia, Hong Kong, in English 13 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Satellite Radio on the Road to Oblivion by John C. Dvorak. Copyright (c) 2002 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved: http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s=1500&a=27904,00.asp (via Tom McNiff, Burke, VA, who concurs, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NOW SHOWING ON SATELLITE TV: SECRET AMERICAN SPY PHOTOS --- SECURITY LAPSE ALLOWS VIEWERS TO SEE SENSITIVE OPERATIONS Duncan Campbell, Wednesday June 12 2002, The Guardian European satellite TV viewers can watch live broadcasts of peacekeeping and anti-terrorist operations being conducted by US spyplanes over the Balkans. Normally secret video links from the American spies-in-the-sky have a serious security problem - a problem that make it easier for terrorists to tune in to live video of US intelligence activity than to get Disney cartoons or new-release movies. For more than six months live pictures from manned spy aircraft and drones have been broadcast through a satellite over Brazil. The satellite, Telstar 11, is a commercial TV relay. The US spyplane broadcasts are not encrypted, meaning that anyone in the region with a normal satellite TV receiver can watch surveillance operations as they happen. The satellite feeds have also been connected to the internet, potentially allowing the missions to be watched from around the globe. Viewers who tuned in to the unintended attraction on Tuesday could watch a sudden security alert around the US army's Kosovan headquarters, Camp Bondsteel in Urosevac. The camp was visited last summer by President Bush and his defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. A week earlier the spyplane had provided airborne cover for a heavily protected patrol of the Macedonian-Kosovan border, near Skopje. A group of apparently high-ranking visitors were accompanied by six armoured personnel carriers and a helicopter gunship. NATO officials, whose forces in former Yugoslavia depend on the US missions for intelligence, at first expressed disbelief at the reports. After inquiring, a NATO spokesman confirmed: "We're aware that this imagery is put on a communications satellite. The distribution of this material is handled by the United States and we're content that they're following appropriate levels of security." This lapse in US security was discovered last year by a British engineer and satellite enthusiast, John Locker, who specialises in tracking commercial satellite services. Early in November 2001 he routinely logged the new channels. "I thought that the US had made a deadly error," he said. "My first thought was that they were sending their spyplane pictures through the wrong satellite by mistake, and broadcasting secret information across Europe." He tried repeatedly to warn British, NATO and US officials about the leak. But his warnings were set aside. One officer wrote back to tell him that the problem was a "known hardware limitation". The flights, conducted by US army and navy units and AirScan Inc, a Florida-based private military company, are used to monitor terrorists and smugglers trying to cross borders, to track down arms caches, and to keep watch on suspect premises. The aircraft are equipped to watch at night, using infrared. "We seem to be transmitting this information potentially straight to our enemies," said one US military intelligence official who was alerted to the leak, adding: "I would be worried that using this information, the people we are tracking will see what we are looking at and, much more worryingly, what we are not looking at. "This could let people see where our forces are and what they're doing. That's putting our boys at risk." Former SAS officer Adrian Weale, who served in Northern Ireland, told BBC Newsnight last night: "I think I'd be extremely irritated to find that the planning and hard work that had gone into mounting an operation against, for instance, a war crime suspect or gun runner was being compromised by the release of this information in the form that it's going out in." Duncan Campbell is a freelance investigative journalist and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and not the Guardian correspondent of the same name. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via John Cobb, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. The Complex Variables Studio web site hosts the latest Al Weiner radio ship project, complete with photos. http://www.complexvariablesstudio.com/0_wbcqmarine_update1_002.htm (Pete Costello, NJ, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Glenn, Ran across this at the MSNBC site, although skimpy on the details as usual. "The Voice of David" sounds like a spoof of the old "Voice of Bob" pirate: http://www.msnbc.com/news/765750.asp (Harry Helms, CA, Co-founder, LLH Technology Publishing Now Part of the Elsevier Science & Technical Book Group, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL [non]. Hi Glenn! Here's the link to a piece from the Jerusalem Post about a group called "America's Voices in Israel," which encourages US radio talk show hosts to go to Israel to broadcast their shows back home. http://www.jpost.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1023716466797 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ITALY. 13865, Gap Radio. Not sure if I heard them or not. Tried on a javaradio for this one where it is always hard to tell the exact time. Listened just after 1900 June 11 when there was talk that sounded like it was Italian. Weak and either faded or left the air suddenly at 1903. A bit distorted when listening to them on 13865U. Perhaps them as there were reports that they were off frequency a tad. Wanted to use the javaradio in Italy, but the network is now charging a onetime fee of $9.95 for access to some of the rigs. A bargain, but one that I hardly had time to carry out on the fly while trying for this (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-324970,00.html Hugh Crosskill BBC Radio's voice in the Caribbean, whose honest journalism made him a trusted commentator (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Hi Glenn, Re your item concerning Libya in DXLD 2- 095 - as you correctly state, 15435 is a long time active Libyan (direct) frequency and the current // is 17750. This would surely be the station Chuck Bolland heard and in parallel with the listed relay via France on 17695. The last time I checked the list you refer, in part, to the station was active on those frequencies. However, today (June 11) I find 15435 and 17750 are doing a different programme to the two listed French relay frequencies of 17695 and 21810 at 1515. English and French news was heard on 15435 and 17750 c1520, while the other two are doing a phone in show with popular Arabic music. The "Ovma" ID is heard via both services. What I had forgotten is that today is the 42nd Anniversary of the closing of the last American air base in Libya, and that celebrations are in progress! Maybe this accounts for the differing scheds noted today. I should also add that 15435 is dominated by Saudi Arabia at 1515 - Libya below. I don't have an up to date sched for BSKSA but the HFCC registration for 15435 is 1500-1800. Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA / RUSSIA. find below a message Martin Elbe just posted into the German A-DX mailing list. Certainly it will be comprehensible also without knowing German; the decisive sentence is in English anyway. I can add to Olle's report that the Bolshakovo carrier was off when I tuned into 1386 at or shortly after 2130. At about 2135 the audio was cut but the hum continued. A couple of minutes later the audio was connected again, but then I finally turned the radio off since apparently no any other audio than the RL feed (i.e. announcements of any kind) was to expect (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- From: "Martin Elbe" <elbe@wolfsburg.de> To: "A-DX" <a-dx@elitas.com> Subject: Re: [A-DX] Geniale Frequenzwahl Moin Moin, Gerade eben trudelte die e-Mail-QSL von R. Baltic Waves International für die gestrigen Tests ein. (übrigens QSL Nr. 1! :-)) v/s Rimantas Pleikys riplei@takas.lt Ein volldetaillierter QSL-Brief hing als Word-Attachement dran. Demzufolge beträgt die Sendeleistung 750 kW, Antenne ist die berühmte Rundstrahlantenne russischer Bauart ARRT-1, 257m Höhe. Zur Interferenzsituation schreibt OM Rimantas: Concerning the RBWI tests on 1386 kHz, I can add that the problematic channel could be used on a regular basis in case if Russia would cancel licenses of RFE/RL Affiliate Stations in Russia for political reasons. Näheres zur Benutzung der Frequenz 1386 kHz durch Russland unter http://www.zilionis.lt/history/1386-d.htm -- Tschüß, Martin ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Diese Mail wurde ueber die A-DX Mailing-Liste gesendet. Sponsored by ELITAS Enterprises. http://www.elitas.com und Christoph Ratzer - OE2CRM. http://www.ratzer.at ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Private Verwendung der A-DX Meldungen fuer Hobbyzwecke ist gestattet, jede kommerzielle Verwendung bedarf der Zustimmung des A-DX Listenbetreibers (via Kai Ludwig, June 11, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Sitkunai is again active on 1386 tonight. Until 2100 the Lithuanian service of Radio Liberty was transmitted, now after 2100 again Russian. A well-placed source reports that Sitkunai was on 1386 yesterday already at 2022 and signed off at 2144, also with RL Lithuanian rather than Russian until 2100. It is believed that they use the transmitter otherwise active on 666. I understand that this would affect scheduled Radio Vilnius broadcasts, i.e. they would be canceled or transmit with lower power. Perhaps Olle can keep an ear on 666, since I am still too close to Rohrdorf? After 2100 Bolshakovo again switched off its carrier, leaving Sitkunai in the clear. I enclose a recording I made at 2037 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When checking at 2025 Sitkunai was again on 1386, apparently one more time with the Lithuanian service of Radio Liberty. Same proportion of signal strength Bolshakovo ./. Sitkunai than yesterday. (Ludwig, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACEDONIA. Right now at 2055, Makedonska Radio booms in on 810. It was hardly audible here during the last years anymore, so the new Thales transmitter indeed brings a big improvement (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Travelling US 60 to and from Bartlesville for the OK Mozart Festival, we made a point of tuning to 90.7 as we approached Tonkawa, home of Northern Oklahoma College and KAYE, a low power student station we normally can`t get in Enid, home of NOC`s broadcast-less branch campus. Tuesday June 11 at 1506 UT, we were startled to hear *commercials* -- these were blatant, same as one might hear on a real commercial station, no pretense at `underwriting`. Two of them in a row, for two Ponca City restaurants, Cafe Grind, and Simple Simon`s Pizza. Just to be positive, we kept listening as long as the signal would hold up, and heard a definite ID at 1515, mentioning 90.7 and a jingle including `RR` in code --- who do they think they are, Reloj Nacional??? At 1535 there were some PSAs during another break in the music, but no ads. As we progressed some miles east of Ponca City, the co-channel Wichita began to take over the frequency. On the way back two days later, Thursday June 13, we made a point of tuning in at the same time during another hour, 2306 UT, and after an Army National Guard PSA, there came the commercials, this time the Daily Grind Coffee Shop again, at 202 E. Grant in Ponca, then at 2307 for the Tonkawa News, which supports NOC sports, etc., but still the wording made it a commercial; immediately followed by a KAYE ID. We made a brief sidetrip off US 60 thru Tonkawa for a closer look at this illegal operation. Altho there were no exterior signs, the station is obviously in what was probably the original NOC campus building, an old red brick structure at the center of the circle drive at the main campus entrance. A 3-bay FM antenna could be seen atop it matching coordinates, listed by 100000watts.com as 66 feet, 1.2 kW. At least DXers may be interested to know that this one remains on the air in the summer, so far. The campus has a number of more modern buildings surrounding it, a nice variety of blooming flowers, and an interesting `peace symbol` sculpture, topped by an Egyptian ankh, which the enstoned legend claims is an early version of the Christian cross! Nearby, we got a whiff of pot although hardly any humans were to be seen on the campus during summer doldrums. You could listen to this commercial non-commercial station for yourself, since the NOC website has links all over it to ``listen free – now playing – Z91 FM`` to KAYE with Windows Media Player at http://www.north-ok.edu/temp/Z91.asx ---- but strangely enough, it was not working June 14, altho the title came up on the player: ``Z-91 Means Today`s Best Music``. I`ll bet KAYE even has a sales staff --- how else would time get sold on the station? Being far below 92 MHz is no obstacle for them. Do Ponca City`s *real* commercial stations care? Evidently not; they also face competition from the quasi-commercial full power gospel huxter KLVV-88.7, and perhaps have come to expect it. Should the KAYE webcast revive, be sure to listen at 6 past any hour for the commercials, and marvel at NOC and KAYE`s audacity --- ignorance --- or recklessness. The real question is: why doesn`t the FCC know, why haven`t they fined the station or revoked the license? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OKLAHOMA BROADCASTING NEWS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. MISSIONARY KILLED IN PHILIPPINES WAS AMATEUR LICENSEE From ARRL NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 10, 2002 Martin R. "Ray" Burnham, the US missionary pilot held captive with his wife for more than a year in the Philippines and killed during a military rescue attempt June 7, was an Amateur Radio licensee, KC0DNB. Burnham, 42, from Rose Hill, Kansas, near Wichita, held a Technician license issued in 1998. The circumstances of Burnham's death still are not clear. Burnham's wife, Gracia, was wounded by gunfire but was expected to recover. A Philippine nurse, Ediborah Yap, also died. The Burnhams had been held hostage since May 2001 by Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group. Several Philippine soldiers and rebels also were said to have died in the rescue attempt. A native of Wichita, Burnham was a graduate of Calvary Bible College and Wichita Aviation Education Center. He also completed missionary training with New Tribes Mission, with which he'd served for the past 17 years. He was the son of missionary parents who have served in the Philippines since 1969. The Burnhams have three children, Jeff, 15; Mindy 12, and Zach, 11. (ARRL via Mike Terry, June 12, DXLD) [more at New Tribes Mission website]: http://www.ntm.org/connect/burnham/update.shtml (via Terry, DXLD) At risk of pointing out the obvious, if the Burnhams had not been messing around with trying to get members of other cultures to reject their traditional religions, they would not have been in such a position to get kidnapped and/or killed (gh, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. THE WORLD: MISSIONARY KILLED IN THE PHILIPPINES WAS A HAM Some sad news to report. A ham radio operator and missionary taken captive by Muslim extremists in the Philippines died during a rescue attempt on Friday June 7th. Martin Burnham, KC0DNB, and his wife Gracia were among three Americans abducted by the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in May of 2001 from a resort off Palawan island in the southwest Philippines. Martin Burnham was killed during the fire-fight to rescue them. Gracia Burnham suffered a would to her leg but was otherwise unharmed. A Filipino nurse held hostage by the same rebels was also killed during the rescue attempt. The Abu Sayyaf rebels have been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network by United States intelligence sources. Four rebels were killed while Philippine troops suffered seven wounded. U.S. military advisors training Filipino troops in jungle warfare were not involved in the rescue attempt. The Burnhams, from Rose Hills Kansas, were married for 19 years and had lived in the Philippines since 1986. Martin Burnham, KC0DNB, was a pilot for New Tribes Missions, flying other missionaries and supplies throughout the region. (CQ, ARNewsline(tm) via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDP'S NEW EQUIPMENT ON DUTY Em informação colhida esta noite junto do CEOC-São Gabriel, apurei que o novo equipamento da THALES já está em funcionamento, v.g.: Para a Europa, 52º, 2ª-fª a 6ª-fª 0500-0755 em 9840 e 1600-1900 (possibilidade de prolong. até às 2300) em 15445 kHz; Para o Brasil, 215º, idem, 2300-0200 em 15295, tudo pelo novo tx de 300 kW e pelas novas antenas de cortina de alto ganho. Não há alterações ao horário A-02. Decorre ainda a instalação de uma nova matriz computorizada para comando das antenas. __________________________ RDP's HF site at São Gabriel has informed me this very evening the announced new equipment is already being used, viz.: Eur, 52º, M-F 0500-0755, 9840 kHz; Eur, 52º, M-F 1600-1900 (may extend till 2300), 15445 kHz and Brazil, 215º, M-F 2300-0200, 15295 kHz, all via new 300 kW transmitter and high gain curtain antennae also from THALES, meaning the Sat and Sun broadcasts are still via the existing old 100 kW units. There are no other changes to the A-02 schedule, effective 31/3 to 27/10, '02. Furthermore, a new computer-controlled antenna matrix is being installed too. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. VOR Previews: SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (on the air from June 17, 2002) In Science and Engineering, our Science Correspondent Boris Belitzky will be reviewing the activities of the Russian Academy of Sciences last year. He will then be answering listeners' questions about the world's deepest borehole and about the recently declassified history of radar in Russia. The program will go on the air on Monday, June 17, at 0610, 0810, and 2010 UTC and will be repeated throughout the week. Frequency and schedule information for the Voice of Russia World Service may be found at http://www.vor.ru Copyright 2002 The Voice of Russia (via Marie Lamb, swl via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. Newsradio 938 (FM relay) on 6150, 1030 9/5/02. However, frustrated at having tried to QSL this before, I used the mediacorp email feedback for a QSL. That email address was gerrytan@mediacorpradio.com --- got a reply back saying thanks for tuning into News radio from Po-Yu email address lpoyu@mediacorp.com (Johno Wright, Australia, Cumbre DX June 13 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. IMPORTANT MESSAGE! Dear listeners, over the past few weeks we have been engaging in a new format of programming on a trial basis. We now offer you more in depth features on a variety of topics. If you have any comment on our new format, we would like to hear from you. Write to Channel Africa P.O. Box 91313, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa, or E-mail us at: Web@channelafrica.org --- from http://www.channelafrica.org New Geography? On Channel Africa's web-site I found a rather amusing statement attributed to Mongameli Jabavu, Partnerships Development Co- ordinator: ``Channel Africa is in a unique position in that we already broadcast to Africa and Europe and some parts of the United States of America including Latin America`` (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Brother Stair on 7465 [WWCR] at 0326 13 June, preaching about the prodigal son. This particular son was much like Jimmy Swaggert --- he admitted that he had sinned. BS also yelled about sexual immorality. Considering what has happened to Stair lately, I find this sermon most amusing (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN-- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "GreenScan" looks at eco-tourism and improved air quality Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: monthly Our cultural magazine "Spectrum" Sunday: "Sounds Nordic" with Gaby Katz We're pleased to report that Radio Sweden is about to add two new languages to our shortwave line-up. Beginning at the end of this month, we'll be broadcasting 15 minutes a week each in Arabic and Kurdish. Both languages are already part of Radio Sweden's Immigrant Languages service, with broadcasts on FM here for immigrants living in this country. Because of our RealAudio webcasts, both have also proved popular outside the country. Starting June 29, Arabic can be heard every Saturday at 16:00-16:15 hrs on 13850 kHz. The next day following Sundays, Kurdish will be broadcast at the same time and on the same frequency (SCDX/MediaScan June 12 via DXLD) ** SYRIA. 13610, Radio Damacus; 2206-2217+ June 9, W reading poem; ID 2208. M w/nx to 2209:30 close and anthem. All in English. Started Arabic music after anthem then pulled the plug at 2210:45. Back on again at 2212:30 with Arabic music. Sung anthem at 2215:15 and woman in Arabic at 2216:10. SIO=443 (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** THAILAND [and non]. 7260, R. Thailand, June 9 *1059-1105, Signal on with open carrier at 1057. Start of instrumental music at 1059 then stopped. Piano IS, nice English ID by M "This is R. Thailand World Service broadcasting from Dipot and relayed over transmitters in Bandong(?) Udorn Thani, northeastern Thailand for listeners in Asia and Pacific, for mid-east and Africa, Europe and America. It is now time for our broadcast in Vietnamese", then said VT programming. Very nice signal. Have been noticing a signal that has been causing slight QRM to this on 7260.1. Turns out to be Vanuatu (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TIBET. China Tibet Broadcast Company in English CPBS, Lhasa, Tibet is being observed with an English program at my QTH with a good signal on 5240 kHz at around 1630 ~ 1650 UT Monday to Saturday. The station is describing itself as "China Tibet Broadcast Company " and the address mentions Lhasa 850000. The English program is called "Holy Tibet" which is of about 10 minutes duration and latter half consists of Tibetan music. Other parallel frequencies observed are : 4905 4920 6110 6150 9490. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, for GRDXC, June 11, via DXLD) This station is Tibet PBS, not CPBS (Richard Lam, Cumbre DX June 14 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. OBSERVER #192 / 14-06-2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Updated A-02 schedule for Voice of Turkey effective June 3: ALBANIAN 1130-1225 11875 ARABIC 0900-1055 11690 15520 1400-1555 11735 17790 AZERI 0700-0825 11730 15140 1400-1455 11865 BOSNIAN 1800-1855 9755 BULGARIAN 1330-1425 7140 CHINESE 1100-1155 17715 CROATIAN 1600-1625 11970 ENGLISH 0300-0355 7270 11655 till Sep.1 0300-0355 7270 9650 from Sep.2 1230-1325 17615 17830 1830-1925 11960 (ex 9785) 2030-2125 9525 2200-2255 11960 12000 FRENCH 1930-2025 9535 9635 GERMAN 1130-1225 15470 1730-1825 13640 GEORGIAN 0700-0755 11690 GREEK 1030-1125 9630 11930 1430-1525 9655 HUNGARIAN 0930-1025 13770 KAZAKH 1500-1555 11860 KYRGYZ 1600-1655 11865 MACEDONIAN 0800-0855 11690 PERSIAN 0830-0925 11795 17705 1230-1355 15180 ROMANIAN 0930-1025 9560 RUSSIAN 1300-1355 15450 1700-1755 9675 SERBIAN 1330-1355 11860 SPANISH 1630-1655 15150 TATAR 1800-1855 6175 TURKISH 0400-0655 17690 0400-0855 11750 0400-0855 15545 0400-1555 11955 0700-1555 15350 0700-2055 9460 0900-1155 21715 1000-1455 17630 Friday only 1200-1555 15405 1600-2155 5980 1600-2155 9560 1600-0355 5960 1700-2155 7215 2100-0655 9460 2200-0355 11885 TURKMEN 1530-1655 11905 URDU 1200-1255 17715 UZBEK 0100-0155 9555 1700-1755 6115 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 14 via DXLD) ** TURKEY/AUSTRALIA. Hi Glenn, Today Fri June 14 1230 UT I was listening to a station with pretty decent Australian way of pronunciation without ID on 17830 kHz. Suddenly 1232 UT, dominator of the frequency was the VOICE OF TURKEY (they were late) with programme in English beamed to Europe with 500 kW, thanks to PASSPORT. Sri to see WRTH is in big trouble. Suddenly under heavy co-channel QRM of VOT 1237 UT, I managed to hear the ID of VOICE INTERNATIONAL broadcasting from DARWIN, Australia. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, Rx: AOR 7030 Plus. No proper outdoor SW-antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. FAMILY OF FORMER BBCWS DIRECTOR AUSTEN KARK FAMILY ASKS INQUIRY INTO RAIL DISASTER: http://www.guardian.co.uk/pottersbar/story/0,11994,735528,00.html (via Kim Elliott, DC, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA women who won sex discrimination case now want tax relief on the money they received: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/937 (via Kim Elliott, DC, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz.: WOMEN VICTORS IN BIAS SUIT SEEK TAX LAW REFORM Run Date: 06/11/02 By Suzanne Batchelor, WEnews correspondent Winners of an historic gender discrimination suit against Voice of America want Congress to change federal tax law to allow recipients of such awards to average the income from their settlements over the number of years covered by the case. WASHINGTON (WOMENSENEWS) -- Hundreds of women are celebrating their victory today in an historic gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. government by lobbying Congress. They are seeking approval of a bill that would average the income from their settlements over the number of years covered by back-pay awards in discrimination cases, rather than imposing taxes on the total award in the year it was received. The lawsuit against the television and radio news service Voice of America was brought by 1,100 women who applied to work at the service from 1974 to 1984. During that era, Voice of America was part of the U.S. Information Agency. The women experienced gender discrimination in job application, testing, hiring and promotion. Without admitting fault, the government agreed to settle the case, Hartman v. Albright, in 2000, but it wasn't until last month that the women received payments totaling $508 million in back pay and interest--the largest known award ever in an employment discrimination case. While personal injury awards are exempt from federal taxation, discrimination awards are not, and this policy pushes recipients of discrimination awards into the highest income-tax bracket for the year they recover those damages, according to the National Employment Lawyers Association. The plaintiffs in the Voice of America case were forced to return about a third of their settlement awards to the government because of this year's payments and now are urging legislators to approve the federal Civil Rights Tax Relief Act. The bill, introduced by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce of Ohio, both Republicans, would update the law by permitting individuals receiving back-wage awards to be taxed over the number of years for which the award was designed to compensate, the lawyers' association says. "It's like the government's fine is reduced by one-third," says Fran Jacobowitz, who is coordinating the women's lobbying. "For some of these women, it's the first and last time they'll have any money in their lives. "All we're asking is to be allowed to average the income over the years it would have been paid out had we been hired," Jacobowitz adds. "Had each of the women in this class received that pay on an annual basis for the last 20 years, they would have been taxed on about $30,000 a year, which wouldn't put us into the highest tax bracket." The women hope to make the new law apply retroactively to January 2002, including themselves in its tax benefits. While there is no organized opposition to the proposed legislation, and the bill has support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Small Business Alliance, it still could fall victim to partisan fights over fiscal responsibility. The prospect of losing even a small amount of revenue may leave Congress wary of authorizing further tax relief following passage of President Bush's 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax package last year. Other affects on tax revenues are not readily known, since most employment discrimination settlements are confidential. But even if they fail to gain relief for themselves, Jacobowitz says, they'll be pleased that their lobbying might bring tax relief for all future settlement winners who experience discrimination and emotional distress due not only to gender, but to race, religious affiliation, age and sexual orientation. Jacobowitz says so far she's counted more than 100 lobbying appointments made by the women this week. Complex, Wide-Spread and Long-Standing Discrimination Dilara Hashem, a Voice of America language broadcaster for Bangladesh, was among those who took part in the suit. "I was vindicated," she says of the outcome. Hashem first applied to Voice of America from London, where she worked briefly for the British Broadcasting Company while hoping to enter the United States. Told she was eligible for the next opening, Hashem came to Washington, but found only part-time work at the station, though she saw three less experienced men given full-time positions. "They sidetracked me," she says of station officials. In 1976, Hashem was laid off from her part-time job. She became an American citizen, applied again to Voice of America in 1980 and was told she failed the test. In 1982, Hashem again approached the agency, this time presenting her case to an official with authority over the department she sought to join. He urged her to take the test once again. After this try, she was hired full-time in Voice of America's Bangla section, where she has worked since 1982. The court awarded Hashem back pay from 1976 to 1982. Jacobowitz, now executive vice president of a firm raising funds for nonprofits such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, recalls scoring in the top 1 percent on her U.S. Information Agency foreign service examination. Borrowing train fare to get from Washington state to her entry-level interview in Washington, D.C., the then-27-year-old college radio broadcaster and public speaker received a cold welcome. "Three people interviewed me in a circle, firing questions in an intimidating manner, until I got to the point I was so confused I couldn't speak. And anyone who knows me knows that's almost impossible to do," she laughs. Other women remember similar humiliation and disappointment. "No benefits, insurance or job security, but they said that was how they usually hired their full-time people," recalls Dona De Sanctis. With five years of broadcast experience at Vatican Radio, she found only free-lance work at Voice of America. For a year, she filled out applications for permanent work. De Sanctis says she applied for every job available--"producer, newscaster, down to intern making $3,000 a year." "I was desperate to get any of these," she says. "I was a widow with a 10-year-old son. I would take these [free-lance] jobs, 'make soup from stones.' I never got any kind of response." Meanwhile, Voice of America published 12 of her radio scripts. The attorneys "found four solid examples of jobs I applied for where I would have been the logical candidate but I was rejected," De Sanctis said. In one instance, a young man experienced only as a waiter and mail clerk was hired instead of De Sanctis; his father headed the agency. The judge reviewing her case in 1998 told De Sanctis the prejudice against her had been blatant. Today De Sanctis is deputy executive director of the Italian American coalition, Order of Sons of Italy, overseeing its communications and anti-stereotyping campaign. Hearing Revealed Inside Story The case was first filed in 1979 by Bruce Fredrickson. Another attorney, Susan Brackshaw, joined the suit in 1980. As partners in the Washington firm of Webster, Fredrickson and Brackshaw, the two worked on the women's behalf for 20 years without pay. "Some of the discrimination was overt, some was more subtle," Brackshaw says. One female television technician experienced in signal compression was rejected in favor of a man who had worked only as a disc jockey at a beach radio station. Women who believed they had failed Voice's tests learned during the lawsuit they had passed with high scores. Women named in the lawsuit found the process -- though long -- enlightening. "The hearing -- that was some experience," recalls Hashem. "To know the inside story, parts I never knew, everything came to light then." De Sanctis agrees. "That was the real importance of the lawsuit. Everybody has a story but not everybody gets the satisfaction" of winning such a case, De Sanctis says. "This goes on and it's so insidious. Most of the time you can't prove it. But the sheer numbers of this case, the 1,100? We are just the tip of the iceberg." Suzanne Batchelor has written also for the national science series "Earth and Sky," WebMD, Medscape Health and the Texas Medical Association's "Healthline Texas." (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. Work on shopping center at former VOA Bethany site: http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/06/09/loc_work_begins_on.html (via Kim Elliott, DC, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Senate committee hearing on US international broadcasting | Text of report from US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations web site dated 11 June; ellipses as published The United States should do more to clarify its goals and values to Muslim-majority countries, via television programming and outreach to journalists and opinion leaders, witnesses told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations at a hearing on public diplomacy today. "We're one of the most advanced centers of communications in the world," Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr pointed out. "We should be more successful when we reach out. If we do a better job, those who question our motives or misrepresent the facts will have a much tougher time getting traction with public opinion." Biden asked witnesses to discuss a range of options, including support by the US government and non-governmental agencies for the work of independent media overseas. "We must reach out to people in their own language and on their own terms," Biden said. "And we must foster the free flow of ideas, even if it's critical of the United States. We don't expect everyone to like us, but there's no good reason for us to be so misrepresented and misunderstood." Charlotte Beers, Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, voiced support for producing more programmes for existing television channels in the Middle East, then added, "but I am hesitant to endorse the concept of a greatly expanded direct broadcasting capability until a great deal more research on how best to approach this market has been done". Media entrepreneur Norman Pattiz, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, discussed developments in US international broadcasting, including the recently-launched Middle East Radio Network (MERN). Playing a recorded sample of MERN programmes, Pattiz said, "what you have just heard is an example of combining proven commercial know-how and modern broadcasting techniques, heavily researched so we know ... who our audience is, what they like to hear; what type of news presentations, features and production values appeal to them." Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the country faces "one of the great turning points" in its history in the wake of 11 September. "Either we're going to learn to lead the world toward safety, prosperity, health and freedom, or the world will tear us down," he said. "There has to be a cultural, educational and communications strategy (along) with a military component." Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, former US envoy to Morocco and now head of Northstar Equity Group, observed that "even in the face of the propaganda onslaught against the US throughout the Middle East, we can turn the tide in the war of ideas, however challenging that may seem to us right now. ... We can begin by opening up lines of communication that have until now been off limits and out of bounds by our diplomats." Veton Surroi, chairman of the Koha Media Group of independent news organizations in Kosovo; and David Hoffman, the president of the non- profit media organization Internews, advocated non-governmental US involvement in the development of independent media. They noted that independent radio stations were established and had a significant impact on political developments in the former Yugoslavia, East Timor and the states of the former Soviet Union in the wake of the withdrawal of centralized power there. Surroi said "an independent media is crucial to building democratic institutions where there were none. ... I do think that some lessons we learned in Kosova [as published] can be applied in the Middle East, Central and South Asia. ... We know how to operate within a repressive system and what kind of support is needed." Source: US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations web site, Washington, in English 11 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. WUOT SUPPORTERS PLAN DEMONSTRATION TODAY FROM THE NEWS SENTINEL, JUNE 12th Listeners of local National Public Radio affiliate WUOT-91.9 FM and members of a pro-tax reform group will hold a demonstration today on the University of Tennessee campus to protest state budget cuts. John Stewart, a board member of Tennesseans for Fair Taxation, said if the state passes a no new taxes budget, "this action will cut off all state support for WUOT and the station cannot survive the loss of one- third of its operating revenue." The UT system has been bracing for a $50.6 million budget cut. The Knoxville campus would have to absorb approximately $17 million of that amount, and radio station WUOT and the Frank H. McClung Museum are among programs to be axed. "It's time we let our representatives know that this behavior is not acceptable," he said. "We know that WUOT loyalists share this view. We will not let our legislators kill this community treasure." The protest will run from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and 16th Street, Stewart said. _____________________________ (via C. Zane Hagy, Development and Marketing Director, WUOT Public Radio, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, DXLD) ** U S A. ALL QUIET ON RADIO FRONT Dayton Daily News; Dayton, Ohio; May 20, 2002; Bob Batz Dayton Daily News; Full Text: Copyright Dayton Newspapers Inc. May 20, 2002 Eaton station's extended hiatus may signal its end EATON - For 22 years, Stanley Coning entertained Miami Valley radio listeners with the music of Glenn Miller, Ted Weems and other Big Band-era greats. Now WCTM-AM (1130), Coning's 250-watt radio station, is silent and nobody - including the Federal Communications Commission - knows when it will return to the airwaves. Coning, WCTM's owner, president, general manager, music director, chief of engineering and only employee, temporarily shut down the station on Dec. 28 after receiving FCC permission to do so. Coning told the FCC that he is the sole operator of the station and that his health prevented him from keeping it on the air. Then, on Feb. 26, Coning contacted the federal agency again to ask for an extension of the shutdown, noting that he was undergoing treatment for several medical conditions. On Feb. 27, the FCC granted Coning the extension, with a reminder that it is not to exceed 180 days. The FCC also told Coning the broadcast licenses for WCTM will automatically expire if broadcast operations do not resume by 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 29. The small, boxy WCTM building, which sits in a field off U.S. 35 just east of this Preble County community, is dark and quiet. A narrow lane linking the radio station property with Woodside Drive, a dead-end street, is overgrown with weeds. A rusty van, with the letters WCTM on its license plate, is parked beside the lane. Attempts to reach Coning have been unsuccessful. The radio station's telephone apparently has been disconnected. Coning's home telephone number is unpublished. A resident of the neighborhood adjacent to WCTM said he doesn't pay much attention to what goes on at the radio station, which has three transmitting towers and a trio of satellite dishes. Several other Eaton-area residents said they weren't even aware there is a radio station in the area. The whole thing has longtime WCTM listeners like Dick Heeter puzzled. "I liked WCTM because it played music instead of giving us all that talk the way so many other radio stations do," said the 81- year-old Heeter, who lives in Dayton and has been listening to the station since the mid-1980s. Coning, doing business as Western Ohio Broadcasting Service, Inc., was granted an FCC license to operate WCTM in 1979. The station owner apparently last spoke with the media in 1995, when he was interviewed by a Dayton Daily News reporter for a story about farm-oriented Ohio radio stations. At that time, Coning described WCTN [sic] as a "one-man operation" and said the station's broadcast day was from sunup to sundown. He said his programming included news and sports reports, weather updates provided by Dayton's WDTN-TV, Channel 2, and farm-related shows from the Columbus-based Agricultural Broadcasting Network. "Our target audience," Coning said then, "is ages 45 to 100." Although WCTM didn't show up in the quarterly Arbitron Radio Ratings Surveys that measure listenership, it probably had a rather small number of dedicated fans. Dick Heeter said he sure misses it. "Every time I get into the car, I punch the 1130 button on the radio dial in hopes the station is back on the air," he said. (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) But wait, there`s more... EATON BIG-BAND STATION PLANS RETURN TO AIRWAVES IN JULY Dayton Daily News; Dayton, Ohio; May 27, 2002; Bob Batz Dayton Daily News; Full Text: Copyright Dayton Newspapers Inc. May 27, 2002 One-man operation silenced by health problems EATON - If Stanley Coning gets his way, WCTM-AM (1130) will soon be filling the local airwaves with big band-era music again. On May 20 - the same day the Dayton Daily News published an article that said Coning hasn't talked to the media since his little 250-watt Preble County radio station went silent in December - Coning telephoned the newspaper. "Stanley Coning here with an update on WCTM," he said, cheerfully. "If all goes well, WCTM will be back on the air in July." The 79-year-old Coning, WCTM's owner, president, general manager, music director, chief of engineering and only employee, temporarily shut down the station on Dec. 28 after getting Federal Communications Commission permission to do so. Coning told the FCC that he is the sole operator of the station and that his health prevented him from keeping his one- man operation on the air. Then, on Feb. 26, Coning asked for and received an FCC extension of the shutdown, noting that he was undergoing treatment for several medical conditions. When granting Coning the extension, the FCC reminded him that it is not to exceed 180 days. The federal agency also said the broadcast licenses for WCTM will automatically expire if broadcast operations do not resume by 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 29. Coning has been battling heart problems and prostate cancer. "I've had 10 heart attacks and one time they even had to use the paddles to re-start the old ticker," he said. "I had heart surgery last week at Miami Valley Hospital, and now I'm getting my strength back. I've received radiation treatments for the cancer. I will be having surgery at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis in a couple of weeks. I'm living on borrowed time, but I'm doing OK now." Although WCTM didn't show up in the quarterly Arbitron Radio Ratings Surveys - which measure listenership - the station, mostly because of its format and broadcast hours, probably had a rather small number of dedicated fans. Several of those listeners reported the station was off the air. "I'm flattered by the attention, and I can assure you I want to resume broadcasting as soon as possible because I miss the music as much as the listeners do," the soft-spoken Coning said. Coning purposely waited until late December to take WCTM of the air. "I didn't shut down earlier because I wanted to be broadcasting over the holidays because people really enjoy Christmas music," he said. Before WCTM was silenced, its playlist included Glenn Miller, Ted Weems, Griff Williams, Guy Lombardo, Billy Vaughn and others. The station, which was on the air from sunup to sundown, also broadcast news and sports reports, weather updates and farm news. WCTM will return with the same hours, the same format. "I play that music because it's the only music I like," Coning said. "When I was in the hospital for my heart surgery, they were playing some other kind of music in the operating room. I told 'em to turn if off." (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) ** U S A. ARRL PART 15 STANCE DRAWS INDUSTRY FIRE June 14, 2002 An ARRL challenge to the FCC's authority to permit Part 15 unlicensed operation of radio devices that may interfere with licensed services has drawn heavy fire from industry. The list of those filing opposition comments includes several unlicensed device makers and other industry giants, including Apple Computer and Microsoft. Some industry opponents are claiming that the ARRL wants to undo Part 15 altogether and would require individual licensing of such unlicensed devices as garage door openers and cordless telephones. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, says the industry commenters have it all wrong. Full story at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/06/14/100/?nc=1 (via Mike Terry, June 14, DXLD) ** U S A. We were able to hear the first airing of WOR 1135 as now rescheduled, 2200 UT Wednesday June 12, both on 7415 and 17495, audible but weak on a portable in Tulsa; as would be expected, WBCQ`s other frequency with other programming, 9335, was much better (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ SCHEDULE CHANGE - EVM The Jewish Radio Network MOVES FROM 17.495 - LAST DATE, SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2002 TO: 7.415 STARTING SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2002. (9.335 STAYS THE SAME) Sunday 1300 9:00 am-10:00 am 17495 EVM: Torah Portion of the Week 1400 10:00 am-11:00 am 17495 EVM: Jewish Music for the Morning 1500 11:00 am-12:00 pm 17495 EVM: Talmud For Today 1600 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm 17495 EVM: Israel and the World (People & Politics) 1700 1:00 pm -2:00 pm 17495 EVM: Talkline with Zev Brenner 1800 2:00 pm -2:30 pm 17495 EVM: The D'Var Program - Rabbi Chaim Friedman 1830 2:30 pm -3:00 pm 17495 EVM: Music of a People 1900 3:00 pm -4:00 pm 17495 EVM: Mining the Midrash: Insights from the Rabbis (WBCQ June 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. 34.99 MHz (2 x 17495 kHz), 1530 UT, "The Intelligence Report" ultra-Right Wing militia programming AM call-in talk on WBCQ 17495 kHz. S5+ > 6+ with QSB. First time heard. The Intelligence Report: http://www.pbn.4mg.com/intelreport.htm WBCQ: http://theplanet.wbcq.net/ (Jack Sullivan, Central New Jersey, harmonics yahoogroups June 11 via DXLD) See also INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Don`t recall WBCQ ever reported on an harmonic before; that`s mighty close for 35 MHz; must have been a sporadic-E opening (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. The May 2002 issue of the Atlantic magazine has an article by Douglas and Anne Brinkley about James Earl Ray, who went to prison for the assassination of Martin Luther {King}. The article features letters written from prison by Ray including: "Ray had Jerry [his brother] send him a shortwave radio so that he could listen to an all-night white-power radio station." Surely an American station, but not sure which one just yet (Hans Johnson, WY, Jun 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. WHRI Angel 1 and 2. WHRI Angel 2 to Europe went off the air Friday June 7 at 1401 UT and returned to the air about 2030 UT Monday June 10. A problem with the transformer was discovered. Then shortly after 2030 that same Monday Angel 1 went off the air. Engineers could not get it to tune to its frequencies due to a bad bushing in the inductor. Parts are on order. It is hoped that WHRI Angel 1 to South America would return on Friday June 14 (Joe Brashier, WHRI Jun 12, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) Sked per WHRI website is: 7315 0000-1000, 1000-1300 9495, 1300-1700 15105, 1700-0000 9495 (Cumbre Ed.) ** U S A. WJIE has taken out an advertisement in Radio Guide. The ad seeks a new or used 50 kW shortwave transmitter (Larry Baysinger, KY, Jun 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. NMG, 8510 at 0155+ 13 June with forecast for the Caribbean. USCG New Orleans. After forecast, apparently an infrared image of eastern NA. Nominal freq 8504, listed as 8502 (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST)) ** U S A. TOCOBAGA DX - #64 June 10, 2002 © 2002, Terry L Krueger. Retransmit or quote only with full credit given to TOCOBAGA DX and all attributed sources. Florida Low Power Radio Stations is at http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html tocobagadx@earthlink.net The following logs and observations were made between May 30 and June 7, 2002 in a circuit beginning at Clearwater, Florida and up I-75 through Atlanta, then US-441 to Cherokee, NC. From there, along the Blue Ridge Parkway (exiting a few miles north of Mount Mitchell), eventually down to I-40 and Route 64 to the Outer Banks of NC. From there, via ferry boats to Ocracoke Island and (another ferry) to Cedar Island, south on CR-172 through Camp LeJune, to Route 17, to Route 76, and eventually to I-95. Then, I-10 to I-75, and home to Clearwater. All times/dates (where used) are Eastern Time [currently UT -4]. Frequencies in kHz, except where indicated. All logs were made on an exceptionally crappy Hyundai Elantra factory radio (the radio and car convinced me that North Koreans really aren`t too far behind their decadent bro`s to the south). Oddly, some FM stations (despite being geographically local) did not register as ``ST`` (stereo), while others did. i.e., none of WUNC`s FM channels registered as stereo. Apparently, the type of FM processing used either triggered (or didn`t) the radio display. This list is proudly in anti-imperialist, by-frequency order, thus not necessarily chronological. 530 Camp LeJune Marine Corps Base, NC – 0950 June 6. At the open (but guarded) gate at CR-172 -- which tracks along the southern end of the base to near Jacksonville, NC -- is a large blue sign advising to tune to 530 when yellow lights are flashing, for status updates (it wasn`t flashing). The transmitter is located near this gate, with a message (this day) by a man, advising of ``ThreatCom Bravo`` (that is, no specific targets/sources). Signal dropped out rather quickly. 530 Florida Sports Hall of Fame WNMY250, Lake City, FL – June 7. A non-log, confirmed inactive. Somewhere a while back, I read that their lease expires (or expired) by this summer. They were hoping to relocate, possibly to the Tampa Bay area. 830 William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, GA – 1800 May 30. Still going strong, usual long looped airport info. 1510 ``Hyde County`s Talking Historical Places,`` Ocracoke Island (lighthouse), NC – 1100 June 5. Noted this station entry on ``The Master List Of Part 15 Radio Stations Of North America`` at http://home.att.net/~weatheradio/part15.htm prior to my trip departure. Indeed, active. Man (over New Age piano music bed) opening with, ``Welcome to Ocracoke Island and the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse…`` with fairly long loop regarding the Lighthouse, and the Scottish ``Ocracoke brogue.`` The signal is audible around the Silver Lake Harbor rim, but not much beyond that on the island. There`s an ornamental historic sign in the small lighthouse parking lot, advising to tune to 1510. Other channels are listed for Hyde County Historic sites on the aforementioned ``Master List,`` but the only other one audible was 1600 (see entry). The ``Master List`` entry states that this may get out well due to salt water proximity and a lighthouse antenna location, however in truth it is very weak. And, while I did not search for the antenna (suspect it is within the fenced-off USCG/NPS home annex next door), I doubt the stick is attached to the lighthouse-proper. By the way, the ``Master List`` site is awesome, but how does one contact whoever the proprietor is? Last time I checked, there was no name or e-mail link. 1600+/- ``Hyde County`s Talking Historical Places,`` Ocracoke Island (British Cemetery), NC – 1400 June 5. Noted this one in the ferry parking lot, very weak and with a het. I could pick out ``Welcome to Ocracoke Island and the British Cemetery`` opening, so I drove to the nearby cemetery and indeed, located it at this site. There`s a sign similar to the one at the lighthouse (see 1510 entry), however, it indicates (incorrectly) a frequency of 1590 AM. 1610 Emergency Weather Radio, (near) Southern Shores, Dare County, NC – small blue sign on US-158 (Bypass Road), north of Kitty Hawk, just before the road branches to the mainland (west), advising to tune to for weather info. Strong signal at the intersection, dropping upon approach to Southern Shores, with relay of local NOAA Weather Radio. Did not locate an obvious entry for this on the FCC`s Traveller`s Information Search at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/tis.html There is a tourist center nearby (did not stop in), possibly the site of the transmitter, which I guess is licensed to a municipality. 1610 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, NC – 1800 June 1. Usual male looped Park info, still with about three miles range. 1610 DoT KNNH263, (near) Greensboro, NC – June 3. Noted on I-40 as a result of a sign around mile marker 179. Male construction loop, including generic mobile calls. 1620 DoT KPD416, (west of) Statesville, NC – June 2. On eastbound I-40 before the I-77 exit, a bulb sign alerting motorists to tune in. Construction loop by man, referencing I-77 construction at exit 81-82. ``This is the North Carolina Department of Transportation Travel Advisory Radio, broadcasting from the Metrolana Regional Transportation Management Center on 1620 AM at 3:30 p.m. on March 22nd, 2002… This is KPD416…`` Also stated that the message would be periodically updated (but obviously it isn`t). FCC TIS dB lists as WPQE580, but calls heard are clearly not that. A big signal, covering several miles along I-40. I was stuck in about a 10-mile backup on I- 40 here due to construction; oddly, this HAR traffic info is for I-77, even though the alert sign is on I-40. (Maybe there is a separate HAR operating as WPQE580 that was inactive, and I was hearing this one instead.) 1620 DoT KNNH263, Greensboro, NC – June 3. Noted on I-40 as a result of a sign around the Guilford County line. Male looped ``I-40 eastbound`` construction info, including generic mobile calls. 1620 Town of Manteo WPRV887, NC – June 3. Brown with white lettering sign on the approach to the bridge to Roanoke Island. Fairly big signal, looped messages touting Manteo by the police chief. Long gaps between recorded topics. Calls (per FCC TIS dB) not used in the loop. 1620 DoT Swansboro, NC – 0930 June 6. Orange with black lettering sign on eastbound NC-24 bridge across the White Oak River. Male loop regarding construction in the ``Cedar Point`` and ``Swansboro`` area, as well as bridge re-construction. Short range, and horrid line noise in this area (had to pull over to copy this). 1630 Entertainment & Sports Arena, Raleigh, NC – June 3. Noted a sign on the Raleigh I-440 bypass, male loop. Presume the same as the ``Centennial Authority WPRS255`` entry in the FCC TIS dB. Think I heard calls mentioned, but was barely in control of car due to traffic and unable to document details very well. 1680 DoT WPNY994, (west of) Durham, NC – June 3. Construction info looped by man, including generic mobile calls. 88.5 MHz WHYC, Swan Quarter, NC – 1425-1604 closing, June 5. Stumbled upon this unusual one while waiting for the auto ferry- boarding gate to open at Ocracoke Island, NC. Continued listening while on the 2-1/4 hour ferry ride to Cedar Island. Sounded like a pirate, with Urban, rap, hip-hop and gangsta rap tracks nonstop, long gaps at times, some songs abruptly cut, no ID past 1500. Finally, at 1553, young AfroAm male, ``Yo, this is Jack, ``Welcome Back To Atlanta`` [apparent reference to artist/song title].`` Into said song about Atlanta car cruising gangsta thugs. Then dead air, followed at 1602 by the same announcer with, ``We now conclude our broadcast day. This is WHYC, licensed to the Hyde County Board of Education... 2,000 watts... station and transmitter located at Mattamuskeet High School... [then named the Chief Engineer]...`` and transmitter off at 1604. FCC dB lists as 1 kW, http://www.100000watts.com lists as 2.8 kW. The station claims 2kW --- whatever. 90.3 MHz WHCJ, Savannah, GA – 1650 June 6. Great Puerto Rican and Cuban salsa and jazz. English girl, ``You`re listening to WHCJ, Savannah State University, your Latin Music and Education station.`` Listed at 5.3 kW in the FCC dB. See http://www.savstate.edu/whjc/whjc.htm 91.5 MHz (LOW POWER) ``Ocracoke Ferry Operation`` Ocracoke Island, NC – June 5. Noted a blue sign, advising drivers to tune to this channel (see 96.5 entry) at the Silver Lake Harbor ferry dock. However, it appears to be inactive. Checked nearby frequencies, but untraced. There`s also a green-with-white letterings sign mounted above one ferry sign, advising to tune to 105.7 or 93.3 FM for hurricane info. However, both channels are licensed broadcasters. I took the ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island, and there are no signs for any frequency at the Cedar Island ferry docks. 93.9 MHz WMTM-FM, Moultrie, GA – 1100 May 31. I can`t recall hearing a station worse than this; it was so appalling that it kept me entertained for miles (from Lake City, Florida to north of Moultrie). Slogan is ``Cruisin` 94`` (occasional recorded singing drops), music consisting of mostly 60`s bubblegum and surfer pop hits. The (ahem) jock was an old, slurring mega-redneck fart that read all the commercial spot cards live (tractor and transmission repair shops, a peanut hybrid seed for sale, etc.). Some songs played at variable speed (cassette?), and never any ID`s across the hours (why bother). MegaRed liked to cough, too. Yes, a true classic from the cesspool of the south. Listed 17.5 kW in the FCC dB. 96.5 MHz (LOW POWER) ``Hatteras Inlet Ferry Operation,`` Hatteras, NC – 0845 June 5. Looped man with info on ferry history, stats, rules, etc. Large blue signs upon ferry auto lot entry, alerting drivers to tune to 96.5 for info. Signal lost shortly after boat departure from dock. FLORIDA FREE RADIO UPDATES 1610 ``KQV,`` Coral Springs – Much to my surprise and delight, received a nice QSL card from KQV, 1610 today [June 3]. Professional- looking verie, which I guess matches their professional sound as well!... I had posted my logging on the Free Radio Network website and on the NRC e-mail list. (G. Myers, FL) 89.3 MHz ``Rare Sixties Radio,`` Lakeland -- appears to have reactivated. Heard yesterday [June 6] with strong signal. No ID, but their usual format [60`s bubblegum and pop/rock, with nostalgia drops]. (J. Santosuosso, FL) 91.7 MHz ``Crump,`` Orlando – is still on as well, broadcasting in stereo and still taking live phone calls. Was not on Monday [June 3], but returned the rest of the week. Their schedule seems a little more sporadic, but still a strong signal throughout Orlando (R. Nervous, FL) 93.9 MHz ``RAW,`` Orlando – is still on in the Altamonte Springs area. Station is still mono and they have no audio limiters, but are running live DJ`s now. The DJ`s voice levels were overmodulated and the music (uncensored hip-hop) was muffled-sounding and much lower than the announcers. They were taking live phone calls and giving out an Orlando number (R. Nervous, FL) 96.9 MHz ``Foundation Radio,`` Orlando – [An apparent new one.] Stereo, picked it up north of downtown Orlando and heard it all the way to International Drive, when it started to crackle near Sand Lake Road and I-4. Clean signal with limiters, no overmodulation (almost sounded commercial, except for the ads that were running). Very tight production, DJ announced they were doing ``Old School Music`` (featured dance songs from the mid-80`s, Top 40 and rap 12`` singles) from 5-8 p.m., and then after that, another DJ was going to be coming on (R. Nervous, FL) 97.1 MHz unidentified, Orlando – didn`t hear an ID, but I picked it up as I was driving south on I-4 near Kirkman Road. Very overmodulated and hard to listen to. Distorted mono sound and it almost sounded like an Internet rebroadcast. I don`t know f it was related to the Longwood entry [on Florida Low Power Radio Stations], but it may have been. Harsh listening (R. Nervous, FL) 99.1 MHz ``Radio Sonique,`` Tampa – on my way to the beach at 11 a.m. today, June 9, this one was coming in well, stereo, with Haitian Kreyol gospel vocals and preaching. (T. Krueger, FL) 101.9 MHz ``Galaxy FM,`` Pompano Beach – is the name of [this] station (D. Slam, FL) 102.1 MHz ``Essence FM,`` Tampa – 11 a.m. June 9, also heard on my way to the beach, with Haitian Kreyol preaching, still mono mode. But heard only briefly, overtaken by the St. Petersburg unlicensed ``102.1 FM`` Caribbean format station (T. Krueger, FL) 102.1 MHz ``102.1 FM,`` St. Petersburg – 11 a.m. June 9, on the way to la playa, this one running mono mode (switches back-and-forth from stereo to mono), Jamaican gospel, live promo for club on Central Avenue by male DJ (T. Krueger, FL) 103.3 MHz ``Radio Mananatha,`` Belleview – still unheard here or on nearby channels while driving home along I-75 through Ocala and south on June 7. Presume inactive, after a few previous FCC visits (T. Krueger, FL) 104.7 MHz ``Blaze FM,`` Miami – has reappeared again. Location not confirmed yet, but caught one of their jingles as stating ``We have bigger balls, and we drag `em.`` (L. Vencl, FL) I just purchased one of those digital (LCD) ``atomic`` wall clocks that keep accurate time to WWVB. Unlike an earlier one I had (and promptly returned), this one actually works. Living with often-horrid power line noise, and on the fringe of a decent WWVB footprint, I wondered if it would work. This one is a Sharp, SKU 4935342389, bought at Office Depot for $29.99. After a few scans of WWVB at :10 past the hours, it locks in and then ``corrects`` daily at a pre-programmed early morning time going forward (Terry L. Krueger, all: Tocobaga DX via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Amigos, Visiten http://www.angelfire.com/retro/cx8cc/galsonid.htm y en "Fabini y la Radio" podrás escuchar mi disertación sobre nuestro máximo compositor clásico y su conexión con la Radio, dada en el Ateneo de Montevideo, en ocasión de la 7a. Entrega del Premio CX que otorga anualmente "Museo Viviente de la Radio y las Comunicaciones" a cargo de Antonio Tormo, CX8CC. El audio requiere Real Audio Player y es "streaming", dura 19'20" (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Re DXLD 1-096, R. Monte Carlo on 6140: Tell Walt, if he can monitor them earlier, since station signs on 0900 here. Best DX! (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo Uruguay, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So how was reception during the 0630 June 11 silly ballgame? (gh, DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7260.1, R. Vanuatu, 0913-0920 June 13, Reggae music, M announcer in Pidgin w/[l?]ong talk, possible ID, mention of "program", Papua New Guinea, etc. Canned full ID at 0918 by W, then continuous talk by same man. Weak. Obviously this is what is causing the QRM to Thailand [q.v., as well as UNIDENTIFIED] (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Re previous issues: Before I can assume any validity to this schedule, I will need to see proof that this station is actually on the air. It's been several years since I've seen on-air reports, and it's also been that long since I've monitored anything on 9540 (Walter Salmaniw, Victoria, Canada, June 11, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Hola Glenn. En relación a RNV te tengo mas información. Hace tan sólo 30 minutos estuve conversando con el señor Alí Méndez de RNV en relación a los 9540 kHz, y me comenta que sí, que RNV está activa en esa frecuencia, pero que en estos días el transmisor se encuentra en mantenimiento. El próximo lunes a las 08:30 AM hora local, yo tengo una cita con el para grabar un programa de 15 minutos para hablar sobre la onda corta y el DX, y en esa oportunidad el señor Méndez me va a indicar para qué día esperan terminar las labores de mantenimiento y regresar al aire. En cualquier caso RNV sí tiene en sus planes regresar a la banda de 31 metros. Yo esperaría hasta la semana que viene en que yo vaya a RNV para publicar más información al respecto. Un Abrazo (José Valdés, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINE from CIS to VIETNAM. Voice of Kampuchea Krom. Here is a possible direct QSL address and point of contact: Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, P. O. Box 28674, Columbus, OH 43228, U.S.A. Thach N. Thach, KKF Vice President. They also list a phone number of 1-614-272-8452. Of course, sending reports to their broker, TDP, is another QSL route. Schedule is publicized as Fridays 1400-1500 on 15690. In practice, other channels are used to escape Vietnamese jamming. On Jun 7, I did not hear them on 15690 so I started tuning around. I believe I found them at 1403 on 15705 with a man talking in presumed Khmer. World news with mentions of Pakistan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Decent signal, no jamming or other QRM noted here. Production quality seems fine. Fanfare at 1406 then talk by woman. Mentions of Vietnam and North Carolina. Short actuality in English on resettling of refugees in three areas of North Carolina that was quickly translated. Xylophone- sounding interlude music at 1417 and then talk by man. Another short actuality in English with mentions of China and Vietnam. Following segment started at 1420, more mentions of Vietnam. Actuality in English about "mistake of having another domestic intelligence agency." Next interlude was at 1423, a short segment of Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." Mentions of Abu Sayyef. Same pattern of short segments continued until I tuned out at 1447. No ID heard so presumed. Nothing heard when checking at 1405 on Jun 9 (Hans Johnson, WY?, Jun 7, 9, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. 15235, Radio Free Vietnam Presumed. 1400 June 11 heard signing on with what I am told is a patriotic Vietnamese song. I believe I have heard this theme on other exile programs. Then talk in Vietnamese. Decent signal, no sign of any jamming (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. 1000 kHz, WVWI, Charlotte Amalie, APR 25 0001 - US baseball game (Atlanta versus Arizona). WVWI is the only 1000 kHz station on the Atlanta Braves network. I had the phased loop/whip cardioid pattern set to null west (taking out weak WCMX/WMVP), so only a rumble of Latins was noted mixing with this. CKBW presumed off-air as its groundwave would normally dominate at the Rockport site even if its skip was aurorally eliminated (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, Billerica MA DX'ing from Rockport MA, Drake R8A, broadband loop, active whip, sloper, Superphaser-2 phasing unit) A very rare reception (Jim Renfrew, outgoing NRC IDXD Ed., via DXLD) 1620, US VIRGIN ISLANDS, WDHP Fredericksted, MAY 11 0023-0035 - decent signal atop channel with Soca music and very enthusiastic male DJ with Caribbean accent. Heard most of the ID at 0031 "You are listening to WRRA-1290 The Reef, simulcasting on WDHP-1620 AM Stereo" Atop a weak domestic, not sure if WDND or WTAW (Marc DeLorenzo, Marstons Mills MA. JRC NRD-525 & Quantum Loop, ibid.) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE from MADAGASCAR to ZIMBABWE. 7310, Voice of the People, *0330 With WHRI 1 off for the moment, now is the time to get this one (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See USA - WHRI ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE (Madagascar to Zimbabwe): 7309.94, Radio Voice of the People heard at sign on [0330?] with an interval signal/anthem, followed by a nice ID in English, followed by muddy news or comment by a man and woman, music began at 0342 June 14, and got weaker as the static got worse. Thanks to others for the tip that the frequency is clear this week (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, Drake R8, summer-shortened longwires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE from MADAGASCAR to ZIMBABWE. 7310, Voice of the People Thanks Salmaniw tip. I used to have to go to Hawaii or Africa to hear this one, not any more :) 0330 June 12 with short IS and ID in English. Then long talk by man in vernaculars. Lots of QRN this night but no QRM. Some music after about 20 minutes. (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) *0330-0419 June 13. Good reception with lots of static crashes on WCNA with open ID at 0330 followed by a program of African Music. Faded a bit after 0400, but back by 0410 with M and W talking in EE at relatively poor levels compared to the music. Ute parked just above with data transmission mode of some sort meant that LSB or SAM with SE-3 on the WJ8712P was better that USB. With WHRI off until perhaps June 14, it makes it somewhat easier to hear this out on the West Coast of the USA at 16,771 km (ERGO3/4 makes this easy to determine) (Thanks to tip from CumbreDX that WHRI was off air) (Don Nelson, OR, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn, I have Questionable, Radio San Antonio on 3375.14 kHz between 0930 and 1017 UT mixing with a Brazilian Station. The program on Questionable, Radio San Antonio is steady comments by a man in either the Quechua, Aymara or Vernacular language, definitely not Spanish; thus my tag of "Questionable", since I have trouble picking out key words from those languages. Signal faded to nothing at 1017 UT (see below), but was very good the first half hour of listening. I am wondering if this could have been a Central American station instead of Radio San Antonio, Peru? This station went off the air at 1017 rather than fading. I can still hear the Brazilian and possibly a Spanish station now - not Questionable station however. Any thoughts? (Chuck Bolland chuckb@us-it.net FL, June 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chuck, I don`t know, but these are the current listings at Mark Mohrmann`s website, which you might find useful to check out your questionables. No Central Americans on 3375. Notice one of them is on exactly the frequency you report, but since the others vary too that isn`t conclusive. 73, (Glenn to Chuck via DXLD) From http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm On 3375.1 PERU R San Antonio, S Antonio d Padua [1030-1121/2310-0140*] Jun 02 J 0110* On 3375.11 BRAZIL * R Educadora, Guaruja M. [0910-1014/2330- 0105](74.9-75.04)Sep 01 C On 3375.14 BRAZIL * R Nacional, SGd Cachoeira [0904-0937/2000- 0021](74.8-75.2)Jan 02 B On 3375.3 BRAZIL * R Clube, Dourados [0926-1058/2140-0516](74.92-77) Apr 02 B (r) AM720 On 3380.00 GUATEMALA * R Chortís, Jocotán [*1055-1204/0127-0333](79.9- 80.02) Mar 02 X (i)*1115/0312* UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6715-USB. Following up on Hodgson's report, I found a website for this church, http://english.fgtv.com/default.asp (Hans Johnson, Jun 9, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Here in Singapore, churches spell his name as Cho Yong Gi (Richard Lam, Cumbre ed via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7260.09, 1002-1025 June 7. At tune in techno music at S7 signal level. Female announcer at 1003. Modulation a bit low during her short talks, then a male announcer at 1004. Language was in French and no listing for this one at this time slot. Back to more techno. The mix of music however in various languages. Program had a number of comments between each of the tunes. No ideas on this one. Unable to catch an ID (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See note under THAILAND and VANUATU above from same issue of Cumbre! (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM This page last updated Wednesday, 12 June, 2002 5. Test Transmissions & Latest News Tests are just that. New software becomes available and equipment is tweaked. So sometimes, the transmissions listed below may not be there. Remember too, that consumer grade DRM receivers are not yet on the market. So the broadcasts are for "circuit adjustment purposes only". Special DRM Transmission In connection with the IST Mobile & Wireless Telecommunications Summit 2002 in Thessaloniki, Greece (http://www.iti.gr/summit2002/index.html) there will be special DRM transmission between 16-19 June 2002. Start UTC End UTC kHz Target Language Transmissionsite 0700 1400 15690 Thessaloniki Multimedia Juelich 0800 1200 17880 Thessaloniki EnglishDW Sines 1100 1400 13650 Thessaloniki EnglishBBC Rampisham DRM Long Term Test Transmissions -- 12 June 2002 Long-term DRM tests from Deutsche Welle and Radio Netherlands Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles are continuing. The latest phase of the tests involves transmissions in simulcast (analog/digital) mode. Start UTC End UTC kHz Azimuth (degrees) Target AMCarrier Power(kW) AverageDRMPower(kW) Language Transmissionsite 0530 0700 11655 50 Europe 25 10 Dutch RNW Bonaire 0700 0800 15425 50 Europe 25 10 Dutch RNW Bonaire 0800 1200 17880 40 Europe English DW Sines 2030 2125 15565 50 Europe 25 10 English RNW Bonaire 2130 2230 15520 50 Europe 25 10 English S RNW Bonaire 2230 2325 15520 50 Europe 25 10 Spanish S RNW Bonaire NB: Deutsche Welle broadcasts will begin on 21 June 2002. S = Simulcast Mode 4 10kHz DRM + 5 kHz Analog The Simulcast frequency as specified is the center frequency of the DRM signal. This means the digital part ranges from 15515 to 15525 kHz, and the analog part from 15525 to 15530 kHz. The analog carrier is located at 15530 kHz, hence an analog tuner should be tuned to 15530 kHz in order to receive the signal. The synthesizer frequency for this Simulcast should be set to 15525 kHz (Media Network June 12 via DXLD) DRM AM SYSTEM GETS IEC APPROVAL For Immediate Release: June 12, 2002 Contact: Siriol Jane Evans, pressoffice@drm.org or +33 (0)2 99 19 55 07 DRM'S UNIVERSAL STANDARDIZATION ADVANCES WITH IEC APPROVAL Geneva - Moving fast toward universal standardization, the on-air system Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) has been endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), which published its DRM Publicly Available Specification (PAS 62272-1). DRM is the world's only non-proprietary, digital AM system for short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. The IEC approval, together with DRM's existing certifications by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), puts DRM a step closer to its 2003 launch. The ITU approved its DRM system recommendation (BS 1514) in April 2001. DRM had submitted its system to the ITU's Radiocommunications sector (ITU-R) in 2000, and the ITU-R subsequently recommended the system for approval by its 189 member countries. ETSI published a Technical Specification of the DRM system in September 2001. The document is called ETSI TS 101 980 V1.1.1 (2001- 09), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM); System Specification. Free downloadable copies are available at the ETSI Web site at http://www.etsi.org. Use the search parameter DRM. With near-FM quality sound that offers a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 MHz in markets worldwide. DRM will be on display at IBC 2002 in Amsterdam, and at the ITU's next World Radio Congress. About DRM The DRM Consortium is made up of 73 broadcasters, network operators, manufacturers and researchers who joined forces in 1998 to create a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM has reached several milestones toward its launch. It unveiled mobile reception tours at IFA 2001, Germany's largest consumer electronics show, in Berlin last August. DRM introduced new equipment specially built for its system, at IBC 2001 in Amsterdam last September. DRM audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org DRM Members DRM members are FARB (Australia); Nautel Ltd., Radio Canada International (Canada); Academy of Broadcasting Science of China (China); Riz Transmitters (Croatia); HFCC (Czech Republic); ESPOL, HCJB World Radio (Ecuador); Egyptian Radio and TV Union (Egypt); Digita Oy, Kymenlaakso Polytechnic (Finland); Atmel ES 2, CCETT, Radio France, Radio France Internationale, TéléDiffusion de France, Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (formerly known as Thomcast SA) (France); APR, Coding Technologies GmbH, Deutsche Welle, DeutschlandRadio, DLM, Sender Europa 1, Fraunhofer IIS-A, Innovationszentrum Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT, IRT, Medienanstalt Sachsen- Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt, Micronas GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, SWR Südwestrundfunk, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, T-Systems MediaBroadcast, University of Applied Sciences - FH Merseburg, University of Hannover, University of Ulm, VPRT (Germany); Antenna Hungaria, Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary); All India Radio (India); RAI (Italy); Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., JVC Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., NHK (Japan); Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg); Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia); Nozema, Radio Netherlands (Netherlands); Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand); Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria); Telenor/Norkring (Norway); Main Centre for Control of Broadcasting Networks/Voice of Russia (Russia); Universidad del Pais Vasco, (Spain); Factum Electronics AB, Radio Sweden International, Teracom SE (Sweden); EBU, International Committee of the Red Cross, ITU (Switzerland); Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia); BBC, Christian Vision, Merlin Communications International Ltd., QinetiQ, RadioScape Ltd., Roke Manor Research Ltd. (U.K.); IDT Continental Electronics, Harris Corporation, IBB/VOA, National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, Sangean America, Inc.,TCI, a Dielectric Company (U.S.A.); and Radio Vaticana (Vatican City). # # # Siriol Jane Evans, Director, Press & Communications, Digital Radio Mondiale, phone +33 2 99 19 55 07 cellphone +33 6 62 99 42 62 fax +33 2 99 82 80 92, pressoffice@drm.org (via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-096, June 11, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1134: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1134.html NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB NEW TIME ON WBCQ FROM JUNE 12: Wed 2200 on 7415 AND 17495, ex-2330; still UT Thu 0415 on 7415 ** AFRICA [and non]. RADIO RURALES EN AFRIQUE: http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6721e/x6721e42.htm (via Bernard Chenal, France, June 10, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15344.97, 2355- June 7, R. ARGENTINA EXTERIOR. Long- winded sign-off announcements in Spanish with lots of mentions of RAE, Argentina. Into several minutes of their IS, then multilingual IDs. Good signal, with parallel 11710.02 fair to good. Time pips at top of hour only on 11710.02 as 15344.97 signs off, and into multilingual announcements, before settling into Spanish again (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Previews for 2305 UT Fri June 14: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. "Why Do Mothers Talk Baby-Talk?" Denis Burnham and Ute Vollmer-Conna on their research into the way mothers speak to their baby--and to the family dog or cat. Mothers all over the world talk baby-talk. Is it because they're teaching their babies to talk? If so, why do they also talk baby-talk to animals? Denis Burnham of the MARCS Auditory Laboratories at the University of Western Sydney and psycho-immunologist Ute Vollmer-Conna of the University of New South Wales are co-authors with Christine Kitamura of a paper ('What's New Pussycat?') in Science Magazine in which they present the results of their research into the ways a number of Australian mothers talked to their baby and to the family dog or cat. They discuss what the results might be telling us about language acquisition. [Transcript available] (John Figliozzi`s previews, swprograms via DXLD) Repeated at 0530 Sat (gh) ** BELIZE/CUBA/USA. BUSCAN VÍAS PARA LAS SEÑALES DE RADIO MARTÍ Posted on Sat, Jun. 08, 2002 WASHINGTON D.C., RUI FERREIRA / El Nuevo Herald Estados Unidos parece estar tan desesperado para asegurar la audiencia de Radio Martí en Cuba que no sólo ha distribuido miles de pequeños radios de onda corta entre la oposición, sino que también ha llegado a pedir a un gobierno extranjero que le deje montar una repetidora en su territorio. Esto ha llevado a la creación de un nuevo programa subvencionado dentro de la Agencia Estadounidense de Ayuda al Desarrollo (USAID), y al incremento de un fondo especial, administrado por el jefe de la Sección de Intereses de EU en La Habana, cuyo monto total se desconoce. ''Pedimos al gobierno de Belice que nos dejara mejorar nuestras instalaciones de transmisión allí, para las emisiones a Cuba, pero el gobierno de Belice declinó el uso de la estación'', dijo ayer Brian T. Conniff, director de la Oficina Internacional de Transmisiones de la federal Junta de Gobernadores de Transmisiones (BBG). Conniff relató a un panel congresional sobre Radio y TV Martí que la administración ha desarrollado esfuerzos para mejorar las transmisiones, pero no ha tenido grandes resultados. ''Mejorar las transmisiones de onda media a Cuba es más que problemático'', dijo. Por eso andan estudiando posibilidades. Una de ellas es alquilar espacios de antena a estaciones comerciales en el sur de la Florida. No obstante, no es fácil. ''Compartir nuestras transisiones con transmisores comerciales levanta ciertas preocupaciones políticas que tienen de ser sopesadas cuidadosamente. Hemos intentado alquilar espacios en lugares como las islas Gran Caimán, Turcos y Caicos y Bonaire, pero ningún local ha demostrado ser técnicamente posible o estar disponible para ser alquilado'', añadió Conniff. Esos planes representan una erogación adicional de fondos además de los $25 millones anuales de Radio Martí. Así, alquilar espacio radial en onda corta cuesta unos $50,000 anuales por transmisor, y la emisora necesita al menos unos siete. Tampoco es posible montar las antenas en un avión o un barco, porque Estados Unidos ha firmado tratados internacionales que prohíben hacer eso. Pero eso no ha impedido que USAID haya distribuido pequeños radios en la isla y esté subvencionando organismos no gubernamentales para recopilar información de periodistas independientes, enviarla a Radio y Televisión Martí, que despues la retransmiten a la isla. ''USAID está haciendo un esfuerzo especial para entregar radio portátiles, baterías recargables y cargadores a los cubanos. Más de mil cubanos han recibido estos productos y queremos proveerlos a unos mil más'', dijo el director asistente de la entidad, Adolfo A. Franco. La agencia tiene un Programa Cuba cuyo objetivo es recabar solidaridad entre activistas de derechos humanos, dar voz a periodistas independientes y desarrollar organizaciones no gubernamentales, entre otros puntos. Franco no dio datos sobre el presupuesto del Programa Cuba, pero observadores estimaron que la administración pudiera estarse gastando unos $250,000 anuales en el proyecto. Por otro lado, Daniel W. Fisk, subsecretario adjunto de Estado, confirmó que la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana pidió, y le aprobaron, un fondo de $335,000 para ampliar el programa de distribución de libros, crear un centro ''multimedios'' con acceso a internet en la sección consular, comprar revistas y periódicos, así como distribuir los llamados kits para periodistas independientes, que incluyen radios de onda corta y grabadoras. Adicionalmente, se decidió dotar con $100,000 el programa para Cuba del Departamento de Estado. Parte de ese dinero reforzará un fondo de emergencia del jefe de la misión diplomática estadounidense en la isla. ''La iniciativa del presidente Bush hacia Cuba nos impulsa a hacer esto'', dijo Fisk. 73'S (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) VOA has had for a long time two 50 kW MW transmitters at Punta Gorda, Belize, with different direxional patterns to cover parts of Central America. With the right patterns, and perhaps more power, they could certainly cover much of Cuba. But Belize won`t allow this. Neither will other countries which have been approached for airtime or facilities: Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos, Bonaire, the article says (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6155.07, 0308- June 8, R. Fides. Local phone-in program, mostly young women and male DJ. Latin music. Getting stronger as darkness gets closer (after 2200 local this time of year). This time the HF-2050 gets a much better useable signal than does the 7030+. A fair bit of adjacent splatter, which I think the 2050 handles better. Very few interruptions to music after 0330, with just the odd word or two. Faded, rather than coming up towards 0400. Obliterated by BBC French to Africa via Ascension at 0430 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11815, 0245- June 8, R. Brasil Central. Nice Brazilian music, with local ID at 0245. Let it Be at 0249. Good reception. Too early for 60 meters to propagate this time of year. Full ID at 0258 with 25 and 60 meter tropical band frequencies, then canned jingle for Radio Brasil Central. Into news at 0259 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11924.95, 0241- June 8, R. Bandeirantes. Nice variety program in Portuguese, with many local ads, mentions of São Paulo. Good reception. Slightly better than parallel 9645.15 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Dear Glenn: I would like to report that it is possible to receive Radio Canada International broadcasts to the USA and the Caribbean here in Quezon City, Philippines. I am referring to their broadcasts on 17820 kHz AT 1200-1459 UT (Mon-Fri) and on 17800 kHz AT 1300-1559 UT (Sat-Sun). SIO is usually 2-5-2, sometimes 3-5-2 or 3-5-3 (very rarely though). On the other frequencies that RCI broadcasts on during these time slots, RCI cannot be heard. Reception of RCI at the above-mentioned frequencies was made possible using a Sony ICF SW7600G radio and a 10 m wire antenna oriented east-west. Thanks and regards (Paul Santos, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Luego de un largo fin de semana paso a informar sobre los 6064.5; definitivamente si trata del transmisor empleado por Colmundo Bogotá en el pasado; aunque tras largas horas de escucha no he logrado una identificación positiva de la emisora ya que son lotes de música llanera y a veces boleros, además de predicación cristiana. Sufre de cortes intempestivos para retornar luego de 30 a 35 minutos, no informan la hora y el único programa escuchado fue: Dios en Familia que repiten a varias horas. A través de éste logré captar una dirrección y teléfono de una librería en Bogotá llamada Colombia para Cristo, me comuniqué y una amable señora llamada Cristina me atendió y me confirmó que la emisora en onda corta es un nuevo proyecto de una organización evangélica pero que no es la Cruzada Estudiantil y profesional de Colombia que opera la cadena Colmundo, que ellos les vendieron los equipos y los trasladaron a Puerto Lleras en el departamento del Meta, distante 2 horas de Villavicencio; además me informó que ellos operan una frecuencia en la onda media que fuera autorizada a la Alcaldia de este municipio en los 1530 kHz (en el WRTH 2002 ME00 HJV82). Esta señal llega con regularidad hasta mi receptor en las horas de la madrugada cuando se despeja este sector del dial. La emisora en onda media se llama Alcaravan Radio que hace referencia a un ave que habita en los llanos orientales. El amigo Henrik Klemetz me hizo llegar una información que reporta el colega Malm desde Ecuador que informa haber escuchado como identificacion "Sistema Radial de Alcarabanga" que confirmaría este nombre también para la onda corta. Realmente yo no he escuchado esta identificación y Cristina me dijo que tampoco sabía el nombre de la emisora en onda corta por que se encontraban en emisones de prueba y que al parecer van a operar con programación separada. Quede con ella de visitar la librería durante esta semana y me prometió obtener más informacion; la cual oportunamente les estaré enviando. Un abrazo (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, June 10, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 6149.95, 0322- June 8, WORLD UNIVERSITY NETWORK. Dr. Gene Scott with his usual boring monologue. Fair reception. Better reception on 5029.07, and best on Anguilla 6090. Nothing in 31 or 25 meters at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Oops! RHC USB report should have been 9665, not 9965 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. DISSIDENT SEES RADIO MARTÍ AS IMPORTANT TOOL FOR CHANGE Published June 10, 2002, Vanessa Bauzá, Orlando Sentinel There was a time when Oscar Espinosa Chepe considered Radio Martí a "meddling" foreign station injecting itself into Cuba's internal affairs. Espinosa Chepe had been an idealistic teenager when youthful revolutionaries marched into Havana on Jan. 8, 1959. During the 1960s and '70s he was a committed revolutionary himself, eventually becoming a government economist. He believed in his island's social experiment, even as he saw it begin to unravel around him. "I gave my life for this," he says now, his voice heavy with hindsight. Today, as one of Cuba's true believers-turned-dissidents, Espinosa Chepe, 61, has embraced another cause -- "confronting totalitarianism" -- and sees Radio Martí as a tool to make his views known. As the host of the weekly news segment Charlando con Chepe (Chatting with Chepe), taped from his tiny living room in the middle-class neighborhood of Playa, Espinosa Chepe offers commentaries and economic analyses that often contrast with the government's optimistic outlook. But he is one of the more temperate voices on the U.S.-funded, exile- run station known for its harsh criticism of Fidel Castro's government. He supported Elián González's return to Cuba when hundreds of Cuban-Americans flocked to the boy's temporary Miami home and locked arms to try to prevent him from being removed. Espinosa Chepe has been a steadfast critic of the 40-year embargo and travel ban, which he thinks do little more than isolate Cuba and rouse anti- American sentiment. Like former President Carter, Espinosa Chepe prefers a policy of engagement, one he says helped derail Eastern European communism and could do the same for Cuba. "They call me a moderate. I suppose that's for others to judge," he said. "I just try to be objective. My message is not black and white. . . . I spent many years believing in ideologies. Now I reject that." Espinosa Chepe's family was connected to Cuba's Socialist Party even before Castro made his communist beliefs public. He applauded the revolution's first agrarian reform, which gave land to the peasants and supported new laws defending workers' rights. He so wanted the revolution to succeed that in the 1960s he spoke out against radical new policies he thought would threaten the economy. The criticism cost him two years of forced labor and made him suspect in the eyes of some officials. But Espinosa Chepe continued to believe. As an economist, he rose through the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Investment, where he worked closely with Eastern European countries. During the 1980s, Espinosa Chepe grew increasingly disillusioned with hard-line government policies and looked toward reforms in the Soviet Union as a last hope. But when he shared his views with his colleagues, Espinosa Chepe was once again blacklisted. He was demoted from his job in 1992 and fired four years later. Today he says he hopes for "a great reconciliation" between the exile community and Cubans on the island. Though Radio Martí is often lambasted by critics on both sides of the Florida Strait for being too one-sided, Espinosa Chepe says his "moderate" views have never been censored. "I'm thankful they've given me the chance to address the people and criticize the embargo and also the [Cuban] government," he said. Espinosa Chepe's work on Radio Martí and his frequent articles for foreign journals could easily earn him political asylum, but he says he'll never leave the island of his birth. "It's my duty to stay here and contribute modestly to the changes which I believe are coming," he said. "I'm not one of those people who believe if things ever change the communists should be persecuted. I think within the Communist Party there are many people with ideals who are disillusioned." Vanessa Bauzá is a correspondent in Cuba for the South Florida Sun- Sentinel, a Tribune Publishing newspaper. Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel (via Mike Terry, DXLD) [See also BELIZE above!] ** CUBA. LOS CIBERCAFES SIN ACCESO A LA INTERNET SE PONEN DE MODA. Posted on Sun, Jun. 09, 2002 EDUARDO YERO / EFE, LA HABANA Los ''cibercafés'', donde los usuarios reciben correo electrónico internacional , cualquier información de carácter nacional y participan en ''charlas interactivas'', mientras degustan bebidas o bocadillos, se han puesto de moda en La Habana, aunque todavía con restricciones. Pero los cubanos, ''por el momento'', no pueden acceder a la red mundial, según indicaron funcionarios de alguno de estos locales. En uno de los ''cibercafés'' abiertos recientemente, en el barrio de Miramar, los usuarios foráneos y cubanos, usan las computadoras tras comprar una tarjeta. ''Los visitantes pagan $15 por tres horas de servicio en la internet o el correo electrónico, que consumen en la medida de sus intereses y necesidades, y que se descuenta automáticamente de su tarjeta'', afirmó Sonia Salazar, administradora del ``Cibercafé Infotur''. Añadió que en su centro, que funciona las 24 horas, los nacionales pagan $5 por tres horas por utilizar un servicio denominado ''intranet'', que les brinda ''todo tipo de información nacional, cultural, deportiva, o de otro tipo'', dijo. También pueden enviar o recibir correos electrónicos ''hacia y desde cualquier parte del mundo'', participar en charlas interactivas, y recibir también servicios gastronómicos. Este servicio ''es muy solicitado por los cubanos, sobre todo los más jóvenes, que expresan su satisfacción por el mismo'', explicó Salazar. Sobre la actual restricción para que los cubanos naveguen por la internet, Salazar se limitó a decir que ``nosotros no hemos contratado ese servicio para los cubanos aquí''. Pero especialistas cubanos en la materia consultados, consideran que la posibilidad de los cubanos de acceder a internet en estos u otros sitios ''llegará en cualquier momento, pues no se puede vivir de espaldas al desarrollo de la tecnología''. Según ellos, ''no está en el espíritu del Estado'' limitar a sus ciudadanos este servicio, sino que se debe, según estimaron, ''al incipiente desarrollo de Cuba'' en el área''. Osvaldo García, gerente del ''cibercafé'' de la Academia de Ciencias, situado en el Capitolio, en el centro histórico de la ciudad y uno de los ''pioneros'' en La Habana, aseguró que muchos de los profesionales de esa entidad pueden conectarse con internet en esa unidad, que dispone de 10 computadoras. Pero ``no está establecido que los cubanos accedan aún a internet en este `cibercafé, aunque sí hay otros nacionales que lo hacen por razones de su trabajo''. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CYPRUS/USA. AGREEMENT ON NEW 600-KW MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER FOR RADIO SAWA | Text of press release by Voice of America on 6 June Washington, D.C., 6 June: The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) signed an agreement Thursday with the Government of Cyprus for a new, mediumwave (AM) transmitter that will give the Middle East Radio Network (MERN) broad reach in the region. "The transmitter will be a major component of MERN," Governor Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of the BBG's Mideast Committee, said after the agreement was signed in Nicosia, Cyprus by Averof Neophytu, Minister of Communications and Works, and Donald K. Bandler, the U.S. Ambassador. MERN, known as Radio Sawa http://www.radiosawa.com in the region, will reach Egypt and areas of the Levant once the 600 kW transmitter is operational. The transmitter, located in southeastern Cyprus near Cape Greco, is expected to start carrying MERN in August 2002 on a frequency of 981 kHz. "The transmitter will help millions of people across the Middle East enjoy our network," said Governor Tom Korologos, who was involved in negotiations for the transmitter. Medium wave transmitters in Kuwait (1540) [as published - 1548 kHz] and Rhodes, Greece (1260), already carry MERN, which went on the air 23 March 2002. An additional AM transmitter in Djibouti is expected to come on line within the next year. MERN is also carried on FM transmitters in Amman, Jordan (98.1), Kuwait City, Kuwait (95.7) and Dubai (90.5) and Abu Dhabi (98.7), both in the United Arab Emirates, as well as on Nilesat, Arabsat and Eutelsat HotBird and short wave. Streaming audio will be available on the Internet shortly. The U.S. Government has signed agreements for FM frequencies in Doha, Qatar and Manama, Bahrain, and is negotiating with other countries for frequencies. MERN, a pilot project of the Voice of America, is a 24-hour, seven- day-a-week, Arabic-language service aimed at listeners under 30. Currently, the service broadcasts news, information, music and public service announcements. When it becomes fully operational later in 2002, MERN will add analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, sports, weather and features on a variety of political and social issues. For more information, contact Joan Mower at 202.260.0167, jmower@ibb.gov Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 6 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. I've just discovered that R. Prague now publishes some advance programming details on its web page at http://www.radio.cz/en So here are programmes for the next three days. Hope that you find this useful - I'll attempt to post this every few days as and when the information is updated on the website (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, swprograms via DXLD) ============================================ Monday - June 10th One on One Rob Cameron's guest on One on One this week is Kumar Vishwanathan - an Indian community worker living in north Moravia. Kumar has spent much of the last decade looking for ways to bring the local Roma community closer to majority society, and advocates a number of controversial measures - including dialogue with far-right skinheads and a "Coexistence Village", where Roma and white families will live side by side. Tune in to this week's One on One to find out more. Tuesday - June 11th Talking Point In the last pre-election edition of Talking Point we ask whether the Communist Party has come to terms with its past. We also look at ex-communists featured on the ballots of other parties and ask Czech voters whether they mind. Tune in to Talking Point on Tuesday, June 11 with Pavla Horakova. Wednesday - June 12th ABC of Czech It's time for the letter H in the ABC of Czech and this week Pavla Horakova will explain all the vocabulary concerning home, sweet home. Find out all you need to know on Wednesday, June 12. Broadcast times/frequencies are: 0700-0727 Europe 9880 11600 0900-0929 S. Asia / W. Asia 21745 1030-1057 Europe 9880 11615 1300-1329 Europe / S. Asia 13580 21745 1600-1627 Europe / Africa 5930 21745 1700-1727 Europe / Africa 5930 21745 2000-2027 Europe / SE Asia / Australia 5930 11600 2130-2157 SE Asia / Australia / W Africa 11600 15545 2230-2257 N America 11600 15545 0000-0027* N America 7345 11615 0100-0127* N America 6200 7345 0300-0327* N America 7345 **7385 9870 0330-0357* M East / SW Asia 11600 15620 * Programme is UT next day ** via WRMI (via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, swprograms via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Here`s an online source for notes of items broadcast on DX Partyline, and other things (gh, DXLD) See the June 8th HCJB DX Partyline tidbits now posted in the Static Pops And Propagation Plops column on the HCI web site. Courtesy of Marie Lamb. Static Pops And Propagation Plops: (assorted items of SW, MW and other worldwide radio related news) http://www.w9wze.org/SWL/Static.php?PathNom=Static/static.txt (Duane W8DBF Fischer, swl via DXLD) ** GREECE. ATHENS. BEAUTIFUL ONE HOUR OF GREEK MUSIC Just couldn't resist sharing my joy of listening to one hour of beautiful Greek Music 1800-1900 UT Sundays on 15630 kHz. I don't know where they are beaming it to but signals are just 555 on my Log Periodic beamed to the Mediterranean and I am dreaming of the Greek islands and the waterfront, as I armchair travel. What more do you want. DXing at its best! This is a request show and the announcer dedicated a song in appreciation of Glenn Hauser for listing his show in 1999 which he had stumbled upon and he hoped Glen[n] would be listening...any one has Glenn's e-mail address?? (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DXplorer via Salminiw via DXLD) Victor, you can reach Glenn at: Glenn Hauser ghauser@hotmail.com (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, Canada, via DXLD) Unfortunately I was not listening today, but sometimes do, especially when I happen to be on the road at the time, when 17705 barrels in here during It`s All Greek to Me (gh, OK, DXLD) ** GREECE. New schedule for Radiofonikos Stathmos Makedonias in Greek: 1100-1300 (ex 1100-1500) on 11595 1300-2300 (ex 1500-2300) on 9935 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 11 via DXLD) ** GREECE [non]. I also note that Voice of Greece has stopped using 17520 after 0700 for its morning service to Australia. Confirmed by the latest IBB schedule. The relay via Delano 15190 was well audible at 0720 carrying this service in // 21530 17900 and 15630. There was a severe clash between VoG Kavalla and Pakistan on 17520 when the latter adopted summer time and moved their World Service one hour forward to 0700-1004. This is now clear throughout. Best 73's (Noel Green, England, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Re gh`s query about TGWC-1600 in DXLD 2-095: Glenn, here is the update to show how TGWC became TGWL. An unID Guatemalan identifying itself as Radio Maria was logged one sesquiyear ago by Swedish DXers Odd Påg and Hasse Mattisson. Per ARC Central American New Desk 15/1 2001, reprinted by RNM (Radio Nuevo Mundo, Japan) 273/2001, this station was "TGWC Radio María, Guatemala. Address: 10 Calle 6-80, Z-2, 01002 Guatemala. Phones (...) E-mail: asocrmaria@guate.net". I believe one of these DXers received a reply saying that the report was not OK, and so I emailed them a brief question. In their reply they said they were on FM only. The official Guatemalan datebase, found on Mark Mohrmann`s site http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr showed permit holder`s name only, an individual, not a Government agency, and so via the ConDigList I asked Humberto Molina in San Salvador for help. His timely answer was published in ConDigList Feb 9, 2001, where he added an audio clip which is still available on the net. On this clip I found a phone number and so I was able to advance in my little private investigation. A full account was published in RNM 274/2001. "Two Radio Marias in Guatemala --- by Henrik Klemetz There are two Radio Marías in Guatemala City, one on FM 103.3, called R Asunción de María, and another one on AM 1600, calle "la Radio de María, la emisora de la familia". There is no relationship between the two, and the FM station, e-mail ascormaria@guate.net or drprogra@amigo.net.gt is the only one affiliated to the international R Maria organization with HQ in Italy. "La Radio de María" has not received any reports from abroad so far, said Sister Virginia whom I talked to today on the phone, +502 597 9578. "We are barely reaching out to the capital city", she said. No wonder, Guatemala City is a big place, and so a fairly exact address is a must is you wish to send them a report. Here`s where to, courtesy Sister Doris: Kilómetro 15, Carretera Roosevelt, Zona 2 Vía a Mixco, Ciudad de Guatemala. There is a 412 mp3 clip on the net ("DX quality") which set me on the right rack. It was kindly supplied by Humberto Molina, of San Salvador, El Salvador http://www.geocities.com/jhmolinam/rdemar.html " Soon after, QSLs started to arrive - one of the recipients was apparently also Sig. Bellabarba, in Italy. Instead of using the info on hand (the Hard-core-DX site, Distance etc) the ARC Central American News Desk waited several months, without any reference to their previous report, to produce the following, "Guatemala 1600 TGWL Radio María - La Voz de la Familia, Guatemala. DG: Ing. Arturo López López. Schedule: 1130-0500, power 5 kW. Stn". (ARC Central American News Desk, 9/7 2001 edition, reprinted by RNM 278/2001). (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, to DXLD, July 10, 2002) ** GUYANA. 3291.20, 0900-0922 music and dedication programme run by OM, "dedication to short man" a call name, 10 June. (Bob Wilkner, Pompano, Florida, R75 NRD 535D modified R7 ICF 5900w, Noise reducing antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. I just found the following at the Osprey Essential Pearl Harbor Encyclopedia at http://www.essentialpearlharbor.com ----- The radio station on Oahu, KGMB, usually shut down at night, but when aircraft were making an overnight flight from the mainland the Army Air Force paid for the station to stay on the air. By this means the incoming pilots were given a radio beacon to aid navigation. The arrangement was common knowledge, and when, on the morning of 7 December, Lieutenant Kermit Tyler (Tyler, Kermit) was required to deal with a telephone call from Private Joseph Lockard (Lockard, Joseph) about a blip on his radar, he remembered that the station had been playing all night and that some B-17s were due. He therefore told Lockard not to worry, missing one of the warnings of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The broadcast was also heard by the Japanese. Lieutenant Heijiro Abe, 1st Division, 3rd Attack Unit from Soryu was reassured to hear ordinary music over the air, confirming that the Americans had no thought of attack. At about 0715 KGMB gave the weather forecast, gratefully overheard by the leader of the First Attack Wave, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida (Fuchida, Mitsuo) who had been worrying about conditions over his target. Shortly after 0804 the station sent out a message recalling all military personnel to duty, interrupting a concert to do so, and the call was repeated at 0805 and 0830. Police and firemen were called at 0832 and at 0840 the radio reported an attack by planes with the Rising Sun symbol on their wings. At 1145 Army G-2 (Intelligence) ordered KGMB and the other station KGU off the air as their transmissions were a guide to the enemy (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SETI LEAGUE LAUNCHES FREE WEB-BASED JOURNAL Contact In Context Covers the Latest in Astrobiology and SETI For more information contact: Dr. H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director (201) 641-1770, or email info@setileague.org For Immediate Release, Please Little Ferry, NJ, June 2002 -- The SETI League, Inc., grassroots leader in the privatized search for life in space, is pleased to announce Contact In Context, a new peer-reviewed, web-based academic journal intended as a scientific forum for research in astrobiology and in the search for intelligent life in the universe. Contact In Context will cover these disciplines, in the areas of microwave spectrometry, optical spectrometry, electrical engineering, technology development and assessment studies, chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics. Papers on SETI-related hardware, software, search strategies, and philosophy are also welcome... http://www.setileague.org/press/pres0206.htm (via gh, DXLD) ** IRAN. HEBREW SERVICE TO START ON 11 JUNE TO OPPOSE "ONE-SIDED NEWS MONOPOLY" | Text of report by Iranian news agency IRNA Tehran, 10 June: On the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet, Joseph, peace be upon him, the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Hebrew service will start its activities on Tuesday, 23 Khordad [11 June]. The purpose of setting up the radio station, which is called the Voice of Davud, is to provide accurate information to peoples and oppose the one-sided news monopoly [sentence as received]. The Hebrew service will broadcast for 30 minutes every day and its programmes can be received on the short-wave in the Middle East. Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in Persian 0622 gmt 10 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Presumably this be connected with the IRAN unID item in DXLD 2-091, 1900 on 9745. Is that supposed to be `David`? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. TIME, FREQUENCIES OF IRANIAN RADIO'S NEW HEBREW SERVICE The following time and frequencies are given on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's web site http://www.irib.com for Iranian radio's new Hebrew service "Kol-David". Time - UTC: 1900-1930; Tehran Time: 2330-2400. Frequencies: 7175 KHz (41 metre band) and 9745 kHz (31 metre band) The service will also be available via the Internet. Source: BBC Monitoring research 11 Jun 02 (via DXLD) ** ITALY. Re: RADIO GAP ON SHORT WAVE Dear Glenn, the station has been heard in the Milano area by DXer Toberto Rizzardi around 2130 UT in SPANISH on 13684.8 kHz; the fact the transmitter is not exactly on 13865 kHz is supporting the idea they are really over IRRS (which is NOT a PIRATE station as said by Jerry Berg who as usual doesn't understand the Italian situation, hi) IRRS is a legal station in ITALY authorized to operate on shortwave. However please inform the reports must be sent only to RADIO GAP, cause IRRS do not reply reports. Concerning the correct schedule... as usual in Italy we do like Italians ...so schedule is not FIXED ...may be more large... add 30 till 45 minutes...OK ?? It is also possible the other frequencies may be utilized ONLY for Italy reception. Have you tried to contact ALFREDO COTRONEO the Chief Engineer who is operating IRRS. I guess he DOESN'T WANT the people know who is relaying the RADIO GAP... you may recall the STUDIOS of Radio Gap in Genova resulted destroyed by POLICE last year during the World Meeting... here in Italy we are under a government very much conservative... If I have more news I will inform you (and only you) sooner. 73's (Dario Monferini, Italy, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. CLANDESTINE from PAKISTAN to INDIA. 5101, Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom on 10 Jun. The program was already in progress when check in at 1330. Various mentions of Gen Musharraf and Pakistan. At 1400 UTC, English was right on schedule. Today, there is a commentary alleging that India has sabotaged the peace initiative by sending in spy planes and that sort of thing. According to them, Pakistan was party doing the right thing. The commentary also says that the Kashmir problem can only be solved through negotiations between Indian, Pakistani and Kashmiri parties. Only heard the word Kashmir 2x in the whole commentary. Vernacular follows at 1408 after a brief song. On the whole, the broadcast was much better heard on this occasion than half a year or 18 months ago. I can hear clearly almost all the content of the English broadcast although the hum is still there. Rather than shut this down, I believe they have increased their power output significantly (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LIBYA. This morning (Tuesday) Libya was heard on air via 17750 and 15435 at 0615 UT tune in with usual "Saut ul Afrikiya" IDs. I last tuned 17750 at this time on June 8th and they were not operating that day, so maybe its one of their intermittent early transmissions. What is different is that their signal is now of excellent strength and quality - 17750 was way over Australia and this frequency has the best modulation. 15435 is also good, but audio still seems slightly low. Both stations are still on at 1000, and now with English news at 1020 followed by French then Arabic again at 1025. Maybe strange - maybe not - there were clock chimes for the hour at 1015 and three time pips. Why not! (Noel Green, England, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. RFE/RL via Kaunas on MW 1386 kHz was heard as scheduled Monday evening at -2045-2130-. Bolshakovo had VOR until 2100 and then left the carrier on, obviously as "jamming". Generally Bolshakovo was much stronger than Kaunas. One of the transmitters, apparently Kaunas, had a low frequency (50 Hz?) carrier instability (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I didn`t try the test last night as I thought the Russian signal would obliterate it anyway. Obviously they are not going to give up this frequency easily! (Noel Green, England, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good morning from Dresden; when sinking into my bed last night at about 2130 I just tuned into 1386 for a moment to check for the announced Sitkunai test: Yes, they did it with Radio Liberty in Russian (// 7220). The signal was only mediocre, sounding like 70 or even less kW rather than the announced 700. Also the modulation was a bit low with a noticeable hum in the audio. I wonder which transmitter was actually used; this hardly sounded like a new high power unit. Kind regards, Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACEDONIA. HIGH-POWER AM TRANSMITTER INAUGURATED | Text of report in English by Macedonian state news agency MIA Skopje, 10 June: Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski formally put a new 1,200 kW medium-wave transmitter "Ovce Pole" into operation on Monday [10 June]. In his address at the ceremony, Georgievski extended gratitude to the German and French embassies for putting this project among their priorities, as it would enable for the Macedonian Radio-Radio Skopje to improve its broadcasting quality throughout the country and the region. French Ambassador Francois Terrell said that this project presented a new opportunity for the voice from Macedonia to be spread throughout Europe, while German Ambassador Werner Burkhardt said it was a new approach to democratisation of the relations in Macedonia. The transmitter is produced by the French company "Tales-Broadcast End Multimedia", presenting a top-product in this sphere. The German and French governments donated funds for procuring of the transmitter, while the public company "Macedonian Broadcast" provided financially support for its assembly. The project is worth about 2.5m euros. Source: MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1355 gmt 10 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??! As I recall, 810 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. Re R. Universidad, HTA listed on 9905: I do not know where that information came from; but I thought it suspicious. I thought well, maybe they were given an old transmitter and put it on the air. Nicaragua is now supposed to be the poorest country in Latin America, passing up Honduras, if passing up is the word. Thanks for all the information. I too have been updating a shortwave list I ran about a year or so ago. Most of these stations are of low power and limited range. We need better stations because I think large areas have no service. Thanks for all the info (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Additional changes for Radio Veritas Asia effective June 16: 0000-0025 Zomi-Chin NF 11705 <<<<< new txion 0100-0125 Urdu NF 17845 <<<<< addit freq \\ 15335 1430-1455 Urdu on 9670 <<<<< retimed ex 1530-1555 on 9670 1500-1555 Russian NF 11795 <<<<< retimed ex 1430-1525 on 9660 Full schedule for Radio Veritas Asia effective June 16: Bengali 0030-0055 11995 250 kW / 300œ 1400-1425 9540 250 kW / 300œ Burmese 2330-2355 11725 250 kW / 280œ 1130-1155 9615 250 kW / 280œ Cantonese 2300-2325 11705 250 kW / 331œ Filipino 2230-2255 15240 250 kW / 030œ Filipino 1500-1525 15360 250 kW / 300œ <<<<< Wed,Fri,Sun Filipino 1525-1555 15360 250 kW / 300œ <<<<< Mon,Tue,Thu,Sat Hindi 0030-0055 11705 250 kW / 300œ 1330-1355 9590 250 kW / 300œ Hmong 1000-1025 9555 250 kW / 280œ Indonesian 2300-2325 11820 250 kW / 222œ 2300-2325 9505 250 kW / 222œ 1200-1225 9505 250 kW / 222œ Kachin 2330-2355 11705 250 kW / 280œ 1230-1255 9615 250 kW / 280œ Karen 0000-0025 11725 250 kW / 280œ 1200-1225 9615 250 kW / 280œ Mandarin 2100-2255 6190 250 kW / 350œ 1000-1155 9520 250 kW / 355œ Russian 0100-0155 17830 250 kW / 015œ 1500-1555 11795 250 kW / 330œ Sinhala 0000-0025 11820 250 kW / 280œ 1330-1355 9520 250 kW / 280œ Tamil 0030-0055 11935 250 kW / 280œ 1400-1425 9520 250 kW / 270œ Telugu 0100-0125 15530 250 kW / 280œ 1430-1455 9535 250 kW / 280œ Urdu 0100-0125 15335 250 kW / 300œ 0100-0125 17845 250 kW / 300œ 1430-1455 9670 250 kW / 300œ Vietnamese 2330-2355 9670 250 kW / 280œ 0130-0225 15530 250 kW / 280œ 1030-1125 11850 250 kW / 280œ 1300-1325 7265 250 kW / 280œ Zomi-Chin 0000-0025 11705 250 kW / 280œ (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 11 via DXLD) ** QATAR. A-02 schedule for Radio Qatar QRC in Arabic: 0245-2130 only on single NF 17755.2, ex 9570.2 co-channels on nominal 17755.0: 1000-1100 China Radio International in Cantonese 1400-1500 Radio Japan NHK World in English 1500-2100 Radio Exterior de España in Spanish 2100-2130 Voice of America in French (Mon-Fri) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 11 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. Freq change for Radio Romania Inter in Romanian (for Seaman): 0800-0856 Sun only NF 17745, ex 17790 \\ 15270 15370 17805 17860 21530 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 11 via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. 9600, 1322- June 7, R. SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL. Good to very good reception with news. ID at 1333. Local time check for 9:35 at 1335. Then program about underwater world at Singapore wetlands, by Linda Sunshine (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. My latest message to Sister Stair, which I hope will elicit a reply from her: "Robert Arthur to the House of God, Greeting: How fairs beloved Brother Stair? I am praying for the phophet, and lay may hand on the radio. But I have no revleation how he is. Content in the lord? Defending the faith. Preaching the gospel. I pray for news from Sister Stair and the brothers and sisters in South Carolina. Yours in Jesus the Christ Maranatha." That's it. Short and sweet. We shall see what happens. Other news that might interest your listeners (readers?): I contacted the court in South Carolina. Brother Stair is charged with, among other things, criminal breach of trust, which is a rarely used charge (usually breach of trust is a civil matter). It is also very difficult to prove (except, perhaps, when religious bigotry is in the equation). The law clerk who drafted the complaint used the word "brainwash" in connection with that charge. The women Stair allegedly had sex with were (allegedly) under the impression that Stair (and they) were commanded by god to engage in such activity. Now the women have changed their mind after-the-fact. This is the old non-forcible rape argument, i.e., pretending you're a millionaire, have sex with chick, she finds out you're not a millionaire, and after-the-fact rescinds consent to sex. Then you're on the block for "rape." Those kind of cases (so I thought) went out the window in the late 19th century/early 20th century. By the way, "rape" (they tell me at the courthouse) is the common law term for what modern statutes call "criminal sexual conduct." More specifically, "rape" as we think of it, is "criminal sexual conduct" in the first and third degrees. (Both of those crimes involve force.) CSC in the second and fourth degrees are not as bad a charge as they don't necessarily involve force, and, in some cases, don't even need to involve penetration. (This is a summary of what I got on the phone from the courthouse.) I think this is preposterous and worry about the larger overall implications of disgruntled former members of anything (religion or otherwise) subsequently revoking consent to this devastating effect: denial of bail, etc. The principle of the matter scares me. Now the courts have to decide whether god did or did not so command. Or, perhaps, whether Stair had a subjective knowledge that he was hoodwinking these people. In other words, if B.S. believed his own B.S., then he's "innocent." The whole concept is stupid and unfair, and the only reason most of us don't "see" it is 'cause we hate Brother Stair. But if you step back and look at the big picture in light of the principles upon which this nation was founded, this is a major violation of the rights of an accused who is supposed to be presumed innocent. I have yet been unable to confirm whether it is alleged that any of the women were minors at the time (in which case "consent" is no defense, Sister Stair's pleadings to the contrary notwithstanding), and I have not yet been able to confirm whether the judge used the term "brainwashing" in reference to Stair's radio broadcasts during the bail reduction hearing. Again, that sounds like religious bigotry in violation of the First Amendment. I also don't know why a 69 year old is in maximum security, nor do I know how his ability to communicate with his lawyer and other supporters is or is not hampered. Sister Stair's messages suggest that she is doing everything she is doing (including using his e-mail address) with his permission and possibly direction. I have a call into Brother Stair's lawyer, who, it seems (but not yet 100% confirmed) is not court-appointed but paid for. Dunno if he'll call back. If he is court-appointed, he's not someone fresh out of law school, but a reputable lawyer in the community there. Also awaiting a fax of the actual complaint in this case. Also I want to know how both TV and still news cameras managed to be present at the arrest. Obviously hanky-panky is taking place under the table. This is a community effort to get Brother Stair, and whether we like him or not, we should all worry about this kind of violation of rights. Next time it could be you or a truly innocent person. That's all I can think of to report at this time. Oh, one other thing (how could I forget?): M A R A N A T H A ! ! ! (Couldn't resist.) (Robert Arthur, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. MADAGASCAR 15320, 0437- June 8, VOICE OF HOPE. Very nice music with report about Uganda. Much music both local and western sounding music. More English than the last time I listened (all in fact). Very good reception. Parallel good, but only on my 25 meter dipole, otherwise only fair (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. SAQ ON THE AIR JUNE 30 From: http://www.lwca.org/ Alexanderson Day Celebration at Grimeton, Sweden The one surviving Alexanderson alternator transmitter will operate for "Alexanderson Days" at historic station SAQ at 17.2 kHz on Sunday, June 30. As announced in the June edition of The LOWDOWN, the commemorative message will be sent at 0830 UT, and will be repeated at 0845, 1230 and 1245. The first two transmissions occur when an appreciable amount of the North Atlantic path is in darkness, and when much of the summer QRN in North America should be relatively low. The public will be able to tour the station on that date. And, special event station SA6Q will also operate on 136.8 kHz at 0900-1200 UT, and on frequencies in the 40 and 20 meter amateur bands. Please refer to the Alexander Association web site for HF ham operating schedules; times shown there are Swedish summer time, two hours ahead of UT. SAQ is maintained as an historic industrial site by Telia (via Mike Terry, June 10, DXLD) ALL STATIONS, THIS IS GRIMETON RADIO, SIERRA ALPHA QUEBEC" The annual transmission from Grimeton Radio/SAQ in Sweden with the Alexander alternator on 17.2 kHz will take place on Sunday the 30th of June at 0830 UT and will be repeated at 0845, 1230 and 1245. The station building is open to public during transmission. QSL-reports are kindly received: via e-mail in-@alexander.n.se or via fax +46-340-674195 or via ham call "SM6NM" via Swedish Amateur Bureau (SSA) or direct via CBA or via mail to Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72, SE-430 16 ROLFSTORP, SWEDEN or via amateur radio QSO with the call "SA6Q" on the following frequencies: 0900-1200 UT 136,8 kHz CW 0700-0800 UT 14035 kHz CW 14215 kHz SSB 0800-0815 UT 7015 kHz CW 7050 kHz SSB 0900-1000 UT 14035 kHz CW 14215 kHz SSB 1000-1100 UT 7015 kHz CW 7050 kHz SSB 1100-1200 UT 14035 kHz CW 14215 kHz SSB 1200-1215 UT 7015 kHz CW 7050 kHz SSB 1300-1400 UT 14035 kHz CW 14215 kHz SSB Also read web http://www.alexander.n.se Note: QSL-cards to "SAQ" are not possible via Swedish Amateur Bureau (SSA) because SAQ is a commercial call sign and not a member of SSA. When giving QSL to "SAQ" also please add your snail-mail address, because, of the same reason, we can not send QSL-cards via bureau, but only direct via mail. QSL-cards to "SA6Q" are OK via bureau. Regards SM6NM/Lars (WUN mailing list via Benelux DX Club list via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. 17735, 1553- June 9, R. TUNIS. Good reception in the clear with two people talking in Arabic about the Middle East. Heard mentions of Mubarak and Afghanistan. Then brief Kor`an recital (?) at 1555. A shame they don't broadcast in English, or even French (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA 17735, 0500- June 9, Radio Ezra. Initial very poor reception with S3 to S5, but about 0506 a sudden big improvement to S7 to S9 or better. Something, I suspect happened at the transmitter site. After contact information, into his religious beliefs, and fascination with the Jewish religion. Towards the end of the program, reception again deteriorated to fair only. A strange half hour! Closing announcements at 0528, mentioning that this was the best program so far. He also reports a lack of response to this series of programs, compared to the last series in 11/01. Off at 0529:30, with transmitter off at 0530 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: IBOC comments: I checked out the FCC site to find that there were 241 contributions. Not being in the industry, is that a small number for an issue of this magnitude? I had hoped to get a snapshot of AM IBOC feelings but it would be too time consuming to plow through all 241 of them. Barry (or Fred or anyone else) - could you point us to the most important contributions re AM IBOC? My feeling is that the issue of interference from first and second adjacents hasn't been analyzed or investigated well. But even more amazing is that it hasn't been summarized well in the comments to the FCC that I did read; maybe I missed them? Granted, it's not the forum for detailed technical contributions, but it's someone's job to take the technical input and paint the resulting interference to the FCC in terms that they can connect to. I didn't find that type of summary at all. What I found was a lot of simple several-paragraph contributions that can be summarized as "ain't good for nobody" and of course the various comments from large companies (equipment suppliers and radio station owners) saying "we support it and want you to push forward". There seems to be a hole there regarding its real effect on existing analog AM stations. If any of you guys are aware of comments that touch on that area, I'd love to read them. If I still think there's a hole, I'm going to think hard about filing a comment (Chuck Hutton, NRC-AM via DXLD) As I pointed out, and others have indicated in the list, the biggest problem with IBOC is the interference issue. From a personal side, I'm also offended that with all the evidence of interference, there are so many in the IBOC/iBiquity camp that stand there with serious faces saying "what interference?" (Kind of reminds me of Alfred E. Newman). IBOC's biggest problems are 1) interference to adjacent channel stations, and 2) inability to be used for nighttime service. Barring those two items, it would be a step ahead in broadcasting. Now, why there is no support for DRM/Eureka in the U.S., well, that's politics. I've heard the digital AM stuff that the Europeans are doing in MW and HF, and it really is impressive. Perhaps we need to learn rather than trying to set an example (can you say AM Stereo?) If IBOC is to advance, it will have to cure both of the two ills that I mentioned above. If they can't fix it, then they would be better off to put IBOC in its own channel, such as down in LF or in 2.1 to 2.9 MHz. Take a lesson from analog v digital TV, and you'll see that even with a band that FCC people say does not propagate, hi; there are issues to consider. IBOC is just a bad idea for what they are trying to do with the technology and spectrum they have available. They need to fix the two issues, or move the transmissions to another band. Period (Frederick R. Vobbe, OH, June 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6140, 1058- June 6, R. Monte Carlo. Started to monitor this frequency at this time. What a mess. There is a pile up of two stronger stations, one of which is a Chinese speaker, possibly a Chinese domestic, though I'm not sure from where. There is another possibly Chinese station beneath this. Despite this, I could hear some Spanish at about 1103 or so, not parallel to Radio Rebelde on 9600. This could very tentatively be Uruguay. I was hoping for something at 1130, but as I listen, I hear the same 2 Chinese stations (?), one with a male speaker, the other with a woman, and no Spanish soccer play by play (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The game is supposed to start at 0630 UT Tuesday June 11; China should not be a problem at that hour, but something else (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELA WITHDRAWS INVITATION FOR WRC-03; CONFERENCE LOCATION UNCERTAIN NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 10, 2002--World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 is looking for a new location. Citing economic concerns, the Venezuelan National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) has advised International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi that it will be unable to host WRC-03. The conference had been scheduled to be held in Caracas next June and July. Whether it can be held on the scheduled dates in some other location is not yet known. "It is our understanding that the ITU had an option on conference space in Geneva, but that the option has expired," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. Sumner serves as administrative officer for the delegation that will represent the International Amateur Radio Union at the conference. "Planning for a conference of this size and scope generally takes two or three years," Sumner said. "It is a formidable challenge for the ITU staff to work with potential host administrations to find a suitable facility for a conference that is supposed to open less than one year from now." Several issues of importance to radio amateurs are on the conference agenda, including harmonization of the 7-MHz amateur and broadcasting allocations. Other Amateur Radio-related issues on the WRC-03 agenda include the revision of Article 25 of the international Radio Regulations --- the basic rules for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services. Among other issues, this includes the issue of whether to retain the treaty requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency for access to amateur bands below 30 MHz. "Amateurs may rest assured that wherever and whenever the conference is held, the IARU team will be there for them," Sumner said (ARRL via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. En la mañana de hoy estuve escuchando en los 4830 kHz con una señal de 54454 Radio Táchira, la escuche desde las 13:20 a las 14:07, ha esa hora la señal salio del aire abruptamente al comienzo de un nuevo programa, yo hacia bastante tiempo que no escuchaba esta estación en esa frecuencia. Buena suerte en los próximos días. [Luego:] Apreciados amigos. Radio Táchira está nuevamente en el aire en 4830 con señal de 55455, en estos momentos 2145 UT. Buena suerte en los próximos días. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe) YV5LIX, June 10, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Radio Táchira sí está activa, y esta tarde la he estado escuchando por más de 3 horas con excelente señal, que como es lógico ha ido mejorando al aproximarse la noche; de esta hice una grabación que te envío acá. 73/DX (José Valdés, Caracas, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Apreciados amigos. A continuación les envío el horario actualizado de transmisiones de RNV en 9540 kHz. 0300, 1100, 1400, 1800, 2100, 0000. Esta información me fue dada por el señor Alí Méndez, director de programación. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe) YV5LIX, June 10, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Supposedly, but they are hardly ever audible; maybe a carrier (gh, DXLD) Estimado José, Has chequeado que realmente esté activa esta emisora?? 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) En cuanto a RNV No, como le dije a Gabriel en otro mensaje no he confirmado la actividad, pero la información me la dió el director de programación, Alí Méndez, quien me habló de la posibilidad de hacerme una entrevista para la radio en relación al mundo del DX, pero voy a tratar de confirmar que realmente estén activos, y te lo haré saber (José Valdés, Caracas, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. HO CHI MINH TV TO AIR FIVE VOICE OF AMERICA PROGRAMMES FROM JULY | Excerpt from report by press release by Voice of America on 3 June Washington, D.C., 3 June: The Voice of America has signed a first-ever agreement with Ho Chi Minh City TV to carry five VOA television news and information programmes. The shows will go on the air in early July. Vietnam's national television network based in Hanoi in the past has occasionally selected VOA programming from regional satellites for broadcast nationwide. But the addition of Ho Chi Minh TV as an affiliate will mark the first formal agreement between VOA TV and a Vietnamese television broadcaster. VOA TV will provide a satellite dish and promotional materials. HTV will voice-over in Vietnamese and air the programmes during prime after-dinner hours. VOA began radio broadcasts in Vietnamese programming in 1943, and the Voice of Vietnam, the country's national radio station, also airs VOA programming... Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 3 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Does this mean Vietnam is not jamming VOA on shortwave? (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR 7310, 0330- June 9, VOICE OF PEOPLE. Fair to good reception tonight, except for a lot of atmospheric static crashes. 7315 [WHRI] appears off the air. I'm quite sure the announcer mentioned a change in schedule. Could someone closer to south Africa confirm (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-095, June 9, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1134: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1134.html NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB NEW TIME ON WBCQ FROM JUNE 12: Wed 2200 on 7415 AND 17495, ex-2330; still UT Thu 0415 on 7415 ** ARGENTINA. Websites: There are excellent sites on Argentina stations, sites maintained by DXers and members of the Rio Platense Group of Radio Listeners of Argentina; these are http://www.geocities.com/lu7frb/capital.htm and http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2040/redesfm.htm But there are no master lists of Argentine radio. Los Sitios del Internet: Hay sitios excelentes para las radios de Argentina, sitios mantenidos por radioaficionadaos y miembros de Grupo Platense de Radioescuchadores de Argentina; estes son http://www.geocities.com/lu7frb/capital.htm y http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2040/redesfm.htm Pero no hay sitios generales definitivos de las radios argentinas (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Posted by MT Editor on June 07, 19102 at 12:41:36: A message courtesy of Larry Van Horn: Station VNG is leaving the airwaves (again). Radio VNG is Australia's standard frequency and time signal service. This service provides a signal of moderate accuracy (1 millisecond) that can be readily accessed with inexpensive equipment. As of this writing Radio VNG will not continue beyond 30 June 2002, due to obsolescent technology and replacement options are currently being considered, including the use of the radio-pager network. So here is your last chance at a VNG QSL : The transmitter frequencies, powers and transmission modes are: 2.5 MHz 1 kW, emission mode to be advised 5 MHz 10 kW, emission mode 6K00B9W 8.638 MHz 10 kW, emission mode 3K00A1A 12.984 MHz 10 kW, emission mode 3K00A1A 16 MHz: 5 kW, emission mode 6K00B9W Note: 8.638 MHz and 12.984 MHz are frequencies on loan from the Royal Australian Navy. Reception Reports All correspondence, including reception report and requests for reception reports (QSLs), should be addressed to: Radio VNG National Standards Commission PO Box 282 North Ryde, NSW 1670 The reports should be sufficiently detailed to permit verification. Return postage, preferably in the form of an International Reply Coupon (or US$1) would be appreciated from other than VNG Users Consortium members (MT Chatboard June 7 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Websites: Official telecommunications agency list of stations at http://www.sittel.gov.bo/ Sitios del Internet: No hay sitios generales que destacan las radios bolivianas (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7 via DXLD) Beni: CP--- Radio La Palabra 4731 kHz (1,000 wats). Vicariato Apostólico de Beni, Parroquia de Santa Ana. Tel.: (591 46) 20 246, fax (591 411) 9020. P. Yosu Arketa, director. La Paz: CP63, Radio San Gabriel 620 AM (20,000 vatios) y 6085 khz onda corta (5,000 vatios). Arquidiócesis de La Paz. Avda. Gral. Lanza 2001, Apartado 4792, La Paz. (tel. (591 2) 370 421, fax 391 244. Hermano José Canut Saura, FSC, director. 0450-2200 horas [LOCAL TIME presumed] La Paz: CP29, Radio Fides 760 (50,000 vatios), y CP72 en 4845 khz (5,000 vatios), CP12 en 6155 khz (10,000 watts), y CP-- 9625 khz (15,000 vatios) onda corta; y Fides FM 101.5 FM. Fides 2001. Calle Janaro Sanjinés No. 799, La Paz. Apartado 9143, La Paz. Padre Eduardo Pérez Inhane SJ, director. Teléfonos: (591-2) 379030, fax 314332. Founded February 2, 1939. Website: http://www.fides2001.com/nosotros-fides2001.html Riberalta: CP114, Radio San Miguel, 6055 khz onda corta y FM Centenario 92.5 FM. El Vicariato de Pando. Apartado 102, Riberalta. El Vicariato: Apartado 9, Riberalta. Teléfono: (591) 852-843, fax 852- 8146. Beni [sic]: CP114, Radio San Miguel, 4925 kHz (1,000 wats). Vicariato Apostólico de Pando. Calle Bernardino Ochoa N. 58 Riveralta, Beni, Bolivia. CP 102, Riberalta, Beni. Tel.: (591 852) 8363, o 2747; fax 8268. Gerin Pardo Molina, director. Riberalta: Radio San Miguel 3310 kHz (1,000 wats). Vicariato Apostólico de Bení. Calle Rafael Peña No. 58, Riberalta, Beni. Casilla 102. Tel: (591 46) 20 246, fax (591 411) 9020. Félix Rada, director. [It would appear that all three above are same station, tho the last two were reddened as new entries --gh] San Borja: Radio Eco San Borja, 4702 khz. El Vicariato de Beni. Av. Selim Majuli (Correo Central). Gonzalo Espinosa Cortez, director. 7 am - 11 pm. San Ignacio de Velasco: CP126, Radio Juan XXIII 840 (3,000 vatios) y CP90 6055 khz onda corta (3,000 vatios), y 100.0 FM. Dióocesis de San Ignacio de Velasco, Apartado 82, San Ignacio de Velasco. Tel.: (591 962) 2188. Padre Elías Cortezón R., dtr. Santa Ana del Yacuma: CP-- Radio La Palabra, 4730 khz (700 watts). Plaza Fr. Martín Baltasar de Espinosa, Parroquia de Santa Ana, Santa Ana del Yacuma, Beni. Yosú Arketa, director. Santa Cruz: CP 30, Radio Santa Cruz 970 AM (10,000 vatios), y Stéreo 92 92.1 FM, y CP32, 6135 khz onda corta. Los Padres Jesuitas, Calle Mario Flores, esq. Guenda 20, Apartado 672, Santa Cruz. Padre Francisco Flores, SJ, dtr. Teléfono: +591(3) 531817, fax 532257. Siglo Veinte: CP50, Radio Pio XII 710 AM (10,000 vatios), 97.9 FM, y 5948 khz y 5955 khz onda corta. Apartado 434, Oruro. Padre Roberto Durette OMI, dtr. Teléfono: +591-52-53163. Fundada 1967, FM May 14, 2000. Sucre: CP54, Radio Loyola 1300 AM (2,500 vatios), y CP41 en 5995 khz onda corta (1,000 vatios). Fides 2001. Apartado 40, o Calle Ayacucho 161, Sucre. Teléfono: +591(64)53677, 54570; fax 42555. Señor Gonzalo Ibáñez Ferrufino, director. 0600-2200 horas. Se puede oír en el Internet. Fundada el 31 de julio 1950. Tarija: CP204, Radio Tarija 640 AM ``La Voz del Campesino`` (10,000 vatios) y CP229 6080 khz onda corta (silent) y 98.7 FM. El Obispado de Tarija, Apartado 1003, Calle Bolivar esq. España, Tarija. 0500-0945 y 1200-2140 horas. El Obispado: Calle Gen. Bernardo Trigo 0761, o Apartado 1192. Teléfono: (591) 66-3425 o 5042. Marcos Van Der Valk, director. (Catholic Radio in the Americas, June 7, SW listings only excerpted by gh for DXLD; in these and subsequent entries there may be some inactive stations included; reproduced here more or less as given) *** BULGARIA. OPDX was informed that Boyan, LZ1BJ, is stating that mail theft in Bulgaria is very bad. He currently recommends that there is no sense to send direct QSLs to LZ, because of the situation in the Bulgarian Postal system. If you send direct, avoid using green stamps, use IRC only and pack letters very secure, using scotch tape. Boyan has received over the past 2 years about 200 opened letters. He has sent several complaints to Bulgarian Postal Authorities (KB8NW/OPDX June 10/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Websites: The Paulist DX Club has a site that lists loggings of Brazilian AM and FM stations at http://www.dxcp.com.br and there is a complete list of AM and shortwave stations at http://www.dxcp.com.br/download/projetoradiobrasil.pdf complete with addresses at the club`s website. The national government telecommunications regulatory agency, ANATEL, once had a detailed list of AM and FM stations, but the last time I checked it was not working. Sitios del Internet: El Clube DX Paulista tiene un sitio que destaca las radios que sus miembros han escuchado desde todas partes de Brasil; además, hay un elenco completo de todas las radios AM y onda corta brasileña en http://www.dxcp.com.br/download/projetoradiobrasil.pdf e indica las direcciones postales también. La agencia gunbernamental nacional que regula las telecomunicaciones brasileñas, ANATEL, en el antepasado tuvo un mecanismo en su sitio para identificar las emisoras de cualquieras ciudades, pero no funciona ya. Amazonas Coari: ZYH289 Rádio Educacão Rural, 1250 AM (1,000 watts por los días, 250 watts noches), y ZYF272, 5035 khz onda corta (5,000 watts). Praça Sao Sebastiao 137, Coari AM 69460-000. 0900-0400 horas [suspect UT in this case – gh]. José C. Martins Cabra I., dtr. (en la diócese de Coari) Manaus: ZYH286, Rádio Rio Mar 1290 AM (10,000 watts por los días, 250 watts por las noches) y onda corta ZYE246, 6160 khz (10,000 watts) y ZYE245, 9695 khz (7,500 watts) Arzobispado de Manáus, Rua José Clemente 500, Manaus 69010-070. 0900-0100 hrs. Martin J. Laumann, dtr. Fundada 1954, purchased by Archdiocese in 1962. (en la arzodiócese de Manaus) Bahía Fiera de Santana: ZYH451 Rádio Sociedade de Fiera de Santana 970 AM (10,000 watts días, 5,000 watts noches), ZYF390 on 4865 khz shortwave, & Rádio Princesa 96.9 FM. Obispado de Feira de Sanana. Frei Hermenegildo 300, Capuchinhos, CP 1525, 44052-240 Feira de Santana, BA. Teléfonos: (55 075) 625-5119, fax 625-1210. Frei Rutivalder Alves de Brito, director. Ceará Crato: ZYH600 Rádio Educadora 1020 AM (5,000 watts días, 1,000 watts noches) y ZYF533 3255 khz onda corta (1,000 watts). Rua Coronel Antônio Luíz 1068, Bairro do Pimenta, 63100-000 Crato. 0900-1400 & 1900-0200 hrs. Padre Gonçalo Farias Filho, dtr. (en Diócese de Crato) Minas Gerais Governador Valadares: ZYL254 Radio Por um Mundo Melhor 850 AM (10,000 watts day, 500 watts night), 97.7 FM, y ZYG202 on 4855 kHz (1,000 watts) shortwave. Avenida Brasil 2770, 35020-070 Governardor Valadares, MG. Odilon Lagares de Aguilar, director. (in the Diocese of Governador Valdares). Pará Belém: ZYI532 Rádio Clube Paranaense 690 AM (20,000 watts días, 5,000 watts noches), y ZYG362 on 4885 khz (5,000 watts). C.P. 533, 66017-970 Belem PA. Snhr. Edyr Paiua Preença, dtr. (En la arzodiócese de Belem.) Santarém: ZYI354 Radio Rural 710 AM (10,000 watts day, 5,000 watts night) & ZYG363 on 4765 kHz (10,000 watts). Av. São Sebastião 622-A, 68005-090 Santarém, Pará. Tel.: +55 (83) 522-2439. Silvana Maria Santos, director. (in the Diocese of Santarém). Paraná Londrina: ZYJ260 Radio Alvorada de Londrina 970 AM (5,000 watts por los días, 1,000 watts por las noches), y ZYD649 en 4865 khz (5,000 watts). Edificio Júlio Fuganti, Rua Senador Souza Naves 9, 9er pisa, Salas 903-911, 86010-170 Londrina PR. Teléfonos: (43) 336-0606, fax 321-4745. Senhor Paulo Lauro C. de Oliveira, director. 0400-1200 horas. Pernambuco Petrolina: ZYI780 Emisora Rural a Voz do São Francisco 730 AM (10,000 watts) y ZYG525 4945 khz onda corta (1,000 watts). Fundação Emissora Rural a Voz do São Francisco, Praça Maria Auxiliadora 205, 5630-000 Petrolina PE. Teléfonos: (081) 862-1522. Dom Frei Paulo Cardoso, director. 0800-0100 horas [UT or local?]. (en la diócese de Petrolina) Piaui Teresina: ZYI891 Rádio Pioneira de Teresina 1150 AM (10,000 wats días, 5,000 wats noches) y ZYG595 onda corta 5015 kHz (1,000 wats). Fundação Dom Avelar Brandão Vilela, Rua 24 de Janeiro, 150 – Centro, Teresina. Tel.: 0 xx 86 221-8121, fax 221-8122. Luís Soares de Melo, director. Director de rádio: Padre Tony Batista. Rondônia Guajará Mirim: ZYJ670 Rádio Educadora 1260 AM (1,000 watts días, 250 watts noches) & ZYG792 on 3375 kHz (5,000 watts). Fundação Dom Rey, Praça Mário Corrêa 90, o C.P. 51, Guajará-Mirim, RO. Teléfono (069) 541-6333. Padre Izidoro José Moro, director. (en la diócese de Guajará Mirim) Porto Velho: ZYG671 Radio Caiari 1430 AM (1,000 watts) & ZYG790 on 4785 khz (10,000 watts). Av. Carlos Gomes 932, 78900-030 Porto Velho. Carlos A. Diniz Martins, director. (in the Arzobispado de Porto Velho). São Paulo Aparecida: ZYK542 Radio Aparecida 820 AM (10,000 watts por los días, 500 watts noches) y FM 90.9; y onda corta ZYG853 en 5035 khz (10,000 watts), ZYE954 6135 (25,000 watts) y 9630 khz (10,000 watts), y ZYE954, 11855 khz (1,000 watts); Basílica de Nossa Senhora de Aparecida. Av. Getúlio Vargas 185, Aparecida 12570-000. 0700-0300. Teléfonos: +55(12)565-1133 fax 565-1138. Padre Antônio César Moreira Miguel, dtr. E-mail: radioaparecida@redemptor.com.br; website http://www.radioaparecida.com.br (En la arzodiócese de Aparecida) Cachoeira Paulista: ZYK513 Rádio Cançao Nova 1020 AM (10,000 watts por los días, 250 watts por las noches), ZYG868 on 4825 khz (10,000 watts), ZYE971 on 6105 khz (10,000 watts), y ZYE971 on 9675 khz (10,000 watts). Difunde sobre el Internet. C.P. 57, 12630-070 Cachoeira Paulista, SP. Wellington Silva, Jardim, director. 24 hras. Website: http://www.cancaonova.org.br E-mail: radio@cancaonova.org.br (En la diócese de Cachoeira do Sur) Fundada el 25 de mayo 1980 (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7, SW only excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Durante a Copa da Mundo muitas emissoras brasileiras devem deixar suas antenas, em ondas curtas, ligadas até mais tarde. Acontece que os jogos são na madrugada brasileira, ou seja, após às 0500. Em 2 de junho, por exemplo, a Rádio Gaúcha, de Porto Alegre, transmitiu os jogos da Argentina contra a Nigéria e Paraguai versus África do Sul, nas freqüências de 6020 e 11915 kHz. Às 0745, a emissora foi captada, em Porto Alegre, nas duas freqüências. O mesmo aconteceu com a Guaíba, em 6000 e 11785 kHz. Foi captada, em Porto Alegre, às 0805, com a cobertura do jogo da África do Sul e Paraguai. Vale lembrar que a maioria dos jogos são narrados em estúdios, tanto em Porto Alegre como em Seul. Os jogos do Brasil, com certeza, são diretos dos estádios em que são realizados (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. National Post Online June 7, 2002 THEY'LL HAVE YOU IN STITCHES Jonathan Kay Keeping a comedy troupe intact for a sesquidecade without a change in personnel is an amazing achievement. In the case of the Vestibules, the survival streak is all the more impressive given the dwindling Anglo presence in Montreal, where the trio is based. So many of the Vestibules' fans have migrated west that the troupe wrote a song about the exodus, fittingly titled I Don't Want to Go to Toronto... http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/printer/printer.asp?f=/stories/20020607/481394.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. I have been able to tune in CFRX on 6070 kHz between about 6 and 8 UT. I cannot tune in at any other time, and a while back the opposite was true. I have also not been able to tune in to WHRI at 9495 kHz between 18 and 20 UT (Kenneth S. Armstrong, Chicago IL, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) By ``cannot tune in`` do you mean there is no signal audible on clear channel; blocked by interference, or what? (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. 8377, ARMONICO, 1321, Sintonizada la señal de Scamusica, sistema de transmicion de musica en el modo sub-portadora, con musica ambiental para empresas, 33233, (Héctor Frías, Chile, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Usually reported in 47-49 MHz band, as recently here by F2 to Japan. How could 8377 kHz be a harmonic of that??? (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. Diocesan Catholic Stations, Members of ARCA: The following stations are members of the Asociación de Radios Católicas de Chile (ARCA), which maintains a website at http://www.galeon.com/redarca An up-to-date database of Chilean stations plus other very useful information can be found there. Coyhaique: CD84 Santa María AM 840 AM (10,000 watts), y CE603 on 6030 khz onda corta (10,000 watts). Calle Bilbao 681, Casilla 1, Coyhaique, Chile. Tel.: (67) 232398, 232025, 231817; fax (67) 231306. E-mail: santamaria@entelchile.net. Señor Victor Soto Guzmán, director. 0500- 2300 horas, onda corta 1045-0230 y domingos 1130 a 0300. Websites: There is a good website for all Chilean radio and television stations, operated by the Chile DX Club, http://www.lanzadera.com/chiledxclub/ with separate AM and FM listings, among other pages. Sitios del Internet: Hay buen sitio para todas las radios y las televisoras chilenas, mantenido por el Clube DX de Chile, por http://www.lanzadera.com/chiledxclub/ Los elencos de radios AM y FM son distintos, y hay otras páginas, como de las televisoras, que son de interés (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Bogotá: HJKU Emisora Kennedy 1430 AM (12,000 watts) y HJKW 4775 khz (1,000 watts). Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, Parroquia La Macarena. Calle 385 #75-31, Ciudad Kennedy 72875, Santa Fe de Bogotá. Tel: (91) 2-730703. Señor José Vicente Echeverri, director. La onda corta es inactiva. Buenaventura: HJJA Radio Buenaventura 1240 AM (3,000 w) y HJAM 4835 khz onda corta (1,000 w). Apartado Aereo 383, Buenaventura. 0530-2400 horas [local time UT-5 presumably]. Padre Antonio Bayter Abud, dtr. Florencia: HJVK Armonías del Caquetá 970 (30,000 w) y HJRI 4915 khz onda corta (3,000 w). El Obispado de Florencia, Carretera 14 #12-129, Piso 2á, o Apartado 285, Florencia. 0500-2200 horas. Padre Álvaro Serna A., dtr. Tumaco: HJKG Radio Mira 1190 AM (10,000 watts) y HJOW 6015 khz (1,000 watts). A.A. 165, Tumaco. Gabriel Osornio, director. 0600-2300 [local time] (Catholic Radio in the Americas, June 7, SW items only excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Hola Rafael!! Hace un rato, Hans Johnson me decía que desde los Estados Unidos habia captado una emisora en los 6064.5 a 1100 UT de ayer sábado, pero no era audible hoy domingo. Desde Buenos Aires no pude escuchar nada. Vamos a ver de qué se trata. Te mando un abrazo (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. 9965-USB, R Habana, 0630 June 9, fair-good in English with item on research into destroying the bo weevil, // 9550 which was suffering co-channel QRM (Paul Ormandy, NZ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Corrected to 9665-USB!} ** CUBA [NON]. DISSIDENTS TUNE IN TO, CONTRIBUTE TO MARTÍ BY Vanessa Bauzá, HAVANA BUREAU, June 7, 2002 HAVANA Late at night when the signal is clearest, Giraldo Leon Corvea plugs the earphones into his short-wave radio, ignores the unrelenting static and tunes in to Radio Martí for news and opinions considered counterrevolutionary on state-run radio. Critics have charged the federally funded, anti-Castro station's programming as unbalanced and inflammatory. But faithful listeners such as Leon Corvea say they appreciate the station's viewpoints as an alternative to the reports on Cuban government-run stations, even if Radio Martí's credibility and news judgment are flawed at times. "There have been low points in credibility, false news that was broadcast, but its not [Radio Martí's] editorial line," said Raul Rivero, the island's best-known independent journalist and who is a contributor to the exile-run station. Rivero said he would prefer to speak on regular AM/FM radio stations and address his compatriots on Cuba's radio stations, without the interference that blocks Radio Martí's signal. But as a dissident with views critical of the government he said he faces a no win situation. " ... it is always suspicious to use a [U.S.] government-funded radio station to distribute news, but here the government closes all the doors," Rivero said. "Then they accuse you of being a mercenary for using a borrowed station." Rivero and others insist they are not paid a dime for their contributions. "The pay we get is that our country listens to us," Rivero said. Since its inception in 1985, Radio Martí has faced persistent policy investigations and audits. Critics say the station's $15 million annual budget and especially the $10 million a year it costs to run its broadcast partner, TV Martí, are a waste of taxpayers' money because their audience is small or non-existent. On Thursday those criticisms were renewed in a hearing on Capitol Hill where members of the Cuba Working Group, a new organization that aims to ease the embargo, said TV Martí should be scrapped to improve Radio Martí. Dissidents in Cuba agree. "The money they are investing in TV Martí should be put into a better signal [for Radio Martí] and they should send more radios," said Victor Rolando Arroyo, a dissident, referring to the U.S. Interests Section's distribution of hundreds of short-wave radios over the past year. Radio Martí frequently comes under fire from the Cuban government. In February, Cuban officials blamed the station for inciting 21 young Cuban men to crash the gates of the Mexican Embassy after it repeatedly broadcast statements by Mexican Foreign minister Jorge Castañeda that the doors of the embassy were open to all Cubans. Rather than inciting sedition, supporters of Radio Martí here said the station provides a measure of "protection" for dissidents who are arrested by ensuring that their plight is publicized. Though Cuban listeners had no statistical information to back their claims that the station is heard in Cuba, they offered anecdotal evidence. "My voice is recognized by strangers," said Ricardo González an independent Havana journalist who for three years has contributed to a Radio Martí segment for Cubans interested in leaving legally. He said his phone rings non-stop with people interested in information about family reunification, the visa lottery, or filing for political asylum. He passes their questions to a Miami immigration attorney who discusses them on the program, Las Noticias Como Son --"The News as It Is". Copyright © 2002, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) CUBAN MIGRANTS SAY THEY WERE MISLED By JIM DAY, Associated Press CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands --- Eight Cubans who made it to the U.S. Virgin Islands by boat said Thursday that broadcasters from a U.S.-funded radio station led them to believe they could legally immigrate if they landed at the shore. The eight were among 13 Cubans who arrived Monday at this U.S. territory after a two-day journey from the communist island. The eight pleaded innocent to charges of illegal entry Thursday; two others pleaded guilty and a family of three had not yet been charged because officials were still evaluating how to deal with them. The group told the Immigration and Naturalization Service upon their arrival that they thought they had permission based on broadcasts from Radio Martí, a U.S. government-run station run by Cuban exiles who oppose Fidel Castro. "The United States has been encouraging Cubans to enter without inspection since Radio Marti was established in 1990," said Douglas Beevers, a federal public defender who is representing the eight. They didn't immediately present specific evidence about what immigration information they got from Radio Martí, but Beevers said he would ask the station for transcripts. Radio Martí officials said Thursday that they do not encourage Cubans to immigrate to the United States, but broadcast news about issues of interest to the Cuban people, such as immigration topics. "Radio Martí tells people not to go in the water and risk their lives," said Tish King, a spokeswoman for the International Broadcasting Bureau, the government agency that oversees foreign broadcasts such as Radio Martí and Voice of America. "That is the opposite of what these people are saying in the court case." Most Cuban migrants who safely reach American territory without being detected are usually allowed to stay. However, they technically can be charged with illegal entry and sent home if they don't land somewhere designated for international arrivals --- like a port. Migrants intercepted at sea are typically sent home. The U.S. policy is based on the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, which Castro for years has criticized as encouraging Cubans to make the dangerous journey by boat to the United States. Since April, more than 50 Cuban immigrants have been arrested and charged with illegal entry into this U.S. territory that lies about 800 miles east of Cuba. The eight defendants remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. They are to appear again in court on July 17. Copyright 2002 Knight Ridder (via Dave White, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Government Telecommunications agency website (Supertel): http://www.supertel.gov.ec/concesionarios.htm Loja: HCAV3 Radio Luz y Vida 1150 AM (10,000 w) y 4850 onda corta (3,000 w) and FM 88.3. Misioneras Sociales de la Iglesia. Originating station. Calles Rocafuerte 1143 y Olivedo. Casilla 11-01-222. Hermana Ana Maza Reyes, dtr. 0500-2230 horas. Macas: HCVB7 La Voz del Upano 1540 AM, and 90.5 FM, & HCSK7 en 3360 kHz, (potencia desconocida), 4870 & HCVB7 on 5040 kHz (10,000 w), y 6000 kHz. Nationwide service on 5965 kHz. Repetidoras: Gral. Leonidas Plaza, Limón 90.5 FM; Santiago de Méndez 90.5 FM; Gualaquiza 90.5 FM. El Vicariato de Méndez. Misión Salesiana. Calle 10 de Agosto s/n/ Padre Domingo Barrueco. Casilla 692, Quito. Teléfonos: (593 7) 70- 0356, 70-0259, fax (593 7) 70-0574. 0545-2200 horas. Habían dos servicios distintos, pero se parece que uno, quizás el comercial, está cerrado. Programas en Shuar. Quito: HCFF1, Radio Jesús del Gran Poder 670 AM (12,000 w). La onda corta en 5050 kHz (5,000 w) está cerrada. La Catedral de San Francisco. Casilla 17-01-133. 0445-2000 horas. Padre Jorge Enríquez Silva, dtr. 24 hras [sic]. Quito: HCRP1, Radio Católica Nacional 880 AM (50,000 w por los días, 40,000 w por las noches) y 94.1 FM. La onda corta en 5030 kHz (10,000 w) está cerrada. La Conferencia Episcopal del Ecuador. Fundación Juan Pablo II. Calles América 1830 y Mercadilo. Flagship. Casilla 17-03- 540. 0500-2100 horas. E-mail: buenanoticia@radiocatolica.org.ec René Torres, dtr., Padre Antonio Arreguí Y., el gerente. Quito: Radio María Ecuador 100.1 FM. Fundación Radio María. Calles Baquerizo Moreno 281 y Leonidas Plaza. Tels.: (593-2) 564714, 564719, and 558702. Fax (593-2) 237630. Control room: 239800. Fr. Francisco Palacios, director. E-mail: radiomaria@andina.net. Website: http://www.radiomariaecuador.org Repetidoras: Olon 105.3 FM, Ibarra 101.5 FM, Macas 98.9 FM, Nueva Loja 104.1 FM. Reported March 2002 on HCVN7 La Voz del Napo in Tena on 3280 kHz. Santo Domingo: HCOT1, Radio Católica Nacional 965 AM (10,000 w) y 101.7 FM. La onda corta en 3395 kHz está cerrada (10,000 watts). Fundación Juan Pablo II. Calles Ibarra y Babahoyo. Casilla 17-24-567. Padre Gualberto Pérez Paredes, dtr. Cierra a la 0100. Tena: HCVN7 La Voz del Napo, 3280 kHz (2,500 watts). Misión Josefina, Tena. Señor Ramiro Cabrera, director. Relays Radio María Ecuador, sometimes Radio María Colombia, overnight (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7, SW references only excerpted by gh for DXLD) see also GALAPAGOS ** FINLAND. SCANDINAVIAN WEEKEND RADIO 11690 / 11720 Full Data #280 QSL Card depicting a bumblebee on one side, reverse photo of the staff. Also sent a whole bunch of goodies, stickers, decals, wall poster, postcard of Virrat, Finland and an information letter. All this in 50 days for a tape report. 50 watts into 3-element beam to North America. v/s Frank D.J. (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Receber um cartão QSL da Rádio França Internacional não depende mais da própria emissora. De acordo com Amparo Cots, do Serviço Latino Americano, todos os informes de recepção são enviados ao Departamento de Ondas Decamétricas da Teledifusão da França. Segundo ela, "este organismo responde, com muita demora, desde que foram suprimidas as transmissões em ondas curtas para a América Latina". As informações foram enviadas, por carta, ao radioescuta brasileiro Paulo Jorge Ferreira, de Bagé(RS). (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Galápagos, Puerto Baquerizo: HC--- La Voz de Galápagos 530 AM (unk. watts) y Galápagos Stéreo 97.1 FM. Prefetura Apostólica de Galápagos. Galápagos Isla San Cristóbal: HCVG8 La Voz de San Cristóbal 1320 AM (5,000 w). Misión Franciscana, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Padre Manuel Valarezo, dtr. 0700-2000 horas. [local time = UT -6] Galápagos Isla Santa Cruz: HCSC8 Radio Santa Cruz 88.7 FM (1,000 w). Prefetura Apostólica de Galápagos. Puerto Ayora, Isla de Santa Cruz. Padre Jesús Guerrera, dtr. 0700-1900 horas (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7 via DXLD) ** GREENLAND. Re DXLD 2-093: In the audio section of DXing.info you can listen to a vintage recording (provided by Michael Schnitzer) from the previous era of shortwave broadcasting from Greenland: http://www.dxing.info/audio/index_greenland.dx The KNR website is located at http://www.knr.gl/ but doesn't contain any information about the new SW broadcasts. Has someone already picked up these new SW transmissions? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, June 7, dxing.info via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA [and non]. LATIN AMERICAN MEDIA GIANT IN THE MAKING Miami-based businessman controls big chunk of Latin American airwaves, looks to extend reach... By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - He calls himself a ``Robin Hood who pays taxes.'' Newspapers call him ``the Ghost.'' Lawmakers and media experts call him one of the biggest threats to free speech in Latin America. But everybody agrees on one thing: Ángel González, a Mexican- born, Miami-based, ever-mysterious broadcast mogul, is fast becoming the king of Latin America's airwaves. And almost nobody outside Guatemala has heard of him. In this Central American nation, González owns seven television stations - including the only four with nationwide coverage - as well as 20 radio stations. Elsewhere in Latin America, he controls 34 TV stations and more than 70 radio stations in five other countries. His list of major TV stations includes three in Costa Rica, two in southern Mexico, two in Nicaragua, a pair in the Dominican Republic and one in Chile. He says that's only the beginning for his holding company, Televideo Services Inc. ``Over the next 10 years we will come to control three more stations per year,'' González, who speaks only Spanish, said in a telephone interview. With a net worth estimated at dlrs 350 million, he is often described by admirers as a shrewd entrepreneur who is quietly gobbling up a broadcast market overlooked by most high rollers. But critics say he is out to build broadcast monopolies all over Latin America - from south Florida to Tierra del Fuego. ``You hear reports of just how much power and influence people like him have in Latin America - except with González it's all true,'' said Santiago Cantón, a freedom of expression envoy for the Organization of American States. ``He is looking to do what he did to Guatemala to other countries, and there doesn't seem to be any way to stop him.'' In an OAS report, Cantón said González's holdings are ``dangerous to all levels of Guatemalan freedom of expression'' because they let him create and cancel TV and radio shows and use one-sided programming to help political allies. González was born near the northern Mexican city of Monterrey and got his start in television peddling syndicated shows to stations in the region. On one of his trips to Guatemala he met his wife, and decided to stay. Using loans, he started his broadcast operation by buying Guatemala's channels 3 and 7 in 1981. A 58-year-old with a winning smile and a high-pitched voice, González said he seeks out small stations that have become unprofitable and enjoys putting them back in the black. He rarely goes after the biggest properties in a region, saying he prefers to buy smaller stations so that one day he will ``have control of more channels than anyone else.'' González said he has sidestepped laws prohibiting monopolies by using phantom companies run by local relatives, friends and stand-ins to acquire his Latin American broadcast interests. ``Why lie? In Guatemala I use my wife's name. In Chile I have Chileans. In Perú, I have Peruvians,'' he said. ``I run a holding company and I let my friends and relatives control everything else. I violate no laws.'' González's business dealings are so secretive that newspapers call him ``el Fantasma'' - ``the Ghost'' - a man whose money and influence are everywhere even if records bearing his name are not. According to the Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre, González was allowed to take over Perú's Channel 13 after paying dlrs 15 million (50 million soles) to the since ousted spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos to settle a payment dispute between a González stand-in and station owner Género Delgado. Shortly after the payment, a Montesinos-controlled court ruled in favor of González, who took control of the station and canceled an investigative-reporting program critical of then President Alberto Fujimori. After Fujimori's government collapsed, Delgado regained 75 percent of the station. A González company still owns the rest. Delgado said González used similar tactics to take over Lima's Channel 9. ``There is a junta of fraudulent associates, and behind this junta (González) controls Channel Nine,'' Delgado said. ``They wanted to do the same thing to Channel 13, but we stopped them.'' González called the accusations ridiculous. ``I live in the United States. I would have serious legal problems if these reports were true,'' said González, who said he owns homes in Miami, New Orleans, Mexico City and Guatemala City. ``I don't have anyone after me.'' Still, González doesn't deny his control of the Guatemalan airwaves is airtight. Guatemalan leaders say chatting with González in Miami - or meeting him for drinks at restaurants he owns in Key Biscayne and Key West - is a must for those who want to succeed in politics. ``There is no one in power in Guatemala left to criticize Ángel González,'' said Sen. Pablo Ceto, head of a small opposition party. ``He has supported all the major parties and all the major candidates, and no one will ever forget that.'' A self-described conservative, González said he backs any candidate he thinks can win, regardless of ideology. ``I award free publicity to everyone who deserves it, and that makes some people who are used to running things in Guatemala mad,'' he said. ``I have an interest in all things political, because if I didn't, the upper classes would continue happily controlling who wins every election.'' During the 1999 presidential race, González donated more than 20 million quetzales (dlrs 2.6 million) and provided plum airtime free of charge to the campaign of populist Alfonso Portillo. There is no law in Guatemala against giving free ad time, and political analysts say the free commercials helped Portillo win the election. ``Without González there may well have been another president in Guatemala,'' said the government's human rights ombudsman, Julio Arango Escobar. He said González has influenced every Guatemalan presidential race since 1986. After becoming president, Portillo named González's brother-in-law, Luis Rabbe, as his minister of communications, infrastructure and housing, a powerful Cabinet position whose jurisdiction includes the oversight of broadcast media. Politicians aren't the only Guatemalans who see benefits in befriending González. José Eduardo Zaraco, a former TV journalist and newspaper columnist, said he sought out González in Miami to win support for a twice-weekly television news magazine on González's Channel 13. But after two years of shows that offered stinging criticism of Portillo, first as a candidate and later as president, González canceled the show in February 2000. ``He told me that he was tired of having the president's office call and complain about the program,'' Zaraco said. ``I tried, with the show, to fight the monopoly, but really I was part of it.'' Cantón said González first censored his Guatemalan stations in 1988, when he canceled a pair of soap operas that were critical of some of his political allies. He has since forced his Guatemalan outlets to cancel more than 10 news and entertainment programs, Cantón said. González denied that. He said the OAS official ``listened to too many biased sources without conducting his own investigation.'' Last February, a mob stormed the offices of the newspaper El Periódico, protesting a series of articles that charged Rabbe with misusing public funds. The newspaper accused the Communications Ministry of orchestrating the protest. It said a camera crew for González's Channel 7 showed up to film the supposedly spontaneous rally 20 minutes before it began. The paper published photographs of the license plates of several ministry vehicles that it said dropped protesters off. Rabbe denied having anything to do with the demonstration. ``President Portillo is a good man. Mr. Rabbe is a good man,'' González said. ``The same forces after me are after them, but that's the way politics goes in Guatemala.'' (via Scott Gurian, June 9, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Cobán: TGTZ Radio Tezulutlán, shortwave 3370 (1,000) & 4835 (5,000) & TGDV 103.5 FM. Box 19, Cobán 16901 o 1a Av. 1-31, Zona 3, Cobán Alta Verapaz. Tel.: 952-1928, fax 951-2848. Obispado de Alta Verapaz. Padre Sergio Godoy, dtr. The FM is affiliated with Fundación para la Paz y Reconciliación; see TGTO-FM Guatemala City. 6 am-10 am & 4 pm-10 pm. Jocotán: TGCH Radio Chortís 3380 (1,000). Centro Social, Jocotán. Padre Juan María Boxus, dtr. Affiliate of Fundación para la Paz y Reconciliación; see TGTO-FM Guatemala City. 6 am-8 am & 4 pm-11:30 pm. Guatemala City: TGWC La Radio de María 1600 AM (10,000 wats). Km 15 - Carretera Roosevelt, Zone 2, via a Mixco, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Teléfonos: 597-9578, 701-0302. ``La última del cuadrante pero la primera en el corazón de la familia.`` Not affiliated with Radio María Guatemala 100.3 FM (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7, SW only excerpted by gh for DXLD) ??? This last one is questionable; stranger things have happened, as preceding article may indicate, but I distinctly remember that 1600 used to be a government Voz de Guatemala outlet, as the calls imply, along with TGW, TGWA and TGWB (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. HONOLULU RADIO ROLLCALL Fred, please cue the Harp efx... I remember it like it was almost yesterday (rubbing my chin, looking off into the distance at my desk). Indeed, the highest freq FM was 97.5 KPOI 98 Rock in Honolulu (// 1040 AM). Then in Maui something like 100.1 or 101.1 in Lahina opened up around 1986. The rest was history. 590 KSSK seemed to do pretty well with Michael W. Perry [on the left side of your speaker] and Larry Price [on the right side of your speaker] in the AM (MOR Formatted music). Please refresh my memory. What AM freq was KGMB on? I know it was TV-9 in Honolulu (and other channel relays in the other islands). The very first AM stereo station I heard was 830 KIKI (CHR) (10 kw) in 1985, with a Sony SRF-A1, which I still have. Kamasami Kong, Noe Tanigawa, Frank B. Shaner, Shawn Till Dawn (who used to lend me American Top 40 LPs to listen to at the Base Library). Personality Oriented AM... gotta love it, and again, in stereo! I heard on Jerry Star's June DXAS segment that there are COMPETING applications for 1600khz in Wahiawa and Makaha. I lived in Makaha at one time and I don't feel there is any commercial activity out there aside from the 7-11 Convienience Store/Gas Station. Mmm, I can taste those Piña Colada Slurpees now! They sustained my wife's cravings pretty well when we were expecting our first child. Wahiawa can probably support a station, except for Dave Gleason's point of the market just being overloaded with stations. Speaking of the "Heritage Calls", when I was in Hawaii '83 - '86, 760 was KGU (forget if Aku was still there then, I remember it as News/Talk) KHVH 990 also was a News Station, KIKI - I don't know if that's a 'heritage' call, but it was 830, KISA was Filipino-oriented on 1540, KZOO was Japanese on 1210 I think, KDEO (sole country outlet) pumped out 10 kw on 940 from Waipahu, KPOI was AOR on 1040 (partly // of FM 97.5 "98 Rock K-Poi"). As I mentioned before 690 KKUA. It seemed to be the calls for a while judging from the old stickers I'd see here and there. 1080 KWAI seemed to be a A/C Revolving cart machine... 1320 (was it then?) KCCN All native Hawaiian. FM - KULA Waipahi 92.3 Adult Stereo Rock, Michael W. Perry voicelining everything - later live jocks. KSHO 96.5 Did an all Beatles format. Maybe an All Elvis deal too... memory's fading. Later went to CHR/A/C KRTR The Crater. 93 (.1 or .3?) KQMQ CHR King... Willie Moku in PM, Michael Q. Seng in the AM drive (Ron Gitschier, Jax, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) Here is an old memory buster.... does anyone remember the frequency that the Japanese used to home in on Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked? It was a commercial AM station. And so was the beginning of turning on and off transmitters for the old Conelrad System (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) KGMB was on 590. I never heard them, either from Oregon in the '50s or Texas in the '60s. I remember when 690 was KULA, "Kula of Honolulu"; I verified KTOH-Lihue on 1490 from Oregon in 1958 ... Katoshe Nose (world famous ham DX'er KH6IJ was the verie signer; he was a contemporary to Alan Roycraft as a broadcast engineer) ... KTOH later moved to 1350 and changed calls, if memory serves ... 1380 for a long time was KPOI, but before that it was KHON and that is the one I heard and confirmed. I think I verified it from Oregon and then heard it from Texas, too. KORL-650 used to be the easiest Hawaiian frequency from the Texas Panhandle, during WSM's Monday morning silent period. I vaguely recall they were originally on 630. KZOO-1210 in Japanese, KIKI-830, KAIM-870, KGU-760, all are in my verie collection. When Waipahu on 940 first went on the air, it was KAHU. W. Russell Withers, Jr., owner of WMIX-940 where I worked for 11 years, bought KAHU and found the Hawaiian market overly saturated in the '70s and got out as soon as he could. I never did vacation in Russ's Honolulu apartment. KHVH started out on 1040 and NRC'er Pete Taylor worked there. I logged that one in Texas, but I can't remember offhand if I confirmed it, and I'm too lazy to look it up in my verie collection. KMVI-550 Wailuku also QSL'd for me in the Texas Panhandle. KNDI-1270, one of the few calls that has remained the same, had a candy cane logo on its letterhead. I can't remember if I confirmed this one from Oregon or Texas. I seem to recall confirming the 1170 Hawaiian also from Texas, but I don't remember its calls right now. I also heard KIKI-830 from the Panhandle ... low-powered in the '60s ... but it never verified. Unless I move back to Oregon (no, no, no, says Janice) or vacation in the islands, I'll probably never hear another Hawaiian (John Callarman, Krum TX, ibid.) Yep, those were the days. Your memory hit most of it on the head. KGMB, now KSSK is on 590. A few years ago they got a boost from 5 KW to 7.5 KW to cover the area better. KCCN 1420 has changed call which is a real shame, at the KCCN calls had been there for many years. The old KHVH calls were on 1040 when I first heard them. Later they switched to 990. 990 [sic] lost their site and was operating with a longwire antenna for a while with a terrible signal. The KHVH moved to 830, where it is now and 990 became KIKI. The calls have changed again now to KHBZ and they are on a regular tower once again. The frequency and call changes go on and on in Hawaii. The origional owners would roll over in their graves if they knew what has happened in radio. But as David said, there are way too many stations in the Honolulu market to support them all. A CE I know from back in the 80s, got tired of all the changes and he got a good deal in Hong Kong and moved over there. Robert Palitz was the CE of KKUA and KQMQ. I remember 940 when I first heard them in the 60s under KAHU, now the calls are on 1060. KAHU-940 was mainly C&W even back in the mid 60s, but ran Filipino programming too as other Hawaiians did. Some still run some like KNUI- 900-Maui. Then 940 became C&W and KDEO in the mid 80s. Now KJPN, Japanese programming. Heard they are being sold again, so who knows what they will become. Hawaiian QSLs 550 - KMVI - Wailuku, Maui - 1969 & 1970 570 - KIPO - Lihue, Kauai (Now KQNG) - 1984 570 - KQNG - Lihue, Kauai - 1987 590 - KGMB - Honolulu (Now KSSK) - 1979 590 - KSSK - Honolulu - 1980 620 - KIPA - Hilo - 1979 650 - KORL - Honolulu - 1965 & 1979 650 - KHNR - Honolulu - 1992 670 - KPUA - Hilo - 1985 690 - KULA - Honolulu - 1965 690 - KKUA - Honolulu - 1979 690 - KQMQ - Honolulu - 1988 720 - KUAI - Eleele, Kauai - 1966 & 1984 760 - KGU - Honolulu - 1969 790 - KKON - Kealakekua - 1985 830 - KIKI - Honolulu - 1969 & 1982 (first AM Stereo) 830 - KHVH - Honolulu - 1994 850 - KHLO - Hilo - 1979 870 - KAIM - Honolulu - 1967 900 - KNUI - Kahului, Maui - 1980 940 - KAHU - Waipahu - 1965 & 1979 940 - KDEO - Waipahu - 1985 940 - KJPN - Waipahu - 1995 970 - KPUA - Hilo - 1970 (now 670) 990 - KHVH - Honolulu - 1984 990 - KIKI - Honolulu - 1994 1040 - KHVH - Honolulu - 1967 1040 - KPOI - Honolulu - 1979 1040 - KIFH - Honolulu - 1984 1040 - KLHT - Honolulu - 1986 1060 - KAHU - Hilo - 1988 1080 - KIOE - Honolulu - 1979 1080 - KZHI - Honolulu - 1983 1080 - KWAI - Honolulu - 1984 1110 - KIPA - Hilo - 1967 (now 620) 1110 - KHEI - Kihei, Maui - 1979 1110 - KAOI - Kihei, Maui - 1990 1130 - KLEI - Kailua - 1967 & 1979 1170 - KOHO - Honolulu - 1980 & 1988 1210 - KZOO - Honolulu - 1966 & 1979 1270 - KNDI - Honolulu - 1965 & 1979 1350 - KTOH - Lihue, Kauai - 1968 1350 - KIVM - Lihue, Kauai - 1979 1350 - KIPO - Lihue, Kauai - 1982 1380 - KLNI - Pearl City - 1984 1380 - KIPO - Pearl City - 1990 1380 - KIFO - Pearl City - 2000 1420 - KCCN - Honolulu 1979 & 1986 1460 - KULA - Honolulu - 1991 1500 - KUMU - Honolulu - 1980 & 1986 1540 - KISA - Honolulu - 1980 & 1986 1570 - KUAU - Kuau, Maui - 1995 I think I have included all of them. One thing neat about Hawaiian stations, many sound out Hawaiian names, KULA, KIKI, KNUI, KUMU, KOHO, KLEI, KPOI, etc. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) I don't know if it is historically accurate but in the recent Pearl Harbor movie the Japanese spies were listening to KGMB (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) Quite accurate! I was there and as I recall KGU was not on the air that early Sunday Morning but KGMB was (Chuck Boehnke, Keaau, Hawaii, June 8, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. Regarding the Kol Israel shortwave cuts: The deadline is still June 30 with an important Government meeting scheduled for June 20. I'll send any details which I get (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non?]. Dear Glenn, don't know if you get yet this information from Roberto Scaglione. Radio GAP during the NGO Forum for food sovereignty / Forum Roma from 9 till 13 june 2002 will transmit two programs with alternative news to permit to the signals to arrive also in the countries where exist totalitarian governments (not said which ones) for a freedom of informations. Transmissions are scheduled at 1900-2000 UT on 13865 kHz and at 0430-0530 on 13840 (not explained from what station they will have them relayed... BBC... DW... VOA ?????) For more details or stream audio please visit : http://www.radiogap.net/it/ongforum1/index.html Reception reports may be sent only with e-mail message to : info@radiogap.net Thanks for your good work, please continue in this way, it is PERFECT !!!! (Dario Monferini, Italy, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Strangely, if you switch to the English, French or Spanish page, you get an additional audio link at the top, and different times and SW frequencies (still in Italian) which are obviously IRRS, 2100-2200 UT 3985, 0600-0700 7120. That station has also used and tested the 13 MHz band recently. Perhaps the 3 and 7 MHz scheduling is outdated, replaced by 13 MHz? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Amisnet Da Radio Onda Rossa Da Radio K Centrale Da Radio Onda d'urto Durante i giorni del vertice Radio Gap realizzera' due dirette giornaliere in onde corte per permettere al segnale in etere di arrivare li' dove regimi totalitari impediscono la libera espressione e la liberta' di informazione. Le tras;issioni avranno luogo dalle 23.00 alle 24.00 cet sui 3985 Mhz e dalle 08.00 alle 09.00 cet sui 7120 Mhz [sic] (via gh, DXLD) And slightly different times here: During the ONG Forum for food sovereignty in Rome, will be two daily special shortwave trasmission from RadioGap, the network of independent and comunity Italian radio. Every day from 9 to 13 june, RadioGap will broadcast two show on shortwave in English, French and Spanish. Schedule: 9-13 June 2002: 0430-0615 UT 13840; 1900-2045 13865. Website: http://www.radiogap.net (Roberto Scaglione, hard-core- dx June 9 via DXLD) Have just heard it sign-on on 13864.85 in Spanish at 1904 UT (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK June 9 via DXLD) Heard here too on 13864.85 from receiving this email. Then at 1923 it jumped frequency to 13865.06 (Mark Hattam, ibid.) See http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=220 They also aired the IRRS ID. - (Mika) viz.: I'm currently listening to Radio Gap - more info on http://www.radiogap.net/it/ - which is transmitting via IRRS on 13865v kHz. After 1900 UT it was heard on 13864.91 kHz and around 2000 UT on 13865.12 kHz. Broadcasts from today until June 13th. Schedule on the website. Unfortunately this turned out not be a new station in terms of the transmitter location, just a new program over IRRS. Weak signal here in Finland (Mika Mäkeläinen, June 9 2006 UT, dxing.info via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Bruce, KK6DO, informs OPDX that Ed, P5/4L4FN, will be off the air for about 3-4 days, possibly longer. The apartment he lives in is having the roof refinished, new drains installed and painted. He had to remove his antennas on June 8th after operating and will reinstall them as soon as the workers are finished (KB8NW/OPDX June 10/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATIN AMERICA. An excellent, well maintained (not all are) website for Latin American radio stations with websites is at http://www.zonalatina.com and click on `Radio` (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Stations in Latin America June 7 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [and non]. Glenn, I have on 17695 kHz at 1100 UT a broadcast of the Arabic Langauge. That frequency is not listed in any of the pubs I have for this year for Saudi Arabia or any other Arabic language broadcast. On 15435 at the same time, I have a parallel broadcast of Arabic but with a slight delay from 17695. The WRTH 2002 lists that as one of Saudi Arabia's frequencies but for an earlier time. The Passport doesn't show either frequency for Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, it lists 15435 as a freq for Kuwait at that time. The thought crossed my mind that maybe Kuwait might be relaying a broadcast from Saudi Arabia on their station or vice versa? Would that be possible? Remember there is a delay between the broadcasts with 15435 being the one ahead of 17695. Your opinion please (Chuck Bolland, Still in Lake Worth, FL, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s possible Saudi and Kuwait could relay each other, thanks to the Gulf Cooperation Council interchange. But why guess Saudi Arabia or Kuwait? One must really refer to something more uptodate than PWBR or WRTH. From DXLD 2-054 on April 4: LIBYA [non]. FRANCE(non): Updated A-02 schedule for LJB in Arabic: 1000-1100 21695 1100-1130 17695 21675 21695 21810 1130-1400 21675 21695 ... (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD 2-054 via DXLD 2-095) No, 15435 not mentioned here, but that is a long active Libyan frequency direct. The delay would be due to the satellite feed to France for the 17695 relay (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. I've been missing Radio Mali on 9635 for a few weeks. Anybody heard it? (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Germany, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. Radio Moldova International with the English language programmes can now be heard as "Audio on demand". Here is the address: http://www.trm.md/radio/default_en.asp vy73 from your listener in the northern part of Germany (Dietrich Hommel, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. Hi Glenn, There was if I recall correctly some confusion about the transmitter site of CKZN -Canada St. John`s in a recent WOR edition. To add a few comments from what I have documented and what I can recall. The SW transmitter WAS (at least when I verified it in August 1991) located at Mt. Pearl near St. John`s. It was later moved to another location in St. John`s. This information came from a long time employee at St. John`s (although not the engineer). I wish I had the original e-mail but is has long since dropped into the bit-bucket, although I widely made this information known on the worldwide SW Usenet group that existed at the time (early 90's) and some of your readers may recall this (Ian Baxter, AUSTRALIA, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. Managua: HTA Radio Universidad 9905 khz shortwave (1,000 wats) y 102.3 FM (3,500 watts). Jesuit Fathers. Universidad de Centro América. 19 horas cada día (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7, 2002 via DXLD) ?? something very new, or very, very old? Or imaginary? (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Broadcasting schedule of VON has changed but is not yet updated on homepage: In fact 0800-0900 and 2100-2200 are in Haussa. 0900-1200 is in English, then closedown of 15120 (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Germany, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 9504.8, Radio Tacna, Tacna. 1120-1135 June 8. Spanish transmission. Long commentary read by male about the educative system in Perú: "no va a haber plata para los maestros... qué lamentable... y eso que los funcionarios ganarán mas de 32000 soles..."; Check time: "las seis de la mañana con 27 minutos... vamos a ir a la pausa..."; local ads; ann.: "invitación a misa por el eterno descanso... en la Parroquia Santa Rosa". Ann. of "Asociación de Viviendas del Barrio Las Magnolias de Tacna". Other ann.: "primer encuentro binacional infantil de folklore Peru-Chile ...uniendo a nuestros pueblos... este domingo... con el Ballet Provincial de Tacna". Check time: "son las seis de la mañana con 31 minutos". Then, transmision of football match China-Brazil, in the FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan. 34422. I can`t hear this station today, sunday 08, at same hour (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, June 9; guess he means 9 just above, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4855.6, Radio La Hora, Cusco. 1013+ June 8. Selection of local folk music. Check time: "amigos campesinos... las 5 de la mañana con 15 minutos, con la mejor música para ustedes". 33422 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6045.4, Radio Santa Rosa, Lima. 1012-1025 June 9. Spanish. Very nice folk music. The program is conducted by male. Programme ann. and ID as: "...con la mejor música del Peru... en los controles técnicos... el programa radial vive en el corazón de nuestro pueblo y que se transmite todos los domingos a partir de las 5 de la mañana, por los 1500 kilociclos de amplitud modulada de Radio Santa Rosa". Then, very interesting commentary about the first Tawantinsuyo`s emperor. 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6173.5, Radio Tawantinsuyo, Cusco. 1055-1100 June 8. Huaynos. ID by female at 1059 as: "Radio Tawantinsuyo". Check time: "las 6 de la mañana en todo el Perú". 25442. Today, June 9, I heard this station on 6173.8v with folk music and greetings in Quechua (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6188 UNID, 1106+ June 08. Romantic music in Spanish. Ann. by male as: "la mejor música de siempre". Very low signal 15421. A while ago, in 2000y, I heard the FM station of Radio Oriente, Yurimaguas, on this frequency (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Arequipa (Callalli-Cayoma): OAW6A Radio San Antonio 3375 khz (1,000 watts) y OAW6B on 3375 khz. Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua, Asociación Promotodra San Francisco Solano, Apartado Postal 1817, Arequipa. Hermano Rolando del Carpio Montalvo, director. Plaza Principal s/n, Callalli, Depto. Arequipa, Perú. ID "Es Radio San Antonio... que transmite desde la ciudad de Callalli para todos los oyentes, es una emisora Católica a servicio de la comunidad" 5a.m.-9 a.m. and 5 p.m.-9p.m., Monday through Saturday. E-mail: rsan_antonio14@hotmail.com Chachapoyas: OBX9K Radio Horizonte 5020 khz onda corta (1,500 w) y 99.9 FM. El Obispado de Chachapoyas. Jr. Ayacucho 1008 o Apartado 69, Chachapoyas. Teléfonos: 51 (74) 75793, fax 757004. Soledad Sánchez C., dtra.; María Dolores Gutierrez Atienxa, ing. Huamachuco: OAX2U Radio Los Andes 1030 AM (3,000 w) y OAZ2A 5030 khz (5,000 w) onda corta. El Prelato de Huamachuco. Casa Prelaticio, Paisaje Mons. Damián Nicolau 101, Humachuco. Mons. Sebastián Ramis Torrens, dtr. Huancavelica: OAX5M Radio Virgen de Carmen 1580 AM (500 w) & OAX5M-FM 105.3 FM & OAX5X 4886 (800 w). El Obispado de Huancavelica. Virrey Toledo 468 o Apartado 92. Padre Samuel Moran Cardenas, dtr. Tel.: (51- 64) 75-2989 Huánuco: OBX3I Radio Luz y Sonido 1500 AM (1,000 watts), y OAW3A on 3235 khz (1,000 watts) y 105.7 FM. la diócese de Huánuco. Jr. Dos de Mayo 1286, Of. 205, Galerías de la Catedral. Teléfonos: (064) 51-8500, fax 51-1985. E-mail: luz.sonido@hys.com.pe Señor Carlos Ortega Obregón, director. 0500-2100; Quechua 0500-0700 y 1800-2100. Website. Jaén: OAX2E Radio Marañon 580 AM (10,000 watts) y 96.1 FM (250 wats) y OCX2E on 4835 khz (1,000 wats). Ap. 50, Jaén, via Chiclayo. Francisco de Orellana 343, Jaén, Cajamarca. Señor Francisco Muguiro Ibarra, director. Teléfonos: fax +51 44 731147 or 732168. Fax +51 44 732580. E-mail: correo@radiomaranon.org.pe 0500-2200, los sábados 0500-2100, los domingos 0600-1300 [probably local]. (en la diócese de Cajamarca). Lima: OBX4I Radio Santa Rosa 1500 AM (10,000 w por los días, 5,000 w por las noches) y OCY4H 6045 khz onda corta (5,000 w). Apartado 4451, Lima 1, Peru. Padre Sokolich A., dtr. 24 hras. Hay programas también en inglés y quechua. Puerto Maldonado: OBX7J Radio Madre de Dios 1230 AM (1,000 watts) y 92.5 FM, y OAX7I on 4950 khz (5,000 watts). Calle Daniel Alcides Carrión, o Apartado 37, Puerto Maldonado. Teléfonos: +51 (84) 511050. Señor Rufino Lobos Alonso, director. 0530-2100. En Quechua y otros lenguajes de los índios. Puno: OBX7B Radio Onda Azul 640 AM (10,000 watts) & OBX7C 4800 khz (1,000 watts) onda corta, & 95.7 FM. Cas. 210. Padre José Loits M., dtr. In Quechua and Aymara languages. 0400-2300. Tel.: +51 (54) 351562, fax 352233. Quillabamba: OAX7M Radio Quillabamba 1210 AM (1,000 watts) y OAX7Q on 5025 khz (5,000 watts). Ap. 76, Quillabamba. Padre Francisco Panera, director; Señor Luís Verde I., ingeniero. 0500-2200; Quechua 0800-0930 y 1600-2000. (in la diócese de Cusco) Rodriguez de Mendoza: OBX1M Radio San Nicolás 5470 khz onda corta (500 w) y 1390 AM (500 w--cerrada) y OBX1M-FM 98.5 FM. Jr. Amazonas 114. Juan J. Grandez, dtr. Santa Cruz: Radio La Inmaculada 5305 khz onda corta (1,000 w); Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción, Frente al Parque Central. Padre Jorge Carrasco, dtr. 1500-2130 horas. Sicuani: OAX7R Radio Sicuani 1365 AM (1,000 watts), 91.1 FM (8 watts), y OAX7T on 4835 khz (1,000 watts). La Prelatura de Sicuani. Jr 2 de Mayo 206, Sicuanio, Canchis, Departamento de Cusco; o Casilla 45, Sicuani. Señor Mario Ochoa Vargas, director. 0430-2200; Quechua 0430- 0600 y 1800-2200. Sóndor: Radio San Francisco Solano 4750 khz onda corta (1,000 w) y 89.1 FM. "La Voz de la Parroquia de San Miguel de Sóndor y Sondorillo." Calle San Miguel 207, Sóndor. Fundada en 1995. Tarapoto: OAX9R Radio San Martín 4810 khz onda corta (3,000 w cerrada) y FM 97.5. Jr. Progresso 225. Fernando Tofu Arevalo, dtr. Villa Atalaya: OAW8A Radio San Antonio. [no further info here] (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7, SW only excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** RHODES [was: SWAN ISLAND]. Yes, the ashtray I mentioned was from the USCGC Courier. Thanks for reviving my memory (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Glenn, Maybe a reason not to hold the Tchaikovsky Festival at the same time as the World Soccer Cup: A report on CBC news that a Japanese music student participating in the music festival was injured during the riot after the SBG. Maybe some of these thugs should follow some of your "TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING". 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Estimados amigos: Quiero comunicarles que el programa diexista "Frecuencia RM", de La Voz de Rusia, tiene una nueva dirección de correo electrónico: frecrm@vor.ru La anterior dirección, ubicada en Hotmail ya no es actual. Saludos cordiales, (Francisco Rodíguez, "FRECUENCIA RM", La Voz de Rusia, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) O Departamento de Língua Espanhola da Voz da Rússia apresenta, nas terças-feiras, o programa Frecuencia RM. É um espaço para informações dexistas, com 15 minutos de duração, apresentado por Pancho Rodríguez. O Frecuencia DX possui um Clube DX. Para participar, basta enviar 20 informes de recepção para a Voz da Rússia, sendo que dois deles devem mencionar escuta do programa. Vale, também, enviar informações sobre os meios de comunicação em geral. Confira entre 0100 e 0200, em 12010, 11510, 9965, 9945, 9890, 9860, 9830, 9470, 9450 e 7330 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 8 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. DUMA SAYS CYRILLIC ALPHABET SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL RUSSIA'S PEOPLES... The State Duma adopted on 5 June in its first reading a bill making the Cyrillic alphabet obligatory for all ethnic groups in the Russian Federation, RIA-Novosti reported. Deputy Anatolii Nikitin (Communist) of the Nationalities Committee introduced the bill as an amendment to the law on the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation. The amendment stipulates that all state languages of the federation and its constituent republics should use Cyrillic and that the use of any other graphical basis for alphabets must be affirmed by federal law. The government's representative in the Duma, Andrei Loginov, said he supports the amendment because "if everyone invents their own alphabet, it would bring the state to chaos." ("RFE/RL Newsline," 6 June) ...AND MOVES TO STOP FOREIGN SLANG INVASION. Concerned that an invasion of foreign slang, including an estimated 10,000 English words, is corrupting the Russian language, the State Duma is considering a legislative crackdown, reported "The Christian Science Monitor" on 4 June. A bill drafted by the majority United Russia party aims to corral the roaming Russian language and purge it of sloppy, obscene, and alien elements that have been picked up during the loose years since the Soviet Union's collapse. It would set terms for punishing offenders who work in the media, in schools, and in government offices. Fines and administrative penalties are proposed for the most part, but serious offenders could have their broadcast or publishing licenses revoked. Nationalists, backed by some linguists and language specialists, have been warning for years that the Russian language -- which was carefully supervised and pruned in Soviet times -- is evolving out of control and could be inundated by the wave of foreign borrowings. Experts have even given the phenomenon an appropriately English label: "nyu spik" (newspeak). The English invasion includes "stop" instead of "ostanovityes" and "supermarket" instead of "universam" as well as "ofis" instead of "kabinet" and "Pi- aR" instead of "svyazi s obshchestvenostyu." ("The Christian Science Monitor," 4 June via RFE/RL Media Matters June 7 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. BACKWARDS GLANCE AT HOW IT ALL BEGAN Business Day (Johannesburg), June 7, 2002 Johannesburg BROADCASTING in SA began on December 18 1923 when the prime minister, Jan Smuts, spoke over a 500W medium wave AM (amplitude modulated) transmitter in Johannesburg. The first wireless broadcast service was started in Johannesburg by the then South African Railways. After these first experimental broadcasts, other centres joined in as Cape Town and Durban went on air in September and December 1924 respectively. To make radio profitable and help these fledgling wireless broadcasters, the African Broadcasting Corporation (now the SABC) was formed in April 1927 to run regular schedules using all the installed transmitters. In August 1936 the SA Broadcasting Corporation was launched and financed by 160000 licences. Radio transmission became accessible to the public from the late '50s, when FM (frequency modulated) receivers were introduced, powered by long-lasting dry-cell batteries. SA became the last country of its economic stature in the world to introduce television broadcasting when it finally launched a colour television signal in January 1976 as TV1. The next major technological evolutions were pay TV and digital TV. SA's first subscription television service was introduced by M-Net in October 1986 using prepayment decoders. M-Net's growth into Africa via terrestrial rebroadcast began in Namibia in 1992, and spread to Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt. Subsequently, satellite broadcast enabled M-Net to carry its signal to 50 African and Indian Ocean countries. M-Net's television channels are delivered to subscribers in two ways: the 15-year-old analogue terrestrial distribution and, since October 1995, digital satellite distribution. In 1995 the SABC entered the satellite and digital era. From 1996 the era of independent radio and free-to-air television broadcast began, with the privatisation of six SABC radio stations and the issuing of two new licences. In March 1998 SA's first private free-to-air television service, e.tv, was awarded a broadcasting licence. Copyright © 2002 Business Day (via Dave White, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Two days ago, Thursday, June 6, in the morning CDT, I heard a reference to his imprisonment on his own show for the first time! Various people, including children, took turns at the microphone to say how much they missed Brother Stair and are praying for him, and reminding him that God has a reason for these things. One of the speakers implied that they know that Brother Stair can hear the broadcast. Perhaps he's got a radio with him. Anyway, other than this little bit, which lasted about 10 minutes (unless it had been going for longer than that when I tuned in), there seems to be no indication whatsoever on his own show that he's been gone almost a month. They keep running old tapes, and he keeps preaching about sin and damnation; there'd be no clue to a normal listener that Brother Stair is anything but THERE in full control! The show is still perfectly timed. At the top of the hour, he is (as usual) interrupted in mid- sentence with the trumpet sound and the intro music. When 5070 splits off from 7560, again, the timing of the separate I.D.s and sign-off on the one while the other is giving his address for the umpteenth time, the time is perfect; at the top of the hour David J. Smith comes on 5070 and the next hour of Brother Stair begins on 7560, simultaneously. Either this is all computerized or someone with some degree of sophistication is punching the buttons. Sister Stair's e-mails routinely contain language that she is writing under Brother Stair's e-ddress only with his permission. This seems to be an important point. She has not yet been granted a license to preach, which may explain why I haven't heard her talk on the radio about this. She has written in the newsletter and via bulk e-mail, but all that with permission, she boldly emphasizes. Preaching is being handled by males who've driven from other states to be with Sister Stair in this time of need. Sabbath services have apparently gone forward uninterrupted. The above is all I know from listening to the show and from reading Sister Stair's e-mails. Meanwhile, I am still trying to get the actual charges. I also want to see a transcript of the bond hearing. Why would bond be denied to a 69 year old guy? I don't get it. Why is a 69 year old in maximum security? I don't get it. If you have any info on these things it would be appreciated. I also suspect at least SOME religious bigotry. I notice that the local paper carried a big photo of him being arrested and hauled away. How, pray tell, did the local paper know to have a photographer there? It seems that under the table the various officials of the community are coordinating efforts with each other, and THAT bothers me very much. If this guy really did commit a crime, okay, deal with it, but don't treat him differently just because he's a religious preacher than would otherwise be the case (Robert Arthur, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Based on what snippets of info seem to come (slowly) to my ears, I am most amazed at how Brother Stair's radio show continues pretty much unaffected. Most listerners of his show would have no idea that anything's wrong over there. Does he rely on current donations from listeners? Or is he set like the Roman Catholic Church which doesn't need a dime from its members? Having heard your broadcast from the begining for the first time I am now quite motivated. I want to get a transcript of the bond hearing to find out why a 69-year-old would be denied bond; and further why a 69-year-old would be put in maximum security. The above should be public info. What else I'd like to know (but which is not public record, unfortunately), is who is running the "radio room" (so called) and what is the method whereby hours and hours and hours worth of tapes of Brother Stair can be kept and organized and worked into the broadcast cycle so effectively. It must be computerized in some way, and I suspect much of it is digital for I hear jumps from one recording to another with no breaks or signs of manual button-pushing. If this is all on tape, they must have rooms full of storage on that. I assume it must be on hard disks, each of which can hold days if not weeks of material. I also suspect but do not know that when I heard the ditzy broadcast where members of the community (including children) took turns at the mike in support of Brother Stair (the only time I've heard reference on his show to his being in jail) that this was aired at a time when they know few people are tuned in. I think they are deliberately hiding the jail fact from their listeners, most of whom do not visit his website and most of whom do not listen to you or other sources of information. That's just my theory. I may be wrong (Robert Arthur, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAN ISLAND [and non]. THE FANG STORY: Dear Glenn, I have seen the comments about eBay super offer of Radio America Swan Island QSL-card; I follow eBay from 8 months and I have seen many bids of the people called THE FANG, he or she is called "Sean" but this may be a pseudonym. The town where lives is PHOENIX in Arizona, being a ham operator; often he or she is doing ham activity, like to activate some little isle in the Pacific with transmissions, you may suppose this means he or she has lot of money. In fact he has put in eBay more than 10000 dollars in past years. But unfortunatly he is doing this NOT FOR COLLECTION purposes, he or she loves to get the items... Just to pick up them few seconds before the end. This looks like ADRENALIN power. Naturally he doesn't take all, but items at irregular times, This the story in details....... eBay Bid History for 1962 Swan Island Caribbean QSL Card #ADC (Item # 2107511331)... [tnx Dario, interesting, but I am not going to reprint all this stuff from E-Bay. I assume those who want it can bring it up easily --- gh] I have been able to get some rare pennant from radio station at reasonable price cause THE FANG was "outside". This means he or she knows ABSOLUTELY nothing about the broadcasting items bidded, and for this reason I doubt he or she will take care of the items he or she has got. His or her satisfaction is JUST TO GET THE ITEM... More recently THE FANG put more 345 $ for 4 HAM QSLs cards from SWAN ISLANDS. So you see he is not only interested to Broadcasting items. eBay Bid History for 4 RARE SWAN I., SERRANA BANK QSL CARDS. (Item # 2108884991)... Can you imagine the ADRENALITIC satisfaction to have surpassed so many offers??? and especially HANK1942 offers??????? Concluding this matter, I may say THE FANG is a "PSYCHIATRIC" problem so I guess fortunately only a relatively limited problem (Dario Monferini, Italy, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TROMELIN ISLAND. Just before going to print, reports came out that Jacques, FR5ZU, was signing FR5ZU/T. This is great news since it was reported earlier that he was going to cancel all his ham activities. See OPDX.563. His original plans were to stay from June to July on the island. He was spotted Sunday, June 9th at 1445z on 21230 kHz. Remember, this is not a DXpedition. Jacques is there because of his work, and he will be active during his spare time (KB8NW/OPDX June 10/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. ESTIMADO Y RESPETADO Glenn Hauser, RECIBA MIS MAS CORDIALES SALUDOS DESDE VENEZUELA. LA PRESENTE ES PARA INFORMARLE EL CONCURSO QUE TIENE AL AIRE RADIO LA VOZ DE TURQUIA, EL CUAL LE DETALLO A CONTINUACION: CERTAMEN 2002 ``UN FAMOSO DESDE TURQUIA`` Queridos oyentes, habrá un actor, cineasta, músico o deportista desde Turquía que ustedes conozcan bien o poco. Puede ser que ustedes conozcan al menos a uno de los personajes famosos por sus obras. Este es el tema de nuestro certamen para 2002. Les pedimos que nos redacten en tres paginas como maximo sobre un personaje turco en la música, deportes, cultura u otros ramos de arte. Los cinco triunfantes de nuestro certamen, al igual que desde hace 14 años, serán hospedados en Turquía en la segunda mitad de septiembre. El último día es el 15 de julio. Esperamos sus composiciones junto con su edad, profesión y dirección a estos buzones y teléfonos: Nuestra dirección: La voz de Turquía, PK. 333, 06443 YENISEHIR-ANKARA, TURQUIA. Nuestro e-mail: espanol@trt.net.tr Teléfonos: 90 312 490 98 11 312 490 98 41 312 490 98 42 el fax: 90 312 490 98 45 SIN OTRO PARTICULAR AL CUAL HACER MENCION Y REITERANDOLE LAS SEGURIDADES DE MI MAS ALTA ESTIMA, RESPETO Y CONSIDERACION, SE DESPIDE (JULIO TRENARD, APARTADO POSTAL 41, CUMANA 6101, VENEZUELA, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. A Soviet Genshtab map showing the Taranivka (south of Khar`kiv, Ukraine) SW site has now become available on the Internet (file size: 2 MB): http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/maps/x-ussr/M-37-085.jpg The town can be found near the NW corner of the sheet. Look for what looks like "TapaHoBKa". Northwest of the town you will find a vertical row of three radio-TV mast symbols and a single fourth mast symbol (height 250 m). Each symbol consists of a solid circle at the bottom, a vertical strike in the middle and two horizontal strikes at the top. It can safely be assumed that the vertical group of three symbols represents the SW site. Note that each symbol may represent several individual towers or curtains. A mid '90s antenna list shows high band (center wavelength 18 m) antennas for 55, 82 and 277 degrees and low band (center wavelength 40 m) antennas for 235, 262 277, 290 degrees, all 2/4 curtains. The SW site became operational in 1970. For many years two synchronized transmitters aired the Mayak prgr on 9620 for CAs while the third transmitter aired Moscow 1st program on 9800 together with two synchronized transmitters at other locations. In the evening all three transmitters carried R Moscow European services. The single 250 m tower is likely to represent the 257 m ARRT antenna for MW 837 kHz. The official opening date of the MW transmitter is 11 Nov 1969, but this kind of information is not reliable. Until November 1973 Khar`kiv AM was a dual frequency operation, using 836 kHz part time with Kyiv 1st prgr and local services and 385 kHz for the rest of the time with Kyiv 1st and local programs mornings and Kyiv 2nd program evenings until sign off. The daytime slot on 836 was used at least by Lutsk. Khar`kiv was one of the first radio stations to open in the USSR. The official date is 16 Dec 1924, starting at 4 kW and in the early '30s going to 20 kW (Olle Alm, Sweden, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. From David Green on rec.radio.shortwave 06 June 2002 03:04 Attached below is a "universal" list of shortwave broadcast frequencies used by the BBC World Service, as of May 2002. It was inspired by a list posted by John Figliozzi a year ago which was of particular value to listeners who were about to face the termination of shortwave broadcasts to North America. I certainly found John's list to be very helpful. Unlike his list, this one makes no attempt to rate the frequencies according to signal strength, interference and quality. Furthermore it does not categorize the frequencies according to 'stream' or to target region. I generated the list from the frequency listings posted on the BBC World Service web site (www.bbc.co.uk). I transferred the frequencies by hand into a spreadsheet, sorted, and then tabulated them. I only wish the BBC would have done this! Please Note: - the granularity is 1 hr. I have ignored changes occurring on the 1/2 hour. - I have made no attempt to accommodate weekend/weekday schedule changes, - the list undoubtedly contains errors - treat it as a guide. I have found the list to be quite helpful in finding suitable BBC WS frequencies for almost any hour of the day. I am located in central Canada. Hope some of you find this useful. Good luck. David Green, VE3TLY UTC BBC World Service Frequencies - May 2002 === ======================================== 0:00 5970 5975 6195 7105 9410 9825 11835 11955 12095 15245 15280 15310 15360 17790 1:00 5975 6195 9410 9825 11835 11955 12095 15245 15280 15310 15360 17790 2:00 5975 6195 9410 9770 9825 11835 11955 12095 15245 15280 15310 15360 17790 3:00 5975 6005 6190 6195 7120 7160 9410 9770 11730 11835 12035 12095 15280 15310 15360 15420 15575 17635 17790 21660 21830 4:00 5975 6005 6190 6195 7120 7160 9410 11730 11835 12035 12095 15280 15310 15420 15575 17635 17640 17790 21660 21830 5:00 5975 6005 6190 6195 7120 7160 9410 11765 11835 11940 11955 12095 15280 15310 15360 15420 15565 15575 17640 17760 17790 17885 21660 6:00 6005 6190 7160 9410 11765 11940 11955 12095 15310 15360 15420 15485 15565 15575 17640 17760 17790 17885 21660 7:00 6005 6190 7160 11760 11765 11940 11955 12095 15310 15360 15400 15485 15565 15575 17640 17760 17790 17830 17885 21660 21830 8:00 6190 11760 11940 11955 12095 15310 15360 15400 15485 15565 15575 17640 17760 17830 17885 21470 21660 9:00 6190 6195 9605 9740 11760 11940 11945 12095 15190 15310 15360 15400 15485 15565 15575 17640 17760 17790 17830 17885 21470 21660 10:00 6190 6195 9605 9740 11760 11940 11945 12095 15190 15310 15360 15400 15485 15565 15575 17640 17760 17790 17830 17885 21470 21660 11:00 6190 6195 9740 11760 11940 12095 15190 15310 15360 15485 15565 15575 17640 17700 17760 17830 17885 21470 12:00 6190 6195 9740 11760 11940 12095 15190 15310 15485 15565 15575 17640 17700 17760 17830 17885 21470 13:00 6190 6195 9740 11760 11940 12095 15190 15310 15420 15485 15565 15575 17640 17700 17760 17830 17885 21470 14:00 6190 6195 9740 11940 12095 15190 15310 15420 15485 15565 15575 17640 17700 17830 17885 21470 21660 15:00 5975 6190 6195 9740 11940 12095 15190 15310 15400 15485 15565 15575 17700 17830 21470 21660 16:00 5975 6190 6195 7160 9410 9510 9740 11940 12095 15190 15310 15400 15420 15485 15565 17700 17830 21470 21660 17:00 5975 6005 6190 6195 7160 9410 9510 9630 9740 11940 12095 15400 15420 15485 15565 17830 21470 21660 18:00 5975 6005 6190 6195 9410 9510 9630 9740 12095 15400 15420 15485 15565 17830 21470 19:00 6005 6190 6195 9410 9510 9630 9740 12095 15400 15420 17830 21470 20:00 6005 6190 6195 9410 9630 11835 12095 15400 17830 21:00 5965 5975 6005 6190 6195 9410 9630 9740 11835 11945 12095 15400 17830 22:00 5965 5975 6005 6190 6195 7105 9660 11685 11835 12095 15400 23:00 5965 5975 6195 7105 9580 11685 11835 11945 11955 12095 15280 15400 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Only ten days left to file your comments on AM IBOC with the FCC, folks. I'm quite surprised at the small number of filings to date (to view, go to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi enter 99-325 in the "Proceeding" box, and then click the "Retrieve Document List" button. That should get you the list of filings in reverse chronological order, downloadable in pdf format). Check out Skip Pizzi's latest article on IBOC at the Radio World Online website: http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/skippizzi-bigpict/4_rwf_pizzi_may_22.shtml There's also an article on DAB around the world by our own Scott Fybush: http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/04_rw_dab_world_2.shtml So the Ibiquity prez thinks that the Eureka DAB system is an "abject failure", eh? I'm betting those words will come back to haunt him... (Barry McLarnon, Canada, June 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) If you float a lie early enough, and often enough, there are those that will take it for gospel. It is interesting to note that the tests were commissioned, or performed by iBiquity. In my mind, that voids any thought that the tests have any validity. I can't remember what issue the club had it on, but there was one issue where we had recordings of an FM station with IBOC interference out of the channel. And they say that there is no out of band emissions? Hmmm (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. As you undoubtedly know, Eugene Scott has finally revealed what Secret Number Fifteen is. Shortly before Easter 2002 he announced that he must have 700 people each pledging ten thousand dollars ABOVE AND OVER TITHE THEY ALREADY PAY for "Secret Number Fifteen." He wouldn't say what this money would be used for. Each of the 700 people was to cough up this money before Christmas 2002. That's $7,000,000. Also, he said, he must have one million dollars of that money within one month! He got the one million dollars within a month! I don't know if he already has the full seven million or what, but he feels confident enough about it 'cause he has now revealed what Secret Number Fifteen is. And his audience applauded wildly (Robert Arthur, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe to upgrade Cahuita, Costa Rica site as already reported here? Maybe to add to his stamp and horse collections? (gh) ** U S A. Thestar.com Jun. 9, 01:00 EDT MEDIA BLAME EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES Antonia Zerbisias MY, HOW quick the American media have been to jump down George W. Bush's inarticulatable throat over revelations that he had at least some inkling last summer that Osama Bin Laden would attack the U.S.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=06c81fa51c456aa6&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1022099946484 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Commentary --- THE TYRANNY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL Every once in a while I come across a beautifully crafted line that packs a wollop and I say to myself, ``I wish I had said that.`` About a year ago, I came across a fine line that describes one of the causes for the present miserable state of television programming while reading about it somewhere --- I do not recall whether it was on paper or online, let alone the source. The quoted speaker blamed the gratuitous, meaningless sex and violence that saturates our television channels on what he called ``the tyranny of the remote control.`` The viewer, usually a male, sits there in his easy chair, the remote control firmly in his hand, clicking from one channel to the next, stopping on each for about 30 seconds unless compelled to stay longer. ``Compelled`` as in ``allured.`` Commercial television exists not to entertain us but to give advertisers a roadway to us. The broadcaster is a businessman who seeks to deliver the largest possible audiences to the advertiser. Period. How to keep the viewer hooked long enough to be exposed to the maximum number of commercial messages? Blow up a car. Blow up a house. Blow up a plane. Blow up anything. Show the good guys and the bad open up on each other with AK-47s or Uzzis. Be creative in the manner the human body is destroyed, cut up, or blown to bits. Show seduction. Show creative, lingering seduction. In exotic places. (I shall stop here. Last August we got, finally, a Spanish language television channel on our cable system, and to improve my Spanish, I have been watching a lot, which is mostly novelas and dubbed American movies. I used to think the Spanish were puritanical, that given their strong attachment to family, they would not expose families and children particularly to raw sex and violence on television. Wrong. I could write some things here. I speak of Spanish programming; I do not watch commercial television but I am sure that it is no better on the English language channels.) Back to American television channels. To hell with plot. To hell with character development. To hell with character interaction. To hell with the portrayal of complex human nature in a sophisticated fashion. Bring on the body parts. Bring on the bed tumbling. He`s got his finger on the remote control button. Don`t mess it up for the advertiser. Don`t mess it up for the ratings. If I remember correctly, the writer of that article was quoting a television programming honcho who attributed the current deplorable state of television programming to Joe American and his finger on the remote control button. If Joe does not stay hooked, he`s off on another channel. Then another. Then another. Then another. `Round and round the dial he goes, where he stops, nobody knows.`` Click. Click. Click. There is a price to be paid in all this, of course. In the old days, the Church called it the ``Law of Concupiscence.`` Today the psychology crowd, always reinventing the wheel, call it ``desensitization.`` Both mean simply that, as time wears on, the stimulation and thrill of the senses decline. To put it in the vernacular, nothing is ever as good as the first times, be it ice cream, cold beer, a ride in a new car, seeing the Grand Canyon, or lovemaking. There is a gradual decline in the sensory payoff for any given action, a faster decline if the pleasure is constantly sought. Sooner or later Joe American will be desensitized to the gratuitous violence and sex. Will he then return to programs with plots and substance, with character development and real human interest? Or will he continue with his voyeurism, although with a despair and boredom borne of his thinking that there is nothing further to be sought yet there is nothing in the past worth returning to? Indeed, I am pessimistic. There is not much hope for this generation. They live under the tyrannies of the remote control and their self-obsession and narcissism. Tyranny of the remote control --- wish I had said that. (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update jUne 10, via DXLD) ** U S A. WDCB-FM in Glen Ellyn, IL is in the process of reinstalling its antenna, which was blown down around Christmastime. The concrete for the base was poured at the beginning of the month; when it dries the antenna assembly will be built upon it. WDCB covers most of the Chicago area, but with the main antenna damaged the signal is too weak to reach Chicago. More details can be read at http://www.wdcb.org (Kenneth S. Armstrong, Chicago IL, June 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I usually forget to mention it, but Sunday nights at 8 PM, (Midnight UT Mondays), I play side kick to Johnny Lightning on his A Little Bit Of Everything Show, a/k/a The 11-L Network presents Radio New York International on WBCQ. For live talk, news commentary and outrageous humor tune into WBCQ or listen on the net at http://www.live365.com/stations/222095 Friday nights at 10 PM Eastern/0200 UT Saturday, WBCQ presents The Right Perspective with New York talk radio's most notorious callers, Frank from Queens and Jon of Staten Island. Due to a rather bitter departure from their previous network, John Lightning, Mike The Jokeman, myself and the rest of the 11-L crew have decided to assist them is as many ways as possible in setting up their own studio. In the interim this includes using the 11-L/WBCQ Brooklyn studio and assisting in the production of the show as often as possible. You can listen on the net at the same url for Johnny Lightning above (Big Steve Cole, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. With the end of the Gateway 160 Meter Newsletter on 160 meters, I thought it would be interesting to take a look of the history of the Newsletter, in this undated article written by WA0RCR from http://www.rrsta.com/wa0rcr/history.html (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HISTORY OF THE GATEWAY 160 METER NET, AND THE GATEWAY 160 METER RADIO NEWSLETTER. [Slight edits were made by John Norfolk, mostly correcting spelling errors and punctuation.] The Net began with a group of seven amateurs on 160 Meters on Wednesday May 1, 1979, on 1815 kHz. It was formed to promote 160 Meter operation... form friendships between amateurs using the band --- provide technical assistance for newcomers or old hands alike to 160... [and] to encourage operation on 160 Meters on a regular basis throughout the year to help thwart FCC attempts to re-assign the lower part of the band (up to 1860 kHz) to AM Broadcast band use, due to under utilization by the Amateur service (sound familiar?) at W.A.R.C. 79. At that time, Amateur stations in the US and Canada had maximum use of and privileges on frequencies in the 1800 to 1825 kHz range. Stations had more severe limitations, or were not authorized operation at all, on frequencies between 1825 and 2000 kHz, due to operation of LORAN A Radiolocation. In the years between 1979 and 1982, US limitations between 1825 and 2000 kHz were greatly eased, but Canadian stations (who made up 15 - 20 % of Net Check ins) were still under more severe limitations, or prohibitions on operations between 1825 and 2000 kHz, by DOC. The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter began in July 1979. It emphasized 160 Meter activities and general concerns and news of interest to the Amateur Radio Community. With [the] adoption of the ARRL Band plan in January 1982, and after much consideration with Net regulars and others in HAM radio, the decision was made around the beginning of February to move to 1860 kHz. The FCC had opened 1800 to 1900 kHz (Primary Allocation) for full time, full power operation by mainland US Amateur stations, and Canadian stations also enjoyed new greatly increased authorizations below 1875 kHz, on a full time basis. Also the ARRL Band Plan stipulated all scheduled phone operations be assigned frequencies between 1855 and 2000 kHz. These, plus several technical considerations led us to select 1860 kHz for the new net frequency. Extensive monitoring of the band afternoons and evenings revealed no existing scheduled operation on this frequency. On April 14, 1982, The Gateway 160 Meter Net began operation on the new frequency of 1860 kHz. As mentioned earlier, The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter began during the Net in July 1979. Originally all items were read live from ARRL and other sources. In September 1986, one of our regular Net members suggested that we also carry "The Westlink Amateur Network" for weekly ten minute newscasts. His local 2 Meter repeater had been carrying Westlink for some time, but when traveling out of town on business or vacation, he missed being able to hear the service. With our Net coverage area from WA0RCR of 42 states and 6 Canadian provinces, the Net was a natural to provide wide area nighttime coverage of this fine service. Westlink News was added in October 1986 to supplement our Gateway 160 Meter Net Radio Newsletter on Wednesday nights. Around January 1987, it was suggested that the Net provide Westlink News Network at other times also, so that those who were not able to hear it on the Net could still catch the service at other times, propagation permitting. This allowed hams working second shift, Wednesday meetings, Church Choir practice, etc., to keep informed. After consideration, Westlink was aired on a schedule of 9 times a week, various times of the day as a service of the Gateway 160 Meter Net. In December of 1987, a new amateur radio information network service "The BEAR Information Service" (later changed in 1988 to the "Radio Amateur Information Network", or RAIN) was added to the nine weekly information bulletins on 1860 kHz. The service was called "Ham News" until mid 1989 when the name was changed to "The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter" to link it in listeners minds with The Gateway 160 Meter Net. The bulletin schedule was fine tuned several times to provide the greatest service to the Amateur Community, while fitting into a weekly timetable that myself, and two other control operators could provide. In April 1992, a satellite receiving system was installed, to allow receiving and airing of "Amateur Radio Weekly" from Los Angeles (with a change in ownership in 1994, now known as "This Week In Amateur Radio") and "The Houston AMSAT Net", both on the old "Let's Talk Radio Network." This allowed real time airing of nationwide amateur radio programming, without relying on long distance phone lines or multi- port Teleconference Bridge Networks, fed through phone hybrids, as in the past. The phone line charges used to run over $26 for a two hour program, on a weekend. During many satellite networks beginning and then dying, The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter has continued to follow and carry these two excellent services. During times when no satellite distribution was available, these services would continue, fed by long distance phone line, to station WA0RCR. Amateurs could then listen directly, or feed the received audio to a local simplex or repeater frequency, for local distribution. Between 1989 and 1995, WA0RCR carried the IARN (International Amateur Radio Network) bulletin service 3 times a week, as a stand alone service, on 160 Meters. About this time, we began carrying St. Louis Amateur Radio Newsline with news and classes/exam sessions from round the St. Louis, Missouri regional area. We have always carried Hamfest and Convention announcements from around the nation sent to the station for airing. These will soon be added to our Web Site, as well. The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter carried the launch of the Micro Sats and several space launches by phone line and satellite. In September 1996, due to job changes (I had started my own trucking company in November 1995), I was forced to discontinue "The Gateway 160 Meter Net" on Wednesday nights. The last net was called on September 25, 1996. With sadness I announced that I could no longer meet business commitments and continue as Net Manager and regular NCS. I announced that the Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter would continue on Saturday afternoons and evenings. Programming not occurring live on Saturday would be tape recorded for Saturday airing. This would be a full service bulletin, with all of the regular bulletin programming airing back to back all Saturday afternoon and evening. In addition, we occasionally carry special live programming, such as The AMSAT Symposium, which aired all Friday and Saturday 9am to 6pm, last October. These special services will be announced on air and through our Web site, in the future. Myself, my XYL Dottie, KG0VN, and Bob KA0TVO handle programming, production, taping, and Control Operator duties at WA0RCR, bringing you The Gateway 160 Meter Radio Newsletter on a reliable basis. (I am always looking for a couple more local radio amateurs, to assist in control operator duties. Of course, control OP's must hold at least a General Class Amateur Operator license.) This service continues to this day, 21 years after its inception, on Saturdays from 1 pm Central until after 2 am Sunday morning on 1860 kHz. 73, Vern (Vernon Jackson, WA0RCR, WA0RCR web site via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But not any more... ** VENEZUELA. Websites: There is a detailed, but somewhat incomplete list of Venezuelan AM and FM stations at http://www.ompet.com The Venezuelan government has official lists at http://www.conatel.gov.ve, the website of its telecommunications agency, CONATEL, but unfortunately the lists are in zip file. Sitios: Hay un elenco detallado, pero un poquito incompleto, de las radios de AM y FM venezolanas en http://www.ompet.com El gobierno de Venezuela destaca los elencos oficiales en http://www.conatel.gov.ve el sitio de su agencia de telecomunicciones, CONATEL, pero desafortunadamente, estes son archivos de zip (Catholic Radio in the Americas June 7 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-094, June 8, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: worldofradio.com has been down for `upgrading`. Meanwhile some recent files are at our other site accessible via http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.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 WORLD OF RADIO #1134: (ONDEMAND from June 7) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1134.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1134.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210, Mon 0000 9475 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830?... on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB BROADCASTS ON WRN: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 North America NEW TIME ON WBCQ FROM JUNE 12: Wed 2200 on 7415 AND 17495, ex-2330; still UT Thu 0415 on 7415 ** AFGHANISTAN/UK. BBC WORLD SERVICE TO LAUNCH FM RELAY IN KABUL | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 7 June From Sunday (9 June) people living in and around the Afghan capital, Kabul, will be able to listen to BBC World Service on FM as well as short wave. The new FM frequency on 98.0 MHz, coincides with an extended programme schedule on BBC World Service to bring comprehensive news of the Loya Jerga (Grand Assembly), which convenes in Kabul on Monday [10 June]. Mark Byford, Director of BBC World Service, said: "The World Service has an unparalleled reach in Afghanistan where it is widely listened to and respected by Afghans. After 11 September we extended broadcasts to the region and introduced a new medium wave frequency. Now, for the first time, the people of Kabul will be able to hear BBC World Service on FM. It's an exciting and historic development and we are talking to the authorities about expanding our FM presence in other Afghan cities." The BBC has broadcast news to Afghanistan for 60 years in Persian and for 20 years in Pashto, the country's two main languages. Apart from daily news and current affairs programmes, BBC World Service also broadcasts the popular soap, New Home, New Life to the region and programmes for Afghan children. Since January 2002 BBC World Service has expanded its activities in Afghanistan: - Producing radio programmes on the Loya Jirga in Pashto and Persian; - Providing journalism courses for Afghan journalists and studio equipment for Radio Afghanistan through its charitable arm, BBC World Service Trust; - Opening a media resource centre for local journalists; - Advising the authorities on a regulatory framework for the media. BBC World Service is hugely important to Afghans who had little access to independent media because of war and restrictions imposed by the Taleban. The leader of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamid Karzai, said last month: "BBC World Service has been the main media outlet for the Afghan people for many years. It's a radio service that almost all Afghans listen to." The new FM frequency in Kabul will enable two million Afghans in and around the capital to follow news of the Loya Jerga - the assembly that will choose a new government to govern Afghanistan - in high quality sound. Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 7 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO KABUL TO START TEST PROGRAMMES NEXT WEEK | Text of report by Afghan radio on 6 June It is expected that Radio Kabul to resume its broadcast after a very long lull. Esteemed Gholam Hasan Hazrati said the following in this regard: [Announcer] Radio Afghanistan is very pleased that with the assistance of USA, FM wave has been reopened in order to broadcast the programmes of Radio Kabul on FM. Radio Kabul will be ready to broadcast test programmes on Saturday, 18 Jawza [8 June], and it will have five hours of programmes from Sunday 19 Jawza [9 June]. Our compatriots will be able to hear Radio Kabul programmes every day from 0800 to 1300 local time [0330 gmt to 0830 gmt]. The programmes will include music, news services, literary programmes and other entertaining programmes.. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 6 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. USA DONATES TWO FM TRANSMITTERS TO RADIO AFGHANISTAN | Text of report by Afghan radio on 6 June Two FM stations were inaugurated and began broadcasting today in the building of Radio Afghanistan in honour of the emergency Loya Jerga. A Bakhtar Information Agency reports: Two FM transmitters each with 1 kW capacity have been given by the USA to Afghanistan in honour of Afghanistan's emergency Loya Jerga. The first FM transmitter will receive programmes of Radio Azadi [Radio Liberty] and Voice of America via satellite by Dish Antenna [as heard] and will rebroadcast on FM to the people of Kabul. The second FM transmitter has been put at the disposal of Radio Afghanistan in order to boost morning and evening programmes of Radio Afghanistan via satellite feed to short wave transmitters. The transmitters will make it possible for Radio Afghanistan to rebroadcast its programme on 16 metre band frequency or 18240 kHz in the evening and on 16 metre band or 15240 kHz [figures as heard] in the morning. Mohammad Sharif Kashwari, head of technical operation of Radio and television, said that the listeners of Radio Afghanistan would be able to hear Radio Afghanistan's programmes both on medium waves and FM and short waves in Afghanistan and outside the country. At a meeting which was held on this occasion in the technological hall of Radio Afghanistan, Mr Craig Bak [as heard], general head of US assistance to Afghanistan, delivered a speech and said: America is planning to provide technical facilities to help improve the current state of radio and television network in Afghanistan, specially with regard to broadcasting. This technical assistance will continue in future too. Then, Abdol Hamid Mobarez, deputy culture minister in charge of broadcasting, spoke about the importance of the inauguration of the aforementioned transmitters which were inaugurated along side the Loya Jerga process in the country. He said that he was pleased with the US assistance and the efforts of the personnel of Radio Afghanistan. He said that he was confident that such assistance will continue in future too by the USA. The meeting was also attended by Abdol Hafiz Mansur, head of radio and television, and heads and officials of various departments of radio and television. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 6 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Dr Glenn, AS OF TODAY, Friday June 7, the Afghanistan transmission from Kvitsøy is half an hour earlier, at 1330-1630 UT, which means that the transmission of R. Denmark at 1330 to the Far East on 17525 is CANCELLED, while the previously cancelled one at 1630 on 13800 kHz to Russia, Middle East and South Asia is re- installed. [Later:] the change did not occur today, so it probably starts tomorrow, Saturday. Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, R. Denmark, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess the PTB belatedly realised Afghanistan is on half-hour timezone (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. The Argentine station [on 1070], Mundo, is in ill repair and sounds weak even in BA. Its prospects for DX are much diminished. I did due diligence on it 2 years ago, and it was a technical disaster and museum to early 50's technology (David Gleason, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Glenn, South Africa, 17670, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, relay 1100-1159; Program of news and features in Dutch language. This listed as being relayed via Meyerton, South Africa. Signal was good at 1100 but continued to get worse as hour passed by. (Chuck Bolland, Lake Worth Florida - soon to be in Clewiston, June 8, 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11780, R Nacional da Amazônia, 0030 June 8, several ballad- style tunes back-back, canned ID at 0039 and more music (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Just dropping you a note to let you know that the CIDX Report returns to the Maple Leaf Mailbag this weekend. We actually have a part of the report in which we discuss the impact of the recent labour dispute at the CBC and how it has impacted the audience, both domestically here in Quebec and for the international RCI audience. Our other major feature this week deals with sports coverage on shortwave, given the World Cup, Grand Prix of Montreal, French Open tennis, etc. That't it for now. The report will continue to appear every second week, beginning this weekend. Take care (Sheldon Harvey, QC, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 17920, CBC Northern Service 1530 June 2, while tuning around, came upon this in // to 9625 with the Sunday Edition program. Not listed in 2002 PWBR nor 2002 WRTH. Much weaker than 9625 with fading characteristics that makes be believe it's not from Canada. Where 9625 kHz is at 10 db over S9, this freq is an S2 or S3. Signed off at 1559 while 9625 continued its transmission (John Sgrulletta, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Or a mix between two 17 MHz frequencies, when RCI is also carrying Sunday Edition (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CRTC streamlines renewal process http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Circulars/2002/c2002-448.htm (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CANADA. From Maclaeans.ca HOW I UNPLUGGED THE CBC PETER KENT, May 13, 2002 I watched my first CBC TV program at a neighbour's house in Medicine Hat, Alta. I was 10 years old: it was a couple of years after the Corporation's 1952 inaugural TV broadcast in Central Canada, and CBC network programming was just beginning to reach the west via a system of private, affiliated stations. The picture -- all the way from Calgary's CHCT TV – was intermittent through electronic "snow"; the sound was faint under the static. But I was thrilled to catch my first Hockey Night in Canada. And I was a decade away from my first argument over the changing identity and role of the public broadcaster. A CBC documentary set me on course toward becoming a foreign correspondent. One night in 1965, when I was supposed to be writing late news at the Calgary CTV affiliate, CFCN TV, I cranked through the limited choices on the dial of our newsroom monitor. On CBC, up came The Mills of the Gods, a darkly magnificent treatment of the developing war in Vietnam. Within a year, I was sampling the thrilling, if threadbare life of a freelance journalist in Saigon -- and pondering how wonderful it would be to have a CBC budget. After reporting jobs at CTV and Global, I snagged a spot in the CBC Toronto national newsroom. For a few years, I had a series of well- budgeted assignments as a producer and reporter for the Corp's classic, weekly, mini-documentary series, Newsmagazine. It was wonderful, fulfilling journalism. I became anchor of The National in 1976, at the callow age of 33, after Lloyd Robertson was wooed away by CTV. Our lead story on my first night as anchor was the election of Rene Levesque and the Parti Quebecois. Near the end of my first season, I discovered the downside of Hockey Night in Canada: NHL playoff hockey then, as now, displaced The National as well as other CBC programming across our prime-time schedule. The disruptions frustrated me, and many of my news and entertainment colleagues -- not to mention viewers. When the CBC licence came up for renewal during my second year as anchor, I banged out an intervention to the CRTC suggesting the licence be extended subject to several conditions. Topping the list was a recommendation that hockey and other commercial, non- mandate content be given over to private broadcasters. To my irritation, the media -- and the CRTC -- pretty much ignored those issues and focused on one at the bottom of my list: the vulnerability of CBC News' editorial independence against pressure from the Prime Minister's Office, as it was applied to the politically appointed president of the Corporation. Management was forced to create a firewall between the president's office and CBC editorial operations. Unaddressed, the larger issue: the growing identity crisis of the national "public" broadcaster. The CRTC intervention ended my days in the national anchor chair. I was shipped off to open a new bureau for CBC News in Africa. Hockey Night in Canada on CBC rolled on, and the CBC drifted further from relevance. Now, the CBC is preparing to celebrate 50 years in television. There is much to honour in that time, and some CBC programming, particularly news and information content, still ranks with the best in the world. But too much CBC content is no longer appropriate for a public broadcaster. Where once CBC was the only national network, there now are two private networks and many more private conventional stations and scores of specialty channels. More Canadians watch Canadian news and entertainment programs on private television than on the CBC. A Statistics Canada analysis reveals that, even with sports programs included, CBC accounts for less than 20 per cent of viewing of Canadian programs by English-speaking Canadians. It's time to renovate and redirect CBC TV. Time to write a new mission statement, create new subsidy and funding models -- yes, even telethons -- and investigate news gathering and production partnerships with private broadcasters. CBC should stop producing local news programs for communities that don't watch. The Crown corporation should not use its federal line of credit to outbid private broadcasters for Olympic programming or, as with the recent Tall Ships visit to Halifax, to buy exclusive rights to a community event that should be open to all. It should abandon outdated transmission systems and an anachronistic patchwork of private affiliate stations. A publicly funded broadcaster should not suck ad dollars away from an increasingly competitive private broadcast environment. CBC should complement the private sector, not compete with it. (On that note, a question for CBC Radio execs: why are you abandoning the older, traditional audience that values "your" unique programming -- and why do you care about appealing to a younger audience already well served by private radio?) I could go on -- but I hear the haunting strains of the Hockey Night in Canada theme in the other room . . . still on CBC. I'll grit my teeth and focus on the game as a once great public broadcaster continues to skid like an iced puck toward irrelevance. (Peter Kent is a proud private broadcaster -- and a frustrated co- owner of the CBC). (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Reactivación? Hasta hace poco minutos y desde las 1940 TU; estuve escuchando una emisora con grandes lotes de música llanera, típica de Venezuela y Colombia a través de los 6064.5 con algunos segmentos de predicación religiosa y lectura del evangelio. Por la fuerza de la señal que se mantuvo arriba de 8 en el señalador de mi ICF 2010 y por algunos temas muy conocidos del folclor llanero colombiano, me inclino a pensar que se trata de la reactivación de la frecuencia que utilizara hacia 1998 Colmundo Radio y mucho antes Radio Súper. Ya que la última frecuencia medida de Colmundo Radio fue en los 6064.6 kHz. No se trata de Colmundo aunque puede ser operada por alguna organizaciòn religiosa, por la música que no es de mucha difusiòn fuera de los llanos colombianos. Podría estar ubicada el Villavicencio o el departamento del Meta. Lamentablemnte no hubo una identificaciòn y salió del aire con un corte abrupto a las 2115. Además algo curioso es que esta emisora religiosa la escucho el dia que en mi pais se celebra los 100 años de consagraciòn a la protecciòn del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Durante este fin de semana estaré monitorenado esta novedad para más información (Rafael Rodriguez, Colombia, June 7, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. The terrain in most of the Caribbean areas, islands or CA or SA, is possessed of horrible ground conductivity save a few areas. So the coverage on the high frequencies is terrible and most broadcasters stay away from it. In Colombia, 1250-1600 was always the local channels, similar to our Class IV graveyards. Low power stations with small market coverage or suburban coverage of big markets. In CA, the little stations, often religious or small towns, ended up over 1500. In places where power was never restricted much, why put 10 kw on 1540 when you could move to 610? So low budget stations ended up on the high part of the band... there was never any interest in protecting the Bahamas except in NARBA countries. It was all just serendipitous due to no one wanting to spend on high power on the channel. In my experience, and high dial LA station that became successful immediately bought a lower band channel that was less successful and moved (David Gleason, CA, June 7, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** GEORGIA and non]. Recent report about Radio Abkhazia: ``9490, Abkhaz R, Sokhumi: [...] In the evening (1300-1800) R Rossii relays come in very well`` Beware, Radio Rossii itself uses a 100 kW transmitter of the Tbilisskaya site (more widely known as Krasnodar and Armavir) on 9490 between 1530 and 2100. The situation of both stations co-channel exists during the summer period for years now (in winter Radio Rossii is on 5895 instead) and there were already reports about Radio Abkhazia being wiped out by the upcoming Tbilisskaya carrier, proving that these are indeed different transmitter. To summarize the situation: Radio Abkhazia also relays Radio Rossii and states that it operates a 5 kW transmitter directly at Sukhumi (co-located and // mediumwave 1350 I assume), but Radio Rossii during the evening on 9490 originates from its own transmitter and has nothing to do with Radio Abkhazia (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. OBSERVER #190 / 06-06-2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov --- Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER-BUL". All times in UT [kW power, azimuth; ND = non-dir] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GERMANY: Updated A-02 schedule for DEUTSCHE TELEKOM (DTK) as of June 5 ====================================================================== Radio Vilnius: 0000-0030 9855 JUL 100 / 295 Daily NoAm Lithuanian 0030-0100 9855 JUL 100 / 295 Daily NoAm English ====================================================================== Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Free Afghanistan: 0100-0300 12030 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 0300-0400 11910 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 0300-0400 13790 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Pashto 0400-0500 13790 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari 0400-0600 12030 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 0700-0730 15345 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Pashto 0730-0800 15345 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari 0900-1000 15220 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari 1000-1100 15220 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Pashto 1200-1300 17740 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Pashto 1300-1400 15535 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari 1600-1700 9620 JUL 100 / 090 Daily ME Armenian 1600-1700 9825 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 1700-1800 9575 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 1800-1900 9705 JUL 100 / 108 Daily ME Arabic 1930-2000 15190 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari 1800-2000 9885 JUL 100 / 100 Daily ME Farsi 2200-2230 11990 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Pashto 2230-2300 11990 WER 250 / 090 Daily ME Dari ====================================================================== Hrvatska Radio/Voice of Croatia: 0100-0300 9925 JUL 100 / 300 Daily NoAmEa Croatian 0300-0500 9925 JUL 100 / 325 Daily NoAmWe Croatian 0500-0700 9470 JUL 100 / 230 Daily AUS Croatian 0700-0900 13820 JUL 100 / 270 Daily NZ Croatian 2300-0100 9925 JUL 100 / 230 Daily SoAm Croatian ====================================================================== United Methodist Church/Radio Africa International: 0400-0600 11645 JUL 100 / 145 Daily EaAf French 0400-0600 13810 JUL 100 / 160 Daily NoAf French 1700-1900 13820 JUL 100 / 145 Daily EaAf English 1700-1900 15265 JUL 100 / 160 Daily NoAf English ====================================================================== Voice of Hope/High Adventure Ministries: 0400-0600 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English 0700-0800 5975 JUL 100 / 290 Daily Eu English 0700-0900 21590 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME Arabic 0900-1000 21590 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English 1330-1430 15775 JUL 100 / 070 Daily Vietnam Vietnamese 1330-1430 17550 JUL 100 / 090 Daily SoAs English 1430-1530 17550 JUL 100 / 090 Daily SoAs Hindi 1500-1600 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English 1530-1630 17550 JUL 100 / 090 Daily SoAs Persian 1600-1700 13810 JUL 100 / 130 Daily EaAf Amharic 1600-1700 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME Persian 1700-1800 9495 BIB 100 / 060 Daily RUS English 1700-1800 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME Arabic 1800-1900 9495 BIB 100 / 060 Daily RUS Russian 1800-2100 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English 2000-2100 6175 JUL 100 / ND Daily Eu English ====================================================================== Radio Nederland Wereldomroep: 0600-0655 13820 JUL 100 / 020 0106-0109 Eu English 1030-1225 6045 JUL 100 / ND Daily Eu English 1030-1225 9860 WER 125 / 300 Daily Eu English ====================================================================== Swiss Radio International: 0600-0800 15445 JUL 100 / 160 Daily NoEaAf Fr/Ge/It/En 0600-0800 17685 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoEaAf Fr/Ge/It/En 1630-1815 15220 JUL 100 / 115 Daily NoEaAf It/Ar/En/Fr 1630-1815 17735 JUL 100 / 115 Daily NoEaAf It/Ar/En/Fr 1830-2130 15220 JUL 100 / 160 Daily NoEaAf It/Ar/En/Ge/Fr 1830-2130 17580 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoEaAf It/Ar/En/Ge/Fr ====================================================================== Deutsche Welle: 0600-1555 6140 JUL 100 / 130 Daily Eu English 1555-1900 6140 WER 125 / 120 Daily Eu English ====================================================================== WYFR/Family Radio: 1600-1800 13855 JUL 100 / 145 Daily NoAf English 1700-1900 9695 JUL 100 / 060 Daily RUS Russian 1800-1900 15775 JUL 100 / 160 Daily Af French 1900-2000 9495 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME Arabic 1900-2000 13855 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoEaAf French 1900-2100 15775 JUL 100 / 160 Daily Af English 2000-2200 13855 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoEaAf English ====================================================================== IBRA Radio: 1645-1715 13590 WER 125 / 075 Daily ME Pashto/Dari 1900-1930 13710 NAU 125 / 205 Daily NoWeAf Hausa 2230-2330 9405 JUL 100 / 190 Daily NoAf Arabic ====================================================================== Democratic Voice of Burma: 2330-0030 9490 JUL 100 / 080 Daily SoEaAs Burmese ====================================================================== Universelles Leben: 0100-0130 9435 JUL 100 / 090 Sun SoAs English 1600-1630 15670 JUL 100 / 175 Sun NoEaAf French 1630-1700 6015 JUL 100 / ND Tue,Wed,Thu Eu German 1800-1830 15750 JUL 100 / 145 Sun EaAf English ====================================================================== RTBF: 0300-0500 9495 JUL 100 / 160 Mon-Fri Af French 0430-0500 9495 JUL 100 / 160 Sat,Sun Af French 0500-0715 17580 JUL 100 / 160 Mon-Fri Af French 0500-0805 17580 JUL 100 / 160 Sun Af French 0500-1000 17580 JUL 100 / 160 Sat Af French 1000-1205 21565 JUL 100 / 160 Mon-Fri Af French 1000-1115 21565 JUL 100 / 160 Sat Af French 1100-1115 21565 JUL 100 / 160 Sun Af French 1500-1715 17570 JUL 100 / 160 Sun-Fri Af French 1600-1715 17570 JUL 100 / 160 Sat Af French ====================================================================== AWR/Adventist World Radio: 0400-0500 9570 JUL 100 / 115 Daily EaEu Bulgarian 0600-0700 11610 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoAf Arabic 0700-0730 11610 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoAf French 0900-1000 11880 JUL 100 / 145 Sat,Sun Eu Italian 1600-1700 15360 JUL 100 / 115 Daily EaEu Romanian 1700-1800 15235 JUL 100 / 115 Daily EaEu Bulgarian 1900-2000 15485 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoAf Arabic 2000-2030 15485 JUL 100 / 200 Daily NoAf French ====================================================================== VRT/Radio Vlaanderen International: 0500-0655 13685 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME Dutch 0700-0725 5985 JUL 100 / 265 Daily Eu English 1730-1755 13710 JUL 100 / 120 Daily ME English 1800-1855 13710 JUL 100 / 120 Daily ME Dutch 1800-1955 5910 JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu Dutch ====================================================================== TWR/Trans World Radio: 0645-0750 6045 JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu English 0645-0750 15545* JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu English 0645-0820 6045 JUL 100 / ND Sun Eu English 0645-0820 15545* JUL 100 / ND Sun Eu English 0655-0820 6045 JUL 100 / ND Mon-Fri Eu English 0655-0820 15545* JUL 100 / ND Mon-Fri Eu English 1230-1245 9490 JUL 100 / 130 Daily Eu Croat/Slovenian 1600-1645 7135 WER 125 / 115 Sat EaEu Romanian 1600-1645 9660 NAU 125 / 120 Sat EaEu Romanian ====================================================================== Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity: 0700-0800 21550 JUL 100 / 145 Sun EaAf Amharic 1830-1930 15565 JUL 100 / 145 Wed EaAf Amharic ====================================================================== Remnants Hope Ministry: 0800-0900 13810 JUL 100 / 250 Sat AUS English 1200-1300 6110 JUL 100 / 295 Sat,Sun Eu English ====================================================================== Radio Rainbow: 0800-0900 6180 JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu Amharic 0800-0900 15410* JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu Amharic 1900-2000 15565 JUL 100 / 145 Fri EaAf Amharic ====================================================================== WSHB/Christian Science Monitor: 0900-1000 5985 JUL 100 / 115 Sun Eu German ====================================================================== Evangeliumsradio Hamburg: 0900-1000 6045 JUL 100 / ND Sun Eu German 0900-1000 15545* JUL 100 / ND Sun Eu German 1730-1800 6015 JUL 100 / ND Wed Eu German ====================================================================== Brother Stair/TOM: 1200-1300 5975 JUL 100 / 290 Daily Eu English 1300-1400 13810 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English 1500-1555 6015 JUL 100 / 290 Sat Eu English 1555-1800 6015 JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu English ====================================================================== Voice of Democratic Eritrea: 1400-1500 5925 JUL 100 / ND Sat Eu Tigrina 1700-1800 15670 JUL 100 / 125 Mon,Thu EaAf Tigrina ====================================================================== Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy: 1600-1630 15530 JUL 100 / 125 Wed,Sat EaAf Tigrina ====================================================================== Voice of Ethiopian Salvation: 1600-1700 15530 JUL 100 / 125 Thu,Sun EaAf Amharic ====================================================================== Radio Huriyo: 1630-1700 15530 JUL 100 / 125 Tue,Fri EaAf Somali ====================================================================== Voice of Oromo Liberation 1700-1730 15670 JUL 100 / 125 Wed,Fri,Sun EaAf Oromo 1730-1800 15670 JUL 100 / 125 Wed,Fri,Sun EaAf Amharic ====================================================================== FEBC: 1800-1830 11895 WER 250 / 120 Thu,Fri ME Tagalog ====================================================================== Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie: 1830-1900 15750 JUL 100 / 145 Thu Af French ====================================================================== * test frequency BIB = Biblis; JUL = Juelich; NAU = Nauen; WER = Wertachtal 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulbaria, June 7 via DXLD) Radio Netherland Wereldomroep: 0600-0655 13820 JUL 100 kW / 020 deg 0106-0109 to Eu English - This broadcast is in Dutch I think? Vilnius 9855: - Actually a stand-by arrangement only, or really on air again? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, also Bernd Trutenau sent me an e-mail immediately, that item above, is a BACKUP ENTRY for Sitkunai-LTU operations only, not really on regular service ! 73 wolfgang df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. During the last busy days I also bypassed the Wiederau site south of Leipzig; find enclosed a picture I shot from the train while running at 100 km/h. On the right border of the picture you see what I think is one of the four shortwave rhombics, this one aiming at 43/223 degrees and so still there although out of use for 11 years now. The masts left in the picture should belong to two mediumwave trideco antennas, one of them now in use by the new Thomcast transmitter on 783 and not performing well; there is lots of ground- /skywave congestion at night. Furthermore Deutsche Telekom insists on keeping the audio bandwith at poor 4.5 kHz, stating that otherwise "the Czech" would complain (years ago there was a daytime-only outlet from Praha-Zbraslav on 792). The smaller one of the large masts functions as mediumwave antenna (but is no longer in regular use for this purpose) and carries the FM and TV channel 9 antennas, the larger mast carries the UHF TV antennas. Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. Subject : Re: [NRC-am] 690 KKUA -> KQMQ -> KORL Honolulu Hawaiian stations have always been fun to listen too. Unfortunately so many of them are now owned by mainland companies so their interesting formats have disappeared in most cases. There still are a few like KNUI-900. I started listening to Hawaiians in the early 60s when I lived in Seward AK as a boy. When it was Zero outside and a 70 MPH wind out of the North, hear a Hawaiian with 75 degrees was really neat. I always wanted to go to Hawaii as a kid and I have been over there 4 times. Kauai is my favorite island. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) What truly killed Hawaiian radio was the opening of the FM band. Previous to that, the lower half of the dial had been reserved for the military. This added lots of stations to a market that was just at subsistence level. Honolulu is probably the worst radio market in the US. There is a big-time recession going on there, costs are high and there is too little revenue and too many stations. I was talking with one of the original Poi Boys from market leading KPOI (60's) recently and he says that the economics of radio there just crumbled in the 70's and never recovered. He cited dozens (yes, dozens) of people who lost life savings in radio in the market in the next 20 years. I also work with the former manager of KGMB AM & FM, who started in radio in sales at that station and goes home every month or so. Same impression: horrible market that can barely survive thanks to consolidation and extreme cost cutting (David Gleason, CA, June 7, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, I knew Hawaiian radio was a mess moneywise. It has been that way for many years. The first person to tell me that was good ol' Alan Roycroft CE of many Hawaiian stations for years. I would QSL a station and he would send me the QSL card with a lot of info on the back. Stations came and went like a yo-yo. He would do some work on a station and would ask for the money upfront, knowing very well the station did not have a pot of the window to throw it out of. I have 690 QSL's under KULA and KKUA. I should catch them as KORL the old 650 call. 73s, Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) With The Honolulu heritage calls installed on 690 in HI - are they still broadcasting Radio Disney?? Their day 10 kw signal has a daytime range, from my mid 1980s observations at sea, of 950+ miles. I've known them as CHR KKUA. Simulcasting the FM side 93FMQ KQMQ Honolulu during morning drive, it was strange, they'd use the same DJ saying the same things between songs, but the FM and AM would play different songs during the simulcast (if you still call it that). Surely that took a lot of coordination to pull off successfully (Ron Gitschier, Jax, FL, ibid.) Yes, they still are still Radio Disney, lots of local breaks, tags, and "drop ins" all day (Chuck Boehnke, Keaau, Hawaii, ibid.) ** IRAQ [non]. CLANDESTINE I sent a reception report to clandestine Ashur Radio at its postal address: c/o Zowaa, Nygatan 56, 3 TR, 58227 Linkoping, Sweden. The postal service returned the envelope today with the label stating "Unknown". (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX June 7 via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. EX-BBC JOURNALIST KILLED IN JAMAICA Saturday, 8 June, 2002, One of the Caribbean's most prominent journalists, Hugh Crosskill, has been shot dead in the Jamaican capital, Kingston. Crosskill, 47, had worked for the BBC's Caribbean Service for eight years, before returning to Jamaica and working on local radio there. Police say they are questioning a security guard who shot the journalist at private medical centre in Kingston early on Friday morning. The two men had become involved in an argument, after Crosskill had approached a woman on the stairs of the building. She told police that Crosskill was holding the guard's waist, before being shot in the chest. Police have not given any further details about the incident. Cliff Hughes, who until April co-hosted a local radio talk show with Crosskill, said that he was "the most well-rounded journalist in post-independence Jamaica". Crosskill was born in the northern English town of Scarborough to a Scottish mother and a Jamaican father. A tall-bearded man with a very deep, rich voice, he was a keen amateur cricketer and was a stalwart member of the BBC team. His first came to prominence as a cricket commentator at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation in the 1970s. He then moved to the Caribbean News Agency, before returning to Britain in 1988 to work for the BBC's Caribbean Service. In 1996, he took up a job as general manager at Radio Jamaica, before moving to other stations. Until two months ago, he was co-hosting an afternoon chat show on Power 106 FM. In recent years, Crosskill had been battling a drug habit which had at times left him living on the streets. Last year he spoke publicly on radio in Jamaica about his addiction, and, after undergoing treatment, expressed confidence that he had made a full recovery. He had been unemployed for the past two months, since leaving his job at Power 106 FM. His brother, Simon Crosskill, is a cricket commentator for Radio Jamaica, and his father, Hugh Crosskill Senior, writes a weekly column in the Jamaica Observer. Crosskill, who was divorced, is survived by three children (BBC News via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, R. Madagascara (presumed), 0030-0118, 0200-0205* June 3, Definite Afro vocal music, 0034 M announcer in language with mention of South Africa, then a variety of nonstop African mx and some light ballads. W very briefly at 0201 with a few words, instrumental music, and off at 0205. Fairly strong w/gradually increasing QRM from Crystal. Is this the real R. Madagascara?? If so why on all night only to go off very early in the local morning?? (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. A week has passed since I saw XHG-4's local "Entre Tú y Yo" on channel 5. I've been looking at maps and thinking about the spacing of stations on TV channels in Mexico. As Doug has said in the past, stations in Mexico are not spaced any definite number of miles apart (like they are in the U.S.). Each situation is different and based on such factors as ERP and terrain. The broadcast industry in Mexico has been very clever at making this system work. Fernando told me a couple of years ago that XHVTV-54 in the Valley actually has two transmitters in two different locations! I have logged some of these close-spaced stations by Es, including XHPVE-4 Puerto Vallarta JAL and XHAF-4 Tepic NAY. Jeff Kruszka and I have both logged the tightly-spaced XHFI-5 Chihuahua and XHCCH-5 Cuauhtemoc CHIH (which is supposed to be very low power). With that in mind, it seems possible that XHG-5 in San Juan de los Lagos may have been what I saw last week. In addition, new log XEZ-2 San Miguel de Allende GTO was IDed just a few minutes prior to seeing the XHG program on channel 5. San Juan de los Lagos is east of Guadalajara, as is GTO. I wouldn't log a station on such conjecture, but I think XHG-5 is a possibility. Such confusing situations as this make me think, "Who am I to advise other DXers about Mexico TV DX?" (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, June 7, WTFDA via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. A MASSIVE re-organisation of the troubled Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is likely to get underway soon. http://allafrica.com/stories/200206060008.html (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. I'll have to find the PJB Trans World Radio website and schedule again. I had the station manager`s address and phone no, but he since left the station. The are now 50 kW NDA days and 100 kW directional nights, but on a regular schedule - when they don't sell blocks, the save the electricity and turn it off. That fooled me when I was last in the region and thought in astonishment that they thrown in the towel after checking several days on end during their off hours! I heard them a couple of weeks ago during my trip to Cocoa Beach, FL! I veried PJB 800 from Lowell, MA 20 years ago before leaving for the Navy (Ron Gitschier, Jax, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) This is off their webpage http://www.gospelcom.net/twr/broadcasts/bonaire.htm Times are listed as ATLANTIC STANDARD (presumably UT minus 4 hours?) 0300-0400 Portuguese (07-08 UT) 0500-0815 Spanish (09-1215 UT) 1800-2030 English (22-0030 UT) 2030-2100 Creole (0030-01 UT) 2100-2200 Portuguese (01-02 UT) 2200-2345 Spanish (02-0345 UT) (Randy Stewart/Springfield MO, ibid.) ** NIGERIA [and non]. http://www.yil.com/columns/column.asp?columnist=ebert&date=020601&page=01 CRITICAL EYE --- E-MAIL SANITY: TAKE MY BOULDER PLEDGE June 2002 By Roger Ebert I got another one of those scam e-mails from Nigeria the other day. Considering how witless most spam is, I look forward to the Nigerian communications because their authors at least give their potential victims credit for some (though not much) intelligence. I've instructed Outlook Express to block messages promising instant wealth or detailed photographic studies of Britney Spears, but I never block the Nigerian con artists because I am amused by their audacity. One peculiarity of the messages is that every one seems to be different. Instead of grinding out the same message month after month, the Nigerian scammers apparently have platoons of typists at work composing fresh messages every day. I have noticed a few common elements, however: 1) LOWERCASE LETTERS SEEM TO BE UNKNOWN IN THE WORLD OF THE NIGERIAN SCAMMER. 2) The letter comes from a HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL or at the very least his BROTHER-IN-LAW or COUSIN. 3) The OFFICIAL desires to smuggle several million dollars out of the country. This money, alas, is PRESENTLY TRAPPED IN NIGERIA. 4) They are seeking an OVERSEAS PARTNER who will allow them to TRANSFER THE SUM OF U.S. $21,320,000 into the partner's bank account (sum may vary). 5) If you permit your bank account to be used for this purpose, you can keep 20 PERCENT OF THE MONEY (percent may vary). 6) Needless to say, THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND "TOP SECRET. " It has always been my opinion that all e-mail users should cave in and admit to themselves that no one will ever send them free money or pornography. This would eliminate 90 percent of the temptations in your daily spam load, leaving only the dilemma of whether to mail your business card to poor little Timmy, whose deathbed wish is to paralyze the U.S. Postal Service by having everyone in the world send him a letter. The Nigerian scam seems so clearly fraudulent that every time I receive another message I am amazed that hope has not faded among those HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. The way the scam works is that before you get the money, you have to put up some money of your own to show your good faith. By the time you realize you've been had, you're reluctant to go to the police because, after all, you were trying to break the law. This is the classic Pigeon Drop, dramatized in David Mamet's film House of Games (1987). Does anyone ever fall for the Nigerian ruse? Does the scheme make money? I idly tapped "Nigerian e-mail scam" into Google, got 4,480 hits, and discovered on the top site-Nigeria: The 419 Coalition Website-that as of 1996, some $5 billion had been lost to the scheme, and that the scam is, "according to published reports," the third to fifth largest industry in Nigeria. It came into existence in the 1980s as a snail mail-based operation and switched later to e-mail. According to a U.S. Treasury site, the 419 refers to Section 419 of the Nigerian Penal Code, which addresses (but apparently does not prevent) such schemes. It is clearly time to remind readers of the Boulder Pledge. Longtime readers will recall that in April 1996, while on a panel about spam at the Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado, I proposed a pledge that all e-mail users would swear to. The Boulder Pledge subsequently swept the world, although apparently at a much lower level of penetration than 419 (this could have something to do with the fact that its adherents are forbidden from mass e-mailing it). Raise your right hand and repeat after me: "Under no circumstances will I ever purchase anything offered to me as the result of an unsolicited e-mail message. Nor will I forward chain letters, petitions, mass mailings, or virus warnings to large numbers of others. This is my contribution to the survival of the online community." Excellent. And remember: Do not forward this pledge to everyone in your address book. (via Tom Roche, DXLD) oops ** PERU. Radio Tacna en el aire en onda corta ahora!!! Muchachos: En este momento estoy escuchando el partido Brasil-China por Radio Tacna, en 9504.8, con buena recepción. Es una emisora muy irregular en la OC y es una buena oportunidad. No la dejen pasar (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 8, ``6:54 am``, whatever timezone that may be, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 21600, BSKSA uses this shortwave frequency again for French starting 0830 UT. I heard them again today June 5 after a long interruption. As always this 2 hr broadcast is actually a SW relay of the French program which can be heard on MW and FM in the major Saudi cities and targeted mainly at French-speaking West-African guestworkers. Excellent reception here (Christian Mocanu, Romania, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, R. UNAMSIL, 0410-0505 June 1. The best signal I have heard from this one, on a relatively static-free night. It faded badly toward the end. Featured hi-life music and a male DJ. There were lots of possible IDs, but I'll have to play the tape back carefully to be sure. The modulation was a little muddy (Jim Renfrew, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWAN ISLAND [and non]. This is not the first time a Radio Americas/Swan Island QSL has been sold on Ebay. I remember a while back there was another one up for bid, and it also went for quite a bit. I can't recall what it finally fetched, but I remember thinking it was quite a lot. At one time there also was an nice ashtray having to do with the VOA shipboard operation (can't remember just now the details of that, but I'm sure you do), that also went for quite a nice price (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The USCGC Courier, long based at Rhodos, I suppose, which was still active in the late fifties, early sixties when I began (gh, DXLD) ** U K. CANTATA BASED ON SHORTWAVE NUMBERS STATIONS THIS WEEKEND This weekend as part of the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, England: Saturday 8 June 3 pm & 5 pm ConSPIracy Cantata Ayelet Harpaz voice, Stephie Buttrich voice, Marion von Tilzer piano Yannis Kyriakides electronics Yannis Kyriakides A conSPIracy cantata (UK première) SPI, by the young Anglo-Cypriot composer Yannis Kyriakides, juxtaposes two forms of cryptic message communication: the enigmatic utterings of the ancient oracle of Delphi, thought to have been the first international spy network, and the clandestine world of spy number transmissions on the shortwave radio, which anyone can intercept but not understand. SPI will be performed in the eerie setting of an abandoned military building at Bentwaters Airbase. Bentwaters Airbase, Rendlesham 3pm and 5pm (1 hour long) Tickets £12 Supported by The A.G. Leventis Foundation See http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk/events/55/index.htm#8June and http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/Content/Search/nfdetail.asp?Brand=ESTONLINE&Category=NEWS&ItemId=IPED04+Jun+2002+09%3A56%3A58%3A950 (...Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) So will it be broadcast soon on BBC Radio 3?? (gh, DXLD) I heard a short excerpt of this as part of a feature on the PM programme on BBC Radio 4 this evening. From memory it was a little after half way through. There is an archive of PM on the BBC web site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml There are a number of items there you might enjoy. I'm not a great classical music fan but I thought this piece was fairly listenable. I won't, however, be driving up to Aldborough to listen (Mark Hawkins, June 7, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn: Broadcasting & Cable on nighttime interference problems with AM IBOC digital: http://www.tvinsite.com/broadcastingcable/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA221411&display=sectionStory&verticalid=311&industry=Technology&pubdate=06/10/2002&STT=000&industryid=1030 73 (Kim Elliott, June 7, DXLD) Here`s an excerpt demonstrating that the writer has a very fuzzy understanding of propagation, just like the FM-oriented broadcasters blamed for not anticipating the problem: (gh) Specifically, AM IBOC runs into interference when its signals hit what is called the "skywave," a near-vertical wave that is created when radio signals from huge 50-kW AM clear-channel radio stations bounce off the stratosphere. The clear-channel radio stations, so named because the government protects them from interference to keep the channels clear in case of national emergency, use the skywave to send their signals from Colorado to as far as California, for example. But all those bouncing waves seriously interfere with AM IBOC... (as above via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. UNSOLICITED 1710 QSL ARRIVED This is the kind of QSL result I like to report! I did NOT send a report to the Lubavitch station on 1710, but they sent an info sheet about their movement, and added this confirmation message at the bottom of the page: "Dear Mr. Renfrew, A member of our movement noticed in a recent National Radio Club DX News bulletin that you were listening to our station on 1710 kiloHertz on January 21, 2002 at 12:45 a.m. EST. We are pleased that you had an opportunity to tune in. Lubavitch World Headquarters 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn New York 11213 Phone: (718) 774-4000/Fax: (718) 774-2718" The letter was post-marked Providence RI. And the information sheet is accurate, as far as I can tell, about the organization, its history and leaders. Apparently DX News is read widely! (Jim Renfrew, Byron, NY, June 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1710, Chabad-Lubavitch Radio, Brooklyn NY, verie letter and introduction to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, in 197 days for report in NRC's DX News magazine. Address: Lubavitch World Headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11213 (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH June 7, NRC-AM via DXLD Is this a TIS or pirate? Are they still on the air? Power? Hours of operation? Format? 1710 is clear here in the West. I did log and QSL the 10 watt JFK TIS here. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) It's an unlicensed operation. The verification didn't provide any details about the facilities or program schedule. The format is REL: Jewish/Chabad-Lubavitch, in English and presumed Hebrew. I haven't listened recently but would assume that it's still on the air 24 hours except Saturdays. FCC rules specify 100 mW for unlicensed operations, but it's likely considerably more based on how well it's been received here. I would guess somewhere in the range of 5 to 40 watts (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. MPT has hired a spin doctor to improve its image after the Rukeyser fiasco of recent months. So far I have personally sent back two pleadings for more money with a note scribbled on it to the effect that there was no way I was going to send them any money because they fired Rukeyser. I then said "Age discrimination does not pay." It looks like I'm not the only one who is voting with his wallet. Read about how they are now spending money that should be going to better programming. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., Joe Buch -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ MPT HOPES SPIN DOC CAN BUFF ITS IMAGE RUKEYSER OUSTER LEFT BAD A TASTE Radio & TV: David Folkenflik http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.tvradio05jun05.column?coll=bal%2Dpe%2Dtoday (via Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. KID`S DAY IS JUNE 15! Kid`s Day, Saturday, June 15, from 1800 to 2400 UT, is a chance to invest in the future of Amateur Radio. Scheduled twice a year, in January and June, Kid`s Day is an opportunity for amateurs to introduce their own youngsters, young relatives or neighborhood kids to the magic of Amateur Radio and, in the process, to perhaps open the door to a lifelong hobby. Activity is on 20, 15 and 10 meters as well as locally on VHF, including repeaters. Suggested frequencies are 14,270-14,300; 21,380 to 21,400, 28,350 to 28,400 kHz and 2- meter repeaters (with permission from the repeater sponsor). Kid`s Day is not a contest. It`s more of a social event, where an experienced operator facilitates getting the youngsters on the air so they can enjoy the fun of ham radio. The licensee need only keep an eye on the technical and legal aspects of the operation-- including observing third-party traffic agreements and identifying every 10 minutes--and lend an Elmering hand as necessary. The idea is to help the kids find someone they`re comfortable talking with and to just let them enjoy themselves. In Kid`s Day, it`s quality of the contacts, not quantity, that counts. To provide a little framework, it`s suggested to have youngsters exchange name, age, location and favorite color with other participants they meet on the air. It`s OK to work the same station more than once if the operator has changed. Stations may call ``CQ Kid`s Day.`` ARRL`s Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, encourages having youngsters make drawings during periods of slow radio activity which reflect their feelings about Amateur Radio and Kid`s Day. ``We are collecting these drawings--they can be done by computer or crayon--and we`ll use some of them to design a new Kid`s Day certificate,`` she said. Submittals should include the child`s name and age as well as contact information (including e-mail, if available) for the sponsoring amateur. Send the artwork to jwolfgang@arrl.org or to ARRL, Kid`s Day Artwork, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. ``The kid sitting beside you may or may not be a ham in the years to come,`` Wolfgang says, ``but I`ll bet that you will both have a good time--and who knows what the future will bring?`` All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html to complete a short survey and post your comments. You will then be able to download the certificate page. Or, you can send a 9x12 self- addressed, stamped envelope to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009. Details on Kid`s Day are available on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html (ARRL Letter June 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1295 with a release date of Friday, June 7th 2002 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Kids Day is coming and a legend leaves Top Band. These stories are first on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1295 coming your way right now. ON THE AIR: KIDS DAY COMING JUNE 15TH It`s possibly one of the two mot important ham radio days of the year, and its only a week away. We are talking about the second of two Kids Day operating events held every year. Amateur Radio Newsline`s Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the story of the event and the man who made it happen: The next Kids Day is June 15 from 1800 to 2400 UTC. That`s Saturday here in the United States. Most of the activity is on 20, 15 and 10 meters, but you can also put kids on the air on your local repeater if you wish. Kids Day is not a contest. In fact, it is a non structured event where all you have to do is to call CQ Kids Day, and then put the youngsters visiting you on the air to talk with other kids visiting other hams. Once the children are talking, the suggested contact exchange might include the youngsters names, their ages, their location and -- for the younger ones -- favorite color. Best of all you can work the same station over and over again if the operator continues to change. If this all sounds like a great way to spend a day, you might be interested in learning where Kids Day came from. In reality is the story of vision by one man. A man who long before most realized a problem even existed. It was Larry ``Tree`` Tyree, N6TR, who recognized that ham radio had no future without a steady influx of new, young hams. Kid hams filled with the wonderment of childhood. That thirst we are all born with to ``learn.`` To ``experiment.`` To find out how this or that ``really works.`` But Tree Tyree did not just sit there and say let somebody do something. Working with Oregon`s Boaring Amateur Radio Club, he went out and did it himself. And in creating Kids Day, N6TR, probably established the most important ``ham radio holiday`` that we have. ``Kids Day.`` Just think what it really means. It two days every year where we ``grown-up`` hams open our hearts, minds and stations to the young. We invite them in. We put them before a mic or key. We put them on the air to experience first hand the ``magic`` of radio. Then we silently pray they some of them will knock on the door again and say: ``...can we talk on the radio again?`` When that happens, we know that ham radio`s survival is insured for yet another generation. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles. The first Kid`s Day event was held on December 2, 1994 but it was, N6TR, who took ``Kids Day`` from a dream to a twice yearly reality now sponsored by the ARRL. And in doing so Larry ``Tree`` Tyree N6TR figuratively ``paid the premium`` on the life insurance policy that is Amateur Radio (ARRL, ARNewsline(tm), W6AQ) (Amateur Radio Newsline June 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. CHANGING OF THE GUARD: THE 160 METER GATEWAY NET GOES QRT A longtime fixture on Top Band has gone silent. This as Vern Jackson, WA0RCR, announces that he has terminated operation of his famed 160 meter Gateway Net. Here is the announcement as Jackson himself made it: AUDIO ONLY REPORT: HEAR IT AT HTTP://WWW.ARNEWSLINE.ORG Over the almost quarter of a century that it existed, Jackson`s net presented some of the top news and information sources in ham radio. This includes Hap Holly`s Radio Amateur Information Network and Amateur Radio Newsline, all in high fidelity AM. (WA0RCR) (Amateur Radio Newsline June 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. What`s new @ KCRW.com ** After you pay your Internet service provider, the World Wide Web is basically free. Except for those of us like KCRW who provide rich media over the Internet. With rapidly increasing traffic on KCRW.com up nearly 20% since Januaryand the explosion of listening by `streamies` to the station`s three program channels and our extensive archives, KCRW was facing a bandwidth crunch this spring. Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. Internet providers charge webcasters like KCRW by the megabyte. The more successful a web site becomes, the more bandwidth the site requires. And the more expensive the operation becomes. Thus, when KCRW recently lost its web host because of consolidation in the Internet hosting industry, we were presented with an opportunity to reduce overall costs while improving and even expanding our audio offerings. On May 27, 2002, KCRW.com was successfully moved from Marina Del Rey to its new home at the Quest Cybercenter in Burbank. (Special thanks to Brad Cleaver and Joe Hopfield for making this a successful migration.) Quest gives us access to one of the most dominant Internet platforms in the world. Quest will also host our new Windows Media streams. Future plans include dual encoding of our on-demand archive of music, news and cultural programs in both Windows Media and Real Audio. KCRW streams in several different formats: Real Audio and Video, Windows Media, Shoutcast, and Radio@AOL. Look for our re-designed live streaming pages at KCRW.com, KCRWmusic.com and KCRWworldnews.com. For Macintosh users, our high bandwidth 128k simulcast and music streams are now featured as a preset radio station on iTunes. Look us up under the Public and Eclectic sections. Continued on-line donations have made our streaming improvements possible. Please continue YOUR generous support of KCRW so we can keep bringing you more of what you love best, better (KCRW Newsletter June 7-14 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRIB By James Ledbetter Posted Tuesday, June 4, 2002, at 9:46 AM PT You can buy a copy of the Wall Street Journal or USA Today at almost any newsstand in a large European city. But just try to find a copy of the New York Times. Instead of the Times, Americans abroad and non- Americans seeking English-language news must rely on the International Herald Tribune, the daily jointly owned by the Times and Washington Post that reprints stories from each. The Trib is a strange, archaic animal, the duck-billed platypus of the newspaper world. For starters, it's not timely: Although the Trib claims to be distributed in 180 countries, it's only available day-of-publication in a few dozen markets. Even in that best-case scenario, many of its stories --- including front-pagers --- a day stale.... http://slate.msn.com/?id=2066548 (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. This year marks the 77 years of the issuing of the first official license to install a radio station in Venezuela; this first license was granted by the Ministry of Public Works and Economy the 25 of September, 1925, to Mr. Arturo Santana and Mr. Luis Scholtz, who founded "Arturo Santana, Scholtz & Company" with the purpose of operating the "Empresa Venezolana de Radiotelefonía"; it was Mr. Alfredo Moller who had the honor of being the first official announcer of this station, thus becoming the first ever radio announcer in Venezuela. This license not only give them the exclusive right to broadcast, but also the exclusive rights for the commercialization of the receivers. Friday, April 2, 1926, arrived at the port of La Guaira from New York the equipment for the first Venezuelan radio station. This first station was called AYRE Broadcasting, their studies were located in a building in the corner of El Tejar, and the antenna and the transmitter in a lot nearby the bullring the "Nuevo Circo", not too far from the Bolívar square in Caracas. AYRE began its transmissions the night of May 23, 1926. The newspaper El Universal, in its edition of May 24, 1926, depicts its inauguration as: "The Station AYRE Central Broadcasting of Caracas, inaugurated last night, was constructed by the powerful American company Western and its reach is of 2,000 miles, it is moved by two electrical motors, its power is of 12 horses. Its height is 65 meters". Thanks to the technical capacity of Mr. Luis Scholtz, AYRE was as good as any of the best stations of its time; the station consisted of a transmitters made by the Western Electric and towers of 65 meters height to support the antenna. Some historical reviews indicate that its power was 1 Kilowatt, but if what was published by the newspaper El Universal is correct, and its power was 12 horses, then its actual power was + - 9 Kilowatt (12 HP multiplied by the conversion factor that is 746). Unfortunately this station was in the air a very short time; the dictator of the moment, General Juan Vicente Gómez, did not see Mr. Arturo Santana with very good eyes, Santana was also a colonel in the Venezuelan army and aide-de-camp of his older son, General Jose Vicente Gómez, who was exiled in Switzerland for political reasons; and taking advantage of the serious political turmoil of April 7, 1928, when two military bases in Caracas revolt and a military conspiracy starts up, in which also some university leaders who in the end would finish jailed participated, Gómez, adducing reasons of "state security", ordered the closing of the station, this action marked the end of the first chapter of the broadcasting history in Venezuela. AYRE was born thanks to the political influence of Colonel Santana, and is this same political influence what determine its closing. It was not until December 9, 1930, with the inauguration of the "Broadcasting Caracas" in the second floor of the appliance store "El Almacén Americano", that the Venezuelan again heard a local radio station, the "Broadcasting Caracas" is still transmitting, and now we know it as "Radio Caracas Radio" or RCR, of the broadcasting group 1BC for "1 Broadcasting Caracas". 73/DX (Jose M. Valdes R. (Joe) YV5LIX, 10 31 N 66 52 W, Caracas 1062- A, Edo. Miranda, Venezuela, http://www.yv5lix.org.ve hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. (report dated - between June 6 and 13) RADIO CHOICE WORKERS STRIKE IRATE workers at newly opened Radio Choice (107.8 FM) in Lusaka yesterday paralysed the company's operations demanding payments of accrued salary areas amounting to over K250 million. http://allafrica.com/stories/200206050451.html (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. VETERAN journalists, radio disc jockeys and TV presenters, including Tapfuma Machakaire, Eric Knight, Ezra Sibanda, Brenda Moyo, Inglam Nyathi, Aaron Chiwundura Moyo and Sam Sibanda, are among 435 out of about 900 Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) workers to be laid off. http://allafrica.com/stories/200206060155.html (via Mike Terry, June 7, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. I sent a 45 minute cassette recording of the unID Korean religious station on 6715 USB to Korean DXer Sung. C. Cho of Seoul. He received it yesterday and sent me this e-mail: "The religious program on 6715U is produced by a part of Yoido Full Gospel Church. (Yoido is located in Seoul, Korea.) The pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church is "Yong Gi Cho" He is known to many Korean Christians. I will ask him why his church is aired on 6715U. Your reply e-mail would be appreciated." (David Hodgson, TN, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ YDUN's DX page for MEDIUM WAVE Hello Glenn, This to inform you that updating and other activity on my website http://www.ydunritz.com will be reduced for a certain period. My husband, who was my webmaster too, died yesterday (age 57) after struggling, in vain, against a severe cancer. I will take over his job, but have to be taught about it by our son. Could you please inform your readers about my situation. Thank you. Best 73s (Ydun M. Ritz, Vojens, Denmark, June 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So sad to hear this; our condolences (Glenn) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ SONY TRADEMARK TAKES A WALK, MAN So, you need a Band-Aid (sterile bandage strip) and some aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), because while you were in the park roller- blading (in-line skating) and rocking out to your Walkman (portable stereo device), a Frisbee (plastic flying disk toy) clocked you on the noggin (head). International trademark laws are a big headache, too. This week, Austria's Supreme Court ruled that Sony can no longer claim exclusive trademark rights for the name "Walkman," the hand-held portable tape player it introduced in 1979. The court reasoned that it had passed into common usage once it had been defined in a German dictionary as any portable stereo player... http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,53040,00.html Regards, (David Zantow , Janesville, WI , DXLD) THAT FINAL ITEM: ATOMIC COFFEE MAKER And finally this week, if you are a ham who has trouble waking up to keep those wee hours DX schedules, the answer may be as close as the local appliance store. How about an atomic time coffee maker? No, we aren`t kidding. We discovered this one last week in an appliance store in the Ft. Lauderdale Florida area. It`s called the Perfect Time Coffeemaker, and according to its manufacturer Melitta Salton Inc, it`s the first such device using radio frequency reception of atomic clock signals to keep it in sync with the National Bureau of Standards time keeping system. Melitta Salton claims that the internal clock provides accurate time right out of the box by monitoring the WWVB broadcasts from Boulder Colorado. All the user need do is to select his or her time zone and the coffeemaker does the rest. It even automatically adjusts to Daylight Savings Time and its internal back-up batteries keep it going during short duration power losses. Salton also says that it also brews good coffee. And what more could any DX hound ever ask for. (ARNewsline/4) (Amateur Radio Newsline June 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-093, June 6, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: worldofradio.com has been down for `upgrading`. Meanwhile some recent files are at our other site accessible via http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.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 WORLD OF RADIO #1134: (ONDEMAND from June 7) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1134.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1134.html [eventually] NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070, Sun 0630 on 3210 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB BROADCASTS ON WRN: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 North America NEW TIME ON WBCQ FROM JUNE 12: Wed 2200 on 7415 AND 17495, ex-2330; still UT Thu 0415 on 7415 ** AFGHANISTAN. YA5T equipment update: The Daily DX reports that YA5T operator Robert Kasca, S53R, has returned to Afghanistan carrying a new IC-756PRO, IC-PW1 amplifier, extra aluminum and a 6-meter Yagi. ``I hope to put YA on the 6-meter map!`` he was quoted as saying. In an effort to put more US stations in the YA5T log, Kasca also took along a three-element triband beam of his own design. The antenna works just one band at a time but takes just a few minutes to retune for a different band, and it collapses down to pack in his luggage. S53R says summer propagation to the US is optimal from 0130-0330 UT and again in the evening hours in Afghanistan. So far YA5T has logged 22,000 CW QSOs and 4,500 on SSB. In addition to YA5T, YA/G0TQJ will be on the air from Kabul through the end of July, reportedly on all bands except 10 meters (ARRL June 5 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFRICA. Listen Africa, Vacation BCL Contest 2002: http://swlcontest.homestead.com (Frank Parisot, France, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA [and non]. Re: Your DXLD bulletin nº 2-080 dtd 16th May Dear Mr. Hauser, This is the very first time I ever contact you or refer to your excellent DX pages, but the reason that lead me addressing to you is twofold, and as you must have already guessed, it's intimately related to the relay of an explanation I sent to Wolfgang Büschel's BC-DX bulletin weeks ago. It was only thanks to Wolfgang, who relayed me the recent comment on my paragraphs sent you by a certain Fernando Ribeiro here in Portugal. 1. Should the CRU article that appeared in BC-DX had no political info, then neither me nor anyone should feel any reason to comment, but the CRU reproduced in BC-DX had a clear political tone too. 2. In first place, my intention was to clarify what the CRU article said about "Angola having had a 30 year old civil war", which is not true: guerrilla warfare killing both natives and Europeans started in 1961 and lasted shortly after what's wrongly termed as a revolution, unless coup d'états can also be called revolutions... After that - and because Angola was one of Africa's richest territories which, to the despair of many other countries, was (at the time) the Portuguese State of Angola (formerly colony, then overseas province) and didn't belong to or was controlled by some other major country (the USA included) - CIVIL war began among the existing 3 guerrilla parties. You must know this alone produced more killing than the 1961-1974 anti-guerrilla operations the other Portuguese DXer termed as "colonial war", an expression even many here widely use, mainly the too young to know and/or understand. 3. To further clarify historical facts, I added other lines, those who deserved that comment from a certain Port. DXer. I've searched for your 16th May bulletin and read it. There's no context that helps a reader of DX matters to understand why on earth such a thing was published, and no wonder, for it does lack background. In other words, the CRU report that appeared in BC-DX didn't show up in your bulletin. In fact, the odd of the situation could also apply should the text be on, say, "the oil prices" or "how to have a greener lawn"... In such terms, not even I could agree with stumbling into such comments just like that, i.e. that had nothing to do with our hobby, DX. As to you subconsciously expecting such a rebuttal like the one Fernando da Silva Ribeiro sent you, well, I understand, given the almost certain lack of knowledge on what really happened and which still divides us here: some for, some against, to a point, mind you, that even what we might call the most respectful politicians wouldn't dare to confess. That wouldn't earn any votes or sympathy. The brainwash by leftwingers and commies was efficient at that, so few ponder to realize the so-called decolonization processes indirectly caused millions of victims, mainly Africans, the responsibility of which belongs to no other than to military traitors and their subsequent political allies, domestic and foreign. Frankly, Mr. Hauser, many of us and of those who really know our situation, which was no bed of roses in many, many aspects, are simply tired of listening to comments on our colonialism like those of Mr. Ribeiro, who was, as he puts it, an army officer who was there, so "he knows", only that others too, like me, were there as well, and also know the "tyranic" regime we had never executed military desertors* for instance, which illustrates how "tyranic" the government was. It doesn't mean I was fully pro-it, no, as I am not even a republican but a monarchist, but do weigh the situation. (*)(I don't know whether you're Canadian or a USA citizen, but you're most certainly North American, and should know even the US military code accounts for certain "terminatory" penalties in such cases.) Nowadays people hear about colonialism and still think in past centuries' terms, that's the problem. Some who do, simply forget their own country still has colonies, if not, what's Hawaii, Tahiti, Greenland or other places where natives were there already when the whites arrived? And if you see the matter even closer, what about Australian aborigenes, New Zealand Maori or... North American Indians? Those should shut up and swallow before daring to comment on what Portugal did or should have done. I don't want to bother you any further, but the little I had to tell you needed a complement so as to allow a more accurate focus on the matter. I wish you all the best, good DX and... you're only too welcome to tell me your view on the matter, if you want. Sincerely yours, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carlos, Thanks so much for giving us your comments on this matter. The discussion between you and your antagonist is certainly instructive for those of us who have little knowledge of the recent history of Angola and Portugal. Since you have been heard from twice, and he once on this matter, I may feel obligated to publish one further rebuttal. Yes, it has no direct bearing on DX, but in my bulletin I like to broaden its interest beyond strict DX matters. This certainly includes geopolitics, especially when some original commentary is received. I was thinking previous item from CRU had appeared in DXLD at some point. Will have to look back when I get chance. Publishing his remarks or yours should not be taken as a partisan matter on my part. I would be the last to deny that the US has been a colonial power, and thus am free to allow other colonial powers to be criticised as well. Fine with me if Hawai`i should regain its independence; then DX country counters would not have to bend the rules to count it separately. In fact, I would not mind if many portions of CONUS were returned to the original (well, previous) owners, since that would multiply radio countries, except, perhaps the area where I happen to reside (the Cherokee Outlet). As a rule, I would encourage all separatist movements worldwide to be granted autonomy, if not independence, so everyone can get on with their lives in peace, without bloodshed. 73, (Glenn Hauser to Carlos Gonçalves via DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. Russia?, 12125, Voice of Biafra, full data tower card, in 5 weeks to Ludo Maes in Belgium, for rp. Ed Kusalik tells me that Ludo replies to reports on behalf of the program clients. So a big thank you to Ludo Maes for his concern over our reports! (Joe Talbot, Alberta, Canada, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: Friday, June 7: C'EST LA VIE: This week on C'est La Vie, Bernard St-Laurent talks with two award-winning translators about the joys and sorrows of translating French-Canadian literature into English. He'll also take a look at the surprising similarities between the two languages. That's on C'est La Vie, with Bernard St. Laurent, this morning at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One. Saturday, June 8: DEFINITELY NOT THE OPERA: This week on DNTO...it's a star-studded concert from London when the world's top names in music help the Queen celebrate her golden jubilee with a Party at the Palace. Performers include: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Tony Bennett, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, Shirley Bassey, Brian Wilson, The Corrs, Annie Lennox, S Club 7, Cliff Richard and more. That's on Definitely Not the Opera Saturday after the one p.m. news (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. [evidently the same as was on BBCR2, WS Monday at 1830] SUMMER COMEDY SUMMARY: The Summer Comedy Summary returns this weekend. This year, host Al Rae is pleased to welcome some of Canada's premier standups in a new interview segment. This week, Glen Foster shares his love of the mighty Python. Comedy from Ray Romano as well as Mad TV producer and Winnipeg boy Brian Hartt, and new comedy from Montreal's The Vestibules. That's the Summer Comedy Summary, with host Al Rae, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 AT; 8:00 NT) on CBC Radio Two, Sunday afternoon at 1:00 (1:30 NT, 4:00 PT) on CBC Radio One. RADIOSONIC: This Saturday, Radiosonic, JustConcerts and NewMusicCanada will broadcast LIVE from The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto as part of the 8th Annual "North By Northeast" Music Festival. It'll be a lively and action-packed night of music and conversation. In addition, the action will be streamed on JustConcerts.com and NewMusicCanada.com for the internet audience. You'll hear performances by Spookey Ruben, Ghetto Concept, The Sadies and more. That's Radiosonic, JustConcerts and NewMusicCanada, Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. AT; 8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY JUNE 9, 2001 TIME TRAVELLER: Tune in to CBC Radio Two this Sunday for the return of The Time Traveller. The Time Traveller takes a look at music in the context of its time. In the first episode, host Michael Bean takes you back to 1840, the time of the Irish potato famine, when dancing was the rage in Paris and Vienna, when Canadians were marching around the parade grounds and when the Treaty of Nanking was signed, ceding Hong Kong to the burgeoning British Empire. That's The Time Traveller, Sunday at 1:05 (1:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two. SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...Part Two of Rodgers and Hart. Richard's centenary tribute to Richard Rodgers continues with the final years of Rodgers and Hart, including their classic shows "The Boys From Syracuse" and "Pal Joey," with singers from Elaine Stritch and Barbara Cook through Dawn Upshaw and Sarah Vaughan. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheets excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. X-URL: http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?tf=tgam/common/FullStory.html&cf=tgam/common/FullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/config&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&date=20020605&dateOffset=&hub=headdex&title=Headlines&cache_key=headdexThearts¤t_row=10&start_row=10#_rows=1 _________________________________________________________________ CBC RADIO PRIMED FOR REVAMP By GAYLE MACDONALD, Wednesday, June 5, 2002 - Page R3 The long-awaited restructuring of CBC Radio One began yesterday with the naming of team leaders to implement the proposed changes. In an internal memo to English Radio staff, Adrian Mills, executive director of programming, named three women -- Jennifer McGuire, Judy McAlpine and Krista Harris -- as the linchpins to oversee the widely debated revamp of CBC's weekday-morning schedule. Mills, who last week confirmed the broadcaster would not meet the original overhaul deadline of Sept. 2, also laid out a rejigged timetable for when the new programs will air: The 8:30-to-10 a.m. block (off-the-news features and interviews) will launch the week of Nov. 18. From Sept. 2 to Nov. 18, weekday-morning shows will run from 6 to 9 a.m. Starting Nov. 18, they will end at 8:30 a.m., as planned. The 10-to-noon block (which promises to be an amalgam of existing programs now airing on This Morning, such as Workology) will launch the week of Oct. 14. From Sept. 2 to Oct. 14, This Morning will remain on the air in its current time block, 9 a.m. to noon. From Oct. 14 to Nov. 18, the popular program will be one-hour long, running from 9 to 10 a.m. weekdays. In the memo, Mills said a recent call for proposals elicited almost 200 program ideas from across the country. He and his team promised to spend the summer developing many of these for the new block, and added that they will decide which projects will be approved by the end of this month. The first week of May, CBC Radio One announced it was postponing its overhaul of Saturday programming until January, 2003 (via Daniel Say, BC, DXLD) ** CANADA. From Macleans.ca Business June 10, 2002 I WANT MY SATELLITE TV Pro-choice or pro-territory? A new court battle over U.S. signals shapes up --- by JULIAN BELTRAME The first political victim of the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling against U.S. satellite television may have been Richard Pollock. The Liberal candidate in last month's Windsor West federal byelection lost the seat held by Herb Gray the past 39 years by 2,478 votes. When he campaigned door to door, he kept getting his ear bent about the court's April 26 decision that effectively makes criminals of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians addicted to the broad range of programs on U.S. satellite signals such as DirecTV and the Dish Network. Worse still, he says, was that Heritage Minister Sheila Copps and Industry Minister Allan Rock hailed the decision against the so- called "grey market," thereby undercutting his pledge to fight for changes to the law once elected. "I don't know if it cost me the election," Pollock says, "but people were very angry." That anger stems from a clash of two distinct visions of television broadcasting in Canada. On the one hand, there's the desire of Canadians to tap into the exploding viewing choices made possible by modern communications technology -- everything from religious programs to sports to news broadcasts from around the world. On the other, there's the federal government's objective -- through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission -- of boosting Canadian broadcasters and the production of homegrown programming. Both have valid arguments, although few on either side are willing to acknowledge the other's. To Luís Álvarez of Windsor, it's all about freedom of choice. Álvarez says he once subscribed to Bell ExpressVu -- with Star Choice, one of the two CRTC-licenced satellite television providers in Canada -- and found it wanting. "It's just a little more than what you get on cable," he says. DirecTV, however, gives him the full range of specialty programs and movies available on Home Box Office, or HBO, whose programs include the popular Sopranos series, and the U.S. sports cable network ESPN, which makes available a wide assortment of NFL football, Major League Baseball and hockey games. On top of that, DirecTV offers Spanish-language stations, a key feature for his family. "This is a working man's town and when we go home we want to relax and watch what we want to watch," Álvarez says. The problem with that reasoning is that broadcast rights are sold territorially. HBO sells programming to DirecTV for the DTH (direct- to-home) market in the U.S. It then turns around and sells the rights to certain shows to Canadian broadcasters for the Canadian market. Similarly, a smattering of ESPN sports events can be found on TSN, a Canadian sports network available on cable. Many movies carried by DirecTV have also been bought up by ExpressVu and Star Choice or Viewer's Choice, a pay-per-view movie network on cable. "Canadian broadcasters who pay for exclusive rights to a program shouldn't face competition from someone who hasn't bought those rights," argues a federal official, defending the government policy. ExpressVu and Star Choice claim the illegal U.S. satellite dishes cost Canadian broadcasters $400 million a year in lost subscribers. As well, says Rock, U.S. satellite providers don't pay licensing fees that go toward supporting Canadian-made programs. "This is not about consumer choice," said the minister, "this is about property rights and establishing a fair market." Even some on the freedom-of-choice side of the debate concede the Supreme Court was correct in its ruling. "It's the law that's stupid," says Larry Ormodia, CEO of the Toronto-based satellite dish firm CTY Telecom. Richard Rex, owner of Can-Am Satellites in Maple Ridge, B.C. -- the firm involved in the Supreme Court challenge -- argues that program providers already build in for territorial "spillage" when they sell their programs to satellite providers. He notes that while some Canadians have access to DirecTV or the Dish Network, American residents are in turn tuning into ExpressVu. "HBO and the others deal with a broadcaster in a territory knowing full well the broadcast is not strictly limited to that territory," he says. He adds that the vast majority of programs available on DirecTV will never be shown by Canadian providers. So where's the harm? he asks. That's especially true with ethnic programming. U.S. satellite firms carry a multitude of ethnic stations originating from Spain, Argentina, Chile, China, Russia and the Arab world that are simply not available in Canada because the population base is too small to support the programming. Paul Fitzgerald, vice-president of the Congreso Ibero-Americano de Canadá, a recently formed lobby group for about 140,000 Spanish-speaking Canadians, says the law denies Canadians a basic right to receive news and information from home, in their preferred language. "When you think about it, it makes no sense," he says. "It's not illegal to subscribe to a Spanish language magazine, it's not illegal to listen to a Spanish short-wave radio station, it's not illegal to watch Spanish television on the Web. It's only illegal to watch it over a U.S. satellite television system." True, says Janet Yale, president of the Canadian Cable Television Association, "but there's no reason those services can't be offered here if someone wants to purchase the rights to that product." Even then, though, a new channel must first gain approval from the CRTC. The clashing visions appear irreconcilable, but a remedy may not be far away. Kerry Edmonds, a spokeswoman for Copps, says the government is examining ways to maintain the policy without sideswiping the wide gamut of ethnic programming placed out of reach by the court decision. "It was never the government's intent that the Radiocommunication Act hinder the diversity" of broadcasting in Canada, she said. Canadian grey market providers are not waiting. They have launched a new court challenge, arguing that the law is in conflict with freedom of expression guarantees in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And even if that fails, technology may defeat whatever roadblocks the CRTC puts in the way. "They feel they can somehow force Canadians to watch what the CRTC says they have to watch," says Stephen Gallagher, chairman of the Canadian Alliance for Freedom of Information and Ideas, a lobby group formed around the issue. "What they're doing is forcing Canadians into the black market for satellite." And then everyone loses, says Gallagher. While subscribing to U.S. satellite services is illegal, Canadians in the grey market do pay for the service. Canadian vendors typically charge a fee -- in the case of Can-Am Satellites, $60 a year -- to provide them with a U.S. address so they can receive a U.S.-based satellite service, which then bills them upwards of US$80 monthly through their credit card. But Canadians can also purchase decoder cards on the black market to literally steal the U.S. signals without additional monthly charges, a piracy many believe will grow as Canadian vendors are shut down. And what happens, asks Gallagher, when high-speed broadband Internet makes it possible to watch television on computer? Will the CRTC step in to regulate the Internet as well? "I think the government is stuck on a policy that worked 20 years ago, but doesn't work anymore," he says. At the very least, it's becoming increasingly difficult to manage, both technically and, as Windsor West showed, politically (via Mike Terry, June 6, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 7435.0, Lubumbashi, Jun 2, 0600-0700 with a soccer match relay, 1445-1500 with local religious songs and soccer results, and 2100-2200 with a repeat of a soccer match. It would seem that soccer is of more than just a passing interest in Lubumbashi! (Korinek) 9550, R Okapi not noted for the past two weeks or so (Vashek Korinek, RSA, Jun 4, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. HISTORIA DE LA RADIO EN COSTA RICA La radio en Costa Rica aparece en 1907, a través de las ondas de radio y por medio de un sistema de telegrafía. En ese mismo año la United Fruit Company instaló en la llamada "zona americana" del Atlántico dos emisoras, una en Puerto Limón, otra en Bocas del Toro y en 1924 instaló la tercera en Barra de Colorado. Uno de los grandes pioneros de la radio fue el profesor Fidel Tristán, quien en 1910 hizo sus primeras transmisiones desde su casa al Colegio de Señoritas a través del aire. En la década de 1920 y 1930, se manifiesta el nacimiento de la radiodifusión en Costa Rica con don Amando Céspedes Marín, quien experimentó el cambio de la comunicación telegráfica al sustituir las pulsaciones por la voz, un día don Amando Céspedes estaba oyendo en su receptor las estaciones de Schenectady y Pittsburgh, las únicas que existían en los Estados Unidos y se puso a pensar "Bueno, si la voz entra por la antena y sale por la bocina, entonces si yo hablo por la bocina, la voz debería salir por la antena" Y partiendo de ese pensamiento tan rudimentario, se puso a travesear con bobinas, condensadores y algunas piedras imantadas que le había regalado don Fidel Tristán, le quitó el parlante al radio y en su lugar le puso el auricular del teléfono; y con la ayuda de algunas revistas que explicaban principios elementales de la radiotelefonía, don Amando se encontró un día de 1922 frente a la primera radioemisora la RNH, que desde la ciudad de Heredia llegó a todas partes del mundo y fue la primera emisora de onda corta del Continente Latinoamericano. Pero él no sólo construyó su emisora sino que diseñó y vendió algunos receptores a sus amigos, entre ellos Adrián Collado, Federico González Lahmman y a Eduardo Pinto y Gonzalo Pinto, quienes años más tarde se convirtieron en pioneros de la radio. Después de la radio de don Amando nace en 1926 Radio Nacional, una estación propiedad del Estado que se creó con el apoyo económico del Gobierno de México; sus instalaciones estuvieron en el Edificio Alahambra y sus torres detrás del Correo Nacional. Esta estación transmitía mensajes comerciales y sociales por medio del telégrafo y aunque contaba con micrófono era utilizado. Al frente a esta emisora estuvo el Ing. Walter Sagot a quien se le debe recordar también como pionero de la radio. De 1928 en adelante comienzan a aparecer estaciones comerciales: la TITR de Perry Girton; Alma Tica, Estación X de Gonzalo Pinto y la Voz del Trópico de Eduardo Pinto. A partir de 1930 surgen una serie de emisoras y con ellas la sana competencia que las obliga a mejorar a en calidad técnica y programación. La radio comenzó a tomar gran auge en el país conforme avanzaba la electrificación nacional. En 1930 don Gonzalo Pinto se aventuró en el campo de la radiodifusión e instaló por los alrededores del asilo Chapuí la emisora Alma Tica, seguida pocos años después por "Nueva Alma Tica" y Radio Monumental. Doña Amparo López, instaló la Voz de Morazán, que transmitía en 859 kHz. Don Pedro Salvio levantó en la ciudad de Cartago la Radio TISO, don José María Barrantes instaló en San José la TIIF y don Gonzalo Pinto su famosa "estación X", que junto con otras de la cadena popularizó los noticieros y las radionovela. Otra de las pioneras fue la Voz de la Víctor de Perry Girton y "Nueva Alma Tica" de la cadena de don Gonzalo Pinto a la cual le correspondió ser la primera en grabar discos duros de 78 revoluciones por minuto con música y cantantes nacionales y años más tarde fue la primera en transmitir en frecuencia modulada. En 1934 la Iglesia Católica inicio su participación en la radio y con la ayuda y dirección de don Amando Céspedes. Monseñor Carlos Borge instaló en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, "Radio Católica Costarricense" que transmitía programas religiosos y culturales en la frecuencia 550 khz, ese mismo año apareció Radio Acción Católica, en la frecuencia 1910 khz [sic]. A principios de los años 40s entraron en operación nuevas radioemisoras; algunas de ellas tuvieron muy corta duración. El número de receptores de tubo había aumentado y algunos programas especiales alcanzaban gran éxito; los anunciantes comenzaban a palpar los beneficios de propaganda directa a través de la radio. "Radio Excelsior" y "Radio Atenea" del poeta don Rogelio Sotela, quien quiso imprimirle a su emisora un fin cultural para la clase media. "Radio Libertad y Radio América Latina, Radiodifusora Timacho, Radio Central, Radio Oriental, Radio Casino en Puerto Limón, Radio Cristal, en la actualidad Radio Reloj. Al crearse un mercado radiofónico importante surgió la competencia y los empresarios de la radio para mantenerse en un primer plano introdujeron nuevas técnicas, equipos más modernos, nuevas programaciones. La década de los años cincuenta marca la gran explosión de la radiodifusión nacional en 1954 se crea la Ley de Radio y Televisión y el número de emisoras existentes empezaban a llenar el espectro; sólo en 1959 el Estado otorgó cuarenta y tres frecuencias en la década de los años 60 surge un número importante de emisoras que se convierten en verdaderas empresas radiales más sólidas y mejor preparadas que sus antecesoras (de http://www.canara.org/ via Nicolás Eramo, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. PARTICIPA OBISPO CATÓLICO EN PROGRAMA TELEVISIVO. María del Carmen Carro, de Cuba Free Press. Desde Dentro de Cuba. Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. - http://www.cubafreepress.org 3 de Junio del 2002 La Habana.- Si de gran interés resultó el pasado domingo 2 de junio, el tema religioso seleccionado por la Televisión Cubana aún más interesante fué la presencia del sacerdote católico Carlos Manuel de Céspedes en este espacio de ``Pasaje a lo desconocido`` que dirige el periodista Reynaldo Taladrid, cada domingo, desde los Estudios Televisivos en la Ciudad de la Habana. Monseñor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes dialogó con Taladrid y los televidentes sobre los misterios del Arca perdida, que contenía según la Biblia los diez mandamientos, muy bien guardados en una Caja de Oro que según la Leyenda tenía Poderes religiosos. El periodista Reinaldo Taladrid es popularmente conocido por el pueblo cubano, por ser uno de los principales y constantes oficialistas de las mesas redondas, en las que muestra su parcialidad con la el Gobierno Cubano, aunque esta vez apareció al lado de un Obispo Católico y se mostró muy interesado por este tema religioso. En el programa, sacerdote y oficialista compartieron este espacio caracterizado por sorpresas y temas curiosos de diferentes problemáticas de la vida social, económica y política, así como científica. Si para la Iglesia católica esto es parte del espacio que van ganando al Régimen de Castro, entonces Aleluya, Aleluya , dijeron católicos entrevistados por esta reportera, los que alegan que ver un sacerdote en televisión era casi imposible, hace un tiempo atrás. Pero otros, se atreven a decir que en la Biblia también está escrito ``se verán horrores``. Reportó, María del Carmen Carro, de Cuba Free Press. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CUBA FREE PRESS, INC., P.O. Box 652035, Miami, FL 33265-2035 Phone: (305)270 8779 -- Fax: (305)595 1883 E-mail: mailbox@cubafreepress.org Home: http://www.cubafreepress.org Copyright © 2002 - Cuba Free Press, Inc. (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. CZECH COMMUNISTS PROPOSE SOLUTION TO TRANSFER OF US-BASED RADIO | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 6 June: The situation around the security of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) headquarters can be solved by not renewing the contract with the radio station, which is valid until 2004, Communists (KSCM) Deputy Chairman Vaclav Exner said today. The negotiations on the relocation of the US-funded RFE/RL have been under way since the 11 September attacks on the US due to fears of a terrorist attack. The RFE/RL is stationed in the very centre of Prague. The press speculates that the RFE/RL could be moved to the Koospol building in the Prague 6 district. The state security council is to discuss the possible new sites for the RFE/RL this week. The KSCM does not consider the relocation to a Koospol building as a solution and protests against the participation of the Czech Republic in the payment of relocation expenses, Exner said. "We consider it shame that the Czech Republic allowed a foreign power to use one of the buildings that represented the state power in the former Czechoslovakia and thus also in the Czech Republic," Exner said. The current RFE/RL headquarters is located in the former seat of the Czechoslovak parliament. The solution of the RFE/RL issue is the expiration and the termination of the renting contract in 2004, Exner said. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1126 gmt 6 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 5980, tentative, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Jun 1, 0442- 0500*, very weakly with music, male announcer ID I think, but definitely mentioned "6170" at 0458. No joy on 6170 after 0500:30 (Dan Henderson, MD, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. 4540 and 4875, R Khara. This station should not be confused with the Foreign Service of the Georgian R broadcasting in Azerbaijani at 1500-1530 on 4540 from Dusheti. (van Delft) Maarten`s rare photo of the Dusheti transmitting station 40 kilometres north of Tbilisi will be shown in the next SWN (DSWCI Ed) 9490, Abkhaz R, Sokhumi: R Sweden [via Canada! gh] blocks 9490 more or less 0200-0600 or later throughout Georgia. This should also present rather unpleasant reception conditions in Abkhazia proper. Despite this QRM, I once noted Abkhazian programming being opened at 0615. During local afternoon (0800-1300) nothing much is heard on 9490. In the evening (1300-1800) R Rossii relays come in very well, but during my many checks I did not hear any locally produced programmes in Abkhazian (Maarten van Delft, Georgia, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) ** GREECE. This Xinhua report about the IBB Greece relays (I have not seen any IBB announcement about this yet): Story Filed: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 4:20 PM EST ATHENS, Jun 4, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Greek Parliament's Public Order and Justice Committee on Tuesday approved by a majority vote the agreement between the U.S. and Greek government to extend the operation in Greece of the radio stations "Radio Free Europe" and "Voice of America" for another six years. Voting against the agreement were the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) who termed it as being "politically unacceptable." The country's Deputy Press and Mass Media Minister Tilemachos Hytiris backed the agreement, stating that "the situation has now changed in comparison to the period of polarization" and that it would "contribute to the preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games." (via Kim Elliott, DC, June 5, WORLD OF RADIO 1134, DXLD) ** GREENLAND. Dear Glenn: KNR [Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa] is back on short wave. The daily news programmes are carried on 3812 kHz (usb) with 100 W at 1130-1230 and 1800-2000 local time in Nuuk (1330-1430 and 2000-2200 UTC when DST is observed, and 1430-1530 and 2100-2300 when standard time is in use). The transmissions are unofficial but are quite regularly heard - especially during Summer. Transmitter site is Tasiilaq on the Eastcoast of Greenland, and reports indicate that the transmissions can be monitored on the Westcoast of Greenland. "Real" short wave transmissions may start again in Greenland. For some ten years the authorities have been considering closing down the current five 5-10 kW medium wave transmitters. Indications are that very few listen to the medium wave transmitters as all inhabited areas are now covered with FM transmissions and because audio quality is poor on most of the transmitters - in Greenland they utilize the same very narrow bandwidth of 4.5 kHz as in Denmark. Besides, electricity is very expensive in Greenland. Calculations and considerations have been made to replace these five medium wave transmitters with one short wave transmitter on the island of Cook - not far away from Nuuk. That would be a more efficient way to serve the fishermen who are - more or less - the only ones still listening to AM. Cook Island was also the site of the old short wave transmitters of KNR using 3999, 5980 and 9575 kHz several years ago. When - or if - a new official short wave station in Greenland is to be taken into use again a frequency in the 3-5 MHz spectrum is likely. 73 (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3291.3, Voice of Guyana, Spaarendam, Jun 1, 2208-2223, English news till 2211, announcements, ads and the Sports News. Audio quality fluctuated a lot: clear during the news bulletin, then bad during the anns and ads, then a bit normal again. 24332 (heterodyne with UNID, possibly Namibia). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window vias DXLD) ** INDIA. External broadcasts in English. (+) means that I have heard it in June 2002 in Denmark: All India Radio 1000-1100 11585 13685 15020(+) 15260 17510(+) 17800(+) 17895(+) to Asia and the Pacific. 1330-1500 9690 11620(+) 13710(+) to Southeast Asia 1745-1945 7410(+) 11620(+) 11935(+) 13605(+) 15075(+) 15155(+) 17670(+) to Europe and Africa 2045-2230 7150 7410(+) 9650(+) 9910(+) 11620(+) 11715(+) to Europe and the Pacific 2245-0045 9705(+) 9950 11620(+) 13605(+) to Asia. (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) see also PAKISTAN ** IRAN. Summer A-02 schedule for VOIROI / IRIB Tehran: Glenn, I did a quick archive search in DXLD and couldn't find the full IRIB sked, so here it is taken from Wolfgang's BC-DX in April, updated to include changes at end of April and more effective from 30 May. ALBANIAN 0630-0727 15235 17680 1830-1927 9545 9570 2030-2127 9535 15084 ARABIC 0000-2357 1224 0230-0627 576 9790 11935 0230-1627 15125 15150 0330-2127 1080 0530-1127 612 0700-1457 13770 0930-1227 17560 1230-1627 13820 1500-2127 9860 1630-1827 9705 1630-1927 6025 11740 11840 1730-1927 6200 1730-2227 11905 1830-1927 9705 2030-2127 6025 11740 11840 2030-0127 6200 9705 2030-0227 7295 2130-0127 11710 2130-0227 11740 0130-0227 9705 ARABIC (VOICE OF ISLAMIC PALESTINIAN REVOLUTION) 0330-0427 9610 11870 1930-2027 6025 6200 9705 9860 11740 11840 ARABIC (VOICE OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION OF IRAQ) 0330-0527 7120 7245 9685 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 11860 0930-0957 11700 15260 1630-1727 7230 9780 ASSYRIAN 1830-1927 936 AZERI 0330-0527 702 13710 1430-1457 6200 1500-1657 702 6200 BENGALI 0030-0127 756 6005 9570 9890 1430-1527 9520 9810 12000 15395 BOSNIAN 0530-0627 17680 1730-1827 7295 9615 2130-2227 9810 15084 CHINESE 1200-1257 17530 17785 21460 21490 2330-0027 11750 15490 15570 DARI 0300-0627 720 9580 0830-1157 11880 1200-1457 7295 ENGLISH 0030-0127 9610 11970 1100-1227 15215 15585 15600 21470 21730 1530-1627 7245 9635 11775 1930-2027 9800 11670 11750 11855 2130-2227 9570 13665 FRENCH 0630-0727 17590 17780 21645 1830-1927 11765 11860 11880 15084 2330-0027 9560 11970 GEORGIAN 1700-1727 702 GERMAN 0730-0827 15084 17590 1730-1827 11855 15084 HAUSA 0600-0657 17600 21810 1830-1927 11930 15435 HINDI 0230-0257 15165 17635 1500-1527 9630 9720 11710 15245 ITALIAN 0630-0727 15084 17825 1200-1257 15084 15235 1930-1957 7295 13650 JAPANESE 1300-1327 15235 15555 2100-2127 11885 13635 KAZAKH 0130-0227 11935 13770 1300-1357 11665 13755 15330 KURDISH 0330-0527 612 639 1430-1627 1161 MALAY 1230-1327 15200 17555 17635 PASHTO 0230-0327 756 1098 7130 9605 11765 1230-1327 756 1098 9630 9790 11870 13785 1430-1527 756 1098 7270 1630-1727 6015 7195 9725 PERSIAN 0000-0527 15084 0830-1157 15084 1300-2357 15084 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 702 9875 11830 13665 13770 1400-1457 702 1449 12030 15200 15290 1530-1627 9830 11675 11730 12020 12095 13790 1730-1827 6140 7115 7205 7305 1930-2027 702 6045 7125 7175 SPANISH 0030-0127 9515 9655 13755 0130-0227 9560 9655 9810 13755 0230-0327 13730 0530-0627 17590 17785 2030-2127 9750 11765 SWAHILI 0330-0427 15260 17570 1130-1227 17780 21755 1730-1827 9655 11995 TAJIK 0100-0227 720 7180 1600-1727 720 5955 TURKISH 0430-0557 15260 15365 1600-1727 7165 9550 1830-1927 639 702 TURKMEN 0230-0457 1449 1500-1727 1449 URDU 0130-0227 765 1098 9525 11880 13640 1330-1457 765 1098 9665 11695 13605 13785 1530-1727 765 1098 7270 UZBEK 0230-0257 720 7180 1500-1557 720 5955 (R BUL Observer, Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov, Apr 19, with updates from R. BUL Observer dated Apr 30 and May 31, all via Wolfgang Bueschel/BC-DX via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Hi Glenn! Here's a profile, from the Jerusalem Post, of a well-known current-affairs show host from Reshet Bet: Jun. 6, 2002 THE VOICE OF ISRAEL By GAIL LICHTMAN Dalia Yairi, the host of an agenda-setting, current affairs radio show, has learned to separate her professional and personal lives - even when talking about the terror that has so affected her family. Radio journalist Dalia Yairi, anchor of Kol Israel's popular morning news/current affairs program "Another Matter" (Inyan Acher) on Reshet Bet, probably has one of the best-known voices but least-known faces in the country.... http://www.jpost.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1022691091276 (via Bill Westenhaver, QC, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE, 4610, R. Komala, no data QSL with vague e-mail statement in German acknowledging the report, thanking for the interest, and promising some material by post, from Rahman Piri Besarani (Kurdish Journalist), in 16 days. Address: Besaran@t- online.de (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. LLevo dos semanas sintonizando en el 4813 a la XERTA Radio Transcontinental de América con mejor modulación, pero con muy poca potencia... su programación básicamente musical de todo género, incluyendo regligiosos. Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, June 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Hello DXers: A nice surprise in the post box yesterday, QSLs. After many frustrating un-answered reports and follow-ups via Canada Post. It appears that mailing reports from Cuba and Laos "is" the way to receive a reply from the stations that I could not from Canada, Myanmar! Details: 5985, Radio Myanmar, no data form letter with verification statement "We are pleased to verify your reception of Radio Myanmar", v/s Ko Ko Htway - Director (Broadcasting), original taped report mailed Dec 5/00 (18 months), taped follow-up mailed from Cuba Jan 21/02, received Radio Daily Program and Media Index. In both reports I had enclosed a letter addressed to the station management, that they might again consider replying to DX reception reports (Joe Talbot, Alberta, Canada, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. Schedule of Myanmar Radio Received from : Ko Ko Htway Director (Broadcasting) UNION OF MYANMAR Ministry of Information Myanma Radio & Television (M.R.T.V) Pyay Road, Yangon Fax: 951-525428 - Phone: 951- 532814 TRANSMISSION I 576 // 7185 kHz 0030 - 0200 UTC MYANMAR LANGUAGE 0200 - 0300 ENGLISH TRANSMISSION II 576 // 9730 kHz 0300 - 0700 UTC MYANMAR LANGUAGE 0700 - 0830 ENGLISH TRANSMISSION III 576 // 4725 // 5985 0930 - 1430 UTC MYANMAR LANGUAGE 1430 - 1600 ENGLISH And some Facts : Est of Myanma Radio is 15 February 1946 State owned under Ministry of Information Call Sign : Myanmar Radio Population : over 50 Million HOUSEHOLDS OF RADIO -CASSETTE OWNERSHIP : 43% Regular Listeners over : 4 Million Radio Prog the most listened : (1) News (2) Music (3) Radio Play (via Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, June 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. 3270.1, NBC, Jun 2 before 0500: barely audible here whilst 3290.1 was booming in although undermodulated. After 0500 both 6060.10 and 6175.05 heard with very good/strong signals. Perhaps 90 m.b and 49 m.b. use different transmitters? They certainly don't sound the same (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. External broadcasts in English. (+) means that I have heard it in June 2002 in Denmark: R Pakistan 0700-0705 17520(+) 21465(+) 1000-1005 17520(+) 21465(+) 1500-1515 11570(+) 15100(+) 15725 2345-0015 11580(+) 15455(+) (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) see also INDIA ** PERU. Para tener en cuenta: El próximo 12 de junio, se celebrará en el Cusco, Perú, una importante fiesta local: Qoyllrit'i. Con más exactitud, el epicentro de la celebración es en la Provincia Quispicanchi, Dist. Ocongate. En esta festividad se aprecia el sincretismo religioso (católico andino) venerándose la imagen de un Cristo Crucificado pintado en una roca. Al mismo tiempo, en una cima nevada cercana se efectúan ritos ancestrales. Asisten comparsas variadas al son de una melodía específica. La participación de fieles es multitudinaria. Tal vez, más de una emisora cusqueña empiece a transmitir más temprano o continúe en el aire hasta más tarde, así que amigos, a agendarse el dato (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. ¿Sabían que se encuentra actualmente archivado un proyecto de ley presentado ante el Congreso Peruano el 30/08/2001 por el Grupo Parlamentario Perú Posible que propone crear la Radio Oficial del Congreso de la República como unidad orgánica autónoma, dependiente del Congreso de la República, la cual se encargaria de prestar el servicio de radiodifusión sonora educativa destinada a difundir las labores y actos del Congreso Nacional, así como los programas de contenido cultural, científico, formativo e informativo de la persona humana? (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) No ** RUSSIA. 11840U, Radio Sakhalin here surprisingly well on May 20 and 27, 1005-1127, numerous R. Rossii IDs, several mentions of Sakhalin in a talk prior to a native Russian music program. Nice on SSB, although I would like to know how many Russians have SSB radios! Squeezed by CNR transmitter s/on at 1127 (Dan Henderson, MD via Dxplorer and D'Angelo, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) There are two main reasons for SSB broadcast transmissions in Russia these days: Either the transmissions are intended for ships, and/or they are carried on former jamming transmitters. 11840 is listed with 20 kW, which is a typical power for a former jamming transmitter. These former, local jammers were usually utility transmitters designed for SSB transmissions. They were modified for AM when the jamming was stopped, but do not perform well in this mode. Unless they are used in SSB on purpose, they not seldom tend to radiate stronger on a certain sideband (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3280.0, R. Veritas via Sentech, Jun 4, 1800-1830, English programme of songs and chats, incl. some tips on SW receivers. On-air address given as P. O. Box 1233, Rosettenville, 2130, S. Africa, and tel. No. 011 614 6225 (i.e. Johannesburg) (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) (Different address from that mentioned in DX-Window no. 195. DSWCI Ed) ** TIMOR EAST. In the RDP webpage http://www.rdp.pt click on "frequências" on the right of the main page, and you can then select Bosnia and Timor for instance. I just did that myself, and according to the page, they're still using 95.7 MHz FM at Bessilau // to satellite: 0600-0700 local Díli time airing program ``Timor Loro Sa'e``, then RDP-Antena 1 during the rest of the day. Unfortunately, nothing is mentioned about the local private, catholic religious station R Timor K'Manek on MW (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, May 27, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) ** U K. CHRIS BICKERTON, HOST OF BBCWS FOCUS ON AFRICA, DIES... http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/current/Regional/Regional37.html (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** U K. SACKED JOURNALIST ACCUSES BBC OF DISCRIMINATION Thursday June 06 2002, The Guardian A former BBC journalist who claims he was sacked because of his race told an employment tribunal today that the corporation would have given him a permanent contract if he had been British. Perry Grambas, who is Greek, said the BBC's policy of automatically giving employees staff jobs after five years did not cover foreign journalists. He had worked for the BBC World Service for seven years when he was told he had to do an exam to get a permanent contract. He failed the exam and was moved to BBC news and current affairs. After two years there he was sacked. Grambas told the tribunal: "The reason I'm here is because after ten- and-a-half years of exclusive and committed service with the BBC, both in BBC World Service and BBC news and current affairs, all I received was a dismissal. "I believe that if I originally came from England, Scotland, Wales or northern Ireland, if I was not ethnic, by now I would have been given a permanent contract by the BBC and there would have been no need to come to the tribunal." He said it was important for him to be able to tell his son that his father was a "keen professional" and not incompetent. Grambas' son was being treated for cancer when his father lost his job. Mary Hockaday, editor of the World Service news and current affairs, defended the corporation's actions, saying management had been sympathetic about his son's health problems and that Grambas had not been well-suited to the job of broadcast journalist. "The feedback from editors was that he was someone they could not fully depend on," she said, adding that he was moved from "empty shifts" to being an additional team member for this reason. The tribunal is expected to last for up to 10 days and will hear evidence from senior BBC staffers, including deputy director of news Mark Damazer and head of radio news Stephen Mitchell. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Makes me think of that issue of RIB from several years ago: "VOA - Scandal After Scandal." 73 (Bill Westenhaver, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Here is a transcription of the article in this week's Ariel about the TiVo forced download: The BBC has apologised to viewers who found the post watershed comedy Dossa and Joe had been recorded by their TiVo machines. This follows criticism in some newspapers that the corporation had 'hijacked' thousands of homes by sending an episode of the new Caroline Aherne series to TiVo users without their knowledge. The automatic recording, which appeared on screen as a 'must see from the BBC', was the result of an arrangement between TiVo and the BBC. 'In a contract signed in June 2000 the BBC was given prominence in the 'channel highlights' area, in exchange for technical expertise to get the boxes to work on all platforms, both analogue and digital,' explained Bryher Scudamore, digital channel development editor. 'Part of the deal was also to test the system with BBC volunteers before it launched.' Programmes recorded automatically sit in TiVo's service area, the same part of the set that stores the EPG and channel highlights, so it doesn't eat into the memory of space reserved for viewers' own storage. Nothing was 'downloaded' to people's TV sets. The programme was recorded by TiVo boxes live as it was broadcast - but only if the boxes were not programmed to record something else at the same time. 'Although Dossa and Joe has been critically acclaimed, we realise now that it wasn't an appropriate choice for the new service, and in retrospect we should not have selected a post-watershed programme', says Scudamore. The BBC has publicly apologised for this, but maintains that the agreement with TiVo to highlight key BBC programmes to users is worthwhile, and that the new arrangement is just a minor addition to the services already offered by TiVo. The BBC had received fewer than 20 emails about the incident, and TiVo received a small number of phone calls; about a third of which even called with (whisper it) positive feedback about the test run. And quite a few were annoyed that the programme finished slightly later than scheduled, so they missed the ending on their recorded version. 'Although the TiVo box is a clever device it can't force anyone to watch anything. It was offering an additional service,' says Scudamore. 'Whether or not viewers decided to watch the recording (stored for 72 hours after broadcast) was as much their choice as whether they chose to watch it live in the first place.' (via Gareth Foster, BDXC-UK via DXLD) This is the BBC making a hell of a blunder look like a terrific gift to the people. The programme was spammed because it was a failure - 'critical acclaim' was simply not so and the beeb know it. Any 'arrangement' like this, setting up specific parts of privately owned electronic equipment for 'external' access without owners prior permission, coming from a 'Company' who's past Heads said the pirate radio stations of the 60's and even Radio Luxembourg should have not been allowed 'in Britain' because people might listen to their 'low quality' programmes is sheer sickening hypocrisy. However, one would expect the BBC 'House' magazine to stick up for it's bosses lack of integrity in such a messy business. The real result of this situation should be heads rolling from VERY high places. (a personal opinion) (Roger Parsons, (BDXC 782), Hinckley, Leics., BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** UK/USA. BBC WORLD TV NOW ON UNITED AIRLINES DOMESTIC FLIGHTS | Excerpt from press release by BBC Worldwide Television on 29 May BBC World, the BBC's 24-hour international news and information channel, has signed a significant new travel distribution deal in the US with United Airlines. From 1 May 2002, BBC World programmes are available on-board United Airlines US domestic flights linking the airline's hubs and major cities. This is the first time the international news and information channel, BBC World, will be available to people travelling by air in the US and will be offered alongside the existing in-flight entertainment offering from the BBC, the Britcom programming block. BBC World is already available on United Airlines transatlantic and South Pacific routes offering a mix of news, current affairs and documentary programmes including the channel's flagship new media show, Click Online, presented by Stephen Cole, the essential guide to the latest in the film industry, Talking Movies hosted by Tom Brook, HARDtalk with Tim Sebastian and Simpson's World with John Simpson. Through this new deal these BBC World programmes are now also on offer to passengers travelling on United's US domestic routes... Source: BBC Worldwide Television press release, London, in English 29 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, I noticed a new version of the WRNO website at http://www.goodnewsworld.org/ (this is the new owner), click on the WRNO Worldwide logo for the "Documented Listener Report Map". This has links, "Frequency List" links to "WRNO Worldwide Frequency Schedule", and "Antenna Information" takes you to "Azimuthal Equidistant Map centered on WRNO-SW". I don't think any transmissions from WRNO have been heard since last year. The map appears to be centered on south Texas rather than New Orleans. The former transmissions by Good News World Outreach from Julich (in Germany) are not mentioned, and apparently have ceased. Call signs can be looked up on the FCC web site at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/callsign/prod/main.html select "Query" and then enter the call sign and hit "Submit". For WRNO, it shows WRNO as an international service, and WRNO-FM as an FM service (Donald Wilson, June 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ha! Website still uses old `rocky` WRNO logo, and the official schedule info showing fulltime 50 kW has a severe disconnect from reality. Would Good News tell any potential timepurchasers the truth? They certainly do not on their website. The map with `documented listener` locations actually shows a lot of gaps. Does this date from the Costello era, or just the ham backup transceiver? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. IN LOW-POWER FM FIGHT, WHO`S MORE LOCAL? Originally published in Current, April 8, 2002 By Mike Janssen Grassroots advocates of the FCC's fledgling low-power FM radio service are casting themselves as impromptu guardians of the gates, struggling to hold the new variety of noncommercial radio to its original mission of local service to underserved communities. The advocates, led by a group of politically progressive nonprofits, say a handful of applicants has run afoul of the FCC's LPFM rules promoting local service. The largest group so accused, a nationwide aggregate of Calvary Chapel affiliates, has applied for about 150 stations. But the churches say their roots are as grassy and local as anyone's. LPFM guidelines require a station to have an established local presence in its community and, if it is a chapter of a national organization, to articulate a local mission. But Andrea Cano, director of the Microradio Implementation Project, estimates that as many as a third of the applications for LPFMs filed with the FCC break those and other rules. Some broadcasters, such as Calvary, submitted similarly worded declarations of their local mission even when located in different cities. Others made inflated claims of a local presence. So Cano and like-minded LPFM advocates have launched a battle on paper to deny licenses to applicants and free spectrum for other broadcasters.... http://www.current.org/tech/tech0207lpfm.html (Current, via Chet Copeland, DXLD) ** U S A. From news.ft.com THOMAS W. HAZLETT: ABOLISH TELEVISION By Thomas W. Hazlett Published: June 5 2002 20:15 | Last Updated: June 5 2002 20:15 This is second article in a fortnightly series, the New economy policy forum, in which four leading US academics debate the regulatory and legal issues generated by - and also shaping - the high-tech industries. Click here to learn more about the contributors, or here for a more detailed explanation of how the forum will work. To say the transition from analogue to digital television mapped out by the US Federal Communications Commission is a little behind schedule is like noting that President Gorbachev's perestroika has hit a few bumps in the road. The plan is for all TV broadcast signals to be digital by the end of 2006, a deadline that in the words of Senator John McCain was a "joke from the beginning". The National Association of Broadcasters predicts that, under current rules, the transition will occur between 2020 and 2025 - and this is a self-servingly optimistic forecast. The comparison with perestroika is not gratuitous. Managing radio technologies from a central control booth is Soviet-style planning. Foisting digital technology on the market is a high-wire act requiring perfect balance among three industry segments: TV stations, which must offer digital signals; consumers, who must buy digital TV receivers; and programmers, who must create compelling digital content. There are so many chickens and eggs in this enterprise you'd think agricultural subsidies were the root of the problem. Consumers see no point in investing upwards of $600 extra for digital off-air reception; just 150,000 units - against the thirty million analogue TV sets sold annually - had left the shops by last summer. With no one watching, TV stations resist converting signals. While all 1,500 TV stations were mandated to broadcast digital programmes (in addition to their analogue ones) by May 1 2002, just 20 per cent made the "deadline". As consumers and stations desert, programmers go AWOL. When regulators started the process in 1987, the rationale for a new generation of TV technology - and free licences - was High Definition (HDTV). But the market demand for prettier pictures on small home monitors has always been fuzzy. Today, the standard TV station business plan is to use the bandwidth sucked up by HD to multiplex five or six programs of standard clarity. The FCC quietly amended rules to permit this just before awarding licences in 1997. Now, broadcast HDTV is deader than Elvis, as broadcasters anticipate that consumers simply want more video selection. Paradoxically, digital television is thriving just across the entertainment street. At the end of 2001, 35 million US households subscribed to digital cable or digital satellite TV; 70 million households are forecast to tune in by 2006. Subscribers eagerly pay $50 or $60 a month to escape "free" off-air TV. Digital signals are processed for analogue TV sets inside the set-top box. Pictures are a bit crisper than broadcast fare, and programme menus offer 100 channels or more. The deeper point is that the exodus from off-air TV nears completion. Over 85 per cent of US households now get television via cables or dishes; by 2005, fewer than ten million (of just above 100 million) households will be without such connections. Extending multi-channel networks to scoop up these techno-stragglers would cost pennies - less than $3 billion in total. People would still get local TV signals, but they'd be delivered by cable or satellite. The great majority of viewers have already converted, with cries of pain heard only during the panic of emergency searches for the remote control. Sweeping the TV band clean would create colossal social value. First, it would save consumers from the law broadcasters are putting pressure on Congress to pass. This would mandate that TV set buyers be forced to pay for a digital off-air receiver they will never use. Retaining the option to go digital via cable and satellite converter boxes would save up to $150 billion - a mere pittance, however, compared with gains to be made from liberating the TV waves. While the average viewer sees only seven stations, the FCC devotes 67 channels for off-air TV everywhere in America. At 6 MHz per channel, total bandwidth is 402 MHz, easily more than twice that used for mobile phones, and the TV frequencies are better behaved and more functional. To allow robust extension of wireless networks and development of broadband - including strong rivalry for high-speed internet access via DSL or cable modems - the bandwidth locked up for TV (between 1939 and 1953!) should be opened for business. Existing TV licensees should be free to offer communications people want to buy. New rivals should be given access to unoccupied channels. The consumer benefits aggregate to hundreds of billions of dollars. Nicolas Negroponte famously opined that while we were born into a world in which our phone calls were made over wires and our TV shows beamed through the air, we would die in a world in which this had been reversed. The digital moment has now come: toss the Negroponte switch. Countries further down the path to universal subscription TV - Belgium is now surpassing 96 per cent cable penetration - may well take the lead. Eliminating the wasteful duplication of off-air TV enforced by regulation would be popular with consumers and unlock exciting new opportunities for wireless entrepreneurs. The conventional wisdom is that reform is unthinkable where broadcasters, the clout-wielding behemoths of the electronic press, roam. But companies such as Intel and Cisco fume that emerging networks are stymied by lack of radio spectrum, while broadcast networks and even some station owners see their dwindling slice of an increasingly competitive video marketplace as less and less worth protecting. Given the right to turn TV channels into useful wireless services, some would do so. Instead of condemning yet another generation to spectrum squandering, we ought to let them. Thomas W. Hazlett is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. His paper on the digital TV transition is available online at http://www.aei.brookings.org/publications/working/working_01_15.pdf FT.com users can join the debate by writing... (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC ISSUES LOW-FREQUENCY EXPERIMENTAL LICENSE The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has granted an experimental license for a long wave station at Carmel, New York under the call sign WC2XTC. The applicant is Michael F. Troy, W2AG. Troy says the power limit is 1.22 W ERP--about 200 W output--on both 135.7-137.8 kHz and 160-190 kHz. In response to an ARRL petition the FCC has proposed creating an Amateur Radio ``sliver band`` at 136 kHz. Troy says the 160 to 190 kHz segment will allow for AM, SSB, CW and other data modes not possible on the narrow, 136-kHz band. Operators for the experimental operation will come primarily from the Putnam Emergency Amateur Repeater League, K2PUT, an ARRL Public Service Club in Putnam County. Participation will remain open to any nearby hams and experimenters, Troy said. Related amateur-band communication will use the call sign W2DC. For more information, contact Mike Troy, W2AG carmelink@aol.com or W2AG@arrl.net. (ARRL June 5 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FORMER MARITIME STATION SCHEDULES TRANSMITTER TEST The former KFS maritime station in Bolinas, California, will conduct another transmitter test June 8, in the vicinity of 2000-2100 UT, on 17026.0 kHz. Dick ``RD`` Dillman, W6AWO, of the Maritime Radio Historical Society says that, as a result of reports from a transmitter test last weekend, the KFS operators now are aware of keying problems that could not be heard at the transmitting site. Dillman says additional reception reports would be appreciated, especially from those who copied the earlier test transmission and could provide a comparison report. For more information, visit the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site http://www.radiomarine.org (ARRL June 5 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. SACKED ZBC STAFF DEMAND PAY-OFFS | Text of report by Zimbabwean newspaper Financial Gazette on 6 June Hundreds of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) employees who were this week sent home as the beleaguered public broadcaster started shedding excess staff hired to drum-up President Robert Mugabe's March re-election campaign are demanding minimum retrenchment packages of 2 million [Zimbabwean] dollars each [55 Zimbabwean dollars to the US dollar], it emerged this week. Sources at Pockets Hill said the workers were this week served with retrenchment letters and asked to meet management tomorrow, when the issue of their packages would be finalized. There is deep resentment by many of the staff at the ZBC, who told the Financial Gazette that they felt they were "used" by the government to secure Mugabe's controversial re-election and wanted hefty compensation. "It was agreed that the minimum amount to be paid out to any worker should not be less than 2m dollars and that money is for compensation for the inconvenience caused to us by the corporation and other losses that we have suffered because of ZBC," one of the affected workers said this week. He said they settled for such high figures because most of them left secure jobs to join the corporation but were treated as casual workers before being discarded without notice. Several others claimed that they were seriously inconvenienced when they moved homes and changed schools for their children after being offered jobs by the ZBC. Most of those on the retrenchment list that was this week pinned at the corporation's canteen joined the ZBC between October and February this year as ZANU-PF upped the tempo of its propaganda machine. The workers had earlier suggested that they be paid 15 months' salary each, but it was later agreed that a flat figure should be negotiated for each worker, hence the demand for 2m dollars each. The affected workers have engaged a lawyer to fight ZBC in the courts should the cash-strapped corporation try to offer them less packages. ZBC went on a recruitment drive, alleged to have been fraught with nepotism, employing hundreds of new workers towards the highly contested March election. The massive recruitment exercise inflated the parastatal's wage bill, resulting in a government directive that it must shed workers to stay afloat. Workers this week spoke of several secretaries that were employed during the recruitment exercise but who found themselves with no bosses to report to as well as drivers with no cars to drive. Source: The Financial Gazette, Harare, in English 6 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 7215, R Voice of the People, Madagascar, Jun 4, 1700-1800, poor signal, clashing with strong Angola on 7216.8. This evening programme has been somewhat irregular past few weeks. (Korinek) (Prolonged schedule ? DSWCI Ed) 7310.0, R Voice of the People, Madagascar, Jun 2, *0330 with as good a signal as ever. The announcer said that they are back to normal after repeating old programmes for a few weeks due to the circumstances beyond their control (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window June 5 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WORLD WAR 2 PROPAGANDA STATIONS For a period of approximately one year during the era of the war in the Pacific and Asia, five shortwave radio stations in five different countries were on the air with international programming beamed towards British India. This clandestine programming was monitored in Australia and New Zealand under several slogans, including ``Indian Freedom Radio`` and ``Indian Independence League``. The five radio stations in the five countries were located at Bandoeng in Indonesia, Singapore in Malaya, Bangkok in Thailand, Shanghai in China, and Nazaki in Japan. The legendary Arthur Cushen in New Zealand stated in his book, ``International Listening Guide``, that the first of these independence radio broadcasts was noted in February 1942, though the first monitoring reports do not appear in print until three months later, in the month of May 1942. The first monitoring observations of this new clandestine programming beamed towards India appeared simultaneously in both of the Australian radio magazines, ``Australasian (OS-tral-Asian) Radio World`` and ``Radio and Hobbies``, though we note that both of these magazines have since ceased publication. The first signals and the strongest signals from these new ``Freedom Radios`` were from a dual purpose communication and broadcasting facility located at Bandoeng in Indonesia. This station was noted in both New Zealand and Australia with strong signals, and direction finding equipment determined that the signals were indeed coming from Bandoeng in Indonesia. This clandestine programming was on the air from a transmitter that had been installed at Bandoeng some 10 years earlier and it was on the air in pre-war days under several callsigns, though perhaps the best known was the callsign PLE. The power rating of this transmitter was listed at the time as 80 kW, though it is probable that these days this would be calculated as 40 kW. All of these freedom broadcasts from Bandoeng in Indonesia, noted initially on 9380 kHz, were heard closing with a recording of the well known march, ``Liberty Bell``. These shortwave signals were heard by many international radio monitors in Australia and New Zealand, as well as by the government monitoring station near Melbourne in Victoria. The clandestine broadcasts from Radio Thailand during this same era were made from a low powered shortwave transmitter which was listed after the war at just 2.5 kW. The broadcasts from Thailand beamed towards India were noted in Australia on 7190 kHz and they were on the air for only a very short period of time. The third station in the third country that was on the air with freedom broadcasts beamed towards India was Malaya; and more specifically, Singapore. A 7.5 kW transmitter was removed from the shortwave station located on the island of Penang and installed at a new location, Jurong, on the outer edge of the island of Singapore. This radio base subsequently became the main radio base for Radio Singapore. This Penang unit was upgraded in Singapore to 10 kW where it was heard on the air as ``Shonan Radio``. This station was listed by Arthur Cushen as carrying freedom programs to India under the Hindustani title, ``Azad Mozeem (a-ZAHD moo-ZEEM) Radio``. Located near Shanghai in China was a fourth propaganda station that beamed freedom programming towards India. Available information would suggest that a new 5 kW transmitter was installed near Shanghai specifically for the relay of clandestine programming, and it was noted ever only on one channel, 11970 kHz. Around the same time, two transmitters located at Nazaki in Japan were noted with Indian independence programming. The two channels were outside the recognised standard broadcasting bands, and no callsigns were listed for these transmissions. It would be presumed that these broadcasts beamed to India from Japan were intended for direct reception, and also for relay purposes by the station in Shanghai, China. In assembling and assessing all of this available information, it could then be stated that the clandestine freedom programming from three of these stations, Bandoeng Indonesia, Bangkok Thailand, and Jurong Singapore, was all produced locally, whereas the programming from Shanghai in China was taken on relay from the main studios of Radio Tokyo as relayed by two shortwave transmitters at Nazaki in Japan. The final monitoring entries in radio magazines for these freedom broadcasts was in the month of March 1943, with the broadcasts from Shanghai in China. Thus, they were on the air for just one year. As would be rather obvious, no QSLs were ever issued for these radio broadcasts from these five radio stations in five countries (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan June 9 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DX CONVENTIONS ++++++++++++++ 2002 IRCA Seattle Convention - Tukwila, WA August 16-18 The 2002 IRCA Convention will be held near Seattle WA on August 16-18th 2002. Bruce Portzer and Phil Bytheway will be your hosts. The site is the "Towne and Country Suites", at 14800 Interurban Ave S, Tukwila WA 98168. Reservations at 1-800-545-2323; (be sure to mention IRCA discount). Room rates: $69/night (single), $83/night (double- triple). Registration will be $30. Their web site is http://www.towneandcountrysuites.com. Phil Bytheway, 9705 Mary Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117-2334 will handle reservations (checks made out to Phil Bytheway). Ship auction items to: Bruce Portzer, 6546 19th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115. If you have any questions/etc, contact Phil Bytheway phil_tekno@yahoo.com More details as they happen. We look forward to seeing you here. NRC Convention Labor Day Weekend in Lima, OH Fred Vobbe is hosting this year's National Radio Club convention in Lima, Ohio. The convention starts Friday, August 30th, and runs until Monday, September 2nd. Cost of the convention is $40.00 per member, with a spouse or significant other at $20.00. Both must register at the same time to take advantage of this special rate. To book your hotel room, call the Hampton Inn direct at 419-225-8300. The Hampton Inn is located at 1933 Roschman Avenue, off the intersection of I-75 and SR117/309. Mention "Code N.R.C." to get the special room rate of $69.00 per night, plus 12% room tax. Rooms are single, double, queen, and king size, and there is no limit on the number of people in a room. If you have any questions or wish to register for the convention, contact Fred. His address is 706 Mackenzie Drive, Lima Ohio 45805-1835. You can contact him by telephone at 419-228-6223. The FAX number is 419-221-1609. E-mail him at fredv@nrcdxas.org. Auction goodies should be sent to Fred as well. More details, and an online registration form, can be found at http://www.nrcdxas.org/convention/02nrccon/ WTFDA 2002 - Oklahoma City, July 26-28 John Zondlo, WTFDA 2002 Convention Host announces that WFTDA will hold their convention at the Hampton Inn, I-40/Garth Brooks in Yukon, OK. The special rate is $55/night for 1 or 2 adults (kids stay free). You will need to call the Hampton Inn direct at (405) 350-6400 to make your reservation. Be sure to mention that you'll be there for the WTFDA convention. The reservation deadline is June 26 for this special rate! For more info on the convention, check out the club website or FMDXWeb.com, e-mail him at Jpzondlo@aol.com, send snail mail to 4009 Driftwood Circle, Yukon, OK 73099, or call me at (405) 354-1530. (IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) It's only 7 weeks till the 2002 WTFDA Convention in Oklahoma City, and I've got some great news! Friday, July 26, at 4 PM, we'll tour the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman. As evidenced by the posts on this newsgroup, many of you are weather freaks, and there's no better place to study the weather than in tornado alley. Finally, security has eased a bit following the events of last September such that small group tours are now permitted. However, the NSSL requires a check of all those attending before they will be permitted to enter. If you plan to be here for the convention and would like to go on the tour, e-mail me ASAP for info. Saturday afternoon, July 27, member Tim McVey will conduct a tuner clinic. Need to peak up the performance of your FM tuner? Bring it along and let Tim work on it. All work will be done in the convention meeting room so Tim can explain the procedures, and you can ask him questions about it. The convention registration form is in both the June VUD and e-VUD. Be sure to fill it out and send it in ASAP. And remember, you will need to make your motel reservation directly with the Hampton Inn in Yukon OK. Be sure to mention you'll be attending the WTFDA convention so you get our special rate. For more info on the convention, check out the WTFDA 2002 page of http://www.fmdxweb.com (John Zondlo, Yukon, OK, fmdxweb.com June 6, WTFDA via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK EDITOR LEAVES The editor of WRTH, David Bobbett, has left the company to pursue a different career. I have therefore closed down the office in Milton Keynes and the company now operates solely from Oxford. I would be grateful if you could arrange for our new address to be put on your mailing system. It is: WRTH Publications Limited PO Box 290 OXFORD OX2 7FT Kind regards (Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher, World Radio TV Handbook, June 4, via Steve Whitt, mwc via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 05 June - 01 July 2002 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels during the period. Isolated low-level M-class flares are likely. There is a slight chance for isolated major flare activity during the period. There will be a slight chance for a proton event during the period. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo-synchronous orbit are expected to be at normal to moderate levels for most of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during most of the period. However, active conditions are possible during 23 June and 29 June - 01 July. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Jun 04 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Jun 04 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Jun 05 165 12 3 2002 Jun 06 165 8 3 2002 Jun 07 170 8 3 2002 Jun 08 175 8 3 2002 Jun 09 175 8 3 2002 Jun 10 170 8 3 2002 Jun 11 165 8 3 2002 Jun 12 160 10 3 2002 Jun 13 160 10 3 2002 Jun 14 165 10 3 2002 Jun 15 170 10 3 2002 Jun 16 175 8 3 2002 Jun 17 180 8 3 2002 Jun 18 180 8 3 2002 Jun 19 180 8 3 2002 Jun 20 185 7 2 2002 Jun 21 185 7 2 2002 Jun 22 185 10 3 2002 Jun 23 185 15 3 2002 Jun 24 185 12 3 2002 Jun 25 185 12 3 2002 Jun 26 180 10 3 2002 Jun 27 180 7 2 2002 Jun 28 180 8 3 2002 Jun 29 175 15 3 2002 Jun 30 170 12 3 2002 Jul 01 170 15 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1134, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-092, June 5, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: worldofradio.com has been down for `upgrading`. Meanwhile some recent files are at our other site accessible via http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.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 WORLD OF RADIO #1134 available early UT June 6: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1134.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1134.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, Thu 0415 on 7415 FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN. NEW AFGHANISTAN MW STATION Dear Paul, I am advised that a new station, Radio Khost, is operating on 1300 kHz with a power of 500 watts. On-air times are 1200-1400 and 1800-2000 (Kabul time) each day. All broadcasts are in Pashto. Khost is several hundred kilometres south of Kabul. I've not heard the station here, but a lucky DXer elsewhere might have success. With kind regards (Martin Hadlow, UN Kabul via Paul Ormandy, NZ, June 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. INTERNEWS TRAINING RADIO JOURNALISTS Internews has begun training 16 radio journalists from across Afghanistan at a new facility in Kabul. Training is concentrating on radio reporting and production, including writing for radio, package making, computers, and using a microphone. Participants are also leaning to use digital recording equipment. Workshop participants come from various regions of Afghanistan, including Herat, Kandahar, Jabal Saraj, Khost, Gardez, Jalalabad, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kabul. Internews will also conduct onsite training at radio stations across Afghanistan and plans to design courses in Kabul at the request of the journalistic community and provide equipment to radio stations. The project is funded by a nine-month grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Internews also manages the Open Media Fund for Afghanistan, set up with donations from author Ahmed Rashid, the George Soros Open Society Institute, the AOL-Time Warner Foundation, the Markle Foundation, and Dow Jones and Company. The fund has awarded or announced grants of over $80,000 for newspapers and magazines in Afghanistan. Internews Network is a U.S.- based nonprofit corporation with offices in 24 countries which assists media development in developing societies. For more, contact Internews Afghanistan, e-mail in-kabul@internews.org, or see http://www.internews.org/afghan_media/ (RFE/RL Media Matters June 3 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. IBB/RFE/RL via DTK Wertachtal again, 500 kW. IBB Current Frequency Schedule Report Jun. 4, 4:40:1, 2002. GMT 11990 2200 2300 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 13790 0300 0500 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 15190 1930 2000 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 15220 0900 1100 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 15340 1700 1830 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 15345 0700 0800 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 15535 1300 1400 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 17740 1200 1300 RFE RLAF AF WER 01 090 (Wolfgang Büschel, June 4, BC-DX via DXLD) Updated schedule for RFE/RL in Pashto/Dari: 0300-0400 Pashto NF 13790 <<<<< addit \\ 11705 15705 17560 0400-0500 Dari NF 13790 <<<<< addit \\ 11705 15705 17560 0700-0730 Pashto on 15345 17775 19010 <<<<< new txion 0730-0800 Dari on 15345 17775 19010 <<<<< new txion 0900-1000 Dari on 15220 17865 19010 21680 <<<<< new txion 1000-1100 Pashto on 15220 17865 19010 21680 <<<<< new txion 1200-1300 Pashto NF 17740 <<<<< addit \\ 15265 15355 15370 17685 1300-1400 Dari NF 15535 <<<<< addit \\ 15265 15355 15370 17685 1700-1730 Pashto NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 11835 12030 15210 1730-1800 Dari NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 11835 12030 15210 1800-1830 Pashto NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 12030 15210 1930-2000 Dari NF 15190 <<<<< addit \\ 7285 9575 15340 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. R. Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari via KVI 500 kW / 095 deg eff. May 31: 1400-1657 on 18940 (55544) NORWAY: Deleted freqs for Radio Norway / Radio Denmark via KVI 500 kW: 1300-1355 18920 / 080 deg 1500-1555 15735 / 095 deg 1400-1455 15735 / 095 deg 1600-1655 13800 / 095 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) KVI = Kvitsøy ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Afghanistan, Kabul is now back on shortwave for the Afghan population nationwide! It was active on SW with domestic and external services until about 1995 when the Taleban regime took over and established its replacement ``Radio Voice of the Shari`ah`` (Radio Voice of the Islamic Law). This station was regularly heard on 7085v until the U.S. bombing of the transmitter on 08 Oct 2001 at 1609. As mentioned in recent DXLDs, foreign donors from the European Union, Japan and U.S.A. have provided studio facilities and advisers in Kabul, satellite transmission equipment and relay facilities in Norway hired by Merlin, U.K., and in the Persian Gulf, probably at the Merlin facility at Al Dhabbaya, the United Arab Emirates. Test transmissions for Merlin from one of the two NORKRING 500 kW transmitter at Kvitsøy, Norway were noted on May 25-30 on 18940 at *1400-1700* with a test tape of repeated Afghan fanfare of horn music of 1-2 minutes duration. Regular programmes from the reactivated R Afghanistan have been heard May 31-June 5 as follows, but with the test tape as back-up when the satellite link from Kabul was lost which happened nearly daily: On 15240 (probably via Al Dhabbaya) at *0200-0359*: 0200-0300 Programme ``Good Morning Afghanistan`` (English title) in Pashto 0200 and Dari 0230. 0300-0359 Devotional programmes in Pashto 0300 and Dari 0330. 33333 QRM R Australia 15240. On 18940 via Kvitsøy at *1400-1700*: News and political comments and speeches in Pashto 1400, 1500 & 1600 and Dari 1430, 1535 and 1630. SINPO varied from 55555 to 25333. This station has nothing to do with the Clandestines on 8700 (Information R) and 15480 (Voice of Afghanistan) which still can be heard (Anker Petersen, Denmark, June 5, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** AFRICA. MEMORIES FROM A BYGONE AGE FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE: The first radio broadcasts in Sub-Saharan Africa were made in the early 1920's. The earliest recording of a radio broadcast was made in 1923 in South Africa. It was Mendelssohn's "Auf Fluegeln des Gesanges." Kenya had its own radio station in 1927, followed by Mozambique in 1933, and Senegal in 1939. But these were only broadcasting programmes made for expatriates. It wasn't until World War II that radio broadcasting was tailored to the needs of people in Africa. People wanted local news but also information about the theatres of war where their relatives and friends had gone to fight. For the first time there were broadcasts in African languages and dialects. People in Lagos could listen to the news in pidgin. There were broadcasts in Hausa. The distinguished Hausa broadcaster (later Northern politician) Isa Kaita was based in Accra and unusually for that time gave detailed accounts of what was happening in the region, including a description of his own journey from Lagos to Accra under attack from German U-Boats. During the war the first language service for Africa was set up by the BBC. It was in Afrikaans and aimed to counterbalance the pro-Nazi stands taken by some Afrikaners. After the Second World War radio expanded throughout the continent broadcasting news, music and even drama. The radio became a key tool of government, and in the event of a coup, the radio station was the first stop for the coup makers, where they would then get their message broadcast to the nation... (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. The e-mail QSL shown below was received from Radio Baluarte one hour ago on a reception report of May 10. I sent a snail- mail report to the address that I initially mentioned and it seems as if this has been forwarded to the station. From: ana maria spieker icnfuturo@hotmail.com Sent: 4. kesäkuuta 2002 21:27 Subject: contacto radio baluarte Puerto iguazu Estimado Dr. Jan-Erik Osterholm, saludamos a usted atte. A sido motivo de mucha alegria recibir su correspondencia, a lo cual confirmamos la recepcion de nuestra emisora, y nos ha sorprendido y a la vez nos da mucha alegria saber que de tan lejos nos han escuchado, agradecemos que nos haya contactado, y prometemos que le enviaremos un certificado a vuelta de correo. Le comentamos que nuestra familia esta compuesta por Hugo Eidinger 40 años cumple 41 el 24 de junio, Ana Maria y 6 hijos Pablo Alejandro 16, Debora Elizabet 14, Tamara Ester 12, Jonatan Hugo 11, Rut Berenice 8, y Rebeca Natasha 6, hace tres años que estamos en Puerto Iguazu, como misioneros y trabajamos tambien en Paraguay y Brasil porque la ciudad donde estamos es limite con esos paises. Le contamos que en Puerto Iguazu estan las cataratas del Iguazu una de las siete maravillas de mundo aunque es una ciudad pequeña con 15.000 habitantes. En su carta nos cuenta que en su pais hace mucho frio lo cual aqui no se sucede porque el clima es de mucho calor, en el verano llega a casi 40 grados y en invierno casi nunca llega a regitrarse bajo cero. Nos gustaria mantenernos en contacto si asi usted lo desea. Atte. Ana y Hugo Eidinger (via Jan-Erik Österholm, June 4, dxing.info via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA: Updated schedule for Voice International via DRW 250 kW: CHINESE 0900-1400 13775 / 340 deg 1400-1700 17560 / 340 deg co-ch DW Ge till 1600, BSKSA Ar from 1600 ENGLISH 0900-1500 13685 / 303 deg co-ch CRI Fr/En 1300-1500, BBC Ukr 1400-1430 1500-1700 11930 / 303 deg INDONESIAN 0900-1300 15365 / 290 deg 1300-1700 13660 / 290 deg co-ch BBC Ar HINDI 1100-1700 13635 / 303 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) ** BENIN. ORTB, Cotonou, 7210 kHz, QSL card received in 56 days. Reception report sent in French along tape, postcard of Long Island and US$ 2.0 No V/S (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, June 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria program schedule at 2300-2355 on 9400: 2300 Daily NEWS 2310 Sun FOLK STUDIO (Bulgarian folk music) M-F EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS (current affairs review) Sat VIEWS BEHIND THE NEWS 2320 Mon SPORTS 2325 M-F TIMEOUT FOR MUSIC 2330 Fri BULGARIAN PLAZA (cultural magazine) or WALKS AND TALKS (interesting places) 2335 M-W KEYWORD BULGARIA (Bulgaria and things Bulgarian) Thu ANSWERING YOUR LETTERS F-S KEYWORD BULGARIA (Bulgaria and things Bulgarian) 2345 Mon MAGAZINE ECONOMY Tue ARTS AND ARTISTS Wed HISTORY CLUB Thu THE WAY WE LIVE Fri RADIO BULGARIA CALLING (for radio hobbyists) All repeated next UT day 0200-0255 on 9400 (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews for Wed June 5: DISPATCHES: Tonight on Dispatches...a trip back in time: what some of the most important stories of the past would have sounded like if Dispatches had been there. That's Dispatches, with host Rick MacInnes-Rae, tonight at 7:30 (8 NT) on CBC Radio One. [% -- ondemand; catch up on previous ones] IDEAS: Tonight on Ideas...Coyote's Song. One of nature's success stories, coyotes have expanded from the Great Plains to most of North America, even living happily in urban parks. Ideas producer Dave Redel reflects on the science and mythology of the wily coyote. That's tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) Previous version spelt it Coyotl, which I thought aztecly (gh) ** CANADA. A new TIS station is scheduled to sign on over the Canada Day weekend (July 1) serving travellers driving over the Confederation Bridge linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The station is owned by Jack McGaw a former reporter/host with CTV. The frequency applied for is 93.9 FM. He was interviewed on CBC Radio's Maritime Noon (June 4). According to the CRTC application which was the only info I could find on the internet about this, the power will be 37 watts. (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6070, CFRX Toronto, 0710 June 4, poor-fair signal with John Oakley talk show on subjects including the Canadian legislature, "Bambi" & sports, giving phone number and requesting callers. "News- talk Radio CFRB" ID at 0716 and weather promotion "when it comes to weather, we do it better". No sign of usually dominant Voz Cristiana (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. Re: 6010, R. Parinacota: A friend of mine from Valparaíso tells me that El Diario de Cooperativa is only a news program from Santiago station that is broadcast sometimes during the day. This is a news bulletin, and also, is broadcast always when they have 'last minute news'. Cooperativa and Parinacota are two different stations according to Manolo from Valparaíso. The only transmitter on SW is from PARINACOTA, and this station relays Cooperativa during the morning. Good DX, (Sergio González, Colombia, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CHINA. CRI program schedule at 1300, 1400, 1500, 2300, next UT Day 0100, 0300, 0400: 2300 Daily NEWS 2310 Sun REPORT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES M-F CURRENT AFFAIRS Sat BIZ CHINA 2320 Sun IN THE SPOTLIGHT (cultural magazine) 2330 Mon PEOPLE IN THE KNOW (China`s leading citizens) Tue SPORTS WORLD Wed CHINA HORIZONS (China outside Beijing) Thu VOICES FROM OTHER LANDS Fri LIFE IN CHINA Sat LISTENERS` GARDEN (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ?? I thought the new CRI program day started at 0000 UT now, not repeats of previous UT day. Must listen sometime (gh, DXLD) ** CRETE. In case you are interested, I have just posted an article on the net which gives an account of my radio listening in Crete recently. http://wirelesswaffle.0catch.com/crete.htm It will be updated in due course when I have listened back to my recordings! (Keith Knight, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Good report with nice graphics, but beware of all the pop-up ads which will maximize on your screen (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. RHC program schedule at 0100-0300, repeated 0300-0500, 0500- 0700 on some of: 6000, 9550, 9665-USB, 9820, 11705-USB. UT days: 0100 Daily INTERNATIONAL NEWS 0110 Mon WEEKLY REVIEW Tu-Su NATIONAL NEWS 0115 Tu-Su VIEWPOINT 0130 Mon REPORTS AND MUSIC Tu-Su NEWS BULLETIN 0135 Tu-Sa TIME OUT (sports) [error? Conflicts with following items] Su/We DXERS UNLIMITED Mon MAILBAG SHOW Tu/Th/Fr CARIBBEAN OUTLOOK Sat WEEKLY REVIEW 0150 Mon BREAKTHROUGH (science report [by Arnie Coro]) 0200 Daily INTERNATIONAL NEWS 0210 Mon FROM HABANA (Cuban musicians) Tue-Sun NATIONAL NEWS 0215 Tue-Sun REPORTS AND MUSIC 0230 Mon THE JAZZ PLACE or TOP TENS Tue-Sun NEWS BULLETIN 0235 Sun WORLD OF STAMPS Tue-Sat REPORTS AND MUSIC 0250 Sun CUBAN MUSIC (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) I find it odd that all of John`s program timings are at 5-minute intervals. In practice, this is seldom the case on SW stations. Perhaps he is suffering from the TV-Guide-rounding-off syndrome? (gh) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague program schedule at 2230-2258: 2230 Daily NEWS 2235 Sun LETTER FROM PRAGUE M-F NEWSVIEW Sat READINGS FROM CZECH LITERATURE 2240 Sun THE ARTS Mon [no entry; this means NEWSVIEW runs longer on this day?] Tue WITNESS Wed ABC OF CZECH Thu [no entry; this means NEWSVIEW runs longer on this day?] Fri [no entry; this means NEWSVIEW runs longer on this day?] Sat SATURDAY MUSIC (classical/folk/jazz) 2245 Sun MAILBOX Mon ONE ON ONE (interview) Tue TALKING POINT or INSIGHT CENTRAL EUROPE Wed CZECHS IN HISTORY or PROFILE Thu ECONOMIC REPORT Fri MAGAZINE [all repeated next UT days at 0000, 0100, 0300] (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** GERMANY. "Protest and Information DAY" against IBB/VoA/RFE/RL/RFA transmitter site in Holzkirchen, Bavaria, Germany. June 29, 2002, 0830-1900 UT. Open-End ... Die Buergerinitiative Sender-Freies-Oberland veranstaltet am 29. Juni 2002 einen Informations- und Protesttag gegen die Sendetaetigkeit der IBB am Standort Holzkirchen. Von 1030-1300 Uhr MESZ werden verschiedene Forscher von ihren Arbeiten zum Elektrosmog berichten, am Nachmittag kommen Betroffene zu Wort. Valley liegt, jedenfalls fuer Autofahrer guenstig, 25 km suedoestlich von Muenchen direkt an der BAB Muenchen-Salzburg. Genauere Informationen finden sich auf der Homepage der Buergerinitiative http://www.sender-freies-oberland.de/ Ansprechpartner sind Buergermeister [Mayor] Josef Huber von der Gemeinde Valley (Tel.: +49 [0] 8024-92489, Fax: -3831) und Georg Paul von der Buergerinitiative Tel.: +49 [0] 8021-909711, georg.paul@sender-freies-oberland.de "Valleyer Informationstag" Sender und Elektrosmog 29. Juni 2002. Elektromagnetische Strahlung - ein Problem wird erforscht Symposium mit Wissenschaftlern. Moderation: Prof. Dr. Bernd Weidenmann [Ortzeit: --- gh] 1030 Uhr Prof. G. Kaes: Strahlung - wie, wo, wieviel? Die Situation um den Sender IBB bei Valley. 1100 Uhr Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Michael S. Lampadius: Toedliche Gefahr? Wirkungen auf Herzschrittmacher und Implantate. 1130 Uhr Prof. Michael Kundi: Versuche mit Pflanzen. Genschaeden in der Umgebung eines Kurzwellenwellensenders. 1200 Uhr Kaffeepause. 1230 Uhr Dr. Lebrecht von Klitzing: Was bewirkt eine Exposition im Organismus? Biophysikalische Zusammenhaenge. 1300 Uhr Mittagspause. Vertreter der Presse haben im Anschluss an die Vortraege Gelegenheit, Gespraeche mit den Wissenschaftlern zu fuehren. Schlafen Sie gut?! - Wissenschaftler im Dialog mit Betroffenen. Moderation: Dr. Heinrich Rodewig 1430 Uhr Dr. Gerd Oberfeld: Gesundheitsstoerungen durch hochfrequente Strahlung. 1515 Uhr Pause 1530 Uhr Das Leben mit den Sendemasten. Erfahrungsberichte aus Valley und Schwarzenburg/CH Anschliessend: Diskussion mit Wissenschaftlern und Medizinern. 1645 Uhr Pause. 1700 Uhr Valleyer Resolution: "Schaltet den Sender ab!" Unterschriftenaktion. 1715 Uhr Pause Abendprogramm 1900 Uhr Konzert der bekannten Klezmer-Gruppe Masseltov. 2100 Uhr Johannifeier beim "Schlaflosen". Referenten Prof. Guenter Kaes, Pfaffenhofen (Arbeitsgebiet: Hochfrequenz und Mikrowellenmesstechnik Wirkungen elektromagnetischer Felder auf Mensch, Tier und Pflanzen). Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Michael S. Lampadius, Herzschrittmacherinstitut Kochel am See (Arbeitsgebiet: Oeffentlich bestellter und vereidigter Sachverstaendiger fuer Herzschrittmacher). Prof. Michael Kundi, Institut fuer Umwelthygiene Universitaet Wien (Arbeitsgebiet: Arbeits- und Sozialhygiene; physikalische und chemische Einwirkungen an Arbeitsplatz und aus der Umwelt Umweltepidemiologie). Dr. Lebrecht von Klitzing, Medizinphysiker Internationales Institut fuer Biophysik, Neuss (Arbeitsgebiet: Physikalische Aspekte der Bioregulation). Dr. Gerd Oberfeld, Humanmediziner Land Salzburg; (Umweltmedizin und Umweltepidemiologie). (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Deutschland, A-DX May 31 via BC-DX via DXLD) Very emotional report, -- we have seen the Biblis pensioners, who have been working for at least 40 years at IBB Biblis-Lampertheim site, - without health difficulties so far ... Maybe the Holzkirchen Mediumwave unit will be moved to another site ... the vertical and horizontal lobe of the shortwave radiation is harmless. (wb df5sx: Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, BC-DX June 6 via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. You could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to SW via the live Radio Honduras Real Audio website *grin* have a listen - what a joke! http://www.radiohrn.hn/ (Escuchar la radio) (Ian Baxter, Australia, ARDXC via DXLD) Not so bad here, for 6.5 kbps, during newscast with frequent `HRN` jingle IDs around 1900 UT June 4. Sounds like a slightly-offtuned AM radio input; ID at hourtop 1 pm as ``HRN, La Voz de Honduras,`` not R. Honduras. Check out their program schedule; lots of news, but some interesting items: La Tremenda Corte, the oldtime Cuban (?) comedy show, M-F 1415-1430, Sat 1930-2000, Sun 1400-1420; La Noticia Sin Malicia, M-F 2030-2100, Sat 1400-1430. Música Hondureña, Sat 1430-1600 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3266.4, RRI Gorontalo. Moved from 3264.7 kHz. Heard at 1106 June 4 with local news, reading of Holy Kor`an, lagu populer, "Berita Duka", English pops then female talk. Fair signal. 4753.5, RRI Makassar. Best signal of all Indonesian local stations except RRI Jakarta. At 1200 Relay news entitled "Dinamika Indonesia" from Jakarta. ID by female at 1229 as "Radio Republik Indonesia Makassar" then followed to "Berita Keluarga". From 1238 Nice Indonesian pops. MONITORING LIST IN MARCH - MAY 2002 x3214.8 RRI Manado Became inactive from March. 3264.7 RRI Gorontalo 3325.0 RRI Palangkaraya 3344.8 RRI Ternate x3905.0 RRI Merauke Became inactive from March but sometimes irregularly heard with faint signal. 3959.9 RRI Palu (presumed) Moved from 3960.3 kHz? on May 18. 3960.3 RRI Palu 3976.1 RRI Pontianak 4000.2 RRI Kendari 4753.4 RRI Makassar x4789.1 RRI Fak Fak Became inactive from May 7. 4874.6 RRI Sorong 4925.0 RRI Jambi 6071.1 RRI Jayapura x6153.4 RRI Biak Became inactive from May. x7171.4 RRI Serui Inactive in May 9525.0 V.O.Indonesia, Cimanggis 9552.4 RRI Makassar Local daytime broadcast. 15125.1 RRI Jakarta, Cimanggis 15150.1 V.O.Indonesia, Cimanggis (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN, Jembatan DX via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Another reminder about our series that will run from Wednesday to Friday on North Korean refugees who fled illegally to China. It is troubling, challenging, and very powerful, and I hope that you all will join us for this special series (Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff, ABC-TV Nightline Offices, Washington, D.C., June 4, via DXLD) EDT/CDT original airings: UT Thu, Fri, Sat 0335-0405, possibly some extended beyond half an hour; they never say (gh, DXLD) ** KOSOVO. MULTIETHNIC RADIO LAUNCHES ROMANY AND ASHKALI PROGRAMS. Radio K began broadcasting in Romany and Ashkali on 27 May. The new programs, which are an addition to broadcasts provided in the Albanian and Serbian languages since the station opened in September 2001, address community concerns for each group. The new broadcasts were launched by Adem Demaci, a well-known advocate for ethnic tolerance, and the new spokesperson of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Poul Smidt. Visit http://www.osce.org/news for related links, documents, news and photos. For more, contact the OSCE mission in Kosovo at press@omik.org. CC (RFE/RL Media Matters June 3 via DXLD) ** LATVIA-CZECH REPUBLIC: RFE CHAIRMAN CONVEYS LATVIAN OFFER TO HOST STATION | Text of report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 4 June: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) president Tom Dine has informed the Czech foreign minister, Jan Kavan, of the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins' offer to move the RFE/RL head office from Prague to Latvia's capital Riga. RFE spokeswoman Sonya Winter told BNS that Dine received the letter from Berzins last week and plans to responding soon. Winter said that Dine is very appreciative of the offer from Latvia, but that negotiations on premises for the radio in Prague are still ongoing with the Czech government. In mid-May Latvia's PM sent a letter to Dine offering that RFE/RL move to the Latvian Television building on Zakusala Island in central Riga, adding that this would be good for solving the radio's current problem with premises in the Czech capital and also help the Latvian state television manage its currently half-empty 20-storey building. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was founded by the US Congress, broadcasting in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. The radio reaches an audience of 35 million listeners, broadcasting news and analytical shows every day. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 0844 gmt 4 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MADASGASCAR. MADAGASCAR MEDIA ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT - updated 5 June --- Since the publication of our first Madagascar Media Environment Assessment on 3 May 2002, the Madagascan media scene has shown signs of becoming ever more polarized between pro-Ravalomanana and pro-Ratsiraka media. Pro-Ratsiraka Super TV The pro-Ravalomanana Malagasy TV, based in Antanarivo, and the pro- Ravalomanana Antananarivo press carried a number of reports on Ratsiraka's Super TV, based in Toamasina (also known as Tamatave) on the east coast. Super TV, which was broadcasting its main news bulletin at 1930 local time, had become the rallying point for those eager to see the provinces gain autonomy (L'Express de Madagascar web site, 8 May). It had been broadcasting in many coastal regions since the end of April. A Super TV transmitter had been installed in an army barracks in the capital (L`Express de Madagascar newspaper web site, 27 May). However, this was destroyed by the army, according to Malagasy TV on 28 May, which described it as a "pirate TV" belonging to Ratsiraka. Madagascar Tribune web site reported on 25 May that gunfire had been heard in the capital when the army tried to dismantle "transmitters belonging to the pro-Ratsiraka pirate TV station Super TV" in Andafiavaratra, in Antananarivo. The same report said Super TV had tried to set up its HQ in the residence of former army chief Gen Mounibou in Antananarivo. The pro-Ravalomana Communications Ministry said an illegal TV network using a channel reserved for "the national public TV network" had been targeting certain parts of the country (L`Express de Madagascar, 21 May). Mahajanga in the northwest and Tolagnara on the southern coast were two cities said to be broadcasting exclusively pro-Ratsiraka propaganda (Madagascar-Evènements web site, 6 May). The only TV station in Mahajanga was said to be broadcasting songs, movies and "brainwashing" (Midi Madagasikara web site, 7 May). Marc Ravalomanana`s "inauguration as president" was not able to be broadcast in Mahajanga by two private TV stations on 6 May as transmitter cables at Ampisikinana had been cut (L`Express de Madagascar web site 8 May). Pro-Ratsiraka Canal 6 TV On 5 June BBC Monitoring traced pro-Ratsiraka satellite TV and radio. The broadcasts were on the LMI 1 satellite at 75 degrees east. The TV station called itself "Canal 6" or "Canal 6 Madagascar". It was on the LMI 1 satellite at 3863 MHz, vertical polarization, with the audio subcarrier at 5.80 MHz. The radio station also called itself "Canal 6 Madagascar". It is on the same satellite channel (on a subcarrier at 6.8 MHz). On the morning of 5 June, Canal 6 TV was observed showing music videos until 0630 gmt when it began relaying the Russia-Tunisia World Cup match (using a feed from France's TF1 TV). A scroll bar had earlier advertised that the station would relay all three of the day's World Cup matches. It made no mention of any news bulletins. Canal 6 radio was observed on the morning of 5 June with music programming. It broadcast news in Malagasy at 1000 gmt and said the next news bulletin would be at 1630 gmt. The location of the studios whence these pro-Ratsiraka broadcasts originate has yet to be confirmed, but is presumed to be Toamasina. Ratsiraka has made his headquarters in the port of Toamasina (Tamatave) on the east coast of Madagascar. It also remains to be determined how the broadcasts are being transmitted terrestrially within Madagascar. Pro-Ravalomanana radio audible in northeast only on shortwave In the northeastern port of Sambava, the only TV station available was Canal 6. Pro-Ravalomanana radio could be heard in the town on shortwave. "We have neither newspapers nor Malagasy TV", complained one respondent, according to L`Express de Madagascar web site on 8 May. Canal 6 broadcasts stopped in Sambava In early June Pro-Ravalomanana armed forces took action to stop Canal 6 broadcasts in Sambava, restoring transmissions by pro-Ravalomanana national radio. "Residents were able to listen to RNM [Malagasy National Radio] after being deprived of it for several months. The news had earlier been monopolized by Soaline [Julien, Sambava MP] and supporters of the MP against whom proceedings will be instituted in the National Assembly to withdraw her parliamentary immunity." (Midi Madagasikara web site in French 5 Jun 02). The ethnic dimension Meanwhile on the northeastern islet of Nosy-Be the only broadcast media was Super TV in mid-May. It no longer broadcast music and video clips by artists from the central highlands, and Merina and Betsileo ethnic groups (Ravalomanana is a Merina) were "no longer wanted " on the islet (Madagascar Tribune 14 May 02). Pro-Ravalomanana TV Pro-Ravalomanana TV is transmitted via the same satellite (but on a different channel, 3980 MHz) as that now also used by the pro- Ratsiraka Canal 6 broadcasts. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 5 Jun 02 (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. About time too! (Mike Terry, DXLD) MEXICO BANS TV, RADIO CIGARETTE ADS The Associated Press Friday, May 31, 2002; 6:46 PM MEXICO CITY –– Marking the International Day Without Tobacco, Mexico's health secretary announced Friday that cigarette ads will no longer be allowed on television or radio after Jan. 1, 2003. In addition, a majority of the nation's pharmacies gradually will phase out the sale of tobacco products starting in June 2003, secretary Julio Frenk said in a ceremony held at President Vicente Fox's official residence. In support of the measure, Fox announced he was prohibiting cigarette smoking at his residence, known as Los Pinos, or The Pines. "The control of tobacco use is a matter of survival," Frenk said in announcing an accord signed Thursday with tobacco companies to restrict their advertising. "There simply won't be enough resources to treat the complex and costly chronic problems resulting from tobacco addiction." Six percent to 12 percent of Mexico's health care costs go to treating smoking-related illnesses, the health secretary said, adding that five people die of such illnesses every hour in Mexico. The action brings Mexico in line with other developed countries including the United States that have adopted such measures. Other elements of the agreement include placing warning notices on least 25 percent of a cigarette pack's surface – in addition to current side- label warnings -- and restricting billboard, sports and arts-related advertising. The advertising restrictions will go into effect on Jan. 1 and the cigarette package warnings will be effective as of June 1, 2003. As of June 1, 2004, cigarette packs also will contain inserted messages directing smokers to treatment programs. In a separate accord with the Health Department, 70 percent of the nation's pharmacies agreed to phase out cigarette sales by June 2003 and the rest will stop selling tobacco products by June 2005, Frenk said. The government already has banned smoking in all federal buildings, a major step in a country where the habit is still widely practiced in public places, including shopping malls, airports and restaurants. (© 2002 The Associated Press via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. Mon Jun 3, 7:57 PM ET MEXICO'S PRESIDENT FOX TO SEND WEEKLY RADIO MESSAGES TO U.S. HISPANICS MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Vicente Fox is reaching out by radio to Mexicans living in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix. On Saturday, Fox sent the first of what are to be weekly, five-minute live messages to Mexican-Americans living throughout the United States. The messages, broadcast by radio stations in 14 major cities and by their 27 affiliates elsewhere, are a way "to get closer to the Mexican community" in the United States, said a spokesman for the president's office. The broadcasts, which will reach 80 percent of the U.S. Hispanic population, are distributed by Miami-based Radio Única, the same network U.S. President George W. Bush uses to deliver a weekly message to U.S. Hispanics. Fox will deliver his message at the end of his weekly Saturday radio show in Mexico, "Fox Live, Fox With You." (AP via yahoonews via Artie Bigley, DXLD) When, exactly??!! ``Fox en vivo, Fox contigo`` ? (gh) ** NETHERLANDS. Radio Alfa Lima International in English noted on [Sun] June 2: 0600-0900 on 15069.7 (45544) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. A CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION AND INNUENDOS Special Report from Radio Estrella del Mar, Managua Managua, May 26 (special to CRU) --- At the end of the past year when Radio Estrella del Mar (Star of the Sea) launched its Internet page, everything indicated that the format of our site on the Internet would uniquely be a complement to the labor of evangelization that our station had begun four years earlier. At the beginning of January of this year, some members of the new administration of President Enrique Bolaños in Nicaragua had ignited a campaign of calumnies and belittlement against our Bishops and priests, especially against our Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo. In Nicaragua today, all or almost all of the mass media (newspapers, radio stations, and television channels) are supportive of the actual government or are media in the power of the leftwing Sandinista Front. Our Church has been censured in all of these media, which have dedicated themselves to defaming our pastors, and they [the media] dedicate a great part of their programming to justify things such as abortion and rebellion against the spiritual guides of the Catholic Church. The few independent and objective media are being drowned economically, but, like our station, they have been despoiled of all advertising that they were receiving from state entities. Today, day after day, as during the decade of the 1980s when our country was under the control of a Communist dictatorship, our church and its leaders are the victims of persecution and censorship. It is for these reasons that our Internet page, in addition to evangelization, serves as a medium of information to publish the truth and the reality in which our beloved country is living. Our team is formed of a group of laymen and priests committed to the truth, and as we did in the decade of the 1980s, we are disposed to continue defending our Church and its leaders until the day that God calls us to His side. Thanks for the attention that you have given us and may God and the Most Holy Virgin bless those who make possible the publication of Catholic Radio Update. Radio Estrella del mar http://www.radioestrelladelmar.com/ Database Managua: YNF3RM, Radio Estrella del Mar 104.3 FM (5,000 watts PRA). Ubicada Atrás de Santo Domingo en Managua, frente al cementerio. Transmisor en Las Nubes, el Crucero. Cobertura pacífico y centro de Nicaragua. Dirección postal: Apartado Postal Única 104, Managua, Nicaragua. Tel: (505) 276-0241, fax 276-0062. E-mail: radiosm@radioestrelladelmar.com Señores Héctor Cotte, director; Giovanni Rivas, gerente general; Rigoberto Rayo, asistante administrador; y Luis Rivas, webmaster. Website: http://www.radioestrelladelmar.com Fundada el 3 de Marzo 1997 (Catholic Radio Update June 3 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. V. of Nigeria, 7255, 15120, program schedule includes at 2100-2200 [note that there is NO news on this transmission!]: 2100 Sun TIME FOR HIGHLIFE Mon MUSICAL HERITAGE Tue SOUL LIFT Wed HEALTH CORNER Thu PERSPECTIVES Fri OUR ENVIRONMENT Sat TALKING AGRICULTURE 2115 Mon WORLD OF THE ARTS Tue BEYOND THE POVERTY LINE 2130 Sun WHEEL OF PROGRESS Mon FROM THE RACKS [what kind of racks?? --- gh] Tue TEN SECONDS Wed VON LINK-UP Thu OUR CITIES Fri CELEBRATIONS Sat THEATRE ON THE AIR 2145 Sun LISTENERS` LETTERS Mon ISSUES And at 0500-0700: 0500 Sun/Sat NEWS SUMMARY M-F VON SCOPE Sat AFRICAN SAFARI (music) [conflicts with above entry] 0505 Sun VON LINK-UP Sat AFRICAN SAFARI 0530 Daily NEWS ABOUT NIGERIA 0540 Daily NEWS ABOUT AFRICA 0545 Daily WORLD NEWS 0555 Daily COMMENTARY 0600 Sun THIS WEEK ON VON M-F MOVING ON Sat WEEKEND MAGAZINE 0615 Sun SOUL LIFT 0630 Sun/Sat REPORTER`S DIARY M-F AFRICAN PRESS 0645 Sun FROM THE RACKS M-F INSIGHT Sat LISTENERS` LETTERS (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** OMAN. Frequency change for Radio Sultanate of Oman via THU 100 kW / 220 degrees: 1400-1500 English and 1500-1800 Arabic NF 13725 (34433), ex 15140 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) ** PALESTINE. PALESTINIAN RADIO EXTENDS TRANSMISSION HOURS, NEWS PROGRAMMES Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine has since 1 June been observed to extend its transmission of the morning news feature "A New Day" by 30 minutes. The programme now lasts 90 minutes, broadcast between 0400 and 0530 gmt. This is a return to the situation prior to the 29 March Israeli occupation of the city of Ramallah, where the radio station is located. This programme, broadcast daily except on Fridays, features live dispatches from various Palestinian areas on the military and other developments. Interviews with leading Palestinian officials and the latest Palestinian news are also carried in the programme. The radio station has also been observed to extend its evening transmission by over two hours, broadcasting news summaries at 1600 and 1700 gmt and one last major newscast at 1800 gmt. The radio now officially signs off with the national anthem at about 1900 gmt. Immediately after sign-off, it broadcasts songs and music. Before 29 March, the radio signed off at 2200 gmt. The station has earlier been observed to resume its daily one-hour news feature "Today's Events" at 1100 gmt daily except on Fridays. The programme interviews Palestinian officials, airs live dispatches by correspondents in the various Palestinian cities, and reports on the latest developments. Voice of Palestine continues to be heard with good reception on the FM frequency of 90.7 MHz. It is not heard on any other frequency. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 0000 gmt 3 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PERU. Cadena Peruana de Noticias or CPN for short has been heard regularly for the past few days on 6150.44 kHz. Best reception here in Northern Europe around 23-02 UT. It has been presumed to be ex-R Concordia from Arequipa, but does anyone actually know something about the location? A profile on the station can be found at http://www.dxing.info/profiles/1470_cpn.dx and the station website is located at http://www.cpnradio.com.pe/ but no info on the origin of the 6150 kHz transmissions. 73 (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. A-02 schedule for Radio Romania International via Saftitza 50 kW: 0500-0526 Bulgarian 5965 / 220 deg 0530-0556 Ukrainian 7195 / 037 deg 0600-0626 Hungarian 7225 / 285 deg 1100-1126 Italian 15180 / 270 deg 1130-1156 Turkish 9625 / 165 deg 1200-1256 Russian 7145 / non-dir 1300-1326 Serbian 9680 / 255 deg 1330-1356 Greek 9680 / 195 deg 1400-1426 Italian 11810 / 270 deg 1500-1556 Russian 9590 / 037 deg 1600-1626 Ukrainian 9665 / 040 deg 1630-1656 Bulgarian 7105 / 220 deg 1700-1726 Turkish 9625 / 165 deg 1730-1756 Greek 9535 / 195 deg 1800-1826 Aromanian 11725 / 285 deg 1830-1856 Serbian 9510 / 255 deg 2000-2026 Italian 11765 / 285 deg 2030-2056 Aromanian 11740 / 285 deg 2100-2126 Hungaran 7260 / 285 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, June 4 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Primorskiy kray. Vladivostok. Radiostation "Tikhiy Okean" was closed January, 8 2002 and broadcast for the last time on the 7th of January. The station appeared on air for the first time on April, 17 1963 (Nataliya Aleshina, "Ezhednevnye Novosti", Vladivostok, 19.04.2002 via Igor Ashihmin, Primorskiy kray, RUS-Dx Jun 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. SOMALILAND BANS PRIVATE RADIO STATIONS From allafrica.com June 5, 2002 The authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland have banned the establishment of private radio stations, the official Radio Hargeysa reported on Tuesday. A circular issued by the Somaliland information ministry said that until broadcasting regulations were laid down, there would be no private radio stations because of the "potential dangers" of such operations. "No other voice can be heard on the air waves except Radio Hargeysa, which is the national voice," the statement said. It said any broadcasting equipment already in the country should be surrendered to the information ministry. "Anyone found opposing the contents of the circular will be brought before a court of law," the statement added (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) [same item Copyright © 2002 UN Integrated Regional Information Networks via Dave White, DXLD] ** SOMALIA. PRIVATE RADIO STATIONS BANNED IN SOMALILAND | Text of report by Somaliland's Radio Hargeysa on 4 June The Ministry of Information and Guidance today issued a circular banning the importation of private radio stations into the country. The circular reads as follows: The minister of information and guidance of the Republic of Somaliland, noticing the existence of applications for the establishment of private radio stations; having consulted the Somaliland constitution with the help of the country's legal experts; bearing in mind that the rules governing the media in the country still depended on legislators and having full knowledge of the subsequent dangers that could result if private radio stations are allowed to operate without putting in place the necessary regulations; has decided: As from the date of this circular and until such a time when rules dealing with the matter are in place, no private radio stations can be brought into the country. No other voice can be heard on the air waves except Radio Hargeysa, which is the national voice. Equally, any radio equipment already in the country should be surrendered to the Ministry of Information. Anyone opposed to this circular will be brought before the country's laws. Source: Radio Hargeysa in Somali 1700 gmt 4 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Re Brother Stair: Do you know what the ACTUAL formal charges are? What statute of South Carolina did he violate, allegedly, and on the strength of what evidence is he not given bail? This letter (e-mail) was received from Sister Stair (bulk) on Monday evening, June 3. Apparently she began writing it Sunday morning and was interrupted and finished it later. It must be serious charges for him (an old guy) to go into maximum security and no bail. Either that or it's persecution for religious reasons. I'd like to know which. Also, I detect between the lines here some internal conflict amongst the other elders of the commune. Sister Stair may be losing it, so to speak. What do you think? Do you have more information than this? (Robert Arthur, June 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, nothing new found on the news websites I have been checking nor on the Overcomer website; tho I did go thru their uncaptioned slide show of happy people on the farm. Below are a few excerpts from Sister Stair`s largely incoherent, rambling letter of June 3: (gh, DXLD) ...The Lord had me read Chapter 23 of Jeremiah as I was alone at the River on Monday nite 3 weeks ago. Dennis Bush was about to give the Bible study and I was listening, as I opened the Bible looking for truth in God's HOLY WORD.. Brother Stair had me read this whole chapter to him on Tuesday nite, two days before he was put in prison. Surely, we both trembled at these Words.... Judgment has begun, at the HOUSE OF GOD! Pray the Saints here truly see this. So important so we can CRY OUT TO GOD FOR MERCY!!! Not excuse our wicked, wicked deeds of not believing the TRUE PRORHET! THE ONE THE LORD SENT HERE TO THIS PLACE! AND NOW, HE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM HERE FOR A SEASON. JEREMIAH 23:39 SAYS, "...I, EVEN I, WILL UTTERLY FORGET YOU, AND I WILL FORSAKE YOU, AND THE CITY THAT I GAVE YOU AND YOUR FATHERS, AND CAST YOU OUT OF MY PRESENCE."... HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, HEARD BROTHER STAIR SAY, "THEY MAY COME AND MAKE US ALL MOVE OFF THIS FARM ONE DAY WITH NOTHING... ARE YOU READY FOR THAT, SAINTS?" IN SPITE OF ALL MY AWFUL, AWFUL, VERY HORRIBLE AND UGLY WAYS THAT HAVE MANY TIMES REBELLED AGAINST MY HUSBAND, I CAN SAY NOW, "YEA, LORD - I AM READY TO LEAVE THIS SEEMINGLY PEACEABLE HABITATION WITH ....NOTHING - EVEN MY OWN FLESH, NAOMI RACHEL STAIR, WHOM I LOVE! ... MY DEAR HUSBAND SAID TO ME YESTERDAY OVER A PHONE AS I SAT IN JAIL WITH HIM; HE COULD SPEAK TO ME THRU THE GLASS SEPARATING US... "JUDGMENT HAS BEGUN, HONEY, IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. IT MUST BE...IT HAS COME! WHATEVER GOD HAS TO DO TO ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE (MEN OF AUTHORITY, STRONG MEN!) SO BE IT, IF HE HAS TO KILL SOME!!!" GOD HAVE MERCY...MERCY, LORD! Some here have mocked me, right in front of my own husband, saying I am full of a mimicking tongue, THAT IT IS NOT THE HOLY GHOST!" So sad, this report, as the main brother who has much responsibility here concerning this radio work said he would be gone by this am. He is one of three who my husband spoke of yesterday, and I, with the fear of God upon me, told him what the prophet said! In few words he shouted at me that Brother Stair is bound because of HIS SIN. Oh, Yes, he is God's man...Yes. But he also insisted, along with 2 other brethren here that his WORDS Brother Stair's) were also bound!... NOT SO!!! All is well with Brother Stair. AS FAR AS GOD IS CONCERNED, HIS WORD WILL NEVER BE BOUND. AMEN! THE TRUTH REMAINS, AS BROTHER STAIR WARNED AND WARNED THIS HOUSE continually 3 WEEKS BEFORE GOD TOOK HIM AWAY FROM THIS PLACE, "YOU BROTHERS HAVE TAKEN MY AUTHORITY AWAY FROM ME...AND UNTIL I GET IT BACK, MY HANDS ARE TIED. I CAN DO NOTHING IN THIS PLACE." MY GOD, HAVE MERCY ON US!!!... Sis. Teresa Grace Stair Ps It is Monday eve 8 pm. Brother Stair called at around 7 pm. He was placed in Maximum security this evening. He asked us here to get on our faces and repent and cry out to God. GOD HAVE MERCY! (via Robert Arthur, DXLD) ** SWAN ISLAND [and non]. In this battle of clichés, here's mine: you can't take it with you. Since we're going to eventually "relinquish" our QSL collections anyway, why not sell while we're alive and able to enjoy the proceeds? What's more sacred about a collection of QSL cards than, say, a collection of travel postcards, coins, or other collectible items? I don't understand this moral outrage and indignation that I'm reading on this thread -- QSLs are just pieces of paper. If they have warm memories for you, that's great but not everyone feels nostalgia or reverence toward their QSLs. (I'm tempted to make a "sour grapes" reference, but I'm honoring the one-cliché- per-message guideline contained in the list policy.) The interesting thing about this auction isn't that people will sell anything for a price but that some people will apparently buy anything for a price. I'm tempted to list my Radio Euzkadi card from 1967 to see what happens (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yes, QSLs are pieces of paper, but so are photos of your family. Would you sell those? QSLs can be as important to some as photos of your loved ones. I don't get this "new" attitude held by some that this is only a piece of paper. Back 20 or 30 years ago I never would have heard that. People today put a dollar sign on about anything. Aren't there any morals left? Does everything have to have a dollar sign? I think not. I can just imagine what Ernie Cooper would have said about this. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) No, my QSLs are not as important to me as photos and other mementos of my family -- not even remotely as important, in fact. Maybe I'm just weird, but a photo of my father from 1966 holds a lot more meaning to me than a QSL card from a station I heard back in 1966. No one is forcing anyone to sell their QSL collections, and the QSLs being sold don't detract from those in anyone's collection. There's no reason to get indignant over what other people are legally doing with their property (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA, ibid.) Oops. Hope I didn't leave an impression of either "moral outrage" or "indignation" on my part! The idea that old QSLs could have ANY monetary value to anyone tickles my satirical fancy. If "thefang" were to offer enough for some of my old QSLs to, say, cover the costs of some state-of-the-art BCB and FM Band DX equipment, it might not be that hard to part with them -- but I think I might feel a bit guilty from the standpoint of getting something for nothing. I agree with Harry that the interesting element is the apparent existence of a market for such items. I would be curious to know if there would be a market for correspondence in the early 1950s from H. Leslie Garrison, the first chief engineer of TGNA-6040, that led to my informal status as an "official monitor" for the then fledgling religious broadcaster? I was one of the first SWLs to hear him. Or a QSL from 4VEH-9884 shortly after it first went on the air? Or a QSL card from ZKG-5995? Does anyone remember from where ZKG operated, and whom it became? I'm probably comparing (I'll do a cliché, too) apples and oranges, because none of those stations has the quasi-clandestine legendary history of Radio Swan. Bemusedly, (Qal R. Mann, ibid.) And I might add that there is a good chance that the DXer to whom these QSLs originally belonged has departed this world or long since moved on to another hobby. These QSLs are likely to be in the hands of someone else now who has no emotional investment in the QSL. To me, the real issue is that someone would want the QSL badly enough to pay $358 for it. It's not worth it, and there are a lot of things I'd rather do with that money. In short, I think the real problem is a certain decadence amongst ebay buyers (Chuck Hutton, WA, ibid.) I've thus far held back on this topic, but I'll now put in my $0.02 worth. Count me among those who would not buy QSLs. Whatever these might be worth, someone else's are of absolutely no use to me. As to the small number which I myself possess, I doubt any have value for someone else. Only a few are even remotely rare, and I've already chosen to leave them to one of the QSL-preserving collections - the NRC's own. QSLs are to me triggers to memories, in the same way that taped ID's (of which I have several hundred) are. I'm hoping to ultimately get those transcribed into a computer-friendly format and leave them for the hobby as well. (Certainly my family has no interest in either!!) I'm as bemused as the Kurmudgeon of Krum is on this one. The closest I could come to being in a state of agitation about the subject would be if I were to convince myself to believe that someone who might buy them would somehow try to use them to claim as their own, or some other person's, but I can't really believe that would happen either (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) It bugs me when everything has to have a dollar sign attached to it. I value my QSL collection very much. The memories, enjoyment, the work on getting over 3,000 QSLS, if you count SW and MW. You can always make money to buy a radio, but you can't replace many QSL cards. In my case, many of the stations no longer exist. They are not on the air or have gone to FM. I guess I can understand if someone leaves the hobby, they do not have an interest in it anymore. I guess selling the QSL is better than burning them. At least someone gets to enjoy the card or letter. QSLs are very dear to many of us that spend their lives obtaining them. I do think turning them over to a museum is a great idea. They are a piece of history. Pieces of history should be protected. But in this day where money is the most important issue, history is meaning less and less. Yes, it is only a hobby, but hobbies bring lots of enjoyment. DXing and QSLing can be more than a hobby to many of us. We are not talking about just a piece of paper here. We are talking about the history of radio. Some of us have QSLs dating back 30, 40, 50, 60 or more years. Some are very rare from a radio station that does not exist anymore. Some of us followed a station`s call letters from the first call letter to the current one with a QSL from each one. Some of the stations I have talked to don't even know their history. Why would a Radio Swan QSL go for $358. These are valuable pieces of the past that are not available at any price in many cases. No, it is not the Rea Sea [sic] or anything like that, but that does not mean they aren't of value. It would be totally impossible to replace my collection as the same with many others. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) One's attitude toward anything is based upon what you do rather than what you say. With that in mind, I came to conclusion that my attitude toward QSLs varies wildly. I stopped collecting QSLs (except for 2-way ham contacts) in 1967. That would show that QSLs are not important to me. But I still have every QSL I ever received from 1950 on (except one, a rarity that was more important to the DXer/QSL-signer I gave it to than it was to me). That would show that QSLs are important to me. Mine will eventually go the NRC. There's a quote from the pen of George Bernard Show through the lips of munitions manufacturer Underhill as he explained to his niece, Major Barbara in the play of the same name -- a quote that's stuck with me since I first heard it in a college literature course in 1954 -- "For every man there is a true morality, but for every man there is not the same true morality." Other quotable quotes that could apply to the current thread -- "One man's peace (or was it piece?) is another man's poison" and "One man's junk is another man's treasure." In other words, there is no right or wrong here. Kevin is right for Kevin and Pat is right for Pat. On second thought, there is one wrong: If you buy a QSL and alter it to claim it was sent to you as proof or your reception, then you have told a lie. But what is the punishment? Criminal charges? Two years in prison? $100 and court costs? As Nero Wolfe would say, "Pfui!" A thought has just crossed my mind. The year is 3002. In the dust that was once the earth, space explorers have found one item that they have been able to salvage. It is a computer disk that contains the archives of the am@nrcdxas.org list. From the wealth of information contained here-in, space archeologists will extrapolate a history of earth. Ernest R. Cooper will be cast in the role of god, Clear Channel Communications will be cast in the role of devil, and the great battles to capture the nations of the world from stratagic headquarters at Cappahayden and Grayland will provide all the military history they'll need. Earth began to fall apart when the leaders bickered over the importance of the mysterious precious jewel, referred to as the QSL. Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (John Callarman, NRC-AM via DXLD) Buying a QSL defeats the purpose of owning a QSL, which is to serve as a memento or confirmation of a reception that YOU heard. But Radio Swan may be a very special case because of the Bay of Pigs. Maybe many of the bidders are military history or intelligence enthusiasts (David Hochfelder, ibid.) Like picture postcards and other ephemera and artifacts from the past, there are plenty of valid reasons to collect other peoples' QSLs if one looks on them primarily AS historic ephemera and artifacts. As David suggests, someone purchasing a Radio Swan QSL may have a strong interest in the history of intelligence/ espionage. Then again, I realized that I myself enjoy looking at old QSLs reprinted in the radio/DX magazines or displayed on DXers' websites... heck, someone with an interest in the history of broadcasting, promotion, graphic design, or any number of other semi-related areas could well find QSLs fascinating, and thus worthy of collecting. Still... $358 for a QSL card?? I do think THAT's outrageous --- I don't give a damn how "rare" it is! (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, ibid.) I remember well what Ernie Cooper told me once about QSLing. You have your radio. You stay up all night to hear that station. You hear it! After all that work and trouble you should do the last part, write for the QSL. The last of it is easy compared to lack of sleep, sitting there for hours. Then on those rainy days, you can look back and treasure those memories of logging and QSLing the station. You have a "piece" of the station, that letter or QSL card. Do that many times you end up with a wonderful collection. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: Live broadcast from downtown Stockholm during the city's 750th anniversary celebrations Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Our monthly review "Sweden Today" Sunday: Another chance to meet the Weeping Willows and doublePark, and one of Sweden's most unusual bands, Bob Hund, celebrates its 10th anniversary, in a "Sounds Nordic" repeat Be sure not to miss our special Outside Broadcast Thursday from Stockholm's 750th birthday festivities. There's a new experimental feature on our website. If you click on the "Weekly Review" link on our English homepage, you'll now find a multimedia presentation featuring photos of our announcers and presenters as you listen to them. Feedback is very welcome (SCDX/MediaScan June 5 via DXLD) ** TIBET. Dear Friends, Hi, An English Program direct from "CPBS, Lhasa, Tibet, China" has been heard at my QTH on 9490 kHz. The time was between 1630 and 1700 UT. Announcement by YL said the program was from Mon to Sat but gave no info about frequencies. Other freqs are being monitored. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, for GRDXC, June 4 via DXLD) Like 6130 as reported previously here at same time (gh, DXLD) ** U K. There's another side to the story of the jubilee that's not getting much play in the media. Lots of people would like to see the UK join the modern world and become a democracy some day, or actually a republic. The whole idea of kings and queens as heads of state is somewhat embarrassing in the modern world. In a republic, the message sent to the people is "someday, *you* could be our leader." In a monarchy, the message is "no way will you ever be our leader; you weren't born into the right family." Limitless opportunity vs. limited opportunity. Get ahead vs. stay in your place. The existence of the monarchy promotes a vision of the UK that hasn't been true in decades. Basing a system of government on who slept with whom centuries ago does seem ridiculous, even to a lot of people who live under such systems. Since I don't listen to the BBC any more, I have no idea if the republican alternative is getting any play there. What I've seen in the UK papers I read online seems to be along the lines of "Here's John Lydon. Isn't he wacky? 25 years ago, he called the Queen a fascist. He's a little mellower than that now." (Ralph Brandi, NJ, June 3, swprograms via DXLD) Thread went on and on... qv (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. JRN AND RADIOSHIP WBCQ Dear Glenn, The Jewish Radio Network is a very important addition to the shortwaves. Finally some Jewish perspectives on the air. Hopefully the network will expand to other days on WBCQ. This Sunday we will do an experimental simulcast on 17495 and 7415 from 1300 to 2000 UT, then back to only 9335 for 2000-2300. We are reviving the offshore radio project at The Planet. The marine service of WBCQ will seek donations from our listeners to outfit our vessel the Motorsailer Katie. We will offer several levels of donations including giving premiums such as official radio tubes once used in our transmitters, signed by Allan H. Weiner. Example would be: donate $100 to the radioship project and receive a certificate of appreciation and a once used WBCQ radio transmitting tube signed by me!! Donate $500 and receive all of the above and an official replaced part of a WBCQ transmitter, such as a used vacuum cap. The vessel will be cleaned out this month in prep. for a refit. The offshore station will be devoted to promoting shortwave radio, positive communication with each other, promoting our strength to the world as a nation of freedom. Select programs will be broadcast from the ship to our shortwave transmitters in Maine. There will be a full power maritime ham radio station on board under the supervision of our master engineer Tim "Timtron" Smith. The radioship will travel the coastal ports of the east coast of the United States promoting good will thru radio communications. Of course time will be available to WOR for relay from the radioship`s studio. Should be fun. Need more info, let me know. Pictures will be available on our website soon, http://wbcq.net http://wbcq.com and http://www.complexvariablesstudio.com Cheers, (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As far as I know, WWFV never did reply to any reception reports, despite promises. Come to think of it, has anyone had a QSL from WWRB yet? (Dave Kenny, Caversham, June 4, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Never any reply from WWRV / WWRB, WWFV or even WGTG before that. One email reply from Dave Frantz assuring me that QSLs for the stations would all be on the way - but nothing! (Tom Read, UK, June 4, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. GENERAL MANAGER MONITORS INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTERS For Immediate Release 15 May 2002 --- POC: George McClintock WWCR General Manager, George McClintock, recently visited Greece with the assignment to check the clarity and strength of WWCR's different frequencies. Virtually no US shortwave radio station performs this invaluable service for their clients. He checks to see that no uncoordinated radio stations have moved in on WWCR's frequencies or have caused any adjacent interference. Since 25% of all shortwave transmitters are uncoordinated with other stations, the probability of interference to a US shortwave broadcaster can be quite high. WWCR makes the necessary effort to keep its frequencies free of interference so listeners may have an opportunity to hear the wide variety of Christian programs available. "One of the greatest problems facing shortwave radio today is interference from radio stations in highly congested areas like Europe", says Mr. McClintock. "The only way to protect reception is to actually go to the countries in the target area and personally take a listen. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission offers no assurance of frequency protection or listenership in any country in the world." He went on further to say; "Many US stations use a transmitter that will operate only on one frequency in an attempt to reach areas like Europe. Often, their customers do not understand that their programming will be aired after midnight in a country overseas or that this station may not broadcast on a frequency that will allow daytime coverage in Europe." Mr. McClintock makes several trips abroad each year to assure the listenership for the many programs airing on WWCR. He says: "There is no greater thrill than listening to gospel programs on WWCR from a foreign country." A radio programmer or individual interested in the purchase of shortwave airtime may ask for George by phone, for his latest report on the signal strengths of any US shortwave station that he monitored. Later this year, Mr. McClintock will travel to Thailand and Japan, from which he will check the coverage of numerous stations. (From http://www.wwcr.com/cp20020515.html which includes two photos of George McClintock in Greece, via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, it seems a while ago that I had read that WRNO shortwave New Orleans had either deleted, or drastically cut back its schedule. I need to know if there is still a WRNO with those call letters on shortwave. The reason: 106.7 Port Sulphur LA is changing its calls from KKND to WRNO. So if there is a WRNO shortwave, the FM would be WRNO-FM. (99.5 New Orleans will go from WRNO-FM to KKND.) As ever, (Brucey Elving, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I referred him to George Jacobs for the answer (gh, DXLD) Hi, Glenn Hauser sent me to you. I publish the "FM Atlas," and there are two FM call switcheroos in the New Orleans area --- 99.5 and 106.7. The WRNO-FM calls will move to 106.7. My question --- are WRNO still the call letters of the shortwave station in New Orleans? Glenn said there was a sale, which may or may not affect the call letters. If the shortwave has other calls, then I will consider 106.7 to be WRNO, not WRNO-FM. Thanks for any help (Bruce Elving, with website at users.aol.com/fmatlas to George Jacobs, cc to DXLD) WRNO is still licensed by the FCC to the new owners. The FM call sign should be WRNO-FM, as it has been previously. 73, (George Jacobs, MD, June 3 via Elving, DXLD) ** U S A. On the matter of Jazz America being produced by an outside company, I should mention something many SWLs do not know. Willis Conover himself was never a VOA employee, and produced his VOA programs through his own company as well. The name of his company was Music U.S.A. Productions. VOA paid him for doing the shows, but as an independent contractor. In Conover's case, he wanted it that way so that nobody in the government could order him what to play, or not play, on his program; if VOA objected to anything, they could just refuse to renew his contract. Of course, they kept renewing his contract from 1955 to 1996. Thus, ever since Conover started producing jazz programs for VOA, they have always been done on an independent basis. I don't know if Davis' reasons are similar, but in his case, his regular job is in radio in the New York City area, so perhaps it is easier for him to produce this program in New York as well, rather than give up his regular job and move to Washington. Also, many countries outside North America have a high percentage of jazz fans, and in many of them, jazz is more popular than it is in its homeland of the United States. Jazz is quite popular in such countries as France, Japan, Denmark, Holland, the U.K., Germany, and the former Soviet bloc countries where Conover had so many listeners. Of course, all of those places have fans of other kinds of music as well, but there are a lot of jazz fans around the world, and many American-born jazz artists tour extensively in other countries. Some have even moved to countries like France and Denmark because they can get much more work there than they can in the States. Putting the program on shortwave may be something that was done for listeners in places like Eastern Europe, where Internet access is limited and often expensive, and for places like some of the Middle Eastern countries where Internet access and satellite dishes are forbidden for private citizens. 73, (Marie Lamb, NY, swl via DXLD) ** U S A. ** URGENT ** YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED NOW! WUOT is in real danger of losing 100% of its state appropriation as of July 1st. One budget scenario being considered in Nashville is a `no new revenue` budget, which eliminates the entire state appropriation for UT`s Institute for Public Service (IPS), of which WUOT is a part. Losing all state funding as of July 1st would result in a loss of more than one-third of WUOT`s total operating budget -- a cut the station might not survive. Contact your state legislators TODAY and let them know the impact a `no new revenue` budget will have on your community. UT`s hearing before the House Finance Committee is slated for this Thursday and time is running out. If public radio service is important to you, you must contact your legislators NOW. For WUOT and the University, Thursday`s hearing could be the most important discussion in the three-year debate regarding the state budget. Information about how to contact your state legislators is available at these web sites: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/hmembers.htm http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/senate/members/smembers.htm ********************************************************************** (C. Zane Hagy, WUOT Public Radio, Knoxville TN, June 4 via DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: WNIB Finale -- More news from Bruce Duffie To many of my friends around the world...... People still keep coming up to me when I'm at concerts to say how much they miss WNIB, and how the loss is affecting their lives. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about that, but in a bittersweet way, I can now provide a bit of nostalgia. The very end of WNIB - the last 10 minutes including the final announcement and that touching piece of music by George Walker - are now on the web for you to listen to. [You need RealPlayer plugin to hear it.] Here's the URL: http://207.208.254.239/wnib/finale.ram I've even left in the silence at the end and the sound of the transmitter being shut off for the last time, so be sure to wait for it... just as we all did back then. The text of that announcement, as well as Wynne Delacoma's Sun-Times review, and my own article which was published a month later telling the whole story, can also be found on my site. If you have trouble locating the page(s), let me know, but I think it's pretty clear and easy to follow. Please note: the person who is actually hosting this audio file has very little bandwidth, which means only a few can listen at any given time. So, if you get a 'busy signal' or are unable to get to this file, just come back later and try again. OK? Other than that, things go along the same for me right now. I've got the once-a-week show on WNUR, and I continue to put up more interviews on my website. I add pictures when I can, so check 'em out: http://www.bruceduffie.com Kathy's Solo Exhibit went well, and I'll be putting a few pictures on her site soon: http://www.kathycunningham.com Thanks again for all your kind wishes. (Bruce Duffie, June 4, via KB9NXD Michael A. Mathis, IL, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO JOINS WAUKEGAN SALUTE TO JACK BENNY Feder column in Chicago Sun-Times When the city of Waukegan honors its favorite son by dedicating a new statue of legendary comedian and Radio Hall of Famer Jack Benny, Chuck Schaden will be there to celebrate with a special edition of "Those Were the Days" from 1 to 5 p.m. [CDT] Saturday on WDCB-FM (90.9). Schaden will broadcast his old-time radio showcase across from Jack Benny Plaza at the corner of Clayton and Genesee. He'll feature a 1937 edition of "The Jack Benny Program" in which Benny reminisces about his boyhood in Waukegan and a 1939 edition in which he plans a trip back to his hometown. Schaden also will rerun a 1994 special marking what would have been Benny's 100th birthday (or, perhaps more correctly, the 61th anniversary of his 39th birthday). "Those Were the Days" also can be heard on the Internet at: http://www.wdcb.org (via Daniel Say, BC, June 5, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. STUDENT CONTEST/RADIO REBELDE Maybe you can give this some publicity for listeners in the D.C. area.... Over the past few months, I've been in touch with Danny Corbett, a high school teacher in Texas, whose students were doing a project on clandestine radio, and especially on the story of Radio Rebelde in Cuba. His group won second prize in the Texas state competition for group projects. They will be competing at the national level next week. For any one in the Washington DC area who might be interested in seeing their excellent display on clandestine radio & Radio Rebelde, here are the details of where and when: Mr. Moore: The contest is held at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. The exhibits will be on display in the upstairs ballroom in Stamp Student Union. This building is located on Campus Drive which is the main street if you enter from the main entrance on U.S. Highway 1. Stamp Union is on the right before you get to Cole Fieldhouse. We will be setting up the exhibit on Sunday, June 9th in the evening. We will be there (in the ballroom Stamp Union) from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. [EDT] There is also a public viewing of all the exhibits on Wednesday, June 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Awards Ceremony is on June 13th from 9:00 a.m to 12:00 noon. I hope this information is helpful. Once again, thanks for all your help. We have enjoyed researching this very interesting topic. Danny (via Don Moore) If you would like to check out the article on my website that was in part used in preparing their project, it is at: http://members.tripod.com/donmoore/central/cuba.html (Don Moore, IA, June 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AREA RADIO STATIONS WANT PIRATES STOPPED By Susan Port, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, June 5, 2002 WEST PALM BEACH -- Lissette Díaz says she's fed up. The station manager for radio station WPSP-AM 1190, which features Spanish music and talk during the day and Creole at night and weekends, says so-called "pirate" stations have been unfairly competing for her advertising dollars and listeners for the past four years. The unlicensed broadcasters, who feature shows in Creole, have been kicked off the airwaves repeatedly, only to return after a short period of time or to be replaced by another ambitious operator who uses a cheap FM transmitter to go live, she said. "They are hurting the legal stations in Palm Beach County, and it's not fair to us," said Díaz, of West Palm Beach-based WPSP. "We go by the rules, and we pay for licenses, and we pay for the rights to play music. A delinquent can go steal airtime and go after the station's clients." Although Díaz's AM broadcasts are not directly affected by the pirates, who operate only on FM, her station loses revenue when a client drops its ads because its message is getting out on the pirate station. Pirate stations, in fact, are rife throughout the region, said a top Federal Communication Commission official who did not want to be named. "There is a plethora of unlicensed radio operators in South Florida," he said. Pirate broadcasters, because they operate outside the purview of the FCC, send out their signals from basements, traveling vans or anywhere else they can set up shop, the FCC official said. Using only a microphone and an FM transmitter, the pirate needs only know something about radio frequencies before going live. Transmitters sell for $7,000 and up, but some go for as little as a couple of hundred dollars on the Internet. Another station manager, Helen Horton of Stuart-based WHLG-FM "Coast" 101.3, has spoken to her attorney in Washington to see whether more legal action can be brought to bear on the pirates or the FCC. Horton said she spent $1.2 million to launch her station four years ago, and pirates operating close to her frequency have been interfering with her signal. Horton said she has complained to the FCC numerous times, without result. On Tuesday, however, FCC officials from the Tampa office were visiting Horton, who said she is considering a trip to Washington to see whether something else can be done sooner. "This should not be taken lightly," she said. "This has been allowed to go on for too long. The FCC should be protecting its licensees from this." Coast 103.1 is supposed to reach an estimated 400,000 listeners in the swath from south Palm Beach County to Sebastian. A pirate station cuts into Horton's revenue when advertisers who pay to be heard in Palm Beach County cannot be picked up south of Martin County. "The consequences for me are terrible," Horton said. "Every four to five months, I think they've put a stop to it, and then I'm encountering the problem again." In 1999, the FCC shut down three Spanish-language stations in Palm Beach County transmitting illegally on FM frequencies 88.5, 88.7 and 96.1. Federal agents confiscated the pirate stations' equipment. Díaz, of WPSP, said illegal operators also can be heard on FM frequencies 95.1, 101.1 and 104.9. "We are on top of them and investigating them," the FCC official said. South Florida's pirates are mostly members of minority ethnic communities who want to be on the radio but don't have the means or desire to do it legally, he said. It costs each radio station several thousand dollars a year to keep its license, and broadcasters also have to undergo extensive criminal and credit checks, said Greg Wyatt, co-owner of WPSL-AM 1590, WIRA-AM 1400 and WSTU-AM 1450, all in Port St. Lucie. "We pay annual fees just to breathe," Wyatt said. Díaz said she, like Horton, is considering legal action if the problem continues. "We will do whatever it takes to get the pirates off the air," she said (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** U S A. SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS: AM ON THE AIR FROM HAMCOM If you are one of those hams who still gets a thrill when you hear full carrier A-M transmissions, listen up. his one is for you. Bob Peters, K1J, reports that Chapter 207 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association is sponsoring an A-M special event station. This, at the HAMCOM convention in Arlington, Texas on June 7 and 8. Peters says that station W-5-A will be located in the commercial exhibits area and will operate on 3.880 MHz and 7.290 daily from early morning until about 5 P-M both days. He says that anyone attending HAMCOM is welcome to drop by and operate. If you can't but do make contact on the air, a joint Q-C-W-A and HAMCOM QSL will be available for an S-A-S-E. Follow the Q-S-L directions given on the air. Again that's station W-5-A on A-M from the Arlington Convention Center June 7 and 8 (QCWA via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. SUSPENDED VOICE OF VIETNAM HEAD REPLACED | Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA web site Hanoi, 3 June: Vu Hien, editor-in-chief of Tap Chi Cong San (Communist Review), has been made the director-general of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) radio station. Hien takes the post in replacement of Tran Mai Hanh, who was suspended pending an investigation into his links with a notorious underworld gang. Hien, who is also a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, was appointed under a decision made by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on 31 May. The same day, at a special meeting of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) Executive Board, Hien, who is member of the board, was named permanent member of the VJA Executive Board in replacement of Do Khanh Toan. Tran Mai Hanh, together with Pham Si Chien, deputy head of the People's Supreme Procuracy, was suspended to review suspicious signs related to lobbying for reduction of notorious gang kingpin Truong Van Cam's crimes, ranging from murder to gambling, fraud and usury. Source: VNA news agency web site, Hanoi, in English 3 Jun 02 The headline prompts me to visualize a body with a head suspended from it being replaced with another one... I`ll bet Hanh was responsible for all those spurs on 13 MHz too (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6715-USB: Direction finding sources in Europe told me a lobe and [back lobe] direction of 224 and 044 degrees; that fits the path line of Canary Islands, Argentina/Chile, Wellington, New Zealand, Seoul, Irkutsk, from Europe. Broadcasting time of about 19-21 UT would suggest an audience in W Europe and on the Korean Fishing fleet vessels in the C&S Atlantic, and maybe Brazil?? (Wolfgang Büschel, BC- DX Jun 3 via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-091, June 3, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1133: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1133.html NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB MUNDO RADIAL en WWCR: Nos informaron el término de la repetición de los lunes a las 2130 en 15825 – sin embargo y no obstante, nos escuchamos en ese horario el 3 de junio (G. Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Robert, S53R/YA5T, is expected to be back in YA-land as of this past Sunday. He is bringing with him a new IC-746PRO, IC- PW1 and some extra aluminum. Also, he is carrying a 4 element 6m yagi. He hopes to put YA on the 6m map! To make sure he works as many as possible in the U.S. this time, Robert also has a 3 element 10/12/15 meters yagi (his design, single band but only takes a few minutes to retune any 3 bands) in his luggage and will put it up soon. He states propagation to U.S. is perfect during the summer from about 0130 to 0330z and again in the evening hours in YA-land. He also plans to do much more SSB this time. They have some 22,000 QSOs on CW and only about 4,500 on SSB. Meanwhile, Chris, YA/G0TQJ, is active from Kabul until the end of July. QSL via his home callsign either via the Bureau or direct to: C.M. Vernon, 66 Kesteven Road, Stamford, Lincs PE9 1SU, England (KB8NW/OPDX June 3/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. KABUL TV AIRS PIRATE TAPE OF WORLD CUP MATCH | Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Kabul, 2 June: Afghanistan's Kabul Television on Saturday night [1 June] aired unannounced a taped World Cup soccer match between Germany and Saudi Arabia, played the same day in Japan, to the surprise and delight of soccer fans in the nation. An official at the state-run television station said the tape was brought in by an anonymous young man, and said the station is intent on airing more matches so long as the man brings in more tapes, shrugging off potential problems stemming from the station's violation of broadcast rights. A 28-year-old bank employee who happened to see the match on TV said: "I first thought it was a taped World Cup match from a few years ago but it turned out to be a match from this year. I was quite surprised." According to the official, an Afghan man living in Kabul came to the station Saturday morning and requested that the station broadcast World Cup matches now being played in Japan and South Korea. The official told the man the station's satellite antenna for receiving programmes was damaged during the civil war and the station could therefore not air any matches. The man left, and returned with a videotape of the match aired on a satellite broadcasting service, the official said. The official checked the tape and edited it down to a 40-minute version before running it. Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1048 gmt 2 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. NORWAY(?)/AFGHANISTAN. Just now I am listening to 18940 kHz and after some Qur`an recitations before the hour (1600) the station clearly identified as "Radio Afghanistan". Very good strength! Best wishes from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Cland Psyops 8700 towards Afghanistan 1700 May 27, Afghan version of 'bailemos El Bimbol'. Signal lower than S1 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. From rec.radio.shortwave Radio VNG is Australia's standard frequency and time signal service. This service provides a signal of moderate accuracy (1 millisecond) that can be readily accessed with inexpensive equipment. As it is seems likely that Radio VNG will not continue beyond 30 June 2002, due to obsolescent technology, replacement options are currently being considered, including the use of the radio-pager network. Radio VNG is broadcast from the AirServices Australia, International Transmitting Station, located at Llandilo, NSW, position 33 42' 52" S, 150 47' 33" E. http://www.nsc.gov.au/PAGES/Pol (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6085.5, 18.5 2332, SS with religious px - definitely CP229 R. San Gabriel, La Paz which I have chased for several 10-years. Munchen-Ismaning were away this evening and the LA-condx were good - a fine combination. I had no reason to use the tape recorder. But there is a NB for Family Radio having SS on the frequency. TBV (Tore B. Vik, Norway, SW Bulletin June 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11915.06, 0233-, R. Gaúcha Jun 2 Suffering from a lot of atmospheric noise, still in the clear with lots of ads and jingles. Best on LSB. 11924.988, 0200-, R. Bandeirantes Jun 2 Time pips coming up to top of hour with soccer play by play with prolonged 'scores' in Portuguese. Nothing like it anywhere else! Frequent mentions of Brasil. Very lively programming! Parallel to 9.645.156 which is better. 6090 is just audible under Anguilla. Time pips again on the quarter hour. A variable week, with the main area of interest appears to be very nice openings to Brazil during our late afternoons and evenings. Not an area I usually monitor, but with conditions otherwise spotty, and with the world cup of soccer happening, nonetheless interesting (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. New QSL: Rádio Senado, 5990; after 105 days the radio confirmed with nice letter and staff photos, v/s Lourdes Maria V.G. Carneiro - Chefe da Administração. Addr. Praça dos Três Poderes, Anexo II Bloco B - Térreo, Brasília - DF 70165-900 73, (Daniele Canonica, Switzerland, JRC 535 D, T2FD 25 meters, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Spur, 6624, R Bulgaria at S4 //5796 at S4 // 828 May 27 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time? what is the 5796 transmitter the MW is mixing with? (gh, DXLD) {see item at very bottom of this TD file! 828 x 7 (not 5) = 5796, 828 x 8 = 6624} ** CANADA. The lockout by the CBC of its programming staff in Québec has ended, and regular programming on RCI is to resume Monday 27 May. That lockout sure was hard on me! (David Crystal, 19125 Israel, circa May 26, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** CENTRAL AMERICA/CARIBBEAN. Have a look at my page at http://hydra.carleton.ca/ambc/amdx-ca.html It has a list of Caribbean and Central American stations reported heard by NA DXers in the past couple of years, and also some useful links (Barry McLarnon, Canada, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6010, R. Parinacota, Putre-Arica, June 1st, 2310-2335, Spanish, international pop songs, time announcements, ID. SINPO 22322. Recorded ID (rm-file of 53 KB for all those, who don't believe it) [Later:] Hello once again, are there two active stations now on 6010 at different times? Or does R. Parinacota relay program parts of R. Cooperativa? What's going on here? According to the Parinacota web site "El Diario de Cooperativa" is running from 9.00 to 13.00 (local time?). [Later2:] I think 6010 is R. Parinacota from Putre in the very north of Chile. Cooperativa is just a part of a program title ("El diario de Cooperativa"). More information can be found on the Parinacota homepage http://www.multired.com/musica/Parinacotafm/ vy 73 (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 6010, June 2, 2330, Radio Parinacota, Putre, relay of Radio Cooperativa with football, football and more football. It was Sunday after all. Games was all local, just a few references World Cup, where Chile is not playing this time. At 0100 a px of spiritual songs well heard until Radio Canada International signed on at 0128. QSA 2-3 (Johan Berglund, AOR AR7030, with LW and K9AY, Trollhättan, Sweden, June 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CHILE. Scamusica, tentative, 47900-FM, Santiago, April 19 at 2340-, nonstop instrumental music, no announcement. This is a backround music radio (Hideki Watanabe, Saitama, Japan, May Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) Probably in that list we referenced a few weeks ago (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 9550, 29-30.5; Is Radio Okapi really there on a regular basis or only temporary? Then it should be heard. Here are among others only Bangladesh, VOA, an Eastern Asian and most of all Cuba, but sometimes the frequency is nearly clean, just some minor splash and the other stations are often fairly weak. When for instance UNAMSIL 6137.85 can`t [sic] be heard "regularly" Also Okapi ought to be heard. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. An undated QSL from Faro del Caribe via Hideki Watanabe is headed in large type, `TICF` -- evidently a typo by the printer not important enough to correct (Glenn Hauser, looking at May Radio Nuevo Mundo for DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6249.35, R. Bata, 1817 May 25 with hilife songs. Talks by OM in vernacular. Signal S8, audible in AM narrow or LSB only. Korea is now on 6250.55 with mean level of S7-8 and unknown FSK type co channel (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Cf DXLD in CIDX Messenger May: You were right. Capital Weekend in English is on Saturdays at 1000-1100 on 15530 and 21520, heard 25 May. Reception good enough to be enjoyable. Unusual to find a program almost a whole hour long on one subject. Mainly intended for broadcast over FM in Helsinki (David Crystal, 19125 Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3291.25, 0611-, R. Guyana Jun 2 Fairly well heard, except for the static crashes, with BBC WS news. Sport news at 0621. Noted to be parallel to BBCWS on 12095. Continues with same past 0630 with information re India/Pakistan crisis. Gradually improving signal (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3291.3, Voice of Guyana, Georgetown, June 2nd, 0025-0040, English, oldies of the 60ies, presumed ID, utility-QRM, religious program after 0030. SINPO 22322 Bye (Michael Schnitzer, Hassfurt, Germany, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NEW WRN - ENGLISH SERVICE FOR SOUTH AMERICA Monday, 3 June 2002 World Radio Network has launched a new English service that is receivable in South America via satellite Launched on Monday May 27 2002, WRN's South American service joins the broadcaster's other English networks to North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. WRN in South America is available on the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees West, with a Ku-band footprint that covers all of South and Central America. The network features many of the popular programmes enjoyed by thousands of WRN listeners around the world including Newsline from Radio Netherlands, The World from Public Radio International, Canada Today from Radio Canada International, Sportsworld from China Radio International, Pacific Beat from Radio Australia and Dateline Africa from Channel Africa (via Mike Terry, DXLD) As in a previous press release. Some weeks before that, we had news from WRN that it had already started, using the Af/As/Au programme feed, including WOR Sat 0800, which might be inconveniently timed for SAm, and this is still the case, per schedule dated May 27. A different feed, e.g. same as NAm with closer timezones might be preferable (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) How to Hear WRN - South America Via direct-to-home satellite WRN English and WRN Multi-lingual may be received throughout South America. WRN is broadcast on Telstar 12, 15 degrees West, 11.974 GHz, Vertical-Pol, MPEG2 DVB, Symbol Rate 3,400 Msym/s, FEC 3/4. Select 'eng-WRN-multi' from audio menu and listen to left hand audio channel for WRN English and the right hand audio channel for WRN Multi- lingual. Recommended dish sizes for optimum reception range from between 1.8 and 2.4 meter depending on location. By connecting a satellite receiver to a stereo system WRN may be heard without switching on the TV set. It is also now possible to purchase legal wireless devices operating at 863 MHz to send audio from satellite receivers to special headphones (WRN via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. RECORDS AT SEA - A REVIEW BY JAYBEE Now to that book I keep on telling you I'm going to review on the line. I finally managed to get time to finish reading it yesterday. Entitled RECORDS AT SEA and published by Mike Weston it is Mike's own tribute to the Ross Revenge. It is a 72 page A5 format booklet with glossy card cover with a nice colour photo of the Ross in her original radio ship form complete with 300ft mast. The back cover shows her as she ended up with the two separate towers. There are also 24 other black and white photos, pictures and diagrams in the book. The book has been produced in 3 parts, each divided into several short chapters. The first part deals with the ship's trawling days, but also takes a look at how the trawling industry developed in the UK. It takes a look at the life of the fishing crews and if you aren't already aware of the conditions under which they had to work then this may well open your eyes a little. You'll discover a little about the Ross's days as a trawler that might make you see her in a different light when visiting next time. Part 2 deals with the broadcasting period and this will probably not tell you much that you do not already know if you are a die hard offshore radio enthusiast. It does however serve to refresh the memory about the order of events, particularly towards the end of her days at sea. Interestingly Mike adds his own thoughts about the way he'd like to see the ship go in the future. These are very much in line with my own thoughts and although Mike makes it clear these are not necessarily those of the Caroline Organisation there is no doubt that the booklet will reach many new supporters and hopefully make them think along similar lines. The last section is a guided tour of the ship. You might not think this will tell you much if you've already visited the ship at sea, but Mike has been a tour guide on the ship during her recent opening periods. He can certainly tell us all a few things about the vessel and you might find a few surprises here. The book ends with details of how you can support the continued renovation of the ship and possible ideas for her future. Mike was one of our most enthusiastic CM members and gave the ship direct assistance in the days when she was at sea. He is too modest to admit directly to his assistance, but lets just say that there is a photo on page 63 that encapsulates the sort of help Mike gave in her days at sea. Mike and his wife Rosemary have since assisted on numerous occasions during the ship's restoration in particular with guided tours and manning the sales shop. Both Mike and Rosemary are firm believers in the L.A. concept and this book has been Mike's attempt to give something back to the cause in his own use of L.A. Published in February this year it is pretty well up to date with the latest details of Caroline's broadcasting career. The book was produced with assistance from the National Lottery "Awards for All" scheme. All profits are to go to Radio Caroline Sales to aid the continued upkeep of the ship. JAYBEE ENTERPRISES, AVERCOMBE, 28 BELMONT ROAD, ILFRACOMBE, DEVON, EX34 8DR. (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAN. UNIDENTIFIED, 9745 kHz, 1900-1925 UT, what appears to be Iran, possibly with some sort of test transmission in unconfirmed language. First heard by Tony Rogers on 1st and 2nd June, and heard by both of us on 3rd June. Signs on at 1900 with IRIB tune, then into lively electronic music with announcements in unconfirmed language, possibly Hebrew. Included in the announcements are mentions of "Iran, Tehran", an e-mail address which sounds like "kol-david@i..." [truncated] and frequent mentions of what sounds like "sheva". Off abruptly at 1925 tonight. Any ideas? (Dave Kenny, Caversham, 3 June 2002, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Sure, why not the `Ebri` service from Tehran which used to be scheduled at this time, but was not actually in Hebrew at the outset (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. BAREL APPROVED AS NEW IBA HEAD Jun. 2, 2002, Jerusalem Post, By GREER FAY CASHMAN The government yesterday approved the appointment of Yosef Barel as director-general of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. He had been appointed acting director-general in mid-March by Minister-without- Portfolio Ra'anan Cohen, responsible for implementation of the Broadcasting Authority Law. The cabinet voted 13 to one in favor of his appointment, with Regional Cooperation Minister Roni Milo being the dissenting vote. Since becoming acting director-general, Barel has issued a directive removing the word "settler" from the lexicon of Israel Radio and Israel Television news readers. He said he considers the word to be pejorative. In the interest of objectivity, he said, it was preferable to say where individuals being referred to live, instead of labeling them. In April, Barel reprimanded Channel 1 news for being "too soft" on UN special envoy to the Middle East Terje Larsen during an interview. Larsen had used the occasion to lambaste the IDF for its actions in Jenin. Barel subsequently demanded to see a list of interviewees slated for news programs ahead of time. Last week, a committee headed by retired judge Yitzhak Revivi approved Barel's appointment. The appointment was under special scrutiny due to an Attorney-General's Office ruling that appointments of senior management past retirement age require special review. The IBA's board of directors had already said the 68-year-old Barel is fit for the job despite his age. Barel was awarded the Israel Prize in recognition of his achievements when he headed the IBA's Arabic Television Department. Since then, he has also headed Channel 33 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, June 3, DXLD) Any hints where he stands on the issue of maintaining external SW broadcasting, or is that not a direct concern of his? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. (spur) 10000, R. Amman, 1835 May 23, with Arabic song, talks and again talks //9830. Discussion with a doctor Ashad Takika, Program close with AR song. ID with 'Idaatu hasemiya min Amman' Parallel checked with HF150. Signal of 10 MHz was S9 but was as 32432 due to time signal, while 9830 was 55445 with S9+30 to 50 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. On Saturday, North Korea broadcast the opening match of the World Cup finals between France and Senegal, which was held in the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday, foreign residents in Pyongyang said yesterday. It is not known whether the North bought the right to broadcast World Cup matches and whether it will continue to air the games. North Korean residents are not allowed to watch television programs by South Korea, while some North Korean television programs have featured in the South (From The Korea Herald 2002.06.03 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Ed, P5/4L4FN, is expected to be more active this summer. He made his first 6 meter contact this past week on May 26th with JJ2GAZ. Over the past week, Ed has made some 100 QSOs on 6 meters (according to the KK5DO Web site). He continues to be active on 15 meters SSB on 21225 kHz usually after 2130z (KB8NW/OPDX June 3/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Look for some Korean amateurs to be using special prefixes until June 30th to celebrate the 17th FIFA World Football (soccer) Cup. Operators will drop their number designator for the number 17 (For example HL3AMO will become HL17AMO). Also, club stations will replace the zero (0) in their prefixes with 17 (KB8NW/OPDX June 3/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI program schedule: 1130-1225 on 9650 via Canada: 1130 daily NEWS 1140 Sun Korean Pop Interactive (requests) M-F News Commentary Sat Seoul Report (week in review) 1145 M-F Seoul Calling (magazine) 1200 Sun Multiwave Feedback (letters, DX News) [actually about 1207?] Mon Exploring the New Millennium Tue Cultural Promenade Wed Economic Radar Thu Korea and Its Splendors Fri Notes of Nostalgia (traditional music) Sat From Us to You (letters) Same lineup repeated next UT day at 0200-0255 on 9560 (John Figliozzi, SWL Program Guide, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** LIBYA. (spur) 7640, 'Sawt el arab' Max signal S5 May 27 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time? Spur of what? That ID is normally associated with Cairo (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 9704.91, 0309-, R. MEXICO INTERNATIONAL, Jun 2. Ending Spanish language programming at 0304, and into English. Solid S9 signal, then into mailbag program in English. Parallel 11770.12 slightly stronger, but both suffering from some adjacent splatter. (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. QSL card from Radio Nepal. Reception on 7165 kHz, sent a report more than a year ago (reception on 11 Jan 2001, during the Italian AIR Contest). Pokhara town is featured. Verification form was created by laser printer, but the card's surface is too smooth, so some letters have been dropped away already... Date-Time-Freq written manually, signed by Rjkarki. It's my 114th radio country (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal June 3 via DXLD) A QSL dropped in: Radio Nepal, 5005, full data QSL-card, though the stamp had been stolen and most of the print had flaked off - you should see it! But who cares? For a report in December 2002 with tape enclosed. 73 (Johan Berglund, AOR AR7030, with LW and K9AY, Trollhättan, Sweden, June 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. QSL card from Radio Pakistan. 9395 kHz. Electronic report sent to: cfmpbchq@isb.comsats.net.pk 65 days passed. Photo with explanation: "Naran is situated in high Mountain's ranges in Kaghan Valley in the province of N.W.F.P" (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal June 3 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Port Moresby seems to have reactivated 3290 after a long time off; heard in vernacular, but no ID, around 1030 June 2. Also checked in morning around 1930, when it should be on, but only hear Madagascar 3288 on its extended schedule (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Used to be known as R. Central (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [non]. ENFORCEMENT: AIRBORNE UNLICENSED STATION BUSTED Hams down-under have busted an unlicensed operator who was not only on the air, but also in the air. Rick Wornett, P29KFS, reports from Port Moresby: -- For many years a non-qualified person has used the callsign P29VS from locations all over Australia. When you find this unlicensed operation extending to aeronautical mobile mode and being used all over Australia, even the most un-informed amateur must start to ask questions. But no. For years this pirate operation has gone un-reported by VK amateurs, many of whom talked daily with P29VS at either a fixed location in Victoria or aeromobile from various jet routes across Australia. None of these licensed amateurs, supposedly aware of the terms of their license and the limitations of operating with a foreign call, ever queried the use of a P29 call in Australia. In view of his long and un-challenged operating history, it is only fitting that the pirate should be closed down by P29 amateurs monitoring, providing evidence and insisting that something be done by your ACA. First heard some years ago while mobile over Western Australia, the callsign was monitored recently and consistently on Tony`s net on 14mHz. The P29 radio society queried PNG`s administration and was informed that the call had never been issued. In fact this had been determined long ago when an attempt was made to have a PNG license issued. Further work including recordings of callsigns and place names identified the operation as being within Australia. Action taken by the ACA in Victoria has now terminated the operation. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m P29KFS, Rick Warnett, IARU chairman P29. -- The airline that the unlicensed operator works for was not revealed. (Q-News via Amateur Radio Newsline May 31 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES (Special Prefixes). Robin, DU9RG, informs OPDX that from now through December 31, 2002, DU stations are authorized to use the special prefixes 4D70 (for individual callsigns) and DZ70 (for club callsigns). These special prefixes have been authorized in connection with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA). (KB8NW/OPDX June 3/BARF- 80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 17815, 0220-, R. ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL, Jun 2. Very nice S7+ signal and good modulation in English, despite being beamed to Australia. Cultural program. No other frequency was useable at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 3923.65, 20.5 2030 Radio Samordinka in ENGLISH. Quite incomprehensible and also splashed, but it was about "New Russian Criminal Court" and the time after Gorbatjov. They also gave away a "CQ", but no one caught the thread for some discussions. At 2042 probably Gorbatjov himself came and confiscated the transmitter; it was dead silent in the middle of a sentence ... QSA 2. JE/RFK (Jan Edh, Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. "KremlinKam is dead," announced its owner, Charles Boensch, of Ergo Alliance Ltd. Thank you, dear visitors, for making KremlinKam the 7th most popular web camera of its kind in the world. People from many countries found it to be of cultural, educational, and historical value - as well as a fun place to visit. Many school children found it helpful in their studies. KremlinKam was even featured in USA Today and recognized by Discovery.com. It was visited by over 3 million people. Due to political and corporate turmoil, management within MOSENERGO changed, and for no other rational reason than mean-spiritedness, one functionary had our camera jerked from a perfect vantage point atop an unused structure. Another person reportedly accused KremlinKam as being a "spy camera," as if a cruise missile couldn't pinpoint, with infinitely more accuracy, the Kremlin using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and terrain mapping to accomplish a nuclear catastrophe! KremlinKam was just an ordinary (although very expensive) outdoor website. It never made anybody any money; it was there because so many people enjoyed seeing such a beautiful picture. "I personally believe that KremlinKam was taken off due to mismanagement of Delta Capital and The U.S. Russia Investment Fund (TUSRIF), who took control of Multi-Page, Russia's largest paging company and main sponsor of KremlinKam, together with new senior staff, within MOSENERGO," said Charles Boensch, former General Director and founding partner of Multi-Page, and visionary who first established KremlinKam. KremlinKam is dead, all because, and because primarily, of MOSENERGO, the monopolistic electricity and hot water provider to Moscow and the surrounding region. "How such a large, 50,000 person corporate structure could do such a thoughtless act is beyond my comprehension, given its financial visibility around the world and its market trading," said Boensch, who added that stock traders and investment bankers routinely visited KremlinKam. "MOSENERGO never paid a dime; but it did generously offer a fine vantage point, under the prior MOSENERGO president, who liked the idea of culture and positive international exposure," said Charles Boensch. KremlinKam became a victim of simple politics, corporate or political, denying the world one of the most unique images anywhere: The beauty of St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin wall, for cultural, educational, and historical and other non-threatening purposes. The ActiveVision KremlinKam weatherproof camera itself can be remounted quickly, but without the willingness of MOSENERGO staff members to think about its far-reaching implications, it won't happen. Goodbye, KremlinKam Those who wish to comment on this sad event or express any comments are welcomed to email kreml-@yahoo.com [truncated] KremlinKam is a registered trademark of Ergo Alliance Limited © 1997-2002 All rights reserved (via Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. Glenn, My take on the timing of the Tchaikovsky competition is that those who follow it are unlikely to care too much about the World Cup. BTW, PBS had an excellent feature back in 1986 or 1990, I think, which followed some of the Tchaikovsky competitors as they worked their way through the competition. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) True, but that would lead to its being scheduled regardless of the WC, instead of deliberately to coincide with it..? Never mind (gh) ** SAINT LUCIA. R. St. Lucia - 660 - Nice letter confirming that it was they who were playing VOA Music Mix last March when WFAN-660 was off. V/s Garfield Alexander said he was surprised I heard them given that they are currently operating at only 3K watts, not 25K, and he requested a tape of the reception. He mentioned reports from Paul Ormandy in NZ, Wolfgang Gargitter in Austria, and Greg Myers in Florida (Rick Kenneally, Wilton CT, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE [non]. TWR Swaziland, 6135.93, at 1906 gospel song, talk in African language. Weak signal, splash from 6140-RAI carrier on a 1908 with IS, SIO 222 May 1 (Tony Rogers, UK, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Of interest only as a possible confusion to those seeking R. UNAMSIL, even further off frequency at 6137.84v (gh, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. Already a few years ago former SBC and other media were completely reorganized into an umbrella organization and various branch companies for the services provided. The multitude of radio channels are under the control of MediaCorp Radio. This is reflected in WRTH 2002, which you may not have (Olle Alm, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Re: your comment/query on the name of the domestic service in Singapore. SBC was the old name used from 1980 to about 1994 for both the radio and TV services. In 1994, different names were adopted for the two services, i.e. Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS) and Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). Standard canned IDs for all RCS radio stations was "You are listening to the Radio Corporation of Singapore" followed by the name of the station. In 2001, the names were again changed to Mediacorp Radio and Mediacorp TV. Along with RSI and other commercial outfits (a newspaper, magazines and advertising subsidiaries), they form the Media Corporation of Singapore. The name change was in response to competition from a new media group "Media Works" which now operates two TV channels, two FM radio channels, nearly all newspapers and a wide range of magazines in Singapore. (Richard Lam, Singapore, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK; I haven`t listened much to it myself, but sure thought people were reporting it as `SBC Radio One`, etc., a lot more recently than 1994 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. RSI, English to NAm 0100-0130 on 5930, 6190, 9440, UT days strictly: 0100 Tue-Sat NEWS, Mon SUNDAY NEWSREEL 0105 Sun INSIGHT CENTRAL EUROPE, Tue-Sat TOPICAL ISSUE 0110 Mon LISTENERS TRIBUNE (letters, Slovak music) Tue TOURISM AND LOCAL LIFE Wed SPORT Thu BUSINESS Fri CULTURE Sat HISTORY (John Figliozzi, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Radio Hargeisa --- 7530 non Hargeisa ? [sounds like the Chinese music jammer on 7530 confusing people about whether they are hearing Hargeisa --- gh] Auf 7530 ist von 1800z-1900z oft chinesische (?) Musik zu hören. Ich dachte erst, da sei eine der vielen Frequenzen von CNR, bis mir auf- fiel, daß diese Musik ohne Ansage um 1800 beginnt und dann nonstop bis kurz nach 1900 andauert. Dann verschwindet diese Station ohne Absage. Es ist (zumindest für meine Ohren) auch jedesmal dasselbe Stück. Hat dort schon mal jemand etwa einen Zahlensender o.ä. gehört ? Oder soll damit eine Clandestine-Station unterdrückt werden? Eine Rundfunkstation würde vielleicht mal einen Id oder einen Wortbeitrag senden (M. Zwoch-D May 27, 2002 in A-DX) Hallo Matthias, da hast Du schon dasselbe wie ich beobachtet. Die Musik klang schon ein wenig asiatisch. Da ich mich mit somalischem Musikgut nun nicht so genau auskenne... Ich denke aber die haben dort schon irgendwie einen arabischen Einschlag in der Kultur und Musik. Und als arabisch konnte man die Musik eigentlich auch be- zeichnen. Keinerlei Ansagen, ich konnte aber auch keine Interferenz durch einen anderen Sender feststellen. Da ich denen ja eine Cas- sette mit ca. 30 Minuten Mitschnitt geschickt habe und die QSL ja auch prompt kam, glaube ich schon, dass es Hargeisa war, was ich hörte! Warum sollten die sonst bestätigen? Kann sei, das der Sender dort Probleme hat und eben nur jeden Tag dasselbe Tape mit Musik zurzeit spielt. Nach dem verschwinden der Musik, so ca. 19.20 UTC stand der Träger noch fast 10 Minuten auf 7530, auch da keinerlei andere Station drunter! Wie dem auch sei, wir werden es wohl noch ergründen... (W. Fiedler-D May 27, 2002 in A-DX) Ich hatte den Sender als "non-Hargeisa" einsortiert, weil dort ges- tern bis 1800 tatsächlich tent. Hargeisa mit Px in Vn unter ziemli- chem QRM zu hören war. Tent. da ich keinen Id. hörte. Um 1800 wurde dann tent. Hargeisa von der beobachteten Musiksendung weggewischt. Dieses Signal ist viel stärker und die mx. entspricht m.E. eher China oder Mongolei. Vielleicht hört mal jemand rein, der den Stil der Horn-of-Africa mx genauer beurteilen kann (M. Zwoch-D May 27, 2002 in A-DX) Das ist auf http://hfradio.org/hffreq/ zu finden: 7530.00 1500-1930 Radio Hargeysa SOMALIA 1234567 Somali 7530.00 1700-2000 CNR Jammer CHINA 1234567 Mandarin Music (H. Meixner-AUT May 28, 2002 in A-DX) Was ich derzeit (1830z) mit S9+ und QSB auf 7530 kHz höre, ist mit Sicherheit nicht Somalia. Außerdem war Hargeisa immer nun in USB + Träger zu hören (H. Kuhl-D May 28, 2002 in A-DX) [..] Somalische Musik hört sich für unsere Ohren wie Klagelieder an, noch anders als die fröhlicher klingenden "Habibi, Habibi" Gesänge der Araber. Obwohl natürlich der arabische Einfluß sehr deutlich hörbar ist. [..] Eine Möglichkeit: Es war nicht Baldur Drobnica, der das Band abgehört hat. Baldur ist z.Zt. wohl unten im Land auf DXpedition, zumindestens sagte mir Nils Schiffhauer letzte Woche am Telefon, daß er Baldur gerade gearbeitet hätte. Gerade eben (1630 UTC) ist nix auszumachen, mal abwarten, ob um 1700 UTC was kommt (M. Elbe-D May 28, 2002 in A-DX) Log : R. Hargeisha gerade eben (1850 UTC) mit dem Auslandsdienst für China. Non-Stop instrumentale chinesische Musik ;-) (M. Elbe-D May 28, 2002 in A-DX) [..] Das läßt sich doch leicht anhand der Unterschrift auf der QSL feststellen. Baldur war auf jeden Fall "nur" vom 9. bis 14. Mai 2002 aus Somaliland unter dem Rufzeichen 6O0X aktiv, vielleicht war Nils' DX-Meldung nicht mehr so ganz top-aktuell ;-) Der Empfangsbericht von OM Wolf datierte ja schon nach Baldurs DXpedition (F. Riess-D May 28, 2002 in A-DX) Vielleicht kann ich zur Klärung noch was beitragen: Habe mir die Unterschrift auf der QSL noch einmal genau angesehen, da steht auf alle Fälle Drobnica! Den Vornamen Baldur kann ich aber beim besten Willen nicht aus der Unterschrift rauslesen. Entweder der Herr hat mehrere Vornamen, oder da hat jemand anderes aus der Familie, eventuell ohne die Cassette genau zu prüfen, den Report bestätigt und unterschrieben!? Kennt denn jemand aus der Liste Baldur? Mir wäre es schon wichtig, ob die QSL nun "echt" ist, oder nur ein schönes Stück Papier! (W. Fiedler-D May 29, 2002 in A-DX) Also auf meiner QSL(erhalten am 4. Mai) ist der v/s auch Drobnica, der 2. Teil liest sich aber eher wie Konsul (sollte er das vieleicht sein?) und nicht als Baldur. Programm bei meinem Empfang(am 20.4., 19.21 - 19.44 UTC) war uebrigens hauptsaechlich Sprache, wenig Musik und Sendeschluss mit Hymne gefolgt von vermutlich Koran. Ich hatte meinem RR zur Sicherheit auch eine Kassette beigelegt. Ich hatte die Station einige Tage lang "gejagt" und damals festgestellt, dass der Chinese auf 7530 um oder kurz nach 19.00 QRT machte (E. Glantschnig- SUI May 29, 2002 in A-DX) Die Unterschrift ist echt, die QSL ist echt. Baldur ist mit Amt und Siegel offizieller Bevollmächtiger der dortigen Regierung in der Bundesrepublik. Sobald er wieder im Lande ist, wird er uns mehr erzählen - via "Intermedia" (W. Harranth-AUT May 29, 2002 in A-DX) Als ich am 20.03 die Station hörte kam auch non stop Musik die nach somalischer Musik klang, so bis kurz vor 1900 UTC dann kam eine ID die ich nach Anhören des Mitschnittes als Englisch identifizierte "Welcome to Radio Hargheisa,... Republic of Somaliland", es folgte auch eine Sprachsendung, dann Musik und kurz nach 1930 wurde mit einem Korangesang abgeschlossen. Wahrscheinlich ist es nicht immer möglich ein Programm zu moderieren ja ich vermute sogar dass die Station nicht täglich auf Sendung ist, meine Versuche an den dem 20.03 folgenden Tagen schlugen fehl, dies könnte aber auch wieder an den Ausbreitungsbedingungen gelegen sein (E. Bergmann-D May 30 in A-DX) Qsl's - SOMALIA --- Radio Hargeisa Habe am letzten Freitag nach nur 6 Tagen Laufzeit eine sehr schöne QSL-Karte von Radio Hargeisa erhalten. Gehört am 17.5. auf 7530 KHz mit nonstop somalische Musik bis ca. 19.20 UTC, dann close. Keiner- lei Ansagen, Musik passte aber und eine andere Station sendet auch nicht auf 7530. Hatte daraufhin einen Cassetten-Mitschnitt an die "Konsularische Vertretung der Republik Somaliland" via der bekannten deutsche Adresse geschickt. Wer also Somalia bzw. Somaliland noch nicht QSL't hat, das klappt! Empfangsqualität war mittel, keine In- terferenzen (W. Fiedler-D May 27, 2002 in A-DX) The front of the QSL card can be seen in the CRW QSL Gallery at http://www.schoechi.de/bild-cla.html [CRW] Auch ich erhielt heute, fuer eine Cassettenaufnahme des "Auslands- dienstes fuer China" eine detailierte QSL aus Bergheim, nach 4 Ta- gen. Falls also Baldur, wie erwaehnt, zurueck sein sollte aus Soma- liland und die Cassette selber abhoerte, duerfte klar sein, dass die eigenartige Musik doch von Radio hargeisa kam. Auch in meinem Fall gab es keinerlei Ansagen (J. Thiel-D May 31, 2002 in A-DX) (All: via Clandestine Radio Watch June 4 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Glenn, You asked, about Stan Bean (? Beam) "Is any of this confirmed?" (gh, DXLD) I wrote Libby at The Press and Standard, thepress@lowcountry.com and got the following reply. "Mr. Patrick, I spoke with the chief deputy coroner Thursday morning. The autopsy revealed that Mr. Bean died of cerebral herniation, which is bleeding on the brain. Apparently, he had been having problems with seizures for some time. They have nearly conclusively ruled that foul play is not involved. If you know how to get into contact with his family, I would appreciate the information. Maybe they could shed some light on the situation. Best wishes, Libby Roerig, Associate Editor, The Press and Standard" I do not know how to contact the family. Hopefully someone reading this will. I was told that someone else thought he was from Alabama. I'm sure someone at the Overcomer Ministry knows how to contact the family and could be made to release that information! (Al Patrick, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA [non]. IBC Tamil 17496.74, IBC Tamil 1228-1325* May 25 with sub-cont mx, then pips and ID at 1230. Most of the xmsn consisted of talks about India and Pakistan, in presumed Tamil, with a couple of music breaks. Final comments at 1322 and off at 1325. Good signal. Have also seen this listed as via Novosibirsk, but think MAD is correct? (John Wilkins, CO, May 25, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via Clandestine Radio Watch June 4 via DXLD) Do you mean 17494.74? Would not expect either to be almost 2 kHz off- frequency (gh, DXLD) ** SWAN ISLAND. I wanted to make sure you guys saw this. The 1962 Radio Americas / Swan Island QSL card that has been for sale on eBay this week sold tonight for $358.52!!! I believe the seller was in New Zealand. Item # 2107511331. The coded identifier of the purchaser is "thefang". I looked at his ebay history and he has been buying a lot of QSLs and paying surprisingly large prices for some of them (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, June 2-3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 6130, 27.5 1630, China Tibet People's Broadcasting Station, Lhasa with the English programme "Welcome to Holy Tibet" where they told about a monastery in Lhasa. The programme was finished by two questions which I could not get and also the address. Noted with English Saturday and Monday but not Sunday. The station closes down at 1650. Sometimes disturbed by TWR Manzini with programmes in Chewa aimed for Malawi. Today TWR was almost absent. It is really interesting with English from Lhasa! 3 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) As for English programs on Tibet PBS, they are not meant to be an external service, but rather for English speaking foreign tourists in Tibet. You realise, of course, that the station is heard extensively in Tibet on FM and MW. 73s (Richard Lam, Singapore, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. There was a discussion on a Russian-language station using 12508.5 kHz in DXLD of 23 May. Tuned to the mentioned frequency at 1030 25 May - well, that was a known Radio Omega Polis from Sevastopol`, that is transmitted as a background filler on Radio Sevastopol`-5 maritime frequencies. 12508.5 kHz (USB): S7, // 17299 kHz USB: S1...S2. Can I get a QSL from Omega Polis for such a relay, I wonder? (MIDXB No. 269 - Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, Signal via DXLD) I feel the station does not know about those maritime relays, but who knows... I'd write them, anyway - let them get things in order. Concering the QSL, everything depends on station people's goodwill. - (Signal Ed. Dmitri Mezin, via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. 17004-USB, Radio Omega Polis (presumed), 2118, June 3, Noted commercial radio on this utility frequency again. No ID, but I assume it is Radio Omega Polis from Ukraine, since I've logged them here before a few times. Fair to good signal. Off at 2128 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E? 21595, Dubai FM, 1627 May 23 with news in EE, A jingle that seemed to me as 'Dubai FM' with immediate s/off, S6 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I thought they were still off-frequency (gh) 21597.5 in Arabic at 1120 April 21, SIO 444 (David Gascoyne, Staplehurst, Kent, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) 21597.6 in Arabic at 1415 May 6, SIO 333 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, ibid.) ** U K [non]. London Radio Service is a UK government radio production service which used to be part of the Central Office of Information but was moved into the private sector a couple of years ago. They make short news items and longer programmes which put forward a UK point of view and are given away to any overseas stations that want to use them. They`ve got a website at http://www.lrs.co.uk but I doubt whether they will be able to help identify the source of the 6055 transmission [presumably RWANDA as previously] (Gavin Robertson, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Notably on WWCR currently ** U S A. WBCQ, Jewish Radio Network details, for Sundays starting June 2: 1300 17495 EVM: Torah Portion of the Week 1400 17495 EVM: Jewish Music for the Morning 1500 17495 EVM: Talmud For Today 1600 17495 EVM: Israel and the World (People & Politics) 1700 17495 EVM: Talkline with Zev Brenner 1800 17495 EVM: The D'Var Program - Rabbi Chaim Friedman 1830 17495 EVM: Music of a People 1900 17495 EVM: Mining the Midrash: Insights from the Rabbis 2000 9335 EVM: Mystical Insights: Ideas of Chassidic Masters 2100 9335 EVM: Ask the Rabbi: Questions from Listeners 2200 9335 EVM: Jewish Music and Its Meaning -2300 (WBCQ June 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. Best new AM show of 2001-2002. The Bach and Alexander show is great talk radio, without the nitwit callers (Mark James, June 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LIKE THE BBC WITHOUT ACCENTS, OR 'NPR ON DRUGS' By GLENN COLLINS Talk about déjà vu. In the early 1980's, the hostage crisis in Iran propelled Ted Koppel and "Nightline" to considerably more than 15 minutes of fame. Then in the early 1990's, the gulf war gave the CNN correspondent Arthur Kent, a k a the Scud Stud, a briefly flaring prominence. Now, out of the attack on the World Trade Center and the war in Afghanistan come New York's hometown masters of disaster: John and Paul. Who and who? Since Sept. 12, two crisis-obsessed, politically wired broadcasting amateurs, John Batchelor and Paul Alexander, have stepped into the role of war anchors and self- described "conspiracy clowns" at WABC-AM (770) radio in New York. Their near-nightly live show on the conflict — cleverly titled "Batchelor and Alexander" — is a content-rich circus featuring guests ranging from United States senators and representatives to think- tank warriors, Afghanistan mavens and even their own correspondent in Uzbekistan, one Timur Shakirov. "Our model is the BBC World Service, with music and live interviews, but without English accents," Mr. Batchelor said.... http://www.wabcradio.com/listingsentryheadline.asp?ID=21720&PT=WABC+News (via Mark James, DXLD) ** U S A. Vern Jackson, WA0RCR and Gateway 160 Meter Net leaving TWIAR. It is with great sadness that we announce that Vern Jackson, WA0RCR, who has been with TWIAR since the very beginning over 9 years ago, and was one of our first HF affiliates, is leaving This Week in Amateur Radio due to personal reasons. Also the Gateway 160-meter bulletin service on 1860 kHz will also be discontinued as of next week. We here at TWIAR want to express our sincerest gratitude to Vern for everything he has done to help make TWIAR a success over the last 9-plus years. We wish him the best of luck and hope to one day see a return to TWIAR by Vern (This Week in Amateur Radio web site June 1 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) WA0RCR in Missouri is heard on 1860 kHz AM mode Saturday afternoons and evenings. I checked the WA0RCR web site and there is absolutely nothing about this on it as of 0050 UT June 3 (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. My views on AM stereo are pretty well known, so I won't go there again; but I do have a question. Has the FCC stipulation making AM Stereo mandatory for all X-band stations been rescinded? While the percentage of X-banders running stereo seems to be much higher than it is for low-banders...I keep seeing reports of X-banders shutting their stereo exciters off. FWIW, I chatted with a former WSM associate the other day, and can report that unless there are some MAJOR changes in attitude, receiver availability, technical parameters and/or legal requirements, they will absolutely not return to C-Quam (or any other form of AM stereo) transmission (Tom Bryant / Nashville, May 31, IRCA via DXLD) Tom, the AM Stereo requirement for the X-Band WAS NEVER RESCINDED. All X-Band stations are REQUIRED to broadcast in AM Stereo; X-Band stations broadcasting in mono have to have special permission from the FCC to do so. 73 and good DX from (Eric Bueneman. Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, Hazelwood, MO Turn Off Clear Channel Communications! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turnoffclearchannel PRAY FOR AN END TO COMMERCIAL RADIO DEREGULATION, ibid.) Eric, Reality check time... I have to point this out to you because you are laboring under a misconception. In the FCC regs 73.30 there is nothing but a preference to put stations on in stereo. In other words, if you went with Model I which was stereo, instead of Model II which was mono, you got the first shot at the frequency. I love AM stereo and want 100% of all radios with FM stereo to be mandated to carry AM stereo. I signed Scott Todd's petition to make AM stereo mandatory but this requirement was one which never was. To back this statement up, I can tell you that KBJD, which was in stereo took this to court because they said the regs did not stipulate mandatory AM stereo carriage. The court agreed because of the wording in 73.30 being ambiguous. There is no requirement for AM stereo in the x-band. I wish there were because I love AM stereo and have a number of AM stereo receivers but there isn't. Reality check over.... (Kevin Redding, Mesa, Arizona, ibid.) ** U S A. 1580, WPQE577, TX Dallas - 6/1 2132 [EDT?] - New TIS at Dallas Love Field airport. Tape loop in English and Spanish with female announcer talking about the construction of new parking facilities. Mentioned alternate facilities on Cedar Springs Rd. Must get out well, as conditions were terrible inside the DFW airport tonight (Tim R. Hall, TX, amfmtvdx via DXLD)) ** U S A. WJIE, 7490, previous report of the time Doc Burkhart thanked us and WOR, should have been 0525 UT, not 0625. Seems even I still have a hard time mentally converting 5 instead of 6 hours when squinting at a local clock, half-asleep, during this absurd DST nonsense season. I have heard speculation that if WJIE really believes they are running 50 kW, their meters must be wrong, or most of it is heating up a balun or something in the antenna feed line (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, which should even be UT minus 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AMERICA`S MOST WANTED: Last night 06/01/02, I was watching AMW, one of their profiles (as AMW very deceptively described as a SWL'r) named Timothy Coombs. As the show went into the subject profile, they mentioned that he left behind (at his home) a number of different items. One of these items, that John Walsh referred to, was a "SW radio". As a SWL'r I was very disappointed in Walsh's "tone of voice" in describing the radio equipment --- as if all of us SWL's are some type of lunatic with criminal tendencies. As they spoke of the radio, they flashed a graphic of some transceiver, that looked like a marine band radio --- not like any SW radio I have ever seen. To the uneducated AMW viewer, you were made to think that shortwave radio is a "bad thing" and used to propagate criminal activity --- or to relay information to your group of secular militias in order to remain in hiding and organize your agendas. Maybe Walsh is unaware of all the great aspects of SWLing, while some of these "kook groups" may use SW radio (legally or illegally) to preach to their cronies, the positive aspects of SW radio, far outweigh the stereotype that AMW is attempting to convey to its audience. This is just plain "wrong and irresponsible" for John Walsh and America's Most Wanted to subtly implicate that shortwave radio is an evil media. What I would like to is ask EVERYONE on these lists to contact AMW and voice your opinion and, if applicable, your shared disgust in their irresponsible actions on last night`s program. It's bad enough that we have to "defend" our hobby, to educate folks who know no better --- and enlightened them on all the great things that can be heard on the HF bands. You can find religious programs, music, international news, sports, stories that you will not hear about from American media, Amateur radio communications, military communications, commercial airlines, NASA Space Shuttle Comms, plus much more --- and yes, even the occasional militia groups. Please connect to the AMW website link (below) and let them know that good SWL'ers are not happy with the portrayal of our hobby. This is an expensive hobby, and can be very time consuming. Once you find the website, there is a link in the upper right hand corner called CONTACT US. From there go down to COMMENTS and SUGGESTIONS. Do not click "send a tip" as this might clog up their Tips section and we don't want to do that. We want to be heard and seriously heard, but if people start becoming annoying, this will only be counter-productive. Be honest, voice your opinions and ask for an ON-AIR PUBLIC APOLOGY to SWL'rs, but most of all, BE COURTEOUS!!! You attract a lot more bees with honey, than with vinegar. Here's the website and tell all your shortwave groups and friends to do the same: http://www2.amw.com/amw.html (John Thunder Chicken, List Owner / Moderator, DX-398 users yahoogroup June 2 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. VOV, English to NAm via Canada 6175, 0100, repeated at 0200, 0330, UT days strictly, Program schedule: 0100 Daily NEWS 0105 Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS 0110 Sun WEEKLY REVIEW Mon SUNDAY SHOW Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat PRESS REVIEW Thu TALK OF THE WEEK 0115 Tue VIETNAM: LAND AND PEOPLE Wed CULTURE AND SOCIETY Thu LETTERBOX Fri VIETNAM ECONOMY Sat RURAL VIETNAM 0120 Sun MUSIC Sat LITERAURE AND ARTS (John Figliozzi, June NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. Studio B Beograd, listed as inactive in the latest EMWG edition, can be heard in local evening hours on 1350 kHz. Reception conditions are fairly good. One warning: On the same frequency you can et Hungarian Radio`s minolity programmes with, i.a., Serbian produced by Studio Szégéd at 1900. You can differentiate quite easily between the two, given the differences in format. Szégéd`s programme consists of short news blocks or interviews interspersed with Serbian folklore while Studio B has both long newscasts and continuous music blocks. Pop music and ads are absent from Szégéd and very present on Studio B (Cristian Mocanu [Romania], via emwg yahoogroup via June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR, 7310, 0330-, VOICE OF PEOPLE May 30. A change in their pattern noted tonight. Normally carrier comes on 90 seconds before sign on, then into brief music and ID as Radio VOP or Voice of the People. Tonight, crash start at 0330 with some talk for approximately 15 seconds followed by the guitar tune. Signal again is no where near as strong as in the past (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6715-USB, May 10 [Friday, of course] 2145 church service in Korean, piano music, hallelujahs, amens, long spell of talking tongues, off at 2230, no ID, SIO 333 (Alan Pennington, Caversham, Berkshire, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 19640: Hello Jouko, This is most probably the 2nd harmonic of Voice of Russia. Fundamental frequency is 9820 kHz and is originating from the Moscow site. If you tune around a bit in the 19 MHz region, you will probably find more harmonics like that. 73, (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Hello, Jouko Here in Japan, Now (1200 UT), I could get a harmonic of CNR1 (9820) on 19640. It was Chinese program at this time (Kazunori Watanabe, Tokyo, Japan, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 30168, 1415 May 5, Latin guitar music in FM; South American feeder or link? Very weak, SIO 111 (Martin Walsh, Bromley, Kent, June BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER TIPS +++++++++++++ SONY 7600-GR Glenn: Thanks for the very nice review of the 7600-GR by LeRoy Long. Let me offer a postscript about the variable signal attenuator: it is marvelous tool in areas with troublesome powerline noise (as my neighborhood has recently become). If you dial it back, you can scan under the noise and still unearth any decent signal -- and that will be a boon in the typical motel.... I think Sony did a wonderful job of upgrading an already-fine set (Alan Bosch, Arlington, VA, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-090, June 2, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1133: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1133.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Mon 0000 on 9475 [new], Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 1830?, Mon 0030?, 0630?, 1230?, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB WORLD OF RADIO ON DXERS CALLING http://nrin.hypermart.net/ DXers Calling is Live 365 stream #280578. To connect to stream 280578 of Live365.com, enter the following location in WinAmp or RealAudio or other programs capable of playing streaming MP3. http://www.live365.com/play/280578 (Joel Rubin, swprograms via DXLD) DX PROGRAMS John Norfolk`s SW DX PROGRAMS listing has been updated June 1 at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html (the WOR site may be inaccessible temporarily due to `upgrade`) (gh) The Guide to DX and Media Programmes has been updated today on the British DX Club web site. The main updates are to the schedules of: AWR Wavescan - now carried on transmissions via Meyerton World of Radio via WWCR and new WJIE outlets DXing With Cumbre via WHRA, WHRI and KWHR The DX Programme Guide can be found on the Articles Index Page at http://www.bdxc.org.uk (Dave Kenny, June 1, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. I didn`t try yesterday, but today - Saturday - there is an "Afghan" type programme booming in on 18940 at tune in 1630. Recitations and music heard, but no identifying announcement yet. This signal is VERY much stronger than what I have been hearing playing a continuous "fanfare" during the past week. According to Erik Køie, transmission is intended to be 1400-1700 on behalf of Merlin via Kvitsoy (Noel Green, England, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remember the recent report about the installation of satellite link equipment at Radio Afghanistan, meant to feed the programmes to Norway and the Middle East for retransmission into Afghanistan on shortwave? In light of this it could be Radio Afghanistan programming from Kabul which is transmit via Kvitsøy on 18940 now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DENMARK [non] RADIO AFGHANISTAN RESUMES NATIONWIDE BROADCASTING | Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 2 June Radio Afghanistan started broadcasting to all parts of the country on Saturday [1 June], after a decade's suspension [as received: Radio Afghanistan has been broadcasting since November 2001 with a limited range; prior to October 2001 Radio Voice of Shari'ah (Taleban radio) was broadcasting from Kabul]. Due to damage to technical facilities and the lack of the necessary technology, Radio Afghanistan has been broadcasting programmes only to the country's capital, Kabul, since the beginning the 70s of AH [1991- 1992, as received]. The radio is broadcasting programmes only five hours a day now - from 0630 to 0830 [0200-0400 gmt] in the morning and from 1830 to 2130 [1400-1700 gmt] in the evening. A Kabul radio official said on Saturday evening: From now on people around Afghanistan can listen to Radio Afghanistan on shortwave at 15240 kHz [as received; presumably means 1524 kHz] in the morning and on 18940 kHz at night. The USA, Japan, Germany and some international organizations have presented technical equipment and a new 500-W [sic] transmitter to develop Radio Afghanistan's broadcasting capacity. Despite this, Radio Afghanistan is still working with worn-out equipment and needs new equipment and financial and technical support. It is also facing a shortage of writers, producers and artists, most of whom have left the country. Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0330 gmt 2 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) I wouldn`t be so sure `15240` was supposed to be 1524. Check 0200-0400 for another external relay back on 15240, this one perhaps not Norway; Abu Dhabi was mentioned in previous plans. And, sure hope all Afghan radios cover the 18 MHz band... (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO KABUL GOES FORTH ON AIRWAVES From http://www.edinburghnews.com By BRIAN FERGUSON AN Edinburgh-based broadcaster has helped a new radio station in the heart of war-torn Afghanistan get on the airwaves. Equipment formerly used by Radio Forth is now being used for broadcasts from the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul. Good Morning Afghanistan is a humanitarian station set up to broadcast updates on news, international aid efforts and vital messages of help to remote locations. The station, set up by former Edinburgh journalist Charles Fletcher, is set to broadcast on the FM wavelength throughout Kabul after a new facility was built on the site of a former station bombed during the recent conflicts. Mr Fletcher had asked his former colleagues at Forth to help out by donating some equipment and by chance his phone call coincided with a refurbishment of the station's studios in Forth Street. Good Morning Afghanistan, which broadcasts using the old transmitter linked up to a 20-foot bamboo pole, was launched by the Baltic Media Centre, an aid agency based in Denmark. The company, which Mr Fletcher heads up, broadcasts around two hours of information every day from Kabul on nationwide radio and has also been involved in the training of young journalists there. Among the pieces of equipment donated from Radio Forth were jingle machines, cartridges, record decks, tape machines, portable cassette machines and radio tuners. Sandy Wilkie, managing director of Radio Forth, said: "We'd been contacted by a former employee of ours, Charles Fletcher, who now works for an agency that works to re-establish humanitarian radio stations in war-torn countries. "He wanted to find out whether we had any equipment to spare and we were able to donate some parts. Charles has used them to relaunch a free local station in Afghanistan, broadcasting information on international help and aid to innocent people throughout the country." Mr Fletcher said: "We've carried out surveys among our listeners which have found that people here see us as more reliable than the BBC, which really is quite astonishing." Douglas Paterson, chief engineer at Forth, added: "With the installation of the new studios, I knew that there was some broadcasting equipment that we weren't using and that was going to be thrown out eventually. "When we heard that we had what Charles required to set up an FM transmission in Afghanistan, we donated the pieces of equipment as soon as we could." Around 21 Afghans work on Good Morning Afghanistan, which has strict editorial independence. Managing editor Barry Salaam said: "We're just about ready to start broadcasting live from Kabul on FM throughout the city and will also shortly be able to broadcast on AM throughout the country. "We've had a lot of donations of equipment and the stuff we had sent across from Radio Forth has been very helpful." The European Commission provided around £250,000 worth of funding to enable Good Morning Afghanistan to get off the ground. All that was found on the site of the former radio station following recent heavy bombing just before the fall of the Taliban regime was a piano. The Radio Kabul studios had previously used solely male broadcasters and only transmitted prayers and propaganda (via Mike Terry, June 2, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTARCTIC LEDGE NAMED AFTER AMATEUR A ledge in the Antarctic has been named after a Connecticut ham who provided phone patches for scientists working in the region. Larry Skilton, K1IED, says that to his knowledge, he's the first Amateur Radio operator who's never been to Antarctica to have a place named after him for services rendered. Skilton Ledge is described as a relatively flat rectangular rock platform at the southeastern margin of Midnight Plateau in the Darwin Mountains. The upper surface is ice- covered, but a rock cliff forms the southern end. Skilton made phone patches in the US to complete radio communications from US Antarctic Project science stations including Palmer, McMurdo, Byrd surface station and particularly South Pole. He worked a regular nightly schedule for 11 years, between 1990 and 2001 and arranged the completion of several thousand calls (ARRL Letter May 31 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Dear Friends: In the s/on of today Radio Baluarte, announced this postal address: Radio Baluarte, Casilla de Correo 45, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Prov. de Misiones, Argentina. 73's (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Baluarte es una nueva emisora operando desde Puerto Iguazú, Provincia de Misiones, en onda corta desde comienzos de Mayo, descubierta primeramente por Nicolás Eramo, e identificada en sus comienzos como Radio Maranatha por la frecuencia de los 6.215 kHz, aunque en realidad, Radio Maranatha se denomina la emisión realizada en los 1.610 kHz de la onda media. La emisora dice operar las 24 horas, aunque según monitoreos de Tony Jones, la misma estaría emitiendo entre las 10 y las 03. Sus programas son en español y portugués, aunque su portugués es bastante deficiente, digamos que en esa zona se habla más bien el 'portuñol'. El carácter de sus emisiones para operar en la onda corta es no oficial, y por consecuencia, estaríamos en realidad hablando de una emisora pirata de carácter religioso (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio-Enlace May 31 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RAE, Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior, desde el pasado primero de Mayo ya está oficialmente emitiendo su servicio en italiano de 19 a 20 en 15345 y 9690 kHz de lunes a viernes. El microprograma en lenguas indígenas anunciado en abril, aún no se ha concretado por razones simplemente presupuestarias (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio-Enlace May 31 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [non]. 15820, Radio FOX 48 ha comenzando aqui sus transmisiones el pasado 25 de Mayo 2002 utilizando un transmisor con alrededor de 200 watts durante una hora con a/t [apertura de transmisión?] a las 2100. Su e-mail es radiofox48@h... (SW-Pirates, via Enrique A. Wembagher, Argentina, Conexión Digital June 2 via DXLD) No indication of where this be, but no longer may we assume anything on 15820 is an Argentine military feeder; if we can hear anything at all next to WWCR (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. La Voz de Armenia transmite en idioma español con destino a Sudamérica, de 0230 a 0245 UT por los 4810 y 9965. QTH: La Voz de Armenia, Programas en español, Alek Manoukyan 5, 375025 Yerevan, Armenia (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital June 2 via DXLD) I imagine N. Americans have a better chance of hearing this than VOA`s English broadcasts as currently scheduled (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIANS SHUN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS Patrick Barkham, Friday May 31, 2002, The Guardian There will be no dancing on the streets of Sydney on the Queen's golden jubilee. It will be business as usual across Australia while Britain stops work for two celebratory bank holidays. For Greg Barns, chairman of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), the absence of any big official or unofficial celebrations is another sign that the country is now "republican in sentiment" even though the Queen is still nominally head of state. "There is so little fanfare, even by our monarchist prime minister [John Howard]," said Mr Barns. "It is clear he has read the tea leaves and knows that the reason why the referendum on a republic failed was because of the model on offer." Australia rejected a move to ditch the Queen and reinvent the nation as a republic in 1999. Since then, monarchists in the country have been heartened by a rekindled public interest in the monarchy. Although Australia has no special holiday to mark the jubilee, one week after Britain's jubilee bank holiday it has its regular annual bank holiday to mark the Queen's birthday. On this day the golden jubilee will be celebrated in special church services and a bonfire at the Canberra residence of the governor general, the Queen's official representative in Australia. "A lot of the celebrations are vicarious and we will be watching what is happening in the UK," said Professor David Flint of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy. The national broadcaster, the ABC, has been showing the acclaimed BBC documentary Queen and Country and news bulletins are full of tales of "jubilee mania" sweeping Britain. Prof Flint points out that Australia tends to save its celebrations of the monarchy for when the Queen visits her distant realm. Despite predictions of disaster due to a scandal enveloping her governor general, the Queen's Australian tour in March was an unqualified success, with thousands of people waiting to greet her on the streets of Adelaide and later when she flew north to Queensland. The republican movement has "very much receded," said Prof Flint. "The great difficulty is to find a model. It is very difficult to graft a republican model onto what is essentially a monarchical constitution. You really have to start again." But Mr Barns predicts that the imminent retirement of the monarchist Mr Howard will return republicanism to the political agenda. The prime minister's heir apparent, Peter Costello, is a committed republican, and the Labour opposition is also firmly republican. After the 2004 federal election, Mr Barns said the country would probably consider another referendum on the issue. There was "great respect for the Queen and the Queen Mother" across the country, he added. Thousands watched the Queen Mother's funeral on TV but, curiously, her death also triggered an upsurge in Arm's membership. Lots of older Australians feel a personal attachment to the Queen and her mother, said Mr Barns. But once they are gone, "the game is up" for the monarchy in Australia. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. "Mundo DX" é o programa para os radioescutas que a Rádio Áustria apresenta, em espanhol, todos os sábados. Vai ao ar às 1955, em 6155 e 5945 kHz. Também às 2355, em 13730 kHz. Ainda, às 0055, em 9870 kHz. Endereço: A-1136, Viena, Áustria. (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) ** BOLÍVIA. A Rádio San Gabriel, de La Paz, é interessante emissora boliviana, que emite no dialeto indígena aymara. Tem sido captada, no Brasil, no início das manhãs. Samuel Cássio Martins, de São Carlos(SP), ouviu a emissora, em 6090 kHz, em 20 de maio, às 0935, com a identificação: "Somos Todos Bolívia". Também sintonizada, em Porto Alegre, em 31 de maio, às 1047, com o programa "Espacio Político". (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Nacional (2 de junio de 2002) -- Sin control MÁS DE UNA DOCENA DE RADIOS ILEGALES FUNCIONAN EN EL ALTO El Alto (ANT) Nacieron como hongos y se expandieron en toda la ciudad de El Alto. Hoy, más de una decena de radioemisoras ``piratas`` o ilegales hacen su agosto en esta ciudad, sin que ninguna autoridad controle a los dueños del micrófono. Una investigación del comunicador Julio Garay, corresponsal de Radio Illimani y Radio Batallón Colorados, nos muestra que las 12 radios identificadas no tienen licencia de funcionamiento y operan en frecuencias que no están permitidas por ley. Estas radioemisoras funcionan en las zonas de Alto Lima, 16 de Julio, Río Seco y Villa Adela, aunque se estima que cerca a 50 radios ilegales operan en diferentes zonas de la ciudad de El Alto. La mayoría de estas estaciones radiales son cristianas, políticas y de música chicha, que salen al aire en horarios estratégicos. Principalmente emiten sus emisiones muy temprano en las mañanas, luego al caer la tarde y finalmente avanzada la noches. Garay explicó que las radios legales siempre tienen frecuencia en estaciones pares y con espacios de cuatro dígitos, mientras que todas aquellas que estén fuera de esa norma técnica, son consideradas ilegales, por lo que no es difícil identificarlas. La mayoría de estas radios funcionan con equipos de 50 a 100 vatios solamente, cuando las normas legales exigen equipos de 550 vatios o superiores. Además de que no tienen ni infraestructura. La protesta es generalizada por los propietarios de radios legales, quienes señalaron que existe una competencia desleal, porque mientras ellos trabajan con todos los documentos y equipos en orden, pagan sus impuestos; por otro lado, proliferan radios ilegales sin control alguno. SANCIONES El artículo 26 de la Ley 1.632 (Ley de Telecomunicaciones) dispone que, sin perjuicio de las sanciones establecidas por el Código Penal, los infractores serán susceptibles a las sanciones de apercibimiento, secuestro o embargo de equipos y material, multas e inhabilitación temporal, estando la graduación y oportunidad de dichas sanciones establecidas en el Decreto Supremo 24.132, Reglamento a la Ley de Telecomunicaciones. El artículo 203 inciso a) del Decreto Supremo 24.132 establece que constituye infracción de primer grado la provisión de servicios de telecomunicaciones sin la correspondiente concesión, licencia o registro. El artículo 222 de la misma norma dispone que las infracciones de quinto grado serán sancionadas con multas de hasta 10.000 bolivianos. Además, según la gravedad, el superintendente de Telecomunicaciones podrá ordenar el apercibimiento o secuestro de equipos. Las radioemisoras que fueron identificadas en la investigación son: No Radioemisora Frecuencia 1 La Nueva Central 101.5 FM 2 Radio Universal 103.5 FM 3 Slúper Estéreo [sic!] 103.9 FM 4 Radio Amistad 103.1 FM 5 Radio Virtual 107.1 FM 6 Radio Dimensión 107.9 FM 7 Melodía Andina 108.1 FM [!] 8 Radio Enlace 108.2 FM [!] 9 Favorita Digital 98.3 FM 10 Galaxia Digital 98.7 FM 11 Estudio Digital 87.5 FM [!] 12 Radio Renors 87.7 FM [!] (El Diario, La Paz, via Henrik Klemetz, June 2, DXLD) I don`t recognise any of those as having been on SW (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Entre 2300 e 0300, a Rádio Cultura, de Araraquara (SP), leva ao ar o programa "Noite Cultura", com músicas sertanejas. A emissora emite, em ondas tropicais, em 3365 kHz. Endereço: Rádio Cultura, Avenida Feijó, 583, CEP: 14801-140, Araraquara(SP), Brasil. E-mail: ouvintes@c... [truncated] A Rádio Clube Paranaense, de Curitiba (PR), transmitiu o primeiro jogo da Copa, envolvendo as seleções da França e Senegal, apenas em 6040 kHz. Em 9725 kHz, a programação era outra, conforme monitoria de Valter Aguiar, de Santos (SP). Outro detalhe: a emissora faz parte de cadeia formada pela Rádio Paiquerê, de Londrina(PR), uma pequena emissora de ondas médias. A Rádio Guaíba, de Porto Alegre, também acompanha a Copa do Mundo. A emissora enviou diversos jornalistas ao Japão e Coréia do Sul. Também lidera uma rede com diversas emissoras AM filiadas. Em ondas curtas, a Guaíba pode ser ouvida em 6000 e 11785 kHz. A freqüência de 6090 kHz, da Rádio Bandeirantes, está direcionada para o interior do Estado de São Paulo, de acordo com informações do Departamento Técnico da emissora. Opera com transmissor Inbelsa de 10 kW de potência. Já 9645 kHz possui transmissor Inbelsa de 7.5 kW e está direcionada para as regiões Central, Norte e Nordeste do Brasil, durante o dia. À noite, a emissora já foi reportada na Europa e países asiáticos. Por último, 11925 kHz também opera transmissor Inbelsa, com 10 kW, direcionado às regiões Central, Norte e Nordeste. À noite, pode ser sintonizada na Europa e países asiáticos. Quem ouviu o primeiro jogo da Copa, entre França e Senegal, pelas freqüências da Rádio Bandeirantes, de São Paulo (SP), pode não ter percebido, mas a emissora narrou os lances diretamente de um estúdio, no Brasil. A estratégia foi notada por Valter Aguiar, de Santos (SP). Bem ao contrário foi a cobertura da Rádio Gaúcha, de Porto Alegre (RS), que narrou diretamente de Seul. Pontos para a emissora gaúcha que, em grandes eventos, sempre coloca toda sua infra-estrutura a serviço dos ouvintes. A Rádio Difusora, de Aquidauana, Estado do Mato Grosso, foi captada, em Porto Alegre, em 30 de maio, às 2340, transmitindo em 4795 kHz, o início de um programa. O sinal era ruim. O sinal da Rádio Educadora, de Limeira (SP), foi sintonizado, em Porto Alegre (RS), em 2380 kHz, em 27 de maio, às 0142. Na ocasião, era apresentado um programa religioso intitulado "Paz e Vida". O sinal era razoável (All: Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. RADIOBRÁS NEGA POSSÍVEIS DEMISSÕES NA NACIONAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO A Diretoria da Radiobrás divulgou nota assegurando aos funcionários da Rádio Nacional AM do Rio de Janeiro que ninguém será demitido. O motivo seria a nova grade de programação da emissora, que entra no ar no próximo dia 10. "As mentiras não nos intimidarão", diz a nota da empresa, referindo-se a comunicadores da rádio que disseram que haveria demissões. A nota da empresa explica que a mudança na programação tem como objetivo "melhor servir aos ouvintes e, com isso, assegurar os empregos de todos os que compõem o quadro da Radiobrás no Rio de Janeiro". A diretoria da Radiobrás pede aos funcionários da Nacional que se mantenham tranqüilos. "As mudanças em curso beneficiarão a todos porque vão adequar a grade de programação aos tempos atuais, aumentando a audiência de nossa querida Rádio Nacional". (Agência Brasil via Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) Previous item said R. Nacional Rio would be converted into a repeater of Brasília (gh, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Estimados Amigos, los programas de Radio Bulgaria en lengua española, cumplen el próximo mes de Julio sus 45 años en el aire. Para conmemorar junto con nosotros este aniversario, ¿porqué no se animan ustedes a participar en un pequeño concurso que organizamos para nuestros oyentes y amigos?, les invitamos a responder las siguientes preguntas: 1...Cuáles son los países con los que limita Bulgaria ? 2...Cuáles son los colores de la bandera nacional de nuestro país? 3...Podría citar los nombres de tres personalidades de la historia búlgara y que sabe de cada una de ellas? 4...Qué es lo que aprendió de los programas de Radio Bulgaria acerca de la historia y la actualidad de este país? El premio especial: Réplica artistica de un ícono cristiano-ortodoxo de Bulgaria que se otorgará al trabajo más original é interesante. Además otorgaremos 10 discos compactos de música búlgara que repartiremos por sorteo entre los participantes que hayan presentado las respuestas completas a nuestras preguntas. Los trabajos han de tener una extensión máxima de 60 líneas y deberán ser enviadas antes del 15 de Julio del 2002. Esperamos sus cartas en la dirección de siempre. Radio Bulgaria, 4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd, 1040 Sofía, Bulgaria (vía José Elías Díaz Gómez, Noticias DX June 1 via DXLD) ** BURMA. See MYANMAR. Note: we tend to put clandestines under B, government stations under M, but have not been consistent over time, so when researching this country in DXLD, always check both (gh) ** CANADA. According to the CBC St. John's website about 18 months ago (when they had a map of stations) the transmitter for CKZN was shown at Happy Valley/Goose Bay. That map is no longer a part of their web page. A query to CBC St. John's was answered (I can't remember who replied) with the info that the transmitter has always been in Happy Valley/Goose Bay but they QSL as St. John's because (aside from Labrador Morning) most programming is the same as 640 CBN (Mark Coady, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jean, Wonder if you could comment on this matter. I was surprised to hear from Mark that 6160 transmitter is not in St. John`s but Happy Valley, according to them. Do you agree from personal knowledge or monitoring?? Was it ever in St. John`s? Thanks, (Glenn Hauser to Jean Burnell, via DXLD) Hi Glenn, I am afraid that Mark is mistaken. The CKZN transmitter is not in Labrador. It is on the outskirts of St. John's, not far from where I live. It shares the site with our local CBC Radio 1 outlet, CBN (640 kHz). The SW transmitter uses 4 short towers, one "hot" tower and 3 "reflectors" to direct the signal roughly north-west. CKZN is to serve the Labrador coast, and it relays CFGB-FM, which is the CBC network service at Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Labrador. There are a few hours of regional programming on CFGB, like "Labrador Morning," which I think originate from studios in Happy Valley/Goose Bay. Strictly speaking, it does not relay CBN at all. It is just that provincial CBC programming originates largely from St. John's. Best wishes, (Jean Burnell, St. John`s, Newfoundland, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mark, you can hardly be faulted, when CBC goes out of its way to mislead, obfuscate the matter! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. The Moscow Tchaikovsky Competition has always taken place during the World Soccer Cup. In previous competitions, CBC R2 has devoted much of its evening programming to the event. I haven't read anything about CBC's coverage of this month's competition, but it may be worth checking out. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? I fail to see the connexion between this and World Cup, unless the Chaikovsky wishes to be overshadowed. See RUSSIA previously (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Industry Canada has a video on their website designed to deal with some of the issues that have come up around the placement of cellular telephone towers. In addition to dealing with tower issues it has some good basic info on radio communications. You'll need the Real Audio/Video player to view it, its about 18 minutes long and there are both high bandwidth and low bandwidth (56 kpbs) versions. The video can be seen at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/sf05469e.html 73 de (Bob VE3SRE Chandler, June 1, ODXA via DXLD) ** CHILE. El sábado pasado pude escuchar a Radio Parinacota, ahora reactivada nuevamente en la frecuencia de 6010 kHz, en esos instantes, después de las 0754 estaba retransmitiendo a Radio Cooperativa de Santiago, aunque el transmisor corresponde a Radio Parinacota, la última vez que la sintonicé fue el 7 de diciembre pasado y escuchada por otros colegas en el mes de enero de este año (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, RN Radio-Enlace May 31 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 2940.05 harmonic, Armony Records, Cali. May 2002 - 2350 UT. Lots of ads for companies in "El Valle del Cauca". Was suddenly heard with great strength at this time. It was interesting that another Colombian emerged from the mist at the same time on 2944 kHz, also with great strength and that one is "Radio Tricolor /Esporting" (probably a pirate) with unknown QTH which I have reported for a long time. I only know it broadcasts from Southern Colombia; a more precise QTH is never mentioned by the DJ. The fact is they emerged at the same time and at equal strength and there were only a few, weak harmonics between 2-4 MHz, which at least make me speculate that "Tricolor/ Esporting" also is located in the neighbourhood of "El Valle del Cauca". Harmonic from 1470 kHz (2 x 1470.02). ID: "En 1470 kHz transmite Armony Records, Cali - estación radial de Armony Records en el Valle del Cauca". (Björn Malm in Quito. /via Shortwave Bulletin June 2, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [non]. Radio Denmark schedule is available by email auto- reply by sending an empty email to: schedule@dr.dk 73, (Erik Køie, DR Radio, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also AFGHANISTAN: Here are the correct changes as of Saturday June 1st: Merlin has got a 4 month contract with NORKRING (which runs the transmitters) from May 25 between 14 and 17 UT on 18940 kHz from Kvitsøy beamed to Afghanistan. This results in these minor changes: 14-15: The 2nd Kvitsøy tx will be used for the 18940 kHz transmission 15-16: 13800 kHz at 110 degrees is now transmitted from Sveio 16-17: 13800 is cancelled. 73, (Erik Køie, DR Radio, June 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. BM Bandscan SW 49: First of all I have to say I have not checked my mailbox after May 19! So if some of my DX-friends in SWB and around the world have sent any contributions to this bandscan, they will of course be included in the next one. My e-mail communication is managed completely via IT-cafés in town. I have now received my MFJ-616 "Speech Intelligibility Enhancer" from Universal Radio in USA. It became rather expensive at the end here in Ecuador with 40$ freight charge and 75$ for customs/tax. MFJ-616 is exclusively manipulated electronically for just the frequencies associated with human speech. I must say I can`t be without the thing! It is advertised for radioamateurs as an aid for those with reduced or damaged hearing (!) but I was `smart` and thought that the extremely weak modulated "Radio XXX", where the DJ always forgets to open the wardrobe door when the station is "on air", now should be easier to identify --- and it was! Expensive but also very useful also for a normally hearing DX-er. On July 12 my wife "Susanita", (for the first time), and I are going to Sweden visiting relatives and friends and also to enjoy the lovely Swedish summer. Here in Quito we have summer the year around but it is really not the same. My wife goes back at the end of August and I will stay some additional months. So be prepared fore some SWB bulletins without any bandscans from Quito! (Björn Malm in Quito. /via Shortwave Bulletin June 2, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) This fortnight, see COLOMBIA; PERU ** FINLAND. 11720, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, 0030-0130 June 1, 2002, Finally some nice conditions to work with. At time of reception, the Boulder SFI: 182, A-index: 3, K- index: 0. Also the frequency happened to be free of big international broadcasters during a period which corresponded with local sunset. Signal was weak/readable, but there was a fair amount of lightning static on the band. Program consisted of guitar rock, most of which I didn't recognize, but I did hear "Spirit of the Radio" by Rush after a canned station ID given around 0115. There was a very strong unmodulated carrier on frequency for several minutes at a time during the time of reception. SINPO: 23242 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Keep this in mind for the next broadcast July 6 (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Erro técnico? Faz alguns dias que radioescutas brasileiros têm sintonizado pequeno pedaço da programação feita pela Redação Brasileira da RFI. Gad Gonzaga, de Fortaleza (CE), sintonizou a emissora, em 29 de maio, às 0957, em 9830 kHz. Por sua vez, Leônidas do Nascimento, de São João Evangelista (MG), ouviu parte da programação, em 30 de maio, às 2057, em 21645 kHz. Fui conferir, em 31 de maio, e, realmente, o sinal da RFI, em português, estava no ar, um pouco antes da programação em espanhol, em 9830 kHz. Em 21645 kHz, às 2058, ao invés de aparecer a identificação tradicional da emissora, foi ao ar os seguintes dizeres: "E aqui termina esse programa para o Brasil, transmitido direto de nossos estúdios de Paris! A todos, muito obrigado pela atenção e continue na sintonia da Rádio França Internacional!". Mais: resolvi ligar para a emissora para saber o que está ocorrendo. Liguei 00 xx 33 1 56 404930. Fui atendido por Eugênia Fernandes, integrante da Equipe Brasileira. Ela disse que "eu estava mais informado que eles e que só poderia ser erro técnico, pois a disposição da emissora foi mesmo de abandonar as ondas curtas para o Brasil". Em seguida, friamente, disse que estava "com muito trabalho e não podia verificar o que tinha ocorrido", pedindo para que eu ligasse "pelo horário da manhã, em Paris, que é quando o pessoal da técnica está trabalhando". Resumo da ópera: Se é erro técnico, prova que falta vontade política da emissora em reativar as freqüências para o Brasil, pois, um simples toque de operador que coloca 3 minutos no ar, pode, também, inserir mais 27 minutos! Ainda mais que, nos horários em que ocorre a situação, a freqüência está livre! Com a palavra, Milton Blay e o Departamento Técnico da RFI!!! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) [RFI mistakenly broadcasts a bit of Portuguese on SW, raising and dashing hopes of its revival] ** GERMANY. ALEMANHA - Até o final de 2004, a empresa alemã Deustche Telekom deve mandar para casa cerca de 22 mil empregados. A medida seria tomada de uma forma "socialmente responsável", de acordo com seu presidente Ron Sommer. As informações são da Agência Reuters e foram enviadas à lista de discussão Conéxion Digital por Hugo López. Vai sobrar para quem trabalha com as ondas curtas? (Célio Romais, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) [DTK to lay off 22 kiloworkers; will this affect SW operations?] ** INDONESIA. Pleased to find V. of Indonesia`s live audio website: http://www.rrionline.com/streaming/voi.asx This was my 100th radio website logged, but only 16 of them verified/QSLd (Bill Flynn, WDX7AF, Cave Junxion OR, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 4725, Radio Myanmar n/d confirmation letter, program sked, Media index for RR + 1 IRC in 537 days. v/s Ko Ko Htway Director (Broadcasting). Address: Union of Myanmar Ministry of Information, Myanmar Radio & Television (M.R.T.V.) Pyay Road, Yangon (Fax. 951- 525428 - Phone: 951-532814) (Sergei Kolesov, Ukraine, Cumbre DX May 31 via DXLD) ** NEPAL [non]. THE FIRST NEPALESE COMMUNITY BASED COMMERCIAL RADIO BROADCAST Station Profile: Everest Radio, by RICHARD A D'ANGELO The post-Cold War era has changed the face of international shortwave broadcasting. No longer the sole domain of governmental organizations, "modern" day international shortwave broadcasting involves numerous complicated broadcasting and relay arrangements with many organization having an opportunity to reach an international audience through the use of shortwave transmitter rental agreements that have become a standard item in today's environment. One such shortwave broadcaster was the fleeting Everest Radio headquartered in London. Everest Radio was the first Nepalese community based station in England to broadcast to an overseas audience. It began shortwave operations in April 2001. Its programs consisted of news about Nepal, local community activities, interviews with local and visiting guests from Nepal, greetings, musical dedications and requests, a travel guide to Nepal, letters and Nepalese musical features. The station operated through the facilities of Radio Austria International's Moosbrunn transmitter using 100 kilowatts of power on a frequency of 7,235 kHz from 2100 to 2200 UT four days a week, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday broadcasting programs for Nepalese living in the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Consequently, it was well heard throughout Europe and many parts of the world. Everest Media Services was the sponsoring organization behind the operation. Everest Times London ("ETL") were the producers of the radio programming. One of the key contacts was Bijaya Thapa who was a member of the three person Board of Directors. In fact, many members of the Thapa family were listed as active participants in this project providing services in many areas such as business administration, public relations, program presenters, and website support. Everest Radio tried to be self-sustaining by offering to sell advertising and sponsorships. By sponsoring a 15-minute program block, the purchaser received four 30 second advertisements and cost 150. There were many other package offering but they were unable to raise enough funds to continue operations. Unfortunately, long-term financial interests could not be sustained to enable Everest Radio to continue program and broadcast operations. The station attempted to get some community support through the formation of the ETL Listener's Club. The ETL issued membership cards to anyone willing to join the listener's club for 15 [pounds?] per year. ETL claimed that 10% of the membership charge would be forwarded to a well-known, but not named, Nepalese community charity in the United Kingdom. Members received the opportunity to participate in a lucky draw and were entitled to receive special discounts on various events organized by ETL. Membership was open to the Nepalese community and friends of Nepal. The station's objectives were many. Primarily, Everest Radio sought to inform the Nepalese Community around the world about the activities in Nepal and overseas. The station sought to create harmony and mutual understanding between Nepalese residing around the world with other members of the community. Also, it wanted other people to know about Nepal and its culture in order to contribute to the country's promotion of tourism. In addition Everest Radio created a platform to exchange ideas between Nepalese around the world and provided entertainment to the Nepalese community and friends. Finally, the station tried to encourage foreign investment in Nepal. Due to its short life as an international broadcast entity, it would be difficult for Everest Radio to claim any successes in these endeavors. Everest Radio was an excellent verifier of listener reception reports during its brief tenure on shortwave radio. Accurate reception reports with return postage were promptly verified with a partial data "Top of the World" card featuring a beautiful picture Mt. Everest (8,848 meters) from verie signer Kumar Thapa (another member of the Thapa family circle), Director, Editorial and Programming. If you have a report that you neglected to send, you can try reaching the station at: Everest Radio, 226 Greenford Avenue, Hanwell, London W7 3QT, England In early February 2002, word reached the international shortwave community that Everest Radio discontinued its transmissions via the Moosbrunn, Austria broadcasting facilities due to budgetary problems. Although it had a short life as an international broadcast station, Everest Radio was a little different. Whether the station returns once again to the airwaves is anyone's guess but the commercial nature of international shortwave broadcasting has always been a difficult proposition. Clearly, a sponsoring organization with deep pockets is necessary to secure a reliable, long-term source of funding of station operations. Nevertheless, Everest Radio can still be heard on air in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and around the world through the worldwide web through its website http://www.everesttimeslondon.com (June World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Well, just some old programs archived, it seems, (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. On 48 mb and 19 mb. We will be there as always again but when we get enough response we also will air a brand new program of the Scandinavian pirate Starshine radio which has been 10 years inactive. So get tuned between 6200 and 6300 and on 15070 AM!! starting again on Saturday evening around 2230/2300 and closing down when props are good the next day at 0700 UT or a lot later. Should we not launch Starshine we will bring it on air next week or the week after. We also will run the show at a Sunday morning. Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetings (Alfred, Alfa Lima International via hard-core-dx June 1 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RN Previews for June 5, 7: Weekly Documentary BLACK FACE, WHITE HEART; DUTCH AFRICANS, FROM JAVA This documentary tells the untold story of the Belanda Hitam, the Black Dutchmen. In the nineteenth century, three thousand West Africans were recruited to serve in the Dutch East Indies colonial army. Most of them were slaves. The oldest male descendent of the soldiers, now almost 90 years old, is one of the main speakers in the documentary. In a colonial society based on a racial pyramid, the African soldiers were given Dutch nationality, with many of the privileges of the colonial masters. Black Dutchmen. Many settled in Central Java, and took native wives. Their sons continued to serve in the colonial army, until Indonesia's independence. The Black Dutchmen then sailed off to Holland, the homeland they had never seen. Wednesday Broadcast times (UT): 1000 (Pacific/Asia/Far East), 1130 (Europe/East Coast USA), 1230 (USA WRN), 1330 (Europe WRN), 1500 (Asia/West Coast USA), 1800 & 1930 (Africa), 2100 (Europe), 2230 (USA WRN), [UT Thu:] 0000 & 0500 (North America), 0400 (USA WRN) Friday Broadcast times (UT): 1030 (Pacific/Asia/Far East), 1100 (Europe/East Coast USA), 1530 (Asia/West Coast USA), 1900 (Africa), 2130 (Europe), [UT Sat:] 0030 (North America) On the Web: http://www.rnw.nl/en/html/doco_previews.html (RN Previews list via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. 15530, RNW Bonaire 2222-2230+ May 22, EE Newsline features and Dutch news review. ID @2229:50 and into SS. SIO=453+. This relay is not listed on their current sked (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) This is part of the digital test on 15520 (Richard Jary, Cumbre DX editor via DXLD) Test Transmissions and Latest News Tests are just that. New software becomes available and equipment is tweaked. So sometimes, the transmissions listed below may not be there. Remember too, that consumer grade DRM receivers are not yet on the market. So the broadcasts are for "circuit adjustment purposes only". Bonaire Update 21 May 2002 Long-term DRM tests from Radio Netherlands Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles are continuing. The latest phase of the tests involves transmissions in simulcast (analog/digital) mode. 25 = AM Carrier Power kW. 10 = Average DRM Power kW 0530-0700 11655 50 SEu 25 10 Dutch 0700-0800 15425 50 SEu 25 10 Dutch 2030-2125 15565 50 SEu 25 10 English 2130-2230 15520 50 SEu 25 10 English S 2230-2325 15520 50 SEu 25 10 Spanish S S = Simulcast Mode 4 10 kHz DRM + 5 kHz Analog The Simulcast frequency as specified is the center frequency of the DRM signal. This means the digital part ranges from 15515 to 15525 kHz, and the analog part from 15525 to 15530 kHz. The analog carrier is located at 15530 kHz, hence an analog tuner should be tuned to 15530 kHz in order to receive the signal. The synthesizer frequency for this Simulcast should be set to 15525 kHz. The Simulcast transmissions are expected to continue for about 2 weeks. After that, we will try to find a better time slot so it is more convenient for listeners in Europe to receive the signal. We would like to try to cover North America East for one hour as well. If it becomes apparent that we are interfering with other stations during Simulcast transmissions, the tests will be curtailed. (Media Network May 21 via DXLD ** NEWFOUNDLAND. Where is CKZN? See CANADA ** NEW ZEALAND. 7145, R. Ferrymead, Christchurch, 0532 June 2; this station is licenced to broadcast on 1413 kHz, yet was observed on SW with 40's & 50's music in parallel to their official channel. The signal was not strong and suffered fading. Given that Christchurch is 150 miles north of here, it must be a low powered operation though I think it would make it across the Tasman. There is a history of illegal re-broadcasts from Christchurch. I rang Radio Ferrymead and they knew nothing of this (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. I believe Tony is right - that he has in fact heard USA UHF TV carriers. I have long felt something like this was possible, but didn't think anyone was trying. I'm glad to be proven wrong. Amateurs have been bouncing UHF signals off the moon since 1964. A typical amateur moonbounce (a.k.a. EME, "Earth-Moon-Earth") station uses the USA maximum legal power of 1.5kw transmitter output and an antenna gain on the order of 23 dB for an effective radiated power of about 300 kW. This is about 13 dB below the ERP of KWBT [Muskogee/Tulsa OK]. However, the amateur station concentrates its power in a bandwidth of a few dozen Hertz. (most amateur EME communications uses Morse Code. A few larger stations have used single-sideband AM, a bandwidth of about 2 kHz.) KWBT spreads its 5000 kW through a bandwidth of about 4200 kHz. Admittedly, much of that power is concentrated in areas near the carrier, which is also the frequency Tony was checking. Tony's antenna is on the lower end of what amateurs would use for EME communications. However, amateurs *have* succeeded in working off the moon with single Yagis. (incidentally, I'm told that if you carry a 3-watt hand-held radio to the focal point of the Arecibo radio-telescope, and tap the push-to- talk button, when you let go you can hear the reflection of your signal after it bounces off the moon... I'll bet a TV w/rabbit ears placed at that focal point might actually deliver a picture...) I don't know anything about the correlation of Doppler shift to transmitter location - the figures certainly do seem to point towards the channel 19 station being KWBT. A frequency drift of 1.6 Hz/minute at WSBT certainly seems within the realm of possibility. (in fact I'm somewhat concerned that the KWBT signal seems to have little or no transmitter drift - though having no idea what kind of equipment the station is using for frequency control it may not be unreasonable.) I suppose the only way to be *sure* of what stations Tony had would be for someone here in the States, within the local coverage area of the transmitter, to take running precise frequency measurements *while* Tony is doing the same with the moon-reflected signal. If any locally- measured drift, added to the predictable Doppler shift from the movement of Earth and Moon, matches Tony's measurements then you could reasonably claim a specific station. I suppose increasing antenna gain would allow use of a wider bandwidth, which in turn would increase the time over which the drift could be monitored. If some method could be devised for tuning the receiver in synchronization with the Doppler shift, while still measuring the exact frequency, any transmitter drift could be measured over an even longer period. A check of TV channel frequency tables indicates the two frequencies Tony monitored are not used for TV carriers in Australia, China, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, or anywhere else in the immediate vicinity. (not that any other country is really *close* to Perth!) The frequencies are valid channels in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and the various U.S. possessions in the Pacific. I am however not aware of any stations of significant power on channels 16 or 19 in any of the U.S. possessions. That leaves the questions to be: 1. Are channels 16 and 19 used in Korea, Japan, or the Philippines by stations of modest or high power? 2. Is there any reasonable way to explain propagation from any of these countries? I suspect the physics would prove there is no answer to question #2. I strongly suspect Mr. Mann has in fact received American TV signals. If you count a 48.250 video carrier as DX based on exact frequency and fadein/fadeout times, then you definitely need to count this as DX. I don't think there's enough information to definitely claim it as loggings of WNDU and KWBT, but those more familiar with the physics than myself may well disagree. If you don't count it, you still have to consider it's a VERY interesting - and VERY valuable - scientific experiment. I think congratulations are in order. -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com WTFDA topica list via DXLD) I wonder if there be too much reliance on the geometry of the path, and that numerous other USA ch 19 stations would be almost equally possible? (gh, DXLD) EME ham DXers swap QSL cards when they can hear a faint CW signal. Since 50, 144, 432 MHz ham EME is generally accepted as DX, weak TV video carriers should also be classed as DX. I think this is may be the first serious attempt at USA UHF TV via EME. This is indeed extreme long path DX, the round trip being ~ 480,000 miles! Tony has proved that EME TVDX is possible for most DXers who can use a typical wideband fringe type UHF TV yagi, low noise UHF GaAsfet pre- amp, SSB receiver, and PC with audio spectrum analyser program. The main reasons Tony has obtained excellent results, considering his relatively 'basic' receiver set up, is because of the high power 5 million watt video carrier, and very narrow (2 Hz) bandwidth obtained by using a audio spectrum analyser. As all weak signal tropospheric and EME hams are well aware; reducing the receiver bandwidth also increases the signal to noise ratio of weak signals. As myself and Tony recently discussed on the phone, audible heterodoynes may be possible with a 20 Hz audio bandpass filter. The sky and terrestrial noise level would need to be low enough. The other obvious technical 'tweaks' are reducing the UHF pre-amp noise figure to 1 dB, and higher antenna gain. Perhaps after Tony has scanned the entire UHF US TV band for relative signal strengths, and found the strongest tx, a dedicated single channel high gain yagi (1 MHz bandwidth) could be built. It would be interesting to see the maximum s/n ratio obtained. When I get a chance, I will upload an archive 1984 TELEVISION magazine article on the difficulties of receiving DXTV via EME. In those days, 18-22 dBd stacked arrays were suggested for detection of TV via EME. They were doing it tough, considering audio spectrum analyser (PC) based programs were not yet available. For most DXers, EME reception is probably beyond their technical abilities. It is no coincidence that most EME and VHF weak signal DXers or hams have experience in electronics or science. In Tony's case, he is a research physicist, and hence is working with test equipment on a regular basis. Tony suggests that other DXers should also try for UHF EME DX. Why UHF? Because antenna gain is easier to obtain above 500 MHz, and terrestrial and sky noise is much lower at UHF. Also, there are several UHF TV transmitters with powers between 1-5 million watts. Many Thanks to Doug Smith for his TV database web page. Tony used Doug's page for searching all US UHF TV, with tx powers above 1 million watts. Regards, (Todd Emslie, Sydney, Australia, WTFDA via DXLD) ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Fwd: Further EME update from Tony Mann Hi folks, Below is a summary of reception so far: date time (UTC) tx freq (MHz)* freq drift (Hz/min) 26 May 1021-1028 1 ? 483.250488 -2.5 # 26 May 1115-1122 2 501.248437 -1.5 27 May 1147-1206 2 501.248423 -1.4 28 May 1235-1258 2 501.248418 -1.3 29 May 1340-1352 2 501.248420 -1.3 30 May 1437-1444 3 483.251031 -1.1 31 May 1533-1540 3 483.251050 -1.3 * as measured at tx (i.e. rx corrected for Doppler) # Doppler for tx 1 is only -0.9 Hz/min 1. WNDU-16 South Bend, IN 41.6N, 86.2W 5000 kW Z H 2. KWBT-19 Muskogee, OK 35.8N, 95.8W 5000 kW Z H 3. WAPT-16 Jackson, MS 32.3N, 90.3W 4790 kW ZdH KWBT-19 did not show on the 30th or 31st, but WAPT-16 came in. WAPT-16 is my first reception from a directional tx. It has about 80% of full power at the bearing of the setting moon (240-244 degrees). Except for tx 1 all receptions have exhibited frequency drift in excellent agreement with prediction of the Doppler shift (by GM4JJJ's program). This experiment is now on hold, while I waterproof the preamp (winter is here) and wait for moonrise at a more convenient time. 73, (Tony Mann, Perth, via Todd Emslie, Sydney, WTFDA via DXLD) ** PERU. 5122.07, Radio Santa Rosa, unknown QTH (Perú). May 28 - 2335 UT. New Peruvian radio station. Sometimes mentions "estamos en calidad de prueba" which roughly translated means "test transmission". Probably started 3-4 days earlier but the very weak signal did not even force me to try getting an ID. Neutral popular music from LA and very frequent "Radio Santa Rosa"-IDs. Varies some 1/100-parts in frequency and announces 5120 kHz. I have noted close downs both at 0000 and 0100 UT. There are so many "Santa Rosa" in Perú but if I am going for the geographic name I heard, several "Cajamarca" and "San Ignacio", with lots of questionmarks, my wild guess of the QTH will be: `Santa Rosa, la provincia de Jaén, el departamento de Cajamarca`. To chase the correct QTH you can listen for the following places: Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Jaén, cuya capital es Jaén. Sus distritos son: Bellavista, Colasay, Chontalí, Jaén, Huabal, Las Pirias, Pomahuaca, Pucará, Sallique, San Felipe, San José de Alto, Santa Rosa; con una población total de 168,138 hab. Peruvian change! 5940.12, Radio Bethel, Arequípa. May 23 2002 - 0025 UT. Nonstop religious music and "Radio Bethel"-IDs. This station was earlier on 5950.10 and 5949.59 kHz according to my notes. Listed as "Radio Arequípa" but I have always noted the name of the station as "Radio Bethel". 5996.63, Radio Melodía, Arequipa. May 31 2002 - 1100 UT. New frequency, previously on 5940.06 kHz. ID with a short song-ID: "Melodíiiia". 73 from (Björn Malm in Quito. /via Shortwave Bulletin June 2, translated by SWB editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. News Media Information Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: May 29, 2002 John Winston (202) 418-7450 FCC INVESTIGATION LEADS TO SEIZURE OF UNLICENSED FM RADIO EQUIPMENT Washington, D. C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that an investigation by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau led to the seizure of unlicensed broadcast radio equipment operated by Mr. Amil Lugo-González. The station had been operating on 99.5 MHz from Jayuya, Puerto Rico. The FCC San Juan Office, working in conjunction with the United States Marshals Service and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, seized the broadcasting equipment on May 21, 2002. The FCC, on more than one occasion, had issued notices to Mr. Lugo-González directing him to cease operation of the unlicensed station. The operation of an unlicensed broadcast station is a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Operators of illegal unlicensed broadcast stations may be subject to monetary penalties of up to $11,000 per violation, seizure by court order of all radio equipment involved in the operation, and court order directing that those persons cease operation of the unlicensed station. In addition, unlicensed operators may be subject to criminal sanctions, including fines and imprisonment. - FCC - Enforcement Bureau Contact: John Winston at (202) 418-7450 TTY 1-(888) 835-5322 (via Fred Vobbe, May 29, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. OSTANKINO INSURED FOR $114M By Alla Startseva, Staff Writer Almost two years after Ostankino was engulfed in flames, the owner of the television tower insured it for $114 million per year. The state-owned Russian Television and Radio Network, which controls television and radio transmission, took out the policy with Guta- Insurance last week to insure the structure from all possible risks, including terrorist attack, fire, natural disaster or third-party damage. The policy is the largest for a single object in Russia. "This is the first time that such a unique Russian building has been insured," Guta-Insurance general director Sergei Fyodorov said at news conference Wednesday. Ostankino's insurance by a domestic company "shows that the Russian insurance market is growing, growing up and building trust," Fyodorov said. Guta-Insurance won a tender to insure the tower, Fyodorov said, without naming the companies that took part. The policy covers only the frame of the 540-meter tower, he said. Ostankino caught fire in August 2000, killing four people, and causing 2.4 billion rubles ($80 million) in damages, according to experts. Images of the burning tower were shown on television and in newspapers around the world. "Unfortunately, we insurers are listened to only when something terrible has already happened," Fyodorov said. International insurance broker Marsh performed an appraisal of the most likely risks and will reinsure 68 percent of the total. Russian insurance company ROSNO will reinsure 30 percent and Guta-Insurance will reinsure 2 percent. "The size of the deal is very significant for the Russian market when discussing the insurance of one object," said Yevgeny Reshetin, an insurance expert from the Expert RA rating agency. Entire holdings companies are insured for just over $100 million, he added. Ostankino was erected in 1967 and weighs 51,400 tons including the foundation. (The Moscow Times.com via Dave White, May 30, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The Moscow Tchaikovsky Competition: see CANADA ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, R. UNAMSIL, 0410-0505 June 1. The best signal I have heard from this one, on a relatively static-free night. It faded badly toward the end. Featured hi-life music and a male DJ. There were lots of possible ID's, but I'll have to play the tape back carefully to be sure. The modulation was a little muddy (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, Drake R8, shortened longwires (now that the field is about to be plowed!), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. 6000, Mediacorp Radio, 1435 May 28, Mandarin radio program heard at S3 level. Good audibility. As with Mediacorp English on 6150 (Richard Lam, ibid., Cumbre DX via DXLD) No more SBC? ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Subject : my attempt at substantive info failed My query to Sister Stair asked about which of the charges is the "most serious," she having made reference to "the most serious" charge and the denial of bail. But all I got in response was the following: ``Brother Stair is in God's hands...thank God. Only Jesus can open those prison doors for my husband and I will continue to hope. IT SHALL BE SOON...IN HIS TIME! Only God has wrought such a great work for such a time as thia. God bless you. Pray fervently to our God. HE IS ABLE! From Sis. Teresa Grace Stair Romans 8:28`` My theory is that both B.S. and S.S. are more sophisticated than the image they foster over the radio, and that they know it is in their best interest to keep details away from inquirers. Do you have any more info? Example: what are the exact charges? Why was bail denied (one usually has to be a flight risk or a possible threat to others)? and, does he have a non-court-appointed lawyer? And, most importantly, is this guy gonna get a fair trial, or does the community in which he lives already hate the guy to begin with? Do you [know about?] any of these things?? (Robert Arthur, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Story in the press previously quoted here indeed was that he was considered a flight risk, so no bail. Whether he actually has large amounts of money stashed away is open to question, since one may assume most of it has gone to buying airtime. He probably gets a good deal for 24\7 pre-emptable access to WWCR`s backup transmitter, but time on DTK and various 50 kW MW stations does not come cheap. I have heard that there is a discrepancy between what Remnants Hope is saying about him and the facts, namely whether the females he had `consensual` sex with were minors or not. That should be easily determinable by the investigators. And allegedly, B.S. had already confessed long ago these sins to his followers, and they have forgiven him, so why all the fuss now? Oh oh, there`s more... (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Do any of you all know about the young man, Stan Beam that died night before last at Stair's camp? He died Wednesday at 10:30 pm and they waited until the next day (yesterday) to call the coroner. Sis Linda (Linda Walker Skenandore, May 30, TheNetTeam@yahoogroups.com via Al Patrick, DXLD) Now surely something like that would call for an investigation? Shalom, (Bro. Dan, ibid.) I am praying that it does. You know it's a pure shame but about 2-3 weeks ago his mother tried to make the arrangements to go see him but they gave excuses like he doesn't want to see you or have anything else to do with you. I think at this time Stan was too sick to talk to anyone and they probably did not want anyone to know just how sick he was. Sis Linda (ibid.) Glenn, As you can see, someone forwarded this to me from a discussion on The Net Team. I thought you'd be interested. A death at The Overcomer Ministry. Sounds like a YOUNG man. No reason given. Hope they have an independent autopsy. If foul play involved then I hope they dig up "Bro. Simon" and possibly others. Someone also needs to check with the coroner's office to see if anyone purchased copies of the death certificate and how many copies they got. If someone had him insured they'd probably need a copy of the death certificate to collect. Maybe someone thought he was an infiltrator! ??? It would be real interesting to know the CAUSE of death (Al Patrick, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is any of this confirmed? (gh, DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4991, 0906 25/5, Radio Apintie música (tipo (Parabens a você) seguido de comentários em idioma holandês provavelmente comprimentando pessoas pelo aniversário. Citou Suriname e Paramaribo. 23232 (Júlio Baldim, Salto -SP, Long Wire, 33 m, Kenwood R-5000, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. SUÉCIA/ UTILITÁRIA. 17024, SAB 83 - Göteborg Radio, Göteborg - 162 dias. Recebido bonito QSL em branco, material histórico (sobre a Radio Station Grimeton -- A world unique historic establishment, Grimeton Radio Station -- Grimeton Radio Science Centre, schedule da Rádio Suécia -- válido de abril à outubro de 2002, postal com foto da Radio Grimeton, SAQ, east of Varberg, Swedenrevista sobre Halland -- on the Swedish west cost e livreto sobre a história da Goteborg Radio) e carta pessoal. V/S: Gert Moberg (SM6CRN). Obs: carta e IR em inglês. O IR foi enviado por duas vezes, e depois foi recebido o QSL. QTH: Göteborg Radio, TELIA MOBILE AB, Maritime Telecom Services, P. O. Box 9304, S-400 97 Göteborg, Suécia (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes, PR, @tividade DX June 1 via DXLD) ** TIBET. Tibet People's Broadcasting Station, Lhasa, 6130, heard with English program May 25 1628-1638 about Tibetan Buddhism, so does it now have an external service? What are the other frequencies and times? English ended at 1638, then music until 1650*, O = 2-3. Also May 27 at 1630, with English program "Welcome to Holy Tibet". So heard with English on Sat and Mon but not Sun. QRM from TWR Swaziland in Chichewa. O = 3 (Christer Brunström, Halmstad, Sweden, SW Bulletin June 2, translated by gh for DXLD) ** U K. The UK Radio Museums page on the BDXC web site has recently been updated. This page also includes details of shops and publications specialising in vintage wireless. The Museums page can be found on the Articles Index page of the club web site - http://www.bdxc.org.uk Most entries have been checked but all updates gratefully received, especially if any of the places we list are no longer open, or if you know of any that we don't list! (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. Whatever became of Chicken Man? Dick Orkin`s Radio Ranch is still very much in business on La Brea and about to come out with a `complete` Chicken Man CD. See http://www.radio-ranch.com (Ken Halpert, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Currently here in Southern Cal, we have a very obscene hiphop station on 88.3. I barely get it in stereo in Culver City. The music they play is very raw—and you hear the "sh" or the "f words" about every 2 seconds. On the other end of the spectrim, driving in Hollywood there's a wonderful dance station on 100.7 with no announcers. Sure wish they were on an emptier frequency or ran more power (Hart Larry, CA, May 29, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 13:35:12 EDT From: WRFR@aol.com Subject: [grc] "Amature [sic] Broadcasting" on 25 MHz? Before y'all read this interesting post on creating a shortwave "Amature Broadcasting" Band at about 25 mHz [sic] ... consider that previous to McCarthyism, it was common for an American buying a radio to come with the shortwave band. After McCarthyism made curiosity in other cultures vaguely "UnAmerican" ... radios stopped coming with Shortwave band as a standard offering. The last time I saw a car radio with a shortwave band was an old Bosch radio from my 1972 Mercedes 220D. Even worse, if you want to build a shortwave station now with the antenna locating on American soil, you must build it with a minimum of 50,000 watts and MUST describe how you intend to target another country !!! You CANNOT build shortwave stations with your own country as the intended audience!! So I think this idea is a very very much needed correction to the idiotic paranoia of the McCarthy era. =======================SNIP================ http://radio-info.com/boards/ham/index.cgi?read=3 Amateur broadcasting? Name: Cybele's Own E-Mail: AlyssaJacquelineW@houston.rr.com Date: 4/30/02 2:41 a.m. "66.25.40.151" writes: I realize this may be a LITTLE different than amateur radio, but it still seems like it would fit here. Back in the early-to-mid 1990s, I read a proposal in a radio communications magazine (either "Popular Communications" or "Monitoring Times," probably) proposing that part of the radio spectrum (say, the little-used 11-meter shortwave band around 25 mHz) be reallocated for amateur broadcasting. As I recall, the writer proposed that this band be essentially deregulated such that virtually anyone could broadcast. Granted that the National Association of Broadcasters, on behalf of Big Corporate Radio, could probably be counted on to come up with some plausible excuse to block the proposal. And maybe it could buy off (I mean, lobby) enough senators and congresspeople to block the proposal. That said, what do you think of this idea? Personally I think it's a good one, if it could ever pass the political expediency test. (For those of you who don't know, I am talking about folks operating amateur radio broadcasting stations -- kind of like pirate radio, only legitimate under the rules I'm proposing -- as opposed to having two- way radio conversations the way HAMs generally do now.) Sincerely, Christopher Maxwell, Secretary, Virginia Center for Public Press http://www.DigitalDisaster.Org (via Scott Gurian, DXLD) Why not? The spectrum is mostly going to waste. Just so the harmonics don`t mess up TV DX! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ==>>OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY INTERFERENCE CASE RESOLVED In what FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth called "a textbook example" of FCC-ARRL cooperation, a case of strange interference involving a power company and an AM broadcast station has been substantially resolved. As a result of their follow-up investigation, six Cincinnati-area amateurs were awarded the ARRL Certificate of Merit. In January, the FCC wrote Cincinnati AM radio station WLW and Cinergy Corp--the electric utility serving the region--to help resolve the unusual and longstanding interference situation that was affecting local amateurs. Apparently spurious signals associated with WLW transmissions had been monitored over a wide area and frequency range and were severely affecting some amateur bands. The investigation focused on utility towers carrying 345-kV lines in the vicinity of the WLW broadcast tower. Jay Adrick, K8CJY--a member of the amateur team involved in tracking down the problem and one of those honored--explained at the Dayton ARRL Forum earlier this month that the primary problem seemed to stem from so-called static lines on the towers, which do not carry electrical power. The static lines, he pointed out, were not sufficiently RF-bonded to the tower structure. "They're actually loose-fitted," he said. "At 60 Hz, it's a reasonable ground." But at RF, it acted as a non-linear junction, and the static wires acted as a huge antenna. The result was something that sounded a bit like a spark gap modulated by WLW's audio on several amateur bands. Success did not come easily, and mop-up operations continue. Hollingsworth called the situation "a history-making RF interference case" that generated more investigative analysis than any other case in his years with the FCC. Ohio ARRL Section Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE, said the local amateurs brought the matter to the FCC's attention after working with WLW and Cinergy for almost two years to pin down the cause of the spurious signals. Honored with certificates at the ARRL Forum in Dayton in addition to Adrick were team leader Bob Reiff, WA8ULW; Ted Homan, WB8WFG; Herb Nichols, W3EOA; Geoff Mendenhall, W8GNM; and Paul Jellison, WD8KMX. Jellison is regional engineering manager of Clear Channel Communications which owns WLW. Also honored were non-amateurs Jeff Antoni and Kelly McMahan, both of Cinergy Corporation. The certificates were signed by ARRL Great Lakes Division Director George Race, WB8BGY, and ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, who assisted in the efforts to resolve the interference situation. The amateurs were cited for "creating an example of longtime and continuing corporate-amateur radio cooperation in an interference abatement of high power RF signals." Though some interference remains, Phillips said, the local amateurs and both corporations discovered many possible sources of trouble and have established a working procedure for clearing them up. "Saying the interference is all cleared up would be foolhardy given the complex nature of the engineering involved," said Phillips, who recommended the awards, "but the two words that describe this historic work would be 'patience works.'" Under FCC Part 15 and Part 73 rules, incidental noise radiated by power company equipment or spurious emissions from a broadcast transmitter must be corrected if they cause harmful interference to radio communications (ARRL Letter May 31 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO BEAT: --- Thursday, May 30, 2002 SONGS WILL FLY BY IN KBTB-FM'S NEW QUICK 96 FORMAT By BILL VIRGIN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER New Century Media yesterday said it is not only dropping the format of KBTB-FM (95.7), it's dropping the idea of playing entire songs. Instead of The Beat, which featured dance and rhythmic hits, the station will be known as Quick 96, and will feature "only the best parts of your favorite songs." The station plans to offer country, Top 40, rock and adult hits, and play short sections from each. Quick 96 said it will play selections from more than 400 songs each hour; the selections will be numbered, and listeners will need to log on to http://www.Quick96.com to look up the song title and artists. A release from New Century said the format will "address the short attention span of today's busy music fan." Station officials weren't available for comment on whether the quick format is permanent format or a stunt to set up a change to another. The announcement came the same day as the Federal Communications Commission released a 21-page decision approving Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s acquisition of Seattle-based The Ackerley Group, the parent of New Century Media. The deal had been announced last October. The 95.7 frequency has been a problem for New Century Media in recent years; in the space of a year it went through three formats and three sets of call letters. KJR-FM and a classic-hits format morphed into KMBX-FM which played contemporary and recent hits, and then to KBTB-FM. In a message on the new station's Web site, program director Bob Case said "although our listening audience has been so incredibly loyal, it has become unfortunately too small to compete in this competitive market of great Seattle radio stations." ©1999-2002 Seattle Post-Intelligencer (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) QUICK CHANGE: 95.7 FM SWITCHES FORMATS ... AGAIN Saturday, June 1, 2002, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF It was classic hits KJR-FM, then contemporary hits KMBX-FM, then dance/R&B KBTB-FM, then a two-day stunt of "Quick 96" featuring seven-second snippets of songs. Yesterday, New Century Media unveiled yet another format for its station at 95.7 ... KJR-FM, featuring classic hits of the 1960s and '70s (no doo-wop or hard rock, it says). The station even brought back its "Channel 95.7" jingle. New Century dumped "The Beat," its format and call letters Wednesday because of what it said was a small audience. New Century's parent Ackerley Group is being sold to radio industry giant Clear Channel Communications (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. There is an interesting article in the current issue of Radio World newspaper titled "Mixed Reviews for Expanded Band." It includes interviews with personnel from WRNC, KCNZ, and WQSN. It also touches briefly on IBOC and the recent court ruling concerning the 5 year limit. The article is online at http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/1_rw_ex_am.shtml (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) One excerpt: ``WRNC(AM), a gospel station in Macon GA, has made little profit from its 1670 kHz frequency since it launched in 1998. According to James Gay, its engineer, the station has not prospered yet because it is still waiting for approval from the FCC to move its transmitter site from its location near several medical practices to a site a few miles away. Soon after launching the station, Gay discovered that the medical equipment at the offices did not work properly because of the neighboring RF signals. The interference forced the station to operate at 1 kW during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the doctors' offices were open, and power up to 10 kW only at night, Gay said.`` Here`s a station admitting it is running illegal 10 kW night power, as so many others are suspected of doing (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: Hollywood seeks to block media duplication From EFF, the Electronic Frontier Foundation.. HOLLYWOOD WANTS TO PLUG THE "ANALOG HOLE" http://bpdg.blogs.eff.org/archives/000113.html Posted by Cory Doctorow (cory@eff.org) [excerpted] The Big Picture The people who tried to take away your VCR are at it again. Hollywood has always dreamed of a "well-mannered marketplace" where the only technologies that you can buy are those that do not disrupt its business. Acting through legislators who dance to Hollywood's tune, the movie studios are racing to lock away the flexible, general- purpose technology that has given us a century of unparalleled prosperity and innovation. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) filed the "Content Protection Status Report" with the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, laying out its plan to remake the technology world to suit its own ends. The report calls for regulation of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), generic computing components found in scientific, medical and entertainment devices. Under its proposal, every ADC will be controlled by a "cop-chip" that will shut it down if it is asked to assist in converting copyrighted material -- your cellphone would refuse to transmit your voice if you wandered too close to the copyrighted music coming from your stereo. The report shows that this ADC regulation is part of a larger agenda. This three-part agenda -- controlling digital media devices, controlling analog converters, and a radical redesign of the Internet to assist in controlling the distribution of copyrighted works -- is a frightening peek at Hollywood's vision of the future. Plugging the Analog Hole [The section of the status report entitled] "Plugging the Analog Hole," reveals Hollywood's plan to turn a generic technology component, the humble analog-to-digital convertor, into a device that is subject to the kind of regulation heretofore reserved for Schedule A narcotics. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are the building blocks of modern digital technology. An ADC's job is to take samples of the strength (amplitude) of some analog signal (light, sound, motion, temperature) at some interval (frequency) and convert the results to a numerical value. ADCs are embedded in digital scanners, samplers, thermometers, seismographs, computer mice and other pointer devices, camcorders, cameras, microscopes, telescopes, modems, radios, televisions, cellular phones, walkie-talkies, light-meters and a multitude of other devices. In general, ADCs are generic and interchangeable -- that is, a high-frequency ADC from a sound-card is potentially the same ADC that you'll find in a sensitive graphics tablet. Hollywood perceives ADCs as the lynchpin of unauthorized duplication. No matter how much copy-control technology is integrated into DVDs and satellite broadcasts, there is always the possibility that some Internet user will aim a camcorder at the screen, always the shadowy fan at the concert wielding a smuggled digital recorder, always the audiophile jacking a low-impedance cable into a high-end stereo. These bogeymen plague Hollywood, and each one uses an ADC to produce unauthorized copies. Accordingly, the report calls for a regimen where "watermark detectors would be required in all devices that perform analog to digital conversions." The plan is to embed a "watermark" (a theoretical, invisible mark that can only be detected by special equipment and that can't be removed without damaging the media in which it was embedded) in all copyrighted works. Thereafter, every ADC would be accompanied by a "cop chip" that would sense this watermark's presence and disable certain features depending on the conditions. This is meant to work like so: You point your camcorder at a movie screen. The magical, theoretical watermark embedded in the film is picked up by the cop-chip, which disables the camcorder's ADC. Your camcorder records nothing but dead air. The mic, sensing a watermark in the film's soundtrack, also shuts itself down. The objective of a law like this is to make "unauthorized" synonymous with "illegal." In the world of copyright, there are many uses that are legal, even -- especially -- if they are unauthorized, for example, the fair-use right to quote a work for critical purposes. Any critic -- a professor, a reporter, even an individual with a personal website -- may lawfully copy parts of copyrighted works in a critical discussion. Such a person may scan in part of a magazine article, record a snatch of music from a CD or a piece of a film or television show in the lawful course of making a critical work. And you don't need to be a critic to make a lawful, unauthorized copy! You might be someone who wants to "format-shift" some personal property -- say, by scanning in a book or transferring an old LP to MP3 so that you might take it with you while travelling with your computer. This is absolutely lawful, but under the "analog hole" proposal, providing the tools to make such unauthorized uses would be illegal. Unintended Consequences It's outrageous that Hollywood would demand a law that intentionally breaks technology so that it can't be used in lawful ways, but the unintended consequences of this regime are even more bizarre. Virtually everything in our world is copyrighted or trademarked by someone, from the façades of famous sky-scrapers to the background music at your local mall. If ADCs are constrained from performing analog-to-digital conversion of all watermarked copyrighted works, you might end up with a cellphone that switches itself off when you get within range of the copyrighted music on your stereo; a camcorder that refuses to store your child's first steps because he is taking them within eyeshot of a television playing a copyrighted cartoon; a camera that won't snap your holiday moments if they take place against the copyrighted backdrop of a chain store such as Starbucks, which forbids on-premises photography because its fixtures are proprietary works. As was mentioned, ADCs are fundamental, generic computing components, found in medical and scientific equipment, computers, and a variety of consumer electronics. Surely Hollywood doesn't mean to suggest that geologists will have to equip their seismographs with cop-chips (lest they should accidentally record a copyrighted earthquake)? It seems likely that they do. Take a Stand Hollywood's legislative agenda may be ridiculous, but it is hardly unlikely. If you work for a technology company, please ask your favorite senior manager or corporate officer to contact the EFF http://www.eff.org/ We'd be delighted to deliver a briefing on this and help make the decision to stand up. As an individual, write to the companies you are a customer of. Take a look at your computer and your consumer electronics: they have been built by companies that are either willingly participating in Hollywood's content protection plans or have not come forward to oppose it. Only once these companies realize that their customers care about liberty will they find the courage to oppose Hollywood's powerful Congressional representatives, like Senator Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (D-Disney). Show this article to your friends and co-workers. Hollywood's perverse obsession with plugging the analog hole must be brought to light, as must the likely outcome of its agenda (via Scott Gurian, DXLD) ** U S A. The Jewish Radio Network is starting on WBCQ on Sunday, June 2, 2002 - you can quote Rabbi Spivak: "In these times of incitement and great concern, people the world over are listening to The Jewish Radio Network broadcasting to Jewish communities across the nation and around the world.`` For further information, please call The Jewish Radio Network 1-866-722-2497 (toll free) or email YSPIVAK@aol.com (via Elayne Starr, WBCQ, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I looked up some info about Rabbi Yaakov Spivak, and it appears he is a real Jew --- not some ``Messianic`` Christian imposter. Schedule of the ``EVM Jewish Radio Network`` is Sun 1300-2000 17495, 2000-2300 9335; Spivak has another show, Spiritual Power Thinking, UT Wed 0100- 0200 on 7415. 17495 audible at 1400 check Sunday (gh, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6140.1, R Monte Carlo, (tentative) 0839 June 1, poor-fair with item on World Cup Soccer then tangos back-back (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4964m, 1035 May 31, with distorted signal, sounded more Spanish than Portuguese and was carrying actualities with the "ding- dong" doorbell effect between items (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) m means measured, or typo for comma? (gh, DXLD) Hi Paul, I caught that one on the local evening of 29/5 and made personal notes that it was "very distorted". I'm very sure I was listening to a Latin that night where I heard ding dong door bell sounds too, but I didn't note which frequency/station I heard it on. Obviously must have been that one. For the record (if it helps) I heard 4962 somewhere between 0912 and 0924 UT. Say 0818. Ideal Peruvian/Ecuadorian time (but unsure if from there) Perhaps one of the SW Latin experts over here in oz can help out. Cheers (Ian Baxter, ARDXC via DXLD) There's a carrier there right now... The door-bells sounded very much like Ecos del Torbes, I wonder if it's a spurrie??? [Later:] The distorted station on 4965 is probably Ecos del Torbes. Many mentions of Venezuela though very tough to hear an actual ID. There is only a large carrier on 4980 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, 1035 UT June 1 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. What is this station heard a couple of times with very poor reception on 19640 kHz around 1930 UT. Really no clue about language etc.... My rx is AOR 7030 Plus. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku (oldest town in FINLAND), hard-core-dx June 1 via DXLD) Start with researching 9820 possibilities (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ INTERNATIONAL LISTENER I was in contact with Ed Mayberry, presenter of the "International Listener", a favourite on the internet for many years. Ed lost most of his belonging during a hurricane [flood] last year and the web site has not been active since. I recently asked Ed how he was doing and when he might return to the internet and he asked me to pass along this message to all (Brian Smith, ODXA via DXLD) -------------- Brian, Thanks for writing. Well, we're moved into a new house, in the same school district for the kids. We still haven't replaced all our furniture (waiting for good buys along the way) nor have we purchased a new computer, but that's right around the corner. I'm anxious to bring online a new, better-looking and more functional International Listener, and look forward to the process of re-building it. Thanks again for your comments, and tell everyone that, like Arnold Schwarzeneggar says, "I'll be back!" (Ed Mayberry, via Brian Smith, ODXA via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER TIPS +++++++++++++ THE NEW SONY ICF-SW7600GR The guys at Spectrum (5070 0300 UT Sun) in a roundabout way asked me to write a listener generated review so I took the first one and improved it a little. Needing a new radio to take with me while traveling I decided on Sony`s new ICF-SW7600GR. Reviews of the radio in the WRTH and Passport to World band Radio made it sound worth the $179 risk. Because of these reviews it took me over 6 months to actually take delivery of the unit. I bought it from Universal Radio who did not charge me until they actually shipped the radio. Something one needs to watch out for nowadays. The 7600 is in silver tone with tactile rubber buttons that you know have been pushed by the feel they return. It is about 7.5`` wide, 4.75`` tall and 1`` thick and weights about 3 pounds. On the left side are external antenna, line out, earphone, and AC adapter jacks along with an attenuation control that when ``ON`` is adjustable – a very nice feature to have especially when automatically searching the bands. The right side houses the volume and tone controls and switches allowing you to choose regular AM or use the synchronous detection feature, as well as being able to single out upper or lower sidebands with a fine tuning control wheel. The front of the radio is about 1/3 speaker with the rest of it a display and keypads. The display, about 1`` X 1.5`` tells you everything you need to know about the state of the radio. There are 100 memories that one can preset. Sony has decided to split these up into 10 pages with 10 memories on each page. It works just like the presets within banks on scanners. Each page is scannable as is the whole spectrum from 150 kHz to 30 MHz. Broadcast AM and FM are available with FM in stereo using earphones. There are the usual clocks and timers and a ``Hold`` button. This Hold feature really needs to be used on this radio because the process of getting it back into its leatherette cover causes one to have to mash 6 or 8 buttons along the way. I believe this radio has been designed in part for those who are blind or have trouble seeing small things. All the controls have a feel to them that is positive and they seem to be arranged in logical groups. When traveling I usually have the radio next to my pillow and tune in the dark. Once I had learned where everything was it was very easy to do things only by feel. The display does have a backlight if needed however. Sony has made this radio to run off of 4 AA batteries or a 6V center positive AC adapter. I have left it on accidentally for nearly 72 hours on battery power alone and it still had life remaining. Besides the carrying case Sony also provides you with a windup antenna – maybe 10` long - that is designed to be attached to the whip antenna. This seems odd when there is an external antenna jack but for some reason that`s what they`ve done. The radio works much better using the external jack than the whip antenna route as one might suspect. Sony has made this model very sensitive but it does not seem to overload even when attached to a large longwire antenna. It crisply tunes broadcasts and rejects nearby interference very well. The adjustable attenuation really helps in singling out buried stations as it works together with the fine-tuning wheel. I am very pleased with how this radio works by itself and in concert with some other antennas. I have had very good luck with the Sony AN- LP1 active antenna that attaches to a hotel window with a suction cup or a clip. I have also used the 7600 GR with LF Engineering`s Skymatch H800 amplified antenna and have had excellent results in an area that good longwires and dipoles had not worked very well in. The AN-LP1 is product #3676 and the Sony 7600 GR is #0360 from Universal Radio – _ http://www.universal-radio.com The Skymatch H800 is Grove`s product #ANT15 at http://www.grove-ent.com The Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo/SW/MW/LW PLL Synthesized Receiver gets an A from me and I feel I have lucked out finding a replacement for my trusty Panasonic RF B45 that I have used for years (LeRoy Long, OK, June 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MFJ-616 "SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY ENHANCER" --- see ECUADOR +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GH NAME CHANGE? / UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL I myself noted the difference, and thought that Mr Hauser had misspellt his own name. I do so many times, by erratic punching of my own name. Well, it seems that Mr Hauzer or Hauser has to explain a bit, as Hauser is a word that fits very well into the small domain of German I know, but HuaZer is completely out of any lingustic record. Something self-invented. Tell us Glenn ! 73 Dreiundsiebsig (Johannanun Biergkljiund, Trollhattan, Sweden) Subject: Re: [HCDX] Re Enzio's bewildement ... and mine Believe me, I made them up on the spur of the moment, as hotmail prompted me to do. Harzer ought to satisfy as a German-sounding name, and others seem to think Yaozuh is Chinese sounding. As for `HuaZer` that`s a new one on me which you must have made up. Of course most hotmail users do not use their real name anyway, but I was a newerbie when I set up those accounts. While this is all fitfully amusing, I think it is somewhat offtopic, don`t you? 73, Glenn Whoever Yes I happened to do that, sorry.... I think it is hilarious, but definitely offtopic. But just now I feel a bit satisfied knowing that I am not the only one who strays into troubles using an ordinary PC and the web, mail, etc. Thanks a million for your great work; for some reason I read every word that is about Cuba and what's going on there. I suppose I would not find that stuff as easily as I would if it had not been for the DXLD. I myself was the victim of a crazy misunderstanding - in Spain. Once I had to register for some work permit and my passport and those of a number of colleagues were handed to the local police. My full name is Johan Olof Berglund, so the permit came in the name of Joan Olot. As you surely know Joan is Catalan for Johan, Juan etc, (in Galicia I'm Xoan, which definitely has a Chinese touch) and Olot is a town in the Gerona (Girona) province. I think I missed that town. I was at Playa de Aro, (Platja d'Aro) guiding Scandinavians, sometimes Germans too. Lovely place. 73 to you Glenn (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden) ## ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-089, May 31, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1133: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1133.html NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070, 0630 on 3210 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 1200, on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 NAm UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Hello Glenn, Thank you for sending DXLD regularly. It is really a great job you do! Keep up the good work! 73's (Tore Larsson, Sweden, May 31, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. New transmissions and additional frequencies for RFE/RL in Pashto/Dari: 0300-0400 Pashto NF 13790 <<<<< addit \\ 11705 15705 17560 0400-0500 Dari NF 13790 <<<<< addit \\ 11705 15705 17560 0700-0730 Pashto on 15345 17775 19010 <<<<< new txion 0730-0800 Dari on 15345 17775 19010 <<<<< new txion 0900-0930 Pashto on 15220 17865 19010 <<<<< new txion 0930-1000 Dari on 15220 17865 19010 <<<<< new txion 1200-1300 Pashto NF 17740 <<<<< addit \\ 15265 15355 15370 17685 1300-1400 Dari NF 15535 <<<<< addit \\ 15265 15355 15370 17685 1700-1730 Pashto NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 11835 12030 15210 1730-1800 Dari NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 11835 12030 15210 1800-1830 Pashto NF 15340 <<<<< addit \\ 9845 12030 15210 1930-2000 Dari NF 15190 <<<<< addit \\ 7285 9575 15340 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 31, via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]? Hi Glenn. Thanks for the information on the 18940 kHz unidentified station, very interesting that the signal is from Norway; it confused me since the signal is not as strong as it should be at that time and band from northern Europe to Venezuela. By the way, signal is also on today with the same quality 43333 at this moment 16:30. Will be nice to have the technical characteristics of the transmitter and antennas as well as the location and e-mail address of the station. 73/DX (Jose M. Valdes R. (Joe) YV5LIX 10 31 N 66.52 W May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn. The signal on 18940 is finally transmitting a normal program; today at 1400 UT they started with a female announcement, apparently identifying the station, and them a male voice giving some explanations, at 1406 began what seems like news, but I don't understand the language, it seems Arabic or similar; I made a recording if this. I'm going to make some selective recording this morning to see what we may get out of them. [Later:] Here is an audio clip of the first minute of today's broadcast on 18940, which I believe is the first actual broadcast program for this station, an historical moment I guess; so this may be interesting to you and perhaps with it you may be able to identify the language. If the previous information send by Erik is correct, and I'm sure it is, and the signal is being directed toward Afghanistan, then the station must have a very good antenna system, because their signal is very good here under those conditions. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe) YV5LIX, Venezuela, May 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also NORWAY Dear Glenn, The unidentified station in DXLD 2-087 and 2-088 with strange - Afghan-like non-stop musictape broadcasting 1400-1700 on 18940 is probably Kvitsøy, Norway. On May 29 Erik Koie wrote that they were testing for Merlin on 18940 at 1400-1700. I heard it May 30 with SINPO 25343. R Norway and R Denmark were still heard 1400-1600 on 13800 and 15735 and 1600-1700 on 9595 and 15735. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. ENCOUNTERS WITH THE UNEXPLAINED, Friday evening on Pax TV: Two Hundred miles east of Anchorage Alaska, there stands a phased array transmitter capable of beaming more than 3 BILLION watts of energy into the ionosphere. It is called the High Altitude Auroral Research Project...or HAARP for short. Is this marvel of technology capable of changing and controlling weather patterns world wide? HAARP is under the direction of the Department of Defense. Is it in fact a part of some secret Star Wars Defense system? Some critics claim this huge electronic device is actually a mechanism for conducting mind control experiments over whole populations. Some even see the finished product as the ultimate "Death Ray?" Coincidently perhaps, the hole in the Ozone layer is expanding in the very region of the atmosphere irradiated by HAARP. What is really going on in the frozen landscape at the edge of the Arctic? Part Two of this episode begins with an intriguing question: If you knew where you could get your hands on 300 million dollars worth of diamonds--would you get them…even if the diamonds were located some 2 ½ miles beneath the ocean waves, in the cargo hold of the doomed ocean liner Titanic? ... {first half of program, lots of speculation, shots} http://www.paxtv.com/shows/encounte/episodes.cfm In OKC ch 62 it`s at 8 pm CDT, 0100 UT Sat; sked shows 9 pm ET/PT (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. TWR, 6235.16V, May 27 *0428-0445*, TWR IS at sign-on and off. Into programming in unID language at 0430, Slovak listed. Religious music. Strong, but slightly wobbly, unstable transmitter drifting form 6235.16 at sign-on to 6235.3 at sign-off. More stable on \\ 7380.1 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6215.06 kHz, Radio Baluarte. De acuerdo a informaciones obtenidas telefónicamente de su operador, la emisora emite diariamente en onda corta de *1000-0300* con 1 kW de potencia. Su correcto QTH donde está la emisora en sí, es el siguiente: Radio Baluarte; Hipólito Yrigoyen esquina Andresito; 3370-Puerto Iguazú; Misiones; Argentina. El QTH de Obispo Angelelli y María del Iguazú corresponde sólo a la Iglesia del Centro de Evangelización Camino Nuevo, pero no a la emisora. Ahora grabarán una ID con en donde darán a conocer al aire el correcto QTH para que la correspondencia será dirigida a la misma emisora en sí. Anoche, 29 Mayo, desde +0242-0301* escuchado un programa de música "bailantera" religiosa !!!. La apertura de emisiones fue hoy a las *0956+. SINPO: 35342. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, May 29, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. R. Continental, 15820-LSB, May 27 0030-0145+, Spanish talk, announcements, Spanish ballads, IDs, phone talk. No parallels heard. Very good; gone by 0200 check (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. New schedule for Voice International via Darwin 250 kW effective June 1: CHINESE 0900-1400 13775 / 340 deg 1400-1700 17560 / 340 deg co-ch DW Ge til 1600, BSKSA Ar from 1600 ENGLISH 0900-1000 17645 / 340 deg <<<<< deleted 0900-1500 13685 / 303 deg <<<<< retimed (ex 1000-1100) 1500-1700 11930 / 303 deg <<<<< new INDONESIAN 0900-1300 15365 / 290 deg 1300-1700 13660 / 290 deg co-ch BBC Ar HINDI 1100-1700 13635 / 303 deg <<<<< new (ex in English) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30-31, via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11780, R. Nacional [Amazônia], May 30 0800, poor signal at sign-on with full IDs, much better on // 6180. Sounding nothing like 250 kW and much weaker than Guaíba 11785, Gaúcha 11915 or Bandeirantes 11925 (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC PREVIEWS FOR FRIDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY: C'EST LA VIE: This week on C'est La Vie, bigger brains through bilingualism: a noted scientist explains why learning a second language - at any age - is good for you. That's on C'est La Vie, with Bernard St. Laurent, this morning Friday at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One. IDEAS: Friday on Ideas... The Mystery of Capital. Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto has a revolutionary plan to help the world's poor: deed them the land and wealth they already own. Let the poor provide their own foreign aid. In this Donner Canadian Foundation lecture, a daring thinker explains how to grow capitalism in developing countries. That's tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. MEMORIAL FOR OTTO LOWY: In place of The Transcontinental this week, there will be a special tribute to the host of the program. For the past 22 years, Otto Lowy created the inviting ambience of Central Europe in words and music. Otto passed away earlier this week. This program will feature some of Otto's favorite musical selections. It is hosted by Otto's colleague Paul Grant. That's Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. [also 1405 UT on CBU Vancouver] SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music... This month marks the centenary of the birth of Richard Rodgers, and Say It With Music is going to celebrate with a special five-part series devoted to his career. This week, Part One of Rodgers and Hart: the early years - how they met and became successful. The songs include Manhattan, Mountain Greenery and Thou Swell, and the singers range from Dinah Washington through Doris Day. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend... comedians may be Canada's number one cultural export. And the Number One comedy generator is Toronto's Second City, where the likes of Dan Ackroyd, Martin Short, Andrea Martin and Joe Flaherty produced irreverent, hilarious sketches and later, off-the-wall TV. This week Second City marked 29 years of making people laugh. Marsha Lederman reports on the Great White North's great big comedy machine. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheets excerpted by gh for DXLD) Strangely enough, I didn`t see anything connected with H.M. The Queen`s Jubilee. Did I miss something, is it now the Republic of Canada? (gh, DXLD) Later: well, there is something, but on CBC Television, not radio, and not until Monday, Tuesday... IDEAS: Monday on Ideas...the 2002 Donner Canadian Foundation Lecture by Bernard Lewis, one of the West's foremost authorities on Islamic history and culture. His best-selling book "What Went Wrong? Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response, " examines the larger sequence and pattern of events, ideas and attitudes that preceded and in some measure produced the tragic events in New York and Washington this past September. Hear Bernard Lewis tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. TELEVISION PARTY AT THE PALACE: Tune in to CBC Television Monday night for Party at the Palace, a musical tribute to the Queen's Golden Jubilee. It's a live concert from London featuring a line-up of artists who represent the past 50 years of popular music. Artists include Annie Lennox, Aretha Franklin, Bryan Adams, Elton John, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Ricky Martin, Roger Daltry, Rod Stewart, S Club 7, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett among many others. That's Party at the Palace, tonight at 7 p.m. (8 AT, 8:30 NT) on CBC Television. – NEWSWORLD-- THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS: Tune in to CBC Television and CBC Newsworld this week for live coverage of the celebrations marking the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Live coverage begins Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET on CBC Newsworld. Queen Elizabeth will light the final fire in a chain of thousands of fire beacons, followed by a spectacular fireworks display designed to light up London. (This broadcast will be replayed on CBC Newsworld at 8 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET.) TELEVISION AND NEWSWORLD-- GOLDEN JUBILEE THANKSGIVING SERVICE: (very early Tuesday morning) Live coverage of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebration continues today with a seven-and-a-half-hour simulcast on CBC Television and CBC Newsworld, including the royal procession as the Queen attends a Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral, beginning at 5:30 a.m. ET. Included in the coverage is a walkabout, a street party, a parade of singers, dancers and children, and the unveiling of the Commonwealth Balcony hanging. CBC Newsworld presents highlights of the coverage at 8 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET (CBC Hotsheets via gh, DXLD) ** CONGO. Yesterday Thu evening May 30 around 20 UT I was able to pick up signal from RTV Congolaise, Brazzaville on 5985 kHz. They were eager to talk about football, or soccer, how ever you call this game. Short ID was "RADIO CONGO". Nothing to complain about reception; it was satisfactory (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, May 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. An upcoming Wavescan script deals with AWR`s previous SW operation there, from Cahuita, which is now owned by Dr. Gene Scott. I was surprised to see Adrian mention that the callsign was changed to TIDGS in 1994 --- because I myself made up that callsign as a convenient way to refer to the station. I am not aware of any official designation as such! So I asked Adrian about that and whether TIASD and TIAWR were really official callsigns previously (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As you observe, the callsign situation in Costa Rica is indeed somewhat lax, though quite real. I understand that all stations are required to operate under a registered callsign, though they are seldom if ever used on air. The callsigns for the Adventist stations in Costa Rica has been quite legal. TIASD was registered and approved by the licensing authority. The letters ASD as you are probably are aware stood for Seventh-day Adventist in Spanish. When the callsign was changed to TIAWR, I understand that Radio Lira was announcing this on air in advance of the official change. The new callsign TIAWR was approved by AWR HQ in Silver Spring MD, and it was a legal call approved by the licensing authorities in Costa Rica for the AWR stations. I understood that the change to TIDGS was also a legal change. However, I will make an enquiry into this matter, and whatever I find out, I will let you know. Greetings! AMP (Adrian M. Peterson, IN, May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, Scott is in the process of upgrading the site with a new 100 kW transmitter, antennas acquired from HCJB, and several new frequencies are planned, with the object of putting a good signal into Europe (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. If I would have been Jimmy Carter meeting Castro, I would have said, "Why do you continue to jam our broadcasters? We don't jam YOU." They are even jamming WRMI's rebroadcast of Christian Media Network on 7385 at 3 to 5 o`clock in the morning (Eastern) in ENGLISH ! ! ! (Only an insomniac like me would even care.) (Lou Johnson, KF4EON, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. VIOLAN PRIVACIDAD DE LAS COMUNICACIONES POR INTERNET CAMAGUEY, 29 de mayo, Ramón Armas Guerrero, ACP http://www.cubanet.org A los especialistas en computación que trabajan en el Cyber Café ubicado en la calle Popular Número 121, en el centro de la Ciudad de Camagüey, perteneciente a Prensa Latina, les han orientado los directivos de la entidad revisar todo el correo electrónico que se emite desde allí, así como fiscalizar la navegación por la red de redes que efectúen los usuarios, tanto nacionales como extranjeros. "Eso es lo que yo tengo orientado por mis superiores", comentó Leandro, un joven que atiende al público en la instalación y a la vez es uno de los encargados de analizar los mensajes, darles el visto bueno y hasta grabarlos sin el consentimiento de los usuarios. En conversación con el director del establecimiento, un señor de apellido Landa, y con uno de sus funcionarios, supimos que el servicio fue interrumpido durante la semana del 17 al 24 del mes en curso, debido a la morosidad en el pago a la empresa de telecomunicaciones y que la censura y el cacheo impuesto a la Internet obedece a las orientaciones de la "Empresa de Seguridad Informática". Todo indica que además de la censura que ejerce la Seguridad del Estado en las comunicaciones también se han sumado a la tarea la Empresa de Seguridad Informática, Prensa Latina, y la sociedad mixta empresarial de telecomunicaciones (ETECSA). Este accionar viola los derechos más elementales de las personas que desean comunicarse desde la Isla con el exterior. Violan incluso lo establecido por la constitución de la República de Cuba, que en su Artículo 57 dice textualmente: "La correspondencia es inviolable. Sólo puede ser ocupada, abierta y examinada en los casos previstos por la Ley. Se guardará secreto de los asuntos ajenos al hecho que motivaren el examen. El mismo principio se observará con respecto a las comunicaciones cablegráficas, telegráficas y telefónicas" Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RADIO FREE EUROPE IN PRAGUE RECEIVES THREAT WITH BLOOD-STAINED BANDAGES | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 29 May: The Prague-based headquarters of the Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has recently received a threatening letter, Nova Television said today, adding that blood-stained bandages were also in the envelope. An anonymous person who threatened the station with an attack in the near future sent the envelope from central Bohemia, according to the information, obtained by Nova. The letter also contained threats addressed to the wife of the US President Laura Bush who visited the RFE/RL office during her recent visit to Prague. The letter was discovered by the staff of the RFE/RL special service. The case is being dealt with by police who have refused to give any details. The blood stains and the letter are being analysed by experts from the State Institute for Nuclear and Biological Safety in Pribram, central Bohemia. According to RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winterova, it was a usual threatening letter and the station receives several such letters every week. The strange thing in it was that the blood-stained bandages were enclosed... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1904 gmt 29 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) NEW SITES FOR CZECH-BASED US RADIO TO BE DISCUSSED BY SECURITY COUNCIL | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 30 May: Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) President Thomas Dine today discussed more possibilities where the RFE/RL headquarters could be moved, Kavan's spokesman Ales Pospisil said today. In June, Kavan will submit the relocation options to the state security council for assessment, Pospisil said. Neither Pospisil nor RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winterova revealed any details. "We will prepare a detailed assessment of the current situation, which will be submitted to the State Security Council on 25 June... [agency ellipsis] I can assure you that we are on a way to find a new and a safer seat for the RFE/FL," Pospisil said. The state security council recommended relocation of the RFE/RL, a US- funded radio station, from the Prague's centre last December in reaction to terrorist attacks carried out against the United States on 11 September. Because the state security council meeting will take place after the 14-15 June parliamentary elections it is possible that new ministers will assess the relocation of the RFE/RL. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1353 gmt 30 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Africa, 15184.6v, May 24 2100-2304*, US- produced English religious programming. English sign-off announcements at 2259 with ID, Cupertino, CA and Malabo, EG addresses. Sign-off with long NA. Poor, weak with transmitter constantly varying approx +/- 50 Hz. Also heard next day, May 25, 2200-2308* (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA: Freq change for Netsanet Le Ethiopia in Amharic via SAM 250 kW / 188 deg, 1700-1800 Wed/Sun NF 12115, ex 12110. RUSSIA: Freq change for Dejen Radio in Tigrina via SAM 250 kW / 188 deg, 1700-1800 Sat only NF 12115, ex 12110 RUSSIA: Freq change for Sagalee Oromiya in Oromo via SAM 250 kW / 188 deg, 1730-1800 Mon/Thu NF 12115, ex 12110 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30, via DXLD) These items were deleted from a revision May 31, so are they no longer correct? (gh, DXLD) SAM = Samara ** EUROPE. Pirate, Laser Hot Hits, 9389.95, May 25 0015-0600+. Heard here once again with variety of pop music, techno-pop dance music. IDs, ID jingles. Also IDs as Laser 6220. Merlin, Ontario, maildrop. Weak at tune-in but slowly improved throughout the evening. Fairly good by 0430. Also May 27 at 0100-0510+ (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. If you haven't seen Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest yet, there's news about yet another international broadcaster which might discontinue English broadcasts --- YLE-Radio Finland. The fate of this language service will be decided on June 12; it's time for you to write to YLE and ask that this station continue the great programs they offer to us! Considering that we are thankful for the participation of the Finnish guests at the Winter SWL Festival every year, we should also show some support towards Radio Finland and let them know we are listening to their programs and want the English service retained as much as possible! (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, May 29, swprograms via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Tervehdys, Niinpä jälleen on aika rentoutua SKANDINAVIAN EKAN JA AINOAN YKSITYISEN LYHYTAALTOASEMAN -Scandinavian Weekend Radion parissa. Kesä on saapunut Pohjolaan ja sinulla on loistava tilaisuus kuunnella harvinaisempaakin suomalaista kesämusaa KESÄ-SWR:n kautta (kesä- elokuussa). SWR lähettää ohjelmaansa jokaisen kuukauden ensimmäisenä lauantaina. Seuraava lähetyksemme on 1. kesäkuuta. Kesätaajuustaulukkomme on seuraavanlainen: ska 48 mb 25 mb [local time in this version] 00-01 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 01-08 5980 kHz 11720 kHz 08-11 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 11-13 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 13-18 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 18-24 5990 kHz 11720 kHz Muutokset mahdollisia: Katso http://www.swradio.net Ethän unohda 2-vuotissynttärilähetystämme 6. heinäkuuta. Muista olla kuulolla myös Porin EDXC-tapaamisen ERIKOISLÄHETYKSEN aikana 17. elokuuta. Otamme mielellämme vastaan kommenttejasi puhelimitse (tai tekstiviestein) lähetyksen aikana numeroomme 0400 995 559 Voit toki kirjoitella vieraskirjaamme tai lähettää e-mail viestejä info@swradio.net . Kuuiluvuusraportin voit lähettää täyttämällä raporttilomakkeemme http://www.swradio.net/fin/rapo.htm tai normaalisti postitse: SWR/Raportit, PL 35, 40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ. Muista oheistaa 2 Euroa raportinkäsittelykulujamme varten, kiitos. Parhain terveisin, Dj. Madman Hello folks, It is time to listen to Scandinavian First and Only Private SW-Station -Scandinavian Weekend Radio. We are all now face to face with Summer and so you can expect to hear some unique Summermusic of Finland during transmissions of SUMMER-SWR (June-August). We are on the air every first Saturday of month (Finnish time). Next transmission day is 1st of June! (31th May- 1st June UT) Here is our Summer Schedule UT 48 mb 25 mb 21-22 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 22-05 5980 kHz 11720 kHz 05-08 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 08-10 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 10-15 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 15-21 5990 kHz 11720 kHz Some changes might happen. Follow them and other info in our web-page: http://www.swradio.net And don't forgot our 2 years birthday-transmission on 6th July. Remember also our SPECIAL EDXC-meeting broadcast on 17th August. Like always we like to receive all your comments directly to our phonenumber +358 400 995 559 during transmission and you can also write your comments to our questbook or send e-mail info@swradio.net Send your reception reports by filling our report form http://www.swradio.net/fin/rapo.htm or by ordinary mail: SWR/Reports, P. O. Box 35, 40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND. Please, enclose 2 Euros/ 2 IRC's or 2 US-$ for return postage. With best regards, Dj. Madman (SWR May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Sud Radio, 819, Toulouse is back on the air since 13th May. They use C-QUAM AM Stereo (Thierry Vignaud, Boulogne-Billancourt, fr.rec.radio via Steve Whitt, Medium Wave Circle via June World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) How about that! ** GERMANY. This is an interesting story regarding electromagnetic radiation in a small village about 100km northeast of my hometown. Story courtesy, Deutsche Welle. http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1446_A_562645_1_A,00.html BAD VIBES 28.05.2002 A community in Bavaria has taken on the US Government and won. It complained that radiation from the US-run ``Radio Liberty`` broadcast towers are behind the region`s high cancer rates. The towers must come down in 2005. The community around the village of Valley southeast of Munich enjoys amid idyllic surroundings. Blue lakes and white church steeples, green fields and the nearby Alps make the region as pretty as a postcard. Over the past fifty years, people have moved here to get out of the city and find some peace and quiet amid postcard-pretty surroundings. Nearly one in two of them now has cancer. There`s a blot on the landscape in Valley, according to its citizens: five antenna towers belonging to the United States. The 300-meter-tall structures broadcast "Radio Liberty," the US government-sponsored station which transmits programs to eastern Europe and central Asia. To send the programs that distance, the towers have to put out up to a million watts. All that electromagnetic radiation, according to Valley residents, is making them sick. Health Concerns For decades, locals have been complaining of headaches, insomnia, constant ringing in the ears and heart palpitations. But what moved residents to take action is the area`s high cancer rate. In the village of Valley itself, according to pastor Pater Nicolai, almost every household has one person, maybe two, living with cancer. In addition to health problems, the high levels of electromagnetic radiation put out by Radio Liberty has meant that telephones and even kitchen sinks have become unwanted receivers, pumping out programs in Russian and Farsi. The local church had to trade in its electronic organ for a mechanical one, since the constant "electronic smog" interfered with the first organ`s circuits. Radio Liberty`s parent organization, the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), took steps to alleviate the electronic problems, but drew the line when it came to health concerns. The IBB said there was no proof that its towers were the cause of the region`s health problems. Taking Action After complaining to local authorities for some six years with no results, the citizens of Valley decided to take their initiative to the source. Last year they brought their complaint to the Federal District Court in Washington DC and petitioned for the broadcaster to be removed from the area. That brought the issue to the attention of members in the German parliament and they decided to look into the issue. Now the parliament`s petitions committee has agreed to Valley`s demands and said it will not renew the 50-year-old broadcaster`s lease when it expires in 2005. Valley`s mayor Josef Huber says it`s nothing personal, that none of the residents have anything against Americans. But after 50 years of such high electromagnetic output over their heads, it is time for the towers to be moved. "There are 20,000 people here directly under the towers," he said. "I think there are plenty of other places in the world where the broadcasts can originate and not affect people like they do here." Diplomatic Tangle Right now for the US, Radio Liberty is playing its most important role since the fall of the Wall. It has become a central tool in America`s fight against terrorism, and Germany`s foreign ministry is reluctant to dismantle that tool, especially given the country`s professions of "unlimited solidarity" with the US. The foreign ministry has stepped in and said before removing the towers, it wants to see studies proving that the electromagnetic emissions are harming health. Those could be hard to come by, since the scientific jury is still out over the detrimental effects of such radiation. Still, Valley`s mayor Huber is optimistic that the towers will be transported to another, less populated location in three years. He says he doesn`t think Valley is going to find itself at the center of a diplomatic brouhaha. "I`m sure we can come to an amicable agreement with the Americans," he said. "We can even offer to pay for the move." (via Rachel Ehrenberg, KTLA-TV Los Angeles, CA, USA, broadcast.net via Donald Wilson, DXLD) {essentially the same story was in The Scotsman, May 31 via Mike Terry) ** INDIA. AIR, 15075. Heard here 1930 26th May with political commentary, fair signal with some fading. Better on parallels 7410 11620 13605 and 17670, 11935 also audible but weak. Nothing on clear channel 15155 also listed for this transmission (Mike Barraclough, England, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** GREECE [and non]. At 1200 UT May 25, I found the VOA-USA frequency of 9590 silent, in other words, VOG was missing! So, I hurriedly looked up the frequencies they had been using from Greenville and Delano in the past and discovered them on 11730. Therefore, I have amended my VOG schedule to reflect he change on the 1200-1500 UT to the Americas. On the evening broadcast to us, there was a switching problem on 9420, which was carrying VOA in English for the first three hours. When I made my 0300 UT check, they were back in Greek from Kavala, on May 27. As long as VOG has access to VOA transmitters [in USA], I doubt they will ever unpack those donated 250 kW transmitters [in Greece]. Does any other country have access to VOA transmitters in this country or are they the only chosen one --- it must be cheaper to burn American electricity instead of depleting the Greek supply? (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let`s see, the BBC makes some minor usage, in English and Spanish, but can`t think of any others. Numerous host countries to VOA relays are missing a golden opportunity to be heard well in North America, by insisting on getting time on VOA-USA transmitters in exchange, or as part of the deal, e.g. Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand. But apparently they don`t care or let the opportunity pass when signing the original agreements. Looking over John`s updated VOG schedule, some other things catch my eye, altho I can`t be sure if they are new: The 0000-0400 frequencies are 5865 and 9420 from Kavala, 15630 and 7477 from Avlis. 7477 also in use from 2300 when the other channels are 9375 Avlis, 12110 and 15650 Kavala. The 0600-0800 Delano frequency is 15190; Kavala on 17520, 21530; Avlis on 15630 and 9420/17900 switching at 0700. The remaining current usage of 17900 bandedge: 0800-1000, 1100-1300 from Avlis. Kavala 12105 from 1330 to 2100, 12110 2100-2400. ERA Interprogram Orientations, 30 minutes daily in foreign languages: 1300 Arabic, 1330 German, 1400 Russian, 1430 Spanish, 1500 Romanian, 1530 Turkish, 1600 Serbian, 1630 Bulgarian, 1700 Albanian, 1730 French, 1800 Polish, 1830 English. On 15650 at 1300, 12105 the rest. Additional English: 0930-0950 daily 15630, 17900, news bulletin 1600-1700 Sat Hellenes Around the World, 1800-1900 Sun It`s All Greek to Me, both on 9420, 15630, and Delano 17705. Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias, Thessaloniki, now transmitted from Avlis: 1100-1600 11595, 1600-2300 9935 (gh, from John Babbis` sked) ** INDIA. UNUSUAL DX REPORT FROM JOSE JACOB IN INDIA Just recently, Jose Jacob, VU2JOS in Hyderabad, India, received a message from a friend. This message stated that a dealer in scrap metals had obtained several truck loads of old equipment from the government radio station in Hyderabad. Jose made a visit to the scrap metal dealer, and this is what he discovered. Already, at least one truck load of old transmitters and other associated equipment had been delivered into the yard of the scrap metal dealer and work had begun on dismantling all of these items and sorting them according to types of metal. These old electronic items had come from two different transmitting locations operated by All India Radio in Hyderabad. Lying around in the yard and in various stages of dismantling were transmitter racks and panels, large transmitting valves, wires, etc. From these ruins, Jose was able to identify parts from two main transmitters; one shortwave and the other mediumwave. After returning to his home, Jose searched his files for historical information on these two transmitters with their exact locations and dates, and here are his observations:- 1. Shortwave site: The shortwave site is located at L. B. Nagar (NUG- GER), 11 km distant from the AIR studios in Hyderabad. This site is identified in AIR circles as the LPT site, Low Power Transmitter site. The old scrapped transmitter was donated to India by Australia under the Colombo Plan and it was inaugurated on July 16, 1958. The 44 year old shortwave transmitter was manufactured by AWA and the model number for this 10 kW unit was designated as BTH 10. This transmitter was replaced by a 50 kW BEL transmitter manufactured in India and inaugurated in Hyderabad on July 25, 1994. 2. Mediumwave site: The mediumwave site is located at Hayat Nagar, 15 km distant from the AIR studios in Hyderabad. This site is identified in AIR circles as HPT site, High Powered Transmitter site. This old scrapped transmitter was manufactured in Japan by NEC, the Nippon Electric Company and it was inaugurated in Hyderabad in 1966. This 36 year old transmitter was a 50 kW unit with the model number MB 113 operating on the mediumwave channel 738 kHz. This unit was replaced a couple of years ago with a 200 kW unit on the same channel and it is on the air with programming as Hyderabad A. During his visit to the metal scrap yard, Jose was able to retrieve a few small souvenirs from these old radio transmitters that he had listened to on the air many years earlier. Among these souvenirs is a frequency crystal, two metal labels stating, ``Presented by Australia under the Colombo Plan``, and another plate showing the AIR emblem. In other interesting items of DX news from India, Jose Jacob reports the following:- The Vividh Bharati (VIVID BAR-at-tee) programming from Delhi is on the air more than 12 hours daily throughout India on 29 mediumwave transmitters and two high powered shortwave transmitters. There are three additional production centres, located in Kanpur, Chandrigarh and Vadorada. During the annual amateur DX contest, Indian amateur stations can operate under a special prefix, AT0 (AT zero). Jose has been allocated the special temporary call, AT0J (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan June 2 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9742, RRI Sorong, 0711 May 30, in the clear with talk in BI, female host and phoned in reports. Id 0713 then a commercial and into Indonesian version of C&W songs. Fair signal (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. World Radio Network Press Release For immediate release 30 May 2002 WORLD RADIO NETWORK OFFERS TRULY GLOBAL COVERAGE WITH THE DÉBUT OF NEW ENGLISH SERVICE FOR SOUTH AMERICA World Radio Network has inaugurated a new English service that is receivable in South America via satellite. Launched on Monday May 27 2002, this service sees WRN completing the global coverage for its English radio networks. WRN's South American service joins the broadcaster's other English networks to North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. WRN in South America is available on the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees West, with a Ku-band footprint that covers all of South and Central America. The network features many of the popular programmes enjoyed by thousands of WRN listeners around the world including Newsline from Radio Netherlands, The World from Public Radio International, Canada Today from Radio Canada International, Sportsworld from China Radio International, Pacific Beat from Radio Australia and Dateline Africa from Channel Africa. Karl Miosga, WRN`s Managing Director said ``This is a proud achievement for WRN in its 10th anniversary year. Our new service for South America means WRN is truly the world's radio network.`` WRN is in discussion with a number of the region's major DTH satellite operators and national cable companies for carriage of its new service (Tim Ayris, WRN, May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN: Some changes for Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran effective May 30: 0230-0427 Arabic DEL 7155 0230-0627 Arabic on 9790, ex 0230-0527 0230-1627 Arabic on 15125, ex 0430-1627 0330-0427 Swahili DEL 15595, 17800 0330-0527 Arabic DEL 17610 0530-0627 Bosnian DEL 15510 0630-0727 Italian DEL 17705 0700-1457 Arabic on 13770, ex 1030-1527 0900-0927 Pashto DEL 11675, 12025 0930-0957 Armenian DEL 9630 0930-1227 Arabic DEL 21545 1130-1227 Swahili on 17780, 21755 <<<<< retimed, ex 1000-1057 1200-1257 Chinese NF 17530, ex 17825 1230-1627 Arabic ADD 13820 1330-1457 Urdu DEL 9565, 15420 1500-2127 Arabic on 9860, ex 1230-2127 1630-1727 Armenian DEL 6185 1630-1727 Pashto DEL 3945 1630-1827 Arabic ADD 9705 1730-1827 Bosnian DEL 9545 1730-1827 German DEL 11765, 13730 1730-2227 Arabic ADD 11905 1930-2027 Russian DEL 9900 2130-0227 Arabic ADD 11740 1830-1927 Albanian DEL 7295 1830-1927 French DEL 13665, 13700 1930-1957 Italian DEL 11765 1930-2027 English NF 11750, ex 11695 2030-2127 Albanian ADD 15084 2030-2127 Albanian DEL 11660 2030-0227 Arabic ADD 7295 2130-2227 Bosnian DEL 9660, 11870 2130-2227 Bosnian ADD 15084 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 31 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. The future of recently-launched long-wave station Teamtalk 252 is in doubt following agreement with online booking operation ukbetting to acquire Teamtalk Media Group. The deal is reportedly worth £13.7 million. Ukbetting Vice Chairman, Peter Dubens, says he intends to review the radio station, which took over from Atlantic 252 two months ago, when he moves into run the whole company. http://www.theradiomagazine.co.uk/News.htm (via Ray Woodward, 31 May 2002, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ONLINE BOOKIE GRABS TEAMTALK Owen Gibson, Friday May 31 2002, The Guardian Teamtalk, the struggling sports radio group and web operation, will be taken over by online bookie UKBetting after the two companies agreed a £13.7m deal, putting scores of jobs under threat. The future of the radio station Teamtalk 252, which launched only two months ago on the frequency previously used by pop station Atlantic 252, is also in doubt. Despite attracting some 400,000 listeners, analysts doubt whether its weak long wave signal and lack of sports rights will be enough to allow the station to compete effectively against Radio 5 Live and Kelvin McKenzie's TalkSport. There are likely to be further job losses among Teamtalk's 370 employees in London and Leeds on top of the 70 announced last week, as UKBetting seeks to exploit synergies with its other sports sites. Chris Oakley, the chairman of Teamtalk and former chief executive of Yorkshire Post publisher Regional Independent Media, is also likely to leave once the takeover is complete - just two months after being appointed to lead a radical restructuring of the group. As with its two previous high profile purchases - of dotcom high flier Sportal and PA/Trinity Mirror sports site Sportinglife - UKBetting will use Teamtalk to drive users to its betting operation. As well as bringing the website under the wing of its Leeds-based content arm, headed by the former editor of Sporting Life, David Annat, UKBetting is also likely to continue operating the satellite business, which transmits to in-store radio stations, and the premium telephone line division. Peter Dubens, the vice-chairman of UKBetting, said: "I will review the radio station when I get in there. On the content side, we will have a combined business of over 4m users a month and the satellite business and telephone business are already profitable." Teamtalk last week rebuffed a £10.2m offer from UKBetting, but its parlous financial state forced it to announce last week it was putting itself up for sale. Mr Dubens said UKBetting was signing up almost twice as many people to its betting service than at the same time last year and could afford to invest in acquisitions because, unlike its competitors, it spent very little on marketing. Online sports betting is enjoying a boom in the run-up to the World Cup but remains a highly competitive sector, with sites prepared to invest upwards of £300 in offers and marketing to attract a single customer in the hope of locking them in to a particular site. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) TEAMTALK TAKEOVER GOES THROUGH As predicted by Media Network on 13 May, the British sports radio and Web group Teamtalk has been taken over by UKBetting in a deal valued at £13.7m. The takeover throws into doubt the future of longwave station Teamtalk 252, which has only been in operation for a few months after replacing pop music station Atlantic 252. Job losses have already been announced by the new owner, and Teamtalk 252 faces the twin problems of an unattractive dial position, and lack of credible content. Without commentary rights to major sports events, the station has only managed to attract 400,000 listeners a week, and that will in turn make it harder to sell advertising. The station's unattractive profile will be emphasized in the next month as sports fans tune into World Cup coverage of TV and radio, which Teamtalk 252 can only talk about (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 31 May 2002 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. I checked RKI`s program I webcast at 2125 UT Thu May 30 for the promised `Best of Korea` special, and tho English still appears on the player schedule at 2100, the sound was actually in Spanish! which was supposed to be at 2000. Hardly the first time RKI webcasts have been far out of sync. Why bother to do this if they can`t do it right? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. GOVERNMENT RADIO CURRENTLY UNHEARD ON SHORTWAVE Government-controlled Radio Liberia International in Monrovia has not been heard on its usual shortwave frequencies of 5100 and 6100 kHz since 13 May. The station was also unheard on shortwave for a prolonged period earlier this year. Source: BBC Monitoring research 13-29 May 02 (BBCM May 30 via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Radio Baltic Waves International is going to conduct test transmissions on June 10, 11 and 12 at 2030-2130 UT via Sitkunai 1386 kHz, 700 kW, ND. The programme to be carried will be R. Liberty in Russian. All correct reception reports, including those received via e-mail, RBWI will confirm with a special QSL letter. For those, who will send audio recordings, RBWI will mail a new brochure "Radio Censorship" (about the history of jamming in the USSR) in the Russian language (70 pages of text and 30 pages of photos). Radio Baltic Waves Intl., Vivulskio 7-405, LT-2600 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: riplei@takas.lt Fax +370-2-652532 (Official RBWI info via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MW-DX yahoogroup via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. EQUIPMENT TO SUPERVISE [ULTRA] SHORT-WAVE RADIO "OUTDATED" | Text of report in English by Mongolian E-mail Daily News service on 30 May The newspaper Unuudur published an article on FM radio wave reserves in Mongolia given the growing number of radio stations operating in this range. At present, there are 12 FM radios operating at full capacity, and two FM radio stations holding their licences but yet to start broadcasting, writes the author. Since the number of agencies, organizations and individuals seeking such permits is ever increasing, the coordinating council of the Mongolian Communications began to authorize licensing by announcing bidding. A need also arises to have a special control system for supervising the operation and activities of such short-wave radios, as the present control system of Mongolia equipped with an outdated Russian technology of the 1960-1970s is far from the present requirements. Recently the Ministry of Infrastructure has conducted an inspection of the National Radio and Television of Mongolia, where serious shortcomings have been revealed. The equipment of Radio and Television [of Mongolia] was warn out, the officials there were engaged in illegal use of channels, payment for use of channels was not paid on time, and special permissions for radio and TV information service were not taken. The Ministry of Infrastructure has handed the National Radio and Television of Mongolia with an official paper to take a special permission and to guarantee the re-transmission activities of the TV and radio stations on the top of the Chingeltei mountain and Honhor locality. Source: E-mail Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, in English 0601 gmt 30 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Alpha Lima International, 15069.66, May 25 2308-2355+ pop music, IDs, e-mail and Box 663, Netherlands address. Good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brian headed this one Euro-pirate, like Laser Hot Hits, see EUROPE. Naturally we prefer to group under specific countries where possible, and ALI has previously been assumed to be here, but is it really, whatever its address may be? (gh, DXLD) ** NORWAY/DENMARK. Deleted freqs for Radio Norway and Radio Denmark: 1400-1455 DEL 15735 KVI 500 kW / 095 deg 1500-1555 DEL 15735 KVI 500 kW / 095 deg 1600-1655 DEL 13800 KVI 500 kW / 095 deg MUSIC TEST: Non-stop music test via unID transmitter site noted from May 25: 1400-1700 on 18940 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30, via DXLD) This item was deleted from a revision issued the next day; not sure why (gh, DXLD) See also AFGHANISTAN non ** OKLAHOMA. Enid`s only local TV station, KXOK-32 (Cox Cable 18), appears to have suffered a setback. The morning show vanished in early May, and in late May, the evening news at 6:30 vanished. During severe weather, however, some alerts appear on the screen, or part of the screen, mainly radar animations with extremely large pixels -- so large, it`s hard to make out what is being conveyed. Long before that, the 10 pm newscast vanished, so we are now left without any local live programming, just America 1 network most of the time. We finally paid a visit to the KXOK studios in Oakwood Mall May 30 when someone was there. Actually just a receptionist and a salesman in separate cubicles. Another woman came and went while we were there, constantly on her walkie-talkie. The receptionist informed us that Tim, the weather/newsman was still with the station, altho no longer on camera, mainly to take care of severe weather alerts when needed; at the moment he was in the hospital for something. Anita Maly, Scott Clark (part owner of ch 32), and news reporter Tina Slayton are all spending their time now instead at Clark`s LP radio station on 104.7, doing a morning show much like what was previously visible. This originates from a completely different location, the Broadway Tower downtown, a few metres from the 104.7 and ch 32 transmitters. We listened for a few minutes May 31, starting with ``Centerfold`` at 7:25 a.m. The standard ID slogan is now: ``Rock `n` Roll Hit Radio 104.7, The Rocket.`` Still used a ``Cool 104.7`` jingle too, alluding to the legal calls KUAL. Remax Premier Realtors is a proud sponsor of 104.7 at 8:01 am, and also heard a plug for some medical service, Oakwood Mall merchants, Rapid Wireless. Guess that means KUAL is operating commercially. Remax, BTW, is said to have a Parade of Homes on ch 32, Saturday 10-11 am, a project they were taping the previous days, so that would count as local origination, if not live. We were pleased to see NO SMOKING signs posted at each of the KXOK cubicles, and were informed that the mall now has a strict no-smoking policy throughout, not just in the commons areas, with a $500 fine to any business violating. This could also explain why Anita is no longer there as she has all the symptoms of a heavy smoker, and seemed none too pleased with an events calendar item about an anti-smoking rally on the square at noon Friday. There has been a not too amicable parting of the ways between KXOK-32 and one of its major clients, which may also account for the TV station`s setback. Bid `n` Buy auctioning is off, and an ad from Cox Cable in the newspaper says from June 3, cable channel 73 will be leased to Bid `n Buy (excuse me, no second apostrophe), M-F at 7 pm to 1 am, Sun 3 pm - 12 am. And Access TV, whatever that mean, will be on 73 at all other times, i.e. M-F 1 am to 7 pm, Sat 1 am to 3 pm Sun. All times here CDT, we hope? Channel 73 is currently unoccupied. How high can they go? Well, actually as of May 31 they are running a slide which says ``Coming Soon to Cox Communications in Enid, OK. Leased Access to Channel 73``. The priority at KXOK-TV is getting some sales going! Receptionist (a former auctioneer, BTW), urged us not to write them off yet; the production gear for resuming local news is still in place in one studio; they have a second unused `showcase` studio at the front so passersby inside the mall can see in; maybe one day it`ll be just like the Today Show on NBC... And would you believe that the weekly TV supplement in the News & Eagle is STILL running a half-page of the KXOK-TV schedule in EDT, and judging from the listings of Good Morning Enid with Anita, at ``8 am``, it has not been updated for months. But hey, it`s free, so why bother? The grid of cable channel conversions for all the little towns around Enid does not show KXOK-32 carried on any cable system but Enid. I must take the portable out in the country and see how far their on-air signal actually reach (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGST) Speaking of which... ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Hi folks, I am pretty sure I have detected UHF TV carriers from the USA via moonbounce here in Australia. With my Yagi pointed at the moon, weak carriers with frequency drift (~ -1.5 Hz/minute) were noted on 26, 27 & 28 May: date time (UTC) freq (MHz)* freq drift predicted Doppler (Hz/min) 26th 1021-1028 483.250537 -2.5 -0.9 26th 1115-1122 501.248339 -1.5 -1.4 27th 1147-1206 501.248312 -1.4 -1.4 28th 1235-1258 501.248292 -1.26 -1.28 * at fade-out The timing is in excellent agreement with a moon scheduling program (such as GM4JJJ's) for moonset at the US TV tx sites of: 501.25 KWBT-19 Muskogee, OK 35.75N, 95.8W 483.25 WNDU-16 South Bend, IN 41.6N, 86.2W Both of these transmitters radiate 5000 kW ERP horizontal polarisation, with an omni-directional pattern and have no vertical beam tilt. Info on these stations may be found at the FCC TV database http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html#START On all 3 days the frequency drift of the 501.25 signal is in excellent agreement with the predicted rate of Doppler shift. The -2 Hz/minute drift of the 483.25 tx is about 1.6 Hz/min faster than prediction. Maybe the tx frequency itself is drifting, which is why I didn't find it after the first night. The signal-to-noise ratio was several dB, as can be seen from spectrum analyser scans, at http://www.physics.uwa.edu.au/~agm/eme1.JPG These scans were done every 40 seconds and the bandwidth (spectrum analyser bin width) is about 2 Hz. One could watch progress of signal in near real time: the signal on 501.25 on 27 & 28 May fluctuated by at least 7 dB (in/out) several times and was strongest a few minutes before fade-out. The antenna is a 22 director Yagi (in Australia, Jaycar's "91" element fringe antenna, model LT3182) with nominal 15 dB gain at 500 MHz. It was mounted (on a camera tripod) at 1.5 above ground level, with manual adjustment of the elevation and azimuth to track the moon. It was mostly elevated at about 22 degrees (optimum for 501.25, KWBT). The (1st) preamp is a 2 dB noise figure GaAs FET unit, with 20 dB gain, mounted at the antenna. It is a JIM model M-75, made in Japan (once sold in Australia by Dick Smith Electronics). Its bandwidth is 225-1500 MHz. The rx is an Icom R7000, in usb mode, plus PC (Mac) based audio spectrum analyser sampling the receiver's audio through the sound card. To measure frequency accurately I use harmonics (weak at UHF) of a frequency divider chain which provides combs every 10 kHz from a very stable 5 MHz crystal oscillator. The 5 MHz reference is a high performance Vectron ovenised quartz crystal (ca 1989 vintage), with a frequency drift of better than 0.001 ppm/day. A simple calculation of the signal-to-noise ratio [= PG/LkTB, where P = tx erp, G = rx ant gain, L = path loss (264 dB at 500 MHz), k = 1.4x10E-23, T = noise temp., B = bandwidth (Hz)] gives about 15 dB for a 3 Hz bandwidth and 300 K noise temp., which is in the right ballpark. There are many more UHF transmitters to investigate via EME. Here in Australia the task is made easier by the lack of TV allocations below 526 MHz. 73s (Tony Mann, Perth, Australia, 32S, 116E via Tim Bucknall, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fantastic! Believe I suggested the possibility of this in my POPTRONICS article sesquidecades ago (gh, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Hi Glenn, Today May 31 I heard Radio Pakistan, Islamabad on 21465 kHz 10 UT with a five minute news bulletin in English. Audio was somewhat distorted. Radio Pakistan also noted with news in Urdu 14 UT on on 15100- and 11570 kHz. In both cases signal was strong and reception quite good. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5940.2, R. Bethel, 0447 May 31, fair signal suffering some QRM from WWCR 5935 kHz and best in USB. Gospel music back-back till 0453 then ID and SW frequency given. More gospel music till 0459 then lengthy religious message and a further ID. Music continued until a long recorded religious message followed by national Anthem, closing at 0508 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Radio Romania International in German noted on May 28: 1600-1656 on NF 9713 with bad modulation, instead of nominal 9690 \\ 11940, 15180 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30, via DXLD) This item was deleted from the May 31 revision, not sure why (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. WHAT'S NEW ? TCHAIKOVSKY INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION The 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition, the first in the new millennium! - will be held in Moscow from June 6 through 23. In our upcoming programs we'll try to figure out the biggest musical stars of the new era. Competition Updates will be coming out on the Voice of Russia World Service at 1930 UT on June 10, at 0630 on June 11, at 1630 on June 13, at 0630 on June 14, also at 1930 on June 17, at 0630 on June 18, at 1930 on June 20, and at 0630 on June 21. Our weekly program MUSIC AND MUSICIANS offers hard-to-find recordings made by international luminaries, winners of each and every previous Tchaikovsky competition! (first run at 1610 UT on June 8). The winners of the 12th Tchaikovsky Competition will be playing for you in the upcoming edition of MUSIC AND MUSICIANS - on the air for the first time at 1610 UT on June 22. We wish you all good listening. AUDIO BOOK CLUB (on the air from Monday, May 27) In the next edition of AUDIO BOOK CLUB lovers of Russian literature will have an opportunity to listen to a radio adaptation of Yuri Nagibin's story "The Lilac". It's the love story of the great Russian composer, Sergey Rakhmaninov. Do tune in to AUDIO BOOK CLUB at 0330 on Monday, May 27. The program is repeated at 0730 and 1530 on Wednesday, at 0430 on Friday, at 0230 on Saturday, and at 0530 on Sunday. MUSIC PROGRAMS Attention, Russian music lovers! We believe you would hate to miss a unique chance to hear every single note of Russian music ever written! If you would, then tune in to the BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! and RUSSIAN TREASURES series offered by the Voice of Russia World Service. BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL is a complete anthology of Russian church music and the RUSSIAN TREASURES is a veritable encyclopedia of Russian classical music. As you might have already guessed, these are the only such anthologies around. Tune in and enjoy your listening! The series BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL can be heard every second and fourth week at 1630 and 1830 UT on Thursday and at 0330 UT on Friday. And the program RUSSIAN TREASURES is on the air every day at 1930 UT (except Thursday) and at 0630 UT (except Friday). Copyright © 2002 The Voice of Russia (via Maryanne Kehoe, ODXA via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. Dear Friends: Finally today after 911 days, also received a QSL-card for the last transmission of October 23, 1999, partial data, missing the date in the QSL; mentioned frequency and time but the date is in the letter, v/s Tony Leo, 2 IRC (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, May 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. SA`UDI INFORMATION MINISTER LAUNCHES KING'S WEB SITE | Excerpt from report in English by Saudi news agency SPA web site Riyadh, 29 May: Minister of Information Dr Fu'ad Bin-Abd-al-Salam al- Farisi launched here on Wednesday [29 May] the web site of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin-Abd-al-Aziz on the Internet in Arabic language. The web site was set up under the supervision of the Saudi press agency (SPA) "In the name of the Almighty Allah, I would like to launch the web site of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the web site of a great king who has dedicated his efforts for the service of his country, while being supported by his crown prince, and I pray to the Almighty Allah to perpetuate the bounty of security and stability in our beloved country," said Dr Al-Farisi while launching the web site... The web site http://www.kingfahd-binAbdulaziz.org [and] http://www.kingfahdbinAbdulaziz.com/index.htm will highlight the achievements accomplished in the era of King Fahd in all spheres, and will provide information in this respect for research workers. The web site will be fed on a constant basis with all the required news and photographs and audio-visuals... Source: SPA news agency web site, Riyadh, in English 1130 gmt 29 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Hmmm, seems to be in Arabic! They left out the // so gh corrected, and went on to find the English page without /index.htm the same as second one above; note the difference in hyphenation too: http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. In Sa`udi Arabia, the media is tightly controlled and anyone who criticizes the government, the royal family, the religious authorities or rulers of friendly foreign countries goes straight to jail. Since the Internet arrived in the country in 1999, it has been closely monitored by a department of the King Abd al-Aziz City for Science and Technology, that watches which sites are consulted and blocks access to those considered contrary to good morals or to Islam. The country's ruler, Prince Abdullah Bin Al-Sa'ud, is one of the predators of press freedom listed by Reporters Without Borders. (RSF press release May 30 via BBCM, in which it also singles out for condemnation four other World Cup countries, Russia, China, Tunisia, Turkey --- gh, DXLD) ** SENEGAL. By the way, has anybody heard Senegal on SW lately? Do they operate anymore on SW? As you may know Senegal beat France 1-0 today in Seoul. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, May 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See article at bottom ** SIERRA LEONE. R. UNAMSIL, [usual frequency, no doubt, 6137.8] noted here 2310 May 29th, male talk in English but difficult to follow, as the election is now over don't know how much longer the station will remain on the air (Mike Barraclough, England, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SWAN ISLAND. I've been watching another QSL sale on eBay this week with interest. It's for a nice Radio Americas (Swan Island) QSL from 1962. I'm not sure if it was issued for the AM outlet or the SW outlet. With 3 days still remaining on the auction it's already above $90! (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. From The RSGB: To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the building of 'The Biggest Aspidistra in the World', the Crowborough and District Amateur Radio Society is operating GB4ASP from Kingstanding. The location was the site of 'Aspidistra', the world's most powerful radio transmitting station during World War Two. This highly secret station was located in Ashdown Forest, near Crowborough in East Sussex, and was used by the Political Warfare Executive for 'black' propaganda purposes during the war. The station continued to operate after the war, transmitting Foreign Office traffic and the BBC European Service, until it was decommissioned in 1984. GB4ASP is operating on all bands from 80 to 2 metres (apart from 4 metres) on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of June. For more details contact Eric, G3TXZ, on 01 892 654 633 (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** U K. Along with the rest of the nation, UK radio amateurs are celebrating Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The GB50 special event station and Amateur Radio Experience exhibition is taking place at Windsor Castle and will be there until next Sunday, the 9th of June. The exhibition is open to all visitors to Windsor Castle between 10.00 am and 4.30 pm daily during this period. The Amateur Radio Experience is intended for members of the general public and will provide them with background information about amateur radio and how to obtain a Foundation Licence, as well as giving them an opportunity to exchange a greetings message via GB50. It is expected that five to six thousand people per day will visit Windsor Castle during the Jubilee period. GB50 is on the air between 0700 and 2200 UT and can be found on or around the following frequencies: 80 metres 3529 on CW, and 3769 or 3789 on SSB; 40 metres 7029 and 7089; 30 metres 10109 CW only; 20 metres around 14029, 14189 and 14219; 17 metres 18079 on CW and 18139 on SSB; 15 metres 21029 and 21289; 12 metres 24909 and 24939; 10 metres 28029 and 28489. GB50 is also using RTTY and PSK31. On VHF, look for GB50 around 50.150 MHz on 6 metres for local contacts and around 50.139 MHz for DX contacts. On 2 metres SSB GB50 is operating around 144.289 MHz and on FM on 145.500 MHz. The 2 metre APRS frequency is 144.800 MHz. The QSL information for GB50 is via G4DFI, either via the bureau or direct to G4DFI's address in the RSGB Yearbook (From The RSGB via Mike Terry, DXLD) A GOLDEN JUBILEE MESSAGE FROM HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH The following has been received from Buckingham Palace, and will be transmitted from the special event station GB50 at Windsor Castle. A Golden Jubilee message from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT As Patron of the Radio Society of Great Britain, I am delighted that it has been able to set up the GB50 Special Event Station on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle overlooking the Thames and the town of Windsor. It is in a very appropriate position to receive messages of good wishes from amateur radio enthusiasts to the Queen in her Jubilee year. I know that the Queen very much appreciates this special contact with people throughout the Commonwealth, and the rest of the world, and she has asked me to send you all her warm thanks for your support and affection at this time. I hope that all your contacts with GB50 over the next 10 days will be five and nine. 73, Philip (From the RSGB, via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. ENGLAND GB50, Special Event station - Queen's 50th Anniversary, from now to June 9th on all bands 0700-2200 daily. Found on 24909 kHz CW at 1540 - RST 229. Too much fading to copy QSOs but info/freq. lists are at http://www.gb50.com/ and reports/QSLs go to G4DFI (Bill Flynn, Cave Junxion OR, 31 May, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBCWS Previews: Sunday, June 2nd, 1501: "Concert Hall" features highlights from the previous night's Golden Jubilee Concert (classical music) at Buckingham Palace. If the popular music concert isn't your cup of tea, perhaps this will be more to your liking! Monday, 3 June, 1830: With Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee (50 year coronation anniversary) around the corner, several one-time specials are being planned. A three-hour Golden Jubilee pop concert will air live to all regions. Some of the world's most popular pop stars will participate, including a mix of rock legends and contemporary stars: Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Atomic Kitten, and S Club 7. At this time of day, BBC's African services are probably the best bet. Regards, (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. BBC PREPARES FOR MOST AMBITIOUS LIVE BROADCASTS EVER By Tony Jones, PA News PA 05/26 1144 The BBC's coverage of the Queen's Golden Jubilee weekend celebrations will be the most ambitious it has ever undertaken, the Corporation has said. A worldwide audience of hundreds of millions is expected to view 40 hours of television and radio broadcasts transmitted during the four day event from June 1-4. The coverage will be led by veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby from a studio at Buckingham Palace where he will be joined by guests to discuss the historical significance of the events and look back on the Queen's reign. Mr Dimbleby said: "I was not involved in the broadcasting of the Silver Jubilee so I remember it for our own street party -- with barbecues on Putney Common and children running races. "For the Golden Jubilee, I will have a grandstand seat outside Buckingham Palace. It will be a spectacular place to watch the grand parade down the Mall and the fireworks." A team of more than 500 people, 150 cameras, 150 trucks and 1000 miles of cable will be used for the live broadcast of processions, ceremonies and celebrations over the Jubilee weekend. Presenters will also be covering all the events. Sophie Raworth and Jamie Theakston will be behind the scenes at the two concerts in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on Saturday, June 1, and Monday, June 3. Wesley Kerr, Sophie Raworth and Philippa Forester will be talking to the watching crowds in London on Tuesday, June 4, for the Queen's State Procession from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral and the parades in the afternoon, and Huw Edwards will introduce the State Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's. The BBC is also staging the concerts inside the palace gardens and has spent two years planning the operation. A spokesman for the corporation said: "It is not the scale of the concerts that is unusual, rather their location and the particular challenges it presents. "The stage is already being erected in the gardens on the largest camomile lawn in Europe. All of those involved are trying their hardest to make sure that the camomile will still be intact once the last guest leaves the party." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) see also CANADA ** U K. THIS IS THE BBC POLITE POLICE SERVICE By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Correspondent, PA News PA 05/24 1519 The BBC has introduced "polite police" in a bid to stop bad-tempered staff from shouting at one another, it emerged today. They have been drafted in to make the Corporation's newsrooms "a nicer place to work" and encourage staff less rude. Simon Waldman, a producer for BBC News 24, is spearheading the drive to stamp out anti-social behaviour. "We want television news to be a place to work, for people to be treated fairly and with dignity and to enjoy coming to work," he told BBC's in-house magazine Ariel. Staff will be encouraged to go on "familiarisation visits" to meet colleagues face-to-face so that they are less likely to bawl at each other down the phone. "I think it's often the case that unfamiliarity breeds contempt. It's easier to yell at a faceless, nameless person at the other end of a phone line than it is at somebody you know," Waldman said. "It is often those engaged in the behind the scenes machinery who are at the sharp end of any shouting." Waldman has drawn up a code of conduct as part of BBC Director-General Greg Dyke's new Making It Happen pledge to value its workers. As a first step, editors of the One, Six and Ten O'Clock news bulletins will be taken on half-hour visits to meet backroom staff and understand the pressures they are under. Staff will be encouraged to report any rudeness to the "polite police" and all allegations will be checked out. Repeat offenders may be sent on anger management courses, or formally referred to the human resources department (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. BBC FORCES PEOPLE TO RECORD ITS SHOWS The BBC was accused yesterday of Orwellian tactics after [Tivo] digital video machines in thousands of homes were switched on remotely to record Caroline Aherne's new sitcom Dossa and Joe. The move was described as the equivalent of junk mail... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$EKJKUHAAAAHABQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2002/05/30/nbbc30.xml&_requestid=27426&_requestid=11840 (via Ted Schuerzinger, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. PUNCH MAGAZINE TO FOLD Thursday, 30 May, 2002, 08:40 GMT 09:40 UK Mohammed Al Fayed is also owner of Harrods [caption] The satirical magazine Punch is to close down after almost 161 years, brought down by big financial losses. Its owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, broke the news to the magazine's 12 staff on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Al Fayed later said he had "done everything in my power to keep Punch alive by pumping in massive amounts of cash." "But as a businessman, sometimes the head has to triumph over the heart and it is therefore with great regret that I have decided to close." Slow collapse Punch was costing £40,000 ($58,000) per issue to produce but subscriptions had sunk to only 6,000, he said. Punch was launched in the summer of 1841, at a time of an upsurge in radical politics, and took a stance as the "defender of the oppressed and scourge of all authority." Punch's heyday came in the 1940s, when its circulation peaked at 175,000 per issue. Its demise began with sharply falling sales in the late 1980s, which forced its closure in 1992. By that time its radical reputation had given way to a rather more staid image as staple reading material in dentists' waiting rooms. Second chance The title was revived when Mr Al Fayed, the Egyptian businessman who owns Knightsbridge store Harrods, bought it in 1996. "Punch is a British institution. I was immensely proud when I was able to revive the magazine after four years of absence," he said on Wednesday. "However, the warmth with which many people welcomed the return of Punch has not been reflected in sales." "It simply no longer makes commercial sense to keep an ailing publication afloat indefinitely." Cyber option Not all the magazine's staff will lose their jobs - four will stay on to manage the website. Though the printed magazine will disappear, the online archive version means Punch's humour will live on. http://www.punch.co.uk/ Mr Al Fayed has gained a reputation for refurbishing or salvaging British institutions. The Harrods owner also restored the house outside Paris which had been home to the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom the Duke gave up his right to the throne. http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/business/newsid_2015000/2015639.stm (BBC Business News Online via DXLD) ** U S A. Perhaps the Governors Island TV tower won't be happening now. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHIEF OF EFFORT FOR TV TOWER IS DISMISSED, SIGNALING SHIFT May 30, 2002, By JAYSON BLAIR Signaling a shift in strategy, New York television station managers have dismissed the man they had hired to lead their coalition's efforts to build a television tower to replace the antenna destroyed at the World Trade Center, according to several executives involved in the discussions. The 11 station managers decided late Tuesday night to dismiss Douglas Land, the executive director of their coalition, the Metropolitan Television Alliance, the executives said. The managers were disappointed that the alliance had not successfully made its case to politicians, the executives said, particularly Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has opposed their plan to erect the tower on Governors Island. Some executives said that Mr. Land was dealing with broadcasters who have competing interests that at times seem irreconcilable. Some stations, like WCBS-TV (Channel 2), had powerful backup antennas and have sought to build the most inexpensive tower possible. Others with weaker signals have pushed for a more elaborate structure. Mr. Land, a former lawyer at WABC-TV (Channel 7), was told that the station managers wanted to shift direction Tuesday night by Dr. William F. Baker, the president and chief executive of WNET-TV (Channel 13), the executives said. Television viewers without cable service - particularly in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx - lost multiple channels after the terrorist attack. The stations have proposed building a 2,000-foot tower on Governors Island or at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. Dr. Baker and Mr. Land did not return calls for comment. Jim Grossman, a spokesman for the alliance, said Mr. Land's "contract has expired, and that M.T.A. expects to hire another consultant who will focus his or her energies on securing a site for a new television tower." The station executives said Mr. Land's dismissal highlighted divisions within their own group. For starters, the executives said that they should have better anticipated Mr. Bloomberg's opposition and argued more forcefully that low-income, minority and elderly residents - who are less likely to have cable service - are the ones most affected. Instead, the focus has been on the millions in ad dollars that broadcast stations are losing because of the loss of signals. "We should have come out of the gates saying that the people who can't get us are the disenfranchised, the poor and the elderly and we would be helping the city by putting up emergency communications systems for the police and fire officials," one station manager said. President Bush has agreed to transfer Governors Island to New York for a nominal fee if it is used for educational purposes. A spokesman for the mayor declined to comment yesterday other than to reiterate Mr. Bloomberg's position that a television tower is inconsistent with his vision for the island. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/30/nyregion/30TOWE.html?ex=1023775994&ei=1&en=ed860590c094bcb4 Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, QU, DXLD) ** U S A. WORKER IS SENTENCED FOR LIE THAT JAILED EGYPTIAN STUDENT May 31, 2002 By BENJAMIN WEISER A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced a former hotel security guard to six months of weekends in prison yesterday for making up a story that caused an Egyptian student to be jailed for a month in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack. The defendant, Ronald Ferry, who worked at the Millennium Hilton Hotel near the site of the World Trade Center, told the F.B.I. in December that he had found an aviation radio locked in a hotel safe in the student's room. The radio actually belonged to an American citizen who is a pilot, who claimed it on Jan. 14. Mr. Ferry, who said he knew it was not in the safe belonging to the student, pleaded guilty on Feb. 27 to one count of making false statements to the F.B.I. Mr. Ferry's lawyers asked that their client not be sent to prison, saying Mr. Ferry made up his story out of a misguided sense of patriotism. They said that he had wanted to help investigators build a case against terrorism suspects, and that he accepted full responsibility for what he did. Mr. Ferry, who has been fired, told the judge that he lied during a "time of patriotism, and I'm very, very, sorry." Judge George B. Daniels of Federal District Court in Manhattan said that despite Mr. Ferry's motives, "the kind of reaction represented by your conduct cannot be tolerated." "It is a greater threat to us as a society," the judge said, "than any other outside threat that we can combat." Judge Daniels added that those who seek to destroy lives and property "can only attack and destroy the freedoms we cherish if we give in to hysteria and blindly turn on one another wrongly motivated by prejudicial stereotyping, misguided patriotism or false heroism." The student who was jailed because of the lie, Abdallah Higazy, 31, expressed outrage at the sentence. After the hearing, he told reporters that he was starting to believe "justice is a joke." "The punishment's so lame," he said. James B. Comey, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said his office was still investigating the incident. "We continue to look at whether any one else has criminal culpability for lies about Higazy," Mr. Comey said. Federal prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence of six months for Mr. Ferry, saying his lie not only sent an innocent man to jail, but also diverted critical F.B.I. resources at a time when they were in demand. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/31/nyregion/31GUAR.html?ex=1023852729&ei=1&en=7f8729957e6d5cf9 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. New Station Totals: According to a recent FCC report, AM stations have increased by 45 (4,772) and FM commercial stations are up by 38 (6,089), reports Television Business Report. These station totals are from June 30, 2001 through December 31, 2001. Source: Inside NRB 05/29/02 (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** U S A. RE-INVENTING RADIO IN THE USA The media landscape with regards to radio in the United States is undergoing rapid change. In comparison, development in Europe may seem slow, but possibly not for long. So what's going on? In April 2002, I made a tour of the Eastern United States to study the emergence of direct-to-home digital radio broadcasting... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/digital020531.html (RNMN May 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC OKS CLEAR CHANNEL PURCHASE OF ACKERLEY GROUP http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020529/tc_nm/media_ackerley_fcc_dc_1 More Clear Channel expansion on the horizon! 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. CLEAR CHANNEL STAFFERS URGED TO FUND LOBBYING May 29, 2002 BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST Employees of Clear Channel Communications are being asked to kick back a portion of their salaries to bankroll the giant radio company's new lobbying efforts. In letters sent to the homes of staffers, Lowry Mays, chairman and chief executive of San Antonio-based Clear Channel, asks them to help "effectively communicate our political positions with timely access to elected officials." "We have seen the need to have influence and impact on legislative issues in Washington as well as at state and local levels," Mays wrote. "This becomes important particularly as Clear Channel grows, it is critical to tell our story and defend our positions." M Street Daily reported that formation of the political action committee comes as Clear Channel faces scrutiny by lawmakers. "It also may signal that the company has had enough of being the punching bag for consolidation," the trade publication noted. Attached to the letter is a "membership application" including suggested amounts of up to 1 percent of employees' base salaries. The form states that contributions are voluntary and that employees may refuse to contribute "without reprisal from the company." In Chicago, Clear Channel owns WGCI-AM/FM (1390/107.5), WVAZ-FM (102.7), WNUA-FM (95.5), WLIT-FM (93.9) and WKSC-FM (103.5). http://www.suntimes.com/output/feder/cst-fin-feder29.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. "The Treatment," with host Elvis Mitchell on Fridays at 2:30p, repeat broadcast Tuesdays at 7:30p ** [PDT = UT Fri 2130, Wed 0230] - Tues, June 4 * New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell hosts writer-director ROMAN COPPOLA, whose debut feature film is called CQ. [CQ??? I wonder what that`s about -- Congressional Quarterly? Correct quotation? --gh] - Fri, June 7 * New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell hosts CALLIE KHOURI, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter whose directorial debut is DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD. For archived editions of The Treatment go to: http://www.kcrw.com/show/tt New in the Archives ** Check out the latest additions to the KCRW Archives: - Turandot; Assasins; A Class Act on THEATRE TALK, 5/30 - Janda Baldwin's BROADBAND, 5/30 - Andy Warhol at the MOCA on THE POLITICS OF CULTURE, 5/29 - The Grove on CITY OBSERVED, 5/29 - Trust the FBI; Post Cold War World Safer? on LEFT, RIGHT & CENTER, 5/28 - le SHOW with Harry Shearer, 5/26 - Insomnia; Spirit; Stallion of the Cimarron on FILM REVIEWS, 5/24 For links to these and all recent additions to "New in the Archives" go to: http://www.kcrw.org/archive.html (KCRW newsletter via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW US SHORTWAVE STATION Glenn, The FCC International Bureau May 28, 2002 released Public Notice IHF-00034 showing the grant of the CP for new International High Frequency station KIMF effective May 6, 2002. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchPN?report_key=260793 The permittee is International Fellowship of Churches, Inc. The application for filed on December 10, 2001, only five months earlier. The authorized site is 1.5 miles SW of Piñón, NM (Piñón County) 32-36-33 N 105-24-51 W. (Pinon should have a ~) [?? There is no such county as Piñón; the town is barely in Otero County, near the Chaves county line, but the site would be in Otero. There have been reports for some time about such a station, but now it`s officially underway –gh] The FCC International Bureau also released Public Notice IHF-00035 showing an application by Grace Missionary Baptist Church (licensee of WTJC) for a new station filed May 10, 2002. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchPN?report_key=260799 No other data was on the web site, I don't know if this is actually an application for a new station, or an incorrectly characterized application for modification of WTJC (Donald Wilson, May 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Some freq changes for AWR: 0300-0400 Russian/English NF 17780 DHA 500 kW / 045 deg, ex 11775 1630-1800 Somali/Afar/Oromo NF 17870 DHA 500 kW / 225 deg, ex 17665 1800-1900 Arabic NF 17660 MOS 300 kW / 115 deg, ex 17630, re-ex 17555 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30-31, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Freq change for Voice of America in Georgian: 1430-1500 NF 15190 (55544), ex 15245 to avoid VOKorea in French \\ 11780, 17810. 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. The latest "radio war". RADIO DUOS SUSPENDED FOR FEUDING ON SHOWS, By Paul Farhi. Infinity Broadcasting has sent feuding radio duos Don and Mike and Opie and Anthony to their rooms, suspending both teams for their on-air sniping at each other last week... To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30688-2002May29.html (via Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. From http://www.arrl.org/ (May 29, 2002) For the first time in its 69-year history, Field Day officially will expand its scope beyond the borders of the US and Canada to include participation by amateurs in all of North and South America--including the Caribbean. Field Day takes place this year on the first weekend of summer--June 22-23 (Field Day is always the fourth full weekend in June). Following this year's event, clubs, groups and individuals taking part will be able to upload photos and comments to the ARRL Contest Soapbox Web site http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/ (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. VOICE OF VIETNAM RADIO IMPROVES BROADCASTING TO LAOS, CAMBODIA, THAILAND | Text of report by Vietnamese radio text web site on 28 May A meeting was held in Hanoi on 28 May by Radio Voice of Vietnam [VoV] to initiate measures to improve the quality of external programmes broadcasting to Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. It was honoured by the presence of Lao ambassador Vilay Phomkhe, Cambodian ambassador Vaxim Xomrat, and Thai ambassador Kriengsak Disrisuk. Addressing the meeting, the Lao Ambassador spoke highly of VoV programmes in the Lao language. He said: "VoV programmes provide listeners with up-to-date information on the Vietnamese Party and State's policies, socioeconomic development plans, and on Vietnam's experiences in the renovation process. VoV external programmes in the Lao language help the Lao listeners far from home follow closely what is happening in their country. They also help improve the mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries and peoples." The Cambodian ambassador highlighted VoV's contribution to strengthening Vietnam's solidarity with international friends, including Cambodia. Meanwhile, the Thai ambassador highly valued VoV's significant role in accelerating the mutual understanding, bilateral friendship, and cooperation between the two countries. Speaking at the meeting, VoV Deputy Director General Phan Van Nho promised to further improve external programmes in Lao, Cambodian, and Thai languages. Source: Voice of Vietnam text web site, Hanoi, in Vietnamese 28 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. RUSSIA: Freq change for Voice of Khmer Krom R. in Khmer via VLD 250 kW / 230 deg, 1400-1500 Fri only NF 15660, ex 15690 to avoid VOA in Pashto (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 30, via DXLD) This item deleted from May 31 revision, not sure why (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DX CONVENTIONS ++++++++++++++ NATIONAL RADIO CLUB, LABOR DAY WEEKEND New information about the convention has been posted at http://www.nrcdxas.org/convention/02nrccon (Fred Vobbe, NRC DXAS via DXLD) ONTARIO DX ASSOCIATION - CONVENTION AND DRAW - SEPT. 2002 We are pleased to announce that our convention, RadioFest, and our annual draw, Raffle 2002, are now full speed ahead. Watch our web site http://www.odxa.on.ca or check out our magazine "Listening In" for updates. ------------------------------------------ RadioFest 2002 - September 20, 21, 22 Monte Carlo Inn - Oakville 374 South Service Road E., Oakville, Ontario, L6J 2X6, CANADA Tel: (905) 849-9500, Fax: (905) 849-6405 e-mail: reservation@montecarloinns.com http://www.montecarloinns.com/oak.htm ---------------------------------------------- Friday will begin with our wine and cheese reception in the evening. On Saturday we will feature a silent auction, displays, club items on sale, guest speakers, panel discussions and the draw for Raffle 2002 and on Sunday we will conclude with a tour (TBA). ---------------------------------------------- Our Speakers & Subjects to be covered (subject to change) *Digital Radio* *IRLP - Internet Radio Linking Project* *Having Fun In Ham Radio - the joy of amateur radio as a hobby" *Special - The Future Of Shortwave Radio* ------------------------------------------------ Prices - Weekend Registration: $10.00 ($7.00) [Still the best deal in town] Friday Wine & Cheese: included in registration Saturday Meals: pay on your own Sunday Tour: included in registration ----------------------------------------------- For more information, contact Harold Sellers at 905-853-3518 / Fax 905-853-3169 / email: listeningin@rogers.com or Brian Smith at 905- 426-4510 / email am740@rogers.com or by mail at: Ontario DX Association, Box 161, Willowdale Stn. A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 5S8 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Raffle 2002 The Ontario DX Association will hold the draw on September 21 at our convention 'RadioFest'. Radios from Sony, Durham Radio, books from Universal Radio and much more. Details will appear on the web site. Order your tickets now. ------------------------------ Ticket Price: $ 2.00 each, 6 for $10.00, 12 for $20.00 (Canadian Dollars) $ 1.40 each, 6 for $ 7.50, 12 for $14.00 (U.S. Dollars) ------------------------------ Please send orders to: Raffle 2001 / ODXA Box 161, Willowdale Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 5S8 ------------------------------ All winners will be posted on this web site and in "Listening In", the magazine of the ODXA. (Brian Smith, ODXA, May 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ GRUNDIG ETRAVELLER VII Today's New York Times, page G5 has an article about portable shortwave radio receivers: Sony SW7600GR, Grundig Etraveller VII, Sony SW11 (Analog), Sangean SG 622 (analog). I'll have to read it this evening... Skimming the article, it doesn't look like a technical article. The Etraveller, at least, was tested in Europe (France)... where he said that he received, "an overwhelming number of stations clearly" -- which wouldn't be a surprise with almost any radio.... I don't know if he was simplifying his review and he knows what should be receivable, or not. Personally, I tried two Etraveller VIIs (serial numbers 1000 apart, from two different states) and found the sensitivity to be very poor... MUCH poorer than my $10 Catron analog (needless to say, much poorer than a Sony SW7600 and SW100s)... (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, May 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: WITH THE WORLD BAND IN YOUR HANDS May 30, 2002, By IAN AUSTEN THE proliferation of Web-based radio stations should mean that a traveler with a modem and a laptop is never without up-to-the-minute news, conversation and music from home. But I found a major flaw in that theory while in rural France last year. Night after night I was in hotels where my modem became useless after the switchboard was closed down for the evening. I might have saved myself the pain of watching too many talk shows on French television had I brought a shortwave radio along.... http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/30/technology/circuits/30BASI.html?ex=1023778065&ei=1&en=453ede771f48ba98 (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WORLD CUP SOCCER, HOW TO MAKE THE BALL WORK FOR YOU..... I MEAN RADIO RECEPTION. Editor: John Wright. Ever heard Uruguay? Want to hear some rare Latins? I have no idea whether Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay or Mexico, will have shortwave stations, broadcasting live, the World Cup soccer games. However, as the Soccer mad nations listed above, have next to religion, soccer in order of priority, I have reviewed the qualifying schedule of matches, and using a programme from fellow member, Tong Magon, have come up with the following, (maybe), list of matches, that if broadcasting live...we may be able to hear some rare stations. I have taken a wild stab, using a Greyline programme with the centre on Sydney. The frequencies used vary greatly from the 25 mb (mainly Brasilians), thru to 31 mb Brasilian, Paraguay (9737), Mexico (9705), Argentina maybe (11710), the rest spread throughout 41, 49 and 60 metre bands, and of course not restricted to any sort of approved frequency band. This World Cup soccer in Korea and Japan has meant that South American and Central American countries will be hearing and watching games played in the early morning (their time). This equates to late afternoon or evening Sydney time, which is ideal (mostly), for Latin American reception. Well here goes... Sunset in Sydney is 0644 UT as of 31 May 2002. All times in UT. Generally the games start half hour after my starting time... commentary, etc. Don't forget if you hear GOAL...it means GG OOO AAAAA LLLLLLLL in Latin America! and can last minutes! 1st June. Uruguay v Denmark Sunrise Uruguay 0900 Game starts 0900 2nd June. Argentina v Nigeria Sunrise Argentina 0900 Game starts 0900 Paraguay v South Africa Sunrise Paraguay 0930 Game starts 0730 3rd June Brazil v Turkey Sunrise Brazil 0900 Game Starts 0900 Ecuador v Italy Sunrise Ecuador 1120 Game starts 1130 4th June China v Costa Rica Sunrise Costa Rica 1130 Game starts 0630 7th June Spain v Paraguay Sunrise Paraguay 0930 Game starts 0900 9th June Mexico v Ecuador Sunrise Mexico 1210, sunrise Ecuador 1120 Game starts 0630 11th June Senegal v Uruguay Sunrise Uruguay 0900 Game starts 0630 12th June Sweden v Argentina Sunrise Argentina 0900 Game starts 0630 13th June Costa Rica v Brasil Sunrise Costa Rica 1130, Brazil sunrise 0900 Game starts 0630 Mexico v Italy Sunrise Mexico 1210, Game starts 1130 Ecuador v Croatia Sunrise Ecuador 1120, Game starts 1130. Now don`t forget then there are the semi finals then the finals then the big one... I think you all get the idea. I hope you can all kick a goal and hopefully receive some of these unexpected stations. Let me know or the shortwave trail editor Craig Seager, what you find, in next month`s magazine. Hopefully I`ve given someone a idea. Personally I am after Uruguay, 6140 or 6120 or 6150. The African nations are also playing in the World Cup, however reception of those West Africans like Cameroon, Senegal would be nice but the sun rises too early for them. But you never know... My tip for the final... a Brazil v Cameroon final. The Lions of Africa to win, Cameroon. The Olympic gold champions in 2000 Sydney games, some of the players I saw that day, Patrick Mabomba, and Paul Okono (Sports Bet 100 to 1)... Happy listening (Johno Wright, ARDXC topica list via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-088, May 29, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1133: (ONDEMAND from May 31) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html Available early UT May 30: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1133.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1133.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ 7415: Wed 2330, Thu 0415 [NEW TIME] FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB ** ALGERIA. Algeria has barred scores of foreign reporters from travelling to the restive Berber-speaking Kabylie region ahead of the May 30 parliamentary election, journalists from 16 news organisations said on May 27. Berber activists -- demanding more language, cultural and democratic rights -- have vowed to boycott the election to protest the government's perceived failure to end unrest sparked by the killing of a teenager at a paramilitary barracks last year. Most foreign reporters in Algeria to cover the election want to go to Kabylie to report on preparations for the boycott. To protest against the tight controls, 25 foreign journalists signed a statement criticising the government. The signatories included reporters from France, Italy and Spain (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan May 29 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW ABC BOSS NAMED. 29 MAY 02 DEPUTY ABC boss Russell Balding will take over the top job at the national broadcaster after the board conducted interviews today. Mr Balding, the ABC's former finance director, was appointed acting managing director after Jonathan Shier left the ABC last November, 19 months into his five-year contract. ABC chairman Donald McDonald said Mr Balding would take up his appointment immediately after a unanimous decision by the board. "The board believes Mr Balding is the right person to lead the ABC in an age of rapid change in the national and international broadcasting environment," Mr McDonald said in a statement. "He already enjoys the support and confidence of the ABC's senior management team and staff, and is ideally placed to continue to provide the organisation with leadership and direction." Mr Balding joined the ABC in 1996 from the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority after a career in the NSW public service. He holds a Diploma of Technology (Commerce) and a Bachelor of Business Studies, and was the NSW president of CPA Australia in 1997-98. Mr McDonald said Mr Balding had brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the ABC and had made a significant contribution to its growth over the last six years. "Indeed, in the last six months, while Mr Balding has been Acting Managing Director, the ABC has enjoyed a period of particularly strong growth in all its audiences, with market share in TV, Radio and Online Services increasing significantly," he said (AAP © News Limited via Dave White, DXLD) ABC News - 29/05/02 : BALDING TAKES REINS AS ABC CHIEF. The ABC's new managing director, Russell Balding, has begun his term with promises of more Australian content and no radical internal reform... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2002/05/item20020529003127_1.htm (via John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. O Engenheiro eletrônico australiano Ray Robinson que trabalha na Rádio Austrália anunciou que em primeiro de Julho de 2002 a VNG deixará de transmitir em 16000 kHz devido a dificuldades financeiras (Sergio Nuzzi, Play DX via @tividade DX May 28 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4681.32, Radio Paitití, Guayamerín, 1005-1015, YL with ID as "Radio Paitití" and traditional Peruvian music, blasting in on 28 May (Bob Wilkner, R75, Noise reducing antenna, Margate FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. CURIOSIDADES SOBRE A VOZ DO BRASIL. Extraído do site do jornal O Estado de São Paulo, de 27 de Maio de 2002. Justiça obriga retransmissão de "A Voz do Brasil" pelas rádios Brasília - Uma decisão judicial tornou obrigatória a retransmissão pelas rádios do programa "A Voz do Brasil", que apresenta notícias dos poderes Executivo, Legislativo e Judiciário. O juiz Carlos Mutá, do Tribunal Regional Federal (TRF) da 3ª Região, sediado em São Paulo, suspendeu uma decisão da 1ª Instância que derrubava a obrigatoriedade da retransmissão. A decisão cassada era favorável ao pedido da Associação das Emissoras de Rádio e Televisão do Estado de São Paulo (AESP). O juiz Carlos Mutá derrubou a decisão favorável à AESP a pedido da Procuradoria Regional da União, órgão da Advocacia Geral da União (AGU). No despacho, o juiz Carlos Mutá considerou que as emissoras obtiveram a concessão para a radiodifusão mediante licitação em que se comprometeram a cumprir as normas previstas no artigo 38 da Lei 4.117/62, que obriga a retransmissão do programa. Segundo a AGU, o juiz entendeu que "o serviço público é explorado sob regime administrativo, sem que o direito à informação e à livre manifestação do pensamento estejam a implicar a exoneração da concessionária ao dever de transmissão do programa ´A Voz do Brasil´, de inequívoca utilidade pública." (via Marcelo Toniolo, Greenvale, Estados Unidos, @tividade DX via DXLD) O artigo mencionado pelo Marcelo ressalta a obrigatoriedade da retransmissão da Voz do Brasil, mas não do horário de 19 horas. A Bandeirantes de São Paulo, por exemplo, retransmite o programa às 23 horas (e só em FM 90,9 MHz). Sei que colegas desta Lista são favoráveis à Voz do Brasil e ouvem o programa. Respeito imensamente a opinião deles mas, particularmente, sou contra o programa oficial. Não acho que a divulgação da menção feita por um deputado em plenário sobre o aniversário do clube de bocha de uma cidade do interior de Tocantins seja mais importante que orientar o motorista que está em trânsito nas grandes capitais na hora do "rush", por exemplo. Se é que se joga bocha em Tocantins (alguém sabe informar?). O governo faz tanta questão de manter a obrigatoriedade da Voz do Brasil, mas é só ter qualquer jogo de futebol no horário que a obrigatoriedade desaparece. Ainda outro dia, a Itatiaia e a Difusora de Poços cortaram a Voz do Brasil para transmitir América x Mamoré. Se para futebol pode cortar, por quê a obrigatoriedade quando há informação jornalística não esportiva e prestação de serviços a ser transmitida? (Valter Aguiar, Radioescutas via @tividade DX via DXLD) E lá vamos nós novamente....a queda de braço começou. Noticia tirada do site do O Estado de São Paulo de hoje.... JUSTIÇA DESOBRIGA RÁDIOS DE VEICULAREM "A VOZ DO BRASIL" Porto Alegre - Uma decisão tomada hoje pelo juiz Roger Raupp Rios, da 10ª Vara Federal de Porto Alegre, desobrigou as emissoras de rádio do Rio Grande do Sul da transmissão compulsória do programa "A Voz do Brasil". A ação havia sido encaminhada em fevereiro de 2000 pela Associação Gaúcha de Emissoras de Rádio e Televisão (Agert). O juiz também condenou a União a se abster de qualquer ato tendente a obrigar as emissoras a transmitir o programa oficial de informações dos poderes da República, que vai ao ar de segundas a sextas-feiras, das 19 horas às 20 horas. O governo federal pode, no entanto, recorrer às instâncias superiores da Justiça Federal para reverter a decisão. Pelo menos duas emissoras gaúchas, a Bandeirantes AM e a Ipanema FM, vinham transmitindo "A Voz do Brasil" em horários alternativos, na madrugada, graças a liminares obtidas na Justiça (via Elder Ogliari, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BURUNDI. REBEL FACTION TO OPEN RADIO STATION | Text of report by Burundi independent Bonesha FM radio on 28 May Reports we have just received from a reliable source say that Peter Nkurunziza's wing of the CNDD-FDD [National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy] intends to open a radio station called Radio Democracy. We do not know as yet if the radio station will broadcast from Burundi. All we know is that the broadcasting equipment is ready. Source: Bonesha FM, Bujumbura, in French 1630 gmt 28 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. WE'RE COMING BACK WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH ! Montreal, May 27, 2002 - Open letter to the public, to those who supported us, to all the signatories on our petition which expedited an end to this lockout and a return of YOUR public radio and television. The gains we have made and the issues that have yet to be resolved have been reported extensively in the media so we will not repeat them here. What has been obtained in this dispute, in the debates within the Corporation and especially in the public domain, is the affirmation that CBC radio and television has a purpose and is vitally necessary to fulfill specific roles. You, the public, told us what you missed most during this dispute ; international coverage told through the eyes of our correspondents, thorough analysis of events that impact our society, a sensitive and open cultural vehicle, public debates… in brief some of the differences which make public radio and television unique. Differences that were almost forgotten in a discourse that tried to pressure us into becoming more and more like our competitors to satisfy the bottom line. Some of the commitments taken by the leadership of the CBC at the end of this conflict are by no means harmless. They do however allow us, the creators and artists, to challenge management, to understand the obstacles, to intervene, to debate the future of the corporation as to its place within the industry, and to even help assure that the CBC is better financed if need be. In this regard, this is a first. We have become active partners in the debate over the future of public broadcasting. We will protect the public's faith in the CBC. However, to do this we must find a real place within the CBC. It is now well known that there are major problems with human resources within the English and French networks. This conflict allowed the public access to those problems. The commitments by the CBC in its letter of agreement have served as a bridge to our members, showing us that the message has been heard. This is the beginning of a solution, an agreement. But, we also understand that together, both management and employees, must go further. Our members, strongly motivated by this conflict, are ready to make the effort to change the internal culture of the corporation. Moody, arbitrary and unfair abuses of power no longer have a place. We must be able to finally work in a free and fair environment. We have learned that we must be vigilant if the corporation is to live up to its commitments. We must be vigilant to assure wage equality between men and women, that the working conditions of temporary workers are respected and that counterproductive attitudes are quashed. We return united with our heads held high. This inexplicably long lock out remains unexplained. You, the public, have been wronged. But, we have found hope. We are ready to channel this determination and collective power towards a common goal. To make the CBC accountable in every regard. We need the support of people like you, the stakeholders, to succeed in this task. Your support has been and will continue to inspire. Ubald Bernard, chief negotiator and vice-president of the Syndicat des Communications de Radio-Canada, Pierre Cyr, Alex Levasseur, Boguslav Podorski, Caroline Trudel, members of the union negotiation committee. (from http://www.scrc.qc.ca/sections.php May 28 via DXLD) Also linked: RADIO LIBRE: Pour vous connecter, cliquez sur le lien de la Radio libre ou entrez http://qt.cam.org:8000/radiolibre/broadcast dans votre logiciel de lecture de MP3. Wojtek Gwiazda, on Radio Freedom, V. of the Employees of the CBC, Radio Libre says RCI and CBC Northern personnel did not get the protection other members of the union got (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. BROADCASTER OTTO LOWY DIES. CBC Radio broadcaster Otto Lowy died Tuesday. He was 81. FULL STORY: http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/05/28/lowy020528 (via Deborah Jones, CAJ-List via Ricky Leong, DXLD) Viz.: BROADCASTER OTTO LOWY DIES --- Last Updated Tue, 28 May 2002 20:21:01 VANCOUVER - CBC Radio broadcaster Otto Lowy died Tuesday. He was 81. He was best known as the host of The Transcontinental, a weekly musical journey through Europe with a railway motif. The show ran for 22 years, but Lowy's CBC roots went much deeper than a single program. He wrote radio plays and television scripts, produced documentaries and acted in dramas and comedies. Born in 1921, he came to Vancouver from Czechoslovakia in 1948, and began his CBC career as a foreign- accented bit player in a series called Adventures in Europe. He leaves his wife and a son. Written by CBC News Online staff (via DXLD) ** CANADA. NON-IDING POLICIES OF CBC STATION CONFRONTED Hi, last weekend I had the rare opportunity to visit numerous businesses in Thunder Bay ON. I stopped by, for instance, at the studios of CBQT 88.3-CBQ 101.7-CBON-20 89.3 and talked to the manager. It was hard to get in. The studios were locked, and pressing the doorbell resulted in nobody coming. Then an employee approached from the outside and let me in. He called to the manager, Mr. Tom Grand. Grand told me that due to budget cuts there is no secretary and all the downstairs offices have no occupants, with the building locked during the middle of a business day. I told him about DX, and he freely admitted that he instituted the policy of not mentioning the CBQ call letters on the air five years ago. He said, "you and I will never agree on this." I told him of my conversation with an Industry Canada official when I was in Winnipeg at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters convention, and that the Industry Canada person said all Canada stations, including the CBC, must individually identify hourly with call letters and city of license. Grand said, he will abide by that "only if the Industry Canada person were to come here and tell me that to my face." I mentioned how DXers would like to know which CBC station they are receiving, whethere it is Thunder Bay or Nipigon, for example. Grand felt that the public used to be confused when CBQ gave call letters, saying, "I like both CBQ and CBC." He claimed this confusion could negatively affect BBM ratings. I retorted that the call letters and city of license could be given quickly without distracting from the main CBC emphasis. DXers, here is your chance to effect a real change in CBC policies. While I did not get Mr. Grand to change his mind, he is now aware there are people out there who would like call letters restored, and the threat remains that I might, even as a nonCanadian citizen, get Industry Canada to do some policing by showing up and seeing to it that the laws of Canada are enforced. There are a variety of ways to go about getting change at the CBC, or for that matter, any organization. I found it expedient to visit in person. You might find it better to phone, FAX, e-mail a station manager. Such information might be gotten off the web or from references, like Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook (found often at University libraries), or in Canada, the Broadcaster Yearbook. Perhaps a contact to Industry Canada might yield results. If you want, I can research the name and address of the Industry Canada person I spoke to. I believe he is officed in Ottawa. I had hoped some of the Canadian DXers could take the lead in this, since many of them probably live in or near cities having CBC stations. Even contacting an engineer --- such as leaving a note on the fence surrounding a transmitter --- might yield results. As ever, (Bruce Elving, MN, WTFDA topica list via DXLD) ** CENTRAL AMERICA/CARIBBEAN. I would like to invite y'all to come on down and see my website: http://www.stevenwiseblood.com Included is a page which has a wealth of information to link to for Central American/Caribbean broadcast information. The website is still under construction, but you're welcome to take an early peek. 73's and gud dx. (Steve AB5GP, IRCA, May 28 via DXLD) Lots of nice graphics: TV ID logos, maps, picture postcards. Links to station lists, some of questionable validity, e.g. Belize includes 3285; and is there really a Radio One relay in Ladyville on 730? (gh, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [NON]. RUSSIA UNHAPPY ABOUT RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS IN CHECHEN | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 29 May: Russian Press Minister Mikhail Lesin, speaking in the upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday [29 May] criticized Radio Liberty for broadcasting in the Chechen language. Such broadcasts "arouse great indignation in us and we will continue resisting them", he said. "We closely follow Radio Liberty's Chechen language broadcasts in order to decide whether to apply our legislation to them or not," he said. Responding to a question from Interfax after his speech about what he meant by applying legislation Lesin said: "We cannot prohibit a radio station in Prague (Radio Liberty programmes to Chechnya are beamed from Prague) to broadcast in the Chechen language. We are considering the question of applying Russian legislation to Radio Liberty broadcasts as a whole, if this legislation is violated." However, he failed to specify what consequences the application of Russian laws can have for Radio Liberty. "Let's wait for the results of some analysis or monitoring and discuss the subject then. It is difficult to say whether broadcasts in Chechen will stop or not. But of course we will take certain steps to prevent such interference in our affairs in Chechnya," he concluded. Radio Liberty started Chechen language broadcasts from Prague in March. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1426 gmt 29 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6010, Radio Parinacota heard 0544 May 29 with mostly talk, then canned ID preceded by sound-effect of a car revving up, used slogan like "La Voz del Camino", then rollicking music bridge and discussion between two men and a women continued. Radio Mil [MEXICO] presumed the station with music underneath (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Hi Glenn. Thanks for your great bulletins and websites, I like them very much. The last 10 days I have been hearing Nuevo Continente from Santafé de Bogotá on 1460 kHz with very good signal around 2300. My QTH is Caracas, Venezuela, and as you know this is not the best location for MW DX do to the great amount of local MW stations, which makes the reception of non local signal very difficult; also Caracas has a very high noise level, but Nuevo Continente is heard with a very good signal, some times at 54445. Propagation has been very good here on SW, and I have been hearing many European and Asian stations. I'm sending you a real audio file with last night's ID of Nuevo Continente on MW at 0000. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe), YV5LIX, Beacon: YV5LIX/B on 50,075.5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Congolaise Nat Radio, Via Congo Nat Republic, 15245, 1630 gmt. Good ID at 1650, In French, Congo and African news, some music, Signal s5 23322, Cheers, 73's (Colonel Jon Standingbear, Army Radio Station adn3u, Beaumont, Calif, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shortly thereafter: Voice of Korea, Via N Korea, 15245, 1700 gmt. In Korean, OM doing the news, ID at 1705, Signal s5 22323. PS: RFE same frequency via Morocco not heard (Colonel Jon Standingbear, Army Radio Station adn3u, Beaumont, Calif, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked 15245 the next day May 29; at 1550 it was VOK in English; 1600 VOK opened in French; usual rough modulation, but no sign of Congo. Could your earlier log also have been La Voix de la Corée? (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. JIMMY CARTER PIDIO A CASTRO SIN EXITO QUE RETIRASE OFERTA A LOS CHINOS DE QUE ESTABLECIERAN CENTRO DE ESPIONAJE ELECTRONICO EN LA ISLA Cuba mantiene retenido sofisticados equipos rusos de espionaje hasta que Rusia pague una supuesta "deuda pendiente" a la Isla. El periódico ruso Izvestia ha logrado acceso a fuentes que señalan que todos los equipos confidenciales del centro ruso radio-electrónico de monitoreo e intercepción ubicados en Lourdes, Cuba, aún permanecen en la base. El régimen no permite la salida de esos equipos de territorio cubano por lo que alega son deudas de Rusia a Cuba por pagos pendientes por la utilización de la instalaciones del centro de espionaje. Junto a los equipos permanecen en la Isla más de dos docenas de oficiales y suboficiales rusos como custodios destinados a la protección de los equipos al igual que un pequeño grupo de operadores de máquinas decodificadoras o clavistas. Las negociaciones Ruso- Cubanas para resolver la situación parecen estar en un impase. También se ha podido conocer que Fidel Castro ha hecho una oferta a los militares chinos para que operen el centro de investigaciones radio- electrónicas o que alquilen algunas de las instalaciones de la base rusa. El ex presidente estadounidense Jimmy Carter, durante su visita reciente a la Isla, no pudo disuadir a Castro de que retirara semejante ofrecimiento. Los términos de la desmantelación y exportación de los equipos confidenciales y la evacuación del centro de investigaciones radio-electrnónico en Cuba no son ningún secreto como tampoco lo es la base misma. Sin embargo, hasta el presente permanece en la base todo el equipo confidencial de radioespionaje y el personal asignado a su protección. Según han revelado fuentes a Izvestia, las autoridades cubanas no dan permiso a la evacuación de los equipos hacia Rusia hasta que todos los pagos que Cuba alega, se deben por la deuda de utilización de la base, sean abonados. El Ministerio de Defensa Ruso se ha negado a responder a las preguntas de periodistas de Izvestia acerca de a cuánto ascendería la suma adeudada por Moscú a La Habana y se han limitado a declarar que algunos familiares de los oficiales rusos regresarán a Rusia en aproximadamente un mes. Agregaron que nadie interfiere con su salida de Cuba. Sin embargo, no dieron explicaciones del porqué no han partido aún de la Isla. Mientras, en la Isla la oferta de Castro a China de utilizar Lourdes ha interesado a los chinos. En el otoño una delegación militar China visitó Cuba. Durante la visita se discutió con Castro las posibilidades de poner en operación un centro de espionaje radio- electrónico. Según las fuentes, China ha respondido en principio de manera afirmativa y de manera ostensible se le han ofrecido una serie de edificaciones en el complejo de Lourdes tras la final partida de los rusos. La oferta ha interesado a Peking. Esto ha comenzado a preocupar bastante a los estadounidenses. Una visita sin precedente del ex presidente Carter a Cuba fue aprovechada para tratar de persuadir a Fidel Castro de no seguir adelante con sus planes de llegar a un acuerdo con los chinos. Sin embargo, la misión de Carter resultó infructuosa al romperse las negociaciones sin alcanzarse compromiso alguno. Copyright © 1997-2002 - LA NUEVA CUBA 73's (via Oscar, Miami, May 29, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Radio Finland in English 0000-0100 on 11990 and 13730 on Saturday nights only [UT Sun]. Great signal on both frequencies (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. SHARP CUTS PLANNED IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE BROADCASTING OF RADIO FINLAND Russian to remain, French, German, and possibly English to go - Internet reduces importance of international radio The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE plans to sharply cut back on the foreign language radio broadcasting of Radio Finland, the company's international service. The most drastic alternative would leave Russian as the only remaining foreign language - in addition to the domestic languages, Finnish and Swedish. Programme director Heikki Peltonen says that various options have been considered at all levels of the company. He emphasises that the primary target audience of international broadcasting are Finnish listeners abroad, and that foreign languages are a secondary consideration. "Russian language broadcasts fall somewhere in between, because they have an audience both in Finland, and in nearby areas of Russia", Heikki Peltonen says. He adds that the importance of radio broadcasting in other foreign languages has declined. "Information is available on the Internet on almost any country at any time of the day." The proposal for cutting back on languages at Radio Finland will be taken up by YLE's Administrative Council on June 12. It will be discussed as part of a larger package, examining the whole company's programming operations over the next three years. Cutbacks appear inevitable, because the company has fewer resources than before. Last year YLE's turnover was EUR 381 million, and the company sustained a loss of EUR 108 million. Seppo Härkönen, the director of YLE's radio operations, admits that Radio Finland is not a very expensive operation. "However, the ability to maintain the current level of service is difficult. At some point the situation arises when we must consider what the smallest critical mass worth maintaining would be." The most moderate cutbacks would involve shutting down Radio Finland's French and German language services. Broadcasts in English might also have to go. Already now one of the members of Radio Finland's English language staff has been moved over to the news department of YLE 24, the company's new digital television service, and another has been terminated. As of Midsummer, YLE's English language news operations on both radio and television will be handled by YLE 24. A third option would be to drop Radio Finland's Swedish language broadcasts. The head of Radio Finland, Juhani Niinistö, points out that Radio Finland broadcasts more in Swedish than Radio Sweden, which is concentrating its resources primarily on its foreign language services. If Russian were the only foreign language to remain at Radio Finland, the company would have to eliminate more foreign language journalists. Radio Finland's foreign language service currently employs 12 people, many of whom are on part-time contracts. The domestic languages service has 13 employees, six of whom are sound technicians. Radio Finland broadcasts an average 35 hours of Finnish language programming each day on its various radio and satellite frequencies and on the Internet. It also broadcasts ten hours a day in Swedish. Radio Finland's domestic language programming is usually taken from YLE's domestic services. Radio Finland broadcasts an average four hours of Russian language programming a day, an hour and a half in English, and half an hour in both German and French. The programmes can be heard on short wave around the world, as well as on satellite in most areas except for South America. In the Helsinki region Radio Finland's foreign language broadcasts are included of the programming of Capital FM - 97.5 MHz, a station which rebroadcasts the programmes of a number of international radio stations. (Helsingin Sanomat International Edition via Dave White, May 29, DXLD) ** GERMANY. [Note: altho we cannot convey the photographs the comments below were meant to caption, they should still be of considerable historical interest! --- gh] Hello, yesterday I visited the museum on the grounds of the closed Königs Wusterhausen site. A society cares about the station now; the main goal is clearly to preserve the historic equipment from being throwm on the junk; they hope that it will be not possible to ignore these efforts since they already received some public attention. The society maintains a website; the URL should be http://www.senderkw.de Picture 1: Access road, old barracks and 210 metres mast. This is the last remaining antenna, all other masts were pulled down meanwhile (at least the big ones, probably some remains of the shortwave RHO's and HQ's are still hidden elsewhere in the bushes), and unfortunately meanwhile efforts are being made to get rid of this mast, too. Anyway this will definitely not become the antenna carrier for the planned 105.1 FM outlet; instead certainly the much smaller new telcom tower will be used for this purpose. Picture 2: The mast carries a sloping longwave antenna wire, left in the picture. This wire is the antenna for the 100 kW Telefunken transmitter from 1945 used to substitute for Zehlendorf, Burg and even Donebach on 177, 261 and 153, respectively, when these sites were off for maintenance / antenna reconstruction work. The transmitter was definitely shut down in 1999 when Zehlendorf got the new Telefunken TRAM semiconductor transmitter and the Königs Wusterhausen back-up was considered as no longer necessary. Unfortunately we were not able to visit the building housing this transmitter; it is quite a problem for the society to preserve it due to lacking heating possibilities for the transmitter hall; the heating system is of low ability because the transmitter heat used to do most of this job. (Probably you remember how a couple of years ago some Radio Mayak shortwave outlets were kept on air only to maintain the heating for the transmitter buildings.) So Königs Wusterhausen is finally off air since 1999. The mediumwave operations ceased in 1998 when as last activity some very special programming of the ORB network Fritz (stuff recorded with ancient microphones) was transmitted on 603 kHz. The transmitter (a quite modern 2x20 kW Tesla) was sold to either Bulgaria and Romania and the antenna pulled down as mentioned above. Picture 3: Parts of a Sneg shortwave transmitter in the exhibition hall. The society was able to rescue another Sneg rig in its entirety from being scrapped. The Russian name already says that this is a USSR-made transmitter. Picture 4: Photo of Sneg rigs in transmitter building 2. The one in the left of the picture is marked as "Sender 25/1", referring to one 50 kW half of a Sneg while the other one should be called "Sender 25/2". The first digit refers to the transmitter hall, so this is transmitter #5 in building 2. Perhaps you already read about "Sender 21", the ancient mediumwave transmitter which was moved from Berlin- Tegel to Königs Wusterhausen: It's herewith transmitter #1 in building 2. Our guide stated that Königs Wusterhausen had six Sneg halves while other sources mentions "4 x 100 kW". Either the actual figure was eight Sneg halfs or they used to run the Sneg equipment as 2 x 100 and 2 x 50 kW. I could not clarify this matter since I realized the contradiction not until today. Deutsche Welle programming was put on all former RBI frequencies from Oct 3, 1990 "to preserve the frequencies for Germany". But the operations from Königs Wusterhausen were already in 1991 cut down to single 6115 only. This last remaining outlet was finally shut down, too, by the end of the winter 1992/1993 season. Picture 5: 200 watts mediumwave transmitter from the fifties, used to jam RIAS Berlin, but not at Königs Wusterhausen because the GDR authorities had to avoid any disturbances within West Berlin. Nevertheless quite a lot of people consider the transmitter site as mere home of "Stasi and jammers" as result of excessive security measurements in the past. Picture 6: Panel of 1 kW Tesla mediumwave transmitter. About 30 such rigs were once scattered over the GDR as gape-fillers on 1485, 1584 and 1602. The exhibition sign claims that this is a transmitter from Potsdam-Golm but it is labelled as Funkamt Erfurt inventory, so I guess this rig once operated somewhere in Thuringia (the panel suggests 1584 as frequency) and was only stored at Golm later. These gap-fillers should not be lumped together with jamming matters as happens at times. Picture 7: 250 kW mediumwave transmitter from Berlin-Köpenick/ Mahlsdorf in the exhibition. The "engineer" is of course a dummy. You can even hear "Berliner Rundfunk 91!4" out of the large monitor, probably not the best idea since this commercial station has only the name and the 91.4 FM outlet common with the GDR radio program that once went out on 693 kHz. The other Köpenick/Mahlsdorf transmitter was recently plundered, so it was really better to remove at least this unit from the dead station before it was too late. Picture 8: PA stage tube, type SRW 357. Four such tubes were used in the 250 kW transmitters. Picture 9: Ancient 20 kW Lorenz shortwave transmitter. These rigs were to be scrapped already in the seventies but the stuff of the station kept this one at a hidden place. Picture 10: This old 600 kW emergency generating set can be fired up as special attraction, but only occasionally since it consumes a lot of fuel. We just had luck since they were going to do it for a larger group during our visit. The engine runs almost empty, it feeds only a couple of 1000 watts light bulbs to make the attraction perfect. Actually the lamps are also museum pieces, at least I have never seen 1000 watts standard light bulbs before, literally everywhere they were replaced by mercury vapor lamps long ago. Pictures 11 and 12: Parts of an old 100 kW mediumwave transmitter from Hörby/Sweden, dismantled there and brought to Königs Wusterhausen for later reconstruction in order to save it from being destroyed. The parts are stored in a hall once housing tanks for the emergency generating set; the smell of diesel fuel will stay forever there. And after the sightseeing at Königs Wusterhausen I also visited the new ORB radiohouse at Potsdam-Babelsberg. It would have become too hectic for me to take pictures this time, I preferred to first collect some impressions with my mind: Basically the facility for any network consists on an open-plane office with the continuation studio as a cabin inmidst. The studio has no equipment for tapes of any kind; one has to put any taped stuff into the continuation system (D'Accord from the crashed Management Data company) in order to broadcast it. Just another kind of stupid digital fetishism. You can put your stuff into the system on a so- called "reporter workplace" inmidst the office, irritating the colleagues, if not already by your editing work at the latest by requesting silence to record some talk via the headset. By the way, these workplaces are indeed equipped with reel-to-reel tape recorders; it turned out to be simply impossible to ban them completely from the new radiohouse as it was actually intended. The studio itself also contains some jokes. The "best" one: It is almost impossible to read the level meter. It is a small monitor and when staying in front of the mike you only see images of the fluorescent lights on this monitor. Something must be wrong with the audio levels in the continuation system: When the faders are turned up to 0 db a blue lamp which indicates too high audio levels already flickers (remember: you cannot read the level meter). On a certain song we even noted some clipping, evidently caused by the D'Accord system. The red light on the studio door is a joke, too: There are pedestrian traffic lights but the green one never burns. You first need an explanation that the red light shows steady light when a mike is open but that you can unconcerned walk in when it flickers (elsewhere this means that a mike is on!). At least there is one really positive thing: The studios are equipped with Neumann U87 microphones, they finally got away from the cool-looking and muffled- sounding Electrovoice RE20 trash. Of course the new technology offers very interesting possibilities: Via the DigAS audio system one has access to all current stuff produced by all ARD institutions. But -- at the Radio Eins and even more Fritz networks hardly anybody away from the news editors ever use this possibility. Technology is one thing but in my humble opinion it is by far too often discussed without keeping the programming, the contents in mind. This concerns also matters like DRM or, quite significant, DAB (Eureka-147). Altogether I am not enthusiastic. The open-plane design is supposed to support communication but it seems that the cold high-tech atmosphere actually hinders it. Seemingly I am not the only one who liked the old shacks more, not to speak about the Nalepastraße radiohouse at Berlin. Of course only the opinion of an old-fashioned killjoy who already received his confirmation to be completely unsuitable for any work in journalism. For those especially keeping track on such matters: The Fritz network broadcasts at least until Monday from the back-up studio after heavy rainfalls caused some water damage in their own continuation studio in the basement (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. All India Radio giving good and clear signals most of the afternoon and early evening hours on 13605. Modulation seemed poor, but signal strength was strong and no interference noted (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. See CONGO DR ** LIBERIA. US TO PROVIDE $1.45 MILLION FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS The Perspective (Smyrna, Georgia) Posted to the web May 28, 2002 James W. Harris [gh excerpted only portions on broadcasting] In preparation for the holding of "credible free and fair" elections in Liberia in 2003, the United States (US) government will provide a total of some $1.45 million to support a number of specific independent media projects in the country. Making the disclosure last Friday [May 24] in a keynote address to the International Conference of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) in Washington, DC, the Deputy U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Robert C. Perry said his government will provide $800,000 in this fiscal year (FY-02) to support various projects, including, the provision of training and equipment for [the] West African Democracy Radio, Radio Veritas, community-based radio, traveling theater, print journalists, and the dissemination of thousands of wind-up radios. Noting the high rate of illiteracy presently in the country, he said radio is one of the most effective methods through which political aspirants could communicate with the voters, stating that the US will seek an agreement (with the Liberian government) on equal access to the media for the 2003 electoral process similar to 1997, when the state-owned Liberian Broadcasting System (LBS) offered a special election package that give all 13 parties that participated access to the station... Crediting the Liberian government for, what he called, taking some positive steps, such as, allowing Radio Veritas to resume short-wave radio transmissions and authorizing the operation of an independent printing press that could possibly reduce the overall costs of newspapers and increase distribution, he urged Liberian journalists to take advantage of these positive circumstances, saying, "you, as representative of the media, can and must play a critical role in bringing good governance to Liberia and peace to the [Mano River] region."... "The Role of the Liberian Media in the Peace and Reconciliation Process and the 2003 Elections in Liberia" was the theme of the two- day conference that was co-sponsored by the Washington, DC-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED). P.O. Box 450493, Atlanta, GA 31145 Website: http://www.theperspective.org Copyright © 2002 The Perspective (via Dave White, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Voice of Mongolia on 12015 at 1000 was poor with interference from what I believe to be Radio Australia to S. Pacific. Could easily follow the I.S. and opening frequency announcements, but rest lost in congestion and signal very weak (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Radio New Zealand is coming thru on 15160 from 1955. Fair signal, but listenable at this time. Best Regards, (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. Salama Radio on 15250 with strong signal and afro pop music and announcements around 1930. Where is this station from and who is backing it? (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Harvestime Ministries, PO Box 126, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2WJ, UK (DXLD 2-065 via DXLD 2-088) http://www.salamaradio.org tells all they want to say about it, not including transmitter site, but it is thru Merlin (gh, DXLD) ** NORWAY. Hello Glenn, Hello Wolfgang, I just was told (May 29) that since Saturday these broadcasts have been cancelled: 14 and 15 UT 15735 kHz, 16 UT 13800 kHz due to a test broadcast from Merlin (to Afghanistan?) on 18940 kHz (your recent un-identified), from Kvitsøy at 1400-1700. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, May 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. I noticed that KCSC-FM is running a 13-week spring- quarter series thru June, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, UT Weds 0000-0200, and have not run accoss it on any other station; in fact, it was not in the publicradiofan.com database! Announcement said it is from Deutsche Welle via the WFMT Fine Arts Network, but nothing found about it on the DW or WFMT sites either. So I asked Kevin Kelly at PRF to research it (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISENING DIGEST) Dear Mr. Yaozuh (hi), Knowing that WFMT is the distributor helped me track this one down. All programs currently distributed by WFMT over the Public Radio Satellite System have pages in the PRSS online catalog (good detailed resource, available only to stations for a while, but now open to the public again). Here's a link: http://www.prss.org/catalog/view_program.cfm?id=300150&dist=WFMT My searching hasn't turned up much station carriage for this series. KWAX [Eugene OR] has been running it UT Fridays 0200-0400, at least in May. See KWAX's web site for weekly listings. Non-webcasters KMFA Austin and WBNI Indiana are also running it. That's all I could find (Kevin Kelly, http://www.publicradiofan.com for DX LISTENING DIGEST) The series ended on KWAX May 18 with German Requiem, succeeded by Concertgebouw. Program listings in doc and pdf formats available from site above can be applied to the remainder of June on KCSCFM; OK, but nothing especially outstanding or unique. More stations have a chance to run the series with rights expiring March 21, 2003 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. HIGHLANDS RADIO TO LAUNCH FM SERVICE [instead of SW] | Text of report by Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site on 29 May Radio Western Highlands will launch its new FM station in Mount Hagen this Sunday [2 June], thanks to the Western Highlands provincial government for the funding. Deputy radio station manager William Kii said yesterday that the provincial government had funded the project at a cost of 62,000 kina. The new Western Highlands FM station will broadcast on 90.5 frequency. It will be broadcast throughout all remote parts of the province. Mr Kii said Radio Western Highlands had been off air for almost three months because an unknown person had unscrewed the main aerial near Holy Trinity Teachers' College outside Mt Hagen and it had collapsed and had caused the problem. He said the problem had affected most of the people in the province because Radio Western Highlands had been off air. He said listeners had suffered for the last three months and were in the dark because they did not know what was happening around the province. Mr Kii said it had cost them thousands of kina to install the short- wave back on air, but the provincial government had done a great thing for the people by installing FM radio in the province. He said Western Highlands Governor Fr Robert Lak would officially launch the new FM station because this was one of the major projects initiated by the provincial government for the people of the province. Source: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site, Port Moresby, in English 29 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PERU. 6150, CPN Radio, 0557 May 29, noted back here with good signals, telephone interview till string of IDs prior to the hour. Included promo for consumer protection program "En defensa del consumador", "Hora Cinco", "Hablando con la ciudad" amongst others (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Mark Mohrmann has just uploaded a listing showing what Peruvians were logged, and where, during the 1992/1998 period I was active from Bogotá, Colombia. The list shows where stations were at any given moment, where they came from and where they went. There is also program info and slogans. In the 1995/1997 period, there were Peruvian newcomers on shortwave almost every month, some months even 3 or 4. Most of the newcomers were reported initially in my "Dateline Bogotá" bulletin. Probably this historic list is of little use right now, but I had (and still have) the info in a kardex file, so I thought I´d make it available for those of you who might want to see what was going on at the time. Despite my QTH at the time, this was "Real DX" in the true sense of the word. To find it, look for Mohrmann´s DX page, http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ click on "Peru", and then on "Peru on shortwaves 1992/1998". (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, May 28, RealDX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. BUENAS NOTICIAS EN RADIDIFUSION PORTUGUESA En la página en Internet de la RDP se promociona una inversión importante en los servicios en O.C. de la emisora. La noticia, en su idioma original, señala que: A RDP Internacional melhorará significativamente, no corrente ano o seu serviço em Ondas Curtas para a Europa e Brasil. Esta melhoria que responde aos anséios de milhares de ouvintes ao longo de vários anos, deve-se à entrada em serviço de novo equipamento de transmissão, representando um investimento de 3 318 000 [??] (cerca de 663 mil contos) e inclui um novo emissor de 300 kW e duas antenas de alto rendimento especialmente dirigidas para aqueles destinos. A empresa escolhida para este fornecimento foi a Thales, que é originária da fusão de dois conceituados fabricantes europeus : a Thomson e a Brown Boveri. Decorrem neste momento os trabalhos de instalação, a que se seguirão os testes que se prevê possam estar concluídos até ao mês de Junho do corrente ano. 73`s y 55`s (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) EMISSÃO DA RDP INTERNACIONAL COM UM NOVO EMISSOR DE 300 KW E UMA NOVA ANTENA DIRIGIDA PARA O BRASIL Amigos, A RDP Internacional já está fazendo testes com o seu novo emissor de 300 kW, que já foi instalado, e sua nova antena dirigida ao Brasil. Ontem a noite já tive a oportunidade de relatar as condições de escuta e teremos hoje outra oportunidade, de 2300-0200 UT nos 15295 kHz (19m). Posso assegurar que as condições de escutas foram excelentes, o que nos causou muita alegria. Quanto a outra frequencia, de 13660 kHz (22m) só voltará a ser utilizada nesta sexta-feira (dia 31/05), devido a problemas técnicos. Que possam ter uma boa recepção da RDP Internacional hoje a noite e não esqueçam de relatar a emissora como tem chegado as emissoes em sua regiao. Podem utilizar para isso o e-mail: isabelsaraiva@r... [truncated by yahoogroups] Abraços (Jailton C. Amaral, Pres. do SRDXC, Conexión Digital May 28 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia noted with good signals in English programs on 15735 from 1900 to 2100 (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the S. American service, but our best/only choice during those hours (gh, DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. Subject: RADIO ST. HELENA QSL May 28, 2002 A QSL card usually isn't very newsworthy --- except to the person who receives it! But I know a lot of people have been waiting for their 1999 Radio St. Helena QSLs. Today I received my card for that 10th and final shortwave broadcast. It's dated May 29, 2001, so it apparently took one day less that a year to reach me. My card is #24, and an interesting 2-page form letter from Tony Leo says they received 727 reports. So a lot of cards are probably on their way. I hope they were all on the same ship that brought mine and everyone is now receiving their QSLs. Tony`s letter includes thanks to the people who helped him with the 10 annual shortwave broadcasts. I immediately sent a Thank You e-mail to Tony Leo and Charlene John. My initial report was returned to me by the St. Helena Post Office marked ``unknown``. An e-mail brought a reply from Charlene who checked with the Post Office to see why letters were being returned. She then kept me posted and sent me an e-mail when my second report was received. (Wendel Craighead, Prairie Village, KS, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) All my previous RSH QSLs have a fairly low number. On this one the number field on the card is left blank, perhaps overlooked in the "crush" of filling out so many cards. The accompanying letter said they received 727 reception reports which included 233 email reports. Thirteen people entered the competition. My reception report was mailed the day following the broadcast, and I did at least one followup report, which while the date is not indicated in the log was probably about a year later. That would add up as this envelope was "dispatched" Dec '00. Another interesting thing. The Envelope has stamped on it "Radio St Helena Dispatched, date 11 Dec '00. St Helena Island". I must presume that is the date the QSL was sent out and it sat somewhere for all this time. My logbook indicates it took 949 days from the time I mailed the report till it was received today. Didn't they have serious ship problems a couple years back? My guess is it may have sat in the hold of a mail ship for a very long period of time. One FINAL note. My logbook indicates this broadcast was monitored on a Hammarlund HQ-100C, a very modest tube type receiver. 73 de (Phil KO6BB Atchley, REAL Radio is heard on Boatanchor Receivers. REAL Music is played through 'Valve' Guitar amps! k06bb@elite.net Merced, Central California, swl via DXLD) I sent a reception report during the actual transmission. Tony Leo read it on the air, so I know he got it. Yet a letter from him a year later said he never received any reception report from me! Even three others sent got the same results. The original plans called for an electronic QSL to be sent out, but so far as I am aware, it never happened. I strongly suspect that all reports sent by e-mail were ignored. The letter I received from Tony Leo in March of this year indicates nothing had been sent out. I had a person on the island call Tony Leo on the telephone, he confirmed nothing had been mailed. So Phil, I do not think you are correct in your assumption that the cards have been sitting in a ship somewhere. According to Tony Leo, they were never done! (Duane W8DBF Fischer, MI, ibid.) ** SOMALIA. PRIVATELY-OWNED RADIO AND TV STATION SHUT DOWN Reporters sans Frontières (New York) PRESS RELEASE May 27, 2002 Posted to the web May 27, 2002 Paris Reporters Without Borders protested today against the shutting down of the privately-owned Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) by the authorities of the Somali region of Puntland and called for the measure to be reversed at once. "This is a serious blow to media diversity in the region and is not the first time press freedom has been threatened in Puntland, where three journalists were arrested last year," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard in a letter to Puntland President Col. Abdullahi Yusuf. He called on him to see that journalists could work freely and safely in the region. SBC chief Ali Abdi Aware announced on 23 May that the station was going off the air, having received word from the authorities canceling its broadcasting licence and telling him to close the station. An aide of the president said the station had a commercial licence that did not allow it to broadcast political material. Local observers said SBC had been penalised because it had criticised Col. Yusuf and reported regularly on the activities of the party led by Jama Ali Jama, a former president of Puntland and political opponent of Col. Yusuf. Puntland is in northeastern Somalia and has had an autonomous government since 1998. Copyright © 2002 Reporters sans Frontières (via Dave White, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Channel Africa, very good reception on 17860 from 1700 to 1730. Strong signal and little interference (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Sister Stair has sent out an even more incoherent letter than the last one, overflowing with platitudes and assertions that B.S. is innocent and virtuous, altho he has sinned. We are not going to reproduce, as it does not give us any new factual info about Brother Stair`s situation. But evidently he was still in jail when it was written May 27. Tnx to Robert Arthur, who also copies to us his message to her: (gh, DXLD) Hello Sister Stair: I didn't know your full name until now. I am amazed at what I am reading, and the dates. I've been listening faithfully and regularly, and I noticed nothing wrong. He's on the air, speaking for God. Hallelujuah. A miracle. What is he charged with? You mentioned "the most serious charge". What are all the charges, and which one is most serious? How come they won't let him out on bail. He's obviously innocent. The Holy Ghost has a plan, and you should be assured it will be carried out. Maybe Jesus will come quicker now, in MY LIFE TIME! Halleluhah, praise God. (Robert Arthur, to Sister Stair via DXLD) BTW, B.S. was still on KOMA-1520; rechecked schedule and it`s UT Monday only 0400-0500. Then UT Wed at 0535 I happened upon the Christian Media Network on WRMI, 7385, amid a discussion about Stair with an ex-Brother, Pastor Tim, who is now with Remnants Hope Ministry, P O Box 1915, Orangeburg SC 29116, http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-remnantshope remnants_hope@yahoo.com Host of this show gave his own address as james@christianmedianetwork.com As a former insider, Tim gave the names of a number of people still residing on The Overcomer farm, and the physical address if someone wants to try to write to them. Said two of the three minors Stair had sex with were now safe somewhere else. The other one has not accused him, and her parents still go to Sabbath services at the farm altho they live somewhere else. One remark from Tim: ``He spiritually raped every man, woman and child on the farm``. Everyone there was intimidated by Stair, including 6-foot men like himself, so the kids had no chance to resist him. Like WBCQ did for a while, WRMI is giving us both sides in this tempest, carrying Stair on other days on the same frequency. Website says 15725 is temporarily off the air. As for CMN, they will continue to cover the Stair story, but not to the exclusion of everything else. James said CMN had given up its dedicated satellite transponder due to high costs, and decided to emphasize SW instead, where it has a bigger audience (and use phone feeds, from the sound of it). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: a feature on Stockholm's 750th anniversary Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Network Europe Sunday: "In Touch with Stockholm" takes up the listener storm over a Swedish film-maker's opinions about the American role in the Greek Civil War Coming up on Sweden's National Day June 6th: A special outside broadcast from downtown Stockholm, celebrating the city's 750th anniversary (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan May 29 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Radio Ukraine International is back on 12040 with a truly powerhouse signal - full power obviously [one megawatt, much more than that ERP, how much?]. Heard from 0000 to 0100 with varied program (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Once the script for this week`s Letter from America had been posted, I checked to see about the previous gaffe attributed to Alistair Cooke, calling Rep. Gephardt a Senator. Here`s the relevant passage: ``...Whereupon the Senate's long-time Democrat leader, Congressman Richard Gephardt, comes on the tube, very grim, very earnest, and says, "We want to know what did the president know and when did he know it?" ``Tough, blunt line of Churchillian simplicity. It wasn't Congressman Gephardt's invention, it's as well known to two generations of Americans as "England expects every man to do his duty" is known to English schoolboys...`` So the real mistake, as in this version was calling him the Senate rather than House leader; he was titled Congressman correctly again further on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. To whom it may concern and our loyal listeners world wide. It is with great sadness that I have to announce the closure of Swinging Radio England. This is due to the unprecedented attacks that we have received from RFL staff, the DTI with the co-operation of informers and so called supporters of RFL and free radio. They have succeeded in their selfish plan to kill us off, but they have also upset all the listeners who have been so loyal to us during our struggle for survival. I would therefore like to thank all of our loyal friend and supporters for their help in the past and wish them well, and to those who are responsible for killing us off. I hope you are pleased with yourselves fore you have put another nail in the coffin of free radio and every time you tune your radio in to an empty channel it will remind you of what terrible thing you have done. You all know who you are, hang your heads in shame forever. So it's a big goodbye from TONY RANDALL, DAVE DOUBLEDEX, DAVE MARTIN, BOB THE SNEAK and ALL THE CREW BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE MV MINCING SAILOR. Goodbye. (via BDXC-UK May 28 via DXLD) This means we can tune into 49 metres on Sundays again without listening to constant foul language and so called camp humour which was either, in my opinion, deliberately graphic, provocative and offensive, or indicated that the operators of the station were in serious need of professional help and counselling (Mike Barraclough, England, May 28, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. KTBN has made its first frequency change in many years: 7505 ex-7510, first noted 0200 UT May 29. Due to heavy RTTY QRM on about 7508. Not sure yet if this is for the entire previous span of 7510 (George S. Thurman, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now that I check it, the RTTY is pretty strong here, but KTBN is strong enough to escape it; however, moving from one side of it to the other cannot have helped much elsewhere. Can anyone ID the RTTY station, under US jurisdixion? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As I said before, WJIE is best heard here around 0500 when 7490 is clearest of co-channel, and conditions are usually quietest, and I check it almost every night. May 29 the signal was still weak and would have been readable if it had not been for long, slow fades in and out of the T-storm noise which was pretty heavy, and typical of this season. Signal is so weak compared to KTBN, that some splatter from that was in the mix, now that it has unexpectedly moved 5 kHz closer to 7505, even tho it`s still 15 kHz away. At 0511 Doc Burkhart was starting a 30-minute program about WJIE. He wants to make sure everyone knows how to spell Louisville, which, strangely enough, he does not pronounce Luavul, as far as I can tell. Acknowledges that power needs to be upgraded; says reports from US range from weak to moderate, and that signal is actually better in northern Europe. At 0625 said thank-you to yours truly for World of Radio, and publicity, I think, but couldn`t make out much of it during fade. I had searched in vain the SW website http://www.wjiesw.org as well as the FM site http://www.wjie.org for some clue as to the slogan to go with the call letters, but now I heard it: ``Where Jesus Is Exalted``, not, I assume, referring to the method of carrier detection one would be well-advised to use in order to hear WJIE. Then a prayer for the station and a sermon about Lazarus (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, an email from Doc Burkhart at WJIE Louisville, Kentucky indicates that they are at full power, but I still cannot receive them here. I could get WJCR Upton KY on 7490 previously with fair to good signal. I managed to hear them using Bob Arnold's Ten Tec RX 320 in Syracuse NY yesterday morning, with only a fair fading up and down signal and some hash but peaked OK, but the signal level not real good there. Still no reply to my email about antennas etc. 73 (Tim Gaynor, Nerang, Queensland, Australia. [Previous correspondence:] Dear Doc, Haven't caught you yet from my QTH, but now I know you are on fulltime and using full power, I'll keep an ear out for you. I'm situated 42 miles south of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, Australia and have a Sangean ATS 803A Receiver and 60 metre longwire, and usually can hear most, if not all U.S. stations, between 0600 UT to around 1300 (My evening 1600 TO 2300 Australian Eastern Standard time, AEST) and say 1800 to around 2300 (My morning 0400-0900 AEST). Your frequency of 7490 should be audible during my evening as I can receive KTBN Utah on 7510 quite well. Also, just to let you know that voice of Russia uses USB on 7490 from around 0900 to 1100 UT sometimes longer and I think also from 1500 to 1700 UT [I thought it was 1200-1300. Recently heard VOR IS on it then --- gh] which tends to block the frequency, beaming to East Asia. Another 50 kW broadcaster with a much improved signal here is WINB Red Lion Pennsylvania using a Rhombic on 13570 from 1100 to 1300 with less static than say 5 or 7 MHz at this time (we are moving into winter) so perhaps a move to 11 or 13 MHz might propagate better (to Australia). If I could, I'd like to ask some questions about your transmitting facility, 1. What sort of ERP are you getting out from the Antenna and what sort of antenna is being used? 1A. Have you changed the beam direction to that of WJCR? 2. What countries are in your primary coverage area? 3. What are your primary aims in transmitting to overseas countries? I do wish you well with your venture and hope all goes to plan for you (with God's help of course). I have a link to your station on these pages:- http://www.geocities.com/nri3/links.html http://www.angelfire.com/myband/tjg/links.html 73 Tim Gaynor, Sangean ATS 803A and 60 metre longwire ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Tim, Yes, we are at full power, and would appreciate further reception reports. In His Service, Doc Burkhart wjiesw@hotmail.com WJIE Shortwave http://www.wjiesw.com EWPC http://www.worldprayercenter.org (via Gaynor) Hi gang, WJIE Louisville, KY seems to be on air using 7490, sounding professional and IDing a lot in between tracks, listening using Bob Arnold`s Ten - Tec RX 320 Syracuse NY USA at 1100 UT; haven't heard it in Australia yet even though Russia has just signed off in USB. Reception in Syracuse seems to be hashy, so perhaps they are still using low output ERP. Their webpage http://www.wjiesw.com indicates reception reports from Europe and Asia. 1108, seem to have gone off air? Anyone know if they are on full power yet? 73 (Tim Gaynor, newsgroup posting May 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, Just caught WWRB Manchester Tennessee, 12172 saying that there are bad thunderstorms down there, knocking them off air for some minutes at a time; ID at 1700 UT, Alex Jones program, listening via Ten-Tec web receiver RX 320 Syracuse NY USA, 73 (Tim Gaynor, Nerang Q, Australia, 42 miles south of Brisbane, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MEGA HURTS, By Paul Farhi Bennett Zier has a fine idea for a new radio format. His eyes light up as he tells you about it. "We play Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Bobby Darin," he says. "The great thing about it is what we call it. You ready?" He pauses. "Vegas Radio! Is that great or what?" [but it would never play at Clear Channel...] To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23996-2002May28.html (via Tom McNiff, DC, May 29, DXLD) ** U S A. From the CGC (5/29/2002).... SPECIFY ZIP CODE, GET LIST OF FM BROADCAST SIGNALS Here is a fun and free U.S.-wide tool provided by V-Soft Communications. Specify a 5-digit Zip Code and find out what FM stations are likely to be received at that location. The tool uses the FCC's F(50,50) propagation algorithm and the receiver coordinates are usually those of the local U.S. Post Office. If a station is directional, its pattern is taken into account: http://www.v-soft.com/NBT/default.asp (via Fred Vobbe, NRC FMTV list via DXLD) Well, I tried it on my own zip code, and it gives a list of stations from strongest to weakest above 50 dBu. Of course, it`s hard to guesstimate field strengths without a meter, but strangely it excludes KTTL-105.7 Alva which bills itself as a station serving the Enid market; and does not include all the OKC market stations, many of which `sound` as strong as the others which are included. It does list a translator in Enid on 102.3 which is not on the air (nor has ever been AFAIK). Interesting that it does include translators in the list, and due to their low power, are integrated into much further stations with full power in ranking. The program really needs to go below 50 dBu to be useful (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK 73703, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. EUGENE, Ore., May 28, 2002 (Oregon Daily Emerald, U-WIRE via COMTEX) -- College radio broadcasters reacted with guarded optimism about the Librarian of Congress' rejection last week of proposed fees stations would pay for playing music online. By rejecting the rules proposed by the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has until June 20 to determine how much the streaming fees should be. His decision set up a showdown between Internet radio broadcasters and musicians over how much royalty fees are owed to musicians when their songs are played over the Internet. "It is time that (Webcasters) finally start to pay the artists and record companies whose creative output is the most important component of their business," John L. Simson, executive director of the recording industry's lobbying group for Internet issues Sound Exchange, said in a statement. Journalism professor Al Stavitsky sees the fight over the proposed rules as part of a larger debate regarding artists and other content producers working in new media, such as the Internet. Musicians are closely watching this debate, he said, because they believe the new rule system will fix shortcomings in the traditional broadcast royalty fee structure. Presently, radio stations pay royalty fees to record companies and composers of each song. Stavitsky pointed out that artists who write their own material are compensated for their work. However, singers who cover other people's material are not compensated when their songs are played on the radio. Local reaction KWVA General Manager Charlotte Nisser joined a growing chorus of college radio broadcasters in complaining the fees were too restrictive and unfairly hit small, educational radio stations that broadcast on the Internet. Had the fees gone through, she said, KWVA would have been forced to pay an estimated $3,700 more per year in royalty fees to record companies and musicians. KWVA and KPSU at Portland State University decided they will continue to broadcast on the Internet until Billington reaches a decision. "Until we get a cease and desist order, we've been told to keep streaming," said David Jimenez, KPSU station manager. "They're braver than we are," said Ann Robinson, assistant director of student media at Oregon State University's station KBVR. Robinson said the station is ready to begin streaming, but won't begin until the legal issues surrounding royalties are cleared up. By staying off the Internet, KBVR joined a growing list of college radio stations that have pulled the plug on streaming out of fear the royalty fees could be too high to pay. Billington did not give any reasons for his ruling. While most college broadcasters are optimistic, no one is certain if he felt the fees were too restrictive for radio stations. Part of the proposed rules Billington rejected were: Each station broadcasting on the Internet must pay $500 each year to the recording industry. Noncommercial radio stations that broadcast on the Internet would have paid two-hundredths of a cent for every online listener per song. Commercial radio stations that broadcast on the Internet would have paid seven-hundredths of a cent for every online listener per song. Stations would have been forced to keep strict records of each song played on the Internet. Nathan Cox, KWVA's chief engineer, said that the rules would have unfairly hit small, independent radio stations. The main problem, he said, was the committee treated all noncommercial radio stations as equals. This is almost unheard of in other negotiations with artists' organizations such as ASCAP and BMI, which take transmitter size and audience size into account when deciding on-air royalty fees. Because KWVA has a smaller transmitter and audience than say, local radio station KLCC, the University station pays less in royalties to these companies. However, on the Internet, both stations would have been equals. Online issues The high costs of streaming on the Internet is another issue. KWVA, like other streaming stations, must pay for equipment and a site license to RealAudio, their streaming provider. Currently, only 50 people can listen to the station on the Internet at one time. KPSU has only enough equipment to provide 30 online listeners, even though the station broadcasts 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. during the week, and noon to 2 a.m. on weekends. When KBVR does go online, they will have capabilities for 20 listeners. With so few listeners on the Web and such a small market share, many college stations asked if it was worth it for the recording industry to charge them the same fees as stations with many more online listeners. "How many people are really going to listen to us on the Web? Parents of DJs, former DJs and some people who happen upon us," Robinson of KBVR said. Promises unfulfilled College broadcasters are continuing to lobby Congress and Billington on the rules. Some radio organizations have already reached deals with the recording industry regarding Internet royalties. National Public Radio reached a deal for all 470 of public radio member stations, though they would not disclose terms of the deal. Robinson of KBVR said she has been told by Collegiate Broadcasters, Inc., an organization KBVR belongs to, that they are also trying to negotiate a deal. Jimenez said the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is also attempting to work out an agreement. Record companies are also closely watching the debate because they are hard-pressed to keep a high profit margin during a period of declining record sales. They blame much of that decline on music swapping sites made popular by Napster, and the ability to easily copy music discs on home computers. Stavitsky also pointed out that the promise of making large sums of money on the Internet has yet to bear fruit. He sees this debate as record companies trying to jockey for the future. "Very few people are making money off the Web," he said. "But you have to keep doing it because someday somebody will." By John Liebhardt http://www.dailyemerald.com (c) 2002 Oregon Daily Emerald, U. Oregon and U-WIRE -0- (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Tashkent, 1200 to 1230. Very good on both 15295 and 17775. 19m outlet was stronger at times, but more congestion. 17775 was a clear channel and easy listening. This transmission came in better than the 1330 program (Tom Sliva, NY Adirondacks, May 25-27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4600.42, 1000 with poor signal during CP opening, 28 May (Bob Wilkner, R75, Noise reducing antenna, Margate FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi again Glenn. Regarding the non identified signal on 18940 kHz, I would like to let you know that I also have been peaking this signal at around 1430 to 1700; today at 1610 I made a short recording of it that I'm sending to you with this message. As Noel points out, it is a continuous play of a short fanfare that ends at 1700. The signal is a steady 4333 (S4 to S5) here in Caracas, Venezuela, at 10 32 N 66 52 W, on a Sony ICF-2010 with a 120 meters long sloper antenna. I'm sending you also an image of this antenna. Have a nice day. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe) YV5LIX, P. O. Box 68195, Caracas 1062-A., Edo. Miranda, Venezuela, May 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The answer: see NORWAY ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-087, May 28, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1132: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1132.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB WORLD OF RADIO #1133: FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ 7415: Wed 2330, Thu 0415 [NEW TIME] FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 ** ARGENTINA. 6215.06, Radio Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú, 2320-2341, May 20, Spanish and Portuguese, man and female announcer, religious program, ID ``a través de Radio Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú`` 34443 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. VNG (time signal station) on 16000 kHz, May 26 at 0700 UT with a very good signal here in Southern Wisconsin. Actually have heard for a few weeks about this time with a signal that varies quite a bit. (Question: Is VNG still slated to be shut down in late June, as was reported via other sources ??) Regards, (David Zantow, Janesville, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ***************************************************** "Dave's Radio Receiver Page" located at: http://members.fortunecity.com/swradios ** BELGIUM [non]. Hi Glenn, The DX Antwerp broadcast did make it into New Brunswick. Thankfully they used more than one frequency because no frequency was usable for the entire broadcast [May 25 0800-0900]. Both 17785 and 9945 were poor at the start. Surprisingly, 7180 was SINPO 44333 at 0804 UT but fading fast. Had to switch back to 9945 and 17785 signals which were poor for keywords two and three. By 0835 UT, 17785 was getting stronger, but suffering from AWR QRM from 17780. Keywords two and three were the tough ones for me to get; hopefully I got at least one (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If the same keywords were used on all frequencies, how could they really verify which frequencies were actually heard??? (gh, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. RUSSIA 17785, 0758- May 25, DX-Antwerp, Test tones heard at 0758 tune in, and with just above threshold audio by YL at 0805, but too weak to make anything out of the broadcast, and suffering some splatter from VORWS in English from the far east on 17795. Too bad no transmitters were aimed for North American audiences. No other parallels noted (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. /U.K.: Due to the championship football, VRT intends special transmissions June 4, 10: 0900-1100 on 15195 RMP 250 kW / 168 deg to Eu June 14: 0730-0900 on 15195 RMP 250 kW / 168 deg to Eu June 30: 1100-1300 on 15195 RMP 250 kW / 168 deg to Eu (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4985, 0300- May 20, R. Brasil Central, nice ID at TOH followed by lively Brazilian songs. S5 to S7 signal with some atmospheric noise. 11815, 0158- May 25, R. Brasil Central, very nice S7 signal in the clear with full ID in Portuguese, and jingle. Many references to Radio Brasil Central. News at TOH (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 11815, Radio Brasil Central at 2345-2400+ 25 May in Portuguese. Sounds like a sermon. Heard Católica at 2359, then ID. Mod and clear. 11830, R Anhanguera at 2250-2305 25 May in Portuguese. Soccer. Good. Recheck at 2335 and heard ID (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6180.02, Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, Brasília, 0028-0044, May 23, Portuguese, Musical Program, ads, ``Domingo 26 de mayo, aniversário da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, 44 anos da emissora mais potente do Brasil``, 44454 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Here`s another Brazilian who feels A Voz do Brasil, supposedly obligatory for all stations at 2200-2300 UT, is ``anti- democratic``, a relic of the Vargas dictatorship in 1935 (gh, DXLD) Considero anti-democrática essa obrigatoriedade de se retransmitir "A Voz do Brasil", pois impede a todos os que gostam de rádio de ouvir notícias, esportes, músicas, no horário das 19:00 às 20:00. Lembro também, que o referido informativo foi criado em 1935, em plena ditadura Vargas. Acho que as emissoras de todo o país deveriam se unir contra esse resquício autoritário, que é um desrespeito à liberdade de escolha dos cidadãos. 73! (Fábio Roberto Gullo, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC DELAYS DAWN OF NEW MORNING, [by] Gayle MacDonald From globeandmail.com, Monday, May 27, 2002 The radical overhaul of CBC Radio One's weekday morning schedule will not go ahead as promised in September, top figures at the network say. Several senior producers at the public broadcaster say a tiny, select group of staffers on CBC's flagship morning show This Morning were told late last week that the much-touted, but highly controversial, revamp of the morning slot would not be feasible by the Sept. 2 deadline. Indeed, sources say This Morning host Shelagh Rogers and key members of her production staff were told Thursday that they can count on doing their popular three-hour show this fall, possibly continuing its run until the end of December. CBC executives remain committed to the eventual redesign of Radio One. This Morning will be axed and replaced with two separate shows (one 90 minutes live and news-driven, and the other two hours of features such as Workology and Out Front), involving hosts. But, according to CBC insiders, the network's approximately 1,000 radio staff members were to be told early this week of the deadline being pushed back. Ms. Rogers could not be reached for comment. But as one veteran employee put it: "It's the worst-kept secret. . . . Everyone in the building has been talking about it." Adrian Mills, executive director of programming at CBC English Radio, said yesterday, "We know Sept. 2 is not looking realistic for us right now, given the amount of time it takes to develop a high-quality program." But, he added, the realignment of the weekday morning schedule will be a go "not long after Sept. 2. We've always said we will launch when the programs are ready." "We will establish a realistic launch date when we have more information and the programs are ready." But given that no hosts have been confirmed for the new morning shows, no producers have been signed up for the slate, and summer holidays are fast approaching, one disgruntled employee said the architects behind the redesign of CBC Radio "don't have a hope in hell of getting all the ducks lined up for this fall launch. "They're just trying to save face here," a senior producer said. "After spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on studies, committees and flying people all over the country to get a consensus on how to fix CBC Radio, it looks to some of us that there might now be a chance that they won't be changing any of the programs this year." The first week of May, CBC Radio One officially announced it was postponing its overhaul of Saturday programming until January, 2003, but added it will definitely start rolling out its new weekday schedule this fall. The public broadcaster has been working for more than a year on a strategy to rejuvenate radio to attract younger listeners, to better reflect Canada and to widen its appeal among minority groups. Last fall's BBM radio survey showed CBC Radio had notched its highest audience reach ever, with 3.9 million Canadians tuning in on an average week. But while the survey showed CBC was riding a crest of popularity, other studies show the overall radio-listening population has been steadily shrinking. At CBC, the quandary is intensified by the fact its core listenership is dying off. Internal research shows almost two-thirds of CBC Radio's audience is over 50, and getting older. Mr. Mills and Alex Frame, vice-president of CBC English-language radio, are committed to repositioning CBC Radio as more "accessible," "nimble," "agile" and "contemporary" in style and tone (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHILE. 6010, Radio Cooperativa, Santiago. 0732-0740 Mayo 26. Música romántica. ID: "La misión de los medios es tan importante... Radio Cooperativa". Otro anuncio: "...indica la temperatura en Cooperativa... 10 grados en Santiago". Reporte de la hora: "Cooperativa: 28 minutos para las cuatro". Anuncio: "El Diario de Cooperativa está llamando....". Noticias policiales desde La Florida. Anuncio: "Cooperativa, alerta con la noticia". Comerciales de "Aspirina". Otra ID: "Cooperativa es para usted". 34433. 6010, Radio Cooperativa, Santiago. 0732-0740 May 26. Romantic music. ID: "La mision de los medios es tan importante ...Radio Cooperativa". Other ann.: "...indica la temperatura en Cooperativa... 10 grados en Santiago". Check time: "Cooperativa: 28 minutos para las cuatro". Ann.: "El Diario de Cooperativa está llamando...". Cop news from La Florida. Ann.: "Cooperativa, alerta con la noticia". Ads.: "Aspirina". Other ID: "Cooperativa es para usted". 34433. [this was one of many items reported from a DX-pedition:] La Isla Paulino es un pequeño territorio ubicado a 20 minutos de navegación en lancha desde el puerto de la ciudad de La Plata (la capital de la provincia de Buenos Aires). Se trata de un excelente lugar para realizar acampadas DX. Una curiosidad del lugar radica en que no existe corriente eléctrica, con lo cual se complica la utilizacion de receptores de comunicaciones, pero lo positivo de ello es que no hay interferencias o ruidos provocados por TV, TV por cable, PC y otros artefactos eléctricos y electrodomésticos. Las escuchas fueron realizadas con un Sony ICF2010 y una antena muy sencilla, del tipo "longwire". Otra curiosidad, es que durante la noche, tuve que practicar DX solamente ayudado por una vela. Paulino Island is a small territory at 20 minutes in boat from the port of La Plata city (the Capital of Buenos Aires Province). This is an excellent place for a DX Camp, but in the island there isn`t electricity. This is good (no TV, PC, Cable, etc.) but it`s difficult to listen with professional receivers. I used a Sony ICF2010 and a "longwire" antenna. Ah! in the night, I make DX with a candle!!!! 73`s & 55`s (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. China National Radio 1st program heard at 1200 on 27 May on 21560, perhaps ex 21660 previously reported. Fair to good signal with IDs and program info at top of hour. Perhaps testing in 13 metres? (Matt Francis, ACT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR [non]. Following website tells of a clandestine radio with plans for SW, but so far only on internet. However, I could not find any audio links at the site, which seems not updated since Jan 2002. Internet-radio tests evidently took place last November (and not since?) since all the reactions posted are from then. Several of them mentioned Live365.com The entire site seems to be in French, not Tshiluba, not Kikongo, not Lingala, not English... (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) CLANDESTINE (République Démocratique) Congo Defense Fund (CDF) et Medias Congolais KOLO MBOKA veulent créer à l'intérieur des zones rebelles une station de radio clandestine émettant 24h sur 24 sur ondes courtes et FM, qui pourrait s'appeler "La Voix de la Résistance Congolaise" (VRC). Pour l'instant ce projet n'est encore qu'à l'état embryonnaire en attendant de trouver des fonds. Cet émetteur pourrait émettre en plusieurs langues: français, Lingala, Kikongo, Tschiluba, Swahili et anglais. Il s'agira, selon les concepteurs d'une radio politique qui diffusera des messages d'ordre politique. Ce projet pilote de radio clandestine de la résistance vise à répondre "aux mensonges des envahisseurs rwandais-ougandais- burundais et leurs valais congolais du RCD (Wamba dia Wamba et Onosumba et MLC de Jean-Pierre Bemba)". Chaquue séquence radio commencera par l'hymme national - "Debout Congolais" et enchaînera avec un éditorial et les points de l'actualité dans les territoires occupés, pour finir avec des messages et témoignages des auditeurs.Pour l'instant cette radio n'est active que sur le net et en réal-audio sur: http://www.congodefensefund.org/vrc.html ou http://www.mediascongolais.com/radio.html Voici les personnes faisant partie du projet de la Voix de la Résistance Congolaise: 1- Kawata Ashem Atkawata@aol.com éditorialiste 2- Elonga Adjadje adjadjee@hotmail.com éditorialiste 3- Amuri Senga amurish@web.de éditorialiste 4- Shadwel Nkuba s-nkuba@ti.com éditorialiste 5- Kais Kaisala Mangubu kaisala@hotmail.com coordinateur 6- Christian Tshimpe tshimpedtc@hotmail.com ésitorialiste 7- Alain Franque Monzelo Alainfranque@aol.com éditorialiste 8- Augustin Diakiesse augustin.diakiesse@telus.com conseiller 9- Longonnya ndeko fitasinter@hetnet.nl conseiller Le projet de radio clandestine sur ondes courtes a reçu de la part de la diaspora congolaise un accueil très favorable. Certains congolais craignent que cette mise en ondes d'une radio de la résistance congolaise soit le reflet d'une radio à l'image de la Radio télévision des Mille Collines (RTLM) de sinistre mémoire. Les responsables du projet veulent éviter à tout prix toute ressemblance avec cette radio. Signalons que temps en temps on peut entendre au Kivu une radio clandestine sur la FM qui se prénomme "La radio des Patriotes" qui se réclamme de l'Union des Forces Vives pour la libération et la démocratie en République démocraque du Congo (UFVLD). En avril 1998 l'Agence de presse du Rwanda signalait que "La Voix des Patriotes" diffusait depuis la région de Kigoma en Tanzanie. Cette radio, muette pour l'instant émettait plus vraisemblablement depuis depuis la région est de la RDC entre les frontières du Rwanda et du Burundi. Elle s'était signalée pour la première fois en français et en kinyarwarda en octobre 1997 en appelant les milices "interrahamwe" , les "Maï Maï" et tous les hutus à "combattre les intrus" (les tutsis). (via Bernard Chenal, France, May 27, DXLD) ** COOK ISLANDS. COOK ISLANDS TV ACCUSED OF PIRACY A man accused of running video piracy operations in the Cook Islands says the country's TV service is as guilty as he is. Piho Ruha, who ows a chain of video stores, is also Chief Executive to the Prime Minister. Ruha says he's fed up with taking all the blame for video piracy in the islands. The government has been reluctant to enforce new regulations, but Ruha is now advocating exactly that. He believes that it will show that Cook Islands Television (CITV) is equally guilty. According to Ruha, a large proportion of the programmes shown on CITV have been obtained illegally. He says that it costs in the region of US$200 for the rights to show a movie once, and CITV would be very unlikely to get enough sponsorship to break even, let alone make a profit, out of running it. CITV boss George Pitt refutes Ruha's allegations, and says he would welcome the stronger enforcement of copyright laws, which would "sort out the sheep from the goats." (© Radio Netherlands Media Network May 28 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI`s Mailbag has a new edition this week, nominally scheduled for another run Tue 1930, Wed 0130, 0730, 1330, and maybe again Fri 2000, Sat 0200, 0800, 1400. We caught it at unscheduled time 0039 UT Mon, following an unscheduled WOR play. Station has not been getting much mail lately, and encourages reports especially from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America. Someone asked for the effective radiated powers on RFPI frequencies, so James estimated: 100 kW on 7445-USB; 80 kW on 15039; 9 kW on 21815-USB. New QSLs have been designed, but still not yet printed. Joe Bernard is on vacation in USA for a month (so there might be more glitches than usual in RFPI operations) (RFPI Mailbag originally broadcast May 24, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 989.82, R Guamá, unknown site, Pinar del Rio; 0926-0933 5/27, W, SP vocal, M ID 0930, trumpets and fanfare, more babble. Has been off-frequency for awhile. Very good, // 1000. 1180, R. Rebelde (two transmitters); 0908-0912 5/27. A second channel at fair level under the Ciudad de la Habana powerhouse, slight audio delay on the weaker one. Either a second Rebelde, or one of the other stations on 1180 (Progreso, Reloj) with overnight Rebelde relay. 1440, R. Surco, Ciego de Ávila; 0938-0950 5/27, M announcer, ID, old Cuban folk songs. Very good and // weaker 1430 (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CMBC Radio Progreso, Guanabacoa Cuba 640 kHz - after follow- up for 1998 report by e-mail to progreso@ceniai.inf.cu - received a Word document with a photo of their HQ inserted along with address and verification text (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, May 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CON EL COMPLEJO DE BEJUCAL CHINA HA SUPLANTADO OPERACION RUSA DE ESPIONAJE ELECTRONICO EN CUBA CASTRO DESARROLLA ROBUSTO SISTEMA CAPAZ DE LIBRAR GUERRA CIBERNETICA El servicio de inteligencia cubano es uno de los más efectivos del mundo. De acuerdo con una fuente del Pentágono, "sólo una red sofisticada de espionaje", tal como la de Cuba, podría haber vulnerado el acceso a los códigos de transmisiones del avión presidencial estadounidense, en lo que se ha creído originalmente como una ruptura de los sistemas de seguridad de tal envergadura como para forzar el traslado a un sitio secreto al presidente, en la mañana del once de septiembre. Hasta hace poco tiempo los rusos pagaban a Castro alrededor de 200 millones de dólares anuales por permitirles tener el centro de espionaje de Lourdes, en Cuba. En una sorpresiva medida el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin repentinamente ordenó el retiro de sus 1,500 asesores de Cuba tras los ataques terroristas contra Wáshington y New York. Algunos analistas especulan que Putin temió que Castro podría haber estado utilizando la estación de Lourdes a fin de obtener información de inteligencia que después canalizaba a Ben Laden, Iraq y otros grupos terroristas. Castro se beneficiaba con la presencia de los asesores rusos en Cuba que actuaban a manera de escudo contra un ataque de E.U. y estaba enfurecido por el retiro de los mismos. Desafortunadamente, China ahora parece haber suplantado a los rusos como la primera fuente de espionaje electrónico de Castro y ha construido un nuevo y sofisticado complejo de monitoreo de inteligencia en las cercanías de Bejucal, provincia Habana, Cuba y que opera encubierta como Radio China. Además de ser utilizada como centro 7 de espionaje electrónico, se reporta que el centro de Bejucal es parte de un robusto sistema capaz de ser utilizado para la guerra cibernética y que Castro se encuentra desarrollando. Por Paul Crespo, American Legion magazine, NewsMax.com, La Nueva Cuba May 25, 2002 73's (via Oscar, Miami) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. MINISTER WANTS TO SOLVE RFE/RL RELOCATION WITHIN THREE WEEKS | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 27 May: There has been some progress made in talks on the relocation of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) headquarters from the centre of Prague and the talks with the radio head Thomas Dine will continue on Thursday or Friday [30 and 31 May], Foreign Minister Jan Kavan said today. No details will be published until an agreement is reached, Kavan said, adding that he wanted to conclude an agreement concerning relocation of the radio station by the end of this government's tenure, which expires in some three weeks. The agreement on relocation will have to be approved by the RFE/RL board and the US Congress. Kavan may conclude a memorandum on solution of the RFE/RL situation and its relocation by the end of May, according to unofficial sources. Following the 11 September terrorist attacks against the United States RFE/RL headquarters has been guarded by armoured vehicles and soldiers for several months due to concerns that the US-funded radio station could become a target of a terrorist attack. Therefore the Czech government wants to move the radio outside the Prague's centre. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1333 gmt 27 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 6025.03, 0330-0400* May 20, R. Amanecer International, nice signal with easy listening Spanish religious music and at times low modulation talk in Spanish. Gave full ID at 0358, then into national anthem and off promptly at 0400 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ESTONIA. EUROVISION INTERNET BROADCAST ATTRACTS USERS FROM 124 COUNTRIES | Text of report in English by Estonian news agency ETA Tallinn, 26 May: Eurovision song contest, usually just a TV event watched by hundreds of millions of users in mainly USA and Europe, successfully extended its coverage last night to over 120 countries, thanks to a live Internet broadcast from the event. This was the first time in the history of Eurovision to watch the whole live concert in its entire length via Internet, broadening the reach of the contest to all continents and countries. Using a distributed network of 13,000 Akamai content servers, located evenly all over the world, four different live video streams were broadcast from the http://www.eurovision.tv website in Estonia. As the event started at 2100 Central European Time Saturday night in Tallinn, in just a few minutes the world map of the Akamai traffic monitors lighted up, showing users from remote areas like Colombia, Jordan, Oman, Brazil, Japan and Venezuela following Eurovision live through their Internet browsers. By the end of the three-hour event the country list had reached over 120 world countries, making the event truly world-wide. "This year we have taken Eurovision to a new level on online side, using the newest technologies in interactive publishing," said Janek Maggi, the Web Manager of the Eurovision Song Contest. "Already weeks and months before the event we allowed users to interact with Eurovision using contests, online sound and video clips and all the newest information about the event," Maggi said... Thanks to the technical architecture of the Internet solution there were no major technical problems, usually quite a common sight at such huge events... The live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest was the so far most powerful international video streaming project in Estonia and in the history of Eurovision, enabling everyone before and during the event to follow the Eurovision contest through the Internet. Source: ETA news agency, Tallinn, in English 0914 gmt 26 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 11720, SWR, full data "Sounds Too Free To Be Legal" card, v/s Frank, in 5 weeks, for rp. Received stickers, large poster, postcard and tourist info. 50 watts! Thanks to Dr Walter Salmaniw for the reception tip and to SWR for the QSL! (Joe Talbot, AB Canada, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RFI PORTAL REVAMPED, PRESS RELEASES LISTED | The RFI [Radio France Internationale] portal http://www.rfi.fr has been transformed; a press release issued by RFI on 27 May said. The portal has now a clearer presentation with less flashy graphics which highlight a greater richness of columns, a greater possibility of choices straight from the home page and maintained throughout the surfing of the portal. These are the strong points of the new version of the RFI portal. The new portal has direct links, straight from the home page, to all the subsidiaries of RFI. Links to RPL (Radio Paris Lisbon), RFI Sofia and RFI Bulgaria have been added to the existing links to rfimusique.com and rmc-mo.com. The new portal offers easier and more direct access to the 19 foreign languages. For every edition, a link in the chosen language directs the Internet users to a presentation of programmes and enables them to listen to broadcasts. A column for journalists entitled "Press Releases" (by RFI) lists all the press releases of the RFI group (special operations in France and abroad), RFI development in the world, audience figures and nominations). A map of the web site in English has been added to the existing one in French. In the new portal, one of the columns of the home page presents the 10 main news headlines with a summary of the event. Source: Radio France Internationale press release, Paris, in French 27 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Voici les demandes adressées au CSA pour les candidatures des radios AM qui pourraient se voir attribuer une fréquence ondes moyennes en numérique: (premières autorisations cet automne) PARIS - Ciel AM, Superloustic, BRTV (Radio Berbère), BFM (radio d'information) Radio Junior, Radio Opéra, Lattitude AM, plusieurs radios communautaires et une radio confessionnelle. RENNES - Littoral AM, RMC Info (Radio Monte Carlo), Radio Bonheur, BFM, MFM, Canal B, un projet de radio maritime, Superloustic NANCY - RMC Info, Superloustic( radio pour enfants), Ciel AM (radio juive), TOULOUSE- MFM, Superloustic, One AM, Ciel AM, Equiradio MARSEILLE - Ciel FM, Superloustic, MFM 5+ un projet de radio européenne à destination du Maghreb) Me groupe Bolloré s'est dit interressé pour postuler à l'AM. Beaucoup d'opérateurs en Outre-mer ont aussi manifesté, particulièrement en Guadéloupe. Pour l'instant 80 dosssiers ont été déposés au CSA. Les premières autorisations seront effecytives à l'automne. Pour avoir des informations plus récentes on peut consulter la Lettre de l'AM et le télécharger au format PDF sur le site: http://www.adam-radio.com E-mail: info@cielradio.com Depuis le courant du mois d'avril TDF procède à des tests en AM analogique à Rennes. Il s'agit d'un émetteur de 1 kW relié à une antenne filaire qui "tombe" de la tour hertzienne de Cesson-Sévigné (Siège de TDF à Rennes). Les essais se font sur les fréquences: 1494, 1585 et 1602 kHz. La radio Berbère (media BRTV) a déposé une demande au CSA pour l'attribution d'une fréquence en ondes moyennes à Paris (internet: http://www.brtv.fr ) Adresse: BRTV Communication, 1 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, Tél: + 33 01 44 07 15 80 Fax: +33 01 40 51 79 16 Ciel AM, première radio temporaire privée en ondes moyennes ayant diffusé 9 mois sur 981 kHz à Paris a suscité de nombreuses convoitises. Un ou deux ^projets asiatiques se profilent tout comme une radio des Caraïbes (via Bernard Chenal, France, May 27, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Some DTK news: New schedule for Voice of Hope 21590 via JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME: 0700-0900 Arabic and 0900-1000 (ex 0900-1200) English Radio Rainbow in Amharic noted on Sat May 25: 0800-0900 on additional NF 15410 (34443) via JUL 100 kW / non-dir \\ 6180 (44554) New schedule for Brother Stair/TOM/ to ME via JUL 100 kW / 115 deg: 1300-1400 (ex 1300-1600) on 13810 (55555) Freq change for IBRA Radio in Pashto/Dari via WER 125 kW / 075 deg to ME: 1645-1715 NF 13590 (55555), ex 13760 to avoid VOKorea, re-ex 13840 to avoid RFI (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Some freq changes for DW effective June 1: 0200-0355 German DEL 11785 KIG 250 kW / 330 deg 0200-0355 German ADD 13780 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg 1100-1145 English ADD 21525 SIN 250 kW / 160 deg 2100-2145 English NF 9830 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg, ex 9875 2200-0200 German DEL 11785 KIG 250 kW / 280 deg 2300-2350 Chinese NF 12035 IRK 500 kW / 152 deg, ex 11870 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** GUAM/U S A. Frequency change for AWR in Tagalog/English via KSDA 100 kW / 300 deg to ME 1600-1700 NF 17630 (45444) bad modulation, ex 15450 to avoid RTTunisia in Arabic (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.27, V. of Guyana; 0902-0908 5/27, English woman with story reading. Fair (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. Buenas noches, apreciados colegas. Esta noche estoy escuchando muy bien a Radio Litoral, HRLW, desde Honduras en 4832; desde las 0310 he estado escuchando su programación de contenido religioso y musical. El operador habla en español pero con ligero acento inglés; a las 0400 se identificó y pasaron a colocar sólo música hasta este momento 0423 en que escribo esta nota y paso a otra frequencia. La señal ha sido de 55545, la señal tiene un ligero QSB pero es excelente. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe), YV5LIX, Venezuela, UT May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4753.4, 1442- May 20, RRI Makassar. Several hours after local sunrise, I can still hear this RRI station using my newly installed K9AY antenna. Outperforms all the others including a T2FD cut for 60 meters and up. Music at weak level (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. VICE SQUAD CONFISCATES 11,191 SATELLITE DISHES IN TEHRAN PROVINCE | Excerpt from report by Iranian newspaper Iran web site on 26 May The commander of the headquarters responsible for promoting virtue and prohibiting vice in Tehran Province has announced that the personnel of this headquarters confiscated 11,191 satellite dishes in the province last year. Colonel Hasan Deyhim of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps added: Among other activities of the personnel of this quarters last year I can mention the seizing and destruction of 42,000 compact discs containing pornographic material and 8,000 pornographic magazines and publications. In the same year we identified and destroyed 13 brothels and centres of debauchery... Source: Iran web site, Tehran, in Persian 26 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN. 9635, 1543- May 25, VOIRI TEHRAN, English commentary about India. Only about an S3 to S5 signal, but no signs of any cochannel or adjacent splatter, so entirely readable. Note this frequency is beamed to India. Other parallels not readable (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non] FRANCE: New schedule for Voice of Iran, Persian via ISS: 1530-1730 on 17510 1630-1730 on 15770 <<<<< deleted (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. See this article from the Washington Times [Moony]: http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020527-72720535.htm IRAQI RADIO LIFTS 'SPIRITS' WITH WESTERN OFFERINGS By Topaz Amoore, LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH BAGHDAD — The pop band REM had reached the climax of its concert. "Thank you," the lead singer, Michael Stipe, bellowed to the fans. "You've been amazing." The crowd screamed, and the tinny radio speakers in the Baghdad taxi duly dissolved in a snowstorm of static. The driver was tuned to Iraq's most popular radio station, VOI FM, owned by the notorious Uday Hussein — Saddam Hussein's elder son and potential successor. The acronym stands for "Voice of Iraq FM" but given its eclectic, Westernized programming, it makes an unlikely national mouthpiece. In this land of ferocious anti-Western propaganda, VOI unexpectedly pumps out American and British music 24 hours a day, treating consumers to fruit supposedly forbidden by the ruling Ba'ath party. Its disc jockeys speak in English, not Arabic, as do callers to the phone-in programs. DJs rarely speak between tracks, saving their patter for the competition phone-ins. "Come on, come on, this question is really easy," says one impatiently, as a listener ponders which evergreen rock band is about to go on tour yet again. "The [Rolling] Stones. Call yourself a fan?" The playlist blends Kate Bush and the controversial white rapper Eminem with middle-of-the-road 1980s American rock. The sole nod to Iraq's more traditional image comes when programming is interrupted, without warning, by the sound of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer five times a day. The station was the inspiration of Mr. Hussein, according to Jawad Ali, the broadcaster who was brought in from Baghdad Radio to run VOI. "Mr. Uday persuaded his father that following the bombing in 1991, he should find a way to lift the people's spirits," he said. "In 1993, when there were very tight sanctions, most of the equipment was impossible to get hold of, and it was difficult to launch a radio station. But Mr. Uday wanted to cheer the young people up. He wanted a new, lively style of presentation, very different to what Iraqis had seen before." The belief among ordinary Iraqis is that Mr. Hussein also sees VOI — and its sister television station, Youth TV — as important tools in his battle to succeed Saddam, boosting his profile with seductive, Westernized programming on the tightly regulated state broadcasting network. The stations do have their opponents, Mr. Ali admitted. Critics believe that young Iraqis should not be exposed to Youth TV's cocktail of American and European sports, or its Hollywood films complete with sex and violence. Mr. Hussein, however, apparently feels that Iraqis should be aware of changes in the world. "If you don't let them know anything, in the future they will be shocked by what they see," said Mr. Ali, who will soon hand over his broadcasting role to his deputy to become Iraq's press attache in Jordan. The stations are partly funded by advertising and partly from "Mr. Uday's budget." They employ about 200 people, but Mr. Ali would not reveal the cost of running these outfits (via Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, May 27, DXLD) ** MEXICO. RMI, 11770.2 (nominal 11770) at 0205 24 May in Spanish music, talk, ID. Low audio (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. From http://www.rnw.nl Radio Moldova International, which has generally been difficult to hear on shortwave due to the use of an old transmitter in Romania with distorted audio, can now be heard on the Internet. Programmes are encoded in Windows Media format. A trial download at Radio Netherlands revealed that the download speed was around 20 kbp/s, not exactly warp speed, but a 28 minute English programme can be downloaded in under 3 minutes. Although encoded at 16 kbp/s, the audio quality was excellent, and made listening to music a pleasant experience. The programmes in English, Spanish, Romanian, Russian and French are broadcast on Mon-Fri. The station maintains a one week archive, and the download page is at http://www.trm.md/radio/default_en.asp (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 24 May 2002 via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK May 27, via DXLD) Tnx for the reminder, but this isn`t exactly new. Webcasts replacing SW were first reported Sept 22, 2000 in DXLD 0-115, and again Dec. 7, 2000 in DXLD 0-152 (gh, DXLD) ** NEPAL. Hello All: When QSLing, never give up and try anything! DXer Ed Kusalik told me that many years ago! I never have. Well, outside laying on the front sidewalk, a QSL from Radio Nepal! The postman must have missed the mail-box and I just missed hitting it with the spray of the garden hose. A long story behind this one. The report was mailed early in Feb 2002 from Laos by my youngest brother who was heading up a drilling project for a Canadian oil drilling contractor for fledgling Laos National Oil Company. Along with that report I had also sent a letter to the management of Radio Nepal, to please consider the possibility of verifying more reception reports. The details: 5005, Radio Nepal, full data "Pokhara Nepal" card with station stamp, v/s R.S Kharki, in 19 months, for report, rp and 2 f/ups (Joe Talbot, AB Canada, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: BROADCASTING CORPORATION STARTS STATION RECONSTRUCTION | Text of report in English by Egyptian news agency MENA Ramallah, 27 May: The Palestinian radio and TV service [Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation] has started the reconstruction of the central transmission station in Ramallah which has been completely destroyed by the Israeli troops early this year. Head of the radio and TV service Radwan Abu-Ayyash told MENA Monday [27 May] that the size of direct losses reached 14m US dollars, adding that the Israelis have stolen the Palestinian radio and TV archives before blowing up the historic building with dynamite. The building was established in 1934 and the radio was the largest station during the British mandate and was known as the Near East station, he said. He expressed thanks to Egyptian Information Minister Safwat al-Sharif for the services offered to the Palestinian radio and TV in terms of opening the Egyptian radio and TV studios for the production of programmes by Voice of Palestine network. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 1011 gmt 27 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, 0746- May 25, NBC Port Moresby, S7 to S9 signal from Karai service, with C&W music. Moderate amount of atmospheric crashes (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Some frequency changes for R. Veritas Asia via Palauig 250 kW eff. June 2 0000-0025 Karen NF 11725 / 280 deg, ex 9535 0030-0055 Bengali NF 11995 / 300 deg, ex 0100-0125 on 15335 / 280 0030-0055 Hindi NF 11705 / 300 deg, ex 0130-0155 on 15335 / 285 0030-0055 Tamil NF 11935 / 280 deg, ex 11795 0100-0125 Urdu NF 15335 / 300 deg, ex 0200-0225 on 15335 / 300 0100-0155 Russian NF 17830 / 015 deg, ex 0230-0325 on 11805 / 015 1330-1355 Hindi NF 9590 / 300 deg, ex 9580 1430-1525 Russian NF 9575 / 330 deg, ex 9660 1500-1525 Tagalog* NF 15360 / 300 deg, ex 9790 [<<< ex-15305 --gh] 2230-2255 Tagalog NF 15240 / 030 deg, ex 6075 2300-2325 Cantonese NF 11705 / 280 deg, ex 2200-2225 on 6060 / 330 2330-2355 Kachin NF 11705 / 280 deg, ex 0030-0055 on 9535 / 280 *till 1555 Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. It has now been confirmed by official sources that the 1116 kHz transmitter carrying the regional prgr of GTRK "Yantar" (Kaliningrad) is now at the Bolshakovo transmitting center. The projected power is 75 kW, but the tx is run with half power so far. Earlier, the 1116 kHz tx was located in Kaliningrad city (30 kW). In regard to rumours about a relays of a European classic rock station via Bolshakovo, a well informed source in Russia has confirmed that a nighttime project is under preparation for 1386 kHz, but no further details are available yet. According to this source, the start could take place in about 2-3 months (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 27, MW- DX via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. Hello from Vienna! Today I received the QSL for the last transmission of Radio St. Helena on 23th October 1999! Since several years I don't send reception reports to BC stations, only this one I tried. Came with a very nice letter from the Station Manager Tony Leo. Good luck to all of you ! Kurt -- 73 de Kurt Brandstetter, OE 1002419 ICQ-UIN 43074273 CCA member AC01-01249 NCDXF #4175 INDEXA #1720 Homepage: http://www.swl.net/oe1002419 *********************************************** The latest QSL's I've received at my homepage: Pse use link "Latest QSL cards arrived at my postbox" H40T (OC-100); T88SI (OC-248); P5/4L4FN FO/HG9B (OC-050); 3W7D (AS-157); XR5SM (SA-070) *********************************************** (Kurt, May 27, swl via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, 0629- May 26, Radio UNAMSIL. Fairly strong carrier, but only occasionally breaking through with audio (popular music). An awful lot of atmospheric noise tonight. Take that away, and reception would be half-decent. A brief talk at 0630, and again at 0632, but mostly music (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.884, 0751- May 25, R. Solomon Islands. Much more powerful signal than PNG on 4890. Public service announcements about alcohol, marijuana, harmful drugs, which will be confiscated before sailing. Pidgin English. 'We all want peace and justice in the Solomon Islands. In the name of Jesus Christ the Peacemaker, to all those still in possession of guns, turn them in... Let us make the Solomon Islands a nation of lasting peace'. (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. PUNTLAND EXPLAINS CLOSURE OF SBC RADIO, GIVES BBC MAN "FINAL WARNING" | Text of press release in English by Isma'il H. Warsame, chief of cabinet in the Puntland (northeast Somalia) state administration, as published by the pro-Puntland web site AllPuntland.com on 22 May SBC [Somali Broadcasting Corporation; private station based in the Puntland port of Boosaaso; a rebroadcasting partner of the BBC; closed down on 22 May by the Puntland authorities] was given a commercial broadcasting licence by the [Puntland] administration for business advertisement purposes only, and in no way was authorized to engage in either politics, dissemination of hate material or instigation of violence among the people of Puntland. Since its inception, SBC has been in gross violation of journalistic ethics and has promoted the hate-mongering interest of its Al-Ittihad management. [Ali] Abdi Aware, the proprietor of this radio, is a well- known Al-Ittihad figure, who fled the country as the military forces of Puntland were re-entering Boosaaso [northeastern port town of Somalia]. As of the successful completion of Operation Stability First, SBC, after a lull of few days, continued to disseminate false information and kept on propagating its hate-mongering propaganda. Moreover, Riyaaq, the official mouthpiece of Al-Ittihad movement in Puntland is run by Ahmed Kismaayo, the current BBC Somali section reporter in Puntland State. BBC Somali section, knowing the political background of these personalities, had hired them for whatever reasons it had in mind, Mr Kismaayo as a local reporter and SBC as FM relay station. Therefore, after much debate and analysis, after observing the rights of the free media and of Puntland's relentless promotion of fair and free media, we had no choice but to withdraw the commercial licence of SBC, for it has been mercilessly abusing and did not have other licences to continue its operations in Boosaaso or any other city and or locality in Puntland. As for Ahmed Kismaayo, a final warning has been forwarded, and from hereonforward, all are again reminded that adherence to the rules and objectives of balanced and fair news reporting in Puntland will be strictly observed and painstakingly enforced. [Signed] Isma'il H. Warsame, chief of cabinet Source: AllPuntland.com web site in English 22 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 4902, SLBC, Ekala. 26 May at 2150. Tentative SLBC Sinhala Service with endless male singing. This was surely the special extended broadcast of Full Moon (Poya) day. These programs can be heard late UT evening hours. The rest Poya days for 2002 are 24 Jun, 23 Jul, 22 Aug, 20 Sep, 20 Oct, 19 Nov and 19 Dec (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. REBEL PARTY TO LAUNCH OWN CURRENCY AND RADIO STATION | Text of report by Yusuf Khazim in London entitled: "Garang launches his own currency in August and his radio station soon"; published by London- based newspaper Al-Hayat on 25 May John Garang's Sudanese People's Liberation Movement [SPLM] has confirmed that it will open its own bank, the "Nile Commerce Bank" [Arabic: bank al-nil al-tijari], in August to serve the "liberated areas in Sudan". It said the minting of the new currency that will be used in these areas, the "Sudanese pound", is in its final stages. It revealed that the central bank's headquarters would be in the town of Yambio (Western Equatorial Province) in south Sudan. The SPLM also revealed that the technical difficulties that prevented the launch of the movement's own radio "have been removed" and transmission will start soon and will cover all Sudan and all Africa. SPLM spokesman Yasir Arman said in a telephone contact that Al-Hayat held with him in Asmara yesterday: "The launch of the new currency has absolutely nothing to do with issues of sovereignty or the secession of the south. It is a purely economic measure to facilitate the flow of economic dealings between citizens. It will also help financial transactions in the region because there is no banking system." He explained that the new currency was scheduled to be launched in March but was delayed for technical reasons. He pointed out that all arrangements are now in place to open the Nile Commerce Bank in August in West Equatorial Province, which is close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. He said the design of the new currency reflects "the ideas of the new Sudan and the SPLM's identity, including Sudanese culture in general". He added that the decision to issue the currency was taken at the end of 2000, "when the liberated areas under the SPLM's control became larger than the areas of countries such as Uganda. They (the liberated areas) are adjacent to the borders with Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of the borders with Ethiopia and Central African Republic. The southern population uses the currencies of all these countries, including the old Sudanese pound, which is not in use in Khartoum. The population will stop using all these other currencies once the new one is put into circulation." He said that a private company called Nile Credit Management (NCM) would manage the Nile Commerce Company. NCM was registered in Kenya in February. "The bank's capital is 1m dollars in addition to interest- bearing shares on offer to individuals, families and establishments." He confirmed that 100 persons bought shares for 100,000 dollars in April. Source: Al-Hayat, London, in Arabic 25 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. At 0200 UT Sunday, I was listening to Radio Taipei International, since I figured they'd have the most up-to-date news on the China Airlines plane crash. The start of their news had a breaking story -- that the plane had 'disappeared'. Nothing was mentioned about a crash. And this was ~19 hours after the crash. I suppose the next time I write them I'll have to ask how often they update their news (Ted Schuerzinger, swprograms via DXLD) ** TIBET. CHINA: 5240, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, 2337-2351, May 22, Tibetan, female announcer nice Chinese musical program, announce of frequencies, mention PBS. The ILG database mention relay of CNR (at this time), 24442, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Frequency change for Voice of Turkey in English to Eu effective June 3: 1830-1925 NF 11960, ex 9785 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** U K. From http://www.gb50.com/news-3.html 27 May, 2002 CELEBRATING THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE BY AMATEUR RADIO Press Release The Queen's Jubilee is to be proclaimed worldwide this week, through the medium of amateur radio. The Radio Society of Great Britain, the Cray Valley Radio Society and the Burnham Beeches Radio Club are delighted to announce details of a special amateur radio event at Windsor Castle, in connection with the Golden Jubilee. The amateur radio event will take place from a marquee on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle from 0900z on 29th May until 2100z on 9th June. The event will feature a state of the art amateur radio station and an "Amateur Radio Experience" area. The amateur radio station will use the unique callsign GB50 (Great Britain Fifty or, in the phonetic alphabet, Golf Bravo Five Zero), and will be manned daily during the event. It is hoped that this radio station will allow brief greetings to be exchanged with up to 20,000 radio amateurs throughout the world, enabling them to feel that they have participated in some small way in the Jubilee celebrations. Those who make contact with GB50 will also be able to apply for a commemorative "QSL card" as a souvenir of the occasion. The station will be looking especially for contacts with radio amateurs in the various countries of the Commonwealth. The "Amateur Radio Experience" area will promote amateur radio, and will feature information boards tracking the history of amateur radio from Marconi to the present day. The purpose of this area is to draw the public's attention to the fact that amateur radio is alive and well and continues to play an active and valuable role in society. It will also be an opportunity for would-be radio amateurs to find out more about the hobby. There are over 40,000 radio amateurs in the UK, and several million worldwide. For many years amateur radio was the hobby of choice for those of a technical disposition. It now competes with computing and the Internet, but continues to be a more personal medium of communication than simply sitting at a computer terminal. The hobby also receives support from government as a basis for a variety of technical careers (an increasing variety of everyday appliances are based on radio technology). Radio amateurs also perform a number of public service roles, such as offering communications support at public events or in times of crisis (for example, radio amateurs in New York helped to carry many humanitarian messages in the aftermath of September 11th, when other communications media were either out of action or heavily congested). We are delighted to announce that all the transmitting equipment to be used at GB50 will be supplied by Icom UK. GB50 AT WINDSOR CASTLE - 29 MAY TO 9 JUNE, 2002 CELEBRATING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE WITH AMATEUR RADIO Come and Visit ! You are invited to come and experience amateur radio at our special station situated inside the walls of Windsor Castle. The station is open daily and visitors will have the opportunity to talk by radio with other radio amateurs from across the world. Royal Visit The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the Radio Society of Great Britain, will visit GB50 on Monday 3 June, 2002. We look forward to welcoming The Duke, who will be invited to send greetings messages. Operational Information Radio amateurs from across the globe are invited to call us for contacts at any time. Check the frequency list below and put GB50 into your log. Our online log will appear here shortly. Operating Times: 0700 - 2200 UTC daily (from 0900 on first day) Operating Frequencies: 80m 3.529 (CW), 3.769, 3.789 MHz 40m 7.029 (CW), 7.089 MHz 30m 10.109 (CW) MHz 20m 14.029 (CW),14.189, 14.219 MHz 17m 18.079 (CW), 18.139 MHz 15m 21.029 (CW), 21.289 MHz 12m 24.909 (CW),24.939 MHz 10m 28.029 (CW), 28.489 MHz 6m (local) 50.150 MHz, then QSY 6m (DX) 50.139 MHz 2m (SSB) 144.289 MHz, then QSY 2m (FM) 145.500 MHz, then QSY 2m (APRS) 144.800 MHz 2m (Satellite) As required Operating Modes: CW, SSB, PSK31, RTTY The GB50 Awards We are delighted to announce two special awards for contacting GB50. One contact is all you need for the GB50 Golden Jubilee Award. Add a few more contacts and you can add our GB50 Jubilee Points Award. Discover more at http://www.gb50.com/award.html (via Mike Terry, England, DXLD) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA, 17735, 0500- May 26, Radio Ezra. Usual tone tests, and ID as Radio Ezra right at 0500. John states that he only earns (did I hear it right?) 10,000 UKP per year. He has only 5 or 6 programs left in this series. Only managing about a S7 signal, so I wonder if he's propagating much further east. In my case 2330 was a better choice (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Couldn`t hear him here at 0500 on 17735 (gh, OK, DXLD) ** U S A. [Re WABC not streaming Memorial Day special:] I'm listening to the return of "Seventy-Seven Double-You ABC" right now on Real Audio. Since it's local for me I won't hog the stream but... Gee --- they ran an old ad for Schaefer beer on an old Dan Ingram tape. I'm not sure you can still buy it and it certainly isn't brewed in Williamsburg(h), Brooklyn in 2002. Stroh's bought them and closed the brewery in 1976. http://www.wabcradio.com/listenlive.asp You'll notice that as with Chicago's WLS they only play the LOCAL programs. No Rush on Tuesday when they're back to talkradio (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) NOT: when I checked at 2117, at least, usual talk, Larry Elder substituting for Sean Connity. You did mean Monday? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Glenn, with the continually dwindling number of DX programs, I wonder what's going on with AWR's Wavescan program. Nothing has been updated for a few weeks now, and they haven't responded to me either. Check: http://english.awr.org/realmedia/wavescan.html (Walt Salmaniw, BC, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, Adrian Peterson keeps producing scripts every week. Don`t know about the rm files. Maybe whoever does it is on vacation. Might have to actually listen to WS on SW??? Included in http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html 73, (Glenn to Walt, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. ALBANIA/U S A: Freq change for TWR via CER 100 kW / 350 deg to Eu: 1615-1630 Czech Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri NF 5970v (55555), ex 5945 \\ 7355v SHI 1630-1700 Hungarian D a i l y NF 5970v (55555), ex 5945 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for Radio Liberty: 0500-0600 Uzbek NF 21770 UDO, ex 15250 to avoid RAI Inter in Italian/Somali 1400-1600 Kazakh NF 4995 DB , ex 5005 1400-1600 Turkmen NF 17690 MOR, ex 17885 to avoid Radio Kuwait in Arabic 1500-1600 Kyrghyz NF 11980 HOL, ex 9625 1700-1800 Ce Asia* NF 17630 LAM, ex 15350 to avoid VOR in Hungarian/Czech *Russian/Avari/Chechen/Cherkessi 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 27 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Found an interesting log last night on the old shortwave radio. Haven't been listening in a while and kind of lost interest. But look out Radio world I'm Back!!! Here's that interesting log: Pirate Radio from Cuba (Couldn`t catch the name) 0343 UT on 13425 kHz (Leafsrock75, May 27, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Rather lacking in detail, but in case anyone want to check it out... (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re the transmission I wrote about Sunday on 18940 - it continued until at least 1600. I'm not entirely sure of the status of this band as there are non-broadcast transmissions audible from time to time within it. Whatever I heard hadn`t been noted previously. I didn`t hear anything on 18940 today, but conditions seem down again. I can't find it in my log, but I think I have heard a Russian harmonic on the 18 MHz band, but there's nothing on a regular basis that I can hear (Noel Green, England, May 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EUROPEAN DX COUNCIL CONFERENCE, PORI, FINLAND, AUGUST 15-18, 2002 INVITATION Dear Friend The Finnish DX Association has the great pleasure of welcoming all DXers, shortwave listeners, radio hobbyists and international broadcasters to attend the joint conference of the European DX Council and the Finnish DX Association. The conference will be held 15th to 18th of August 2002 in the town of Pori, located on the west coast of Finland. Some of you may remember the DX conferences held in Finland in 1987 and 1992. Those have been the biggest DX conferences ever in Europe and they are also widely regarded as maybe the best ones. Our intention is to put up a similar conference providing a wide selection of items covering DXing on AM and FM, shortwave listening and international shortwave broadcasting. In 1987 and 1992 we reached an attendance of over 200 participants, and our goal this time is 150- 200. The radio hobby will be the key topic of the conference. The agenda will cover sessions and panel discussions on hard-core AM and FM Dxing, international shortwave Dxing and shortwave broadcasting as well as other delivery techniques. Competitions and other entertainment will also be included. The venue is the Spa Hotel Yyteri situated about 20 kms outside the town of Pori, and most items will take place in the hotel. Of course a visit to the YLE Radio Finland shortwave transmitter center only 15 kms away will be organised. The Spa Hotel Yyteri is located on one of the most beautiful sand beaches of Finland offering an excellent forum for tourist activities for you and also for your companion. The conference will take place from Friday 15th of August till Sunday 18th of August. In addition there will be an option to participate on a trip to Tallinn, Estonia from Sunday 18th of August till Tuesday 20th of August. The trip to Tallinn includes a visit to Estonian Radio. The conference www pages are available at http://www.sdxl.org/edxc/edxc2002.html The price of the conference package is 65 euros including the welcome reception on Friday, the tour to YLE Radio Finland transmitters and the EDXC Banquet. Hotel price is 43 euros per person per night in a double room and 65 euros per night in a single room. If you wish to have a cheaper accommodation, there is a good camping site with huts only 300 metres from the hotel. More details are available in the www pages. We'll be happy to answer your questions. Please use e-mail address edxc-@sdxl.org We hope to see as many of you as possible in Pori! Please don't hesitate to contact us, if you have any questions, comment or ideas. Join us now! Most likely there will be no other DX-meetings in Europe offering same quality and quantity coming for years. Welcome to Finland! The Finnish DX Association (FDXA) (Risto Vahakainu, May 28, swprograms via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-086, May 26, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1132: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1132.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Mon 0609, 1209, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ: Effective immediately, May 30, the second airing on 7415 moves from 0500-0530 to 0415-0445. See USA below ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Hopefully, Voice of Afghanistan is using the better of the two frequencies (17870). If not conditions, I assume the Moosbrunn antennas are more effective than some! (Noel Green, UK, May 26 0803 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: Voice of Afghanistan was heard via both frequencies again today - and with much better reception here. 15480 was slightly behind 17870. I couldn`t detect China on 15480 while it was on, nor now that it is off (Noel Green, UK, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) V of Afghanistan back on 15480 today with a S-9 signal at 1415. 15480 about 5 seconds ahead of 17870. 73s/ (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTARCTICA. ANTARCTIC ACTIVITY. Chris Post, N3SIG, informs OPDX that he is currently back stateside. However, he will be back on Ross Island (AN-011) on August 15th and plans to be active on HF shortly after his return. He also mentions that he got approval for his Antarctic New Zealand license to be renewed, so he will have the special ZL5CP callsign again. He will also use KC4/N3SIG from McMurdo Base Station. His QSL Manager will be AI3D for both callsigns (KB8NW/OPDX May 27/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. 6110, Voice of Azerbaijan, 11 April, 1730-1737, SINPO 33432, ID: "Vy slushayete russkuyu sluzhbu radio Golos Azerbaijana", then into a talk on Russian-Azerbaijani co-operation. Fair strength, but terrible audio, and unpleasant splashes from VoA on 6105 and Voice of Turkey on 6115. Impossible to listen after 1737, because of test carrier of Radio Racyja (it starts at 1800 on 6110 kHz). (Alexander Mak, Lutsk, Ukraine, Signal May 26 via DXLD) Just after 1700 English In 1999 I had the chance to compare station's audio quality between MW and SW. Totally agree with Alexander: their MW is usually quite readable, contrary to the shortwave outlet (Ed., Signal May 26 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 7210, 6 May (Monday), 0230, Radiostation Belarus`, foreign service in Russian, S=4...5. News, music program at 0238. // 7105 kHz (not in schedule), with strange non-continuous signal. Didn't check another parallel 5970 kHz. Address and phone numbers given at 0249, broadcast ended at 0250. On Saturday, 11 May heard Radiostation Belarus` in Russian again, at the same time (0230). 7210 and 5970 kHz provided clear reception, while 7105 kHz was silent. Morning broadcasts from Minsk are heard better than ever in this season. But situation with 1st domestic program relay is not so good: I can only hear it on 6080 and 11960 kHz, and it comes not all the time. Relay of Radio Mayak (from Moscow) received 6 May on 5134 kHz DSB at 0500, S=6. Summer frequencies for this relay are: 4982 and 5134 kHz during the day, 2738 and 2829 kHz at night. Besides Radio Mayak, those frequencies may carry Voice of Russia, Sodruzhestvo program and local Belarussian stations (MIDXB No. 268 - Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Hi Glenn: Well, I was crazy enough to get up at 0400 local time and tried to listen with the following results: 5/25/2002, 0800-0900 UT, 17785 kHz Barely audible here. SINPO = 2 5 4 5 1 7180 kHz Not audible at all 6015 kHz Not audible here and presumed Radio Mil on 6010 kHz was quite strong anyway. Even used usb and lsb to null Radio Mil but nothing was audible on 6015 kHz. 9945 kHz Slightly audible here but I had to use USB due to a lot of local noise. I was unable to hear or make out the "5 key words" but I did tape the broadcast. But the audio is also barely heard on the cassette tape. SINPO = 2 5 2 4 2-1 While I was up I also tried for the UN sponsored broadcast on 6137 kHz but heard nothing here. [SIERRA LEONE -- too late for that, as was it surely for 6015 from UK if not the rest --- gh] (Lee Silvi, Mentor, Ohio USA, May 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I happened to rouse, at least enough to squint at the clock, only in the hour before and the hour after this. Tsk. So far, this is the *only* (attempted) reception of this I have received, tho no doubt it was easy and intended for Europe (gh, DXLD) Later: Transmisiones especiales del DX Antwerp: Recién llego de un DX Camp a la Isla Paulino, de lo cual les voy a brindar más datos en otro correo y veo que hubo muchas dificultades y más de uno nada escucho de estas transmisiones especiales. Yo ayer también intenté captarlas desde Buenos Aires, pero infructuosamente en todas las frecuencias empleadas (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital May 26 via DXLD) I've only been able to monitor the last 5 minutes of DX-Antwerp anniversary broadcast. 9945 kHz from Lithuania propagated with SINPO 34333. 17785 from Russia provided stronger signal, but it was slightly splashed by AWR broadcast on 17780 kHz (via Austria). Nothing heard in the 49 and 41 meter bands (Skelton & Juelich). (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) RUSSIA/LITHUANIA/GERMANY/GREAT BRITAIN. 17785; 9945; 7180; 6015 kHz; 0800 - 0900, Unique broadcast commemorating 20th anniversary of DX-Antwerp/Belgium. Language used: Flemish (not Dutch) and English. This programme contained 5 keywords, music-bridges, Identifications, Invitation for to visit 'Open Air' at club location in Hoboken. SINPO: 17785 kHz - 44544 (Russia) 9945 kHz - 45454 (Lithuania) 7180 kHz - 55555 (Germany) 6015 kHz - 55555 (Great Britain) May 25, 2002; K. Elsebusch, 55 and 73 de Klaus, DL 3 EAY & DE 2 JLS Logging from Im Isselgrund 17, D-46499 Marienthal/Germany, DSWCI-No. 3385. Coordinates: Lat. 51.73 N; Long. 06.74 E Transceiver: ICOM IC 751 A. Receiver: LOWE HF 150, mod, and GRUNDIG Satellit 700. Antennas: 20 m LW, indoor; Azimuth 0 deg; 15 m LW, indoor, Azimuth 180 deg; Loop Antennas AMA 3 D and 11, outdoor. Accessoires: ADDX-AT 2 and FRT 7700 (via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Got a QSL letter from Bulgarian maritime station Varna Radio/LZW. About two week elapsed from sending a report. Used their e- mail radio@navbul.com (taken from utility column in Kvadrat bulletin). Frequency was 12587 kHz, 1 kW power. The station operates since 1947. The letter indicates some Internet resources related to maritime communications in Bulgaria: Varna Radio - http://SteveRa1.tripod.com/SteveRa1.html Varna Radio - http://lzwsat.navbul.com:55555 (only in Bulgarian) Bourgas Radio - http://bsradio.unacs.bg (e-mail bsradio@unacs.bg) (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russiam, Signal May 26 via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. CAMBODGE / FRANCE. Jean-Paul Cluzel, PDG de Radio France Internationale (RFI) inaugurait le 14 mai, en présence du premier ministre Hun Sen et des autorités locales, un nouvel émetteur FM à Kompong Som, sur la côte sud-ouest du pays. Déjà présente sur la FM de la capitale et à Siem Rep, qui abrite, au nord du Cambodge, les temples d`Angkor, RFI accroît ainsi sensiblement son bassin d`audience. A Phnom Penh, selon un récent sondage de l`institut Nielsen, la radio compte environ 90 000 auditeurs –expatriés, francophones et francophiles – soit 7% de la population. En vertu d`une législation plus libérale que dans les autres pays de la région, le Cambodge est le seul pays asiatique à autoriser la diffusion de RFI sur la bande FM, 24h sur 24. Mais en langue française uniquement, ce qui réduit son audience à l`élite. Pour accéder aux informations de la radio internationale en langue khmère (une heure quotidienne), les Cambodgiens ne disposent encore que des ondes courtes, beaucoup moins aisées à capter que la FM (Le Monde 25 mai 2002 via Bernard Chenal, DXLD) Why in the world don`t they put the Cambodian language service on FM too? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glen[n]: In the good old days you used to be able to count on CKZN signing off around 0400 and any CBC programs heard between then and their sign-on at 0945 was CKZU. The problem with these two is the fact that they both now carry CBC Overnight. It seems that there are no local IDs during this period (0100 - up to 0600 local time). Even then, it's not that big a problem. CKZN carries it from 0330 to 0845 UT (0430-0945 UT in winter). CKZU carries it from 0800 UT (0900 UT in winter). So, it's only a 45 minute window when you cannot be sure who you are listening to. Even then, you can use the radio guide to determine where you are in the program and deduce which outlet you are listening to. BTW, CKZN's transmitter is in Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Labrador. It relays CFGB-FM which has original programming (like Labrador Morning at their sign-on) and also relays CBN-640 St. John's for provincial and national network programming (Mark Coady, Ont., May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mark, Thanks for the background, but are you positive CKZN transmitter site is in Labrador??? That`s news to me. I always thought it was near St. John`s, altho much of the program feed comes from CFGB. It`s presumably beamed back primarily for reception in Labrador. HFCC does not have either 6160 listed, but I do find this in its listing of all the world`s SWBC sites, and none in Labrador: SJS S Johns, NF CAN 47N34 052W49 Possibly they moved site recently to Labrador? 73, (Glenn to Mark, via DXLD) ** CANADA. I'm listening to the on-demand RCI English news, taped at 0200 UT Sunday. It turns out a special edition of Canada Today was on. There was a live news, features and music program at the time. And they wanted to permanently eliminate weekend in-house news. How ironic. Unfortunately, only the first 6 minutes (the news) are archived online. I wonder what will be on tonight? Regards, (Ricky Leong, QU, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Veuillez s.v.p. lire ce communiqué de presse de Radio Canada International. Please read the attached press release concerning Radio Canada International. Relations avec l'auditoire Audience Relations RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL N.B.: This updates the info given in DXLD 2-083 Le conflit de travail qui perturbait les émissions de Radio Canada International depuis le 22 mars, est maintenant terminé. Les bulletins d`informations de RCI reviendront sur les ondes à compter du 25 mai. À partie de cette même date, la programmation normale sera de Radio Canada International retournera graduellement aux ondes. Toute l`équipe de RCI est heureuse de reprendre ses rendez-vous radiophoniques avec les auditeurs et de pouvoir offrir des informations, analyses et commentaires sur les questions de l`heure au Canada et dans le monde. Nous vous souhaitons de belles heures à l`écoute de Radio Canada International. The labor dispute which has disrupted the broadcasts of Radio Canada International since March 22nd has finally been settled. RCI news bulletins will be on the air again beginning on May 25th. Beginning on that same date, our normal programming will be gradually returning to the airwaves. All of us here at RCI are happy to be able to resume our daily contacts with our listeners, and to be able to offer them our news, comments and features on Canada and the world. We wish you many hours of good listening to Radio Canada International (Maggy Akerblom, RCI, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Radio Donair http://radiodonair.com the program of segments from radio stations around the world, was on at 11:30 A.M. local time (presumably noon in Newfoundland) on Saturday after Basic Black (Joel Rubin, swprograms via DXLD) Time to dust off my favorite link; it was a summer replacement last year, I believe (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi from Thunder Bay ON, where my second cousin is allowing me to use her computer. Carol and I have been up here since Friday, attending a convention. Monday is not a holiday in Canada, like it is in the U.S. I hope to visit at least one FM station, CJLB 105.3 Thunder Bay (which has Finnish ethnic programming for at least two hours on Sunday mornings). I believe CJLB, "Kixx 105," has a format change (for its non-ethnic hours), and will analyze that information later. I heard the two TIStations, CITB 97.1 Thunder Bay and brand-new co-owned CIPR 97.3 Pigeon River, both monophonic with talk and some m- o-r music that could benefit from stereo. Their coverages are so tiny they do not overlap, even though only about 38 km separate the two stations. Each station promotes the other, but programming is not parallel. Each would be a major DX challenge. CIPR could only be heard about 2 km, but there is potential for its signal to leak across Lake Superior to selected high spots in the Upper Peninsula. CITB seems to have greater coverage. I plan to print their logos in the next issue of my FMedia! newsletter. They are commercial stations and mention advertising availabilities. The guy at Canada customs said, "oh yeah, there's some tape equipment in the room upstairs," when I asked him about CIPR. The antenna appears to be two vertical-only bays about 10 m above the ground on the modest building. CIPR seems to be entirely by tape, while I heard a recent weather forecast (sans current temperature) on CITB. All the other low power Thunder Bay area stations give frequent IDs with call letters and correct cities of license, such as CJOA 95.1 and its Candy Mountain relayer on 93.1. In many parts of the area, Houghton-Hancock MI stations on 91.1 and 98.7 stop the car radio's scanning. I have been unable to hear WGGL 91.1's (Houghton MI) very low level (poorly injected) reading service for the blind 67 subcarrier, even in places where the WGGL signal is very strong. As ever, (Bruce Elving, Ont., May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CHILE. Radio Partinacota ha sido reactivada ! 6010 kHz, Radio Cooperativa (Santiago), via Radio Parinacota, 0754-0810+, 25 Mayo, programa con música, a 0802 ID "La hora en Cooperativa: 4 de la mañana 2 minutos", y comienza enseguida "Síntesis Informativa del Diario de Cooperativa", con noticias, incluyendo una sobre la crisis argentina, la recesión y los problemas actuales. A 0807 anuncia su sitio en internet: http://www.cooperativa.cl luego musica. SINPO: 25332. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, May 25, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6060, Voice of the Golden Bridge, Xichang, Sichuan (nominal 5900. Ed). Regular here, e.g. May 1, 1040 (fade in) – past 1300, Tibetan, Chinese and another dialect. Sometimes plays Tibetan native music. ID in English (!) on the full hour. 34533 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Mirror via DXLD) ** CUBA. CHINA REPLACES RUSSIA IN ELECTRONIC SPY OPERATIONS IN CUBA China Reform Monitor No. 449, May 23, 2002, American Foreign Policy Council Washington, D.C Colaboración: Armando F. Mastrapa III, New York, La Nueva Cuba, May 25, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------- China has replaced Russia as Fidel Castro's main partner for electronic espionage and other activities directed against the United States in the Western hemisphere, NewsMax.Com reports in an article that first appeared in the April 2002 American Legion Magazine. Until recently, Russia paid Castro more than $200 million annually in much- needed hard currency for use of its massive electronic spy station at Lourdes. In a surprise move, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly withdrew his support and 1,500 advisers from Cuba in the wake of the September 11th attacks on Washington and New York. Now China, which had been building its own spy stations in Cuba, has supplanted the Russians as Castro's primary electronic espionage partner. Beijing has built a sophisticated new signals intelligence complex in Bejucal, Cuba, operating under the cover of Radio China. [CRI SW relay] In addition to being used for espionage, these installations are reportedly part of a robust cyber-warfare capability Castro is developing. The FCC has stated they are capable of interfering with U.S. communications and air traffic control. In one incident originating in Cuba, the report adds, U.S. officials claim that Chinese operatives sent a message to New York air traffic control replicating U.S. military fight codes and falsely identifying themselves as U.S. military transport planes - a chilling indication of things to come. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CUBA. CARTAS A CUBA POR INTERNET LA HABANA, mayo 20.- Cartas a Cuba por Internet será el nuevo servicio establecido entre Correos de Cuba, Cubanacan Express y la empresa canadiense WorldWideLetters Incorporated, creadora del sistema de Soluciones Postales Globales. La próxima aplicación de ese sistema en la Isla permitirá el envío de mensajes hacia este país desde cualquier parte del mundo, a través de una moderna tecnología que imprime unas 450 cartas de dos páginas en una hora. El grupo canadiense suministrara la tecnología, Cubanacan Express será el explotador de dichas facilidades y Correos de Cuba actuará como distribuidor final de las cartas, labor respaldada por la amplia red con más de 1 000 oficinas postales distribuidas a lo largo y ancho del país. También denominado Sistema Postal Hibrido, con capacidad para procesar 500 millones de unidades por año, ese servicio representa una opción ventajosa de comunicaciones entre las personas por la rapidez que confiere al envío de correspondencia, informó el Semanario Opciones. Directivos de la firma canadiense señalaron que la implementación de este sistema en Cuba se debe a la buena disposición para buscar soluciones a los problemas actuales utilizando un mercado innovador mediante el empleo de tecnología de punta. Esta solución postal, única de su tipo en estos momentos en el mundo, garantiza entre otros aspectos la rapidez de la transmisión al reducir el plazo de la navegación de la correspondencia a solo ocho segundos, a la vez que mantiene la confidencialidad postal. También incrementa la calidad de las prestaciones al turismo y la población en general mediante una forma novedosa y segura de comunicación. Juventud Rebelde /2002 73's (Via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) Confidentiality of the post? Ha! This will make it even easier to spy on people (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. CORREO MÓVIL: NUEVO SERVICIO INFORMÁTICO. Acceso telefónico a distancia de mensajes electrónicos en computadora, [por] Alexis Schlachter A cualquier distancia de una computadora, con mensajes electrónicos en su memoria, podrá accederse telefónicamente mediante un nuevo servicio denominado Correo Móvil. La Empresa de Tecnologías de la Información y Servicios Telemáticos Avanzados (CITMATEL), del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, acaba de presentar esta novedad informática capaz de agilizar el recibo y envío de los denominados correos electrónicos. (¿tendrán derecho todos los cubanos? [Oscar]). Desde un teléfono fijo, sea público o particular y también mediante equipo celular, podrá establecerse contacto las 24 horas del día con cualquier computadora distante para conocer los mensajes recibidos electrónicamente hasta ese momento. Mediante el nuevo servicio no solo es posible recibir mensajes electrónicos, sino enviarlos tal como si se estuviera delante de la computadora, con la característica de hacerlo en la propia voz. Los interesados en obtener este servicio, o más información, podrán contactar con CITMATEL en el teléfono 204-3600, la dirección electrónica comercial@citmatel.inf.cu o por Internet en el sitio http://www.correomovil.cu NOTA: TOMADO DEL PERIODICO GRANMA, CUBA. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CUBA. SE EXPANDE EL ACCESO A LA INTERNET PESE AL CONTROL OFICIAL Posted on Fri, May. 24, 2002 ANITA SNOW / Associated Press. LA HABANA Jesús García Leiva enciende su computadora y afirma que el aparato, un modelo Pentium ensamblado con piezas nuevas, prestadas y de segunda mano, se utilizará en un centro de enseñanza para opositores al gobierno de Fidel Castro. ''En una hora, esta computadora podría desaparecer'', dijo el programador cibernético en una alusión a la posibilidad de que las autoridades confiscasen el equipo. Si bien el gobierno comunista de la isla ha multiplicado sus esfuerzos por divulgar la informática en oficinas y clubes para jóvenes, mantiene a la vez estrictos controles sobre el acceso de sus ciudadanos a las computadoras y a la internet, restringiendo su uso a los cubanos integrados al sistema político y a los extranjeros. Sin embargo, eso no ha impedido que cientos --o quizá miles-- de cubanos consigan acceso no autorizado a la internet. Las autoridades han confiscado una cantidad no precisada de computadoras, la mayoría propiedad de opositores al gobierno, a fin de impedir que la libre corriente de ideas de la internet represente una amenaza política para el gobierno. Aunque Cuba ha utilizado la inversión extranjera para ampliar y modernizar su anticuado sistema de telecomunicaciones, en el año 2000 apenas poseía --según las estadísticas-- 4.4 teléfonos por cada 100 personas, es decir, la mitad de los que poseía México. Funcionarios cubanos han declinado suministrar a la prensa extranjera detalles específicos del programa cubano para la internet. Hoy día el gobierno enseña cómo utilizar las computadoras, cómo enviar mensajes de correo electrónico y hacer búsquedas en una vasta red que utiliza los mismos protocolos de la internet global, pero que no está conectada con ella. Las restricciones impuestas por Cuba a la internet son similares a las que aplican a sus ciudadanos países como Myanmar y Corea del Norte, que también evitan así que sus habitantes tengan acceso a materiales cuestionados por las autoridades. Ni siquiera China y Arabia Saudita imponen restricciones tan fuertes a sus ciudadanos en su acceso a la internet. Pese a ello, docenas de adolescentes escriben furiosamente a cualquier hora del día en los teclados de terminales instaladas en más de 300 ''clubes juveniles'' de la isla. Las oficinas postales venden a $4.50 tarjetas que ofrecen tres horas de acceso al correo electrónico y a sitios locales de la red. Pero ni siquiera los cubanos que cuentan con suficientes recursos --en un país donde el salario promedio equivale a unos $9 mensuales-- pueden comprar una computadora personal, ni firmar contratos de acceso a los varios servicios de internet que están disponibles para los extranjeros por unos $60 al mes. García asegura que el acceso es aún más difícil para los disidentes, vigilados por el gobierno mucho más de cerca que otros ciudadanos. Los cubanos no integrados al sistema político, indica García, no tienen posibilidad alguna de lograr acceso a la internet. Lo que sí está disponible para todos los cubanos son intranets nacionales, algunas con contenidos especializados como Infomed, un sitio para médicos y funcionarios del sistema de salud pública. Pero tanto los extranjeros como los cubanos integrados con acceso a la internet pueden tener problemas para abrir algunos sitios anticastristas en Miami, donde aparecen escritos de disidentes o críticas contra el gobierno. García afirma que con frecuencia colabora con una de esas páginas, la llamada Cuba Free Press, dictando sus reportes por teléfono a Miami. Esa página no puede ser abierta en Cuba, ni siquiera por aquéllos que poseen acceso total a la internet. ''No podemos enterarnos realmente de lo que está pasando en el mundo'', dijo García. ``Y eso es lo que queremos, no sólo recibir la versión del gobierno''. 73'S (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CYPRUS NORTH. 6150, R. Bayrak, excellent verification letter from Mustafa Tosun, Head, Transmission Dept, plus what the letter refers to as their "QSL card", but which is actually a card about the station containing photo, frequencies, contact details. However, letter contains excellent veri statement and full-data, incl. power ["25 kw (80% at the time of reception)"] and a nice "QSL" watermark at the bottom. Transmitter is at Iskele, 35.13N, 33.55E. This for postal report and CD covering reception on Mar 01 & 02. I was also in E-mail contact with Mustafa mustafa.tosun@brtk.net who says he sent an earlier letter, which I did not receive; this apparent 2nd letter came via registered mail, 23 days in transit (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window May 22 via DXLD) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [non]. 15215 United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) Addis Ababa, via Al Dhabbaya, May 14, *0430-0530*, New transmission since Apr 19 to Eritrea and Ethiopia on Tuesdays only. Heard with talks by man and woman in Vernacular (Oromifa, Amharic and Tigrinya are scheduled) including translation of an American man talking about future plans of the UNMEE. A few short interludes with music from the Horn of Africa. The station was stronger than a weak, unidentified on 15215 and had some splashes from VOA in English on 15205. 24333. It is also scheduled in English and at 1900-2000on 13750 on Fridays (cf above), according to pro-Ethiopian government Walta Information Centre web site. Their address is: UNMEE, Sembel, Asmara, Eritrea. E-mail to the information officer: bakari@un.org (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window May 22 via DXLD) ** ESTONIA. How did you like the ESC [Eurovision Song Contest]? I found the video webcasts from the eurovision.tv main site going down a lot during the contest. I should have taken your advice and remained with the audio from BBC R2. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I didn't actually watch the contest live. After 47 years one gets a little bored with it :-) But those of your readers who have a broadband connection might like to know that the entire show is still available as streaming video in Windows Media format at http://www.eurovision.tv/ They also have video streams listed as 'backstage' and 'technical', as well as clips of the individual songs, and the interval act between the songs and the voting. I just checked and the video quality at 128 kbp/s is superb. BTW I did notice that for the second year in a row, the programme finished right on schedule at 2200 UT (I was waiting for the news that followed). Well done to Eesti Televisioon! 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, May 26 1055 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. LIGHTHOUSE NEWS AND ACTIVITY PanAmerican Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend. Activity will be on all modes and sponsored by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society from 0001z, August 3rd through 2359z, August 4th. Suggested frequencies are: CW -- 1830, 3530, 7030, 14030, 21030, 28030 kHz SSB -- 1970, 3970, 7270, 14270, 21370, 28370 kHz. Exchange: ARLHS member or lighthouse number or year first licensed, name, and SPC. For complete guidelines and awards, see the Web site at: http://www.waterw.com/%7eweidner/arlhs/page3c.html Or send a1 SASE to ARLHS, Box 2178, Riverton, NJ 08077 (KB8NW/OPDX May 27/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ITALY [and non]. Hello! This was sent to me by Steven Willers, the well-known "DJ Stevie" of Radio 510 International in Switzerland. His programs are relayed through the Italian Radio Relay Service in Milan, Italy. This was on the SWL Fest list and some others, but I didn't see it here, so I am passing it along. 73, (Marie Lamb, swprograms May 26 via DXLD) Hi Guys! Just to let you know that our new schedule is as follows. All times are in UT. Transmissions are primarily beamed to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, except for those marked for the USA. Please note that we also transmit in the upper sideband mode, which might come in handy if you live outside of our main broadcasting area. Friday 1930 - 2130 on 3985 kHz Friday 2200 - 2300 on 3985 kHz * beamed to the USA Saturday 0730 - 0930 on 7120 kHz Saturday 1200 - 1400 on 7120 kHz Saturday 1730 - 1930 on 3985 kHz Saturday 2200 - 2300 on 3985 kHz * beamed to the USA Sunday 1200 - 1400 on 7120 kHz Sunday 1900 - 2100 on 3985 kHz * brand new!! Attention all stations! If you're interested in getting your show played all over Europe on a 10 kW Siemens transmitter for $30 (we'll throw in FREE repeats as well!) please get back to me. All shows are 58 minutes long and can be sent on CD or tape. Email me for more information at: ste-@radio510.org [truncated by topica] In the next coming weeks you'll be able to hear the following stations: Radio Casablanca, Germany; KIPM, USA ; International Music Radio, Switzerland; Lost Discs Radio Show, USA; Radio 510 International, Switzerland; Radio Sparks; Switzerland; Radio Waves International, France; Seldom Heard Radio, USA. Make sure to check out our website for news and updates; the URL is at the end of this message. In the next few weeks Radio Sparks will have its very own website. More information will follow later. Radio 510 International can be heard in the next coming months via WBCQ in the USA as well as other stations around the globe. More information will follow via my website. I'll be at the next Merchweiler DX Meeting meeting this August in Germany for three days. Click here for more information: http://www.swlcs.de or go to my website which has a full page on the event. Next year I'll be making another trip to the BEST AND COOLEST radio meeting in the whole world. That's the Winterfest 2003 in PA, USA. More info can be had at my website or click here: http://www.swlfest.com Looking forward to meeting you all there. You'll find all links at our website. Make it a date! Before I finish, I'd like to thank all clubs out there who have supported Radio 510 International over the last 8 years. It's your input which is my output :) Mailing address for QSLs, infosheets and stickers: Radio 510 International ** Postbox 510 ** 4010 Basel ** Switzerland Please include 1 IRC or $1 U.S. for return postage. All correct reception reports will be answered in two weeks with an infosheet, sticker, QSL card and a personal letter. Best wishes, Stevie, Station Manager, Radio 510 International. Visit us before the whole world does! http://www.radio510.org (via Marie Lamb, swprograms via DXLD) ** MEXICO. The Azteca-13 network has "XHDF 13" in the frame bar. The Azteca-7 network has "XHIMT 7" in the bar. When local ads, local IDs (not supered), and local news are inserted at local stations, the bar is not there. However, a local supered ID can come up at any time. Those are generally upper right or upper left on the Azteca stations, and many have the Azteca logo to the left of the ID material (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, May 25, WTFDA via DXLD) The frame bar legend can often be read, even when it is just interfering with a much stronger/local station, especially if same offset. For one thing, except for above breaks mentioned, it`s constant, unlike most else on the screen (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) Identifying TV DX from Mexico has been slightly updated: http://www.geocities.com/doglethorpe/ (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA , May 26, WTFDA via DXLD) ** MEXICO. What is the most interesting verification you've received - not most exotic station, but most unusual, imaginative, well-written or otherwise noteworthy verie?" <><><> It's difficult to narrow it down to just one. I have hundreds of AM and SW veries dating back to 1968 and they are all special to me. If I had to pick just one AM QSL that meets this criteria it would probably be XEUT/1630 heard in February 2001. They sent one of the nicest QSL packages I have ever received. It included a beautiful "certificado de sintonia" printed on parchment paper, a verie letter with 2 rubber stamped seals of authenticity, 2 bumper stickers, a programming brochure, and a large Universidad Autonoma de Baja California poster celebrating the 25th anniversary of sister station XHBA-FM (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn, The old URL for the Radio Netherlands webcam is no longer valid. The new site is: http://www.rnw.nl/holland/html/webcam.html I assume they have completed the beta-testing for the webcam. There is now an annoying "Radio Netherlands" logo across the top of the picture. I hope that they can make a little less intrusive (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Interesting to compare the OKC TV stations in breaking the bridge-collapse story on I-40. It happened at 1248 UT, according to one of them later, 1230 per another, 1215 per yet another. It took more than *two hours* for KWTV-9 to run its first bulletin, blocking out the nature segment of CBS Sunday morning at 1455. (At least from the sound of the bulletin, it was their first report on it; can`t be positive, not having monitored earlier). KFOR-4 broke into Meet the Press around 1515. First bulletin we saw, but maybe there were earlier ones, on KOCO-5 was at 1545. Please, can`t we keep major news from breaking on Sunday mornings??? It`s *so* inconvenient for stations constantly hyping their news prowess. The Webbers Falls site is closer to Tulsa, not to mention Fort Smith. Wonder if they did any better. KWTV was first to get live pictures from the scene, via chopper toward the limit of its direct contact range with OKC, at 1620 UT. They stayed with the story continuously, unlike the other stations, but had nothing to dump except infomercials, until CBS golf at 1730, which was supposed to start at 1700. At 1635 KWTV got a phoner from a reporter with the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, KFSM, but had a hell of a time getting its calls right, both audibly and graphically – like, KSFM, KSFN (I think). Hmmm, could the FS stand for Fort Smith, and necessarily be in that order??? By 1653, KFOR had a reporter on site, but audio/phone report only, but KOCO-5 beat them there at 1628, with video from the ground, showing us some *real* wreck footage interrupting putative wrecks at the Indy 500. KFOR stayed mostly with NBC/Infomercial programming, definitely in third place (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3220, R Morobe, Lae. I read in some DX- info that this station should be reactivated. But it has been inactive since Jan 2002 according to my observations on the Philippines. But on 3220 I can hear a North Korean station with transmitter problems and a lousy signal (Probably KCBS, Hamhung Bangsong. DSWCI Ed). On rare occasions HCJB can also be heard on 3220 probably in Quichua with typical Andean music. There is also a Russian Maritime utility station on 3220 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window May 22 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4789.74, Radio Atlántida, 1011. Noted man in Spanish comments and plenty of ID's. Huaynos music the main content of program. Have been waiting since recent broadcasts in the evenings, for Radio Atlántida to show up in the mornings. Today was the first time I heard them in the mornings with a good signal (Chuck Bolland, Lake Worth, Florida, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5940.1, Radio Bethel, Arequipa. 0055-0105 May 26. Spanish transmission. Ex 5950.3 kHz. Religious music. Check time: ``7 de la noche con 57 minutos``. Announcement and ID as: "una vez más con ustedes, seguimos en la compañía de Radio Bethel... en los 5940 kHz de la onda corta"; other ann.: "sigan disfrutando de la compañía de Radio Bethel... y mañana queremos hacer partícipes a todos los oyentes de Radio Bethel, de nuestra escuela dominical... sigan ustedes en la compañía de Bethel Radio". Check time. Other ID as: "1050 AM... 5940 de la onda corta, somos... Bethel Radio". 34432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. CPN EN INTERNET En julio del 2000 se lanzó la página web de CPN radio http:/www.cpnradio.com.pe la cual permite acceder desde cualquier parte del mundo a la información más confiable sobre el Perú. La página web de CPN Radio facilita a quienes estén interesados en el Perú, la posibilidad de escuchar "en vivo", en tiempo real, toda la programación emitida durante las 24 horas, los 365 días del año. Adicionalmente el navegante de Internet puede leer el permanentemente actualizado flujo de informaciones de los boletines y servicios informativos de CPN Radio. La estructura de la página web incluye las secciones: Política, Economía, Negocios, Locales, Internacionales, Opinión, Deportes, Cultura y Espectáculos (via Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital May 26 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radiostation Atlantika (via coastal outlet Murmansk Radio) has moved from 17266 to 17302 kHz (SSB mode). This is a special program from Murmansk for seamen and fishermen. On 14 May, the frequency carried news by Radio Rossii at 0800, followed by Murmanskoye Radio and Atlantika. (MIDXB No. 268 - info from Ruslan Slavutsky, near Moscow, published in "RUS-DX" 106-C / Eng, via Anatoly Klepov, Moscow, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) Radio Rossii news and program of Atlantika observed on 17302 kHz, but reception quality is very poor. The nearby 17299 kHz is occupied by Radio Sevastopol`-5, which causes sideband interference (MIDXB No. 268 - Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) But Murmansk operates for northern regions, while signal from Sevastopol` is intended for south seas. Moscow is located in the halfway between them; that's why signals interfere. (MIDXB No. 268 - Pavel Mikhaylov, Moscow, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. Further to my note to you a few days ago, I came across the identical 12 MHz frequency listed for Radio Omega-Polis, Sevastopol`, Ukraine (as opposed to my stating it was Radio Metropolis --- I think there was some early confusion over the name). This frequency was heard during the past year (Walt Salmaniw, BC, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BULGARIA ** SIERRA LEONE. Had its first democratic Presidential and Parliamentary Election after nearly ten years of civil war. Re-elected President is the 70 years old Ahmed Tejjan Kabbah who may have a chance to unite the devastated country (DSWCI DX Window Ed. Anker Peterson, via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. SPECIAL EVENT. Dennis, ZS4BS, informs OPDX that the Midlands Amateur Radio Club in South Africa will be operating a final station from Spioenkop (scene of one of the bloodiest battles fought to relieve Ladysmith) on May 31st. This is the last time ZS100ABW will be on the air to commemorate the roles played by the British, Boers and Zulus during the Anglo Boer War of 1899-1902. All contacts will be acknowledged with an attractive QSL card. Please QSL either via the Bureau or direct to: Midlands Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 100220, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa. Any queries can be directed to Willie Axford, ZS5WI, by E-mail at: zs5wi@iafrica.com For information of a historical nature, E-mail Sean Friend at: seanfriend@dorea.co.za (KB8NW/OPDX May 27/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Glenn, Your comment in DXLD2085 concerning Stair concludes with: "Headline implies he was OUT of jail for a while, or that he had been in jail before??? No stories about this found on the other major Charleston TV stations sites, WCBD and WCIV, at least not currently or searchingly (gh, DXLD)" I think he was only "out" for his bond hearing and it was shot down. Therefore, "back" to jail (Al Patrick, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe what they meant, but seems to me one is still in jail (i.e. in custody), even if outside the bars temporarily for a hearing or trial (gh, DXLD) There was a posting on rec.radio.shortwave from Lloyd Davies in Alabama saying that he checked the Overcomer Ministry web site and found that the number of stations carrying Brother Stair (who is known on that newsgroup as ``profit Stair``) was getting smaller. I checked myself and found that as of May 24 the only shortwave stations listed as carrying Stair-way to Heaven (as I call it) are WWCR and Deutsche Telekom in Juelich, although they still have links to WINB, WRMI and WBCQ (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, I did hear him on WRMI 7385 last night; I think it was a few minutes before 0500 UT Sun May 26. But I also think he was missing from KOMA-1520, where he used to be on for an hour at 0400. I expect payment has more to do with this than principle at most outlets (gh, DXLD) {actually sked on KOMA only UT Mon 0400-0500} ** SPAIN. Hoy, en la Isla Paulino, con CERO fuentes de interferencia, tampoco pude escuchar a Radio Naranja, en 21615. Asi es la propagación. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, May 26, Conexión Digital via DXLD) i.e. 0800-0830 Sundays (gh) HCDX site had the frequency as 25625. Was this an error or deliberate change? (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. I've been hearing a broadcast in "Chinese" lately on 9680 on air around 0630 until close at 0700. It was much better today - peaking up to 7+ on the meter. On one previous occasion I thought I heard the word 'Okeechobee' at close down - and I thought that's what was said today too. On my copy of the Taiwan schedule I find that 9680 (and 5950) are used to carry the CBS Dialect Network in Cantonese at 0500-0600. Both are known WYFR channels. At 0600-0700, the Dialect Network is Amoy using 15580 and two MW, but not listed for 9680 or 5950. The HFCC registers 9680 at 0145-0600 only. 9680 is certainly a "dialect" which I don't recognise - I am familiar with Cantonese but not Amoy. Today (26/05) I could also hear a very weak signal on 15580 same time which SEEMED in // with 9680, but it was far too weak to be 100% certain. (It continued after 0700) 5950 was inaudible and overwhelmed by Flevo 5955. The programme doesn`t sound a religious one - pop music etc. The two WYFR rebroadcasts of RTI 0600-0700 in German (9355) and French (7520) are much stronger at 9++. At 0700, 9680 is listed to carry the CBS News Network, but has not been audible, and I would not expect TWN to be audible on 9 MHz in late May anyway (Noel Green, UK, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIMOR EAST. Timor is the largest and easternmost island of the Lesser Sunda Group of Indonesian islands. It is a hilly, tropical island with mountains up to 12,000 feet. The native Timorese population speak Tetum, but there is a Chinese minority who speak Hakka. In 1859 the colonial powers of Portugal and the Netherlands formally divided the 400 kilometers long island midway. The Dutch western half with capital Kupang became a part of Indonesia in 1950 at its independence. It has a population of about 450,000. The eastern half with a population of about 517,000 remained Portuguese until Nov 29, 1975 when the liberation party FRETELIN declared East Timor as an independent republic. Nine days later Indonesian troops invaded the country and kept it under a bloody occupation. After increasing pressure from the rest of the world, in August 1999, Indonesia allowed a referendum to be held under U.N. control about independence which the people clearly wanted. After further bloody devastation by the Indonesian Army and militia groups, the U.N. took over control of East Timor supported by Australian forces organized in UNTAET. Last year the East Timorians elected their first Parliament with 12 parties and last month they elected their first President, the guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao. He was imprisoned by Indonesia 1992- 1999. On May 20 East Timor became a new, independent state declared at a ceremony the day before, led by U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. It will be a new member of the U.N. in September this year. Today 98% of the population on East Timor are Roman Catholics. You can find details about East Timor on http://www.gov.east-timor.org Their new constitution includes a commitment to press freedom, so we may expect a new broadcasting authority to be created. In the past years shortwave broadcasting on East Timor has been as follows, in chronological order, according to WRTH and the DSWCI TBS/DBS-files: 3268 Emissora de Radiodifusão de Timor Português, Díli, 1 kW, 0430- 0600, 100[sic]-1430 in Portuguese, Tetum and Hakka. Heard 1962- 1972. 3668 Emissora de Radiodifusão de Timor Português, Díli, 10 kW, 2200- 2300, 0430-0600, 0900-1500 in the same languages. Heard regularly January 1973 – November 1975 when the station was blown up by an Indonesian militia group. 3550 R. Ramelan, Atambua, West Timor (Clandestine), 0900-1500 in Portuguese/Bahasa Indonesia/Tetum and English, ID: ``Rádio Timor Liberdade``, on the air only Nov 23 1975 – Apr 24 1976 during the Indonesian invasion. Since Jun 1976 the frequency was taken over by RRI Kupang which left its ordinary frequency of 3385 (10 kW). In Feb 1978 RRI Kupang returned to 3385. 3850v RRI Dili 2 run by the Indonesian controlled East Timor Provisional Government, heard only May-November 1976 3804 R Maubere (Clandestine) run by FRETELIN from unknown site, Tu/Th/Sa 0930-1500, heard only May-July 1976. 3120 RRI Díli, 10 kW, 2155-0030, 0455-0730, 0855-1520 in Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese, heard regularly September 1976 – April 1987. 2456 RRI Díli, 0.3 kW broadcasting // 3120, heard often December 1977 – October 1984. 3305 RRI Díli, 10 kW alternative frequency to 3120, heard regularly July 1980 – December 1995 (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window May 22 via DXLD) ** TROMELIN. It has been reported by Jean-Louis, F5UJK, DX Manager on the Web page http://www.radioamateur.org that Jacques, FR5ZU, has canceled all his future ham activities on Tromelin Island which had been planned from June to July 2002. After DINA's storm disaster on Reunion Island, all Jacques' aerial gear had been completely destroyed. At the moment Jacques is looking for a new vertical (R8 or MA5B-HF) at a reasonable price. If you can or want to help Jacques, you can reach him at his E-mail address: jacques.quillet@wanadoo.fr They are hoping he can be active next year from either Tromelin or Europa (KB8NW/OPDX May 27/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. One DXer, who is now in Chisinau, Moldova, received the following info directly from the new Radio Mayak station (Odesa, Ukraine): Radio Mayak started its operation on 765 kHz on 13 April 2002. Station is on the air daily at 0300-1900. Transmission covers 6 South- Ukrainian provinces, Crimea and Moldova. You can hear a lot of jolly and romantic music on its waves. News bulletins are on the air every half an hour. 6 times per day Radio Mayak relays Deutsche Welle news. Request concert is broadcast at 0900-1000 (week-days only) and at 1600-1700. Relaying of Radio Liberty is planned, too. Station is run by National Lawyers' Academy of Odesa. Info letter signed by Vladislav Maslov, Chief Editor. Station e-mail: news@radio.odessa.ua (MIDXB No. 268 - Pavel Mikhaylov, Moscow, Russia, Signal May 26 via DXLD) No relation, no doubt to the Mayak in Moscow, nor to Faro del Caribe. See also RUSSIA above (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Glenn, A reply from the RSGB re your "[that looks like zero- triple oh --- gh]" query. "I would read the call sign as Gee Bee Zero Oscar Oscar Oscar, that is GB0OOO. Gordon G3LEQ." Regards (Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) clear in some fonts, not in others ** U K. UN NOTEBOOK, BY MICHAEL LITTLEJOHNS Copyright © 2002 by The Earth Times. All rights reserved UNITED NATIONS - BBC is the communicator of choice in the UN. You can hear its hourly news bulletins over the house phones. Kofi Annan spares a few minutes for its TV newscasts when he can. It's also a must for every self-respecting member of the Commonwealth who believes that in the wide world of sports there's nothing to match the magic of cricket. Nobody but BBC records the enchanting sound of willow connecting with leather -- virtually ball by ball when there's a major international series, like West Indies vs. India or Australia vs. South Africa. The network is more positive and more comprehensive than most media when it comes to its UN coverage; it reports in numbing detail a lot of stuff that rivals clip to a 10-second bite or dismiss entirely. It must have come with a bit of a jolt for UN officials, therefore, when the friendly BBC did a number the other day on the Security Council mission that went off to Africa in a bid to find out why the conflicted Congo is so resistant to UN and other peacemaking efforts. Barnaby Phillips, one of the foreign journalists who traveled with the 15 ambassadors, wrote the piece for a regular BBC World program titled "From our own correspondent," a consistently informative series, well worth listening to for its insights on international affairs by anyone with access to shortwave radio. If not, it's available online http://www.bbc.co.uk (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** U K. Here's a chance to hear a BBC local radio station that's ordinarily not available over the Internet. The BBC is running a special "BBC 2002" service for the Commonwealth Games, on FM 97.7 locally in Manchester and over the Internet. For now at least, this service only runs during certain hours, and the rest of the time, the online stream carries BBC GMR (Greater Manchester Radio). Currently, GMR can be heard daily 1700-0530 UT, and even longer on weekends. The station site and stream addresses are: http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/2002/radio/index.shtml http://www0.bbc.co.uk/england/realmedia/commonwealth/live_stream.ram The Games are being held July 25 through August 4, so presumably this stream will be available at least through August 4, though perhaps with more sports and less GMR during the event itself (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, May 26, http://www.publicradiofan.com/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Among WBCQ schedule changes this week: from May 30, second airing of WORLD OF RADIO on 7415 moves from 0500 earlier to 0415 UT, and RADIO DC which follows also moves, from 0530 to 0445 (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is because of the cancellation of the 0415-0500 program, American Exposé. Now we will be abutting VOA-Botswana after 0430 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Open Letter from Randi Steele May 23, 2002 To whom it may concern: In April 1999 I resigned my position as operations manager of Allan H. Wiener's WBCQ short-wave. When Weiner signed on WBCQ he immediately allowed his station to be filled with racism sexism homophobia and other bigotry. After many complaints Weiner requested I produce a hate speech policy which he enthusiastically read and signed on the air and implemented. The sole violator of the policy was Ralph G. Stair who is now under arrest and charged with sexual misconduct. Weiner refused to discontinue Stair 3 years ago when he was homo-phobic sexist and abusive and instead chose to throw out the hate speech policy. This situation, a breach of promise and contract by Weiner forced me to resign. As I was leaving WBCQ, Weiner told me "you're wrong about Brother Stair, I know him he is a good man". There is an allegation that Ralph Stair used his broadcast as a criminal enterprise. If Stair's OVERCOMER MINISTRY is a criminal enterprise then the stations broadcasting and funded by that enterprise are themselves criminal enterprises. The FCC should investigate all financial relationships between Weiner and the Indicted Stair. This investigation should focus on ALL aspects of Stair`s financing of WBCQ as well as Stair`s criminal financing of Weiner`s Fury Radio Ship project and still another radio ship project in Boston in the late 1990s. Since I resigned I have repeatedly requested Weiner NOT misuse my name, likeness or entity. I wanted to hear Glen Hauser's World of Radio report on Stair's arrest so I listened to Weiner's 7415 kHz beginning and Midnight E.T. of May 23, 2002 not knowing when the show aired. After Weiner's multi-cultural rerun of Amos 'n' Andy at 12:15 he reran an RNI show he originated Sunday 5-19-02. In yet another retell of the RNI story Weiner said "Some of the shows came out of Queens, Randi had her, er, it was his then, oh well I don't know what to call IT." Comments like this are why I have asked Weiner not to use my name. New York City has joined many cities making discrimination against transgender people illegal. The RNI program is based in N.Y.C. I wonder if repeated references to me which deny me my legal, physical and mental gender are prosecutable under the city's new law. Many times I have been informed of Weiner's gender abuse of me on his 7415 kHz. The example above Weiner even chose to rebroadcast for everyone waiting to listen for Glen Houser to hear. On 3-4-02 I sent Weiner a private cease and desist letter requesting that he not play Planet jingles I wrote and own. I also reminded him not to misuse my name and asked him not to have "Anything to do with me." The result of this request, along with Weiner's finally being forced to remove Stair 3 years after I left because of his failure to do so then, is that Weiner's on air attacks on my gender continue. I am asking for anyone who cares about my plight of repeatedly being personally attacked on Weiner's 50 kW hemispheric airwaves, to bring whatever pressure they can on Weiner to simply LEAVE ME ALONE. Every time Weiner misuses my name and entity he know he is assaulting me with his 50 kW TPO and megawatt ERP. After 3 years Allan Weiner's continued on air attacks on me are unfair and i can't get him to stop them. Sincerely, (Randi Steele, May 26, via DXLD) ** U S A [clandestine]. Posted on Sat, May. 25, 2002 EX-MILITIA LEADER PLEADS GUILTY Charlie Puckett admits 3 charges; 7 others dropped By Louise Taylor, HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER In an abrupt turnaround from his previous feisty rhetoric, former Kentucky Militia leader Charlie Puckett pleaded guilty yesterday to three of the 10 federal charges against him and agreed to a sentence that could stretch to just over three years. Specifically, Puckett, 55, admitted that he: • had tried in early March to intimidate an unidentified witness against him; • illegally altered a gun to make it a fully automatic SKS machine gun; and • was a felon illegally in possession of a pistol. "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty and not for other reasons?" U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer B. Coffman asked Puckett. "Yes, ma'am," Puckett replied. The remaining charges, having to do with possession of pipe bombs, mines and ammunition, will be dropped at his sentencing Aug. 29, said Puckett's attorney, Gatewood Galbraith. Puckett also has to forfeit an arsenal the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms seized from his Garrard County house last year. Puckett was to go on trial Tuesday. "It was a decent deal," Galbraith said. "He was looking at 10 years if he went to trial, and Charlie's just not built for that kind of time." Under the plea agreement, Puckett will serve between 30 and 37 months in prison. He could also face a fine of up to $250,000. Coffman's pretrial rulings in the case and the possible shakiness of a key defense witness helped persuade Puckett that the plea deal was to his advantage, Galbraith said. Without the witness, he said Puckett "was going to be left without a defense." Coffman noted that the plea seemed a relief to Puckett. "You're more relaxed than I've seen you before, Mr. Puckett," she said, smiling from the bench. Puckett -- who the ATF says told a call-in radio show in 2000 that Coffman was a know-nothing who had illegally ordered the Ten Commandments removed from the McCreary County courthouse -- grinned widely and silently nodded his agreement. "Once he made the decision, you could tell it was a great burden off his shoulders," Galbraith said later. "Mr. Puckett is a simple man. He's a mechanic and a family man. ... Once he became a figurehead for the Kentucky Militia, it became burdensome. He is just not a political animal." Puckett, who has been the commander and self-described brigadier general of the Kentucky Militia -- a paramilitary group that experts think is among the most active in the country -- has completely cut his ties with the group, Galbraith said. Puckett was indicted in February, a few months after ATF agents raided his Garrard County home and found almost 35,000 rounds of ammunition, pipe bombs, guns and The Anarchist's Cookbook, a how-to manual for domestic terrorism. Puckett never shied from his dislike of the ATF, and posted a sign near his driveway that announced "ATF Don't Cross This Line" above a hangman's noose hanging from a tree. The ATF was led to Puckett while searching for Stephen Anderson, a former Kentucky Militia member who was accused of shooting up a Bell County deputy sheriff's cruiser in October, then disappeared. Anderson has not been found, despite a $20,000 reward offered by the ATF. After the indictment was issued in February, Puckett was placed on house arrest, but in March he slipped his electronic monitoring bracelet and was on the lam for about three weeks before he voluntarily turned himself in to Jessamine County Sheriff Joe Walker. Puckett has argued that he was allowed to own firearms because the federal law that prohibits felons from gun ownership was not enacted until 1968, two years after his felony conviction for breaking into a Virginia store. He also has several misdemeanor convictions in Virginia and Kentucky, including indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, all dating from the 1960s and '70s, according to the ATF. The ATF sworn statement says that after one disorderly-conduct arrest in Versailles in 1972, Puckett was referred to psychiatrists at the University of Kentucky. That arrest was his last before the federal charges this year. (Lexington KY Herald-Leader via gh, DXLD) ** U S A [clandestine]. FORMER KENTUCKY MILITIA LEADER REACHES PLEA AGREEMENT [TWO VIDEO REPORTS AVAILABLE via:] http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=795551&nav=4CAK9EXP The former leader of the Kentucky State Militia pleaded guilty this morning to federal weapons charges. Charlie Puckett's attorney says today's plea agreement was the best thing for his client. And it allows Puckett to begin the process of putting all this behind him. As part of the plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Puckett pleaded guilty to two counts involving federal weapons charges and one count of intimidating a witness. Puckett also agreed to cooperate with the government to answer any questions federal agents may have. Puckett could face up to three years in prison when he's sentenced in august. Between now and then Puckett will remain in federal custody. As we've already stated, puckett has resigned as head of the Kentucky militia. Puckett's attorney Gatewood Galbraith says that decision was based on Puckett's desire to move out of the spotlight (WKYT Lexington website May 25 via DXLD) NOTE: In case you have not noticed, all stories about Charlie Puckett, Steve Anderson (and the late Sheriff Catron) are listed in DXLD Contents under / USA clandestine UPR / tho I may have omitted `clandestine` in some cases --- even tho UPR or United Patriot Radio is hardly mentioned by name any more in the stories. This also includes its previous incarnation as KSMR or Kentucky State Militia Radio. Of course, before UPR existed by that name, indices referred to KSMR (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. On Memorial Day, WABC continues its annual tradition of celebrating its heyday as one of this country's premiere top 40 music stations. Between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. WABC broadcasts actual airchecks with the music dubbed in. I'm sure that many on the list became interested in DXing by listening to AM top 40 music stations during the 60's and 70's. I was the kid growing up with a transistor radio permanently attached to his ear. Come to think of it, some things never change. Unfortunately, WABC will not be streaming audio. You will have to hear WABC Rewound via the groundwave (Kent Plourde, Bristol, CT, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. U.S. JOURNALIST BATTLES SUMMONS TO TESTIFY AT HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL By Alexandra Poolos In February 1993, Jonathan Randal, a correspondent for "The Washington Post," traveled to Banja Luka, Bosnia, to report on the forced expulsion of non-Serbs from their homes and lands. As part of his research, Randal interviewed Bosnian Serb housing administrator Radoslav Brdjanin, an avowed radical Serb nationalist. Randal quoted Brdjanin as saying the "exodus" of non-Serbs should be carried out so as to create an "ethnically clean space" in Bosnian Serb territory. Brdjanin argued for a peaceful, "voluntary movement" and said Muslims and Croats "should not be killed, but should be allowed to leave -- and good riddance." Brdjanin and another Bosnian Serb, Momir Talic, are now defending themselves at the United Nations war crimes tribunal against charges related to the persecution and expulsion of more than 100,000 non- Serbs during the Bosnian war. Both defendants have pleaded innocent to 12 counts of war crimes, including genocide. The prosecution at The Hague-based court has subpoenaed Randal to testify against Brdjanin, saying the journalist -- who is now retired -- has evidence that goes to the "heart of the case." But on 10 May, Randal appealed his summons at a hearing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), arguing that journalists should not be compelled to give evidence at war crimes trials. Such testimony, he said, would set a dangerous precedent that could compromise the work of reporters. A decision in Randal's appeal, which is not expected for a few weeks, will influence the role of journalists as witnesses in future war crimes trials and will be especially critical when the International Criminal Court comes into existence this summer. Randal's defense lawyer, Mark Stephens, told RFE/RL that his client believes journalists should be required to give evidence only when it is "absolutely necessary" to prove guilt or innocence. "Mr. Randal believes that this is an important point of principle, that journalists should only be given the obligation to give evidence when it is absolutely necessary and when the evidence they've got is compelling testimony that goes to the heart of the case, and [when] it's testimony which can't be gotten from any other source. In this particular case, the evidence can be gotten from a variety of other sources, and it doesn't go to the core or the heart of the charges against Mr. Brdjanin," Stephens said. Randal and his lawyers are arguing that his evidence amounts to hearsay because Randal relied on a translator during his interview with Brdjanin. Stephens said he believes the prosecution is pursuing the summons only to make an example out of Randal, an internationally respected journalist. "[The prosecution] started this particular approach, and they don't want to be seen to climb down. They readily acknowledge that there are other people who could give this evidence, and in those circumstances the question one would have is, 'Why on Earth don't they go to those individuals who could give that evidence, who could more credibly give that evidence?' Mr. Randal can only give hearsay evidence. That is, he listened to the interview via a translator," Stephens said. Stephens said Randal is objecting to his subpoena because he wants to protect other journalists from being required to testify at war crimes trials. Stephens said that compelling journalists to give testimony will make them potential "targets." The dangers are especially worrying, Stephens said, for journalists in countries such as Yugoslavia. "If a Serbian journalist had had a similar interview with Mr. Brdjanin, and he had said similar things, that journalist still living in Yugoslavia probably would not have the wherewithal to resist the subpoena in the same way Mr. Randal has that luxury. And also that particular journalist would be in personal danger, probably, because of where they live," Stephens said. But Florence Hartmann, a prosecution spokeswoman for the ICTY, said that being a journalist is, in itself, dangerous. While she acknowledges there are some additional dangers involved in giving testimony at a war crimes trial, she believes that it is a journalist's duty. "Testifying puts journalists in danger. But testifying, in the first stage, is [the] writing [of] the article. Then, [let's] stop journalism. It's also testifying to write an article. Being a witness of some events is always dangerous. But testifying in court, especially to corroborate what you've already written in the newspaper, doesn't put journalists in danger," Hartmann said. Further, Hartmann explained that it is necessary for Randal to take the stand if his article is going to be introduced as evidence. "In our system, you cannot bring as evidence an article without bringing a journalist to corroborate the article, saying in front of the court that the article was written in this condition, that a journalist was present at this meeting, that the accused said to him directly what is written in the article. It's a way to corroborate or to authenticate a written document," Hartmann said. David Badge is analyst at the International Press Institute, a media- rights organization based in Vienna. Badge said that by forcing Randal to testify, the ICTY could weaken the "privileged position" journalists enjoy as impartial observers to events. "[Journalists] could be seen to be partial, and once that's perceived, they could lose their objectivity and balance. But even more importantly, journalists are put in a dangerous position from time to time, and this may mean when questioning people who come, say, from a criminal background [that] their lives may be at risk. It's also important to realize that the public needs information like this, and if journalists are perceived to be handing over this confidential information, they may not to be able to get this [type of] information again," Badge said. Badge also believes that requiring journalists to testify takes the onus off prosecutors in collecting the necessary evidence against war crimes suspects. "I would find it disturbing if this set a precedent for the appearance of journalists to once again carry out the work of what I think is the duty and the role of the prosecutor's office and very much the administration of justice in general," Badge said. Defense lawyer Stephens said the ICTY must take into account the future of international law and its impact on journalism when it rules on Randal's appeal. He said that if The Hague wins its battle to force Randal to testify, it will fundamentally impair the ability of reporters to gather information. Journalists, he fears, could be seen as the investigative arm of a judicial system or government and not as impartial observers. (Alexandra Poolos is an RFE/RL correspondent.) (Compiled by Catherine Cosman, RFE/RL Media Matters May 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6715 Korean mystery station: "Here in South Korea, I have tried many times to receive 6715U, but I fail to hear this station. So I can conclude that at least this mystery station is not coming from FE Asian continent. Based on Mr. Savolainen's detailed info, the high possibility is that it is transmited from a country that adopts DST and is located in the vicinity of Europe. Please refer to this fact that most of Korean people who reside on Central Asian country such as Kazah, Uzbek, believe [in] Jesus." (Sung Chul Cho, DXing.info, May 18 via Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window May 26 via DXLD) Now why would that correlate?? UNIDENTIFIED. There is a strange sounding signal on 18940 as I type - and it was there at 1420 now past 1440. The same few notes are being played over and over in a fanfare style. It appears to be double sound band but there is accompanying noise and distortion. The signal is peaking S1-5 and with rapid QSB. Perhaps a ute station, but nothing I'm familiar with. Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, May 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-085, May 25, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1132: (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1132.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630, Mon 0000 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830? 2430? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 NAm A-02 SCHEDULES; QSL GALLERY There are now 73 A02 schedules and in QSL gallery there are now 461 QSLs on http://www.bclnews.it (Roberto Scaglione - Italy BCLNEWS.IT editor, May 24, via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. No Voice of Afghanistan on 15480 today at 1345, just China (CNR-1). 17870 was on, so they finally decided to go with this single freq. as per previous information. On Thursday evening powerhouses like Norway 1314 and Bolshakovo 1386 were blown out by a major magnetic storm. Unfortunately I had no time to look for unusual stations on these or other affected channels. Regards (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA/BRAZIL. - A emissão da Rádio Baluarte ou Maranatha [6215v], ao que tudo indica é pirata. De acordo com Cássio Silvério, editor do sítio http://www.planetaradio.cjb.net a emissão, em português, é feita dentro do território brasileiro. Não existe concessão da ANATEL para a freqüência de 1610 kHz. Cássio residiu em Foz do Iguaçu e conheceu a emissora. Segundo ele, a rádio pertence à Igreja Deus é Amor. Além da Maranatha ou Baluarte, a denominação religiosa possui mais 3 emissoras em FM que não têm autorização do governo brasileiro, argentino e paraguaio para funcionar. Uma delas, a Paz FM, emite em 98.1 MHz, desde Hernandárias, Paraguai, e causa sérias interferências na Rádio 97 FM, de Foz do Iguaçu (PR). Em 25 de maio, resolvi sintonizar, aqui em Porto Alegre, a tal Rádio Baluarte ou Maranatha. Resultado: fico constrangido de ser brasileiro! Às 0245, a emissora levava ao ar um programa apresentado por duas mulheres que se denominavam "missionárias Fátima e Claudete". Entre 10 palavras ditas, elas erravam a concordância e o plural em, pelo menos, 7. Algumas pérolas: "nóis possa está preparado ...", "pograma", "quando o senhor voltá", "nas quarta-feira temo ..."(sic). Pelo jeito, além de piratas são contra as regras do bom português! (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX May 25 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Glenn, No logging abaixo o nome correto é Bartolina Sisa Radio. Bartolina Sisa, heroína da libertação da nação quechua aymara. 6883 23/05 0945-1010 Radio Bartolina Sisa Radio, programa religioso em aymara, ID às 1005 "Líder de comunicación rural y pop... Bartolina Sisa Radio...`` musicais religiosos em ritmos andinos. 44444. SCM 73 Glenn, R. La Cruz del Sur and San Miguel are Bolivians. [under PERU in 2-084!] (Samuel Cassio, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oops! I see Cumbre didn`t catch the latter one either (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. O sinal da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia permanece, no ar, em 11780 kHz, após às 1900, apesar do anúncio de que deixaria de emitir em tal horário. A emissora foi captada, em Porto Alegre, em 24 de maio, às 1930, com o programa Falando Francamente, apresentado por Artemisa Azevedo. Foi ao ar um boletim da Rádio das Nações Unidas, produzido pela jornalista Maiara Fagundes. A cada dia que passa, o governo brasileiro apaga capítulos da história da radiodifusão estatal. Depois de extingüir a Rádio Nacional do Brasil, agora é a vez da histórica Rádio Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, que há 67 anos funciona na Praça Mauá, 7, no Centro da Cidade Maravilhosa. A emissora será transformada em mera repetidora da programação gerada, em Brasília, a partir de 1º de junho. Os 118 funcionários da Rádio Nacional estão buscando apoio dos deputados contra a decisão da Radiobrás. O primeiro ato foi uma visita à Câmara Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, na semana passada. Entre os possíveis dispensados está Daysi Lucidy, que labuta na emissora há 47 anos! As informações são do jornal O Dia e foram publicadas na coluna de Magaly Prado (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX May 25 via DXLD) See also ARGENTINA ** CANADA. 6160, CKZN and CKZU (presumed), May 24, 0800, CKZN St John's, Newfoundland, and CKZU Vancouver, BC were interfering with one another. From 0800 to 0805, they were both running CBC news, though there was a delay. By 0805 they broke off into different feeds. I do not understand why these two stations must occupy the same frequency at the same time. A real mess. Both stations were producing strong signals (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On paper it looks like an efficient use of spectrum; each is, low- powered, intended only to serve remote areas of its own province, not US, we need to be reminded. However, due to the peculiarities of propagation, I wouldn`t be surprised if they also interfere with each over nighttime paths in intended targets (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Previews for Saturday May 25: QUIRKS AND QUARKS: This week on Quirks and Quarks...Remembering Stephen Jay Gould: Evolution's Enthusiast. Biologist and writer, paleontologist and essayist, theorist and populariser - Stephen Jay Gould was perhaps the best known - and most controversial - evolutionary scientist since Darwin. Two of Gould's fellow scientists remember him and his achievements. That's Quirks and Quarks, with host Bob McDonald, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Saturday on The World This Weekend...Germany and guns. In Germany, it is almost impossible to own a gun without having a 'reason' for it, such as sport-shooting. The idea of carrying a gun for protection is unthinkable. But like the U-S, Germany has a strong gun lobby. Shooting clubs have existed since the 15th century. The teenager who recently killed 16 people learned to shoot with deadly accuracy at such a club. He is the reason Germany now wants to crack down on guns. Lucy van Oldenbarneveld reports it may be a tough battle. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Saturday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY MAY 26, 2001 --- FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS - BRINGING THE WORLD HOME: ***pre-empts all of Vinyl Cafe in AT/NT, plus all or part of The Sunday Edition in every other time zone except Pacific*** Join co-hosts Michael Enright and Rick MacInnes-Rae this Sunday morning, for a live forum hosted by CBC Radio One at the National Gallery in Ottawa. Several of the top foreign correspondents from CBC Radio and CBC Television gather to reflect on their craft and answer questions about it from the in-house audience. Patrick Brown, Laura Lynch, Michel Cormier, Mike Hornbrook, Margaret Evans, Paul Workman, Bill Gillespie and Celine Galipeau use the "war on terror" as the context for a far-ranging discussion of what gets covered, why and how. That's this Sunday from 10 to noon ET on CBC Radio One. THE SUNDAY EDITION: ***pre-empted in whole or in part in every time zone except PT by Foreign Correspondents special above*** This week on The Sunday Edition, a panel of homeless people and shelter workers discuss recent revelations that Toronto homeless shelters don't reach the shelter standards set for refugee camps. Also, the legal and ethical issues around patenting life forms: not just the Harvard Mouse. That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. VINYL CAFE: Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend. Host Stuart McLean has a concert recorded in Banff, Alberta, with boogie woogie pianist Michael Kaeshammer. He'll also tell the story of how Dave's life was turned upside down by a missing wedding ring. That's this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Sunday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. (12:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. ROOTS & WINGS: This week on Roots and Wings, host Philly Markowitz has a tribute to Swedish Music Day, which actually took place Saturday. A whole hour of contemporary and traditional music from Sweden, of course, but also from Western Finland, Samiland and Canada! The show includes everything from some head-banging "heavy-wood" music to an all nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed-fiddle) folk orchestra. OH! And a great Swedish CD giveaway, to boot. That's on Roots and Wings, Sunday evening at 5:05 (5:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheets via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. We were glad to note a new edition of RFPI Mailbag, after more than a month, not at the scheduled time of 1830 Fri, but an hour later at 1930 May 24 on 21815-USB; WORLD OF RADIO 1132 ran a semihour later than expected, at 2000 (COM 05-02 is getting pretty old by now), and we expected to catch the Mailbag in full on a repeat. But all RFPI frequencies, and webcasts, have been missing so far UT Sat May 25 at 1540. Earlier, we were startled to hear WEWN on 15040 as it was closing, but this was likely a receiver-overload-produced harmonic of 7520 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. A new twist on escaping from Cuba: take along ham radio: but these unfortunates did not get any help from the USCG, and at the end of the story had not been heard from further, located or rescued (gh, DXLD) "DOS RADIO AFICIONADOS CUBANOS Y OTRAS 5 PERSONAS A LA DERIVA AL SUR DE CUBA" Por Rafael M. Estévez, WA4ZZG ex-CO2ZQ, 22 de Mayo del 2002 La Nueva Cuba May 22, 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Un grupo de 7 cubanos, la mayoría jóvenes procedentes de la ciudad de Florida, en la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba, están a la deriva después que su precaria embarcación, una balsa con un motor montada sobre varios tanques de aire, sufriera desperfectos debido al mal tiempo reinante en esa área según el colega Andy Collado, KG4JIN, en Orlando y con Miguel Espinosa, KD2CL en Miami, ambas ciudades en el Estado de la Florida. En una de sus transmisiones ellos les habían a reportado a Andy y a Miguel que les estaba entrando agua, que el mar estaba embravecido, que se les había extraviado su brújula, por lo que pedían ayuda a los Guarda Costas de los EE.UU y que se estaban orientando por el sol con rumbo hacia el oeste. Mientras en Miami, Miguel Espinosa, KD2CL, pasaba la información a la Red de Emergencia de la SIRA, quién a través de Carlos De Felipe, AB4YH/LU2DZ, llamó al US Coast Guard o el Servicio de Guardacostas de los EE.UU. La respuesta del oficial Meredith que estaba de guardia en el (305) 415-6800, no fué muy buena, ya que en vista de que no le podíamos darle las cordenadas aproximadas o por dónde estaban, nos informó que: "No tenemos ninguna unidad cerca de esa región y les sugiero que llamen a la Guardia Costanera de Cuba." También nos preguntó: "De dónde habían salido y con que rumbo iban." Al oir esa respuesta tanto Andy, como Carlos y el que redacta esta información enmudecimos y optamos por buscar otra solución ante la emergencia que se estaba desarrollando en alta mar. Decidimos que sólo llamaríamos a las autoridades cubanas en el caso que no hubiera más remedio para salvarle sus vidas. Antes de hacerse a la mar, pudieron instalar un pequeño transmisor con una batería y mantenían comunicación con varios colegas en los 14,280 kilohertz en la banda de 20 metros. La útima transmisión que tuvieron con Andy fué ayer martes alrededor de las 8:28 pm. Aparentemente, la embarcación salió el lunes 20 o antes a las 11 de la mañana desde el archipiélago Jardines de la Reina en la costa Sur de Cuba y según la escasa información se dirigían a las islas Caimán o Jamaica. Esto no pudo ser aclarado. Entre los que están abordo hay 2 radio aficionados cubanos y son: Elixander Valladares Quintero, CO7HU y Alex Gómez, CM7KS, los que mantuvieron la ecuanimidad entre los que tratataban de escapar del régimen totalitario que impera en la isla caribeña desde el 1959. Uno de ellos tiene un familiar en Houston, Texas, llamada Yamileé y hasta el momento de redactar esta información no habíamos podido contactar con los mismos debido a la diferencia de hora. De acuerdo con lo que informó uno de los colegas abordo a Andy y a Miguel, ellos primero trataron de escapar por la costa Norte de la isla, pero fueron detectados por las autoridades del régimen que desgobierna a Cuba, y una vez que fueron descubiertos no les quedó más remedio que hacerse a la mar por la costa Sur. Los nombres de los 7 cubanos que están a la deriva son: Elixander Valladares Quintero, CO7HU; Alexis Gómez, CM7KS; Javier Rojas, Ariel Rojas Martínez, Agustín Alberto Romero; Miguel Arcángel López Hernández y Reineiro Matos Hurones. Hemos podido conocer que los Guardacostas de los EE.UU. notificaron al gobierno cubano de la rústica embarcación con 7 personas abordo extraviado al Sur de Cuba. También el gobierno de las islas Caimán ha sido contactado y prometieron hacer una intensa búsqueda de la pequeña balsa con las 7 personas abordo. Hoy pudimos hablar nuevamente varias veces con Andy Collado y Miguel Espinosa, y ambos colegas nos dijeron que no habían podido comunicarse con la diminuta nave a la deriva, pero que ellos y otros radio aficionados de la República Dominicana, New York, New Jersey y otras latitudes estaban atentos a la misma frecuencia (14,280 kHz) donde ayer se habían comunicado con los mismos. Hasta hoy las 8:30 pm no se había podido contactar nuevamente con los integrantes de esta embarcación perdida en el mar Caribe. Debajo aparece una foto de Elixander Valladares Quintero, cuando era CM7HU. Nuestras oraciones van al Primer Operador y Todo Poderoso para que éstas 7 personas puedan llegar a puerto seguro. Exhortamos a todos los que reciban esta información a que hagan lo mismo. Gracias. Copyright © 1997-2002 - LA NUEVA CUBA --- NOSTROMO PUBLISHING CORP. All Rights Reserved. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, May 23, DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7100, VOBME Asmara. 23 May at 2100. Very late programming made me check some websites and yes - 24 May is Liberation Day in Eritrea. The second channel on 7175 was carrying same program but signal was very poor due to other stations QRM. 7100 was booming in. Sign-off was around 2200 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. [Re whether Ciel 981 is on the air or not] It was the same Christian Ghibaudo whom I referred to as my French friend. He sent me a folder about Ciel 981 AM and wrote himself this text on the folder: "on the air until last October!". As I understand it, he meant that it was on "from now on"... 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, literally in English I would take this to mean it has been *off* the air since last October (2001). I have noticed before that some European non-native speakers of English use ``until`` incorrectly or ambiguously (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Une « radio de la mer » , diffusée à la fois sur le littoral atlantique et méditerranéen, pourrait voir le jour au printemps 2003. Réunis dans une association, des passionnés de la vie maritime et des professionnels de la radio réfléchissent à ce projet depuis plus d`un an. Ils viennent de soumettre au Conseil Supérieur de l`Audiovisuel (C.S.A) leur candidature pour l`attribution de fréquences AM (ondes moyennes). « La radio de la mer s`adressera aussi bien aux plaisanciers qu`aux pêcheurs, aux ostréiculteurs ou aux scientifiques, explique Jean-Michel Brosseau, vice-président de l`association. Elle donnera le matin des informations services, comme la météo marine, les places disponibles dans les ports, etc. Dans la journée, elle sera plus ouverte au rêve et à l`évasion, avec des chroniques et des reportages à la manière de Thalassa » (Notes de BC - Thalassa = titre d`une émission de la troisième chaîne publique française France 3 qui passe le vendredi soir). Connaisseur de la radio et amoureux de la mer, Jean-Michel Brosseau pilote le projet, qui a déjà reçu de nombreux soutiens (Libération 17 mai 2002 via Bernard Chenal, France, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) En quelles fréquences, SVP? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Glen[n], regarding the Deutsche Welle entry in DXLD 2-082 (20th May 2002), I think that Deutsche Welle may be trying to strike a raw (and rather unattractive) deal with the listeners. Welle welle welle... 73's, (DXDave, Bristol, UK, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. Glenn, Hearing this pretty good this morning. 3291.26, Voice of Guyana, 0925-0935. Note a man in English Comments between musical selections. Some of the music is Sub-Continent, i.e. from India. Ads also noted. Signal at this time is fair (Bolland, Chuck, FL, May 24, 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3959.8, RRI Palu (presumed) 1138-1200* May 18. YL taking phone calls, followed by mostly English vocals, including a non-Ray Charles version of "I Can't Stop Loving You". This continued until a few seconds past 1200, when they joined Jak program in progress. Fair for a while, but quickly deteriorated after 1200. On 4000.13, RRI Kendari 1159-1233 May 18. SCI, then a Jak berita program, // to 3959.87 and 4953.4. Jakarta program ended at 1233, then local program. Fair but deteriorating. Overall, a good morning for Sulawesi (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9525, Voice of Indonesia via Jakarta heard 25 March 2000 at 1027-1045. SINPO=34433. Reply on my self-addressed air mail form + 2 VOI postcards with personal notes, v/s Amy Aisha, Presenter, Listeners Mailbag, via Jakarta in 656 days. Responding to my mail DX Report + 3 reminders. Apparently Ms. Aisha also replied on-air 2 September 2001 (George Glotzbach, NM, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. CLANDESTINE Voice of National Salvation. Following a tip in CDX, I've received this QSL too from the clandestine station in six weeks for a tape report and $1 to their address in Japan. The no data letter which claims to be written in Seoul on 15 Apr (mailed from Japan 18 Apr) refers to the enclosed "QSL card" which actually only contains their broadcast schedule. Regretfully no longer sends their weeklies (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX May 24 via DXLD) ** MALAWI. SITES DU MOIS --- MALAWI BROADCASTING CORPORATION (MBC) La MBC vient de faire son entrée dans le monde cyber. Le site est simple, fonctionnel et presque complet. On y trouvera tout sur le conseil d`administration de la MBC, sur Radio 1 et Radio 2, avec photos à l`appui (des animateurs, des présentateurs du journal et des reporters), grille des programmes, liste exhaustive des fréquences et pas moins de deux hit-parades. Quelques informations nationales et internationales de la veille complètent le site. Presque complet seulement, car il manque la possibilité d`écouter au moins l`une des deux radios. On aurait aimé aussi en savoir un peu plus sur l`histoire de l`audiovisuel au Malawi. Ce qui nous permettrait de faire le point sur le chantier de la télévision publique, auquel le site ne consacre pas une seule ligne. Force est de constater qu`une mise en ligne aussi réussie dès le coup d`essai relève tout simplement de l`exploit... http://www.mbcradios.com/ (via Bernard Chenal, France, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALTA. VIA RÚSSIA - A Voz do Mediterrâneo é uma boa pagadora de QSLs. Atualmente, envia série de cartões mostrando utensílios de madeira trabalhados artesanalmente naquela ilha. Mande seu relatório também pela Internet. A página da emissora possui espaço dedicado ao informes. Anote: http://www.vom-malta.org.mt (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX May 25 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. Monitored Pres. Fox`s appearance on a call-in show Fri May 24 at 1600-1630 --- actually running by Mexican time, 1610- 1635 or so. Took a number of calls from Mexicans in the U.S. I think toward the end he said something about doing this every week, but not clear. There is a streamaudio link via http://www.radiounica.com (Guillermo G. Hauser, Oclajoma, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Have been leaving a small TV on channel 2 or 3 most of the time, with external antenna southwards, since the Es season started, and a lot of Mexicans (Spanish anyway) have been coming in. Finally May 24 at 2057 UT noted local ad insert on 2 mentioning San Cristóbal de las Casas, so this must be Chiapas, confirmed with XHCSA-TV calls and location ID supered for a few seconds in upper left corner around 2057:30; then promo for a show on Azteca 13 network. Their large logo in the upper right had two parallel vertical lines which look like an eleven. Believe I have had this one before. There was little QRM for a while. I was surprised to see no listing for this or any Chiapan on 2 in Doug Smith`s database; Danny Oglethorpe`s site mentions it as early as two years ago, but as an Azteca-7 affiliate. Perhaps they have switched Azteca networks, or cross-promote them? Then at 2333 on the cable, KFOR-4 had clearly identifiable CCI from vertical interval Azteca-13 network, same offset minus, thus per Doug`s either Tepic or Monterrey (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I'm glad somebody else is seeing my semi-local (grin) XHCSA-2. They are still Azteca-7, but the Azteca networks do cross-promote. XHCSA was in here beginning about 1640 CT. I saw the supered ID at 1658. In Doug's defense, I must say that he did have ALL of the Mexicans (even the LPTVs) listed until recently. It appears that some of his Mexican listings are missing. I'm sure Doug will soon fix the problem. I always check Doug's site first for station data (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, WTFDA via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Dia vai, dia vem e a programação das emissoras brasileiras, especialmente em relação à música, piora. Quem tem acesso ao rádio de ondas curtas é um privilegiado. E quem sintoniza 9575 kHz, é mais ainda! Chega de pagodes, chega de letras pornográficas! Quem sintonizar a Medi Un tem música de qualidade! O melhor do rock intercalado com músicas típicas daquele país é o cardápio principal. E tem mais: jazz, canções francesas e até música brasileira(não aquelas!) estão presentes na Medi Un. No último dia 19 de maio, a emissora apresentou um especial de João Gilberto e canções suas na voz de intérpretes de outros países. Sintonize, aos domingos, a partir 2100. Ou, ouça todos os dias! Faça como o Claudir Ghiggi, de Nova Prata(RS), e tantos outros que não se deixam levar pela idiotice que impera na música e emissoras brasileiras! (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX May 25 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KVOO "Voice of Oklahoma" is no more TULSA COUNTRY STATION SWITCHES TO TALK 2002-05-21, By Mel Bracht, The Oklahoman TULSA -- The sounds of country music have given way to talk on Tulsa's legendary clear channel KVOO 1170. Last week, the 50,000-watt station, which debuted in 1925, switched to a news-talk format and was renamed KFAQ by its owners, Journal Broadcast Group. Although radio ratings for country music are declining nationally, KVOO had shown listenership growth since it began emphasizing "classic country" two years ago, general manager Jay Werth said. "But it was in the older demographics that overall aren't as attractive to most marketers," Werth said. After reaching its peak about a sesquidecade ago, the popularity of country music has sagged in recent years. "The height of its popularity was in the '80s to early '90s with the class of Randy Travis and George Strait, with Garth Brooks shortly thereafter," Werth said. "It's fallen off a little bit since then, although we've begun to see a bit of a resurgence." When the format change was made, KVOO-AM ranked second out of four country stations and fifth overall in the Tulsa market. Werth said the format change prompted about 40 telephone calls and an editorial cartoon in the Tulsa World. "For a lot of people, this was a longtime companion," Werth said. "Its call letters stood for country music." Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, known as the architects of Western swing, performed live on KVOO from Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa. The station also had been marketed as the "voice of Oklahoma." In the evenings, it can be heard as far away as Arizona and Montana. The station carries Fox News Channel personality Bill O'Reilly's show, which recently launched on more than 200 stations, noon to 2 p.m. Other national personalities include Glenn Beck, 9 a.m. to noon; Michael Savage, 7 to 10 p.m.; and Laura Ingraham, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. (via alt.radio.broadcasting May 23 via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** PALESTINE. RAMALLAH (Cisjordanie), 17 mai (AFP) - Trente cinq jours d`occupation israélienne ont porté un rude coup à la dizaine de stations de radio et de télévision locales basées à Ramallah et sa ville jumelle El-Bireh, en Cisjordanie. Deux semaines après le départ des soldats israéliens, seules deux stations ont repris partiellement leurs émissions, les autres n`arrivant pas à remettre en état leurs installations détruites pendant l`opération ``Rempart`` en avril. Le directeur d`Amwage, principale radio-télévision de Ramallah, ne cesse d`inspecter les dégâts, mesurant chaque jour son impuissance à relancer totalement les émissions. ``J`ai ressenti un véritable choc en constatant, avec mes collègues, une fois les soldats israéliens partis, l`ampleur des dégâts``, dit Hani Arafat, affirmant qu```ils ont tout détruit avant de partir`` et qu`il s`agit d`un ``acte de vengeance``. Les locaux d`Amwage, équipés de technologie moderne et situés en face du quartier général du président palestinien Yasser Arafat à Ramallah, avaient été occupés et utilisés par l`armée israélienne comme dortoir et comme poste pour les tireurs d`élite lors de l`occupation de la ville. Avant de quitter les lieux, les soldats avaient accroché au mur un mot en anglais: ``Merci beaucoup. Votre station est belle, nous regrettons les destructions et espérons vous revoir dans de meilleures circonstances``. Les soldats ont été accusés par les Palestiniens d`avoir diffusé sur la chaîne de télévision Amwage ``des films pornographiques``. Des avocats représentant la station ont dû avoir recours à la justice israélienne, qui a ordonné aux soldats d`interrompre ces émissions, selon M. Arafat et desjournalistes. Le montant des dégâts a été évalué à 300.000 dollars, mais selon M. Arafat, 50.000 dollars supplémentaires seront nécessaires pour permettre à la télévision et à la radio de reprendre totalement leurs émissions. Neuf autres radios et télévisions ont aussi été endommagées par l`offensive israélienne. Le couvre-feu, imposé par les soldats, avait en outre empêché la parution de deux journaux de Ramallah, Al-Ayyam et Al-Hayat al-Jadida. ``L`infrastructure palestinienne a souffert de l`offensive israélienne, mais les médias à Ramallah ont été les plus touchés``, affirme Nabil al-Khatib, un expert des médias palestiniens. Il assure que les Israéliens avaient visé les médias de Ramallah et El-Bireh car ils ont une bonne audience dans l`ensemble des territoires palestiniens. Ces stations avaient prêté leurs services à la radio- télévision officielle de l`Autorité palestinienne, après la destruction de ses installations à Ramallah. Certains ont relayé les programmes de l`organisme officiel. Selon M. Arafat, l`armée avait invoqué cette aide devant les employés de ces stations pour expliquer son intervention et son occupations des locaux de sa station. Ces radios et télévisions locales, autorisés par l`Autorité palestinienne, avaient pour obligation de produire 20% de leurs programmes (AFP 17 mai 2002 via Bernard Chenal, France, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. See BOLIVIA ** RUSSIA. 4795, Buryatskaya GTRK, Ulan Ude. 23 May at 2125. Local language (Buryat). I don't know what is the country name in Buryat, but they used also Russian sounding "Buryatski Respublik" (something like that). Strong signal, but lower sideband was very weak, best using USB (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non?]. Re unID 12508.5: Glenn, could this be Simferopol`, Ukraine? I recall, though not on this frequency, Radio Metropolis being fed through as a filler between ship to shore traffic, on at least two frequencies. One is 17.299. Maybe on in the same? (Walt Salmaniw, BC, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Murmansk. Utility station Murmansk radio. New frequency 17302 kHz (ex-17266) SSB. From 0800 (Tue/Fri) Radio Rossii, Murmanskoye Radio, "Atlantika" - all in Russian (Slavutskiy via Klepov May 19, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. POWER CUT TO KHABAROVSK TRANSMITTERS | Excerpt from report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Khabarovsk, 24 May... Hundreds of enterprises and organizations in Khabarovsk Territory have had their power supplies limited due to failure to pay for them. Transmitters in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Khabarovsk city have had their electricity supply disconnected, and the broadcasts of Mayak, Radio Russia, Radio Olimp and other stations there have stopped. Khabarovskenergo says that the total debts of customers now are in excess of R4.1bn [131 m US dollars]. The energy company is tackling the problem in various ways, and not just by disconnections. The company has undertaken an energy conservation programme in Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region. In those regions, the local media remind people several times a day: "To avoid living in dark and cold conditions, one must pay regularly for heat and electricity supplies". Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0149 gmt 24 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. It is now 0120 UT and I've been listening to the frequency [6137.84] for three hours. The signal is now stronger than earlier during the night. Best reception I've ever had of this station. Still difficult to understand the accent. BTW, there's an interesting presentation of FM radio stations in Freetown - Radio UNAMSIL mentioned as well - at http://www.cmetfreetown.org/Documents/RadioMonRpt.stm (Mika Mäkeläinen, Site Admin, Vantaa, Finland, May 14, Dxing.info via DXLD) 6137.80, Radio UNAMSIL, 0450-0557 May 20. Just heard breaking above the noise level with High Life/Dance music played by groups in vernaculars. Strong carrier but audio needed some help, especially when the male speaker came on. But, from 0508 signal was gradually improving with a lot of up-beat dance music with very few announcements; 0515 male speaker mentioned something like 'the people have spoken' but no ID that I could make out. 0522 After numerous selections, the fella mentioned `'OK, now we have...``, then a phone caller same in. 0529 caught a positive ID `'yes, yes, this is Radio UNAMSIL broadcasting. Do you hear us?...'` after phone caller came in. 0533 the signal peaked with a segment of English pop music by the Bee Gees, Whitney Houston and (I believe) Aretha Franklin. 0550 the announcer gave a time check `'it's 10 minutes to the hour'` followed with another phone-caller. Signal was now gradually deteriorating to the point by 0557 it was useless to copy. Signal peaked about 0535 and was best heard on the 5 MHz sloper beamed 60 degrees towards Africa (Ed Kusalik, Coaldale, Alberta, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 6137.84, R. UNAMSIL, 0648-0715 May 19, talk by man in English and took phone call starting with "Hello, (caller), ?? R. UNAMSIL....". Music bridge 0650 and more talk and at least 4 more (brief) phone calls. Dead air, possible ID, brief dialog, M announcer again, and news or feature by different M announcer. Faded out by 0715. A little weak but clear of QRM. Some QRN. Best heard yet (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Glenn, I had been reluctant to pass this along since I was under the impression it was a "letter" to another group. However, it states clearly at the top it's a "newsletter" so I pass it along. Use it if you see fit. (I thought you'd at least like to see it.) It was a bit "jumbled" when I got it as if it had been sent through email several times and the lines were chopped irregularly. All I did was save it as a text file and reformat the lines / paragraphs to even them out some. It is saved as TeresaBS.txt. That BS is "Brother Stair" instead of the usual connotation. ;-) Teresa wrote it Wednesday 5/22/02. It got passed along to me the next day (Al Patrick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The latest email newsletter, that arrived this evening, from brotherstair@overcomerministry.com **** [sic henceforth] To all the saints who love the Lord Jesus Christ. (by permission.) It is Wednesday eve about 8:52 pm. and I am writing to you at the request of my husband. The last time I talked with him today was by phone at about 4 pm this afternoon. He is able to call here each day for 5 minute intervals; today he could call from 1-4 pm; yesterday from 7-11 am, etc. Thank God, I can hear his voice by phone at least, aside from the broadcast that is pre-recorded... It is so true and means more now today than ever... "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." As I said, Brother Stair asked me to come to his computer and write a letter to all his e mail friends. I trembled at the thought! He assured me it was ok and that I should let the Holy Ghost lead. This morning, we (Bro. Chip, Bro. Charles and I) went to the local courthouse for the second bond hearing. Our accusers have refused to attend both hearings thus far! That was at 9 am. The first bond hearing was on last Friday, May 17th. He was denied bond on the most serious charge... My husband is innocent of the charges as stated against him. I tell the truth in Christ; I lie not! Thank God. Help me, Father. For the last few weeks, I heard my husband say, over and over,... "I have no more authority here anymore among this people. Until they give me my authority back, my hands are tied; I can do nothing." And I would say, "But you still have the anointing from God; you still have the authority from Him..." And he would just insist again...many times he said this to me the past several weeks. We have had some trials to say the least; God has been and is always faithful. One day, I was on "my way" to the River, and the Lord said to me, "Don't go to the river. You are my witness. Brother Stair told you about the awful report that will be coming out in the Press & Standard this week. You go now and tell the truth!" (That was Tuesday, May 14th.) I argued..."But Lord, even if I go, they won't print the truth... You know reporters...!" "No matter," He said to me in the Spirit; "Just do it, I'll take care of the rest!" And He did. Without taking much space here, as I feel we will print the words in an upcoming issue of the Overcomer (my exact statements were quoted), all I can say to you brothers & sisters is, God is still on the throne! As I said to Brother Stair today when he looked at me as if to say "I'm sorry", again,... "Honey, HE DOETH ALL THINGS WELL...!" Then on Wed., May 15th, Brother Stair had been very quiet in the house. I had never seen him like that before. He looked at me so seriously and his face had sorrow on it like I had never seen on him. He said, almost in a whisper, "Teresa, Jerusalem is close... So close." I asked, "What do you mean?" He repeated, "Jerusalem, my Jerusalem is so close. Will you still go with me?"... "Yes. How close, Ralph?" All he said was that all day yesterday (Tuesday)and that day God had told Him over & over... "They will come for you soon. Be prepared... Be ready!" Little did I know it would be the next day! We had talked about Jeremiah Chapter 23, as the Lord had given that chapter to me to read the day before I went to the newspaper reporter. The last few verses made me shake as I read it, but the whole thing was for all of us in the ministry and I knew it! I feared for what the Lord was warning till I asked Brother Stair could I read the chapter as he lay in bed one nite; he said to do it. That was Wednesday nite. The next morning, Thurs the 16th, he told me he didn't want any breakfast... he wouldn't even go to the dining hall, unless I wanted to get something. (We had not been eating much lately; both of us have had little of an appetite.) "I must pray... I must PRAY! Can you understand, Teresa? The Lord told me to PRAY this morning." He spent about the next 2 hours in a travel trailer right between our house & his office to pray. He asked me to be understanding, and he would come to see me if he needed me. I went to do some bookkeeping. That was around 8 am. At about 10:30 he called me and said, "Teresa, I have to go to the sherriff's office. They have charges against me...I have to go NOW!" "Honey," I said, "I have to go with you!" I was told to hurry along with Pastor Timothy and Brother Chip. The SLED officer was in charge and allowed me to be in the interrogation with Brother Stair. God was in control. That afternoon, they informed us that Brother Stair had to spend 1 nite in Jail and assured us he would probably get out on bond the next day...Friday the 17th. SO with hope, we went to the 1st bond hearing. He was going back to jail AGAIN on Friday. The bondsman recommended a good lawyer, a "Simon of Cyrene"; His first name is JOENATHAN, (Jonathan). Truly a gift from God. Thank you, Father. Well, things looked good for Mon am. He would come home!. But, no... Tuesday. Then, Wednesday... for sure. So, here we are today. Brother Stair was denied bail again. We were told today that the investigation is still in process, and until there are no more avenues to cross, no more hearings allowed. The Judge is trying to spare us of paying more than one bond sum. They really are being kind. It's just the DEVIL. HE'S not KIND.... AT ALL!!! Glory be to the Lamb. Dear friends. Please pray for us. THIS IS THE LORDS DOING, AND IT IS MARVELLOUS IN MY EYES! From my heart I say that. Truly, the higher ups want the prophet off the air. He was accused of brainwashing us all, and "he is a dangerous threat to the community... and he has access to large sums of money.... and he and his family may flee the country...! and also, judge, don't you know he's been to Russia, and CHINA and Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti... INDIA, and oh! he may just escape... and wouldn't this be awful! And don't even let him pray from the prison over the phone. Thats surely a risk for ALL!!! GOD, HAVE MERCY ON THESE PEOPLE... I have been given the liberty to pray for the salvation of the two sisters who actually lied and said dreadful things about the man of God they once trusted as a servant of the Lord. I pray for all of our accusers..."Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." Amen. I have been told not to ask for mercy at all for one brother who use to be my husband's "right hand man" here. He has betrayed Brother Stair with a kiss... HOW SAD.!! I was so troubled by this command from the Lord that I spoke to Brother Stair tonite about it...and he said, "Sure, that was God. I can understand that. Don't ask for mercy for him, or God cannot do what it takes to judge him... however" I love you all, even tho I don't know all of you. I covet your prayers for my husband's health...he is blessed to have about 5 brethren in jail who pray day & nite... also, some backslidden that he is preaching to daily. Praise God!. God does not make any mistakes! One soul is worth the whole world...I rejoice over that! We here are keeping the faith and we are striving to let there be no division among us and to love one another in Christ. Please pray as some are struggling. May their faith be increased!. Faith does work by LOVE... JESUS. God is love. He is ABLE. HALLELUYAH!!! In closing, again, at the advice of our ADVOCATE... our GREAT HIGH PRIEST... I CAN SAY, IN TRUTH.. I find No Fault in this man. May the peace of God rule in our hearts till Jesus comes. AMEN. Sister Teresa Grace Stair (via Al Patrick, DXLD) According to a link to the South Carolina penal code, the definition of the criminal charge is generally considered rape by most people. (See below) SECTION 16-3-653. Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. (1) A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree if the actor uses aggravated coercion to accomplish sexual battery. (2) Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than twenty years according to the discretion of the court. No matter how you look at it, Bro. Stair is in deep, deep trouble (John Sedlacek, May 19, The Grapevine via DXLD) Still not hearing any signal from WRMI on 15725 in the daytime when he was scheduled, but station was on as usual last night on 7385 with other programming, so the transmitter is OK (Glenn Hauser, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ACCUSED CULT LEADER BACK IN JAIL [sic] A self proclaimed prophet accused of sexually assaulting two former followers speaks to our cameras after a judge rules Reverend Ralph Stair is a threat to the community and should go back to jail. Reverend Stair's wife says her husband is innocent and claims he's not a threat to anyone. But Ralph Stair's lawyer couldn't convince a judge to let him out on bond. When asked if he is guilty as charged of sexual assault and running a cult, his only response was "bless you." And those have been the only words spoken by the Reverend Ralph Stair since his arrest last week. Police say the 69 year old Stair, the leader of Overcomer Ministries in Colleton county, forced two former followers to have sex with him inside his religious compound. Wednesday, at his bond reduction hearing, state police urged a judge to keep Stair in jail, saying the reverend is a flight risk. Agent Travis Avant says he has great resources. "He has access to unusually large amounts of money inside the United States as well as outside the United States. He communicates his powerful brainwashing message through radio as well as shortwave." [sic] But Stair's wife, Teresa holds to his innocence. "My husband is innocent."(Harve Jacobs)"Is he running a cult?" (Teresa)"no sir." Teresa also went on to say the only thing involved in the ministry is loving Jesus Christ. But former Overcomers follower, Gordon Chapman, disagrees. "He makes you actually believe that he is a prophet and if you don't stay under his authority, that you will go to hell." For now, Reverend Stair is going back to jail. Police say more charges may be coming in this case. Wednesday, the judge said Reverend Stair's lawyer will get another chance to ask for bond sometime in July. Life 5 News was told the state police investigation could last another two months. Reported by Harve Jacobs (WCSC-TV Charleston website May 24 via DXLD) Headline implies he was OUT of jail for a while, or that he had been in jail before??? No stories about this found on the other major Charleston TV stations sites, WCBD and WCIV, at least not currently or searchingly (gh, DXLD) ** TURKEY. Gün TV, une chaîne turque qui couvre la région de Diyarbakir (sud-est anatolien) et qui émet 18 heures par jour, avec l`aide de 22 salariés, est en fortes difficultés. Le Haut Conseil de l`Audiovisuel (RTUK) avait annoncé qu`elle serait suspendue 365 jours pour avoir diffusé des chansons kurdes et arméniennes, mais un tribunal est intervenu le 23 mars pour empêcher sa fermeture. « L`exécution de cet ordre a été suspendue, mais la procédure judiciaire continue », explique Veysi Bolcal, qui dirige Gün TV. « La chanson kurde datait de la période ottomane, mais la traduction officielle y a détecté une référence à un groupe illégal » affirme son prédécesseur Nevzat Bingöl. Au total, explique-t-il, 17 procès sont en cours, tous liés à l`usage du kurde sur les ondes. Gün Radio, petite sœur de la chaîne de télévision, vient de reprendre ses émissions après avoir été fermée six mois. Mais ces médias locaux ne sont pas les seules cibles du Haut Conseil pour l`Audiovisuel/ En dépit d`un contrôle ferme sur les chaînes, l`Assemblée nationale a adopté, mercredi 15 mai, une nouvelle loi régissant le Haut Conseil de l`audiovisuel. Cette révision était prévue dans le cadre du programme d`adhésion de la Turquie à l`Union européenne, qui requiert un renforcement de la liberté d`expression et des droits individuels. La nouvelle loi aurait dû prendre en compte les amendements constitutionnels approuvés en octobre 2001, qui ouvraient implicitement la porte aux émissions en kurde. En réalité, le projet soumis au parlement, qui avait déjà été rejeté en 2001 sous sa forme actuelle par le président Sezer, introduit de nouvelles restrictions dans un secteur déjà strictement contrôlé. Cette démarche représente pour les Européens et les associations de journalistes turques, un pas en arrière. Le président peut annuler cette loi en saisissant la Cour constitutionnelle. La RTKU peut utiliser des peines de suspension allant d`un jour à un an pour des émissions jugées non conformes aux valeurs culturelles et morales du pays ou dont le contenu politique déplaît. Selon les chiffres de Reporters sans frontières, 3236 jours de suspension ont été imposés à 62 télévisions et 50 radios en 2001. Les nouvelles dispositions maintiennent avertissements et suspensions, mais elles ajoutent des amendent très sévères, qualifiées par certains de « censure économique », qui risquent de conduire à la faillite des médias locaux. Ainsi la peine minimale en cas d`insulte ou diffamation est fixée à plus de 8000 euros. Les législateurs ont aussi décidé de réprimer la diffusion de « nouvelles pessimistes ». Une radio critiquant trop ouvertement la corruption pourrait être accusée de « démoraliser » le public. La loi prévoit aussi d`étendre à Internet les règles imposées à la presse. Les fournisseurs d`accès turcs ont protesté, craignant que ces dispositions forcent les internautes turcs à héberger leurs sites à l`étranger. Créé en 1994, le RTUK est composé de représentants du gouvernement et de l`opposition. Le projet de loi fait pencher la balance en faveur du pouvoir avec l`addition de représentants du Haut Conseil de l`éducation (YOK) et du Conseil national de sécurité (Nicole Pope via Le Monde 16 mai 2002 via Bernard Chenal, France, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Le président turc Ahmet Necdet Sezer a saisi la Cour constitutionnelle pour demander l`annulation de certaines dispositions d`une loi très controversée sur les médias, estimant qu`elle va à l`encontre de la liberté de la presse, a annoncé mardi son service de presse. M. Sezer réclame aussi la suspension de l`entrée en vigueur de la loi jusqu`à ce que la Cour tranche, souligne un communiqué. Le chef de l`Etat avait été obligé de promulguer la loi lundi soir car le parlement l`avait adoptée sans changement, après de houleux débutas, malgré un premier veto présidentiel en juin. M. Sezer avait alors estimé qu`elle était contraire aux normes démocratiques, alors que la Turquie ambitionne d`adhérer à l`Union européenne. ``Des dispositions sont contraires aux principes sur le droit à l`information et à la liberté de presse``, estime M. Sezer. Il critique le flou entourant la définition des délits sanctionnés par la loi, qui ouvre selon lui la voie à l`arbitraire dans les décisions de l`organe de contrôle de l`audiovisuel, le RTUK. ``Les chaînes de radio et télévision seront forcées de respecter des principes subjectifs et pas clairs, ce qui les empêchera de faire des émissions impartiales et justes, et de ce fait, le droit du public à s`informer en sera affecté``, souligne M. Sezer, ancien président de la Cour constitutionnelle et homme politique le plus populaire du pays pour son intégrité et son respect du droit. M. Sezer estime également que la loi ouvre la voie à des ingérences politiques et à la formation de monopoles et cartels. La nouvelle loi introduit des sanctions pour la propagation de fausses informations sur l`internet. Le RTUK, ne pourra plus suspendre la diffusion des chaînes de radio et télévision, pratique courante jusque là, mais pourra annuler la licence de celles qui s`en prennent à ``l`unité de la Turquie`` et diffusent ``de la propagande subversive et séparatiste``. Créé en 1994, le RTUK a suspendu des centaines de chaînes de radio ou télévision nationales et locales (AFP 23 mai 2002 via Bernard Chenal, France, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. A RARE SLIP BY ALISTAIR COOKE From alt.radio.broadcasting Cooperstown.Net mrslote@nospam.aol.com 24 May 2002 22:50 In "Letter from America" as broadcast and webcast on BBCR4 the dean of English language broadcasters offered some five references to "Senator Gephardt" including one as "the Senate's long-time Democrat Leader." Denouncing what he called the "disgraceful" behavior of the Dems in promulgating the notion that Bush had foreknowledge of 9/11. Wonder if he'll fix and rerecord before the essay goes out on the World Service. Jerome (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) It seems the scripts aren`t posted until the following Monday and reference page annoyingly does not show dates; check : http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/letter_from_america/default.stm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. No mention of the BBC WS here, but you might consider that the pauses in the scripts are during attempts to put right the silly hats they are wearing in Bush House. MAD HATTER DYKE MAKES IT HAPPEN X-URL: http://media.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4421076,00.html Claire Cozens, Friday May 24, 2002, The Guardian In his latest attempt to "cut the crap and make it happen", the BBC director general, Greg Dyke, has ordered hundreds of staff to wear silly hats as part of a £ 250,000 team-building exercise. More than 400 BBC employees from across the country took part in an awayday that featured a rousing lecture from Mr Dyke and a number of team-building games. One game, designed to demonstrate the BBC's regional reach, involved throwing a hoop over a cone to win a prize. Those attending were invited to express their opinions about the BBC and were provided with options such as "dated", "middle class", "white", "bureaucratic" and "dull". Employees were given the chance to be BBC controller for a day and also to take part in a football game inspired by BBC commentator John Motson, whose trademark sheepskin coat was on display. The shindig was held at London's Excel conference centre. The corporation took over the entire building and security guards were on hand to ensure privacy. "We had a conference for senior BBC managers this week, which is something we do from time to time," said a BBC spokesman. "'Make it happen' is about getting together to look at how we make the BBC the most creative organisation in the world. Anyone who knows Greg Dyke knows he is not about being profligate with licence-payers' money." The awayday is the latest in a series of schemes Mr Dyke has instigated since taking the helm at the BBC. Earlier this week the corporation launched a "polite police" initiative to force journalists to be courteous in the newsroom. (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) Funny hats? Politeness police? What will be next, the Ministry of Silly Walks becoming a reality? Also, I have a funny feeling that the next Upper-Middle-Class Twit of the Year Competition will be coming to a shortwave radio, computer, satellite dish, or digital cable setup near you; I will leave it to you to guess who will win, LOL! As a member of a certain comedy group once said on BBC Television, "This is getting entirely too silly." If they only knew how right they were! And to think that the members of Monty Python's Flying Circus thought they were writing and producing comedy; three decades later, life seems to be imitating art, IMHO! Not speaking for Syracuse University, the Cumbre DX organization, or anyone but myself, (Marie Lamb, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. AMATEURS - NEWS OF SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS From RSGB: Commencing next Saturday the 1st of June, the Scarborough Special Events Group will be on the air for 30 days as GQ0OOO [that looks like zero-triple oh --- gh] to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Activity will be on all HF bands, two metres and 70 centimetres, using SSB, CW and PSK31. A special full-colour souvenir QSL will be issued to mark the occasion. Cards may be sent via the bureau or direct to club call G0OOO. There is also an Intermediate Class demonstration station, 2Q0OOO, operating in support of International QRP Day on the 17th of June. Look for it on 40m SSB and CW, 2m and 70cm SSB and FM. Your contact is Roy, G4SSH, whose e-mail address is g4ssh@netscapeonline.co.uk Crowborough Amateur Radio Society is running special event station GB4ASP from the former Crowborough 'Aspidistra' transmitter site on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of June. The station will be on the HF bands, six and two metres, between 8am on Saturday the 1st until 8am on Monday the 3rd of June. For more details contact Eric, G3TXZ, on 01892 654 633. The weekend of the 15th and 16th of June sees the first International Museums Weekend, which follows on from the success of last year's National Museums Weekend. So far, around 70 museums have registered to take part in the event from around the world and more are expected to register nearer the date. Registration is free, but a small charge is made for those who decide to order one of the IMW Awards. As last year, all proceeds from the awards scheme will go to a London Children's Museum Charity. More details from Harry, M1BYT, on 07812 738 205, or via the RSGB website. Members of the Brickfields Amateur Radio Society are operating a special event station at various times over the period until the 14th June inclusive, using the call-sign GB5OJ, Official Jubilee, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. The station will operate from the Brickfields Society headquarters at Binstead on the Isle of Wight. QSLs for all contacts will be sent via the bureau. Please note that only SWLs need QSL the station itself (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** U S A. LANDMARK BILL COULD PROVIDE AMATEURS RELIEF FROM RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS From The ARRL: NEWINGTON, CT, May 15, 2002--A bill introduced in Congress May 14 could provide relief to amateurs prevented by private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions --- CC&Rs --- from installing outdoor antennas. Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act." The measure --- H.R. 4720 - -- would require private land-use regulators to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1, which now applies only to states and municipalities. Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE (R-OR)--the only Amateur Radio operator in Congress --- and Rep Pete Sessions (R-TX) have signed on as original cosponsors. The measure contains but one sentence: "For purposes of the Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna structures in the Amateur Radio Service (47 CFR 97.15), any private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a state or local regulation and shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as a state or local regulation." H.R. 4720 was expected to be assigned to the Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. After the ARRL ran into a brick wall trying to convince the FCC to include CC&Rs under the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1, the League's Board of Directors agreed to pursue a congressional remedy. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and other League officials met with Israel, Walden, Sessions and others on Capitol Hill earlier this year to discuss the prospect of such a bill and how it should be worded. With the propos al now in the legislative hopper, Haynie says the "really hard work" is up to the amateur community, League members or not. "It becomes important for all of us to write your congressman, call your congressman and voice your support," Haynie said. "This will have to be a grassroots effort, and we're going to pull out all the stops." Israel, whose father, Howard, is K2JCC, said in a statement read into the Congressional Record that his bill would subject private land-use regulations to the provisions of the FCC's PRB-1 preemption policy. "Under current law, the FCC does not apply this policy consistently," Israel said, noting that PRB-1 now applies only to state and local zoning and land-use regulation of ham radio antennas. "My bill addresses this issue and provides amateur radio licensees with the ability to negotiate reasonable accommodation provisions with homeowners' associations, just as they do now with public land-use regulators." Haynie said the measure "doesn't mean you can put up whatever you want to put up, but at least it brings the people to the table so you can negotiate something." He said the important thing to point out is that the bill, if passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, would give amateurs living under CC&Rs an opportunity for reasonable accommodation they don't have now, without getting involved in expensive and time-consuming litigation. In his statement, Israel called CC&Rs "a growing challenge" to Amateur Radio's ability to provide public service communication. Good faith negotiations, he said, "ensure that an amateur radio operator's technical needs are met, while preserving the aesthetics and interests of a neighborhood." In urging his colleagues to support the legislation, Israel said the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act "will help to protect the vital function of Amateur Radio as an emergency communications and public safety resource." The ARRL encourages members of the amateur community to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors and to support the H.R. 4720. Visit the US House of Representatives "Write Your Representative Service" Web page for information on how to contact your representative. A sample letter can be found on the ARRLWeb. The League requests those writing or e-mailing members of Congress— whether or not they are supporting this legislation--to copy ARRL on their correspondence --- via e-mail to ccr-bill@arrl.org or via US Mail to CC&R Bill, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Correspondents should include the bill number, H.R. 4720, as well as their name and address on all correspondence (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) ** U S A. NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME "It was 1931 that we last reported on television, and our readers must be wondering how things are shaping up," writes legendary New Yorker contributor E.B. White. "Not any too good." White's gently scornful 1936 account of a television demonstration gives an interesting glimpse into the brief period when the fledgling technology hovered on the brink between Next Big Thing and boondoggle. "Engineers are working like beavers, but it appears our homes are in no immediate danger," White concludes after watching a series of faint, flickering images broadcast from one floor of the R.C.A. building to another. "One of the encouraging (to us) aspects of television in its present stage is that the face of a televised person frequently seems to be mounted on watered silk," he adds later. White's account, posted temporarily on the New Yorker site, appears in conjunction with Malcolm Gladwell's look at two new biographies of television inventor Philo T. Farnsworth. Farnsworth's ultimately tragic insistence on remaining independent is often portrayed as a kind of David vs. Goliath heroism, but it's more accurately described as stupidity, says Gladwell. Had he gone to work for RCA, "Philo Farnsworth...would still have been the father of television, and he might have died a happy man." White (link will expire): http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/?020527fr_archive01 Gladwell (link will expire): http://www.newyorker.com/critics/atlarge/?020527crat_atlarge (Chet Copeland, NY, May 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RSF CRITICIZES US "LIMITATIONS" OF MEDIA FREEDOM SINCE 11 SEPTEMBER Reporters sans Frontières [RSF] has criticized the "limitations on press freedom imposed by the US government since the attacks of last 11 September, such as undermining the confidentiality of Internet messages and restrictions on access to the military base at Guantánamo and to military operations in Afghanistan". RSF said that these steps against human rights "are exploited by dictatorships". RSF called on President Bush "to respect the confidentiality of information circulating on the Internet, notably by ordering the FBI not to use spyware such as `Carnivore' and `Magic Lantern' without rigorous legal controls, to respect the free movement of journalists in Afghanistan and at Guantánamo" and "to ensure that respect for human rights is once more at the heart of US foreign policy". The following is the text of a press release in English published by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) on 23 May; subheadings as published - respect the confidentiality of information circulating on the Internet, notably by ordering the FBI not to use spyware such as "Carnivore" and "Magic Lantern" without rigorous legal controls. - respect the free movement of journalists in Afghanistan and at Guantánamo, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that has been ratified by the United States. - ensure that respect for human rights is once more at the heart of US foreign policy. As President George W. Bush began his visit to Europe (including France on 26-27 May), Reporters Without Borders notes the limitations on press freedom imposed by the US government since the attacks of last 11 September, such as undermining the confidentiality of Internet messages and restrictions on access to the military base at Guantánamo and to military operations in Afghanistan. In this country, medias were bombed and at least five journalists and media assistants were beaten or threatened with death by US soldiers or their Afghan allies. In United-States, the foiling of a government plan to use disinformation and the outcry at President Bush's decision to no longer pass on certain confidential material to Congress for fear of leaks to the media show the robustness of democratic traditions beyond the understandable emotion aroused by the 11 September attacks. Since the United States boasts of being the land of human rights, these steps are exploited by dictatorships. The Chinese authorities now call the separatists in the western province of Xinjiang "terrorists" to justify repression and shutting down publications. Respect for human rights has been downgraded in the foreign policy of the world's great power. The United States is thus less concerned by abuses in Chechnya since Russia declared itself on the US side in the fight against terrorism. When he was received by President Vladimir Putin, the secretary-general of NATO borrowed the official Russian parlance and spoke of "the plague of terrorism in Chechnya." Confidentiality of Internet material in danger Only a few hours after the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, FBI agents went to the offices of Internet service providers AOL, Earthlink and Hotmail to install their Carnivore programme on the servers to monitor the e-mail of all their customers in the hope of finding traces of the attackers on the Internet. This Internet monitoring was formalized on 24 October when the US House of Representatives passed the so-called Patriot Act, allowing the FBI to install Carnivore on any Internet service provider to monitor all e-mail messages and keep track of the web-surfing of people suspected of having contacts with a foreign power. To do this, the only permission needed is from a special legal entity whose activities are secret. The measures also eased the rules about phone- tapping. As well as the invasion of individual privacy, the confidentiality of journalists' sources is threatened by this blank cheque given to the FBI. Encryption technology, which allows Internet users to code their messages to keep them private, is under attack from the FBI's Magic Lantern programme, a virus that can be sent to targets by e-mail without their knowledge and which records their keystrokes and thus the key to the encryption codes. After the press reported this, the FBI denied it had such a device, but admitted it was working on one. War in Afghanistan: News under tight surveillance From the first day of the US military's Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan on 7 October 2001, the Pentagon tried to control the filming of the war by signing an exclusive contract with the firm Space Imaging, preventing the company from "selling, distributing, sharing or providing" pictures taken by the Ikonos civilian satellite to the media, which were thus deprived of pictures of the results of the US bombings taken by this satellite. Ikonos is the most efficient of the civilian satellites. A dozen media organizations covering the military operations were several times prevented from doing their work by US Special Forces troops and at least five journalists and media assistants were beaten or threatened with death by US soldiers or their Afghan allies. On 10 April this year, Ebadullah Ebadi, translator and assistant for the US daily The Boston Globe, was badly beaten by Afghan troops fighting with the US Special Forces, as the American soldiers watched. The Washington Post said that compared with recent wars, Rumsfeld's Pentagon has imposed greater restrictions on journalists' access to military operations and senior officers. Restrictions were also decreed at the government-controlled radio Voice of America. The head of the station, Bob Reilly, asked editors to comply with the terms of a law adopted by Congress forbidding the radio to broadcast interviews with "any official of nations that sponsor terrorism or any representative or member of terrorist organizations." The foreign media were not spared either. On 12 November, US troops bombed and seriously damaged the Kabul offices of the Qatari TV station Al-Jazeera. In February this year, the Pentagon refused to open an enquiry into the bombing, saying the building was suspected of harbouring Al-Qa'idah militants and was therefore a military target. No apology was made to Al-Jazeera, which is frequently accused by the US government of giving too much air time to Usamah Bin-Ladin and "encouraging anti-American feeling" in the Middle East. In October, US forces also bombed the installations of the Taleban controlled media, Radio Shariat, and the state television (banned since 1996). Difficult access to Guantánamo Journalists from CNN, CBS, The Army Times and others were given permission on 11 January this year to photograph and film in Kabul the departure of about 20 prisoners being flown to the US naval base at Guantánamo, in Cuba. After the prisoners were flown out, the journalists were told they could not use their pictures. A Pentagon spokesman said they violated international agreements because they were "degrading" for the prisoners. Several media ignored the order. A few months later, the Pentagon cited security concerns when it banned the media from covering the transfer of prisoners from Camp X-Ray to Camp Delta, both at the Guantánamo base. On 26 April, an army spokesman said that "we won't comment on the transfer of prisoners until it's over." Until then, the media had had some access to report on the building of Camp Delta. The temptation to manipulate the media The Bush administration has several times tried to curb or control the flow of news. This anti-freedom temptation met resistance, which showed the country's solid democratic traditions. On 5 October last year, President Bush, citing national security needs, instructed senior members of his government to stop sending certain confidential material to members of Congress for fear it would be leaked to the media. A few days earlier, the Washington Post had run a story saying members of Congress had been told a new terrorist attack on the United States was very likely. The president soon withdrew in the face of strong protests by members of Congress. On 19 February, the New York Times reported that the Defense Department's Office of Strategic Influence (OSI) had proposed planting disinformation in the foreign media. At that time, the government feared the war against terrorism would be seen by foreigners as a war against Islam. The outcry set off by these revelations led White House spokesman Ari Fleischer to say President Bush knew nothing about the OSI project and had ordered the OSI closed down because, according to defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "the Pentagon does not lie to the American people" or to "foreign audiences." Setting a bad example Some authoritarian countries, such as Tunisia, have rallied to the anti-terrorist cause as a way to crack down on critical media by accusing them of siding with terrorists. In China, the communist regime has stepped up its repression of unauthorized publications in the Xinjiang region, where the majority of people are Uighurs, and where Islamic separatists have become "terrorists" funded by Usamah Bin-Ladin. Chinese authorities in this region have seized and destroyed many books and other publications. A local communist party official openly admitted that "the anti-terrorist campaign around the world since 11 September has helped the Chinese government increase repression of the Muslim minority" in the province. When he visited Russia last November, NATO secretary-general Lord Robertson told his Russian host, who had just sided with the United States in the fight against terrorism, "we certainly see the plague of terrorism in Chechnya with different eyes now." The remark was typical of the way human rights have been shunted into the background of American foreign policy. The comment also pleased the Russian army, which is trying to wage a secret war in Chechnya and is strictly controlling media access to the region. Recommendations Reporters Without Borders calls on US President George W. Bush to : - respect the confidentiality of information circulating on the Internet, notably by ordering the FBI not to use spyware such as "Carnivore" and "Magic Lantern" without rigorous legal controls. - respect the free movement of journalists in Afghanistan and at Guantánamo, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that has been ratified by the United States. - ensure that respect for human rights is once more at the heart of US foreign policy. Reporters Without Borders calls on the German, French and Italian heads of state to support these recommendations and defend them when they meet their American counterpart. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 23 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. -------------------- MUSIC INDUSTRY ASKS CONGRESS FOR RADIO INQUIRY, PAYOLA BAN -------------------- By Greg Kot, Tribune rock critic, May 24, 2002 Details emerged Thursday about an unprecedented statement by a coalition of artists, record labels and retailers calling for the federal government to revise payola laws and to investigate the growing monopoly that a handful of corporations hold over the radio industry. The statement, which will be delivered Friday to the Federal Communications Commission and congressional leaders, was surprisingly outspoken despite delicate negotiations that required 10 groups with frequently conflicting agendas to reach a consensus. "I'm pleased to hear about this joint statement. The fact that so many diverse groups could agree on this shows just how widely these problems affect everyone," said Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), who is preparing legislation to address many of the same concerns. The statement urges the banning of the widespread practice called "legal payola," in which record labels funnel as much as $300 million a year to radio stations through independent promoters to influence airplay. It calls for a federal investigation of radio consolidation, which has led to corporations such as Clear Channel Communications Inc., which owns 1,200 stations and 135 major concert venues nationwide. It urges closer scrutiny of how that consolidation has decreased competition, hurting artists, clubs and independent promoters. And it seeks to lift restrictions on independently owned low-power radio stations and Internet webcasters to broaden diversity. The most volatile issue addressed was payola, which has come under renewed scrutiny as costs have escalated for record labels and as playlists have tightened, restricting airplay to all but the most well-financed artists. Though the major record labels created the system to influence airplay, the radio conglomerates have gained control of it, cutting exclusive deals with independent consultants to lavish stations with promotional items in exchange for information on airplay decisions. "It's become this horrible behemoth that can't be stopped," said one former label executive, Howie Klein. "Suddenly if an artist or label chooses not to use an independent promoter, they essentially choose not to seek airplay on a radio station," said Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the major labels. "That is a fundamentally different relationship than existed earlier. The law needs to be clarified, so people know what is legal, what is not. It has been 40 years since Congress last addressed this issue, and the broadcast industry has changed significantly with consolidation. It is important to take a fresh look." Besides the record-label group, the coalition represents a cross- section of the music industry and hundreds of thousands of artists, broadcasters and retailers. The groups include the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters; the National Association of Recording Merchandisers; and six artists groups--the Future of Music Coalition, the American Federation of Musicians, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Association for Independent Music, Just Plain Folks and the Nashville Songwriters Association. Copyright (c) 2002, Chicago Tribune (via Jim Moats, DXLD) Note that Clear Channel is quite involved in this, it would seem. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -------------------- MUSIC INDUSTRY TO CALL FOR A FEDERAL PROBE OF RADIO PAYOLA -------------------- By CHUCK PHILIPS, TIMES STAFF WRITER May 23 2002 Beset by surging promotion costs, the music industry is planning to call for a federal investigation into payola in the increasingly deregulated radio business. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/la-000036286may23.story (via Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. A DIFFERENT KIND OF OLDIES SHOW UPDATE - 5/25/02 Program News for the show of 5/25/2002: Another Passing: Last Friday we lost another songwriter from rock's golden age. Sharon Sheely, who, both on her own and with writing partner/singer Jackie DeShannon wrote tunes for Eddie Cochran, Brenda Lee, Bobby Vee and others, passed away from complications following a cerebral hemorrhage at Sherman Oaks Hospital in suburban Los Angeles on May 17th. She was 62. Next week we're again behooved to perform another remembrance of the music of the composer of such tunes as "Poor Little Fool", "Something Else" and "Dum Dum". Join us on WBCQ Shortwave at 7415 kHz at 8 PM Eastern, next Saturday night, Midnight UT Sunday. The program has been prerecorded and will be available on the web at the same time it is broadcast. The program we had planned to present this weekend, HOT! HOT! HOT!, is now postponed until June 1st. CARP UPDATE: The Librarian of Congress has rejected the recommendations by the arbitration panel, (CARP). The Librarian has to make the final decision as to the amount of the royalty and the reporting method by June 20th. Hopefully the rate that will be finalized will be a reasonable one. Since we use the facility of live365.com to relay our program, it will be their responsibility to accept or negotiate a rate and then pass the prorated cost on to us users. If we find the cost to be acceptable, we will continue on the air. Changes at live365.com: Please discard any old bookmarks you may have for us that are TCP/IP addresses, (example; http://66.28.48.194:7970). Live365.com now uses a system where the IP addresses are assigned on demand. This means that you can ONLY tune in using the station number, as in URL's below. Another major change is that our program now streams on demand, (from the beginning), you no longer join the show in the middle. To listen to our show either live on Saturday nights or the reruns, (which are on 24/7 starting Sunday mornings), in mono over a 33.6 dial-up, open up url http://www.live365.com/stations/15660 in your browser. The reruns are also in Stereo if you have a broadband connection at http://www.live365.com/stations/63579. You can also use http://www.live365.com/play/15660 or http://www.live365.com/play/63579 as the "open location" in your MP3 player program to go directly to the audio stream without the graphics. Please note our email address: bigstevecole@email.com for your requests, dedications and program ideas Sundays at 3 PM Eastern, (1900 UT), we present our "The Vault Of Vintage Vinyl" show on Doo Wop Café Radio. We play 90% Doo-Wop and the rest of the time something close to it on the show. Make a note to tune in. Link to http://www.doowopcaferadio.com and your real audio player will start automatically. For our program schedule use http://www.doowopcaferadio.com/schedule.html Check the Doo Wop Café website out for more information, the club has exclusively moved to Yahoo! While we're on the air our members can use the chat room to be interactive with the D.J., http://groups.yahoo.com/group/doowopcafe is the url. Remember to tune in Dave Kirby, N1DK, and his Cybershortwave Live program on live365.com. Join him at 11AM Eastern, 1600 UT, on alternate Sundays, (next show is scheduled for 5/26/02). Go to http://www.n1dk.com for the latest schedule. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> < "Big Steve" Coletti > < A Different Kind Of Oldies Show on WBCQ, 7415kHz Shortwave > < Saturday Evenings at 8:00 ET, 0000 UTC-Sunday > < E-mail: bigstevecole@email.com Web page: http://bigsteve.wbcq.net > < US Mail: P.O. Box 396, New York, NY 10002 > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ** U S A. For those that are interested in such things, I've posted some photos from my recent trip to Ohio on my website at http://community.webtv.net/am-dxer/ I added new pages for WLW, the former VOA site at Bethany, the Star Tower in Cincinnati, WONE, WING, WHIO, and an interesting series from the USAF Museum in Dayton. Enjoy! (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. /INTERNET Desde el viernes 17 de mayo a partir de la hora 1900, está en Internet la primera radio del Dpto. de Colonia (Uruguay) en integrarse a la Red. En http://www.corporacionro.com.uy podrán escuchar la Emisora Regional del Oeste (la antigua "Radio Berna" existente desde 1947) y "Reflejos" FM (Walter Dellature, foro "Rodelu", via Horacio Nigro, May 24, Conexión Digital via DXLD) OTRA SANDUCERA: Desde hace unos días otra emisora de Paysandú está en Internet. Se trata de MAXIMA FM 97.7, su página es http://www.maxima-fm.com En Paysandú ya están en la red: CASINO FM 96.3 http://www.paysandu.com/casinofm LATINA FM 95.3 http://www.paysandu.com/latinafm CANAL 4 CABLEVISION http://www.paysandu.tv Dentro de poco se les unirá MAS FM 101.3. Saludos (Horacio Colacce, Uruguay, May 25, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINE from CIS to VIETNAM. 15725, Voice of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Radio. Their website says Tuesday 1400-1500 and that they will be celebrating their one year anniversary [sic] in early June (via Hans Johnson, May 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE - 7310.72, R. Voice of the People *0330-0400+ May 21. Sign on with guitar theme, "Radio Voice of the People" ID, frequencies, then into usual talks with mentions of "fundamental human rights," "democratic change," etc. VG signal but hampered by QRN and usual 7315 splatter. Music break at 0344, with an Afro-reggae number, then more talks. Deteriorated after about 0350. Also noted 5/23 with good signal (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ GRUNDIG EMERGENCY RADIO Concerning Will Martin's report about wind-up Grundig radio: Its picture and all characteristics are available at http://www.heartlandamerica.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=53573936&EXTRA_ARG=&CFGNAME=MssFind%2Ecfg&host_id=1&page_id=64&query=Grundig&hiword=GRUNDIG+GRUNDIGS+ (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess it is the same one, but nowhere to be seen is the Grundig model number! Their stock number is 36024, discounted to $39.99. Resembles Sony ICF-5900W (gh, DXLD) Glenn, Radio Shack stores (USA) are also stocking this same "Grundig" wind-up set (at least for the time being). Price $39.99. Also being stocked at some (if not all) RS stores is the *single conversion* "Grundig G2000", (again) at least for the time being. This is that "porsche (case) design" set. Price $99.99. (and for course the YB-400 that we all already know about now being stocked at Radio Shack). (Dave Zantow, Janesville, WI, May 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-084, May 23, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1132: (ONDEMAND from May 24) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1132.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630, Mon 0000 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 NAm ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. TAJIKISTAN. According to a local DXer, Radio Free Afghanistan started to use Orzu 972 kHz from 1930 UT (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 23, MW-DX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. ESTONIA/USA: RADIO FREE AFGHANISTAN HEADED BY ESTONIAN | Excerpt from report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Tallinn, 23 May: A new ten-hour daily service for Afghanistan launched by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty earlier this year is headed by Andres Ilves, brother of Estonia's moderate leader and ex-Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Andres Ilves, 42, is director of Radio Free Afghanistan since 1 May, the weekly Eesti Ekspress reported. The US government-financed Radio Free Afghanistan started broadcasts on 30 January and is airing a 10.5-hour programme in the Dari and Pashto languages daily. Of the 50 employees of the service, 20 come from the eight largest cities in Afghanistan, the weekly reported... He [Andres Ilves] has also headed the San Francisco district prosecutor's office and was instrumental in launching RFE/RL broadcasts to Afghanistan in the mid-1980s, during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, according to the RFE/RL web page. Toomas Hendrik Ilves headed the Estonian service of the radio station at the time. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 0821 gmt 23 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6215.07 kHz, Radio Baluarte, 0046-0207, 23 Mayo 2002, escuchada nuevamente con sus programas religiosos en español y en português. ID a 0057 "Durante todo el día la mejor compañía, Futuro FM 101.7, Maranatha AM 1610 kilohertz, y Radio Baluarte ondas cortas de 49 metros en la frecuencia de 6215 kilohertz, tres radios y una sola misión, hacer misión en las tres fronteras de América", luego avisos de Grupo Conquistadores en Acción, Gran fiesta del Círculo de Oración Camino Nuevo. A 0103 ID "Durante todo el día la mejor compañía, Futuro FM 101.7, Maranatha AM 1610 kilohertz, y Radio Baluarte ondas cortas de 49 metros en la frecuencia de 6215 kilohertz, durante todo el dia buena música y buena programación, tres radios con una sola misión", luego a 0104 programa "Atendiendo a los Niños", con saludos de niños que llaman a la emisora y música. A 0200 ID idem 0057. A 0207 programa rlg llamado "Encontro com Jesús". SINPO: 45433 (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Checked 6215 at 0000-0200 May 19, but heard nothing (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Brian heard it previously, tho, q.v. ** AUSTRIA. 17875, R. Africa International, May 15 *1459-1511 34433 French and English, 1459 s/on and music and ID and sairent. ID and address announce. Music program (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6883, 23/05 0945-1010, Radio Bartolina Z (?) Radio, programa religioso em aymará, ID às 1005 "Líder de comunicación rural y pop... Bartolina Zeta(?) Radio``. Pequeño trecho em inglés "...Aymara radio station". musicais religiosos em ritmos andinos. 44444. SCM Em Dezembro último o colega Rogildo F. Aragão, Cochabamba, Bolivia havia reportado a emissora Radiodifusora Impacto Cristiano, La Paz nesta freqüência. Pedi ao Rogildo sua ajuda para um possível esclarecimento (Samuel Cássio Martins, DX Clube do Brasil, São Carlos, SP, Sony 7600 G, longwire 25 metros, May 23, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4796.39, Radio Mallku, 0915 May 23. Noted a man and woman in Spanish comments/conversation. Signal was fair. 6105.51, Radio Panamericana, 1010 May 23. Noted Spanish comments with local type music. Lots of splatter here from strong QRM on 6110 kHz. Pan Americana was fair however. (Chuck Bolland, http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com Lake Worth, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Tente o site: http://www.radios.com.br/rela_ot1.htm para ondas curtas, e, http://www.radios.com.br/rela_am1.htm para AM, OK? Abraços, (Rogério Salvagni, radioescutas via DXLD) First one has a list by frequency of SW stations, maybe of some interest tho I can easily spot long-inactive entries, such as 15415, 17875... (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura, 17815.22, May 18-19, 2320-0258*, Portuguese talk, variety of romantic Brazilian ballads, lite instrumental music, lite jazz music. ID at 0001. Sign-off with NA. \\ 9615. Reception varied from poor to good on both frequencies due to QRM and QRN (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. OTTAWA - Radio-Canada, the CBC's French-language service, has reached a tentative deal with its 1,400 locked-out workers, federal Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw says. The workers, who have been off the job for two months, are to vote on the deal late Wednesday. Since the dispute began, Radio-Canada has been airing reruns, NHL hockey without commentary and pared-down news shows. Just a week ago, union members rejected a previous offer by just three votes. Union officials recommended members accept the previous offer. It included an eight per cent raise over three years and the creation of 152 permanent jobs, a union official said (via Ricky Leong, May 22, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. NORMAL SERVICE TO RESUME IRWIN BLOCK, Montreal Gazette, Thursday, May 23, 2002 Regular Radio-Canada and CBC television and radio programming will begin to return to the airwaves next week as a result of a tentative agreement reached yesterday. The first of 1,400 workers, including journalists, hosts and researchers, will begin reporting for shifts at 1 a.m. Saturday. Such popular shows as Radio-Canada's flagship newscast, the Téléjournal, and CBC radio's Daybreak and Home Run should be back on the air next week.... [includes chronology of the strike/lockout] http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=D633B62B-9432-4030-A999-C8F18B895695 (via Bill Westenhaver, QE, DXLD) ** CANADA. Update on the changes to on-air people on "Morning Edition" this week. The host, Ian Alexander, is Chief of Staff (Chef de Cabinet) at CBC TV in Toronto. Judith Bleier, who did the newsreading on Monday, is Manager, Radio Operations, English Radio Network, Montréal. (And, I suppose, was brought in to give Janet Irwin the holiday off.) Ian Alexander was busy telling us this morning that regular Montréal- produced programming would be back as of Monday...i.e. no "All in a Weekend" this weekend. News from Montréal will be back starting Saturday. At RCI, many of the announcer-producers and production assistants will be back on the job on Saturday and Sunday, to get the weekly feature programmes up and running as of Monday. That means that the only RCI programming you'll hear on the weekend will be the newscasts, but that things should be pretty much back to normal as of Monday. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QB, May 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. China National Radio (CNR) first program on 21660, with time pips and ID 1100 on 25 May [sic], into variety type program - good signal, // 17565 (Matt Francis, Australia, May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unusual on such high bands; jamming something really?? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 4820, Xizang PBS, 1955 May 22, instrumental music prior to sign on at 2000 with anthem, then ids in CC and in EE, reception was a bit rough though the male announcer appeared to say "South China Broadcasting Station". (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO, PEOPLE'S REP. TN3W, Josep, 18143 USB good strength in southern Oregon 2330-2400 22 May but speaker's French accent made for hard copy! URL info: http://www.ea3bt.com/ All reports go to EA3BT, Josep Gibert, C/Col-legi, 1, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltru, SPAIN. Return postage appropriate. (Bill Flynn, OR, May 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. LANGUAGES OF SHORTWAVE --- Czech An interesting program presented by R. Prague is ``The ABC`s of Czech`` concerning the language. The program attempts to explain some of the subtleties of the Czech language. A recent episode covered the letter C for Czech. ``Hello and welcome to the ABC of Czech. For this week`s episode I`m joined by Vladimir Tax and we`re going to look at the letter C [presumably with a hook over it, upside down ^ -- gh] which stands for Czech. Is it confusing? The whole series is about Czech, isn`t it? Sue it is, but this time we`ll talk about the word `Czech` itself which in Czech takes on surprisingly many different forms.`` The program goes on to explain the uses of the word Czech which can refer to the Czech Republic, the variations representing the Czech language and the names in Czech of the three historic lands of the country, Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia [not including Slovakia! -- gh]. Gender is an issue as well because the word for Republic is feminine, while the word for Language is masculine. ``There have been attempts to come up with a one-word name, and one is slowly but surely establishing itself, tho many people still have their reservations. The word is ``Cesko`` [presumably with the hook]. And it stands for the whole of the Czech Republic, so please don`t confuse it with ``Cechy`` which refers only to Bohemia, the western part of the country where the capital Prague is located. ``The inhabitants of Bohemia are Czechs. A male Czech is a `Czech`, a female Czech is `Czeka` -- genders are a catch in Czech. A person who lives in Moravia is `Moravan` -- and `Slezan` is someone who comes from Silesia. ``There are quite a few words in Czech for which English has a common term – Czech, don`t you think?`` The web page has the following warning: ``In order to properly view letters from the Czech alphabet it is necessary to set your browser to Central European languages.`` (Note: Czech lettering does not show up in this review properly; in some cases I have used a C where in Czech this would be accented –fw) (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, May ODXA Listening In via DXLD) I wish they would also go into how this very strange spelling arose in English. Cz- apparently has nothing to do with Czech orthography itself, and the only other word I can think of is Czar, which has nothing to do with Russian either, and represents a different sound! - -TS in Russian, just Z in English. To add to the confusion, Tsar/Czar derives from Caesar, as in great leader, which was originally in Latin a hard K- sound, preserved in its German cognate Kaiser. German is often the intermediate culprit between Slavic and English, but that doesn`t seem to be the case either, since Czechoslovakia was spelt in German, phonetically appropriately, as Tschechoslowakei, as I recall. No, Polish must be to blame, where CZ is the digraph for the English CH sound, or the Czech hooked-C sound. There is no reason in the world why we should not spell it in English, simply Chech. I`m surprised at the resistance to using `Czechia` --- oops, `Chechia` for the country, but AWR Wavescan doggedly keeps trying to popularise it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. R. Cristal Internacional, 5009.8, May 19 0220- 0240* Lively LA music, Spanish announcements, IDs. Sign-off with NA, very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Then uncovered HONDURAS, q.v. ** ESTONIA [and non]. Hi Glenn, I note the remark in DXLD by Ivan Grishin that "Andy Sennitt seems awfully quiet about this year's competition.". One reason for that is that The Netherlands is not participating this year, so there has been very little interest here. Under new rules, countries that do poorly one year skip participation the following year. This is to keep the total number of participants down to a manageable size - 20 this year, but it has been as high as 30. The official Web site at http://www.eurovision.tv/ has plenty of information for followers of this bizarre European ritual. This year's event in Tallinn has made history in one respect. It's the first time ever that the Eurovision Song Contest has featured as a separate item in the state budget of a participating nation! Estonia's surprise win last year must have caused apoplexy at Estonian TV, whose entire annual budget could easily have been consumed by this single event without special provision. The Estonian government realises that this event provides them with a unique opportunity to get their country on the international map. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, May 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3291.30, 0920-0940 news and weather items, into country and western music, good signal "let me remind you that your are listening to the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation." (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach FL, R75, May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. HRMI, 5010, May 19 0240-0254, PRESUMED with continuous religious music. Heard only during this 14-minute window. Audible after DR [q.v.] sign-off at 0240. But covered by a strong Madagascar at *0254 [q.v.] (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST). PERU is also on frequency! see last issue ** ISRAEL. Updated A-02 schedule for Kol Israel until October 6: ARABIC 0300-2115 5915 12150 BUKHARIAN 1200-1215 15640 17545 ENGLISH 0400-0415 9435 15640 17600 1030-1035 15640 17545 1600-1630 15615 17545 1900-1925 9435 11605 15615 15640 17545 FARSI 1400-1525 13850 Sun - Thu 15640 17545 1400-1500 13850 Fri & Sat 15640 17545 FRENCH 0500-0515 15640 17545 1000-1030 15640 17545 1530-1555 11605 15640 17545 1930-1945 9435 11605 15615 15640 17545 GEORGIAN 1215-1230 15640 17545 HEBREW 0100-0500 13580 0330-0500 11590 0500-1800 15760 0500-0100 17535 1600-0330 11585 1800-1845 15640 1800-0500 15760 May 1 - August 31 1800-0500 9345 September 1 - October 6 2000-2115 15640 HUNGARIAN 1645-1700 9435 15650 LADINO 1645-1700 15640 MOGHRABI 1625-1635 15640 ROMANIAN 1625-1645 9435 15650 RUSSIAN 1730-1900 9435 11605 SPANISH 1500-1525 15640 Sat only 17545 17665 1635-1645 15640 1945-2000 9435 11605 15615 15640 17545 YIDDISH 1600-1625 9435 15640 15650 1700-1725 9435 15650 73 from Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 23, via DXLD) Theoretically, but aren`t major cuts still expected July 1? (gh, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 4610, V. of Komala (V. of Kudilara) May 16 *1625- 1647, 35332-35232 Kurdish, 1625 s/on with Opening music and ID as "Dengi Komala". 1628 ID by man and opening announce. 1629 ID by man. Talk. 1628 ID as "Ehra Dange Kudilara, Ehra Dange Kudilara". 1629 ID as "Dengi Komala" (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. RTM, 5010.04, May 19 *0254-0335+. Sign-on with IS. 0258 anthem, short vernacular announcement and into church service with local religious music, vernacular sermon, religious recitations, very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. "Estación" is the term used in the Southwest and Mexico; "emisora" is unused and not generally understood. I just got through doing a seminar for the Broadcasters Assoc. of the valley of Mexico and I had to keep correcting myself to use "estación" as they did not understand emisora (David Gleason, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** PERU. César Pérez Dioses in Perú advises that Radio Marañón (MAR- an-YON) in Perú broadcasts on 4835 kHz at 1000-0200 UT with an acceptable signal as heard at Chimbote in coastal Perú. Their email address is correo@radiomaranon.org.pe and their web page can be found at http://www.radiomaranon.org.pe This station, Radio Marañón, radiates with 1 kW on their channel in the tropical 60 metre shortwave band and they are located at Jaén in Cajamarca province. Their licensed callsign is OCX2E. In his South American DX Report, César Peres Dioses states that of all the stations in Perú, this station, Radio Marañón, issues the most beautiful QSL card (AWR Wavescan May 26 via DXLD) Remarx on accentuation, pronouncers: as usual, we had to put the tilde and accent on Marañón. Of all Spanish station names, this one is really naked without them. It is a rule of Spanish that you don`t divide the N and the Y into different syllables! Furthermore, syllables start rather than end with consonants. And the word is certainly not stressed on both the first and last syllables. So it should be rendered: mah-rah-NYON. Pronouncers are deeply required for the Wavescan host, but he was not given one for the reporter`s name, so we can only imagine how it will come out. Note that PEH-ress requires an accent if it end in a Z, not if it end in an S, since words ending in consonants are automatically stressed final, except for -N and -S. A few minutes learning the basic regular rules of Spanish orthography can be of great benefit (Lic. Guillermo Glenn Hauser, Oclajoma, DXLD) ** PERU. 4826.36, Radio Sicuani, 0925 May 23. Some Huaynos music, but mainly a man in comments/ID. Signal was fair. 4834.94, Radio Marañón. 0927 May 23. Noted Huaynos and other music with Spanish comments. Signal was good. 4876.87, Radio La Cruz Del Sur. 0932 May 23. Noted a man in Spanish comments between selections of Huaynos music. Signal was fair. 4926.21, Radio San Miguel, 0944 May 23. Man in steady Spanish comments with mentions of Peru. Signal was good, but very distorted. (Chuck Bolland, http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com Lake Worth, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Hi Glenn, My RNW colleague Ehard Goddijn made a recording of a Russian broadcast on the odd frequency of 12508.5 kHz USB today between 0900 and 1000 UTC. I listened to the recording and there was a clear ID as 'Radio Metropole', presumably the commercial station of that name in Moscow. Audio sounded overmodulated, and since this was in the shipping band I suspect a station in the Moscow area was using the FM signal as a modulation source for technical adjustments or tests. Of course, the broadcast may not have been live, but I didn't hear any time checks in the portion I listened to. Maybe one of your Russian readers has some idea why this was on. 73, (Andy Sennitt, May 22, WORLD OF RADIO 1132, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA. ST HELENA CELEBRATES THE RESTORATION OF FULL CITIZENSHIP --- By Judy van der Walt in St Helena and Tim Butcher, Africa Correspondent (Filed: 22/05/2002) St Helena's 5,000-strong population on the remote Atlantic island staged a noisy double celebration yesterday marking 500 years since the island was discovered, and the restoration to the islanders of full British citizenship.... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/05/22/whelen22.xml (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Now maybe they can get around to QSLing... (gh, DXLD) ** SOMALIA. PUNTLAND LEADER YUSUF ORDERS CLOSURE OF PRIVATE RADIO, TV STATION | Text of report by Somali HornAfrik Online text web site on 22 May Col Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmad has ordered the closure of SBC [as published, expansion untraced] Radio and TV station in Boosaaso [Puntland's commercial port city]. The director of the station, Mowlid Haji Abdi, told HornAfrik on telephone from Boosaaso that he received a written message bearing Col Yusuf's signature which stated that, as from today, the station would not be permitted to operate, consequently leading to its closure. Mr Mowlid said the station was a year ago permitted to operate by Col Yusuf himself, who is today accusing it of operating illegally. He said the station was impartial in its reporting, though people close to Col Yusuf say it supported the administration of Jama Ali Jama [deposed Puntland leader]. In his message to the police, Col Yusuf ordered that action be taken against the station should it defy the order to close it down. The station's management in the town view Col Yusuf's order as a violation of the rights of the media and freedom of statement. Source: HornAfrik Online text web site, Mogadishu, in Somali 22 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. PUNTLAND AUTHORITIES SHUT DOWN RADIO, TV; BBC PROGRAMMES MISSED | Excerpt from report by UN regional information network IRIN on 23 May The authorities of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland have withdrawn the licence of the Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) radio and television, based in the region's commercial capital, Boosaaso, an SBC official told IRIN on Thursday [23 May]. "At around 10 a.m. [07:00 GMT] yesterday [Wednesday], we received an official letter informing us that our licence had been withdrawn and we should, therefore, shut the station down," SBC manager Ali Abdi Aware said. "As I am speaking to you, we are off the air in Boosaaso," he added. According to Aware, the authorities accused the SBC of breaking the region's press laws. Other sources in Boosaaso told IRIN that the SBC had been targeted for perceived bias against the Puntland leader, Col Abdullahi Yusuf, and "supporting and the interim government in Mogadishu and Jama Ali Jama [the former Puntland leader]"... The SBC was also accused by the Puntland authorities of having "a political agenda inimical to the Puntland state", according to sources in Boosaaso. Attempts by IRIN to get comment from the authorities in Puntland were unsuccessful. Aware denied any partiality in the SBC's reporting. "We have been impartial to a fault in our reporting. We have not supported Jama Ali or Abdullahi Yusuf," he said. "In fact, we challenged the authorities to come up with a single programme that could be construed as biased." Wednesday was a sad day for the free press in Puntland, Aware told IRIN. "This is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate and muzzle the private press in Puntland," he said, pointing out that he had no legal recourse to challenge the order. A local journalist told IRIN that many people in Boosaaso missed their BBC Somali broadcast on Wednesday, which used to be relayed by the SBC station. "There are a lot of unhappy BBC listeners in Boosaaso today," he said. However, Aware said the SBC sub-stations in Garowe, the regional capital and Qardo, the third-largest town in Puntland, were operating normally and carrying BBC programmes as usual. Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Nairobi, in English 23 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. R.G. STAIR ARRESTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA POPULAR RADIO PREACHER CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF RAPE By Libby Roerig, Associate Editor, Copyright May 17, 2002 Published with permission by The Press and Standard, Walterboro, SC Reproduction is strictly prohibited without written authorization from the publisher. Protected by a ``Keep Out, No Trespassing`` sign and the word of God, Ralph Gordon Stair's religious community, The Overcomer Ministry, has been a mystery to Colletonians for decades — that is until his arrest Thursday.... http://www.americanfreedomnews.com/afn_articles/afn_stair_arrested.htm (via John Norfolk, DXLD) Previously shown as http://www.thenetteam.com should be: http://www.thenetteam.net Overcomer site still has the two newspaper stories displayed, fuzzily. More stories about Stair, not previously referenced here: Stair`s Daughter Testifies: http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=21721&ck= Teresa Stair`s Testimony [wife]: http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=21723&ck= (Remnants Hope website, which also has earlier items, via DXLD) ** U S A. 9475, WWCR Nashville TN (presumed); 2104-2115+, 19 May; Bro. Stair talking about Planet X reeking havoc on our climate this summer and GW is covering it up. Didn't mention his recent sexual misconduct problems ...giving a whole new meaning to "Overcomer Ministry". SIO=433/pulsing QRM (no pun intended). (Harold Frodge. MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** U S A. EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REVIEW Lyndon Larouche is a perpetual candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for President and in my opinion something of a whacko. Was looking at his website via the WWCR links page --- anyone who disagrees with him, or opposes him, is a psychopath. His ramblings can be heard on WWCR, 2100 UT Sundays [-2200 on 12160]. While swearing up and down that he is NOT a racist, he goes on and on about the Lieberman-Brzinsky [sic] cabal and centres out any politician with a Jewish-sounding name as being part of a conspiracy. He also boasts some interesting claims. Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) was a Reagan-Larouche plan. He claims to have made a number of accurate predictions, most of which are only accurate after the fact. For instance, Israel was going to launch an attack on Iraq before Sec Powell got to the Middle East. He is a crackpot. I guess that makes me a psycopath (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, May ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A. I happened to hear an episode of ``Smoke This!``, a cigar- friendly, very conservative (and very entertaining) talk show heard on stations throughout the US and in this case at 6 pm Saturdays on WBEN 930 in Bufgfalo, NY. The host, ``Cigar Dave`` mentioned that the program could be heard on SW and gave a frequency around 25 MHz (which regrettably I did not get). Perhaps this is [WFLA, 25870] mentioned previously in DXLD by Terry Krueger? (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, May ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** U S A. Weekly Update for May 22, 2002 WJIE International Shortwave Radio May 22, 2002 Thank you to everyone for your responses over the past several weeks regarding the relaunch of WJIE International Shortwave. God bless you for your prayers and support of our efforts to reach a hurting and dying world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have had a number of programmers who have decided to come on air with us. I wanted to provide a list of those for you with this update: DAILY PROGRAMS [no times given] Word Alive! (TV Broadcast)............Doctor Bob Rodgers The Word..............................Doctor Bob Rodgers The Power of Faith....................Phillip Derber Grace Fellowship......................Ron Callahan Edge of Prophecy......................Doctor O'Neal Carmen Hour of Healing (TV Broadcast)........Doctor Richard Roberts Focus on the Family...................Doctor James Dobson Insight For Living....................Chuck Swindoll Living Way............................Jack Hayford WEEKLY PROGRAMS In His Steps..........................Watchmen Ministry A Brighter Day........................Jane Rogowski Go Tell Ministries....................Joseph & Diana Schiech You Can Touch Him.....................Franklin Walden Dr. Michael Williams..................Dr. Michael Williams Evangel Church Live Broadcast.........Evangel World Prayer Center Revival Ministries Intl(TV Broadcast).Doctor Rodney Howard-Browne As you can see, we have been very busy, thus the delay in getting an update to you. You may be saying to yourself, how can my church or ministry get involved? It is really very easy. All you need to do is call us at 502-968-1220 and ask for SHORTWAVE and we will be glad to assist you in reaching an international audience. The following lists our rates for broadcast time: ...............................Daily.......Weekly 14 1/2 Minutes................$25.00.......$30.00 29 1/2 Minutes................$40.00.......$45.00 59 1/2 Minutes................$70.00.......$80.00 Remember our web-site is http://www.wjiesw.com and you can email us at any time as wjiesw@hotmail.com That mail is checked regularly, so do not hesitate to write. It is so exciting to see how God is bringing everything together for this project. Please continue to pray for us as we seek to share God's Good News. If you would like to have shortwave station manager Doc Burkhart come and share with you and your congregation the vision of shortwave radio, please call 502-968-1220 or email wjiesw@hotmail.com (WJIE Newsletter May 22 via DXLD) ** U S A. Here's the latest, straight from the horse's mouth, about the rebuild at KWMT/KKEZ in Fort Dodge. I'd guess we'll hear both 540 and 94.5 back at full power within a couple of months at the latest, and probably sooner for the FM (-s[COTT FYBUSH, NRCAM via DXLD) Just wondering if you'd be interested in some pictures of our tower rebuild, which is finally getting underway. 640 feet of mighty steel rolled onto the property this morning on the back of 3 flatbed trucks, will send a pic of that after I get off the air this morning. I will be posting 2 or 3 pics daily on our website to show the progress of a tower being erected from the ground up (Jay Thompson, Mix 94.5 KKEZ via Fybush, ibid.) ** U S A. ALABAMA EAR INSTITUTE OFFERS FREE WEATHER RADIOS TO DEAF BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BUSINESS WIRE) May 21, 2002 --- The Alabama Ear Institute, in conjunction with ABC 33/40, is sponsoring a program that will place weather radios that have been modified as assistive alerting devices in the homes of 100 deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals living in the state. Equipped with strobe lights, the person is alerted to approaching bad weather and the radios feature alpha/numeric readouts that detail the warnings. "When a tornado hits Alabama, most of us are aware of the danger because of a warning siren or the announcements on the television or radio," said Dr. Robert Baldwin, chairman and director of the Alabama Ear Institute. "If you are deaf, there is no guarantee that you will know about the approaching bad weather, especially if you live alone." The Alabama Ear Institute has worked with Midland Radio and X-10 to construct a weather radio, complete with strobe light and alpha/numeric readouts, which will alert persons who are deaf to impending inclement weather. "We are very excited to be able to give these radios away because we know they may save lives," said Dr. Robert Baldwin, "Because of this radio, a person who is deaf will know when a storm is approaching so they can take proper steps to protect themselves." One hundred people who are deaf or hard of hearing can get a free weather radio alert system simply by calling The Alabama Ear Institute at 205/879-4234. The radios will be given out on a first-called-first- served basis. The public can make donations to this program, increasing the number of people receiving the modified radios, by calling 205/879-4234. The Alabama Ear Institute is a 501 (c) (3) public, not-for-profit foundation dedicated to touching and improving the lives of children and adults who are affected by hearing loss or deafness. For more information on the services and programs of the Alabama Ear Institute, call 205/879-4234 (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 9620, SODRE. Technical personnel at station confirm they continue on a 24h sked on this frequency (Horacio A. Nigro Montevideo - Uruguay, May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very low power, no? UNIDENTIFIED. 29810/U, 1951-2004, 20-May; M&W in SS w/short messages ending often w/"cambio". Also used "onda carta" (not "corta"); mistake or "short card/message"? Also used "Atencion trabaja" (not "trabajadores"). Don't hold me to this but thought I heard "Chiapas" once. Nothing after 2004 except an occasional whirring sound thru 2016. This freq is used by Argentinian commercial relays. Too much QRN on 20276 and 15820 to check for Argentinians. Fair (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE TIPSHEET via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary May 7 2002 through May 20 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 5/ 8 187 9 2 none minor 5 9 190 10 1 none minor 5 10 191 13 3 none minor 10 11 188 35 4 moderate minor 8 geo storms 12 183 14 4 none minor 8 13 172 10 4 none minor 6 14 161 27 4 moderate minor 8 geo storms 15 159 11 2 minor minor 7 16 158 9 2 none minor 8 17 157 6 2 minor minor 4 18 163 14 4 minor minor 7 geo storms 19 171 16 2 minor minor 3 5/20 171 12 2 strong minor 2 ************************************************************ (IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) A CME (coronal mass ejection) left the Sun on May 22 and is expected to hit the earth and trigger a geomagnetic storm on Thurs May 23 or (more likely) Fri May 24. Auroras could be present both nights. Earth will also be buffeted with a solar wind stream flowing from the coronal hole for during the days ahead. The solar wind gusts could stir up addition geomagnetic activity. DON'T TURN YOUR RECEIVERS OFF. Even when the bands seem dead, there are DX possibilities (Mark Coady, ODXA May 23 via DXLD) Space Weather News for May 23, 2002 http://www.spaceweather.com A coronal mass ejection (CME) that billowed away from the Sun on May 22nd is heading toward Earth. The expanding cloud could trigger a geomagnetic storm at middle latitudes when it arrives on Thursday, May 23rd or (more likely) Friday, May 24th. Sky watchers should remain alert for auroras on both nights. Our planet will also encounter a solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole during the days ahead. Solar wind gusts could stir up additional geomagnetic activity. Stay tuned to spaceweather.com for updates. [Later:] Space Weather News for May 23, 2002 A geomagnetic storm is underway on Thursday, May 23rd, after a coronal mass ejection struck Earth's magnetic field earlier and with greater energy than anticipated. Sky watchers, especially those at high latitudes, should be alert for auroras after local nightfall on Thursday. Observers in, e.g., northern Europe, Canada and across the northern tier of US states are favored, but mid-latitude observers might spot something, too, if the storm continues and intensifies. Visit spaceweather.com for updates (via David Toste, ODXA, DXLD) [SWL] AURORA AND MAJOR STORM ALERT Aurora conditions exist at this moment. The shock that reached the Earth environment around 1030UT today is likely to induce major storm levels in the next few hours. In addition, the probable combination of the two last CME on May 22 is likely to arrive on May 24 late, causing active to major storm magnetic disturbances. WATCH FOR CONTINUAL AURORA. Degraded HF Communications, especially over the poles and higher latitudes are likely. Global HF Conditions: Low Latitude is POOR. Mid Latitude is POOR. High Latitude is in a Polar Cap Absorption Event. More info: http://prop.hfradio.org/ and with wireless at http://wap.hfradio.org/ 73 de Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA -- : CQ Propagation Editor, CQ Magazine - - http://prop.hfradio.org : : Brinnon, Washington 122.93W 47.67N -- http://hfradio.org/barsc : : http://hfradio.org http://swl.hfradio.org http://accessnow.com : : 10x56526 - FISTS 7055 - FISTS NW 57 - Member Army MARS & ARRL : : A.R.Lighthouse Society 144 -- CW, SSB, RTTY, AMTOR, DX-Hunting : (May 23, 1344 UT via swl via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO + LIGHT & SCIENCE The new 26th anniversary C. Crane Company catalog, No. 13, is now available, cover price $1.00. Headlined by the CCRadio Plus, their own AM/FM/TV Audio/Weather+Alert radio. Plus various SW radios, antennas and accessories. Includes a full page of gh`s updated SHORTWAVE FREQUENCY list, country by country, the best frequencies to tune for broadcasts in English. Consult http://www.ccrane.com, E-mail ccraneco@aol.com Order line: 1-800-522-8863 (TUNE) (gh, DXLD) NEW (?) WIND-UP SW RADIO Hi, Glenn! I received a new catalog from "Heartland America", the mail-order dealer who has had some various SW radios in their catalog in the past. This one has a wind-up analog-tuned SW model from Grundig that I had never seen before. If it is known to others already, just ignore this, but if it is newsworthy, I thought you might like to include the reference. It is a tan-faced box with a crank handle on the left and an analog dial on the top, with what appears to be a leather-like carrying strap on top. There is an "emergency light" to the left of the dial, too. A speaker at the lower left, and a bandswitch at the lower right. 2 other switches for power selection and on/off for the light. A tuning knob is on the right side top by the dial; it appears to have two concentric knobs for fast and fine tuning. A whip comes out of the back, not the top, if the picture can be trusted. Dimensions are given as 6 3/4" W x 5 3/4" H x 2 1/8" D, speaker 2 1/2". Coverage appears to be full expanded MW band, regular US FM, and two SW bands, with the dial showing 3.2 - 7.6 MHz for one and 9.2 - 22 MHz for the other. The generator is claimed to run the radio for 1 hour after cranking for 1 minute. There is a rechargeable battery pack, details unspecified. Model shown in the picture is Grundig FR- 200. Heartland America is at 1-800-229-2901. Their stock # for this is V6-36024. Price is $39.99, shipping free, but every order has a $1.99 "processing fee". Mailing address is 8085 Century Blvd., Chaska, MN 55318-3056. They also sell reconditioned Grundigs and lots of other electronic, tool, and miscellaneous gizmos, so it is worth getting the catalog to see if there is other stuff you just have to own... :-) 73, (Will Martin, MO, May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MOTOBRAS Previously under BRAZIL we had a link to this manufacturer of car radios in Brasil, including at least one model, Toucan V, which has SW – but upon closer inspection it`s just the 49 and ``62`` meter bands, naturally of great interest in Brazil (tho how about 90 and 120, as well as 31, and 25, still well occupied, even 19 and 16 to some extent...?), and – they are obviously analog. Following item says they are junk: (gh, DXLD) Boas, não recomendo de modo algum os radios da MOTOBRAS. São um lixo, surdos, mal acabados etc. Eu possuo uma pequena locadora de veiculos, comprei 3 e quebrei a cara. Tive que devolver 2 depois das reclamações de meus clientes. Infelizmente não são o mesmo produto da antiga MOTORÁDIO. Um abraço a todos....(Marcus de Abreu Campanário, May 22, radioescutas via DXLD) L.F. ENGINEERING H800 SKYMATCH AMPLIFIED ANTENNA I must tell you about an antenna I have had for a while up at our lake cabin at Tenkiller that until recently I never gave a chance to work, as long, beautiful dipoles going every which way, a loop with a 250' circumference, extremely long longwires with ML baluns going for more than a quarter of a mile did not do diddly. I was up last week for some maintenance (yard mow, make sure everything worked as my mother was going to go up, etc.) when on a lark I pulled out an L.F. Engineering H800 Skymatch amplified antenna and attached it to the top of an 8' piece of wood with a piece of duct tape. It was like heaven, day and night with my new Sony ICF7600GR and my old standby Yaesu FRG 9600. I was able to listen to VOA's Nightline Africa, Music Time in Africa, news, etc. on 15580 in the afternoon and it sounded local. This is not much of a catch, I know, but it is a big one to me as I have been nothing but disappointed since I began to DX in the NE Oklahoma Lake country with its hills and sharp valleys. At night it was anything I wanted to hear. Obviously conditions must have been good this day (WED/THUR last week) because I have never - ever, ever (as Dick Gephart says) had things so good. This antenna is sold by Grove http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT15.html and purports to be a 100' longwire equivalent in a 26" X 1" PVC unit with 50 feet of RG174U + RCA connector. I used it without any power through its box that one can either plug in via adapter or use 2 9V batteries. Actually, upon powering it up all I really noticed was an increase in background hash. The unit is a little steep at $130 which is greatest downfall. I originally bought it hoping I might be able to figure a decent way to mount it mobilely to use with my Becker-Mexico but it was not to be. If you travel and can get this thing up off the ground + get past the price I would recommend it. For inside motels and such I think the Sony ALP amplified antenna is probably still the best for that. All the best to you. Thanks for the continuing treasure-trove of information (LeRoy Long, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-083, May 22, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1132 available early UT May 23: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1132.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1132.html [summaries are not usually available until later Thursday] FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, UT Thu 0500 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5075 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. V. of Afghanistan still on both 15480 and 17870 today. 17870 weak on all antennas, 15480 up to S-5 to S-7 on the SE antenna. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 8700: See SINGAPORE ** ALASKA. KNLS, Anchor Point, English at 1300 UT now on 11565 from 16 May (replacing 11870). KNLS's other English transmission (at 0800 UT) still on 11765 (http://www.knls.org via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, May 22 via DXLD) Too much WEWN QRM de 11875? ** ARGENTINA. Maranatha, 6215.03, May 11 0015-0130+, Spanish religious music, announcements, ads, jingles, sermon. Weak-fair. I had this as an unID, but thanks to WOR for the ID. Also May 18 at 0030-0130+ with Spanish talk, LA music (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6215.04, 17 May 2200-0100, R. Maranatha, Puerto Iguazú. Was still audible after 01 UT when my minidisk had reached the end. Myself, I had already returned to bed earlier. This has regularly been heard slightly under 6215 but was now heard on this decimal (Hannu Tikkanen, Espoo, Finland, Japan R NRD535 and an "L" of 50 meters, two ALA 100 loops, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. This week`s LINGUA FRANCA: See TIMOR EAST [non] ** BANGLADESH. On May 20 Bangladesh waived a short-lived ban on 11 of 13 foreign television channels it had prohibited 24-hours earlier for spreading vulgarity. The government of the Moslem nation had banned the satellite and cable channels, including MTV, Channel-V, Hallmark, AXN, Star Movies, Star World and HBO, to prevent what the government termed an "invasion" of alien culture. But the ban remains on two music channels -- MTV and Channel-V. Foreign channels are popular in Bangladesh where state-run Bangladesh Television devotes much of its airtime to the government at work (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan May 22 via DXLD) And: Bangladesh pulls plug on foreign channels Bangladesh has ordered 13 foreign satellite TV stations off air because of alleged 'cultural invasion'. Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/- /hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1998000/1998035.stm (via George Lessard, CAJ-List, via Ricky Leong, QU, DXLD) ** CANADA. from http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2304 [This should also be on RCI... 1400-1600 UT Sunday] CBC FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS BRINGING THE WORLD HOME Ever wonder how foreign correspondents survive when it's freezing cold and the bullets are flying? How female correspondents manage in cultural environments in which they're not welcome? How you tell a complex story in only a sesquiminute or so? These questions and others about the nature of foreign correspondence will be raised on Sunday, May 26 when CBC presents Foreign Correspondents: Bringing the World Home, a joint production of CBC Radio, CBC Television, and CBC Newsworld from the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. From 10 a.m. to noon ET live on CBC Radio One, correspondents Patrick Brown (Bangkok), Mike Hornbrook (Jerusalem), Laura Lynch (Washington) and others talk about what it's like to try to capture the world for Canadian audiences, using the current "war on terror" as a focal point. Hosted by Michael Enright and Rick MacInnes-Rae. Then Peter Mansbridge hosts a forum from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET, simulcast live on CBC Television and CBC Newsworld, in which correspondents David Halton (Washington), Neil Macdonald (Jerusalem), and Azeb Wolde- Giorghis (London), among others, answer audience questions about the stories they've covered over the past year and what they see ahead. Foreign Correspondents: Bringing the World Home coincides with a day of public activities in Ottawa. The event is on from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the National Gallery. CBC Radio and CBC Newsworld are recording three additional panel discussions for later broadcast, as well as offering chances to meet the correspondents, to "Be a Correspondent" and find out what it's like to read the news, to learn about the history of foreign reporting at CBC, and more. The CBC mandate is to enlighten, reflect and connect Canadians. It is a meeting place for telling stories and engaging in vigorous debate. This day is an example of a fresh approach to programming that only CBC can deliver - that meets the needs of Canadians to better understand the world we live in while fulfilling our promise to Canadians to deliver the very best in distinctive and relevant journalism (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHINA. Re 7155 unID: Indeed Xinjiang PBS has made a recent change, abandoning the lower morning/evening frequencies in favour of their daytime companions. This affects at least 7155, 7230, 7275, 7340, 11885, which now run full time (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Olle and everyone, Thanks for the information - I found, in addition to 7155, that 7230 was also well audible at 1730 over a co- channel, which may have been a BBC Meyerton outlet - IS heard at 1745 - and I assume this one is the Mongolian service of XJ(P)BS. 7340 was a clear channel and heard at similar level to the other two - I assume Kazakh. ID was heard. All three (7155 7230 7340) went off at 1800. 7275 was occupied by another station at this time, and I'm not sure what I was listening to on 11885 - it seemed a C. Asia type language. These need more investigation I think! Best 73's (Noel Green, England, May 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. FALUN GONG HIJACK TV IN SECOND CHINESE CITY BEIJING, May 10 (Reuters) - Defiant members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group hijacked the airwaves of a second northeastern Chi- nese city in April to show footage protesting a government crackdown on their faith, witnesses said on Friday. Images touting the virtues of Falun Gong were broadcast on thousands of television sets in a district of the industrial hub of Harbin on the night of April 21, a TV repairman told Reuters. "I heard it went on for about five minutes," said the worker in Har- bin, capital of Heilongjiang province which borders Russia. "Other sub-districts in the city were not affected." A local broadcast bureau official confirmed the incident had taken place but would give no details. Police and government officials declined comment. The move was the latest in a string of high profile attempts by Falun Gong to try and convince the public that adherents suffer wrongful persecution by a Communist government which is trying to crush it. Falun Gong hacked into a cable television broadcast in the northeastern city of Changchun on March 5 to show a similar film. The airings have been among the group's most daring actions since it was banned in 1999 after followers shocked leaders with a mass protest at their Beijing leadership compound to demand recognition of their faith. In late March, Falun Gong adherents slipped poems by their exiled leader Li Hongzhi into an economic page of the Guangzhou Daily newspaper describing suffocating sandstorms over China, alluding to widespread death and imminent salvation. China, always on the look out for seeds of social unrest, is particularly wary of threats to one-party rule given plans for a critical leadership reshuffle late this year and wrenching economic reforms which have thrown millions out of work. "EVOLVING METHODS" Falun Gong, which combines traditional Chinese exercise with Taoism and Buddhism, appears to be turning to new tactics such as intrusions into state press following a nationwide crackdown. Followers, once believed to number millions, have been driven under- ground and now rarely protest in Beijing's politically sensitive Tiananmen Square where a rash of foreigners have unfurled protest banners and deported in recent months. The New York-based Falun Dafa Information Centre said earlier in a statement the group had hijacked the airways of large Chinese cable networks five times in the past three months. This could not be independently verified. Police have arrested more than 20 Falun Gong members for the March 5 incident. They could face prison terms of up to 15 years, according to Chinese officials. The New York centre also said that Falun Gong's methods of trying to bring an end to persecution in China were evolving but the message remained the same. "No longer appealing just in Beijing, practitioners and supporters of Falun Gong clarify the truth about the persecution on thousands of street corners, sign-posts, highway overpasses and increasingly, on millions of televisions throughout China," it said. China's campaign against Falun Gong has drawn sharp criticism from some U.S. rights groups who maintain the International Olympic Committee overlooked human rights considerations in the world's most populous country. Some rights groups hope the 2008 Beijing Olympics will encourage greater scrutiny of China's rights record and be a catalyst for change for the better. http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/aolns_display.adp?key=200205100159000282337_aolns.src (via N. Grace-USA May 10, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi, 9550 reactivated, May 11 2130-2200+, presumed with mostly continuous African vocals. Jingles. Poor with a lot of co- channel QRM and splatter; USB+carrier (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Hello Glenn, On a visit to Washington DC this weekend, a source inside the IBB told me about the most under-reported media news story of last week: the failure of Radio Martí to carry President Carter's Havana speech live last week. The only news outlet to pick up the story, I was told, was the "Radio Martí Observer" corner of the http://www.cubapolidata.com website -- a website I'd not heard of but one I now see has a lot of useful information. Discussions leading up to this decision within the R. Martí newsroom were very heated, said the source. My source told me that R. Martí's call was based on the fact the state-run Cuban media had elected to carry the (pro-democracy) speech live, and thus for R. Martí to do the same thing would somehow be showing support for Castro. (!?!) Yes, this did not make sense to me nor my source, but of course Radio and TV Martí often operate in a parallel bizarro-world which us mere mortals cannot comprehend. The text of the Martí/Carter story follows, and came from http://www.cubapolidata.com/rmo/archive/200205.html (Tom Roche, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO MARTÍ DELAYS BROADCAST OF CARTER SPEECH --- Thursday, May 16 Former President Jimmy Carter delivered an important speech Tuesday at the University of Havana to the Cuban nation that was broadcast live on Cuban state television and radio, yet, the OBSERVER has learned from sources that Radio Martí inexplicably did not broadcast Carter's historic speech that called for permitting a referendum to bring broad reform of political rights and castigated the socialist system for the denial of basic freedoms. However, sources allege that administrators, to save face, ordered the speech's broadcast Wednesday morning and afternoon. This editorial misjudgment is reminiscent of then Radio Martí Director Roberto Rodríguez-Tejera's decision to delay for four hours the news of Elian González's seizure on April 21st, 2000. Since Rodríguez- Tejera's abrupt departure in December of last year, there has been an administrative vacuum in the directorship of Radio Martí and the body of editorial decisions are being made by news director Lázaro Asencio and Agustín Alles. It is uncertain at this time who made the decision not to broadcast the speech live but nonetheless a full investigation is warranted for such a blunder. It is incomprehensible that an entity of US international broadcasting (chartered to provide uncensored news and information to the Cuban populace) neglected for a day to transmit a momentous speech by a former US president filled with undertones of democracy and freedom delivered on Cuba's political stage that has been unilaterally subjugated by Fidel Castro for forty-three years. Is this a precursor for what's to come from a station that will play a critical role in a post-Castro transition process? Moreover, IBB insiders believe that this foolish error will benefit enormously BBG Executive Director Brian Coniff and BBG Legal Counsel Carol Booker -- whom both politically protected Herminio San Román (OCB Director during the Clinton Administration) and Roberto Rodríguez-Tejera -- given that the present director of OCB, Salvador Lew, will be seen as a worse administrator than San Román. An administrative sanction will definitely be imposed, but will it be enforced? One can surely count on it and it will be swift and severe as opposed to the leniency afforded to Rodríguez-Tejera who never served a day of his two-week suspension for the Elián broadcast debacle (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. BUSH ADDRESSES CUBAN PUBLIC ON RADIO MARTÍ By Nick Grace, CRW Washington Bureau [May 20] The Cuban public received a surprise earlier today when U.S. President George Bush addressed listeners on Radio Martí. "For those listening on Radio Martí," he said at the end of a speech to commemorate 100 years of Cuban Independence in Miami, "it's important for you to know the United States stands with the Cuban people. Not just on Independence Day, but on every day. Every day. Every day we stand with those who reject tyranny and torture, and embrace liberty and life. Every day we stand with the plantados in prison confronting illegitimate power with righteous truth. Every day we stand with the Cuban families everywhere seeking a better future. Every day we cultivate 'una rosa blanca' for Cuba's freedom." The speech, according to the Associated Press, was not broadcast or discussed on government-run media in Cuba. Radio Martí, launched in 1985 to break Cuban President Fidel Castro's control over the domestic airwaves, is expected to play an important role in the Bush administration's policy towards Cuba. The surrogate broadcast service has been largely ignored by previous administrations and its management, many argue, have lost sight of the station's original mission. Bush has promised to "modernize" the station and its sister service, TV Martí, and "strengthen their voices with strong leadership and (a) new direction." See also: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020520-6.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/05/20010518-7.html (via Nick Grace C., DC, Clandestine Radio Watch May 22 via DXLD) Ante un auditorio de 4,500 cubanoamericanos que le proporcionaron 11 ovaciones prolongadas en 31 minutos, el Presidente George W. Bush, aseguro en la Casa Blanca con motivo del Centenario de la Independencia Cubana, que entre las medidas adoptadas en favor de la Democracia de Cuba la siguiente: "Mi gobierno también continuará buscando maneras de modernizar a Radio y TV Martí, porque aun los muros de opresión más sólidos no pueden quedar en pie cuando se abren las compuertas de la información y el conocimiento". Nueva página web de Radio y TV Martí: http://www.martinoticias.com/ U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Todos los interesados en ponerse en contacto con Radio y Televisión Martí, aquí la nueva dirección vigente desde hoy 20 de Mayo del 2002. Martinoticias@ocb.ibb.gov (Oscar (Miami), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. DANISH GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE The Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new official Web site, which includes up-to-date Danish and international news in English, French, German and Spanish. The move comes as Denmark prepares to take over the presidency of the European Union on 1 July 2002. Except for a few special transmissions, the country's external service, Radio Denmark, has broadcast only in Danish for many years. This has deprived people around the world of learning more about Denmark. Although there are plenty of Web sites with information about the country in foreign languages, this is the first time that such a wide range of information has been available in one place. The Danish government hopes to boost investment and tourism through the site, which can be accessed at http://www.denmark.dk (© Radio Netherlands Media Network, May 21 via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Re 5010: Hola, Víctor [Castaño, Uruguay]. En esa frecuencia se escucha una estación de la Republica Dominicana. Hoy 21 de mayo a las 2205 UT he estado escuchando en la frecuencia indicada, 5010 kHz, un programa en el que se hacen comentarios sobre la situación política en la isla, y la situación en uno de los distritos, se mencionan los nombres Salcedo y Macoris como algunos de los candidatos; el programa es la Revista de la Tarde; el moderador del programa menciona el teléfono 565-1463 para llamar a expresar sus comentarios, y a las 2216 UT llamó un señor de nombre Jesús, quien planteo su teoría sobre la situación. Esta estación llega por Caracas, Venezuela, con una señal de 54434; la estación se identifico como "Radio Pueblo 1510" a las 2221 UT. No sé si esta es la misma estación que tu escuchas (73/DX José M. Valdés R., DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PERU, Altura on same frequency ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY: Voice of Oromo Liberation in Oromo/Amharic to EAf is back on air: 1700-1800 Wed/Fri/Sun on NF 15670 (55555) JUL 100 kW / 125 deg, ex 15335 WER (Observer, Bulgaria, May 21 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Laser Hot Hits, pirate, 9389.96, May 18 0103-0515+ Mentioned they were re-broadcasting other Euro-pirates. Variety of pop music, techno-pop dance music. 0-506 ID. Merlin, Ontario address. Poor, weak in noise but fading up to a fair to good level at times. Improved to a much better signal after 0500 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Re: ``981, Radio Ciel 981 AM is on again on 981 kHz until Oct 31st 2002. They call themselves "La Radio Judéo-soft". Tel nr: Nº Azur: 0810 000 981. http://www.cielradio.com (via a French friend of Björn Fransson, Arctic MV-Eko Info Desk May via DXLD`` My Friend Christian Ghibaudo, has phoned to the station : CIEL RADIO, ce matin, j'ai eu le responsable de la station, actuellement, il n'y a pas d'émission sur 981 kHz, c'est le SILENCE! Le retour (toujours sur 981 kHz est prévu à la mi-juin, ou si cela n'est pas possible au début du mois de septembre. Il m'a confirmé les demandes pour émettre de Marseille, Toulouse et NICE. Si le CSA donne les autorisations, les émissions débuteront début 2003. Affaire à suivre.... The translation in Monferinglish sounds: "This morning I phoned to the radio director of Ciel AM 981, at present no transmissions, on 981 kHz there is the silence !!! in Paris area. The back activity it is may be possible in mid June 2002, or if no authorisation received may be possible from September 2002. They have requested to utilize TXs on MW in Marseilles, Toulouse et Nice, frequencies not yet definited, one may be 1350 kHz for Nice area. If everything is going well the official transmissions will start in January 2003. Source Chrstian Ghibaudo (Nice) France (via Dario Monferini, Playdx Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer K. S. Sarma said efforts were on to broadcast the programmes of All India Radio all 24 hours throughout the day besides increasing the quality of the content as well (Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad 21.5.2002) For the full story go to: http://deccan.com/city/template.shtml#Voicing the cause of radio ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India May 20, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. From the Times of India, another item on Radio Mirchi. The best thing to happen to radio in India, at least in Bombay. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, dx_india via DXLD) ============================================= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=10597235 IT`S RADIO GA GA TIME IN CITY, [by] KARISHMA UPADHYAY TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2002 11:10:26 PM ] My baby`s got a transistor radio, she takes it everywhere we go, She takes it when we go out a-walkin`, even to a movie show, Well, now just last night, in the pale moonlight, I asked her for a kiss, But instead of hearing her whisper sweet words of love, all that I could hear was this. Though not the most popular song written about radio, this Benny Hill track, aptly titled Transistor Radio, paints the perfect picture of the radio fever which has gripped Mumbai. It was only recently that the first and biggest private FM channel — Radio Mirchi — was launched. The launch not only resulted in some cool music on the airwaves, but also hordes of radiowallahs on street corners. ``Suniye, suniye. New songs. Small voices (sic) on small radios,`` is a cry that`s echoing all over Fort. ``Take this radio. It`s very popular. Five channels you`ll get. It`s almost like your TV, but without picture. Only for Rs 125,`` says Mohammad Ilyaz as he tries to sweet-talk customers into buying the latest craze in the city — pocket FM radios. Priced anywhere between Rs 125 to Rs 250, kiosk owners say the demand for these compact sets has shot up from 2 pieces per day to 10 pieces per vendor. ``Sirf Fort mein kamse kam roz 1,000 radio bikte hai,`` informs Pillai, who runs a kiosk opposite the Thomas Cook office. While the city`s youngsters are happy with the mix of desi and English tracks, chances are that the neighbourhood paanwallah is not. ``Why do they have to play English songs? Kaun sunta hai Angrezi gaane?`` wonders Brij Bihari, a paanwallah at Juhu. Popular amoung his customers for playing the latest Bhojpuri tracks, Bihari has now shifted allegiance to private FM. ``I get to listen to popular songs without having to buy cassettes. I am going to save so much money,`` he says. Though people like Bihari are shunning tapes, music companies have nothing to fear. Historically, radio has resulted in an increase of music cassette and CDs sales all over the world. ``The perception is that because people get to listen to the tracks on radio for free, they will not but music. But what happens is exactly the opposite. Radio is the best medium that music companies have for promotion,`` explains Ravi Bhatnagar, VP, Times Music. ``Radio helps generate interest among listeners and, in most cases, they end up buying the album.`` The advent of television and video killed radio in the 1970s, but radio is back now stronger than ever. Time for revenge? (via Mike Brooker, Ont., dx_india via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Galei Zahal, May 18 0215-0257* Hebrew talk, local pops, sign off at 0257 and switching to 15785; good. 15785.0 from *0257- 0305+, s/on with local pops, Hebrew talk, good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. R. Europe, pirate, 7306-USB, May 18 0020-0027. Tune-in to multi-lingual IDs. Lite pop music. ``R. Europe Morning Show`` ID. Fair-good but completely wiped out by Vatican *0027. In the clear at 0420 check with lite instrumental music, pop music. A regular lately with a fair to good signal when no station is on 7305 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Voice of Korea to Eu noted on NF 15245v as follows: 1300-1356 English <<<<< co-ch Radio Sweden Inter Russian till 1330 1400-1456 French <<<<< co-ch VOA Georgian from 1430 1500-1556 English <<<<< co-ch VOIROI Hindi till 1530 & RL in Tatar 1600-1656 French <<<<< co-ch VOA Albanian till 1630 1700-1756 Korean http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=280&xlc=706906&xld=280 (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) Can someone provide webcast links to Única network or stations? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 5996.5, R. Melodía, 0555 May 22, noted back near old frequency after a spell on 5940. Suffering QRM from Mali as they signed on just prior to 0600 though Melodía up and dominating after 0630 and well past 0750 with fair signals and all-talk program (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. [cf DOMINICAN REPUBLIC] Hola de nuevo Víctor. Hoy he estado escuchando la estación indicada en 5010 kHz desde las 0005 UT y te puedo decir que el nombre de la misma es Radio Altura y trasmite desde Pasco; a las 0130 se identificó como "Radio Altura, la favorita de la radio", la mejor señal fue 43344, pero en estos momentos, 0150 es de 33343. Esta estación solía transmitir en 3340 kHz en los años 1997 y 1998, pero hace ya algún tiempo que no escucho en esa frecuencia; también la tengo en el log en los 6480 en septiembre de 1998; hoy he chequeado esas dos frecuencias y no la escucho en ellas. Voy a hacer una grabación cuando se identifique nuevamente y de alguna parte de la programación. Para tu información hoy estoy usando ICF- 2010, las antenas con las que la escucho son un dipolo para 3.8 MHz y sloper de 120 metros de largo, que es con la que llega mejor. Suerte. (73/DX Jose M. Valdes R. (Joe) YV5LIX, Beacon: YV5LIX/B on 50,075.5 http://www.yv5lix.org.ve DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. Some logs made in the suburban DX-surroundings in the city of Espoo, Finland. 6137.84, 21.5. 0120- R UNAMSIL. Weak but steady. Was still running after 02 UT (Hannu Tikkanen, Espoo, Finland, Japan R NRD535 and an "L" of 50 meters, two ALA 100 loops, hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. May 17, 2002 Posted to the web May 17, 2002 A NATION WITH A RADIO GLUED TO ITS EAR - WAITING FOR RESULTS Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, Freetown, Sierra Leone It is hard to walk down a street in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, without hearing crackly radios blaring out election results after Tuesday's presidential and parliamentary poll. The whole nation seems to be glued to the radio, giddy with expectation to find out who might have won the presidential poll and who will be the new president. Market women, traders, professionals as well as street hawkers - bearing on their heads and shoulders an array of watches, indigo cloth, groundnuts, and pushing wheelbarrows of fresh coconuts - all seem to be carrying a radio with their free hand, stuck to their ears. The radio station of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, Unamsil, has been broadcasting election results as they come in from across the country: so has the state run radio of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting System, SLBS. Results to date indicate that the incumbent, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, is leading the field, and may win an outright first round victory. His governing Sierra Leone People's Party is also doing well with the number of seats it has won in the 112-seat parliament. Emerging in second place is Ernest Bai Koroma, the presidential flag bearer of the former ruling All People's Party (APC), which has also netted itself some parliamentary seats. There have been some surprises. The Movement for Progress (MoP) of the only woman candidate of the 9 contenders, running for president, Zainab Hawa Bangura, appears to be doing poorly on both counts, the presidential and parliamentary results tally. The former rebel Revolutionary United Front, which has transformed itself into a political party, led by Alimamy Pallo Bangura, is failing to live up to its own, and electoral, expectations. The Peace and Liberation (PLP) party of a former military leader, Johnny Paul Koroma, has polled well in the west district of Freetown, gaining an expected two seats in parliament. Koroma also won his own seat, which means he is heading to parliament. The results of the special early vote by the army and other security agencies last week Friday appeared to have favoured Koroma, giving the impression that he still retains support among the military. But that separate announcement of results from the special voting has infuriated some elements of the armed forces, who felt this violated the anonymity of their vote. On Thursday the national electoral commissioner, Walter Nicol, issued a statement stressing that it was not only the security forces who voted last Friday. Nicol was at pains to reassure the military, while informing Sierra Leoneans, that the early special vote included many other essential staff, as well as journalists and others, who would be unable to cast their ballots on Tuesday, because they would be on duty. Koroma, now a born-again Christian, led a military coup that ousted Kabbah from power in 1997. Kabbah was reinstated by West African peacekeepers the following year. He has remained in office since, bolstered by a massive deployment of thousands of United Nations' troops, after the intervention of the British military in May 2000, when RUF rebels attempted to capture the capital. And at this key moment, Freetown is indeed behaving like a liberated city where the residents have shown the power of radio, with a sea of radio aerials visible. They continue to wait expectantly, but patiently, for an announcement by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on the definitive outcome to Tuesday's ballot. NEC earlier announced that it expected to be able to inform Sierra Leoneans of the outcome of the elections 72 hours after voting day. Nicol told allAfrica.com on Friday that he expected to be able to keep to that pledge, releasing the results "by close of business on Friday". Sierra Leone's landmark polls, which should mark an end to the ten- year civil war that has claimed up to 200,000 lives, have been hailed at home and abroad. On Thursday, international observers from the Commonwealth, the European Union and the Carter Centre all largely endorsed the conduct of the elections. Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, the special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of Unamsil, declared himself satisfied with the progress, calling the poll "exemplary". But Adeniji warned that a successful election itself was only the start and that the international community must continue supporting Sierra Leone, as it faced the post-war challenges after the election. (Copyright © 2002 allAfrica.com May 17 via Dave White, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. Dear Glenn: I dropped you a line about hearing Radio Singapore International on 8700 and realizing that Glenn Hauser had not even heard of this, I began to question my mind. I am not knowledgeable in this and I've heard of "Harmonics" stations on twice or three times the original frequency - but have never heard of an "image". I didn't know such a thing existed. I had heard Radio Singapore on 9600 several times, but always with interference from other stations and didn't have the thought of mind or frequency list to check 9600 when I was listening to 8700, with such a good and clear signal. As strong as the station was I assumed it must be a new frequency and sat back with my morning cup of coffee and enjoyed the program for almost 30 minutes with sustained strength. I would really appreciate just a short note to tell me how 8700 is an image of 9600. I remain your faithful reader, if not poor contributor. Best Regards, (Tom Sliva, NYC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tom, [This is a good time to remind others of this:] These images are produced within receivers, and are typically twice the intermediate frequency removed from the true frequency. Common IFs are 450 and 455 kHz. This is a common problem on lower cost receivers, which are ``single conversion``, i.e. with only one IF. Better receivers have two (or even three IFs), which minimize if not eliminate this problem. You should also be getting equally strong signals from other 9 MHz band stations 900 kHz lower, a tipoff that this is happening. No problem -- just be on the lookout for this in future, and good listening! 73, (Glenn, to Tom, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Glenn, You mentioned in your World Of Radio html the following: ``Unfortunately not all of these links work, including the ones which appear to be the start of the stories --- but there is plenty of damning reading left.`` That is correct at this time. The links only stayed active a short while and The Press and Standard, I think, demanded that they be removed because of copy right infringements. Sorry about that. American Freedom News http://www.americanfreedomnews.com/ has several articles concerning Stair - about a fifth of the way down his main page are the headlines / links. Also the net team currently has lots of still shots from the TV, but they also may have to be removed (Al Patrick, May 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, by the time I checked AFN site morning of May 21, did not find any links to Overcomer/Stair either (gh, DXLD) Glenn-- The 1st Stair article you posted on 20 May says that he was arrested by sled on Thursday. Did I miss something? (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Liz, I think sled, should have been caps, stands for South Carolina Law Enforcement Department, or something like that, which every SC inhabitant knows. Like FDLE in Florida [NOT short for Fort Lauderdale]. Try WBCQ 7415 UT Thu at 0100 for more (gh, DXLD) ** TIMOR EAST. Thanks for the show! I'm a regular internet listener. The article below includes info about community radio in East Timor that you might find of interest. It's about one third of the way down. Of particular interest is the concept of a 'roaming radio station' that sets up in different towns on different days. East Timor is the world's newest nation, and the first new nation of the millennium. A third of its population was killed by the Indonesian military in the 1970's, and the military watched as the militias they had trained burned huge areas of the country in 1999, starting the day after the country voted to become independent. The Pacifica radio network broadcast the ceremonies live back to affiliates in the US this past Sunday (May 19th) as the nation was born. (--Leigh Robartes, Moscow, Idaho, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ====================================================================== "...There are now six community radio stations in East Timor; and bound to be more in the near future. In a country with a high degree of illiteracy, the medium is a popular one..." Exploring local and community media within the Asia Pacific http://www.smallvoices.org ------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: nettime-l@bbs.thing.net Subject: nettime East Timor Media Date sent: Mon, 06 May 2002 14:42:25 +0900 (CST) From: marn*i marni@thepaper.org.au Hey there, I've just spent the last couple of months researching independent media in East Timor and thought this article might be of interest to nettimers. Ongoing research thru-out Asia-Pac region will be at http://www.smallvoices.org cheers, Marni. From Indonesian-managed propaganda to the burgeoning community and independent sector of today, the media landscape in East Timor has changed significantly since the withdrawal of Indonesian control in 1999. by MARNI CORDELL For almost 500 years, the East Timorese people had little experience of freedom of the press or access to uncensored information. The country was (often neglectfully) ruled by Portugal from the 1500s until 1975 and it was only toward the end of this period, after the socialist revolution in Lisbon, that the media began to critically address the issue of East Timorese independence. However, not long after the Portuguese abandoned the country in 1975, the Indonesian military invaded. During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, the population was fed a constant and restricted diet of government controlled news and information. In the face of a media operating primarily as propaganda machine, designed and maintained to mislead the international community about what was really going on in the country, an efficient network of clandestine media emerged. The violence and destruction that was carried out by the Indonesian Military and Militia after the historical East Timorese vote for independence on August 30, 1999 left much of the country decimated. The media sector was no exception. The country was left with no functioning broadcasting or printing facilities and the offices of the only daily newspaper, Suara Timor Timur, were burnt to the ground. The Indonesian government installations that had delivered satellite television and radio programming to almost every region of the country were destroyed, and the import of media from Indonesia was also disrupted. In the aftermath of the destruction and after the withdrawal of Indonesian troops, East Timorese journalists, many recently returned from asylum in Kupang and Jakarta, were in high spirits and uniformly committed to building an independent East Timorese media. Journalists from all different backgrounds - student activists and people that had been involved with the creation of underground media, along with professional mainstream journalists - began to organise together to make this happen. In December 1999 discussions began as to how to ensure the future freedom of expression and the press in East Timor. Taking into account lessons learnt from past restrictive governments, journalists were very aware that their newly won 'freedom' would not necessarily be all-encompassing, or forever, and decided that a journalists association was needed in order to guarantee the future integrity of the media. On December 22nd, after a week of post-conflict journalism workshops, the 'Tourismo' declaration was declared - promoting independent, anti-intervened, expression in the development of a democratic and independent media - and the Timor Loro Sa'e Journalists Association (TLJA) was formed. During '99, there was an influx of new print media sources in East Timor - both daily newspapers and weekly magazines - five of which still exist. Others have not survived, mainly due to lack of funding and wages for staff. The former staff of Suara Timor Timur re- organised themselves to produce Suara Timor Lorosa'e, and the weekly tabloid Lalenok was the first and only regular print media source to be completely in the Timorese dialect, Tetum. Traditionally not a written language, Tetum is recognised as being technically 'incomplete', despite being the preferred language of most of the population. Virgilio da Silva Guterres, a founding member of TLJA who was also involved in Lalenok's production, comments on the significance of developing an all-Tetum publication: "Lalenok was very important because it was all in Tetum and one of its main aims was in order for us to train ourselves to write in Tetum, because in the past we'd never really done that. And also we hoped the publication would help to standardise the language." Independent radio also prospered during 1999. During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor a group known as Radio Mubere used a mobile transmitter to illegally broadcast information from the guerrilla independence fighters working in the mountains (Falintil) to the broader population. Radio Mubere was just one node in the complex underground information network that enabled the East Timorese population to withstand their 24-year struggle. When independence was finally won in 1999, some of those involved with Mubere initiated the first East Timorese community radio station in Dili: Radio Falintil. The name Falintil was chosen so that the clandestine history of the station would be recognised. For the population of Dili, who had experienced years of limited access, Indonesian-controlled media, the philosophy of community radio - to give voice to the voiceless - was a very welcome, if abstract, notion. There are now six community radio stations in East Timor; and bound to be more in the near future. In a country with a high degree of illiteracy, the medium is a popular one. Currently however, there are still many rural districts in the country that do not have access to a local media source. In response to this, two of the Dili-based stations: Radio Lorico Lian, and Radio Rakambiah, undertake regular 'roaming broadcasts', in which a group of volunteers take a mobile transmitter to remote villages and allow the population open access broadcasting, to talk about the issues affecting and concerning them. They also teach the local people how to use the radio equipment. A group of programmers also staged a broadcast protest recently in front of the United Nations Transitional Administration office to highlight the issues affecting the remote communities they had visited. Joey Borges, Community Radio Program Officer for Apheda in East Timor was part of the demonstration. He comments: "the government don't like us, they think we are 'radical media' but it's the community that is radical, (we are just giving them a voice.)" Borges, formerly a technician and programmer with both Radio Mubere and Radio Falintil, is currently working, together with the staff and reporters from East Timor's six community stations, to set up a national community radio association to strengthen the philosophy and practice of community radio stations throughout East Timor. Like many of the media sources initiated in '99, Radio Falintil thrived on volunteer energy for a year and a half, but has recently experienced a wane in commitment, with some technicians and reporters leaving on the basis that the station will never be able to provide them with a wage. Sadly, Lalenok also suffered post '99 from lack of volunteers, and was forced to fold a year ago. According to Guterres, two and a half years down the track, many people initially involved in media production in East Timor have now come to the realisation that they could not continue to work as volunteers forever. He comments: "We realised that in a different situation (freedom) you could not treat people in the same way. In the struggle, everyone was united and willing to do anything for nothing. They could forget their personal differences to unite. Now that there is freedom people are willing to contribute but also say: you must understand, I need something to eat. Even volunteers everywhere, they need food. That was one of the mistakes that I confess to. We were wrong to think we could work like that long term." By all accounts, the energy and human resources behind media production in East Timor has certainly receded since 1999, with many people forced to find work in other fields to support themselves. Although some of the print publications in Díli do have paid staff, they receive a minimal amount. Other media sources still struggle to survive on volunteer labour. Without welfare assistance and when living costs are high compared to incomes, volunteer work is not a luxury that many East Timorese can afford to undertake on a long-term basis. The journalist association has also hit hurdles in the last two years. Because most of those involved with initiating TLJA were also active journalists and therefore heavily focussed on creating, developing and professionally maintaining media in the first year of independence, Guterres believes they had no time to sit down and talk about the long, or even short-term, plan of the association. In January 2001, TLJA had their first congress to agree on some long-term objectives. It was at that time that differences began to emerge. Journalists from different backgrounds, all with different levels and concepts of professionalism, began to clash. This divide in interests has since resulted in the emergence of a second journalist association: the East Timor Journalists Union; which two former, founding, members of TLJA have been involved in initiating. Officially, no explanation was given for their break-off. Guterres comments on their departure: "I think its normal, it's a good sign for us that we are free to organise so no-one is forced to stay," but is clearly regretful that the human resources have been diluted even further. With obvious fatigue in his voice he states: "I think it's becoming harder to gather journalists together." On plans for the future: Guterres hopes to re-instigate Lalenok, but this time not without the funds to implement an infrastructure and ensure some staff wages. He is noticeably regretful when he talks about the publication's demise, but his eyes shine as he tells me: "I think we need some tragedies to learn, without mistakes we could not survive. When something happens like that we can learn and in the future we might…still make mistakes, but at least they'll be different ones!" The media landscape in East Timor is very much in development stages. Although TLJA are in the process of developing a training course in conjunction with the University, the country is still lacking effective means to train and support its journalists. Guidance, support and assistance is still needed on many levels in order for it to foster into the critical, independent and democratic sector that it has the very real potential to become. One can only hope, as is so often the case in development situations that the media sector in East Timor does not succumb to the many spurious funding and support sources that it is vulnerable to. Sadly, with the World Bank's recent plans to initiate and fund a number of new community radio stations in the country, this does remain a possibility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Exploring local and community media within the Asia Pacific http://www.smallvoices.org *** Via / From / Thanks to the following : # distributed via nettime: no commercial use without permission # nettime is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net (via George Lessard, Media Mentor Weblog via Creative-radio yahoogroup via Leigh Robartes, DXLD) ** TIMOR EAST [non]. R. Australia previews for 2305 UT Fri.: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. "Broadcasting in East Timor". Will East Timor have a national broadcaster after Independence Day? Journalist Karen Polglaze on the problematic future of public broadcasting in Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum for East Timor). East Timor is a country in which the majority of people are not literate. Consider, then, the importance for this tiny new democracy of the national public radio broadcaster, funded and administered by UNTAET, the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor, until midnight on Sunday, May 19th. AAP diplomatic correspondent Karen Polglaze has spent the last six months in Dili as media policy adviser to Timor Lorosa'e Journalists Association. She explains the situation. [Transcript available] (via John Figliozzi, ODXA via DXLD) Repeats Sat 0530 ** TIMOR EAST. East Timor even started to issue its own stamps (again). The last own stamps (as Portuguese colony) before the Indonesian invasion Dec 9, 1975 were issued in 1973. The new first issue of 4 stamps shows (as usual for former colonies after becoming independent) several national symbols, as fruits, a crocodile and the flag. The currency of the stamps is the US Dollar (thats the official currency), the country name is given as 'Timor-Leste'. The Australian Post 'handled' this first issue. A detailed article incl. pictures can be found at http://www.linns.com (M. Schöch, Germany, May 16, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) ** U K. NERW in London: Scott Fybush provides description of radio broadcasting in the UK after a trip there... http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html Notably for international broadcasting, though: "Our second day in London began with a morning at Bush House, the sprawling warren that's home to the BBC World Service, currently embarked on an ambitious plan to convert all its audio production from the "razor blades and splicing tape" school to a modern digital system, a project you'll read more about in an upcoming issue of Radio World." (Ricky Leong, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now, that`s *really* Northeast! ** U K [and non] Glenn, The 2002 Eurovision Song Contest goes this Saturday, May 25 from Estonia. BBC R2 will carry it live 1900-2200, hosted by Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson. You can check the BBC R2 contest's website at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/eurovision Andy Sennitt seems awfully quiet about this year's competition. More about it at http://www.eurovision.tv I don't see any mention of a webcast this year. Last year's was on http://www.songcontest.com 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. CHANGE OF SCHEDULE To the Club Secretary. The broadcast schedule for Radio Ezra's current series to Western North America has been changed. As of Sunday 26th May 2002 the programme may be heard each Sunday between 0500 and 0530 UT on 17735 kHz in the 16 meter band. For more information about the technical and broadcasting side of the station please visit the website. Thank you. John D. Hill (Station Owner) ***************************************************** Radio Ezra PO Box 16, Stockton on Tees, TS18 3GN, United Kingdom Fax: +44 1642 887546 http://www.radioezra.com "my glory will I not give to another" ISAIAH 42:8 ***************************************************** (via DXLD) There is now one 30 minute broadcast each Sunday between 0500 and 0530 UT on 17735. There is also a slight problem. I still haven't got any programme material together so you can expect anything! I might even get some of my friends on, or even a few dejected work colleagues to have a good belly ache about our jobs. Ultimately I hope to bring up more spiritual issues such as real salvation etc... Oh, and some rather nice music too. [``Why I quit going to church`` is the 5/26 topic given elsewhere on the page. If WNAm is the target, he really ought to make clear that this is Saturday night there -- gh] 100 kW, 68 degrees from Petropavlovsk/Kamchatsky; old photo of the city is at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.hill4/transmitter.htm (R. Ezra website links via DXLD) ** U S A. RAIN News Flash: CARP REJECTED! From a notice posted at 10 AM EDT this morning on the U.S. Copyright Office website: In the Matter of Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings and Ephemeral Recordings, Docket No. 2000-9 CARP DTRA 1&2 --- ORDER On February 20, 2002, the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) reported its determination to the Librarian of Congress in the above- captioned proceeding. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 802(f), the Librarian is given 90 days from date of delivery of a CARP report to review the determination and issue a decision setting forth the final royalty fee and terms of payment. However, if the Librarian rejects the CARP's determination, section 802(f) provides an additional 30 days for the Librarian to render his final determination. The Register of Copyrights recommends, and the Librarian agrees, that the CARP's determination must be rejected. A final decision will be issued no later than June 20, 2002. DATED: May 21, 2002 SO RECOMMENDED. Marybeth Peters Register of Copyrights. SO ORDERED. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress (RAIN via DXLD) Much more reaction to this was posted subsequently at RAIN (gh) ** U S A. Radio Sawa: I checked the sked posted on the IBB website, and, while this has been advertised as AM-FM-satellite, there are tons of AR-lang. SW channels listed for "MERN," which presumably is the Middle East Radio Network (R. Sawa). They are (Kavala except where indicated): 0400-0600 on 5965, 7255 (Morocco), 9680, 11670 & 15380 (Iranawilla); 0730-0830 on 9660 (Woofferton), 9715, 9765 (Woofferton), 11820 (Woofferton), 11910, 11995, 15205 & 15355; 1700-2100 on 6040 & 7105; 1800-2100 on 9505, 11825 & 15545 (Iranawilla); and 2000-2100 on 6160, 9620 & 11895 (J. Berg, MA, May 14, DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) As reported some time ago here, Sawa has taken over the entire SW schedule of what used to be VOA Arabic (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. [Caption:] Motorists driving past this unremarkable collection of dish antennas at a U.S. Army base near Yakima, Wash., may not realize it's part of a supersecret network operated by the National Security Agency to intercept nearly every private communication on the international airwaves. (AP photo/Jackie Johnston) SPY STATION HEARS ALL, TELLS LITTLE By JAMES LONG, c.2002 Newhouse News Service YAKIMA, Wash. -- A secret electronic spy station near Yakima is combing the airwaves for the likes of Osama bin Laden. The station sits on the edge of a U.S. Army base in the apple-growing region of central Washington. Experts who follow intelligence matters say the station is part of something called Echelon, a controversial effort to gather everything moving through the air in international communications: Every private phone call. Every fax. Every e-mail. Every company memo. Every merchandise order. Every wired invoice. Every ship-to-shore telex. Every money transfer. Every bank transaction. Every sales pitch. Every birthday greeting. Every valentine. Everything resembling a radio wave. The reason for all this snooping, they say, is that intelligence agencies realized long before Sept. 11 that not every national security threat comes from big, lumbering targets like the North Korean missile command. Private-practice enemies like Mohamed Atta are out there, too, they say, and may be chatting on their mobile phones. The National Security Agency was created in 1952 to handle the nation's electronic intelligence-gathering. Even 18 years later, when it built the Yakima station, most Americans still had never heard of the agency. The NSA's preoccupation with secrecy was such that members of Congress, frustrated by their inability to learn how the NSA was spending tens of billions of dollars, complained that "NSA" stood for "No Such Agency." But the Yakima station's cover has grown so thin that it's possible to get directions to it from the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. "Just go up I-82 toward Ellensburg," advised Dale Spurlock, a travel counselor who ordinarily hands out tour maps for the area's 200 wineries or tells where to rent snowmobiles. "It's almost impossible to get near it, but you can see some of it from the rest stop. Probably the best place, though, is from the freeway past there." The station sits in plain sight of the roaring traffic on the western edge of the Army's Yakima Training Center, a vast tank-and-missile exercise range where signs advise hunters who use the area not to fool with unexploded shells they might find. Several unmemorable buildings, low and windowless and hard to parse from a distance of about a mile and a half, line up on the rumpled sage with an escort of nine dish antennas. The eight smaller antennas stand out like communion wafers. The ninth is much bigger, maybe big enough to cap a McDonald's. The NSA rebuffed or ignored all public queries about the Yakima station until this past March, when it confirmed to The Oregonian newspaper in Portland officially, and for the first time, its "presence" there. "The mission," said an NSA spokeswoman in Fort Meade, Md., "is to perform communications research and development in support of the Department of Defense." What sort of research she wouldn't say. And she declined a request for a visit, saying, "It's a secure facility, especially now." The NSA has about 38,000 employees and is bigger than the CIA and all other U.S. intelligence agencies combined. Its payroll includes linguists, computer scientists and the nation's -- and probably the world's -- largest staff of mathematicians. It produces much of its own computer technology, including special-purpose microchips and voice-recognition systems that are leap years ahead of the commercial market. No one outside the government knows with certainty what goes on at the Yakima station. However, a European Parliament report in September cited it as a key component of the vast effort by five major English-speaking countries to collect and analyze worldwide commercial communications passing through international satellites. Martin Brady, director of the Australia Defence Signals Directorate, threw aside Echelon's already tattered cover in an interview with Australian reporters in 1999 by publicly confirming his country's participation. The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to the parliamentary report, formed the co-op to take advantage of an ongoing communications revolution in which satellites bounce phone calls and other signals from one part of the planet to another. It was no coincidence, the report said, that the Yakima station sprang up "at the same time as the first generation of (communications) satellites were put into orbit." Since 1995, the report said, the Yakima station has been home to the Air Intelligence Agency's 544th Intelligence Group, Detachment 4, and representatives of the Naval Security Group -- military units that work closely with the NSA. At least five of Yakima's dishes "look" in the direction of the Intelsat satellites that hang in geostationary orbit about 22,400 miles over the Pacific. The footprint of the satellites reaches from the western Americas to eastern Siberia and China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and perhaps part of Burma. Also in view would be the Inmarsat Pacific satellite, one of four that match the Earth's rotation to handle global maritime communications as well as satellite-phone service for difficult areas such as Afghanistan, where Inmarsat customers have ranged from CNN to bin Laden. Echelon's partners, the report says, funnel their captured signals to the NSA processing center at Fort Meade, and are allowed, in turn, to dip into the refined intelligence for their own national requirements. John Pike, a Washington-based defense consultant, says Echelon essentially uses supercomputers to burn down large haystacks of raw information very quickly to find the occasional needle of useful intelligence. The computers do this in several ways, including the use of keyword filters similar to those of Internet search engines, Pike said. "They have names, addresses, words and phrases that they're searching for," he said. "Then they immediately throw away essentially everything they collect because it's boring." NSA expert James Bamford, a visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said in an interview that the agency is being challenged by the exploding growth of commercial and governmental phone calls, e-mails, faxes and other data exchanges in the past 15 years. Yakima alone, Bamford says, obtains about 2 million intercepts per hour. "You can have all the machines in the world to filter them, but in the end you've got to have some human being who actually reads the (filtered) messages" and judges their importance before sending them on to officials in Washington, he said. "NSA can't send 3,000 messages a day to (National Security Adviser) Condoleezza Rice or (Secretary of State) Colin Powell," said Bamford, who wrote "Body of Secrets," a recently published book about the NSA. "It can send two, maybe." Retired Army Lt. Gen. William E. Odom, NSA director from 1985 to 1988, scoffed at any notion that the NSA is being swamped by the increasing deluge of raw information. "Have we scooped up too much stuff? The answer's no," Odom said by phone from the Hudson Institute in Washington, where he is now director of national security studies. "There's this -- I would say, ill-informed analysis, a lot of it by other parts of the intelligence community that don't like NSA." The privatization of war by groups such as al-Qaida, and the new threats posed by any number of other states such as Iraq, has made the NSA's job that much harder. To be effective, search dictionaries would have to contain more than the most obvious keywords, such as the name of Iraq's defense minister. They also would have to hold massive lists of things, such as parts numbers for every component of a MiG-23 fighter jet, and the names, phone numbers and voiceprints of every arms dealer who might handle the parts, along with similar information for the dealer's bankers, shippers and go-betweens. And there would have to be ways to deal with steganography. Hezbollah and other groups have boasted of communicating by hiding messages within photos and sounds posted on the Internet. By using a site such as a porn site that gets millions of hits, the communicants think they have little chance of being identified, even if their steganography is discovered. The NSA, according to Pike, doesn't necessarily need the contents of conversations to gain useful intelligence if it has enough communications to show a pattern. "The example they always use," he said, "is the Super Bowl. You can basically tell when the Super Bowl starts and when halftime is by looking at phone calls. They (NSA sources) claim they can even tell who won simply by looking at phone calls." In practical terms, Pike said, this means the NSA thinks it can predict the likelihood of a terrorist attack by comparing patterns of communication with those observed before similar events in the past. "Even without bothering to read any of those communications, or even if they're so elliptical that you wouldn't necessarily know what they're talking about, the theory is you can possibly provide warnings," Pike said. "If you go back and look at how some of the warnings that (U.S. officials) put out late last year where they were talking about communications patterns, that's basically what they were doing." But the Homeland Security office's vague terrorist warnings have drawn criticism, as has the evident failure of the NSA and the rest of the intelligence community to detect terrorist plots that led to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. And there have been other high-profile failures: Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the first World Trade Center terrorist bombing in 1993, India's 1998 test of five nuclear weapons, al-Qaida's 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and the near-sinking of the USS Cole by al-Qaida in Yemen. Former NSA Director Odom said the failure to detect the Sept. 11 plot, especially, is hard to excuse and that heads should have rolled at the NSA and the CIA. Bamford isn't so sure. "I'm not defending NSA," he said, "but if bin Laden doesn't talk on the phone, what are you going to do? "You had a group of people, less than 30 around the world, who operated in cells and required no huge money transfers and no huge weapons transfers. They bought a couple of box-cutters. "I mean, the NSA can't find out if somebody's going to knock over a gas station." Even in the wake of Sept. 11, many U.S. citizens object to the NSA's rummaging through private communications. Critics as diverse as the American Civil Liberties Union and some of Congress' most conservative members are wary about the potential for abuse. The danger, they say, is that incomplete, unclear or misinterpreted intercepts could get an innocent individual's name placed in a law enforcement file, with unpredictable consequences. Even though federal law restricts the NSA's ability to gather or compile information on U.S. citizens, the NSA's Echelon partners are under no such restraint. The critics argue that the partners could skirt their own laws against domestic spying by having the other partners do it for them. Pike, the security consultant, thinks such fears are overblown. Though he says privacy abuses are possible, he argues that the NSA is far less interested in who sends a fax to his grandmother than in who does business with North Korea's rocket builders. Pike also sees little basis for the European Parliament's suspicion that the NSA might use Echelon to steal commercial secrets from European companies and pass them to U.S. firms for competitive advantage. "I can't think of too much the French have that's worth stealing," Pike said, "unless it's cheese. And I haven't seen much evidence that our cheese has improved." Bamford, however, says NSA intercepts of such things as the strategies of foreign trade negotiators have been used to help American business in general. And former CIA Director John Woolsey has said publicly that the United States eavesdropped on foreign businesses to gather evidence of their bribing foreign officials to cut U.S. competitors out of contracts. Bamford said he knows of no instance, however, of the NSA passing information to a particular company. "I've done two books on NSA and never found it," he said. "Knowing the culture at NSA, they would be extremely opposed to it." (James Long is a staff writer for The Oregonian. http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1b050202.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. MISSION AT 1,150 FEET IS MADE ON ADRENALINE AND PRAYERS BY COREY ROSS, WORLD-HERALD BUREAU Published Tuesday April 30, 2002 LINCOLN -The call came as Firefighter Jeremy Hosek was practicing cutting people out of crushed cars. The firefighters who responded to the recovery mission in the Sand Hills are, from left, Rick Klein, Ron Kennett, Guy Jones, Jeremy Hosek, Mike Wright and Bob Borer. He was needed in the Sand Hills. A man in Bassett, Neb., was stranded in a high place. Hosek was baffled. The only high place he could think of was a grain elevator. "There isn't anything else out there," he thought. What awaited Hosek and five other Lincoln firefighters last Monday was a recovery mission for which 90 combined years of training had prepared them - and one thing it hadn't. The men, who had never been more than 100 to 200 feet off the ground, found themselves atop a TV tower taller than the former World Trade Center or the Empire State Building.... http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=57&u_sid=379724 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. LEFT ON THE DIAL, By Paul Krza [sic – KRZA is also a competitor to KUNM, serving Alamosa/Taos, as below – gh] KUNM, Albuquerque's long-standing and controversial public radio station, keeps raking in the listener donations at a record pace since Sept. 11. But critics still say that without taxpayer support, they wouldn't last a month. KUNM Audio Engineer Nola Daves turns up the volume on New Mexico. Singeli Agnew [caption] Less than 24 hours after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, KUNM listeners were already hearing about "blowback" on Amy Goodman's unapologetic leftist radio show, "Democracy Now!" With smoke still rising from the Twin Towers, flags fluttering everywhere and Duke City talk radio on the warpath, the idea that American foreign policy might have sparked the attacks wasn't getting much attention. In fact, words like that were not only unpopular but dismissed as downright treasonous. Well, the episode even rattled easygoing and open-minded station manager Richard S. Towne, who told listeners later that he found Goodman's blame-discussion all rather "painful," and he lamented that the talk show wasn't delayed a day or even a week. But for Albuquerque folks who want to side step a daily barrage of product pitches and right wing Rush spinoffs on the radio dial, "Democracy Now!" represents a genuine alternative. So much so that KUNM listeners opened their wallets and gave unprecedented amounts of cash during the station's fund-raiser last fall, many specifically citing support for Goodman's syndicated program. Increasing financial support is a sign that KUNM, once a light-bulb- power station on the 1960s fringes, has attracted a growing audience. Towne announced last week that KUNM's listenership has for the first time hit 100,000 across central and northern New Mexico, 60,000 in Bernalillo County. About one in nine people in KUNM's range, spanning from Taos to just south of Elephant Butte, listen to the station at least once a week. The numbers, Towne says, are based on an Arbitron study, a nationally respected radio data provider service. It's almost getting up there with commercial radio, but with one big difference, of course. KUNM gets a chunk of public money, while conservative philosophy pays for itself, thanks to all those sponsors. At KKOB 770-AM, the popular station that feeds the local appetite for right wing commentary, "listener supported" means people who tune in to buy the products peddled by advertisers. Sure, listeners send their dollars directly to KUNM instead of the roundabout way, but the station also gets taxpayer support thanks to government grants dispersed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The federal government portion represents about 14 percent of KUNM's annual operating budget; listeners donate 50 percent. Don Davis, longtime Albuquerque broadcaster and a lone holdout in the Duke City corporate radio takeover, used his electronics expertise to get his "JOY-radio" on the air years ago. Davis operates KKJY-AM, the only locally owned, general-market radio station in the city. He calls KUNM "a muzzled voice of government." "Music is a great communicator of political and cultural messages" --Richard Towne, KUNM General Manager. Singeli Agnew [caption] "If you took away their government funding, they wouldn't last a month," says Davis. Towne, on the other hand, says at 14 percent of the budget those cuts would hurt the station, but would not cause it to go off the air. When Newt Gingrich tried to eliminate funding for the arts, humanities and public broadcasting in the "Contract with America" back in 1994, the public backlash was so strong, says Towne, that Gingrich later retracted the idea. Still, opponents of public broadcasting ask why, with all those listeners, can't KUNM sell ads and stand on its own? Why should taxpayers who disagree with the programming be supporting it? And, why -- if there's supposedly an audience that wants more than mainstream blandness and controversy dodging media -- doesn't someone pop-up to serve it on commercial radio? "Our job is to carve out the greatest number of listeners -- the target demographic -- and deliver that demographic to the sponsors," says Gayle Shaw, general manager at Citadel Southwest which owns seven stations in Albuquerque. And at the moment, the dominant, most lucrative demographic for Citadel's top-ranked station in the Duke City, KKOB 770-AM, is "more conservative," she says. "That's their goal," Towne says about corporate commercial broadcasters that now dominate radio. "Their purpose in life is to get people to behave in a certain way when they make their spending decisions and to generate income for advertisers." It all boils down to the diverse programming says Towne. Sure, KUNM can successfully raise a half-million dollars a year from listeners sending in anything from a buck to a $5,000 check. But with all the variety that KUNM offers, the splinters of audiences simply aren't commercially attractive, he says. Mary Bokuniewicz, who works in the money-raising trenches as KUNM's Development Director, says the station's commercial-free news coverage sparked the post-Sept. 11 pledge drive success. But specific contributions from "Democracy Now!" listeners "broke all records," she adds. "It was just unbelievable." Bokuniewicz also isn't shy about offering her opinion why the program and other progressive offerings survive on KUNM but couldn't make it on commercial radio. "We are not accountable to commercial interests, we are accountable to listeners," she says. "If you are dependent upon commercial interests, the programming is going to be dictated by the money and it's going to be watered down." David House, KUNM Music Director, oversees the stations eclectic offerings. Singeli Agnew [caption] Slicing up all the diverse programming that KUNM airs also leaves small pieces of an audience pie -- too small to interest commercial radio. Citadel and other corporate radio owners prefer more consistent "specialized formats," so listeners and advertisers can depend on what they will hear when they flip to one of their stations, says Gayle Shaw. But, she adds, "If there was a big enough target audience available, somebody would do that," referring to each of KUNM's eclectic offerings. But that's certainly not to say everyone is wildly enthusiastic about KUNM's broadcasts. For example, a few years back a Santa Fe man, complaining of "entrenched politics" at the station, posted elaborate technical instructions on the Web telling Albuquerque residents how they could put up antennas to tune in Alamosa, Colo.-based public station to "free yourself from KUNM." Some do gripe about the "Democracy Now!" dose of daily, highly slanted, leftist politics. And there are also those who bitch that KUNM simply isn't radical enough. Policing The Programming Towne, the station's deceptively low-key and laid-back manager (who even has a daily nap written into his contract), beats back that criticism and pumps up the diverse programming. He came to the station eight years ago, after stints in non-commercial radio in South Africa, Egypt and Guatemala. "It's like alternative newspapers," he says. "There's usually just one in each town and if you're going to make a life out of it, you become an itinerant worker and go to where the next opportunity is." "Absolutely not," Towne bristles, about the assertion that public money pollutes and muzzles unbridled public broadcasting. "The university regents (who hold the station license) absolutely recognize that we're an institution of the press and they will not interfere with our First Amendment rights," Towne says. "They've charged us to be independent." The university regents' policy that governs KUNM also specifically calls for the station to air "particularly programming that might not be available on commercial radio stations." The programming, largely churned out by an equally diverse group of some 160 volunteers, stems from the station's turbulent past. In the early years, few in Albuquerque listened or cared, simply because the station signal didn't carry very far. But when they cranked up a higher wattage transmitter, first atop the student union, and then a few years later from a high-power tower up on Sandia Crest, that's when the metaphoric shit really began hitting the community fan. According to a station history posted on KUNM's website and written by longtime volunteer Claude Stephenson, what might have passed for student hijinks ended up on one occasion getting the police involved. Later, the radio disputes landed in the courts. In 1980 Santa Fean Melvin Baird called the state police when he heard what sounded like a drunken DJ playing a song by Kinky Friedman and his Texas Jewboys, "I'm Proud to be an Asshole from El Paso." University trustees fumed, campus officials jumped in and the offending record-spinner exited, touching off student protest, according to Stephenson's recollections. "A lot of public life has been subsumed by the corporate-conscious culture and we resist that" --Marcos Martinez, KUNM News Director Singeli Agnew [caption] Other forays into entertainment had already infuriated some of the more conventional members of the community, including a satiric "golf-tournament" commentary nearly 25 years ago, play-by-play style, of a Billy Graham Crusade. "We got a lot of complaints ... they said it was irreligious and offensive and they were right," says former news director Stuart Dyson, recalling that episode. But the big battle came in 1987-88. Towne says that before he arrived in the Duke City, the incident was known in public radio circles as "the radio wars in Albuquerque." Station management triggered the dispute when they decided unilaterally and literally in the middle of the night to pull the plug on the diverse programming devised by volunteers. Out went the satire and diverse music and in came a more placid, "seamless" format of nothing but National Public Radio programming and "light creative jazz." Towne said it all came down to who calls the radio shots -- the manager or the community and its volunteers. What happened is that New Mexico courts subsequently decided that listeners who donated had been "promised" certain programming and that as "stakeholders" giving them something else amounted to "breach of promise." The end result is a system still in place, a process that calls for consulting with listeners and volunteers before making any programming or policy changes. The procedure calls for public meetings, giving the volunteers "a vote," and, as a last resort, going to the university provost if a deadlock develops, something that has never happened, Towne says. The process, he adds, "is theoretical in many places, but it's been tested at KUNM. ... It's one of the things that attracted me here." Labeling The Sounds Tune into KKOB-AM and you'll find 50,000 watts of right-wing aphorisms, as in the case of mega-millionaire commentator Rush Limbaugh, blatantly advertised as "coming at you from the right speaker only." But over at Oñate Hall on the UNM campus, "They're clearly liberally slanted, and I think most people, including the people at KUNM, would agree with that," says Don Davis. Well, not exactly. In fact, both Towne and KUNM News Director Marcos Martínez dodged political label questions. "The larger reality is that a lot of public life has been subsumed by the corporate-conscious culture and we resist that," Martínez says. "I guess that would make us appear more liberal." Yes, he steadfastly backs Pacífica Radio's "Democracy Now!" program, but Martínez says his personal politics don't keep him from covering all sides of the news fairly. Towne says he does know what KUNM is not -- "We're not right-wing ... we're not goose-stepping with Rush Limbaugh." And he admits the station does have a lot of voices from the progressive community on the air. "To say we're left wing or progressive overlooks the point that we're providing a lot of news about conservative issues," argues Towne. In fact, he says, "virtually everything from NPR is conservative," and that includes coverage of such issues as right-to-life and considerable business-related news. So much conservative stuff, Towne says, that NPR largely ignores "the poor, ethnic communities and the disenfranchised ... on Native Americans, they maybe have one story a year." Still some local lefties argue the station's not progressive enough. Gulliver Hughes, KUNM Board Operator and one of 160 volunteers. Singeli Agnew [caption] David Barsamian, Boulder, Colorado-based media critic and creator of "Alternative Radio," a nationally syndicated interview program carried by KUNM that features left-leaning and otherwise unheard voices like Angela Davis and Noam Chomsky, contends that media offerings across the nation, Albuquerque included, are dismal. Corporate-controlled radio, "drive-by journalism" and talk shows spewing "propagandistic slogans," he says, dominate the airwaves. Barsamian's assertions got a warm reception at a recent local appearance sponsored by the New Mexico Green Party. However, Albuquerque's alternative media, including KUNM, got mixed reviews for their support of progressive causes. (So did the Alibi -- the paper had "sold out," one person said.) Barsamian told the group he was delighted to have his program on KUNM, but also says he'd fought for years to get it aired on a regular basis. Even now, he lamented, it's stuck in an early Saturday evening slot, a sort of audience backwater in radio. Perhaps, it is as small time independent broadcaster Davis suggests, that the government-money connection tempers KUNM, even if on a subtle level. "They do carry liberal programs that clearly, if the Republicans had anything to say about it, wouldn't be running," he says. "However, they [say] very little on the local level to stir the pot." But Martínez says the station vigorously pursues local stories and doesn't fear whatever they do will impact their funding. "We've never suffered any consequences for asking tough questions," he says. For example, although New Mexico's popular Republican senator Pete Domenici did "get a little testy" recently when questioned about his support of uranium mining on tribal lands, Martínez says, "If we've pissed him off, he hasn't given us the satisfaction of knowing about it." Up In The Air, Down In The Wallet Certainly, there's little doubt that the wide swath of music aired at KUNM stimulates and challenges, meandering from salsa to folk to its trademark, sometimes off-the-wall "Freeform." In fact, the alternative sounds are the station's strong suit, perhaps more bold and effective than its pursuit of local politics. "Music is a great communicator of political and cultural messages and we don't have to say anything on the air," says Towne. "The musicians can say volumes." And nowhere else in Albuquerque can you hear so many different voices as on KUNM, questioning the spin coming from the Pentagon while the war on terrorism is waged or raising questions like why we don't have universal health care. Too much questioning for some, and too little for others. But for how long? Dyson, recalling his time at the station 25 years ago, says it was "a great place where students could be outrageous." Now, he says, "it's run by grownups for grownups." Maybe, he says, students should go back to operating it. In the meantime, though, and especially at this time in history, with the talk about traitors and terrorists, "you're either with us or against us," and a fear of airing unpopular views, KUNM is pretty much alone on the Duke City airwaves. It looks like listener generosity will continue to decide if it stays that way. (© 2002 Weekly Alibi, Albuquerque, April 16 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. I am asked by many clubs to speak on the issue of DTV. One reason is that I'm in two camps, the engineering side, and the business side. I'm the Chief Operator of WLIO Television, and also the Vice President of the station. Big TVs turn guys on. So does sports, and some prefer beer, gambling. We all have our vices. Mine is kit building and audio editing. Anyway, yes, I don't know too many guys that would not want an 8 foot by 5 foot plasma screen TV, with Dolby 5.1 surround sound in their living room or den. But here is the rub. At our little station, I don't see us doing a lot of 16x9 programming. Any HDTV programming will be from network. I have not seen a commitment from syndicators (i.e.: Oprah, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, Jack Hanna's Animal World, etc.) to have HDTV programming. What I do see is that the digital platform will allow us to deliver to the home viewer better quality standard definition (SDTV) pictures, and (if Congress stays the hell out of our business), multi-streams of programming to the viewer. By the way, is it me, or is having Rosie in big screen kind of scary? The problems as I see it are two-fold. First, I'm not seeing the set sales to justify turning on the digital. Two, I'm not seeing any commitment by cable companies to carry stations on cable; thus viewers will be forced to put up antennas to watch any stations. Let me also elaborate on the set thing. There are "digital ready" and "digital receivers", but I have yet to see a single set in the showroom that can receive an 8VSB signal! In fact, I have taken some pretty nasty calls from viewers who have purchased sets only to discover that the key component to receiving digital television is missing! Some communities and bigger cities have digital sets with receivers, but they are rare. I wish that [FCC Chairman Michael] Powell, and Congress would understand these issues, and pass "must carry" for digital stations, strike down any/all antenna prohibitions in communities, and mandate that all sets carrying the term "digital" on them have an 8VSB receiver or at the least make the words "digital monitor" the largest letters on the box (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. "HISTORIC" DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE SHORTWAVE DEMONSTRATION | Excerpt from press release by US transmitter manufacturer Continental Electronics on 16 May Huntsville, Alabama, 16 May: Integrated Defense Technologies, Inc.'s [IDT], subsidiary Continental Electronics is on the leading edge of shortwave radio technology, the company successfully demonstrated that its transmitters are digital ready. The demonstration underscored the superiority of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcasting system over the conventional AM modulation system used in international shortwave broadcast bands. The live DRM broadcast demonstration spanned 1,500 miles, from EWTN Global Catholic Network's mountain-top radio station, WEWN, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Centre. DRM is an ITU-recognized digital radio broadcast system for all radio broadcasting below 30 MHz. The historic event took place during NAB 2002 in cooperation with Telefunken SenderSysteme Berlin and the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany. "Experienced broadcasters know they can count on IDT-CE for state-of- the-art technology when broadcast quality improvement is the goal," said John Uvodich, president of IDT Continental Electronics. "Demo observers repeatedly said that our AM shortwave signal sounded as clean and clear as local FM." The demonstration featured IDT-CE's 420C 500 kW transmitter and a Telefunken DRM exciter. Signals were broadcast across WEWN-licensed frequencies of 5825, 7520, 9975, 11875 and 13615 kHz. Telefunken also provided the special receiver, which included Fraunhofer digital decoding techniques. This transmitter is capable of operation in standard amplitude modulation, controlled carrier-level modulation or single side band service. From a central master control panel or from a remote computer control station, this transmitter delivers full carrier power at any frequency between 3.90 and 26.1 MHz... For more information about Continental Electronics, visit the company's web site at http://www.contelec.com or call 1 800 733 5011. Source: Continental Electronics press release, Dallas, in English 16 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Report from the road in Ohio I was listening to WLW today and found some strange stuff going on. First off, approaching local noon today they aired a fantastic ID using the old "Nation's Station" slogan. This was followed by the SSB at 11:58 AM! Unfortunately I failed to pack my tape recorder so I didn't get it on tape. I'm going to buy a cheapy tonight and hope they repeat it at noon tomorrow. Secondly, they've been airing the following taped apology from Clear Channel's Helen Mays hourly all day: --- We too are appalled and outraged at Bill Cunningham. We feel Mr. Cunningham has gone too far and we apologize for what he said on his program Friday, May 17th. Because of his comments, Mr. Cunningham has been suspended from his program on 700WLW for one week. He will be allowed back on the air the week of May 27th. Please accept our sincere apologizes for what Bill Cunningham said. We hope you continue to enjoy 700WLW for years to come. --- Apparently this concerns some accusatory comments made against the Bush administration on the air Friday. Today at 12:35 PM Bill Cunningham's "partner" Bill Boshears(sp?) was on the air talking about the suspension. He made several derogatory comments about Clear Channel's policies and was starting to talk about the possibility of a connection between the Bush's being from Texas and Clear Channel being based in Texas when, at 12:37 PM, the station went to dead air in the middle of the program. They returned a couple minutes later with an apology about the "technical difficulties". The program then continued hosted by Jane Norris from WHAS and Boshears didn't return to the air. Although she alluded to also being unhappy with Clear Channel's censorship policies a few times, several callers accused Norris of being a corporate puppet for Clear Channel. Probably 90% of the telephone calls they took after this spoke out against Clear Channel for censorship. Sounds like a real mess. (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, May 20, NRC-AM via DXLD) Or like a publicity stunt! The "we're sorry about what ________ said on the air last Friday" gag is at least a couple of decades old in radio promotions circles; I remember stations here in Rochester using it in the late eighties. The Clear Channel brass just across the river from WLW in Northern Kentucky are probably laughing their posteriors off over this one...at least that's my guess (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Stunting? <><><> I suppose that is possible. After all we are talking about a station who had a plastic surgeon who specializes in female posteriors as the guest on their afternoon talk show today. But if Clear Channel would risk involving a corporate executive in a high visibility stunt like this they certainly have a larger sense of humor than I ever gave them credit for (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) Their large sense of humor lies in what they think is public service. http://www.swradioafrica.com " (via P. Robic, Austria, May 16, 2002 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION EARTH AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SOLAR STORMS David McAlary, Washington, 15 May 2002 20:56 UTC New U.S. satellite imagery shows that Earth's upper atmosphere puts up a mighty defense against the onslaught of solar storms, which bombard our planet with electrically-charged particles. Part of the upper atmosphere is lost in the battle, but what returns from the fray is so super-charged that it disrupts Earth's electrical systems and satellites. Scientists have discovered that Earth is not a passive victim in this process, but an active contributor. Scientists once thought the space between the Earth and the sun was almost a vacuum. Now we know the sun fills it with gusts of hot, electrically-charged atomic particles called the solar wind. Sometimes the wind blows very hard. When the sun's outer layer is really active, it propels nearly one-third of its matter outward at supersonic speeds. A heavy blast can produce a shock wave that compresses the planet's magnetic field. The resulting geomagnetic storm can wreak electrical havoc, shutting down spacecrafts, power networks, communications and other technical systems. Does this sound like we are a mere victim of violent solar activity? That was the scientific view until a U.S. satellite called IMAGE sent back recent pictures that made the physical processes of space storms visible for the first time. "With this new vision, it was found that Earth is an active participant in space weather, not just a passive buoy flopping in the solar wind," he said. Richard Fisher heads the division of sun-Earth science at the U.S. space agency NASA. "This is, in fact, a huge change in our thinking," he said. "IMAGE will rewrite textbooks on space weather and upper atmosphere physics." Scientists poring over IMAGE satellite data have found one of nature's ironies: Earth's atmosphere shields us from most of the superheated solar wind, but as University of Michigan researcher Janet Kozyra explains, it also supplies much of the material that produces the damaging effects to Earth's technical systems. "The earth actively responds when it is engulfed by a solar wind disturbance," she said. "Our own atmosphere intensifies the storm by sending these particles out there." Here's how it works. According to Johns Hopkins University space physicist Donald Mitchell, bursts of oxygen leave the atmosphere during a blast of solar wind. Most of the oxygen dissipates into space, but a fraction is trapped by Earth's magnetic field and ultimately encircles the planet, forming a powerful multi-million amp current along the invisible magnetic field lines. "It is a lot of energy there, It's gained about 100,000 times the energy that it had before it left the atmosphere," he said. "When they plunge into the atmosphere, these strong currents are generated, and this process transforms the mid-latitudes where we live from its usual calm state into a maelstrom that has direct effects on our daily lives." In the process, about 100 tons of Earth's oxygen is lost in space. That sounds like a lot, but space physicist Stephen Fuselier of the Lockheed-Martin Advanced Technology Center says it is really only enough to fill a large enclosed sports stadium. "Over the course of billions of years, the loss is relatively slight," he said. "However, if there are time periods when the sun is more active, of course the loss increases. That is the price the Earth pays for interacting with the sun and protecting the atmosphere - it loses part of it." The IMAGE satellite is the latest in a series of U.S., European and Japanese spacecraft studying the sun and its interaction with Earth. The previous orbiters give scientists about one hour's lead time to predict a space storm and warn operators of power grids, satellites and other electrical equipment that a blast is on the way. But Janet Kozyra says the IMAGE data will help researchers develop better models to forecast the severity and impact of space storms. "We will be attempting to incorporate this information into these kinds of global models and produce a much-improved description of the space environment, much the same way that we used images from meteorological satellites to vastly improve our ability to predict weather," she said. Ms. Kozyra calls IMAGE the first weather satellite for space. VOA News ============== http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=C8D6EF3D-7884-4863-9AEBF4851AB41AB2&title=Earth%20an%20Active%20Participant%20in%20Solar%20S torms&catOID=45C9C787-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C (via Dave White, DXLD) FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 22 MAY - 17 JUNE 2002 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels during the period. Isolated low-level M-class flares are likely. There is a chance for isolated major flare activity through 01 June. There will be a chance for a proton event until 01 June. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo-synchronous orbit are expected to be at normal to moderate levels for most of the period. However, high flux levels will be possible during 26 - 27 May. Active geomagnetic field conditions are possible during 23 - 25 May. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for the rest of the period. Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 May 21 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 May 21 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 May 22 170 8 3 2002 May 23 165 15 3 2002 May 24 165 12 3 2002 May 25 165 12 3 2002 May 26 165 10 3 2002 May 27 170 8 3 2002 May 28 175 7 2 2002 May 29 175 7 2 2002 May 30 180 7 2 2002 May 31 190 8 3 2002 Jun 01 185 8 3 2002 Jun 02 185 10 3 2002 Jun 03 185 10 3 2002 Jun 04 185 10 3 2002 Jun 05 185 10 3 2002 Jun 06 185 10 3 2002 Jun 07 185 10 3 2002 Jun 08 185 10 3 2002 Jun 09 175 10 3 2002 Jun 10 165 10 3 2002 Jun 11 160 10 3 2002 Jun 12 160 10 3 2002 Jun 13 160 10 3 2002 Jun 14 165 10 3 2002 Jun 15 170 10 3 2002 Jun 16 170 8 3 2002 Jun 17 170 8 3 (SEC NOAA website via DXLD) It should be noted that the summer Sporadic-E TV and FM DX season has begun, with strong openings noted by May 21 and 22, e.g. Mexico et al. here Wednesday morning (gh, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-082, May 20, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1131: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1131.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB GH CHANGES HIS NAME? Glenn, Your name was written wrong. Glenn HARZER. 73 (Carlos Felipe, Brasil, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) By the way, who's this bloke called Glenn Harzer responsible for sending out the latest DXLD. Not a "dumbing down" for Hauser is it!!!! Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, May 19, DXLD) Who is Glen Harzer? Hauser with a typo? (Duane Fischer, swl@qth.net) Referring to notice to lists of last DXLD issue. Tnx to a tip from Mike Bugaj, WTFDA list, that Hotmail/MSN had changed everyone`s so- called Options: Personal Profile to invite even more spam, I went in and deleted those two checks, only to find to my astonishment, that my real last name HAUSER was then disallowed, and I was prompted to change it to something else. An even greater change was made at my other account wghauser@hotmail.com Carlos gets the prize for being first to notice and notify me. When I next logged in a few hours later I attempted to change it back to Hauser, but not permitted! Nor several tries later. Can I ever get my name back from Hotmail? ``Your lastname contains a word or phrase that has been reserved or is prohibited for .NET Passport registration. Please type a different lastname`` The wonders of Microsoft. Other Hotmail/Passport clients/victims may want to delete the checks too, but may be penalized by being denied their real surname (Glenn Hauser, Harzer [non], Yaozuh [non], DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Mr. Yaozuh, Have you changed your mind about working for CRI? Is this your new nom-de-plume as a CRI reporter?? (Ivan Grishin) ** AFGHANISTAN. NEW ERA FOR AFGHAN MEDIA By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan, Globe Staff, 5/19/2002 KABUL, Afghanistan - Until a few months ago, Afghans visited the butcher or baker not only for provisions but also to pick up the latest news. In a country where the Taliban banned television and photography, permitting only government radio and newspapers that spouted propaganda, the most trusted source of information was what one Afghan editor calls ''the grapevine news agency'' - or gossip. But since the fall of the Taliban, a new breed of journalists - along with many who came out of forced retirement or exile - has established scores of newspapers and magazines to feed a generation of Afghans raised amid war, unaware of world events, and hungry for information. Some want to help shape the next government, others crusade to raise the standard of living, while others want to entertain a society deprived of laughter and leisure. ''Our mission is to be like a light showing the way to democracy for the Afghan people,'' said Mohammad Fahim Dashty, chief editor of the resurrected Kabul Weekly, which in the early '90s under the mujahideen government was censured twice for its investigative reporting and finally shut down. Operating under a new name, the paper folded again when the Taliban took power; authorities sacked the office and beat and jailed a photographer. The other staff members fled, including Dashty, who last September narrowly survived the attack on Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massood, who was assassinated by suicide bombers posing as journalists. Dashty, who was in the room filming a documentary on Massood and wears gloves to cover the burns from that day, said his ''mission is to promote a mix of our religion and culture with the good points of Western democracy - human rights, women's rights, free speech.'' Yet for every idealistic Afghan editor who dreams of rebuilding a war- torn nation with his or her pen, obstacles on the road to a free press remain. The biggest hurdle may be a public accustomed to decades of one-sided coverage from a state-controlled press. Many Afghans are as willing to believe rumors as they are to trust the local media. Newspapers and magazines also cost more to print than consumers can pay, so publishers must sell at a loss or not at all - meaning no one is yet producing an independent daily paper. Internet news is still a pie-in-sky idea for a country with very few telephone lines or computers. Most Afghans are illiterate and poor, reliant on radio alone for news. The only choices used to be government news, and the Voice of America and BBC for those who could tune in to shortwave. The interim government in late February overturned the state monopoly on radio, television, and film, opening them for the first time to individuals, political parties, and organizations. The first new program was ''Good Morning Afghanistan,'' a radio show sponsored by the Denmark-based Baltic Media Center, which has rapidly become the country's most popular news source by focusing on issues such as water, electricity, and road repair. But not a single Afghan producer has managed to raise the funds to establish an independent network. Among the most visible changes are the rebirth of humor and satire writing, and the return of women to the airwaves and newsrooms. After five years of writing stories in secret, Hamida Usman, 29, is now deputy editor of Malalai, a new monthly magazine for women. While her colleagues mostly profile women ministers or other high-fliers, she seeks out the faces of unseen women. For one issue, she profiled a widow who became a beggar because the Taliban barred women from working. ''I want to show that women have needs and demands that are not being met,'' she said. Afghanistan's interim administration said it recognizes that a free press is a key building block of democracy and has encouraged the proliferation of new media. At least 87 publications are printing now, even though most have ignored the government requirement for accreditation and deposit fees as collateral against fines that could be levied for ''misreporting.'' Yet even US-backed interim leader Hamid Karzai, who has charmed the Western media with humor and openness, did little to promote freedom of speech at home when he silenced the only local reporter who was called on at a news conference last month. The young man from Kabul TV tried to ask Karzai whether he and visiting President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan had discussed the two countries' dispute over a century-old, British-drawn boundary that separates them. But Karzai did not allow the reporter to finish speaking. The reporter was summarily dismissed by his superiors later that day, but later reinstated by the director general of Kabul TV. The incident outraged many in the local press corps. ''At first Afghan journalists weren't allowed into the presidential palace for the Musharraf press conference. ...Then we were not allowed to ask questions because it is Afghan journalists who know that Musharraf supported the Taliban and is a source of disaster for our country,'' said Dashty, who had raised his hand to no avail. ''Finally one of our colleagues managed to get a question - and Karzai cut him off.'' Dashty acknowledged, however, that his paper, which often criticizes the government, has not been censored. Abdul Hamid Mobarez, deputy minister of information and publications, said Afghanistan is committed to fostering a free press, but it cannot replicate a 226-year-old democracy overnight. ''We are in a fragile time,'' he said. ''We can't be the same as the US today, but we are going in the same direction.'' This story ran on page A24 of the Boston Globe on 5/19/2002. © Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company (via Dave White, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. It belatedly occurs to me that the SINGAPORE log on 8700 could have been an image from 9600?? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. V of Afghanistan still active today on 15480 // 17870. Both freqs quickly signed off at 1430. There was a delay of about 5 seconds between the signals. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very poor signals are being noted here on both 15480 and 17870 - nothing like the old 9950 frequency (Noel Green, England, May 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. AUSTRIA/MOLDOVA. 17870, Radio Voice of Afghanistan, 1330, 19 May, half-hour in Pashto, followed by half-hour in Dari. Presume via Moosbrunn. Noted 15480 still on air, much weaker than // 17870 and a couple of seconds ahead of it. Thought this frequency (via Moldova?) was to be discontinued on 15 May? (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [and non]. Glenn, it was with astonishment that I read a text by Mr. Carlos Gonçalves in your bulletin DX LISTENING DIGEST nº 2-080, from May 16, 2002, under the header "Angola". Mr. Gonçalves can express any opinion he wants, he has such a right, but I do not find any relation at all with radio in his text, which is purely political. Why, then, the inclusion of such an opinion in your bulletin? I am a Portuguese citizen and a veteran of the independence war in Angola. I was a lieutenant of the Portuguese Army in Northern Angola, where I fought real combats against the guerrilla movements. Among the soldiers that I commanded, there were 14 Angolan soldiers. I know what they thought and I know what they felt. Even if this was not the case, I saw with my own eyes the iniquity of colonialism. Therefore, I could not agree less with what Mr. Gonçalves wrote. When the Portuguese Armed Forces overthrew the colonialist dictatorship in April 25, 1974, they were engaged in *three* wars, in *three* different territories, for more than a decade (13 years in Angola, 11 in Mozambique and 10 in Guinea-Bissau). The military situation in Guinea-Bissau was desperate, the defeat of the Portuguese Armed Forces was imminent. In Mozambique, the situation was worsening from day to day. In Angola, the Portuguese Armed Forces controlled the situation, but with a price: each day, Portuguese and Angolan soldiers died, to keep the guerrilla war under control and out of the towns. Being a small country, Portugal could not withstand the continuation of the colonial wars forever. A solution to the problem was urgently needed. But the Lisbon government did not give any step in that direction, stubbornly dreaming its dreams of a "glorious" colonial empire. In the second half of the 20th century. If there was a betrayal, it was from the part of the dictatorship, which was leading Portugal and its colonies to a deadlock. Well, I could tell you much more about this matter, but I don't want to lengthen my message too much. I do enjoy very much your good work, anyway. 73 (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Perhaps I subconsciously anticipated a rebuttal such as yours; thanks (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6214.98, Radio Maranatha, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, 0002- 0105, May 16, Portuguese and Spanish, Religious program, ID "Maranatha AM desde Puerto Iguazú... Argentina... transmitiendo 24 horas del dia... para las tres fronteras y América" at 0010 Gospel Music and then religious program in Portuguese, "Maranatha AM 1610 também em ondas curtas 6215 faixa 49 metros... Puerto Iguazú". Kids program, call in from Brazil required a musical theme, 34333. Note: Puerto Iguazú is a 1649 km from my home (NICOLAS ERAMO, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6215.04, Radio Maranatha, unknown QTH (Argentina). May 2002-2340 UT. First of all I will point out that Jan-Erik Österholm/ JEÖ on May 11 in HCDX´s mailing list says Radio Maranatha AM, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones (Argentina) on 6215 kHz announcing SW 6215, MV 1610 and FM 101.7. That means a "real" SW-transmitter and not a harmonic. Before I read JEÖ´s report I thought it was a harmonic from 690 kHz (9x 690.56 = 6215.04). The only natural fundamental for a harmonic on 6215 kHz is just 690 kHz and WRTH lists only "Radio Maranatha" (except on 1610) in Argentina. So I speculated if Maranatha-690 (Lomas del Mirador, la provincia de Buenos Aires) was relaying Maranatha-1610 (Puerto Iguazú, Misiones). Heard the station for the first time at the evening on May 10 and first thought it was a Brazilian. May 12 I noted this ID in Spanish "...Maranatha AM en los 1610...en su dial". Heard with rather weak signal, but peaks now and then (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. R. Baluarte: Hola Amigos, 6215.04 kHz, Radio Baluarte, 2122-2254+, 18 Mayo 2002, mx y pxs rlgs, pxs en español y portugués, ID en español a 2130 "Maranatha AM 1610". ID en portugués a 2145 "Radio Baluarte ondas curtas 6215 kilohertz, 49 metros, e AM Maranatha...". A 2221 ID "Estamos aqui en la noche de la radio... Radio Baluarte ondas cortas de 49 metros", a 2232 ID "Radio Baluarte, ondas cortas 49 metros frecuencia de 6215 kilohertz, y Radio Maranatha AM 1610..." Menciona el teléfono de la emisora: 422557 (código para Argentina y Puerto Iguazu: (54+757+) SINPO: 35443. Personalmente, creo que definitivamente, el nombre de la emisora para sus operaciones en onda corta es "Baluarte", y el nombre para su AM es "Maranatha". Escuchada la emisora con algunos cortes de transmisión, y según anunció el locutor, debido a fuertes tormentas en Puerto Iguazú. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, May 19, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6059.96, 0205- May 16, R. ARGENTINA EXTERIOR. Surprised to hear RAE in English on 49 meters this time of year. Reception was fair to good, with // 11710 a solid S9 signal (though best in LSB as there's a het on the upper side), with the usual long winded sign-on announcements. Last heard this frequency in Mexico in October (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia 2-080: there is a mistake - the first line showing 11880 should read 0900-1230 (not 1100-1230). (Noel Green, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia Program Note This week on ASIA PACIFIC* - It is six years since the Dalai Lama last visited Australia. In a first one-on-one interview he'll give during his stay, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, will speak to Radio Australia journalist Tricia Fitzgerald of the Asia Pacific program in Melbourne. Tricia has worked in the Asia Pacific region for more than 10 years, and spent five and a half years as a foreign correspondent in Phnom Penh. She has a particular interest in Southeast Asia and indigenous issues. Listeners across Asia, the Pacific and beyond can hear Tricia`s interview with the Dalai Lama on 'Asia Pacific' on Radio Australia at 1005, 1105 and 2300 Universal time on Wednesday 22 May and at 0100 UT on Thursday 23 May. (Radio Australia Press Release provided by Roger Broadbent of Radio Australia via John Figliozzi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, VL8A Alice Springs (presumed), 2140, 15 May, news stories in English, mention of ABC. Weak signal but clear as RTM Bamako absent this evening (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. That's what HFCC table says about SW transmitters in Belarus`: FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC POWR AZIMUTH 1. 6010 0300 2200 19 BR 5 è 2. 6040 0300 2200 19 MNS 5 è 3. 6070 0300 2200 29N BR 5 è 4. 7110 0300 2200 19 BR 5 è 5. 7265 0400 2100 19 BR 5 è Each of the 5 rows is not quite correct. 1 and 3 - I'm in doubt about the transmitting time, energy saving forces the station to reduce their airtime. Needs checking. 2 - Hrodna, rather than Minsk. 4 - Hrodna, rather than Brest. 5 - well-known frequency of Kanal Kultura (former BR-2). Brest is not the only site, I'm sure about the additional outlets in Orsha and Hrodna (the latter is 2.5 kW). Probably there are other transmitters in the net (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus, Signal May 20 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Hello Glenn, We have thought about a transmission on a different time or day, but we are totally depending about the services of Ludo Maes' airtime.be. BTW, most frequencies will propagate into NAm. It's only an inconvenient time, but that will be no problem for real DXers. Thanks for expressing your concern (Guido Schotmans, DXA, Belgium, May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.6, Radio Pio Doce, Lallagua, Siglo XX, 0136-0145, May 14, Quechua, political comments by man and female announcer, ID "Radio Pio Doce..." 23332, (Eramo, Argentina) 6025, Radio Illimani, La Paz, 0124 - 0133, May 14, Spanish, Musical program (romantic music), advs by female announcer, ID "por Illimani" "Illimani presenta..." 22332, (Eramo, Argentina) 6134.8, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 2355-0004, May 13- 14, Spanish Educational program by man announcer, IDs "Transmite Radio Santa Cruz" " 980 khz... 6135 kHz onda corta, transmite Radio Santa Cruz desde Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia" 23332, (Eramo, Argentina) 6537.27, Radio La Voz del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, Cochabamba, 0745-0800, May 19, Spanish, Comunicados and Musical program, ID's "todo disponible en la Voz del Campesino, pasar en horario de oficina" "La Voz del Campesino... Cochabamba, Bolivia, Teléfono 36 19 29 (I am not sure this number is copied OK) and then musical program, 24332, (Eramo, Argentina) e-mail: neramo@runbox.com neramo@HotPOP.com neramo@myrealbox.com http://www.geocities.com/neramo/ T.E. 54-11-4859-6539 Location: Villa Lynch, Buenos Aires, Argentina Receivers: Icom IC-R75/Sony ICF 2010/Sony ICF 7600/Sony ICF 7600G Antennas: V Inverted 20 mts with balun 1.1 V Inverted 10 mts with balun 1.1 MFJ 959B Tuner Antenna/amplifier (all: NICOLAS ERAMO, Casilla 5263, Correo Central, C1000WCA Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4755.22, Rádio Educadora Rural, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 0905-0944, May 19, Portuguese, Musical Program, "...em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul", 34443 (NICOLAS ERAMO, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4853V, Radio Difusora de Roraima, Boa Vista. May 2002 - 1000 UT. Slipping around here for a while with distorted audio. Listed on 4875 (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 17815, Rádio Cultura, São Paulo. 1100-1107 May 19. Portuguese transmission. Complete ID: "ZYK... ondas curtas... Rádio Cultura de São Paulo...." Announced address and electronic mail. Romantic music in Portuguese, Ann.: "Música y lajer per la Cultura AM". 25442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Glenn, Here's an e-mail sent to me from Eduardo de Moura concerning Radio Canção Nova from Brazil (Pete Costello, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ------------------------------------- Dear Friend We are Radio Canção Nova, a Brazilian radio station - 24 hours a day. We have been receiving many Radio Reports from Listening radios around the world. We would like to inform those who make part of your DX- Club, We have a special program, where We confirm on the air all radio reports, besides of our special QSL card to confirm it. We would like to invite you to make part of our program and ask you inform our frequency and schedule: Program: Além Fronteiras (Beyond Boundaries) Every Saturday: 2200 to 2300 (GMT) AM 1020 khz SW 49m 6105 kHz - SW 60m 4825 kHz - SW 31m 9675 kHz - Thank you very much for special attention, Regards, (Eduardo de Moura (PY2-TP), Canção Nova Radio http://www.cancaonova.com via Pete Costello, May 20, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9675, 18 May 2212, Rádio Canção Nova with the program "Além Fronteiras" where they read letters from listeners. They also played a tape recording from a listener in New Zealand. I had much better reception here in Halmstad. 4 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista (SP), tem um programa que responde aos informes e cartas dos ouvintes do exterior. É o Além Fronteiras, que vai ao ar, nos sábados, entre 2130 e 2300, nas freqüências de 4825, 6105 e 9675 kHz. A informação foi dada por Eduardo de Moura, da Canção Nova, ao radioescuta russo Vladimir Kovalenko, residente em Tomsk. Já Oséias Fantinelli, residente em Jacutinga (RS), tentou ouvir o Além Fronteiras no dia 4 de maio, mas a programação era outra! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 18 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Educadora, de Limeira (SP), voltou a ser sintonizada, aqui em Porto Alegre, na freqüência de 2380 kHz, em 120 metros. Foi em 16 de maio, às 0331. Estava no ar o programa Madrugada 1020, com músicas de Roberta Miranda, Roberto Carlos, entre outros (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 18 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Nacional da Amazônia está transmitindo, há 15 dias, na freqüência de 11780 kHz, em 25 metros. A informação foi dada pelo Presidente da Radiobrás, Carlos de Cerqueira Leite Zarur, aos integrantes da Comissão de Amazônia e de Desenvolvimento Regional da Câmara dos Deputados. Ele participou de audiência pública, na Comissão, em 16 de maio. Zarur esteve acompanhado de José Henrique, chefe de Engenharia na Radiobrás, segundo o qual o sinal da emissora, em 25 metros, irá ultrapassar as fronteiras da América Latina. O objetivo do restabelecimento da freqüência é atingir os ouvintes das regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil. O presidente da Radiobrás disse para os deputados que a Rádio Nacional da Amazônia recebe 85 mil cartas por ano. O deputado Eurípedes Miranda (PDT-RO), autor do requerimento solicitando a presença de Zarur, acrescenta que a rádio atende à população mais humilde do Brasil, que muitas vezes encontra na programação respostas sobre assuntos diversos, como gravidez, métodos contraceptivos, doenças e atendimentos emergenciais. Já a deputada Socorro Gomes (PCdoB-PA), entende que a Rádio Nacional da Amazônia tem prestado excelente serviço à população, "mas precisa ser mais informativa e interativa". As informações são da jornalista Teresa Cristina, da Agência Câmara, publicadas em http://www.camara.gov.br (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 18 via DXLD) Tive a oportunidade de sintonizar, aqui em Porto Alegre, a programação da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, em 11780 kHz, em 17 de maio, entre 1727 e 1900. A emissora levou ao ar as seguintes identificações: "Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, a melhor programação do seu rádio! Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, cada vez mais perto de você! De hora em hora, notícia de qualidade!" Durante o programa "Falando Francamente", a apresentadora Artemisa Azevedo informou que a freqüência de 11780 kHz estava em testes entre 1200 e 1900. Também disse que os ouvintes podem ouvir a emissora, pela manhã, na faixa de 31 metros. Entretanto, não informou a freqüência. Já o apresentador do programa Nacional Jovem, Carlos Moreira, disse que a rádio estava transmitindo em todos os horários na freqüência de 6180 kHz, em 49 metros. Anunciaram um número de telefone para contato. É o 0800 617273. O endereço para correspondência é: Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, Caixa Postal 258, 70359-970, Brasília(DF). Também informaram o sítio da emissora, na Internet, que é o seguinte: http://www.radiobras.gov.br (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 18 via DXLD) Used to be powerhouse in NAm too, 11780 ** BRAZIL. A Motobrás é a única empresa brasileira que ainda fabrica rádios de ondas curtas para carros. Veja os aparelhos, bem como a história e revendedores da marca em http://www.motobras.com.br (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 18 via DXLD) {See follow-up saying they are no good at bottom of DXLD 2-084} ** BRAZIL. RADIO GAZETA, SAO PAULO, 9685 KHZ CHANGED TO AN UNIVERSITY RADIO | This piece of news is clipped from 'A Telefonia Virtual' http://www.telefonia-virtual.com/ "The Radio Gazeta AM, of São Paulo, of the Foundation Cásper Líbero, enters into a new phase. Since 6th of May its programming is developed and presented exclusively by students of the College of Communication Cásper Líbero. Since 1995, the radio was leased for two religious groups. In this new phase, the broadcaster is on air 24 hours per day. The programming is based on journalism and much music, and has news, always with one hour of duration, at 7h, 12h, 18h and 23h. In addition, "pills of information" along the day, with varieties, sports, economy and theater, and interviews. The coordination is in charge of Peter Vaz and Sérgio Rizzo, professors of the college, with supervision of the superintendent of Radios of the foundation, Beto Rivera." 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm (via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. VICTORIA DAY (CANADA) http://www.pch.gc.ca/ceremonial-symb/english/day_vic.html Heritage Canada`s web page dedicated to Victoria Day, celebrated this year in Canada on Monday, May 20th. (Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter May 18 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Glenn, Regarding the discussion about country music. About a sesquidecade ago, I recall Ian McFarland answering an American listener's question about CBC's Northern Service on 9625 playing country music instead of regular CBC programming. Ian's reply was that since the people in the intended target area very much enjoyed country music, it was important for CBC to recognize that and give them what they want to hear. Also I want to say how much I appreciate the space you have devoted to language recently. I still recall your items about the proper pronunciation of "São Tomé". 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 11590, China Huayi BC, Fuzhou. Heard with English program from 0940 tune-in to 1000 on Sunday 19 May, gave program name as 'Focus on China' and station ID as 'Voice of Strait'. Male and female presenters, focused on econonic and political news and developments. Resumed Chinese program from 1000 with China Huayi IDs. Would seem to be a locally-produced program for Voice of Strait (see DXLD 2-049) which also goes out on other Fuzhou-based stations such as this one (which stepped in to fill the breech left by a scaling down of Voice of Strait outlets a few years ago.) (Matt Francis, Australia, May 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA: FALUN GONG FOLLOWERS JAILED FOR ILLEGAL BROADCASTS | Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Chongqing, 17 May: Chongqing City's No 1 Intermediate People's Court today issued verdicts giving Jin Wei and three other Falun Gong elements prison terms ranging from seven to 16 years for organizing and using the cult's organization to obstruct enforcement of law and sabotaging radio and television facilities. The court has found at the trial that instigated by the overseas headquarters of the Falun Gong cult organization through its "Minghui Net" [Falun Gong web site: http://www.minghui.org/ ] and ordered by [Falun Gong founder] Li Hongzhi's "Scripture" instruction to "use all kinds of means to publicize the Falun Dafa", Falun Gong elements Jin Wei, Li Xiangdong, and Liu Chunshu (already dead due to illness) conspired to broadcast the cult's propaganda film on cable television and that they gathered Falun Gong elements a number of times to receive technical instructions from Li Xiangdong. At around 1900 [local time] on 2002 New Year's Day, Jin Wei, Li Xiangdong, Liu Chunshu, and two other convicts in the current case drove to a cable box outside the gate of Shibaye Company at Shipingqiao in Chongqing City's Jiulongpo District to commit the crime and broadcast Falun Gong's propaganda film. As a result of their action, some of the cable television customers were unable to receive regular cable programmes. Their action had extremely bad social effects. Chongqing City's No 1 Intermediate People's Court today announced the following verdicts in court after a public trial: Jin Wei is sentenced to 16 years in prison for organizing and using the cult's organization to obstruct law enforcement and sabotaging radio and television facilities and is deprived of his political rights for life; Li Xiangdong is sentenced to 15 years in prison and is deprived of his political rights for two years; and Shu Jianqiu and Li Wei, the other two criminals in the case, are sentenced to nine and seven years in prison, respectively. Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1421 gmt 17 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 2179.87 (Harmonic?) CARACOL, unknown QTH (Colombia). May 2002 - 2330 UT. A station heard quite often with more or less good signal both mornings and evenings. I heard the station for the first time May 14. No local ID. On the probable fundamental 1090 kHz there are several "Caracol Colombia"-stations listed: Cúcuta, Florencia and Sogamoso (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Saludos colegas diexistas, un fuerte abrazo para todos. Viendo el noticiero de CNN en español en horas de la noche, logré captar información sobre la emisora: Radio Resistencia, de La Cadena Bolivariana. Ya visité esta dirección y hay archivos interesantes que tratan sobre los personajes de las FARC, así como canciones dedicadas a los guerrilleros. Para los colegas que gustan de este tipo de emisoras, la dirección es: http://www.radioresistencia.com/ Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, May 19, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CONGO. 5985, 15 May 1900, news in English. Lots of splatter. QSA 3. JE/RFK (Jan Edh + Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 5985, Radio Congo, 2025, 14 May, Talk, ID in French as ``Radio Congo, Chaine Nationale``. Fair/clear (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** CUBA. The weblink to RHC on publicradiofan is down. I don't think I've ever been able to connect through there. I'm interested to hear what they say about the President's speech today (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Me neither, nor anywhere (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. LANZA LA VOZ DE LA FUNDACION UN NUEVO ESPACIO RADIAL Ocho meses después de clausurar sus transmisiones radiales hacia Cuba (vía WHRI y Radio Miami Internacional), la Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana (FNCA) inauguró el Viernes 17 de Mayo, 2002 un programa semanal en la emisora WQBA-1140 AM (llamada anteriormente la CUBANÍSIMA) con el propósito anunciado de "superar las distancias y acercar todas las orillas" entre la isla y el exilio. El programa se llamará ENTRE CUBANOS y saldrá al aire los Viernes, en vivo, de 10 a 11 AM (1400-1500 UT). La conducción estará a cargo del sicólogo Ramón Humberto Colás, quien contará con la colaboración de Omar López Montenegro y Brenda Moreira. La señal de la WQBA se escucha aceptablemente en muchos puntos de la Costa Norte de Cuba y la Región Central. Las autoridades cubanas a través del Ministerio de Comunicaciones y las Fuerzas Armadas utilizan Jamming y crean bloqueo a la emisora situando emisoras provinciales sobre la misma frecuencia de la WQBA como ocurre con Radio Cadena Habana 1140 AM (Oscar (Miami), May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. TRANSMITIRAN RADIO Y TV MARTÍ POR INTERNET (DIGITALMENTE). Posted on Sat, May. 18, 2002 WILFREDO CANCIO ISLA, El Nuevo Herald Las transmisiones de Radio TV Martí podrán sintonizarse digitalmente desde el próximo lunes a través de la internet con el objetivo de facilitar las opciones de acceso a una potencial audiencia en Cuba. ''El propósito es que todas las personas que tengan una ventana a la internet dentro de Cuba puedan recibir ahora nuestra programación de radio y televisión con mayor nitidez'', declaró ayer Salvador Lew, director de la Oficina de Transmisiones a Cuba. El funcionario anunció además que en esa misma fecha la programación de cuatro horas diarias de TV Martí se trasladará al horario estelar de 6 a 10 p.m. Actualmente la señal televisiva, que es interrumpida por el gobierno cubano, comienza a transmitirse a las 3 a.m. para eludir complicaciones técnicas con el uso del aerostato. Las iniciativas anunciadas se producen en ocasión del centenario de la instauración de la República de Cuba (1902-2002) y del XVII aniversario de Radio Martí, que comenzó sus transmisiones el 20 de mayo de 1985. ''Es una nueva etapa para nuestro sitio en la internet'', dijo Lew. ``El lunes en la mañana, algunos en Cuba podrán localizar allí el discurso del presidente [Bush]''. Según confirmó la Casa Blanca, Bush deberá pronunciar un discurso el lunes 20 en Washington dedicado a la política de su administración hacia Cuba. Al mediodía, viajará a Miami, donde participará en un acto público por el centenario cubano y en una cena de recaudación de fondos para el Partido Republicano. Lew explicó que ''la nueva internet de Radio y TV Martí'' se logrará con el trabajo de cinco empleados. Hasta el momento, el sitio era confeccionado por una sola persona y sólo ofrecía acceso limitado a los noticieros radiales de la emisora. La dirección del sitio a partir del lunes será http://www.martinoticias.com Se calcula que unas 40,000 personas cuentan en Cuba con la opción de acceso a la internet, aunque muchas personas se agencian la entrada a sitios cibernéticos por vía del ''mercado negro'' de cuentas oficiales y empresariales. En cuanto a la posibilidad de apreciar la imagen televisiva de TV Martí en la isla por la internet, existen dudas sobre si la carencia de un sistema tecnológico apropiado (la llamada ''banda ancha'') entre los proveedores cubanos, pudiera impedir la operación receptiva. ''Creemos que la imagen puede llegar a muchos usuarios que cuentan con una tecnología avanzada, pero antes de hacer cualquier comentario negativo preferimos aguardar por los primeros resultados'', manifestó el ingeniero Mike Pallone, director de operaciones de Radio y TV Martí. Lew expresó que, según reportes llegados de Cuba, hay algunos lugares donde esporádicamente está llegando la imagen de TV Martí. ''Esperamos que en su discurso del lunes, el Presidente anuncie nuevas iniciativas para Radio y TV Martí'', agregó el funcionario. 73'S (OSCAR (MIAMI), May 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. PORTUGAL 12045, 0423- May 18, DEUTSCHE WELLE. Very nice signal from Sines, Portugal with English to Africa. Checking the propagation map shows that WCNA receives the back end of the signal. Announcing a contest. Send in a PC and you might win a portable SW receiver (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3291.3, Voice of Guyana, 0210-0246 May 15, woman host taking phone calls from listeners with occasional music segments between phone calls. 0238 ID and program close followed program called "Straight from the Heart." Fair reception (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 3291.25, 13 May 0306, "You are listening to The Voice of Guyana" - Georgetown can be heard again with various programming, among others serious music - good quality - TBV (Tore B. Vik, Norway) 3291.256, 10 May 0045, Guyana Broadcasting Corporation again after some time of absence. Request program with greetings. 2-3 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, both: SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) Parece que a Voz da Guyana está de volta em 90 metros. Eu a ouví no dia 17 passado retransmitindo o serviço mundial da BBC por volta da 0100 UT. Hoje, dia 20 de Maio, a ouvi em 3291.25 kHz, às 0730 novamente retransmitindo a BBC, noticias esportivas e noticiário mundial. Às 0800 um locutor em inglês começou a transmitir um programa sobre o Islam e às 0810 música hindu com preces às 0815. Bom sinal (SINPO 35343). (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, NRD 345, Dipolo 25 metros + MFJ959B, radioescutas via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA update: I was told that Bar-el was told he cannot become Director General since he's too old. He will remain a caretaker till they appoint someone else (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, May 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. Over the last few days I have been monitoring transmissions from Jordan. So far as I can hear, the Main Arabic programme is using: 9830 c1745-c2025 11810 c0500-c0710, ?*?-c1458 and c1745-c2200 11840 c2030-?+? (this is co-ch with IRIB Arabic until c2127) 11960 c0500-c0710 15290 c1025-c1200 15435 c2000-c2200 All on/off times vary within minutes - and their time pips are not accurate either! ?*? 11810 is heard fading in soon after 1200, but exact sign on time not verified. ?+? 11840 is heard past 2200 - s-off time not yet verified. 11690 1300-1700 in English 7155 is Jordan and heard c1800-c1958. It is a different Arabic programme. Hans heard an ID of this one some months ago, when it was operating to a different schedule, which included "Itha' Quwat al- musalaha al ordiniya" - a station of the Armed Forces of Jordan - and I have heard what sounds like that ID too. Radio Thailand's English service to Europe is co-channel from 1900 (Noel Green, England, May 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 15120, 2258-2300* May 17, VOICE OF NIGERIA. Very strong, though somewhat muddy audio, with sign-off announcements in English, then brief national anthem, and 1000 Hz tone. Carrier off when rechecked at 2305 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 4769.95, Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, 2130, 15 May, back into local programming after Network News with ID in English ``This is Radio Nigeria Kaduna welcoming you back from the Network Service``. Fair (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890 PAPUA National Radio, 1108 May 14 YL in vernacular, \\ 3205, English ID as R. Papua/New Guinea at 1111 then separate program, 4890 in EG and 3205 in Vern. Good, this station now transmitting at full power comparable to former strength (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** PERU. 4789.88, Radio Atlántida, Iquitos, la provincia de Maynas, el departamento de Loreto. May 17 2002 - 0050 UT. This can be called a real "reactivation" --- first time I have observed the station here in Quito. Not even listed in Mark Mohrmann`s list. Newscast, where OM/YL alternate reading news. Strong signal. Mentioned SW 4790 kHz and FM. [this used to be one of Peru`s most reliable 60m stations --- gh] Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Maynas, cuya capital es Iquitos. Sus distritos son: Alto Nanay, Fernando Lores, Indiana, Iquitos, Las Amazonas, Mazán, Napo, Putumayo, Torres Causana; con una población total de 384,063 hab. 5750.04 USB, unID with Peruvian music. May 14 2002 - 0040 UT. With "Cosmopolita"-5900 USB in memory I enclose this logging even if it is more likely a radio amateur. The Peruvian folk music was interrupted sometimes and identification as "Los Andes, Los Andes". I got the thought that the speech had a connection with some sort of radio station. 5879.19, unID LA, unknown QTH (Perú). May 2002 - 1000 UT. Has been here for a very long time and has the same religious programme // with Radio Imperio, Chiclayo on 4389 kHz. I know that Radio Uno, Chiclayo on 1280v kHz also relays this programme. 5879.19 is perhaps a third station (harmonic?) relaying the same program? Someone who knows? 6150.40, C.P.N. Radio, unknown QTH (Perú). May 2002 - 2310 UT. After a hint from our member Kenneth Olofsson/KO about "CPN" I checked the frequency where I could not hear any local ID but only "CPN Radio". Probably it is CPN Radio (ex Concordia) in Arequipa, earlier on 6141.04v kHz, on a new frequency. KO points out that the nominal frequency in WRTH for Concordia is noted as 6150 kHz (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) more possible Peruvians at bottom, UNIDENTIFIED ** PERU. 6150 CPN Radio, 0600, location unknown, fair-good signal with usual news format and plenty of canned IDs. Totally dominating usual DGS/University Network [COSTA RICA] May 20 (Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7390, 1520- May 19, VOICE OF RUSSIA. S7 signal with Joe Adamov and Moscow Mailbag. After all the years, Joe still sounds like the old Joe from the Soviet times. Exactly the same format. Parallel via Dushanbe 11500 is stronger but cochannel with a ute on both sidebands (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Es posible escuchar a Radio Sakhalin, desde la ciudad homónima, en Rusia, casi todas las mañanas, sobre las 0830-0930 UT, por los 11840khz, en ruso, en modo USB. Noticias, comerciales(!!!!) y buena música rusa. Llega con muy buena recepción (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, May 19, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA/USA: COLUMNIST REACTS TO US LAUNCHING TV CHANNEL SAWA | Text of report in English by Saudi newspaper Arab News web site on 18 May Propaganda is an arm of the modern warfare. With the invention of the radio at the turn of the last century, even people in remote corners of the world became susceptible to the political, ideological and cultural seduction from the West. Lenin was, presumably, the first to identify the enormous propaganda potential of the radio broadcast. He exploited the electronic media to export revolutionary ideas to the masses the world over. Most colonial powers have used radio as a means to influence the people in their colonies. Thus, media played a key role in the colonial wars. It invaded the minds and hearts of the people and paved the way for the political and geographical domination by colonial authorities. The United States launched Voice of America, which served as an important instrument of propaganda, in 1942 in the wake of the Pearl Harbour attack. It also served as a strategic weapon in the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union to defend and project the US policies. The Voice of America also served as a reliable and objective source of international news apart from taking the lead role to popularize the American culture throughout the world. The Americans were prompted to launch the broadcast in Arabic in 1951 with an increasing American interest in the Arab world. The US also had to defend the existence of Israel. In the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, the American administration discovered that its image has been vastly damaged in the Arab world and its voice was no more listened to. The administration also realized that the dazzling American lifestyle was no more attractive to the Arab youth. Instead of identifying the real cause of the intense hatred for the US, some of their thinkers including mediamen and politicians said the Arab hatred sprang from their envy towards the American wealth, democracy and the refined lifestyle. They said Arabs and Muslims are a "backward" people who want to destroy the American civilization and to take people back to a primitive system of life. How is it possible for the "backward" Arabs and Muslims to deny the great achievements and brilliant image of the Americans? Being influenced by such wrong notions, the congressmen have decided to exploit the potential of the electronic media more vigorously to promote the US interests in the Middle East and lead back the Arab people to the American fold. With an initial budget of 245m US dollars a new Arabic TV channel will be launched shortly. The Sawa in FM channel targeting at the Arab youth under 30 has already been launched. President George Bush said the new broadcast would present music, reliable news and information in Arabic to create a better understanding of the American values and actions. The TV channel in Arabic will be available shortly on a round-the-clock basis. It will feature lessons in English language, news and critical review of the Arab media. The station will highlight the American viewpoints and counter the media attempts in the Arab world to spread hatred against America. The congressmen want to rush with their scheme of expanding American influence in the Arab world. They are annoyed because their previous attempts to break the "coarse" Arabs did not bear fruit. Will their new weapon of radio and satellite TV succeed? Source: Arab News web site, Jedda, in English 18 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.84, 14 May 0359 (Tentative) but certainly Radio UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone with various talk programmes after 0402. Began to fade out at about 0430. No ID but they talked about "...Mission" and several spoke English with typical African accent. I have found the following address: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, PO Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone. 1-2 CB (Christer Brunström) 6137.85, 15 May 2100, UNAMSIL, Freetown. Despite lots of splatter it finally came through and in fact stronger and more clear in AM-mode. Quite "decent" strength (QSA 2) at times. JE/RFK (Jan Edh + Ronny Forslund) 6138, 16 May 2350, tent. Radio UNAMSIL with Afro music and telephone calls, low modulation and hard to hear what the DJ says, lots of splatter and sometimes Russian -- coastal radio QRM. KO (Kenneth Olofsson, Sweden, all: SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** SOMALIA: RADIO BANAADIR OFF AIR; FAULT IN TRANSMITTER CITED | Text of report by Somali newspaper Ayaamaha on 20 May Radio Banaadir, one of the most popular radio stations in Mogadishu, has been off air for several days. To know more about the issue, we contacted the station's general manager, Ahmad Ali Mahmud, by telephone. He told us the problem was caused by a transmitter fault. He said the matter was being handled. Mr Ahmad, apologized profusely to the radio's esteemed listeners, saying the station would be back on air later today to render its services as before. Source: Ayaamaha, Mogadishu, in Somali 20 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3280.009, 4 May 1805, Radio Veritas via Meyerton, South Africa can be heard almost every evening until cd 1900*. "Good evening to all of you. It`s a wonderful evening here in Johannesburg". Sometimes mentions a box address with post number in South Africa but I can`t hear what they say. Has been on air since May 1 and I heard them for the first time May 3. SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD)) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Hello Glenn, Here's the Stair story from WIS TV, Columbia, SC. They give a little more info: http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=787534&nav=0RaP95zh I'd keep checking the South Carolina newspaper and TV sites for updates on this case as they are released. 73, (Anita McCormick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I looked at WCBD-TV Charleston, found nothing (gh) RELIGOUS LEADER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL CONDUCT [sic] (Walterboro) - May 17, 2002 - The leader of a ministry in the low country has been charged with sexually abusing members of his religious community. Ralph Gordon Stair is the leader of the Overcomers [sic] Ministry in Walterboro. He's in the Colleton County jail charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct. Ralph Gordon Stair was arrested by sled Thursday. A judge denied bond for him Friday. Stair's been a religious leader for 30 years, and has compounds at several places throughout the country. Former Overcomers say he cycles people in and out of those complexes, and allegedly takes members money and abuses women, while forcing them to live in squalor. In a quiet rural setting, a religious community of about 100 people at any given time has remained relatively hidden for decades. Now, former overcomers like Kathleen Duval are coming forward with allegations against Brother Stair, "I was deceived on international radio." Stair has been preaching his own form of the Christian religion for over thirty years. On regular radio, television shows, and through his website. Tom Duval, former Overcomer says, "He said anyone who left would go to hell. But then if I stayed and I messed up in his eyes, he said I wouldn't go to heaven. If I'd have known all that I wouldn't have joined." The Duvals left one year ago, after many years inside the secluded community. Kathleen says she gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Brother Stair. That's all gone and she says she's considering filing suit. Meantime, two other former Overcomers allege Stair forced them to have sex with him. Stair is in jail on 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct second degree, and 2 counts of breach of trust over $1,000. Mike Rowland, also a former Overcomer explains Stair, "We find he's hiding behind his position." Kathleen Duval also says, "I think he needed to be in jail a long time ago." by Crystal Davis posted 11:36pm by Sarah Gregory (via Anita McCormick, DXLD) WBCQ has not replied to my inquiry about the status of The Overcomer Ministry as far as they are concerned, but as of May 18, the program schedule at http://wbcq.net does not list it at any time. I`m not sure when it was previously scheduled or last on, as I avoided it with a passion. Looking at the site, you would never know he was once a valuable part of WBCQ programming. On the same date, however, the current WRMI schedule effective May 12, and recently published here with all gospel huxters deleted, still shows lots of B.S. on all three frequencies, including 15725 1400-2200 Sunday. However, at 1716 UT, I could not detect any signal. Hoarse Ralph was still ranting away on WWCR 9475, however. May we look forward to 168+ hours per week of transmitter time freed up on that station??? The Overcomer Ministry website, checked May 18, for shortwave schedules, is last updated April 26, and does not show any times on WBCQ, or WINB for that matter, tho direct links to those stations` websites are still at the bottom --- just WWCR, WRMI and Juelich. Now they have added a more legible second newspaper story, the AP one, at http://www.overcomerministry.com/5-18-02Article.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, Are his broadcasts still on WWCR? (Mike Terry, UK, Asking WWCR, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Yes. (Adam Lock, WWCR, May 20, reply to Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Last I heard The Net Team had taken down all their newspaper scans [linked in last DXLD] because of copyright or something. However, I also heard they may be in the newspaper business now as they are buying up some newspapers to resell. If you want a hard copy drop them an email. Of course you could also contact the newspaper directly. The Press and Standard, 803-549-2586 (Al Patrick, rec.radio.shortwave May 18 via DXLD) REMNANTS HOPE MINISTRY The Remnants Hope Ministry is something that God put on my heart to do after he delivered my family and myself from the hands of R.G. Stair, the False Prophet from Walterboro, SC. The Lord told me to get on short-wave radio and to preach the truth and to do it with the right spirit. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. We believe that he died on a cross for our sins. And through his name we have salvation. We have also been witness to the wickedness of R.G. Stair and the Overcomer ministry. We stayed in the Orangeburg, Sc area so we could help anyone who might want to leave that place. It is my hope that this web site will be a blessing to you and that you will glorify our father which is in heaven, who is blessed for ever and ever. Amen With Love, Pastor Tim Butler Remnants Hope Broadcast WWRB Monday and Tuesday 12.172 & 6.890 mhz 6-7pm edt 2200-2300 Friday 5.085 and 6.890 mhz 8-9pm edt 0000-0100 utc Deutsche Telekom Saturday and Sunday 6.110 mhz 1200-1300 utc Saturday 13.810 mhz 0800-0900 utc Maranatha Net Saturday 14.327 mhz 2000-2300 utc 4-7pm edt Sunday 7.233 mhz 2000-2300 utc 4-7pm edt E-Mail Group now available Remnants_Hope-subscribe@yahoogroup.com SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING [allied preachers] These broadcasts tell the truth about R.G. Stair. I do not agree with everything that they say and preach. I am sure that the same is true for them with me. However, we have a common cause and purpose. We are alerting you to the false teachings and claims of a man who considers himself a Prophet and is not. For this cause and the warning of the people of God we have put all differences aside and seek to save those who are ready to persish by being deceived by R.G. Stair Mike Rowland Wednesdays 9-10pm edt 7.415 mhz 0100-0200 utc Pastor Dan Catlin Sundays 9-10pm edt 9.330 mhz 0100-0200 utc Table of Truth Monday 7-8pm edt 7.415 2300-0000 utc Thursday 9-10pm edt 7.415 mhz 0100-0200 utc Friday 7:30-8pm edt 12.172 and 6.890 mhz 2330-0000 utc from http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-remnantshope (via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 15425, 1533- May 19, SLBC COLOMBO heard with south Asian music above DW Russian. Parallel to 9770 (poor but in the clear). Dead air at 1535, so not sure if they were signing off or having a transmitter problem (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. CLUTTERING THE AIRWAVES --- By Gavin Phipps, STAFF REPORTER Once a voice for pro-democracy activists, pirate radio in Taiwan has become a medium for appalling karaoke and snake oil commercials, giving both the government and licensed radio stations a migraine When the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' (MOTC) Department of Post and Telecommunications and the Government Information Office (GIO) announced plans for a rigid clampdown on pirate radio stations in March this year, it was viewed as many as a yet another futile battle in the governments' eight-year-old war on pirate broadcasters. For its geographical size, Taiwan has an extraordinarily large number of pirate stations. Since 1997, the MOTC has closed down 748 pirate radio stations. Many more stations have avoided detection either by broadcasting from vans, and sometimes even cars, or simply by remaining one step ahead of the law by intermittently moving their transmitters. While no solid figure exists as to the actual number of pirate stations operating in Taiwan, a recent report estimated the number to be roughly 200 broadcasting on FM channels. A sizable figure when compared to the number of legally licensed stations, which at present number 174 FM stations. "Although the problem first began to materialize almost a decade ago, it has become more evident over the past couple of years. We've either discovered or have been informed of literally hundreds of pirate radio stations in recent years," said Yao Ping-chung, section chief of the MOTC's Department of Post and Telecommunications. The problem is now so widespread, that national radio stations such as ICRT and Hit FM, along with regional stations like Voice of Taipei receive reports on an almost daily basis from listeners complaining about pirate radio station interference. "Managing the public airwaves and ensuring that pirate stations don't appear is a problem. Historically, ICRT has seen most of its problems in the Taichung area," said ICRT's station manager, Doc Casey. "But that's not to say there aren't such problems with [pirate] stations broadcasting in northern Taiwan." Not so long ago, the ICRT station manager discovered pirate radio in his own backyard. Returning home one evening to discover that both his television and radio were encountering very strong interference, Casey looked out of his window only to be confronted by the sight of an antenna perched on top of the residential building directly opposite his own. "You can stop [pirate stations] one day, but then the next week they're back broadcasting again," explained Eric Liang, vice general manger of Voice of Taipei, one of the first radio stations to be granted a license following the governments opening of the airwaves. "It's an endless task and one that is becoming increasingly hard to control, especially in the south of Taiwan where enforcement is lax." According to Liang, pirate radio stations are allowed to prosper in the south due to their distance from Taipei. "Stations in Chiayi for example are far enough away from Taipei for authorities to be able to simply ignore," Liang said. "When they don't effect the capital city proper a `who cares' attitude seems to be taken by all concerned." Taiwan's pirate broadcasters began hitting the airwaves in 1994, shortly after the government opened radio channels to the public. Although a handful of stations applied for licenses, a large number refused to due to the strict guidelines laid down by the GIO regarding program content. "Sure, it was a nice gesture. But when you say you're going to allow the public free access to an area of the media and then say `but we're still going to monitor what you say,' it was a half-hearted attempt and a real non-starter," said Hengchun Chi a pirate broadcaster in Kaohsiung between 1995 and 1996. Pirate radio stations' anti-KMT stance proved hugely popular. Hotlines of stations such as The Voice of Taiwan -- a station now broadcasting legally -- one of the most candid of Taiwan's early pirate radio stations, were overwhelmed with callers representative of all walks of life eager to comment on social issues and political events of the day. The KMT suddenly found itself the target of uncensored on-air criticism, as the nation found a medium from which to vent its frustration over 40 years of government control. "Shrill, funny, irrelevant and occasionally scurrilous, it insults the mighty and defends the meek," was how one news agency described the Voice of Taiwan. Needless to say, the government didn't find the content of the Voice of Taiwan and other such pirate radio stations either funny or irrelevant. On Aug. 1 of 1994, it utilized over 6,000 policemen and a couple of helicopters in an early morning attempt to shutdown 14 pirate stations operating in the Taipei metropolitan area. The raids didn't go as planned, however. A minor altercation between pro-democracy activists, radio station staff and the security forces broke out in the streets adjacent to the Presidential Building. After the dust had finally settled only handful of the pirate stations had been successfully taken off air. Other stations were inundated with calls from listeners, anxious to make cash donations in order to help pay the stations' legal fees. "I wouldn't go as far as to call it a riot. Obviously it was heated, but then it was very traumatic time in Taiwan's path to democratization and such displays of anti-government sentiment were often labeled as riots," said Jiang Hui-ting, spokesperson for Formosa Hakka Radio, a station that prior to its' licensing in 1996, broadcast illegally under the name The New Voice of Formosa. "However you refer to the demonstrations, the actions did make the government sit up and realize that it needed to relax the broadcasting law." In the wake of mild revisions to the Broadcast and Television Law in 1996, the political voice of pirate radio all but disappeared. Latter- day pirates of the airwaves have instead turned their attention to the promotion of manufactured products rather than thought-provoking political views. What was once a clandestine, but glamorous podium from which pro- democracy activists voiced their grievances has instead become a medium for bad karaoke and sales of medicinal cure-alls. "It's certainly been an about-face. I mean, selling medicines and holding karaoke contests couldn't be further removed from politics," said Chi, the once outspoken host of pirate talk show radio who now makes a living releasing CDs and holding concerts parodying pirate radio. "I see nothing wrong with this. The karaoke shows get hundreds of callers and people actually purchase the medicines regardless of their pharmaceutical value." One of the main reasons successive government clampdowns have proven so ineffective is due to the lenient manner in which courts deal with violators of the Broadcast and Television Law. "The problem of enforcing the law is two-fold. The money available to finance enforcement is too little and the penalties the courts are imposing are not sufficient enough to deter people," Casey said. "The MOTC needs more money if it is to track down violators and prosecute them." Although the government has managed to pull the plug on 29 pirate radio stations since the clampdown began in March, those caught in the dragnet will quite possibly be broadcasting again within a very short time. Neither the confiscation of equipment nor penalties dished out by the courts are considered strong enough deterrents to put an end to the increasingly lucrative business of pirate radio. When the government first began cracking down on pirate radio in the early 1990s, station owners faced fines of as little as NT$22,600. Almost a decade later the penalty for the illegal use of broadcasting equipment stands at NT$100,000, which is not enough to put out of business operators who can earn upwards of NT$200,000 per month. Along with modest fines, another loophole that allows pirate radio stations to continue operations even after prosecution is the exemption period imposed by courts on pirate radio operators. Once proven guilty of violating the broadcast law, operators are automatically granted a 30-days exemption from further prosecution or fines. A period of time in which operators are free to broadcast their pirate missives without fear of further prosecution. "We pay tax, pay our licensing costs and abided by the law, but we're still plagued with people poaching wavelengths near ours and interfering with our reception," Liang said. "What really caps it off, though, is that when they get caught many operators scream foul and accuse the courts of being undemocratic and not allowing free speech. I mean, free speech? These people are not selling a concept or entertainment but a product." Regardless of whether pirate radio in Taiwan is a form of free speech or not, the headaches look set to continue for both Taiwan's 174 legal radio stations and the MOTC. Earsplitting karaoke enjoyed by those with Kevlar eardrums and programs selling snake oil will continue to plague the airwaves, generating both profit and audiences -- however inane the content or product. "A friend of mine heard a program one evening on which the presenter was selling a potion that would supposedly make a dead person twitch and move about," said the ex-pirate radio host. "I don't know what's more unbelievable? The medicine itself, or the scores of people who were actually spent the NT$3,500 to purchase it?" Copyright © 1999-2002 The Taipei Times (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U K. Glenn, http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/help/jubilee.shtml has previews of the jubilee specials on Radio 4. Also note that "Royal Ringers" June 4 2200. The regular "Dead Ringers" series has been replaced by "The Now Show" Fris 1730, started May 17 (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Radio/TV Sawa: see SAUDI ARABIA ** U S A. Commentary: IS THIS THE TWILIGHT OF PBS? Two Sundays ago, the Los Angeles Times carried a lengthy article under the title ``A Network`s Mastery Has Gone to Pieces; Television: With PBS` Ratings at all-time lows, a former CNN producer is battling to revitalize its programming.`` Reporter Elizabeth Jensen did a great deal of research on the matter, and the import is that PBS is indeed in a bad way. An old World Almanac I have shows that public television stations in the 1980`s and 1990`s had a healthy 3 and 4% share of the total television audience. That`s darn good, considering that PBS did not rely (and still doesn`t) on police chases, terrorist movies, sleazy talk shows, and inane sitcoms to attract viewers. Three years ago the rating had fallen to 1.9; last year it fell to 1.7, and despite new president Pat Mitchell`s efforts to stem the hemorrhage, it has fallen, since September 11th, to 1.6. It used to be that PBS, although it could not equal the ratings of even the mini-networks WB and UPN, still beat out all the cable networks, even the most popular. That is no longer the case; Lifeline, USA and ESPN pull in 2.0 ratings now. Clearly, PBS is in serious trouble. Miss Mitchell came to PBS last year, a highly respected producer for CNN specials. Not only does she have a good reputation in the news world, but also among Hollywood entertainment figures. She found a typical quasi-governmental bureaucracy in place. PBS, like all bureaucracies, is split into various fiefdoms whose turfs are jealously guarded by its feudal lords. Like all bureaucracies, including ecclesiastical ones, the main work of each unit is to preserve its own existence and expand its authority, even at the expense of other units. Further, while PBS looks like a network and acts like a network, it is not exactly a network, not like ABC, CBS, or NBC. It has members, not affiliates; those members are free to do what they like. The major commercial networks have contracts with affiliates: the affiliates must carry the network programming, at least a certain amount and at certain hours, and the affiliates in turn reap the benefit of superior programming and considerable additional revenues. Not PBS stations. They can take what they want and they don`t have to take anything, although this last position is extreme and pointless: why affiliate if you are not going to take the programming? What most of them do, however, is reschedule a lot of the PBS programming. In the old days they did this so that viewers would become members and have the program log to know what was on. That position, like many liturgical gestures that once had a real-life meaning (the chasuble was a Roman overcoat; the warm water added to the Byzantine Rite consecrated wine originated from winter liturgies in the unheated churches in eastern Europe), solidified into a routine and tradition. Local stations fiercely preserve their independence and reschedule PBS offerings when they want, and they do so frequently. The result is that PBS cannot advertise or promote its programming, such as the recent series on contemporary American families trying to live like the pioneers in the Montana mountain country, with the admonition, ``See it tonight at 8, 7 Central, on PBS.`` The fact is, it could be shown at 10 pm in Chicago, the following day at 9 pm in Omaha, two days later at 8 pm in Denver, or the following Sunday at 7 pm in Des Moines. Consequently, the strength of any marketing and promotion is lost. There is also considerable concern about the aging of the PBS audience. The typical viewer is 55, and young people do not watch much if they watch at all. Well, that`s not so bad, you say, considering that commercial television is skewered to the 18-45 age group and the elderly are the one age group seriously neglected by broadcasters. But the fact of the matter is, with no young viewers there is no audience in the future. Further, there will not be the membership needed to sustain public television on the air, particularly in view of the fact that soon there will be a lot more people over 40 than under it. PBS stations have already noticed a serious diminution of audience and memberships over the past several years, across the nation. Miss Mitchell has tried some innovative programming, according to reporter Jensen. These include a series on American high school teenagers, ``American High``; a fine series (in English) of a Latino family living in East Los Angeles and trying to live the American dream– ``An American Family``; a Friday night journal done with the help of National Public Radio, ``Now with Bill Moyers``; and the series on pioneering in Montana. Further, she broke the stranglehold on production that the country-club stations WGBH Boston, WNET New York, and KCET Los Angeles have, and opened up PBS program production to independent producers. The most controversial move was that of redesigning ``Wall Street Week`` with Louis Rukeyser which, although it has 6 million loyal viewers, has slipped over the years to the bottom of the rated PBS programs. Mr. Rukeyser condemned the proposed revamping on his program at the end of his Friday night program. Maryland Public Television, the producer, fired him immediately, and he went to CNBC which is now running his long-running program on Friday nights and offering it on a delayed basis to PBS stations. Over 100 have taken it, and Miss Mitchell is incensed, calling it a betrayal of public television. It is not so, one station manager said; he argues that Mr. Rukeyser has built up a loyal audience and loyal program underwriting over the decades, and that both of these are necessary for public television to survive, that there is room for various Wall-Street programs on multi- channel digital television. That, of course, is PBS` dilemma: if it revamps its programming to appeal to the young, it increases its audience but loses its older viewers and the urgently needed financial support of memberships and underwriting; if it sticks with the traditional way of doing things, it keeps its slowly dying older audience and underwriting, but does not attract younger viewers and ultimately will have neither viewers nor supporters. (This pretty well describes EWTN`s situation, too, does it not?) What is extraordinary about public television is this: several surveys have shown that the American citizens, when asked to rank expenditure of their tax dollars in terms of value received, place public broadcasting third, after defense and education. Some surveys place it second, after defense. Clearly, the American public has a high regard for public television. I was surprised once when the young couple next to us in our subdivision told Sue and me how much they enjoyed watching public television every night. Since they were neither the intellectual nor political types, I was surprised. I pointed out that public television could be even better, but that its existence was being threatened (this was back in the Reagan days) because many politicos thought it a waste of taxpayer dollars. ``That is ridiculous,`` the young husband said; ``they waste hundreds of millions every year in Washington and they cannot come up with $300 million to do a good job with PBS?`` PBS indeed has always been seriously underfunded. Proposals over the year to charge commercial broadcasters a frequency rental (that has come to pass) and use the funds to support public television stations (that has not come to pass) were joined with a roar of anger from the commercial television lobby and their camp followers. Things have changed considerably inside Washington since then. PBS is still underfunded, but it now enjoys wide support from both political parties (Have the conservative Republicans been listening to their constituents?). In fact, Congress has generously appropriated funds for the annual Public Television Facilities Program (PTFP) of the NTIA agency of the Department of Commerce over recent years, far more than the miserly funds of the Reagan administration. Last year, the Congress voted $300 million additional funds to help public television stations make the Congressionally-mandated conversion to digital television, a very expensive proposition that will cost PBS stations $1.8 billion. There are still conservatives and civil libertarians who say ``the government should not be in the business of broadcasting.`` They ignore the fact that every democracy of note has public radio and television networks, most far better financed and programmed than ours. The economic conservatives think that the marketplace should be left to decide what there will be to watch or listen to on the airwaves. Clearly, these people are out in far right field. All they need do is look at radio, where a handful of conglomerates control all the major stations in every market of size. The formats are reduced to a few, and these few consist of a dozen or two music selections played over and over. Announcements are voice-tracked and the operations are regionalized. Radio listening has declined nationally over the last several years by 7%. Are they should look at the cable networks, where individuality and specialty are disappearing; Court TV is just another police opera network, The Nashville Network has become The National Network with mainstream fare; AMC has introduced commercials between movies, will double the commercial load per hour and introduce commercial cuts inside movies, and abandon classic films for those geared to younger audiences. If they are still not convinced, all they need do is spend a solid week looking at commercial television fare. Is this all we want from television? There are also religious critics of PBS. Fundamentalist Protestants decry the ``bias`` of evolutionary theory in the science programs of PBS and condemn the network for it. These poor souls insist on reading the Bible in general and Genesis in particular as science manuals, not books of Divine Revelation that use poetical language and folkways to transmit God`s word to us. How anyone can have problems in seeing evolution as God`s way of bringing humanity to where it is today, His ultimately infusing souls to make Adam and Eve, I do not understand. PBS` science programs are superbly done and some would argue that, after children`s programming, are the best they do. Others would argue that some of the material seen on public television is offensive to Christian morals at times, and I would agree with that. I was amazed to see some explicit scenes in ``Masterpiece Theater`s presentation of ``The American,`` based on Henry James` novel of a young American in Paris in the 1800`s. At one time ``Masterpiece Theater`` was a program one could watch with the family. But by and large, PBS programming is viewable by the whole family. Parents must use some discretion, as always. I know that there are conservative Catholics out there who have no use for PBS or any television. Nothing I say or write will make them change their minds. They find one or two things objectionable and condemn all; they do not like one or two of the segments on the bishops` ``Catholic Radio Weekly`` and condemn the program. I am much concerned by an atmosphere I have detecting lately in Catholic broadcasting, really a fundamentalist approach that is Protestant in flavor and tone although doctrinally and morally orthodox Catholic. I think it is because so many in Catholic broadcasting are in fact converts from fundamentalism, and one does not escape one`s upbringing, no matter how hard one tries. We get a skew to a social and cultural conservatism that is not, and has never been, the Catholic worldview. Religious conservatives often attempt to retreat from the world, creating little cells and communities isolated from a world and culture seen as evil and corrupt. Back to Calvinism, yes. Protestant to the hilt. They don`t use creatures selectively, but cut as many of them as possible. I knew a Catholic family who had spent several years as lay missionaries in Papua New Guinea. They had lived in a remote village and worked there and in surrounding villages in a primitive jungle wilderness where few tribesmen wore clothes and only comparatively recently had stopped eating prisoners of war. The lay missionaries had returned to the United States because their children had entered their teens and they wanted to improve their education so as to prepare them for college and work. It was no longer possible to continue with the meager education they could give them in their hut in Papua New Guinea. But they did not adapt to everything new; their recordings were religious ones, the kids were home-schooled, their friends restricted, and there was no television at home. Fine people, clearly, but they had a worldview that was far too rigid and unreal. We had met them at our parish church not long before they were to leave town because the father had taken a position with a foundation. They came for dinner one night, and their children were utterly engrossed with our television set. Clearly, they had never seen it, and the dumbest commercial and the most inane program fascinated them utterly. They left it reluctantly to come to the table, and when it was time to leave late that evening, the boy literally backed out of the house obediently, his eyes riveted on what he was never allowed to see at home. My wife and I shook our heads. Easier to deny than to monitor; easier to be a fanatic than someone prudent; easier to escape than confront. Many will argue with me, but I do not care. I do not think culture should be defined by fanatics of any kind, but particularly by religious ones. Look to Afghanistan as the extreme example. Clearly, the preservation of the PBS system is necessary. From the local perspective, there are few locally owned television stations anymore, except for the local PBS affiliate. From the national perspective, the nation needs a national educational and cultural television network for the benefit of the public and particularly its children. The American Bishops have several times emphasized the need for noncommercial television that is not ratings driven, declaring that all broadcasting in the United States should not be determined by the marketplace. The Vatican has said the same several times over. Granted, PBS has its faults, and there are some things that might be done better, but nothing human is perfect, and we make do as best we can with what we have, constantly trying to make it better. PBS is in dire straits. ``Not only are we not top of mind, we are dangerously close in our overall prime-time number to falling below the relevance quotient,`` Miss Mitchell told a closed meeting of public television managers last February, ``and if that happens, we will surely fall below any arguable need for government support, not to mention corporate or individual support. There is a level beyond which we cannot go and still claim to be a universal service.`` There will be those who wonder why I have dedicated a long commentary in a Catholic radio journal to PBS. The answer is, PBS is essential to American culture. Unless we want the world to image us as a totally crass commercial civilization, then we must support and promote the cultural and educational. We need PBS. We need an invigorated PBS. (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update May 20 via DXLD) ** U S A. 'NIGHTLINE' GOES RETRO WITH SERIES ON GAY LIFE by Tim Goodman Monday, May 20, 2002 ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com//cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/05/20/DD36933.DTL A long-delayed five-part series examining gay life in America will finally begin tonight on ABC's "Nightline" news program, but with all due respect to the seriousness of the journalistic effort, most longtime Bay Area residents and surely most gay people will find nothing new or particularly engaging in it. That's not to say that "A Matter of Choice?" (11:35 p.m., Channel 7) will not elicit sympathy. Many of the people featured in the "Nightline" report -- the great majority from Roanoke, Va. -- are living the kind of semi-closeted, worry-filled existence that most here in the mecca of gay culture long since stopped living. What's most fascinating, really, is how precisely this "Nightline" epic delineates the role of television and what gets seen in America. Most television shows are made by people in Los Angeles or New York, but once any urban sophistication gets put into a television show, there's a risk it won't work in what network executives derisively call "the flyover states." This "Nightline" series is directed primarily at Middle America. "A Matter of Choice?" was first scheduled for September, then postponed after the World Trade Center attacks. It was later scheduled for early April, but pulled at the last second as the Israeli-Palestinian situation worsened. It couldn't possibly have had any input from someone familiar with the mores and lifestyles of gays living in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles, because that would be the leading edge of the gay story. Roanoke, Va., it turns out, is just the place to illustrate how in 2002, people don't really understand, believe in or accept the gay lifestyle, no matter how open and modern parts of the city claim to be. Look no further than the title -- "A Matter of Choice?" -- with its question mark dangling ever so controversially on the end. When this series was announced, gay TV critics approached ABC and suggested that the title was offensive and, at the very least, a tad behind current thinking on DNA. But it's clear now that "Nightline" wanted to keep it on there because, in a round-about, gay-sympathetic way, Ted Koppel and company use that question to counter the phobias of the religiously devout people of Roanoke. If these neighbors of yours who have been ostracized their whole life could choose, Koppel asks in various ways, do you really think they'd choose to be gay and face your wrath? There are four nights of "A Matter of Choice?," then a 90-minute town hall meeting on Friday, also held in Roanoke. The series starts, however, at a gay and lesbian retirement community in Bradenton, Fla., which allows Koppel and "Nightline" to basically say, "Look at these people living these boring, loving, normal lives just like you." Pause. "But they're gay!" Then someone in Middle America gasps and spits out some corn and then watches in wonder. In urban, gay-familiar areas, this is not even Gay 101. It's gay kindergarten. That's not a knock on the content at all, but a reminder to Bay Area viewers who sometimes forget that TV content is driven by the heartland, not the Top 5 media markets. Enlightened souls from Middle America now living in the Bay Area can save the letters, the point remains -- in general, urban areas are culturally more sophisticated. And so, despite some sad tales of the repercussions of coming out, some other very heartwarming examples of gays accepting themselves and a general tone of "gays are no different from you and me," this "Nightline" series is more Reader's Digest than New Yorker. In fact, many gays not already turned off by the assumptive title can find fault with how retro the whole series seems. Koppel and "Nightline" have found a disproportionate number of gays and lesbians who were once married and had kids, living the lie. That's fine if the point is to support the title of the series or to illustrate that in repressive communities gays have few choices but to go along to get along -- there's just no forward-thinking balance. For example, what of gays who have never questioned themselves, who find similar partners and then go about living undramatic lives? What of gay teens who are not afraid but instead empowered -- and their supportive parents and friends? Perhaps that's the modern gay life story, found in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, not in Virginia. Or maybe that's a story that Middle America might dismiss as being too extreme, too accepting of fringe lifestyles in big cities. It's the same way it rejects most Hollywood-insider TV shows, subtle comedies and smart- sophisticated series that don't, on some level -- like a "Will & Grace" -- allow for broader appeal through oversimplification or safe, slapstick comedy. "A Matter of Choice?" certainly didn't set out to illustrate what's acceptable fare for network television. "Nightline" merely wanted to present a hot-button issue to the heartland majority. In many ways that's noble and probably more effective than, say, putting a microscope on San Francisco. But in the process it's a reminder to urbanites about who the TV target audience really is. ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle Page D - 1 (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. I just tried to get the Comedy orgy on WHRB, but got stuck at buffering. But I'm enjoying the yammering on WUOT right now, with Franz Voelker's Lohengrin, a 1936 recording from old 78s. One of the few regular programs of vintage vocal music. This and Orgelwerke are Sunday night pleasures for me, thanks to you Glenn! (Ivan Grishin, Ont., UT May 20, referring to MONITORING REMINDERS, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO STATION IS SUBJECT TO LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS, COURT DECIDES Thursday, May 16, 2002 NEWS 07B Dispatch State Service CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court yesterday ruled that a radio station is not a public utility, putting the kibosh on plans by one station to erect towers in southeast Pickaway County. The unanimous decision clarified that radio stations are subject to local zoning laws -- like any other commercial business. Clear Channel Communications in 1998 attempted to build eight 440-foot broadcasting towers on a 229-acre farm in Washington Township, about 30 miles south of Columbus. As a public utility, the company claimed, it was not bound by residential and agricultural zoning. The township disagreed. "We were quietly confident all along that our position was correct,'' said Pickaway County Prosecutor Gene Long, whose office represents the township. Attorneys for Clear Channel could not be contacted for comment yesterday. John Bowers, of Citizens Against Towers, said the decision will likely have statewide impact. "It certainly adds some clarification to Ohio law,'' he said. Clear Channel, which owns WTVN (610 AM), wanted the towers to improve nighttime coverage in metropolitan Columbus (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, just a note for anyone who may have listened to WBZ a few years back: Larry Glick, former Boston late night talk show host will be a guest on The Steve Leveille Broadcast on WBZ 1030 AM, Thursday night at midnight Eastern (0400 UT Friday May 24, 2002). (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PIRATE ON 1610 IN FLORIDA: Hearing a nicely produced station here relaying old KQV programming and sounding very good. Appears to get out quite well and should be heard by some of our southeastern listeners. If the operator sees this, then a verie would appreciated to, PO Box 20112, St. Petersburg, FL 33742. Heard 5/17 8:35PM-8:50PM EDT (0035-0050 UT on May 18) w/ ``KQV the heart and soul of Rock-N- Roll``, jingles, oldies mx, commercial for Almond Joy/Mounds (Greg Myers, St. Petersburg FL, Free Radio Weekly May 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. From The RSGB (from the ARRL): The Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, has proposed going along with ARRL`s request for a new, US-only, secondary HF allocation between 5.25 and 5.4 MHz. The FCC also is ready to permit operation on a 136 kHz `sliver band` in the LF region. The FCC said the new 5 MHz band would help amateurs ``better match their choice of frequency to existing propagation conditions``. The band, if approved, would be the first new amateur HF allocation since World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979 gave amateurs 30, 17 and 12 metres - the so-called `WARC bands`. Assuming the 5 MHz band is eventually authorised, it could still be a few years before it actually becomes available in the US [ARRL via Mike Terry, DXLD] ** UZBEKISTAN. 9715, 0114- May 19, R. TASHKENT. Barely audible signal in English with YL reading numbers (?sports scores). S3 signal with no QRM. Radio Tashkent IS at 0130 into presumed Dari. No change is signal strength noted (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA? 5049.00v, Radio Amazonas, unknown QTH. May 2002 - 0200 UT. This is most likely Radio Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho (Venezuela) with transmitter trouble. On 4939.50 kHz there was only a weak carrier without audio. Strong signal and heavy distorted audio. Has been varying in frequency between 5047-5050v kHz. UTC -4 (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460, National Radio of Democratic Saharan Arab Republic sign on at 1800 in Arabic with ID, Recital of Koran then followed by talk and Arabic songs. Good reception. 18 May 2002 (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 7460, National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic, regular and good over the past week here in the UK from tune-in around 1900 to past 2300 tune-out. Arabic programming; Spanish at 2300 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 4965, Voice International, Lusaka, 2110, 15 May, Gospel/ pop music, ID in English as ``Voice International`` (is ``Voice International`` now the official ID for Zambia as well rather than ``Christian Voice`` which was heard in the past? Poor (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR 7310.72, 0328- May 19, VOICE OF PEOPLE. Again off frequency (first noted on 18 May). Carrier on a little earlier than usual tonight at 0328:15. Into usual sign on signature tune at 0330:05 and with clearly heard ID as 'The is Radio Voice of the People'. No contact information given during the opening minutes. Better than average reception. Being on the high side makes LSB preferable. All in English with political commentaries (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. This must be sort of a record for unIDs and "unknown QTH"! But it is in fact only positive if there comes "unfinished" info from yours truly --- even more exciting for you back home. Solving problems, above to be first in the world with the answer to the riddle and also to get a QSL, yes that has been the "motive" for us DX-ers since the beginning. So please attack all my unIDs and give me a mail when you have the answer! 5499.26 unID LA, unknown QTH (Perú or Ecuador?). May 4 2002 - 1855 UT. This is the second time they have been on air. Through a "special preview" members of SWB got an alarm when the station was heard for the first time April 25. That time with mainly Ecuadorian, nonstop music without any talk. I also noted "presumably Ecuador". This time nonstop Peruvian, instrumental fiesta music without any talk until close down 0038 UT (April 25 cd 0045 UT). Maybe a border station in northern Perú or southern Ecuador? Test transmission? Maybe a rented transmitter for a private party? Read what our member Henrik Klemetz/HK writes: "Sign on and sign off times is a variable affair with some of the smaller Peruvians. If nonstop music is heard beyond "regular" schedule, it's probably that someone has paid for a couple of hours of "background music" for a private event, a birthday party, a wedding anniversary, or whatever. The next morning, such a station will typically sign on much later than usual, if at all" (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, SWB 1482 via Dxplorer, DSWCI DX Window Mar 27 via DXLD) The listed station "Radio Regional", Celendín on 5500.6v kHz is located in northern Perú. If somebody manage to hear nonstop music on the frequency it might be a good idea to send a tape recording to Radio Regional. There has been an LA testing on 5674.88 kHz during the last week. The DJ sometimes includes a "hola, hola", whistles and knockings on the microphone. Also neutral music which I can`t recognize. Sometimes I can recognize the voice of the male DJ --- if I am right it might be "Nueva Juventud", the Colombian pirate testing --- recently heard around 5588.31 kHz (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 6036.76, unID LA, unknown QTH. May 2002 - 2355cd UT. I have had this one as an "unID carrier" for a while due to utterly weak modulation. I have now heard that it is a LA station with Spanish. Henrik Klemetz/HK suggests "Trópico" in Bolivia. Not unlikely when "Trópico" according to Henrik closed down at about the same time as my unID when it earlier was on 4552v kHz. My unID has most of the time a female DJ and from what I remember "Trópico" on 4552v always had a female DJ. Finally, what is the name of the station: LV del...., Radio Difusora.... or Radio Trópico? (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 19, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) Björn Malm , c/o Susana Garcès de Malm, Avenida la Prensa 4408 y Vaca de Castro, Quito, Ecuador. Tel: +593 2 598 470, email: bjornmalm@yahoo.es, rx: NRD-535, Loewe HF-150 samt Sangean 808ATS. Ant: lw 24m, kopplad till magnetic longwire balun UNIDENTIFIED. While looking for other things today I found a station in Chinese on 7155 fading in around 1645 - I think it's Mandarin Chinese. At 1700 there were the usual "China" type time pips and I THINK the ID was "Xinjiang ...". It is not in // with a loud CNR-1 on 11710. I note the Feb. 21 NDXC sched for Xinjiang lists 7155 as 0300- 1200 and 3950 0000-0300 & 1200-1800, so maybe 7155 is now being used throughout the sched during the summer? It has been heard at fair level from around 1710 and now heard to close down at 1800 seconds before JOR appeared on frequency (Noel Green, England, May 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn: I don't know if anyone has reported this to you, but there is a strong, very distorted Spanish Language station on 11356 May 19 at 2110. I think the audio is just good enough with a wide audio bandwidth setting, for a Spanish speaker to ID (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11945.27, carrier here from before 2300 May 11 to close around 0150. Very strong, and while at first I thought that from the overall quality an Asian location was indicated, it got steadier as time went on, so maybe from somewhere else. I have hrd this before on this channel at arnd the same time, always just a carrier and always powerful. Who? (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-081, May 18, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1131: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1131.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 on 5070, 0630 on 3210, Mon 0000 on 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830?, 2430? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRING ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sun 1400 to NAm ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. To BBC persian programme, I am Behishta Azamy a refugee, living in India. I am studying in India at class 12th. I always listen to your news programmes, it is quite interesting. I am interested in learning Higher classes of English and improve my English pronounciation. So, you are being requested to send me some English booksof Higher classes and some Englisht cassettes for the improvement of my pronounciation. My address is:- E-11/46, 4th floor, Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-110017, INDIA.. I am alos the presentative of Afgha women refugee in India. I was invited by Asia Pacific Forum of Women Law and Developement (APWLD) to attend a conferrence in thailand in the month of April 2002. But I have refugee status and my refugee organisation was not agree with travell outside India. But i hve regular contact with that organisation. I have made a web site for the information about Afghan women in different situation. We are refugee in India and don't have much fund and facility for making a good website. I have made this website from a free site. Here is the website address;- http://www.geocities.com/aryanawomen You can visit my site and end me your opinion about it. I will be grateful to you, if you send me the books and the cassettes. Thanks for reading my letter. ( waiting for ur respond) Yours sincerely (Behishta Azamy azamyfrishta@yahoo.com May 17, sic cc to WORLD OF RADIO) ** ALASKA. See CANADA ** AUSTRALIA. RA's Digital Forum on Feedback Radio Australia, Melbourne, Australia, 5/17/02 TAKE NOTE!!!! DIGITAL FEEDBACK; WIN PRIZES FOR YOUR OPINIONS! If you`re a regular listener to Feedback, and even if you only managed to hear one of our last two programmes, you`ll know that we devoted both to the digitalisation of radio and in both we discussed the pros and cons of three terrestrial delivery systems and debated their likely application here in Australia. One of the three was developed for long distance broadcasting and is of particular interest to international broadcasters like Radio Australia. Now Roger Broadbent is seeking your contribution to the digital debate and to encourage your participation we have a number of very useful publications to give away … four copies of the "Passport to World Band Radio", a must for anyone who`s serious about listening to radio and four copies of "Low Band Dxing --- Your Guide to Ham Radio Dxcitement on 160, 80 and 40 Meters". To be in the running for one of those publications Roger wants you to include in your contribution the names of the three digital radio delivery systems discussed on Feedback over the past two weeks … your comments about the likelihood of you investing in a digital receiver when and if digital radio becomes available in your area and what you consider to be the major advantage of this technology … is it the improved audio quality or the possibility of multiple programme streams and data. And what effect will digital transmissions have on international broadcasting …. will the vastly improved audio quality remove some of the attraction of listening to broadcasts from across the globe … making it less attractive in fact. Short wave listeners are traditionally an outspoken lot … so here's another chance to speak out. Send your contribution to `Digital Feedback`, Radio Australia, Melbourne, Australia or email it to: English@ra.abc.net.au For those who may not have heard either programme, transcripts and audio files are available on the RA website http://www.abc.net.au/ra (via John A. Figliozzi, Volunteer Publicist, Radio Australia, DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. !!! Final frequency update (May, 16th 2002)!!! Tbilisskaya (RUS) 17785 kHz (250 kW) - Sitkunai (LTU) 9945 kHz (100 kW) Jülich (D) 7180 kHz (100 kW) - Skelton (G) 6015 kHz (300 kW) [Skelton is the latest addition. Instead of adding more frequencies at 0800-0900, why not add a different time if you care to have any audience in North America? --gh] {reply in next issue} On the occasion of its 20th anniversary DX-Antwerp will broadcast a special commemorative programme, on the 25th of May 2002 between 0800 and 0900 UT. The programme will be aired via the 4 stations listed above. A specially issued QSL card will be available for correct reception reports. During this broadcast five keywords will be given. If you note at least 4 of these keywords, you can send them, together with a reception report to the following address: DX-Antwerp, PO Box 16, B- 2660 Hoboken, Belgium or email us at : qsl@dxa.be After verification of your report, we will send you this special DX-Antwerp QSL card by mail (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 10 MAY 0050-0120 Religious program - Glory Glory Hallelujah on the top ten list this morning - Fair reception (Torre Ekblom, Finland, AOR 703, active antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5969.7, Rádio Itatiáia, Belo Horizonte, 12 MAY 2340-0000 when BBC World Service blocked the frequency. Good reception - and definitely a FOOTBALL game (Torre Ekblom, Finland, AOR 703, active antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Radio Cultura, São Paulo, is definitely transmitting simultaneously on 9615 and 17815 kHz, to answer my own question. Found the latter at 0020 UT on 17 May weak and buried under co-channel Romania; frequency seemed to be drifting for a while, then settled on 17815.0. Radio Romania International blocks them in Spanish, and later Portuguese, to South America; they should know better! Nice S5 signal on \\ 9615 (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. For those of you who regularly tune in to the CIDX Report every two weeks on RCI`s Maple Leaf Mailbag, with yours truly and host Ian Jones, you will have realized that we`re not there! Yes, I am officially LOCKED OUT together with all the other on-air staff and technical people at RCI. This is all part and parcel of the on-going labour dispute between the CBC and one of its unions. This is affecting all of the CBC, radio and television, throughout the province of Quebec, as well as in the Moncton, NB area. Some negotiations are underway, but there are many who feel that this may be a long drawn out dispute. Until such time as things are resolved, RCI programming is being dramatically affected, with lots of filler material and domestic programming going out in the regular RI broadcast times. All foreign language programming of RCI has been cancelled completely until the dispute is resolved. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon and our popular CIDX Report segments, together with all other regular programming at RCI can get back to normal broadcasting (Sheldon Harvey, May CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** CANADA. TALKS OVER: COMPANY Bernard Perusse, Montreal Gazette, Friday, May 17 Who will blink first in the deadlock between Radio-Canada and its locked-out employees? In a 502-499 decision, union members voted Wednesday night to reject the company's final settlement package. The Syndicat des Communications de Radio-Canada represents 1,400 journalists and support staff in Quebec and Moncton, N.B. But how final is that final offer? With only three ``no`` votes keeping the workers on the street, the union is calling for Radio- Canada to come back to the table for another 72-hour blitz. ``Our position is that negotiations are not over,`` spokesman Michel Couturier said. Radio-Canada disagrees. In a press release issued yesterday, management said it had nothing to add to its offer, which remains open until May 24. ``What the company says at noon today might be different from what they say tomorrow at 3 o'clock,`` Couturier said yesterday. The main bone of contention is access to permanent jobs. Management has offered to create 152 permanent positions: 132 for contract workers and 20 new ones. The union's negotiating committee recommended Wednesday that the company package be accepted, but the rank and file confirmed that the issue of job security still needs work. While journalists would have more access to permanent jobs under the proposed agreement, the union said there is no protection for researchers and other employees in radio and television who have been on contract, Couturier said, for ``14, 15, 17 years.`` ``It's both unfair and illogical that these people should be discriminated against,`` chief negotiator Ubald Bernard said yesterday at a press conference held to denounce the ``contemptuous`` attitude of management. ``Their jobs and responsibilities do not distinguish them from their colleagues in the information divisions,`` Bernard said. Any concession on permanence would involve management's considering whether 152 guaranteed permanent jobs is as high as it can go, Couturier acknowledged. Radio-Canada's final offer also included a pay increase of nearly 8 per cent. - Bernard Perusse's E-mail address is bperusse@thegazette.southam.ca. © Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=26F43546-4087-476F-A28B-254712D00231 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) RADIO-CANADA REJECTS LOCKED-OUT EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS FOR MORE CONTRACT TALKS --- Canadian Press MONTREAL (CP) - CBC's French-language network, Radio-Canada, rejected a demand Thursday for a resumption of negotiations after locked-out workers turned down the public broadcaster's latest contract offer by a narrow margin. Radio-Canada said negotiations have ended and it "has no intention of adding anything to its offer." The latest offer is final and is valid until May 24, the company said in a statement. About 1,400 unionized staff have been locked out for eight weeks. A recount of ballots early Thursday morning was announced as 502 against and 499 in favour. Nine ballots were rejected. Employees then told union negotiators to begin another round of talks over the issue of contract workers, whose tenuous status within the corporation has been a sticking point in the negotiations. Ubald Bernard, spokesman for the union negotiating team, said its members can't figure out why Radio-Canada hasn't agreed to resume contract talks. "We can't understand why Radio-Canada is digging in its heels like this, when important progress was made during the last days (of negotiations)." Michel Couturier, president of the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada, said the union wanted talks to resume for two to three days. He said he still expects talks to resume, despite the Radio- Canada statement. "Negotiations aren't over," said Couturier. "Some elements are still on the table." Common ground is not out of reach, he added. "There are some things that would satisfy our members and that would cost Radio-Canada almost nothing." Union executives had recommended the employees, based in Quebec and Moncton, N.B., accept the last offer. The deal aimed to resolve the contentious issues of salaries and temporary workers. Bernard said Wednesday the deal would not have brought salaries in line with those at the CBC's English service. "There's no pay equity with the (CBC)," said Bernard. "There is equity at certain levels but the disparities are obvious, in many cases." Couturier said the corporation's latest contract offer amounted to a salary raise of nearly eight per cent spread over three years. He said it involved an immediate salary increase of three per cent and a $1,000 signing bonus, followed by raises of 1.5 per cent next January and 2.5 per cent in June 2003. He said there are no plans to ask members to vote again on the same offer. No date has been set for another general meeting of union members. The journalists, hosts and researchers have been locked out since March 22. The corporation also pledged to create 152 permanent positions, including 132 for contract workers. Union executives had initially decided not to recommend that its members accept the deal, but they reversed their position on the eve of the vote Wednesday. The status of non-permanent workers is one of the main issues that led to the lockout, which followed a one-day strike. Since the lockout began, programming at Radio-Canada has been reduced mainly to reruns, NHL hockey without commentary and scaled-back news shows. Programming on RDI, Radio-Canada's all-news channel, has consisted largely of newscasts cobbled together by staff outside Quebec. Copyright © 2002 National Post Online (via Dave White, May 17, DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. Have you noticed how much of the broadcasting in aboriginal languages on the Ceeb SOCQN (9625 kHz and RA) and Arctic RA feeds consists of country music? (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) I first ran into this phenomenon back in the early 1970's. I was involved in an experiment conducted by the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska in cooperation with NASA to demonstrate the utility of geosync satellites to improve the lives of Alaskan native peoples. The satellite had a VHF transponder which had enough power to allow communication with a few hundred watts ERP and a 10 dB gain helical antenna made from copper tubing and chicken wire. Small Alaskan villages were outfitted with such antennas and two way VHF radios converted from taxi cab service. In addition the public radio station at the University of Alaska had a 2-way station to allow broadcasting of educational and medical information programs to the remote villages. Between programs the folks at KUAC would broadcast classic country fill music. It was mostly Hank Williams, Johhny Cash, Ernest Tubb, etc. You get the picture. One day I talked to the person at KUAC in charge of the broadcasts and asked her why the choice of music. She told me that the native peoples really love the old country music. Those with phonographs usually only had country records. I guess the simple lyrics and rhythms of early country music resemble the rhythms of their native music. I have often wondered if some of the depression and alcoholism in rural Alaska and Canada is at least partially a result of the depressing lyrics often found in country music songs. A continuous diet of songs about getting drunk, divorced, cheating on your spouse, your dog getting run over by a pickup truck, your grandma getting run over by a reindeer, etc. can't be good for the psyche. As an aside, this same system was used to relay the new daily news program, "All Things Considered" to KUAC. At the time there were no program-quality phone lines into Fairbanks so this program was a giant leap forward for Alaskan Public Radio. Previously they received tapes a day late via airplane. The native villages were also able to receive these feeds directly from the satellite. On second thought, maybe it was ATC that caused the depression. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ ** CANADA. Here are program synopses for CBC Radio One and Two programs on shortwave. Program details are not available in advance for programs produced by Radio Canada International. All program details are from the CBC Hotsheet. Programs beginning on the top of the hour are normally preceded by a short newscast. Local times on SW broadcast indicate when those same programs are available on the Toronto internet and satellite feed. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND Saturday on The World This Weekend...twenty-five years ago this month, Judge Thomas Berger recommended putting the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline on hold until the aboriginal land claims in the region were settled. The quarter of a century since the Berger report has seen a great deal of change, and, as Julie Green reports, the greatest change is in the political sophistication of the northerners. 2200- 2230 UT Saturday to the USA, Caribbean, and Latin America on 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, 15305, 17880 kHz. MADLY OFF IN ALL DIRECTIONS: This week, Madly Off in All Directions comes to you from North Bay, Ontario. Host Lorne Elliot welcomes standup comedian Derek Edwards, plus the music of Fred Eaglesmith and his band. That's Madly Off in All Directions, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 AT; 8:00 NT) on CBC Radio Two. Sunday afternoon at 1:00 (1:30 NT, 4:00 PT) on CBC Radio One. 2230 UT Saturday to the USA on 6175, 9590, 13670, and 17695 kHz. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND Sunday on The World This Weekend, "Little Deuce Coupe", candy-coloured Corvette, or an elegant T-Bird with a continental kit, the American car is more than transportation. It is art, freedom, and for some, a reason for living. Maureen Brosnahan chronicles the American love affair with the car. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. 2200-2230 UT Sunday on RCI to the Americas on 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, 15305 and 17880 kHz. INTERNET/SATELLITE-ONLY PROGRAMS Times are for Toronto/Montreal time zone feeds (Add 4 hours for UT) unless otherwise stated. Programs not on SW may be accessed via the CBC Radio website at http://cbc.ca/audio.html or via the Nimiq satellite at 91W by Bell ExpressVu subscribers and by owners of MPEG-DVB free-to-air receiver systems in North America. CHORAL CONCERT This week on Choral Concert...The Golden Jubilee. Choral Concert celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Works include Handel's Coronation Anthems, and Parry's Coronation Ode. That's Choral Concert, with host Howard Dyck, Sunday morning at 8:11 (8:41 NT) on CBC Radio Two. SAY IT WITH MUSIC This week on Say It With Music...Ladies of the Evening. Richard features three distinctive female vocalists in the late-night-cabaret mode. Broadway diva Karen Mason's When the Sun Comes Out has almost bluesy overtones, while Toronto singer Lisa Atkinson's Good Thing Going is jazzier in feel, and favourite Sally Mayes spoofs the whole Las Vegas shtick with Pete 'n' Keely. Join Richard for an unbeatable trio of talents. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. PEARLS OF WISDOM This week on Pearls of Wisdom, host David Wisdom has a peppy platter party replete with tangos, reels and radio funnymen Bob and Ray, plus Anita O'Day, Stephen Fearing and Buckwheat Zydeco. That's Pearls of Wisdom, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. AT, 8:00 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio Two. SUNDAY SHOWCASE This week on Sunday Showcase...more from the 2002 Bell Canada Reading Series at the Shaw Festival. This week, "Archy and Mehitabel," a musical adaptation by Mel Brooks - among others - of Don Marquis' delightful creations. Mehitabel is an alley cat whose motto is "toujours gai", while her friend Archy is a philosophical cockroach who types their stories by jumping up and down on the keys. That's on Sunday Showcase starting at 10:05 p.m. (11:05 AT, 11:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. TWO NEW HOURS ***special extended edition*** Join host Larry Lake this Sunday night for an extended edition [by now much??? -gh] of Two New Hours, as they present the world premiere of The Palace of the Cinnabar Phoenix, an environmental opera by R. Murray Schafer. The opera was commissioned by CBC Radio for this broadcast, and is presented in collaboration with Patria Music/Theatre Projects. Journey to ancient China, where the mythical Cinnabar Phoenix is sent by the gods to live in an earthly place as a symbol of harmony and peace. When warring states try to capture the palace and the Phoenix, both vanish suddenly under the Lake of Dragons. Sunday night at 10:05 (10:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheets via Joe Buch, swprograms; gh excerpted) CBC PREVIEWS FOR MONDAY, MAY 20, 2002: NOTE: Today is the Victoria Day holiday in Canada. On past holidays the entire CBC Radio One schedule has been broadcast on CBC North Quebec on 9625 kHz. Some CBC Radio 1 programs are carried by RCI on SW and are also generally available on the internet at http://cbc.ca/audio.html from one hour before to three hours after the listed times. Click to the appropriate live streams for cities across the range of Canadian time zones. OUTFRONT: This morning on OutFront...We Are Not Amused. Ann Heppermann lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. She's an American who wants to be a Canadian. Her love affair with Canada at the age of twelve when she visited Vancouver for the 1986 World's Fair. As a special favour for Victoria Day, Outfront agreed to make her an honorary Canadian - but only if she could answer various skill testing questions live on the radio. Would Queen Victoria be amused? Find out this morning on OutFront, at 11:45 (12:15 NT) on CBC Radio One. MAGIC, MYSTERY AND MYTH : ***may not be heard in all locations*** [i.e. backup network program for time slot normally filled by local shows, taking the day off, or not -- gh] Join hosts Rick Cousins and Gary Hayes Victoria Day Monday for Magic, Mystery and Myth - two festive hours of tales and legends from around the world, along with music which celebrates the traditions that inspired them. That's Magic, Mystery and Myth, Victoria Day Monday at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. THE OLD WATERING HOLE: ***may not be heard in all locations*** [ditto --gh] This Victoria Day Monday, join Sean Foley and Paul Tukker at The Old Watering Hole, the best little truckstop this side of the airwaves, as they spin tunes about truckin', travelin', goin' away and comin' home. Not only that, friends, you'll hear some voices from high up in the cab, too. Rest and refreshment await up 'round the next bend, as the Old Watering Hole Presents: A Salute to Truckin'. That's Victoria Day Monday at 4 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. WORLD AT SIX SPECIAL: Tonight on The World at Six...it's been nearly a decade since the dark days of Canadian military involvement in Somalia. The Canadian military promised changes. Now, with the deaths of four soldiers in Afghanistan, the Canadian Forces have been cast in a new more heroic light. But how much has the military changed? Maureen Brosnahan, Rob North and Erin Carpenter take a look at military morale tonight on a special edition of The World at Six, on CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD; gh excerpted) ** CHECHNYA. An Information Ghetto, By Andrei Babitsky From the onset of the second Chechen campaign, the Russian military and political authorities succeeded in establishing a censorship regime that immediately screened out journalists whose reports on the war were not in accord with the official position. At the start of the war -- both voluntarily and after official pressure -- most Russian media outlets began to reflect the official position which excluded reports on the massive human rights violations committed by military personnel against the civilian population. Some Russian media outlets continued to publicly report on the crimes committed by the military against civilians. These include four Moscow-based, relatively small- circulation newspapers -- "Novaya gazeta," "Novaya Izvestiya," "Nezavisimaya gazeta," and "Kommersant" -- and various Internet sites. The issue is not so much how Russian journalists assess the general situation in Chechnya. Most reporters are in agreement with the official Russian position that it is an antiterrorist and antiseparatist war. This does not mean, however, that Russian journalists would not report on crimes conducted by the military against the civilian population. The main issue is that the Russian military and the Kremlin have banned reports on killings, torture, and kidnappings of civilians by the Russian military. The lack of information about Chechnya is one of the most effective ways to create a situation in which killers and kidnappers in epaulets can operate without legal accountability. In the first months of the military operations, one could manage to get into the territory of Chechnya via informal channels. This was the only way foreign journalists could carry out their work after Russian officials -- without any explanation -- denied them their right to be in the conflict zone. Several foreign journalists who remained in Chechnya or Ingushetia without the necessary official permission have been deprived of their accreditation or denied Russian visas. Last year, the Russian government denied Czech journalist Petra Prochazkova entry into Russia for the next five years, although her husband is a Russian citizen and a permanent resident of Ingushetia. I also know of another eight foreign journalists who covered the war in Chechnya who have been put on a visa blacklist by the Russian security forces and the Russian Foreign Ministry. They will not be allowed to enter Russian territory for five years. Today, the Russian authorities have virtually resolved the problem of reporting on human rights violations in Chechnya. Television was the first target of the Kremlin campaign to suppress such information, even during the days of such independent TV stations as NTV and TV-6. Direct TV broadcasts from Chechnya are totally under the control of the Russian military, since the only TV satellite-relay dish is located in the main Russian military base in Khankala. The Khankala base is the command center for the Unified Group of the Russian Federation Armed Forces of the Northern Caucasus which oversees the activities of the Russian army, the Russian Security Services (FSB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) troops. It is also where the Unified Group has its Press Center, and its daily press releases serve as the basis of all information from the conflict zone. Access to Chechnya is in effect limited to those journalists who are willing to agree to 20 pages of extremely strict rules of accreditation which violate Russian law. The Press Center of the Russian Federal Group of the Russian Forces in the Northern Caucasus carefully monitors the reports of journalists who have been in Chechnya. It also denies entry to those journalists whose reports -- in the opinion of the military censors -- contain defamatory material about Russian military personnel. On the territory of Chechnya, journalists are required to restrict themselves to the territory of the Khankala military base. They may leave Khankala only if they are accompanied by Press Center officers. There are a few journalists who continue to work in Chechnya but only after they have made incredible efforts and ignore official regulations. They do so at the risk of their lives. During her last assignment in Chechnya about one month ago, "Novaya gazeta" reporter Anna Politkovskaya was forced to illegally escape from Chechnya after FSB officers made threats against her life. She was collecting material about the killing of civilians by members of a special detachment of the Russian Federation Armed Forces Main Espionage Directorate (GRU) in the Shatoi region. Having resolved their assigned tasks in the conflict zone, the Russian authorities and the FSB are starting to bring under their control those regions which neighbor Chechnya -- first of all Ingushetia, which shelters over 150,000 Chechen refugees. In the last few months, and without any explanation, the FSB has expelled several groups of foreign reporters from Ingushetia. Journalists have been detained, held for hours of interrogation, and threatened with physical reprisals. The FSB in Ingushetia told one of my acquaintances -- a foreign reporter whose name I cannot reveal for obvious reasons -- that they would break her hands if she did not leave the republic. The FSB officers told the journalist that they had to operate this way because they had no formal reason to expel her from Ingushetia. The Russian authorities want to convince the public of the need to conduct this war. But they are also convinced that the Russian troops and the FSB are justified in using brutal methods against the civilian population in Chechnya. I do not believe that President Vladimir Putin is not informed about the Chechen war. Due to his previous KGB career, Putin knows that the security services and the Russian army operate without public or judicial control. Even if Putin is not aware of operational details, he is well informed on the nature of the Chechen war. President Putin is also the ideological and operational center of a politically planned military operation. From the very start, this military and political campaign has aimed at making a ghetto of the war zone. This ghetto is shut off from the sight and influence of the outside world. (This is a condensed version of RFE/RL correspondent Andrei Babitsky's testimony before a 9 May hearing on Chechnya by the Commission on Security and Cooperation. It was translated by Catherine Cosman.) (RFE/RL Media Matters May 17 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 960, TICS 960 AM, San José ``Emisora del Grupo Estéreo Actual``, 24h. Address: 100 metros Norte, 50 metros al Oeste, entrada de Emergencia del Hospital Calderón Guardia, San José. DG: Edgar Hueud Retama 980, TIRI R Favorita, San José ex R Cordillera. Still a ``Grupo Monumental 2-station. DG: Don Edgar Barrantes. Schedule: 1100-0500 1040, TIAC R Fides, San José celebrates the 50th anniversary this year according to the announcement 1520, TIECC R Cartago, Cartago is new, inaugurated on November 21, 2001. Gerente is Luis Morrero Reclondo. Schedule: 1100-0400, 2 kW. Address: Altos de Apolo, frente al Palacio Municipal, Cartago (Tetsuya Hirahara, RNM, visiting Costa Rica 22-26 March, 2002 via ARC via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBANET.INDEPENDIENTE 16 de abril, 2002 RADIECITOS Y SALARIOS --- José Antonio Fornaris, Cuba-Verdad LA HABANA, abril http://www.cubanet.org - Por estos días siete personas que nada tienen que ver con ninguna de las vertientes de la disidencia o de la oposición internas en Cuba me han preguntado cómo se puede obtener uno de los radiecitos que, de acuerdo con lo dicho en el programa Mesa Redonda de la televisión estatal cubana y por el canciller Felipe Pérez Roque, está repartiendo por todo el país la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos de América en La Habana. A su vez, un colega me dijo riéndose que mientras en la Mesa Redonda acusaban al gobierno estadounidense de tratar de subvertir el orden interno de Cuba con la repartición de radiecitos y de un minilibro con pensamientos de José Martí, él estaba escuchando la Mesa Redonda en uno de esos radiecitos, porque su televisor está roto. De la lectura de estos dos hechos se desprenden dos aspectos. Uno, si los periodistas oficialistas y los funcionarios siguen diciendo que en la Sección de Intereses estadounidense se reparten radiecitos "programados" para escuchar "emisoras enemigas", en cualquier momento se forma una gran fila o un tremendo tumulto en los alrededores de esa sede diplomática. Recordemos que cuando se informó sobre el primer sorteo de visas miles y miles de cubanos se aglomeraron cerca de la Sección de Intereses para entregar directamente allí sus cartas de participación. La otra cuestión es que por los radiecitos de marras también se puede escuchar la Mesa Redonda y todo tipo de programas, no están "programados" para escuchar únicamente "emisoras enemigas" (modo con que el régimen castrista define a la radio y televisión extranjeras). Tengo en mi poder uno de estos pequeños aparatos que Isabel del Pino Sotolongo, presidenta de la Asociación Humanitaria Seguidores de Cristo Rey, tuvo la gentileza de prestarme en estos días, por lo que puedo asegurar que Radio Martí se escucha con la misma interferencia que se oye en el viejo Selena de fabricación soviética. Este nuevo "ruido" introducido en el sistema de relaciones diplomáticas entre Estados Unidos de América y Cuba (con características muy atípicas por cierto) saca a la superficie el hecho de que ese tipo de radiecitos, con ocho bandas de onda media y corta, funcionales y manuables, no se venden en Cuba. No creo para nada que unos cuantos radiecitos con ocho bandas de onda media y corta, así como unos cuantos pensamientos de Martí impresos en un pequeño folleto, puedan subvertir el orden que los guerrilleros comunistas han establecido en Cuba en los más de 43 años que llevan en el poder, y que según ellos mismos dicen es aceptado por la inmensa mayoría de los cubanos. El símbolo más perfeccionado del "imperialismo", el dólar, interviene en todas las actividades y en la vida del pueblo cubano. En la práctica José Martí fue sustituido por George Washington y demás próceres estadounidenses representados en su moneda. Son los que gustan de tener cerca de sí los ciudadanos de esta isla. Este tipo de dinero fue introducido por el gobierno de los guerrilleros para que circulara masiva, abierta y libremente en Cuba. Por tanto, detrás del discurso de los radiecitos se encuentra la certeza del gobierno de Fidel Castro de que varios países de América, hecho inédito hasta el momento, van a presentar una moción en la Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la ONU acerca de la preocupación internacional por el estado de tales derechos en Cuba. Con lo de los radiecitos se trata de desviar la atención de tan importante cuestión. Por su parte, en conferencia de prensa el canciller Pérez Roque expresó el 11 de abril que todos (los disidentes) son asalariados de la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos de América. Estuve diez años en la oposición pacífica y llevo algo más de cuatro en la prensa independiente. He estado innumerables veces en la Sección de Intereses y nunca me he enterado de cuál es el día que pagan allí a los disidentes u opositores. El Ministro Pérez Roque, que parece ser una persona bien informada, debería revelar cuál es el día de la semana o del mes que los disidentes deben ir a buscar sus salarios en esa sede diplomática. Sugiero, lo más razonable, que Pérez Roque dé esta información discretamente, porque si la gente se entera que en la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos de América reparten dólares pudieran congregarse allí cientos de miles y hasta millones de personas. Así que es mejor que no se le dé mucha publicidad a la fecha que la Sección de Intereses le paga a sus "asalariados". Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) Desde Dentro de Cuba. Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. - http://www.cubafreepress.org 26 de Abril del 2002 HABLEMOS DE RADIECITOS. Israel Picallo Ortiz, de Cuba Free Press. La Habana.- Recientemente y como siempre , una información mas televisiva de Mesa Redonda Informativa, que ya por su insistencia forma parte de nuestro entorno nacional, tanto como las palmas y el tocororo; que dicho sea de paso con el decursar de los años , a lo mejor se cambia el escudo nacional de la Republica, dándole una forma de mesa; pero bueno, eso será quizás con el tiempo. Volviendo al asunto; en la referida mesa televisiva desinformativa se hizo mucho hincapié en unos radiecitos que supuestamente la Oficina de Intereses de los Estados Unidos en la Habana, había repartido entre los opositores como un material subversivo contra la Revolución Cubana y su Gobierno, alegando además, que pienso que sea por desconocimiento estaban elaborados para oír Radio Marti. Aquello, lejos de llamar la atención del televidente, mas bien llamo a la risa, si bien es cierto que los radiecitos de pilas se repartieron algunos entre los asistentes a determinadas recepciones que a cada rato ofrece la Oficina de Intereses ; pero nunca en cantidades de miles como se quiere aparentar; pero que en realmente son eso, radiecitos de pilas, fabricados en el país asiático, capaces de sintonizar cualquier cosa que se desee y sea capaz de captar ; y por supuesto puestos a la venta en el mundo a quien lo quiera comprar. Pero a los eruditos de la propaganda se les olvido o por lo menos no quisieron hacer mención de otros materiales también muy subversivos y peligrosos como son los bolígrafos, block de notas y papel en blanco que también a veces nos entregan ...Ah , se me olvidaba... que por cierto ante la incertidumbre, y como yo también tengo de esas pilas, desarme una de ellas y sufrí una gran decepción, no tienen nada adentro. ni subversivo, es una simple y puñetera pila recargable como todas, como las que se venden aquí y en todo el mundo. De todas formas y quizás como consejo , cuando no se tenga nada de que hablar, es preferible callarse antes de gastar recursos económicos en haber disparates. Reportó, Israel Picallo Ortiz, de Cuba Free Press. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CUBA FREE PRESS, INC., P.O. Box 652035, Miami, FL 33265-2035 Phone: (305)270 8779 -- Fax: (305)595 1883 E-mail: mailbox@cubafreepress.org Home: http://www.cubafreepress.org Copyright © 2002 - Cuba Free Press, Inc. Cordiales 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) CUBANET.INDEPENDIENTE 17 de abril, 2002 TELEVISORES PANDA: PRODUCTO ALTAMENTE NOCIVO DESTRUCTOR DE AMISTADES LA HABANA, 16 de abril (Amarilis Cortina Rey, Cuba-Verdad / http://www.cubanet.org - Las disputas que ocasiona entre cubanos el plan gubernamental de venta de los televisores chinos Panda ha dado lugar a un chiste popular, según el cual la marca de esos aparatos significa: Producto Altamente Nocivo Destructor de Amistades. La chacota recorre la capital cubana de boca en boca, pero la tragedia real se confirma en casos como el ocurrido en el Comité de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR) de la calle Yara entre Atlanta y Georgia, en el municipio capitalino Arroyo Naranjo, cuyo presidente expresó en la asamblea donde se entrega el derecho a la compra de los Panda: "Le otorgo el televisor a mi padrastro, porque me da la gana". "Después del anuncio, el presidente del CDR pronunció frases groseras" -dijo una fuente confiable, quien agregó que el altercado dio lugar a otra reunión en la que el dirigente cederista pidió disculpas, pero de todos modos le dio el televisor al padrastro. "En el noticiero de televisión del miércoles pasado un comentarista dijo que 'los CDR son la columna vertebral de la solidaridad y la dignidad del barrio', pero lo que se está viendo en estas asambleas de entrega de los Panda no es ni solidario ni digno" -expresó un cederista de Arroyo Naranjo. El problema no es exclusivo de la capital de Cuba. Desde Florida, municipio de la provincia Camagüey, se reportan acontecimientos similares. "La gente se delata, se chantajea, con tal de poder comprar uno de esos televisores" -afirmó por teléfono un residente de Florida. Los televisores Panda se le venden únicamente a los cubanos a quienes se les otorgue ese derecho en asamblea, luego de quedar probados los méritos revolucionarios del solicitante. La compra de estos aparatos comprende pagos de 68 pesos mensuales hasta completar los 4 mil pesos que cuestan. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) See also USA for CNN story ** CUBA [NON]. REVAMP RADIO MARTI, ABOLISH TV MARTI? HILL GROUP URGES END TO SANCTIONS ON CUBA BUSH PLANS TO KEEP POLICY IN PLACE By Peter Slevin and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, May 16, 2002; Page A18 Forty members of Congress called yesterday for unrestricted U.S. travel and increased trade with Cuba as the first steps in an overhaul of a decades-old foreign policy that has failed to topple Cuban President Fidel Castro or deliver democracy to the island... The group also recommended increased "security cooperation" between the two governments; an end to TV Martí, the U.S.-sponsored television network that costs more than $20 million a year but is rarely seen in Cuba; and the creation of scholarship programs to increase communication between Cubans and Americans... The president intends to support measures designed to "expand the flow and the breadth of information available to the Cuban people," the official said. That includes a revamping of the programming of Radio Martí, the Miami-based U.S. government radio station that is the sister network to TV Martí, and an increased distribution of radios by U.S. diplomats in Havana. "It's important for information to be made available about the possibilities and the alternatives that are out there," said the official, who described the effort as "a continuation and a strengthening of the outreach program." ... TV Martí's weak signal is jammed by Castro, and some supporters favor broadcasts from the U.S. military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. © 2002 The Washington Post Company [gh exerpts only portions dealing with Radio and TV Martí; full article at:] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23342-2002May15.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** DENMARK. From The RSGB: The Scout Club station OZ1RDP will be on- air until the 21st of May. A group of German Radio Scouts will stay on a camp site in Kongsmark on the Danish North Sea island of Roemoe, IOTA reference EU-125, locator JO45GC. It is running SSB and CW on several bands, mainly 80, 10, 6 and 2 metres, with packet radio also. The operators are DL9BCP, DL4KBS, DM1CG, DL9BQ, and DG2BCJ (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 5900 tent., Radio Cosmopolita, Quito, 11 MAY 0115-0200, program some kind of manifestation, very active speaker but is was definitely not football. Maybe some kind of fiesta - poor reception. 3280A, Radio María - 2 email QSLs received in 49 days from v/s Padre Francisco José Palacios - website: http://www.radiomariaecuador.org (Torre Ekblom, Finland, AOR 703, active antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 1615, TGML R. María ``La Voz de la Familia``, ex 1620 kHz (repeater of 1600 kHz). Address: Carr. Roosevelt km 15, Zona 2, Mixco, Entrada por el Convento de la Visitación de Santa María, Guatemala (QSL to our members Hasse Mattisson and Rolf Wikström, ARC via DXLD) Don`t confuse with image from 49m SW on cheap receivers, which can show on such a split frequency (gh, DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Names: See KOREA SOUTH ** INDIA. Summer A-02 schedule for All India Radio: ARABIC 0430-0530 13620 15770 17845 1730-1945 9910 13620 BALUCHI 1500-1600 1071 9620 11585 BENGALI 0300-0430 594 0800-1100 594 1445-1515 1134 1600-1730 1134 BURMESE 0100-0130 9950 13630 1215-1315 11620 11710 15415 CHINESE 1145-1315 11840 15795 17705 DARI 0300-0345 9845 9910 11735 1315-1415 7255 9910 ENGLISH 1000-1100 1053 11585 13695 15020 15260 17510 17800 17895 1330-1500 9690 11620 13710 1745-1945 7410 11620 11935 13605 15075 15155 17670 2045-2230 7150 9650 9910 11620 11715 2245-0045 9705 9950 11620 13605 FRENCH 1945-2030 9910 13605 GUJARATI 0415-0430 15185 17715 1515-1600 11620 15175 HINDI 0315-0415 11835 13695 15075 15185 17715 0430-0530 15075 15185 17715 1615-1730 7410 12025 13720 13770 15075 17670 1945-2045 7410 11620 2300-2400 9910 11740 13795 INDONESIAN 0845-0945 15770 17510 MALAYALAM 1730-1830 7115 12025 NEPALI 0130-0230 594 3945 7250 9810 11715 0700-0800 7250 9595 11850 1330-1430 1134 3945 6045 7410 11775 PERSIAN 0400-0430 13620 15770 1615-1730 7115 9910 PUNJABI 0800-0830 720 1230-1430 720 PASHTO 0215-0300 9845 9910 11735 13620 1415-1530 7255 9910 RUSSIAN 1615-1715 11620 15140 SARAIKI 1130-1200 702 SINDHI 0100-0200 1071 5990 7125 11790 1230-1500 1071 9620 11585 SINHALA 0045-0115 1053 11985 1300-1500 1053 9820 SWAHILI 1515-1615 13720 17670 TAMIL 0000-0045 1053 4790 9835 9910 11740 11985 13795 0115-0330 1053 1100-1300 1053 1115-1215 13695 15770 17810 17860 1500-1530 1053 TELUGU 1215-1245 13695 15770 17810 THAI 1115-1200 13645 15410 17740 TIBETAN 0130-0200 9565 11900 13700 1215-1330 1134 9575 11775 URDU 0015-0100 1071 6155 9595 0100-0200 6155 9595 11620 0200-0430 1071 6155 9595 11620 0830-1130 702 1071 7250 9595 11620 1430-1600 702 3945 4860 6045 1600-1730 702 1071 3945 4860 6045 1730-1930 702 1071 4860 6045 73 from (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, May 17 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. It seems that another "eternal" frequency used by an international broadcaster has been lost. The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (VOIRI) is now no longer heard on 9022 kHz - a frequency used by Iran's external SW service probably long before I began DX'ing in 1979. The feeling is a little like when BBC World Service quit 15070 kHz some years ago - a classical point of reference on the SW bands has been lost. Obviously, Iran's use of the out-of- band frequency 9022 kHz was against international agreements on the use of the SW frequency spectrum, and now Iran has become in this sense a law-abiding frequency spectrum user. Nevertheless, I find it strange to find 9022 kHz "empty"... 73 de (Mika Palo (Tomar, Portugal), May 18, DXing.info via DXLD) Ya off for a while (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Galei Zahal, Israel Defense Forces Radio, plays very listenable Israeli pop music mixed with some Euro & American. Tuned at 0200 UT with news in Hebrew on 6973 kHz, fair signal with QRN. Music and ID jingles followed until off abruptly at 0259, then shifted to daytime frequency 15785 which came on with time pips, ID and news. Very good signal here. Bugle call at 0358 and military march playing while announcers ran down the network stations. Seems to close early on Jewish Sabbath (Saturdays). No mention of their SW outlets in the country listing of WRTH 2002. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. Re names: That's the general practice in Korean and Chinese - the family name comes first, i.e. the family name of Mao Zedong is Mao. Sometimes this is pointed out by adding a comma after the family name, i.e. Han, Hee-Joo. Occasionally you may see the names written the western way, and that's when the real confusion comes in, unless the family name is one of the most common ones and can be identified for what it is. The Hungarians also use the reverse order, but only in Hungarian language texts or speech. This is due to the intonation of Hungarian with the stress on the first syllable. With the reverse order, the surname gets the main stress. There are also some other languages with unusual (from a western point of view) name practices. This is not really DX, but still may be useful knowledge for DXers... 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hungarian names rarely come up in DX, but in classical music announcing I enjoyed talking about Solti György, Doráti Ántál, Liszt Férenc, Jóo Árpad, Kodály Zoltán, Bartók Béla, etc. BTW, the accents in Hungarian have nothing to do with stress, often fooling the uninformed, but with vowel length. As Olle indicated, stress is always initial (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I should also have pointed out that it's probably a good idea to refer to her as "Miss Han". Koreans are very much more formal than Americans, and although she was happy to be addressed by her first name while amongst Americans, she said it was an unusual experience. At home, only her family and close friends would call her Hee-Joo. Even work colleagues address each other formally. BTW Han Hee-Joo is very well known at Radio Netherlands, as prior to becoming Head of English at Radio Korea she did a course at our Training Centre in Hilversum. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA/USA. LATVIAN PM SAYS MOVE OF RADIO FREE EUROPE TO RIGA BENEFICIAL | Text of report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 17 May: Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Berzins has suggested that the Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty move to Latvia's capital Riga, echoing suggestions made earlier this week by the new Latvian Television chief, Uldis Grava. Grava, still the Radio Free Europe marketing development director, came out with the suggestion due to the radio's current problem with premises in Prague. The prime minister's spokesperson said that the suggestion would be economically beneficial for Latvia and raise the country's prestige. Another reason for the suggestion is the currently half empty high- rise building housing the national Latvian Television company, reportedly too large for the television's capacity today. Moving the radio to this building would also solve some of the state television's maintenance problems. The prime minister has handed a letter suggesting the move to Grava, who will in turn hand this to the president of Radio Free Europe, Tom Dine. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private international broadcasting company founded by the US congress, broadcasting in Eastern and South Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. The radio reaches an audience of 35 million listeners and offers news and analytical broadcasts, as well as other programmes every day. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 0940 gmt 17 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO FREE EUROPE NOT TO LEAVE CZECH CAPITAL FOR LATVIA | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 18 May: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) appreciates the Latvian offer to move to Riga but is not going to leave the Czech Republic, RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winterova told CTK today. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins offered the RFE/RL radio station on Friday [17 May] to solve the problem of its location in the centre of Prague by moving its headquarters to Riga. In a letter addressed to the station management, Berzins said that the RFE/RL could occupy a building of the local public television station which is partly empty. Winterova told CTK she had not seen the letter yet. Latvia made the offer only a week after Uldis Grava, a former marketing director of RFE/RL, was appointed director of the local television station. A similar offer was made to the RFE/RL by Hungary at the beginning of this year. Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky invited RFE/RL to move to Budapest on 9 March. However, Winterova said then that the radio station intended to stay in Prague for the time being. Czech authorities have asked RFE/RL to move from its current headquarters in the centre of Prague for fear that it could become a target of a terrorist attack following last year's attacks on the United States. The station headquarters are currently being guarded by police officers and armoured vehicles. RFE/RL broadcasts to Eastern European and central Asian countries. According to estimates, about 35m people listen to the station programmes daily. RFE/RL moved to Prague from Munich in 1995, mainly in order to cut its expenditures. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1200 gmt 18 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MALDIVES. From The RSGB: The Crystal Clear DX Group is now just over two months from conducting one of the first 'youngster' DXpeditions, from the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. The international team of four will leave London on the 28th of July and plans to be on the bands with up to three stations by the evening of the 30th. Two stations will run 24 hours a day for around 11 days, with a third station running in beacon mode on 6m with the capability of running as a third HF station. Yagi antennas and an amplifier will be used to help produce big signals, and the team will concentrate on working many newly-licensed radio amateurs including Foundation Licence holders, and on contacting parts of the world where working 8Q7 is particularly rare. Extensive propagation forecasting is currently being produced by team member Robert, M0TTT, to help ensure the team will be on the most productive band, beaming to the best continent at the right time. The call 8Q7ZZ will be used. More information can be found on the expedition website or from expedition leader Mark Haynes, M0DXR, on 01279 430 609. Alternatively, you can e-mail m0dxr@qsl.net (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** MIDDLE EAST. The Radio Netherlands Media Network website has just published an article of mine called "Voices, Explosions, Silence..." It contains e.g. 1) fresh observations on Middle Eastern radio stations' programme content, 2) information on the current outlook for the closing down of Kol Israel's shortwave operation, 3) a little info on the Israeli army station Galei Zahal on SW, 4) info on Radio Sawa (Middle East Radio Network) expansion and listener feedback... and, last but not least, I hope, 5) a selection of monitored SW broadcasts mainly in English from the Middle East, heard in Portugal, plus some related website addresses. You can find the story at: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/middleeast020517.html Hope it might be interesting. Best 73 de Mika (Mika Palo (Tomar, Portugal), May 17, DXing.info via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KCCU TO BROADCAST OK MOZART INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL OK MOZART Festival Concerts Airing on KCCU With a later schedule and changed format, the 2001 Broadcast Series of OK MOZART Festival concerts will begin airing on June 2 at 5 pm [CDT = 2200 UT Sundays] on KCCU. The concerts are arranged in eight programs which will air every Sunday from June 2 through July 21. Many of the world`s greatest musicians travel to Bartlesville each summer to participate in the OK MOZART Festival along with artistic director and flutist Ransom Wilson and his Solisti New York Orchestra. In 2001 the lineup of artists included clarinetist David Shifrin, pianist Andre Watts, composer/satirist Peter Schickele, Jim Walker and Free Flight, bass-baritone Simon Estes, violinist Itzhak Perlman, violist Paul Neubauer, pianist Robin Sutherland, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, violinist Ani Kavafian, violinist Nai-Yuan Hu, flutist Marina Piccinini and cellist Ronald Thomas. The eight radio programs are thematic this year rather than being composed of individual concerts. Also, the concerts were programmed to fit into eight, two-hour programs instead of the ten programs of past years. KCCU can be heard on 89.3 and 102.9 in Lawton; 88.7 in Wichita Falls; 89.3 in Duncan; 90.3 in Ardmore; 90.1 in Altus and on the internet at http://www.kccu.org The 2002 OK Mozart Festival will be held June 7 - 15. To find out more, visit their web page: http://www.okmozart.com/ (KCCU website May 17 via DXLD) And this page has a rundown of each concert`s content, much like previously in DXLD; `Flower Clock` was moved earlier, however: http://www.cameron.edu/admin/kccu/page/news.html#20 Meanwhile, KOSU advises that they are still awaiting the CDs and it`s unlikely OK Mozart 2001 will run there before the 2002 season begin in mid-June. KCSC, which already started UT April 14, Sundays 0200-0400, ran the same program two weeks in a row, #4, on May 5 and 12, so that throws off the schedule, which they tell me will now have to resume after the NY Philharmonic on June 2; but classical KCSC will not run OK Mozart #8, which is jazz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KCCU TO BROADCAST OKLAHOMA SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE CONCERT KCCU will broadcast concerts from the 2001 Summer Arts Institute featuring classical music by Oklahoma students and faculty of the OSAI. The four concerts can be heard every Tuesday night at 9 (June 4, 11, 18, 25) [UT Wednesdays 0200]. The program will feature musical selections from last year's concert presented by the Oklahoma Arts Institute (KCCU website May 17 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. I have since early January very frequent contacts with Dom Mur who is Technical Advisor of ZP20 R. América. The station is now on its way of moving the transmitter site from Ñemby to Villeta, another suburb to Asunción. I quote some parts from a mail in mid April: ``Here we are continuing our constructions at the new transmitter site. It has been a slower process than what we first thought, owing to serious imbalances in the electrical supply. We have had to construct our own, large, battery-based power systems. At the new transmitter site, all antennas are ready. The transmitters are ``90 percent`` ready, which is to say that we have to improve a few details: add ventilators in critical sections, improve metallic shielding, metering, and, above all, the power supply problems. Commercially-available inverter equipment does not survive our power conditions and hot weather. I have 6 damaged units, as evidence of this. I designed our own inverters, of very heavy strength, and we are constructing them. Our metallurgist keeps very busy. Primarily, we work with heavy copper bus bars (100, 80 and 30 mm) in width, by 10 and 5 mm in thickness. We also use much Stainless Steel sheeting, for high-voltage materials. Naturally, there are many porcelain insulators and other insulating materials (Dom Mur via ARC via DXLD) There are now three frequencies to test from the new site: 1480 kHz – R América (testing between 1 and 5 kW) 1610 kHz – R Villeta (testing at 250 watts) 7300 kHz – R América (testing at 5 kW) Radio Villeta is a new, experimental station, serving the city of the same name, which shares the tower of Radio América. The necessary documentation is being formalised for this new station. The new transmitter site is only four kilometres from Villeta, and thirteen from Ñemby. Hopefully we will be on the air soon.`` (Dom Mur via ARC via DXLD) ** PERU. 4388.95, Radio Imperio, Chiclayo, 9 MAY 0145-0225. The Pentecostal Harvest Church was swinging with Hallelujah here too, religious program and fair reception (Torre Ekblom, Finland, AOR 703, active antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. RVA: Last minute update to avoid interference. EFFECTIVE JUNE 2, 2002 ADD 11725 2330-0030 49 PUG 250 280œ. And, seems to be, frequency for Tagalog on 15305 at 1500-1555 will be changed soon too (Fyodor Brazhnikov, Irkutsk, Russia, May 18, SWBC via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. Anyone catch an E-skip opening on Wednesday (May 15th) afternoon? I was driving across the Howard Frankland Bridge, (St. Petersburg to Tampa, FL) en-route to the Paul McCartney concert at the Ice Palace in Tampa... 6:30-6:45 p.m. ET on the below: Noted a brief, but huge stereo signal on 102.9 MHz with "la Única" slogan, ads for "lo Mejor 5" club in "Caguas, Puerto Rico" and other ads for stores in PR. Then, 100.3 MHz, two Spanish stations clashing briefly. Then, 99.1 MHz, a commerical for a store in Arecibo (Puerto Rico). Other channels were dropping in -and-out, some in Spanish, but between driving rush hour and trying to tune and bump the radio controls in traffic, I gave up. Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A timely reminder that Floridians, unlike the rest of US, are in single-hop range for sporadic E from PR; those lucky enough to have some clear FM frequencies should be on the lookout for PR, which is crammed with FM stations. But I don`t recall ever hearing one during my two sesquiyears rather closer in Tamarac (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Al, Stair was arrested = today/yesterday (Roger --, to Al Patrick, May 17, DXLD) Walterboro, The Press and Standard, 803-549-2586, Weekly, 7,000 [Al supplied this list of URLs, as you can see jpgs or gifs of this May 17, 2002 newspaper story, page by page, about Stair. Unfortunately not all of these links work, including the ones which appear to be the start of the stories --- but there is plenty of damning reading left. As far as we can tell, the above newspaper is not directly online, necessitating scanning the actual pages. You might find these, and more linked from http://www.thenetteam.net which is a site of Brother Stair detractors reporting on their own unfortunate experiences] http://www.thenetteam.net/starrest.jpg http://www.thenetteam.net/gorpick.jpg http://www.thenetteam.net/stwife.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/stwife2.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/stwife3.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/stwife4.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/butlers2.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/duvals2.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/raped.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/raped2.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/victim.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/jailed.jpg http://www.thenetteam.net/follow.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow2.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow3.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow4.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow5.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow6.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow7.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow8.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow9.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow10.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/follow11.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/hart.gif http://www.thenetteam.net/hart2.gif (via Al Patrick, DXLD) NEWSGROUPS: BROTHER STAIR ARRESTED?? Date : Fri, 17 May 2002 22:30:05 EDT Subject: Brother Stair arrested ?? From: "radio monkees" frewanasa@yahoo.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc, rec.radio.shortwave Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 01:08:54 GMT Allan Weiner just reported on his Program that "Brother" RG Stair was supposedly arrested yesterday by South Carolina authorities, on suspicion of sexual misconduct. The basis for this seems to be allegations made by several former associates from his Walterboro SC religious commune, and have been posted on the URL http://www.thenetteam.com and spoken about on the Wed night "Table of Truth Program" on 7.415 shortwave. Anyone have any more info on this breaking news? The Overcomer Broadcast has allegedly been suspended from WBCQ at this time, any word on WWCR? [still there at 0255 May 18 on 7465 but someone else was preaching; R. G. Stair himself still heard around 1150 on 7560, about how he himself had sinned since being saved. Is he trying to turn this around to his own advantage, like Swaggert? More likely just another generic old tape -- gh] Finally, can someone please tell me just why is it these Southern bumpkin preachers seem to always get caught with their hands either in the cash till, or in some bimbo's panties, or both at once..??? (Guess ole Bro Stair should have stuck with crankin the handle on those cheap chinese-made Luke crank-up shortwave Baygen knockoff radios instead of allegedly "something else".....??! (grin) Subject: Re: Brother Stair arrested ?? From: Al Patrick arp@inet4u.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc, rec.radio.shortwave Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 22:00:22 -0400 Rick Wiles (American Freedom News - 9:00 pm EDT 5.070 MHz and 9:00 AM EDT 12.160 MHz) told about 9:20 EDT (1:20 UT Saturday) that Stair was DENIED BAIL! I guess he'll spend several days in the slammer. Charged with two counts of rape [see below] and misc. financial charges. Rick is supposed to have a guest on his program Monday night @ 9:00 ET (01:00 UT Tue.) discussing this. I think it is the lady who did the investigative reporting on the situation from the Walterboro paper. Might be interesting. I think he might still be on WWCR as he had one transmitter all to himself. Don't know if he's on the other WWCR transmitters that he has time on, but my guess is if he pays his bill he stays. ;-( You can ask wwcr at askwwcr@wwcr.com and it *may* be addressed on one of their broadcasts called ASK WWCR. If you want a reply write wwcr@wwcr.com or adam@wwcr.com. Several of his former followers have predicted he'll come down THIS YEAR! Al Patrick -30- (via John Norfolk, DXLD) Transmitter #4 - 100 KW - 90 Degrees FREQ TIME (CDT) TIME (UTC) DATES 9.475 8:00AM- 5:00PM 1300-2200 07 Apr 02-31 May 02 7.465 5:00PM-11:00PM 2200-0400 29 Apr 02-31 May 02 7.560 11:00PM- 8:00AM 0400-1300 07 Apr 02-31 May 02 9.475 8:00AM- 5:00PM 1300-2200 01 Jun 02-31 Aug 02 7.465 5:00PM-11:00PM 2200-0400 01 Jun 02-31 Aug 02 7.560 11:00PM- 8:00AM 0400-1300 01 Jun 02-31 Aug 02 (WWCR website May 18 via DXLD) Subject: Stair / correction! From: Al Patrick arp@inet4u.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 00:06:43 -0400 Stair was not arrested on two counts of rape.... The newspaper article says, "Stair was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and two counts of breech [sic] of trust, according to an arrest warrant." Sorry for the misstatement of facts. I still wouldn't want to be in his shoes. Actually, this will probably be a lot easier to prove. Regards, Al (via John Norfolk, DXLD) I refer to my recent-ish posting about the Remnants of Hope Ministry (broadcasts via Julich), which upon investigation appeared to be set up primarily to be "anti-Brother Stair". Indeed, the founders of Remnants Hope were said to be former followers of Brother Stair living in his Walterboro commune. I would refer anyone interested to the Remnants Hope website for previously available material questioning the integrity of Brother Stair: http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-remnantshope The Remnants Hope QSL card - rather unique as it is completely hand- drawn, is on view in the USA section of my website: http://www.qsl.net/m1eyp (Tom Read, May 18, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Found these reports on the Overcomer Ministry Website: http://www.overcomerministry.com/accused.htm : THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL. As Brother Stair indicated last week, he is in the trial of his life. Brother Stair stands accused of much wrongdoing. We at the Overcomer are aware of the charges leveled against him. As you follow the link to the next page you will find the Newspaper account of the charges and allegations made against him. As the scriptures say: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 Brother Stair and the Saints of God at the Overcomer love God and stand upon this promise. We solicit your prayers. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Maranatha! The Lord Cometh. http://www.overcomerministry.com/Ministry%20leader%20arrested.htm : MINISTRY LEADER ARRESTED ON SEX CHARGES Saturday, May 18, 2002, Associated Press WALTERBORO --- A Canadys man who leads a group called The Overcomer Ministry has been charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, the State Law Enforcement Division said Friday. Ralph Gordon Stair, 69, was denied bond and was being held in the Colleton County jail, SLED spokeswoman Kathryn Richardson said. Stair, who leads a sort of commune near Walterboro, runs a Christian Web site and broadcasts his message on the Internet and on AM and short-wave radio. He was arrested Thursday. Colleton County prosecutors said they were unfamiliar with the case and had no details of the charges. Arrest warrants say Stair "used coercion to accomplish this battery by enforcing his religious/personal beliefs with the victim." Stair's wife denied her husband forced any women to have sex. "The women that went with my husband willingly went with my husband," Teresa Stair told The (Walterboro) Press and Standard. "They weren't victims." Stair also was charged with two counts of breach of trust, Richardson said. Warrants said Stair took $26,556 on Sept. 7, 2000, then $3,079 a week later from a man's retirement investments. ===================================================== There's also a jpeg of a newspaper article on the website at http://www.overcomerministry.com/5-17-02Article.htm [almost illegible but nice photo of B.S. taken into custody -- gh] (via Alan Roe, UK, May 18, BDXC-UK and John Norfolk, DXLD) ** THAILAND. BANGKOK (AP) - A radio disc jockey has threatened to sue Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra if his long-winded weekly broadcasts continue to intrude on her popular show. Since coming to power last year, Thaksin has been going on the air every Saturday at 8 a.m. to speak for about 15 minutes about his policies. But during the last two months, his speeches - which are required to be broadcast by every radio station in Thailand - have gone on for 30 to 45 minutes, disrupting the programs that follow. Natthakarn Panniam said Tuesday she has no choice but to take legal action against the prime minister because her sponsors are upset that the speeches are eating into her weekly music program. The four private companies that sponsor the show are threatening to withdraw financial support, she said. "The prime minister is well aware that he is eating into the time slot of others, which is hurting DJs whose livelihoods depend on sponsors," said Natthakarn. "So if he continues to do that I have no choice but to petition to the Administrative Court." Thailand has more than 300 radio stations, all owned by the military, the police, the government-run Mass Communications Organization of Thailand and the government's Public Relations Department. The Administrative Court deals with disputes between the general public and state agencies or government officials. "I think several DJs have been affected by the prime minister's program but nobody dares to speak out," Natthakarn said (via Angus Moten, mon-exchange, May 17, via Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) Mon-exchange? Is that short for Mongkut? (gh, DXLD) ** TIMOR EAST. BBC News Friday, 12 April, 2002, 14:37 GMT 15:37 UK EAST TIMOR'S TIMETABLE FOR CHANGE By regional analyst Nicholas Nugent East Timor's new president will be inaugurated in the early hours of 20 May, shortly after the midnight handover of power by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. This will bring to an end 33 months of transitional rule by the United Nations. Legally it will mark the close of more than 400 years of rule by Portugal that was interrupted when Indonesia took over the province in 1975. East Timor will be crossed off the UN's list of non self- governing territories and is expected to be granted full UN membership in due course. Who holds power The actual transfer of power will not be that sudden. Already a transitional government is in place, led by Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri. After independence he will be answerable to the 88-member Legislative Assembly that was elected in August 2001. Government and assembly members will be sworn in once the new president takes the oath of office. Under a constitution approved by assembly members - which is modelled on that of Portugal - the president will not have much executive power. However, he is expected to wield a great deal of influence, especially in establishing East Timor's place as the newest member of the international community of nations. The job of running the tiny country of fewer than a million inhabitants falls to Chief Minister Alkatiri. His key lieutenants, Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos Horta, who is in charge of foreign affairs, and Fernanda Borges, responsible for finance, are expected to retain their positions. Outside help Nor will the United Nations team leave at once. The authorised strength of the military force, which restored peace following the 1999 independence referendum, will be reduced from 9,000 to around 5,000. The 1,000-strong UN police force will remain until the newly formed East Timor Police Service is fully operational. A senior Indian diplomat, Kamalesh Sharma, has been appointed to take over a scaled-down UN operation, which is expected to focus on providing expertise in areas of administration and development where East Timor currently lacks skills. One area of activity that will be handed over is broadcasting. "It is not desirable for an independent East Timor that its main radio and television should be funded by the United Nations," said Sergio Vieira de Mello, the head of the United Nations Transitional Authority for East Timor (UNTAET). A new broadcasting authority is being created. East Timor's new constitution includes a commitment to press freedom. One of the biggest worries at the time of the independence vote in August 1999, the financial viability of the nation, has been solved by the imminent development of a large gas field in the Timor Gap sea between East Timor and Australia. At an early opportunity the new government is expected to ratify an agreement UNTAET has concluded with the government of Australia, which gives East Timor the lion's share of revenue from the sale of gas to Japanese power companies. This will guarantee the new nation a steady income until at least 2020, making the prospect of nationhood a great deal less daunting. © MMII (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. A reminder that we file stories about Brother Stair under SOUTH CAROLINA, since the rest of US would no doubt prefer to disassociate from him and the state which harbours him (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Hello Mr. Hauser, After listening to WOR yesterday I made an effort to pick up WJIE; at 2055 UT heard very faint female vocal music under heavy static; later that evening at 0150 there was less static with a woman reading text but still a very faint signal, not really intelligible. This is on a Satellit 800 and my 40M ham dipole. The KY transmitter is about 400 mi to the south of my Mich. QTH. Many thanks for this ``DX`` catch. 73s (Ben Loveless, WB9FJO, Michigan, May 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If anyone notice times WJIE carries WOR on weekends, let us know (gh) ** U S A. US MEDIA COWED BY PATRIOTIC FEVER, SAYS CBS STAR --- NETWORK NEWS VETERAN ADMITS NATIONAL MOOD CAUSED HIM TO SHRINK FROM TOUGH QUESTIONS ON WAR IN AFGHANISTAN Matthew Engel in Washington, Thursday May 16 2002, The Guardian Dan Rather, the star news anchor for the US television network CBS, said last night that ``patriotism run amok`` was in danger of trampling the freedom of American journalists to ask tough questions. And he admitted that he had shrunk from taking on the Bush administration over the war on terrorism. In the weeks after September 11 Rather wore a Stars and Stripes pin in his lapel during his evening news show in an apparent display of total solidarity with the American cause. However, in an interview with BBC's Newsnight, he graphically described the pressures to conform that built up after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. ``It is an obscene comparison - you know I am not sure I like it - but you know there was a time in South Africa that people would put flaming tyres around people's necks if they dissented. And in some ways the fear is that you will be necklaced here, you will have a flaming tyre of lack of patriotism put around your neck,`` he said. ``Now it is that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the tough questions.`` Rather did not exempt himself from the criticism, and said the problem was self-censorship. ``It starts with a feeling of patriotism within oneself. It carries through with a certain knowledge that the country as a whole - and for all the right reasons - felt and continues to feel this surge of patriotism within themselves. And one finds oneself saying: 'I know the right question, but you know what? This is not exactly the right time to ask it.'`` Such a confession is astonishing, bearing in mind its source. Rather is almost as famous in the US as the president, though he is more secure in his tenure, far better paid and probably more pampered. Rather, 70, has held what used to be regarded as the top job in American journalism for two decades, since he was chosen to succeed the revered and avuncular Walter Cronkite as CBS News's anchorman. Traditionally, CBS was the country's No 1 news channel but has lost its status and ratings after years of budget cutbacks. The White House was to blame for its failure to provide adequate information about the war, Rather said. ``There has never been an American war, small or large, in which access has been so limited as this one. ``Limiting access, limiting information to cover the backsides of those who are in charge of the war, is extremely dangerous and cannot and should not be accepted. And I am sorry to say that, up to and including the moment of this interview, that overwhelmingly it has been accepted by the American people. And the current administration revels in that, they relish that, and they take refuge in that.`` He said his view of the patriotism differed from that of the administration. ``It's unpatriotic not to stand up, look them in the eye, and ask the questions they don't want to hear - they being those who have the responsibility, the ultimate responsibility - of sending our sons and daughters, our husbands, wives, our blood, to face death.`` Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. CNN 'A MEGAPHONE' FOR CASTRO, MEDIA STUDY SAYS By Jim Burns, Senior Staff Writer, May 09, 2002, CNSNews.com Mayo 10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cable News Network, the only American television news organization with a full-time bureau in Cuba, has "allowed itself to become just another component of Fidel Castro's propaganda machine," instead of "exposing the totalitarian regime that runs Cuba," the Media Research Center (MRC) charged in a report released Thursday. The Media Research Center, parent organization of CNSNews.com, analyzed 212 news stories about the Castro government and Cuban life that were presented on the network's prime time news programs between March 17, 1997, when the Havana bureau opened and March 17, 2002. However, MRC Chairman L. Brent Bozell added that he wanted to make it "perfectly clear" the study did not indicate CNN is promoting communism. Bozell did say he believes CNN has ignored what he called "Cuba's lack of democracy." "Despite the presumed advantages CNN enjoyed by reporting from the island itself, CNN only ran four stories on the lack of democracy," Bozell said. As an example, Bozell cited a 1998 report by correspondent Lucia Newman that he said trumpeted "Cuba's one- candidate elections as superior to those in the U.S. because they 'have no dubious campaign spending' and 'no mud slinging.'" To improve their coverage, Bozell recommended that CNN increase the quantity as well as quality of their stories from Cuba, do more investigative reporting of the Castro regime and life in Cuba, report regularly on the status of political prisoners and dissidents and assist independent journalists working in Cuba by authenticating their reporting and giving it worldwide exposure. If CNN can't do that, they should shut down their Havana bureau, Bozell said. "If CNN believes it is too dangerous for its Havana-based reporters to be as adversarial with the Castro regime as they are with democratically elected world leaders, it should close the bureau. To do otherwise is to perpetuate the fiction that CNN is making Americans more informed about the realities of Castro's Cuba and that does more harm than good," Bozell said. Bozell also criticized CNN for under-reporting the human rights situation on the communist run island. "On human rights, I think we can all stipulate that Castro has a horrific record, as amply documented by every human rights organization on the planet. Yet over five years, CNN saw fit to report on political prisoners and dissidents in only seven stories. Only seven stories in five years," Bozell said. Dennis Hayes, executive director of the Cuban-American National Foundation also criticized CNN for choosing not to report about the Castro government's alleged development of biological weapons and the possibility that Castro may even be exporting those weapons to America's enemies. "In the post-September 11 environment that we are in, I would think that this would be a priority for any news organization," said Hayes. Also attending the news conference were representatives from an anti- Castro group called "Cuba Libertad." The group posted banners at the news conference with the CNN logo, referring to it as the "Castro News Network." CNN did dispatch a producer and a camera crew to cover the event. CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta did not return repeated phone calls Thursday seeking comment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1997-2002 - LA NUEVA CUBA -- NOSTROMO PUBLISHING CORP. All Rights Reserved. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC TIS page has moved. In case you've been looking for it, it recently resurfaced with an updated look and a new URL: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/tis.html 73, (Tim and Karen Hall http://www.inetworld.net/halls AMFMTVDX mailing list May 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. LOGO GALLERY UPDATE Yesterday I did channel 5, today I did channel 6. I messed around with channel 3 and got its file size below the threshold. The file locations are as follows: Main page: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ About: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/about.htm Channel 2: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ch2.pdf Channel 3: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ch3.pdf Channel 4: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ch4.pdf Channel 5: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ch5.pdf Channel 6: http://www.egrabow.com/gallery/ch6.pdf You will need Acrobat Reader to view these files. GooDXing! "End of message. End of transmission." (Ryan Grabow, Patchogue, Long Island, New York, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. KORTE, MPS BACKTRACK ON WYMS DISTRICT WILL RESUME OPERATING RADIO STATION, SUPERINTENDENT SAYS By SAM SCHULHOFER-WOHL of the Journal Sentinel staff Last Updated: May 17, 2002 Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Spence Korte apologized Friday for abruptly pulling the plug on the district's radio station and said MPS would resume operating WYMS-FM (88.9) less than three weeks after trying to give another organization a huge no-bid contract to manage it. Korte's plan to pay WUWM-FM (89.7) hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate WYMS had outraged listeners and drawn hundreds of protesters to a School Board meeting.... http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/may02/44155.asp (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD; thanks to Artie, and to Matthew Kickbush, for earlier stories about this) UNIDENTIFIED. Data station causing harmful interference to WWV Fort Collins CO on 10 MHz. Data station with 1 kHz wide key shift (10001.5 and 10002.5) noted 0725 on May 17 causing strong interference to WWV Fort Collins on 10000 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-080, May 16, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1131: (ON DEMAND FROM MAY 17) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1131.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070, 0630 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRINGS ON WJIE 7490: Fri 0645, 1245, 1845, Sat 0645... AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world, Sun 1400 NAm DX PROGRAMS ON SHORTWAVE, new revision May 17 by John Norfolk: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html OKLAHOMA BROADCASTING NEWS updated May 15: http://www.worldofradio.com/oklahoma.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Czech capital-based Radio Free Afghanistan extends broadcasts | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague/Washington, 16 May: Radio Free Afghanistan has extended its Afghan broadcasts in Pashto and Dari, the country's most frequent languages, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) station President Thomas Dine announced in New York today. The RFE/RL's Afghan daily broadcasts have been 10.5 hours since Wednesday [15 May], RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winter confirmed for CTK. By adding another four broadcasting hours per day the station is now able to better serve US national interests and meet its listeners' wishes, said Dine. He said Radio Free Afghanistan would ensure objective news and analyses for Afghans, which they need for renewing their country destroyed by the war. The extension enables broadcasting new programmes, including a half- an-hour feature on culture. The Prague-seated Free Afghanistan Radio launched broadcasts on 30 January this year. RFE already broadcast to Afghanistan from its then Munich seat in 1985-1993. Later, however, the Afghans could listen only to RFE/RL programmes destined for neighbouring countries - Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan. The resumption of the Afghan broadcasts was approved by the US Congress after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. last year. Information about Radio Free Afghanistan is available on the http://www.rferl.org Internet address. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0959 gmt 16 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) USA/Afghanistan: RFE/RL increases Dari and Pashto broadcasts | Text of press release by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on 15 May Washington, DC, 15 May 2002: RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine announced the expansion today of Radio Free Afghanistan's total daily airtime in the Dari and Pashto languages from 6.5 to 10.5 hours. The expanded broadcasts will be available initially on FM in the Kabul area and on RFE/RL's web site http://www.rferl.org/realaudio but expanded shortwave, satellite and AM broadcasts will follow in the near future. "We are excited about this latest expansion of our Afghan programming," Dine said, noting that "by adding these four new hours of broadcasts per day we will be able to better serve US national interests as well as the needs of our listeners by providing them with the objective news and analysis they need to rebuild their war-torn country." RFE/RL Director of Broadcasting Jeffrey Trimble said that the additional airtime will be used to provide expanded news coverage on the hour and half-hour, as well as to offer more original programming such as a daily combined Dari/Pashto cultural programme scheduled for broadcast every evening from 2000-2030 CET [1800-1830 gmt]. Special coverage of the preparations for the Loya Jerga, or Grand Council to decide the political future of Afghanistan has also been expanded, Trimble said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; the Caucasus; and Central and Southwestern Asia funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Washington DC, in English 15 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 8700: See SINGAPORE! ** ANGOLA. Sheer terrorism, not civil war, started in our colony in 1961. Terrorist groups were supported by several countries, ranging from the communist countries to the USA themselves, as a pure symptom of greed towards the wealth of Angola. The military situation in 1974 was such that even the allegedly strongest terrorist group, the MPLA, counted a very small number. Let's face truth: if it were not because of the betrayal of a bunch of Portuguese military unhappy with their pay and ranks distribution, disasters like those in Moçambique and Angola wouldn't have happened. And of course, it's simply hard to believe some among those who staged the 24th April coup d'état here were not bribed by certain foreign powers. If not, why then power was delivered to the terrorist group still in power in Luanda: the one and only MPLA party. Civil war was a fact, BUT only after we left and the three ``liberation`` movements started a war in the country. A comparison between what we had to endure and fight against and what the groups themselves created later in 1975 is simply ridiculous and to some extent even offensive many, like me, who can neither forget nor excuse the betrayal upon our nation, which spread from mainland Portugal to Timor in Oceania. Curiously enough, from the three African territories where we had to combat terrorism from the "liberation" movements, the worst situation was precisely in the poorest and tiniest one - Guiné -, whereas Angola, the largest and wealthiest territory of all, gradually experienced a comfortable situation (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, May 12, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6215, Radio Maranatha, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones province. 2118-2210. May 12. Greetings for the mothers. Programme conduced by male and female in Spanish. Ann.: "..a todos los que están sintonizando las ondas cortas, en esta tarde......". Christian music. Talk. At 2202, ID: "Maranata AM1610". Other ID as: "101,7 FM y Maranatha AM1610, desde la ciudad de Puerto Iguazú, provincia de Misiones, para toda la zona". 33433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Address to Radio Maranatha is: Calle Obispo Angelelli y María del Iguazú B Industrial - Puerto Iguazú - Pcia de Misiones - Argentina. Tel. 54-3757 - 422713. Propietario -Pastor Hugo Heidenger. 73's (Jan- Erik Österholm, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Estimados Amigos: Un dato adicional: el código postal de Puerto Iguazú es: 3370. 73s (Nicolas Eramo, Conexión Digital via DXLD) There is reference to R. Maranatha, 6215 at http://www.sembrandovida.org.ar/ ("Radio"), which mentions the AM and FM channels (not SW) and says it operates 2300-0100 weekdays, 0000- 0100 Sat and Sun; run by Hermano Pr. Luis Viera Núñez (Jerry Berg, DXplorer May 12 via BC-DX via DXLD) Investigando por Internet, encontré esta página, con la siguiente información de la gente que trabaja en esta emisora. Además, hay un QTH y una dirección de correo electrónico que puede ser utilizado para recabar más información. Saludos a todos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, May 16, Conexión Digital via DXLD) So QTH is masculine (gh, DXLD) http://www.sembrandovida.org.ar Programas de radios en el MERCOSUR "Sembrando Vida en el MERCOSUR", que se transmite los días Lunes a viernes desde las 23 Hs. hasta las 01 Hs. y sábados y Domingos desde las 00 Hs. hasta las 01 Hs.... (via Slaen, ibid.) Nothing but music here when listening from 0015-0042 May 16. Decent level, just wouldn't talk (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Samuel Cassio`s recording of this is on WOR 1131 (gh, DXLD) Aquí les estoy enviando una información sobre una escucha, gracias al dato original brindado por Nicolás Eramo sobre esta nueva emisora en onda corta descubierta por él. 6214.97 kHz, Radio Maranatha (nombre usado en sus ID's en español) / Radio Baluarte (nombre utilizado en sus ID's en el programa en portugués), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. Escuchada desde +2337 (del 15 Mayo) a 0207+ (del 16 Mayo) emitiendo música y programas todos de carácter religioso. Durante el primer tiempo de mi escucha, el locutor de portugués mencionó el siguiente número de teléfono: 54-3757-422557. A las 0000 (del 16 Mayo), música religiosa y luego anuncios, todos de carácter religioso. A las 0004 la emisora se ID en español como "Cultura FM 101.7, Maranatha AM 1610, Radios que no nacieron para competir sino para triunfar, desde la ciudad de Puerto Iguazú, Povincia de Misiones, Argentina" y "Acompañándote todo el dia, Cultura FM, Maranatha AM, desde Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, transmitiendo todo el dia, 24 horas en el aire para las 3 fronteras, Sudamérica". Luego a 0010 rlg cxs en português nuevamente por el locutor y una larga serie de varios temas musicales, todos en português. A las 0105 comienza el programa "Atendiendo al Oyente" (nombre mencionado por locutora) y el locutor la ID en português como "Radio Baluarte ondas curtas freqüência 6215 kilohertz aqui no Puerto Iguazú". Llamé por telefono a la emisora entre 0112-0114 saludando a los radioescuchas, y hablé con el locutor llamado Fernández Joselino, quien me preguntó se entendía el português, a quien respondí "un poquitinho". Me dijo que si iba a Cataratas, que ubique el Hotel Esturion donde él está trabajando y me mencionó que tendría todo gratis y que no tendría nada que pagar! (obviamente, creo es todo propaganda); él ID a la emisora en un mal español: "..a través de la Radio 101.7 la radio onda corta Baluarte, 49, 6215 kilohertz y también Futuro acá la 101.7 Puerto Iguazú...". Luego de finalizar la comunicación, y hablando en español mencionaba a la audiencia que la emisora había sido escuchada a más de 2.000 kms de distancia y ofrecía (de paso cañazo) disponer de horas de programación en la emisora a "precios baratos". Luego, prosigue toda una serie de llamados, todos de oyentes que hablan en português. A las 0205, ID español como "Cultura FM 101.7, Maranatha AM 1610, Radios que no nacieron para competir sino para triunfar, desde la ciudad de Puerto Iguazú, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina". SINPO: 34443. Como comentario final, diré que es muy llamativo que la emisora tiene dos diferentes identificaciones según he notado, con un nombre en español (Maranatha) y con otro nombre dado durante sus programas escuchados en português (Baluarte), y sus FM's como Cultura FM (ID para español) y Futuro (durante sus programas en português). También noté que el 96% de su programación es en português y el 4% en español, casi todo en las ID's y anuncios de programas solamente. Estos nombres 100% confirmados, todo lo cual lo tengo debidamente grabado. Otra curiosidad notada es que cuando hablé por telefono, me preguntó 3 veces de dónde llamaba; al decirle Buenos Aires -en todas mis respuestas-, en dos de ellas me preguntaba el locutor ¿en que Provincia?, lo que me da a entender que probablemente el locutor sea brasilero y no sabe muy bien de la geografía argentina. Esto me hace pensar de que seguramente la emisora sea manejada quizás por un grupo religioso del vecino pais y que utiliza la misma para difundir sus ideas religiosas, porque hablar un 96% en português, aunque la zona sea fronteriza, es demasiado, dado que la radio está del lado argentino. En fin, son comentarios en base a lo escuchado (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, May 16, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Hola Amigos, Aquí va la información correcta sobre las emisiones en italiano: RAE está emitiendo su servicio en italiano de 1900-2000 en 9690 y 15345 khz de lunes a viernes. Los locutores son Sandro Cenci y Romano Martinelli. 73's (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, May 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia registrations and relays in A-02. This is the latest known R Australia frequency and program schedule obtained from various sources. 5995 0800 1400 51,56,64 BRN 10 010 5995 1400 1800 2,6,7,51,54-56,61-65 SHP 100 030 6020 0900 1100 51,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 030 6020 1100 1400 2,6,7,51,54-56,61-65 SHP 100 030 6080 1400 1800 50,51E,54,55,58 SHP 100 334 6080 1800 2100 45,50,51,54E,56W,64 SHP 100 005 7240 1800 2200 51,54E,56,64,65 SHP 100 030 9475 1330 1600 49-51,54,55 SHP 100 329 9475 1600 1900 27,28,49-51,54,55 SHP 100 329 9500 1900 2130 44,49-51,54,55 SHP 100 329 9580 0805 1100 1-3,6-8,51,55,56,60-65 SHP 100 030 9580 1100 2130 2-4,6-10,56,60-63 SHP 100 070 9660 2100 0800 51,56,64,65 BRN 10 010 9710 0800 0900 45,51,54E,55,56W,64,65W SHP 100 353 9710 0900 1100 45,51,54E,55,56,64,65 SHP 100 353 9730 2300 2330 49 SNG 100 13 9815 1700 2100 45,51,56,61-65 SHP 100 030 11550 0900 0930 51 54 TAI 250 205 11550 2130 2330 51 54 TAI 250 205 11650 1200 1700 51,56,61-65 SHP 100 030 11660 1330 1430 49,50,54 SHP 100 329 11660 1430 1700 18,27,49,50,54 SHP 100 329 11695 2130 2400 49,50,54 SHP 100 329 11880 1100 1230 43,44,50,54,55 SHP 100 329 11880 1230 1330 49,54,55 SHP 100 329 11880 1700 2200 6,56,60-63,65 SHP 100 065 11935 2130 2400 54 DRW 250 290 12080 2000 1200 51,56,60-62 BRN 10 080 13620 2200 2400 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 15110 2330 0030 49 TAI 250 225 15230 2200 2400 49-51,54-56 SHP 100 329 15240 0000 0800 45,51,54E,55,64 SHP 100 353 15240 0700 0900 6-8,10,61-63 SHP 100 090 15240 0800-1130 49,50,54 TAI towards HongKong 15240 2200 2400 43,44,49,50 TAI towards HongKong 15415 0000 0100 44S,49 SHP 100 329 15415 0100 0500 44S,49,50,54,55N SHP 100 329 15415 0500 0600 49 SHP 100 329 15415 0600 0900 44S,49,50,54,55N SHP 100 329 15415 2130 2400 50S,51,54,55,58N SHP 100 353 15435 1400 1530 42-44 SNG 100 13 15515 0200 0700 6-8,10,61-63 SHP 100 070 17580 0000 0800 2,6,45,51,55,56,61-65 SHP 100 030 17715 2100 2400 2,6,45,51,55,56,61-65 SHP 100 030 17750 0000 1000 44,49,50,54,55N,58N SHP 100 329 17750 1000 1100 27,28,44,49,50,54,55N,58N SHP 100 329 17775 0000 0130 49,50,54 DRW 250 317 17795 2200 0200 6-8,10,51E,56,61-65 SHP 100 050 17865 0500 0530 49 SNG 250 13 21615 0000 0030 54 TIN 500 256 21680 0000 0030 54 DRW 250 290 21680 0400 0430 54 DRW 250 290 21680 0500 0530 54 DRW 250 290 21725 0100 0900 32-35,43-45,50-51,54,55,64,65 SHP 100 355 21740 2100 0100 6-8,10,11,56,60-63 SHP 100 070 21780 0400 0430 54 TIN 500 255 21820 0900 1400 27-32,43,44,49,50,54,55 SHP 100 329 SHP=SHEPPARTON; BRN=BRANDON; DRW=DARWIN; TAI=TAIWAN; TIN=TINIAN English 0000-2400 (including Sport on Sat/Sun on 21725 17580 12080 9660) all frequencies except: BBC Relay 2200-2300 9660 12080 Chinese 1400-1530 9475 15435 Khmer 0500-0530 17865 2300-2330 9730 Indonesian 0000-0030 17750 21615 21680 0400-0430 17750* 21680 21780 Tok Pisin 0900-1100 5995 6030 9710 12080 0500-0530 17750* 21680 2000-2100 6080 7240 Mon-Fri 0800-0830 17750* 0900-0930 17750* 11550 Vietnamese 2330-0030 15110 2130-2330 11550 11695 11935 15415 NOTE : * used on Mon-Fri only. (via BC-DX May 12 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 1476, Radio Afrika International via ORF on 1476 kHz 2300- 2400 local time, according to a schedule from the station. Address: Heigerleinstr: 7/1-2, A-1160 Wien. E-mail: radio.afrikas@sil.at http://www.radioafrika.net (Björn Fransson, Arctic MV-Eko Info Desk May via DXLD) So now 2100-2200 UT, daily? (gh, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Betar on 9550 and 7185 in English at 1230 UT. 9550 is stronger, but suffers worse interference. Either way difficult to understand what their going on about with their notoriously poor audio feed (which has been the case since as long as I can remember :-). (Ian [Baxter?], May 14, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. Radio Hrodna does not use SW in the morning (0340-0400) in order to save electrical energy. Both SW units (6040 and 7110 kHz) have 5 kW power. There is another transmitter in Hrodna, on the air with Kanal Kultura program (former 2nd channel of BR), 7265 kHz, 2.5 kW, omni-directional. Some news from Minsk: Ministry of communications ordered to suspend relays of the central 1st program on 6115 and 7210 kHz. This obviously did not affect the foreign service - Radiostation Belarus` -, it's well heard on 7210 kHz. (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal May 14 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Rádio Difusora Trópico, Trinidad, ouvida em 10 de Maio às 2340 por 6036.7 kHz (ex- 4552.3). (Play DX 2001 via @tividade DX May 15 via WORLD OF RADIO 1131, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6537.4, La Voz del Campesino, 0751 May 16, poor signal with lengthy talk in Spanish, mostly "mensajes". Ad and canned id by FA 0756 followed by Andean music and more messages (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Crackdown on unlicensed transmitters includes 13 radio stations, --- but do they ever mention any shortwave station names or frequencies? (gh, DXLD) La Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sittel) clausuró el fin de semana 16 medios de comunicación y empresas de radiotaxis que funcionaban ilegalmente en los departamentos de Santa Cruz y Cochabamba, empresas que realizaban su trabajo sin contar con las debidas concesiones y licencias. Del total fueron cerrados trece radioemisoras, un canal de televisión, una línea de radiotaxi y una empresa que prestaba servicios de telecomunicaciones de red privada a terceros sin contar con los permisos correspondientes. [...] En cumplimiento de las disposiciones legales, Sittel sancionó, además, con el secuestro de los equipos, componentes, piezas y materiales de las trece radioemisoras, el canal de televisión, la línea de radiotaxi y la empresa que prestaba servicios de telecomunicaciones de red privada a terceros, los que trabajaban ilegalmente en los departamentos de Cochabamba y Santa Cruz. Asimismo, el ente regulador dispuso, mediante resoluciones administrativas, la clausura de tres radioemisoras de Quillacollo, otras tres de Sacaba, dos de Cliza (Cochabamba), dos de Warnes, dos de Montero y una de la ciudad de Santa Cruz, además de un canal de televisión de Quillacollo. Como se recordará, entre las atribuciones de la Sittel están las de coordinar el uso del espectro electromagnético y controlar los medios y equipos a través de los cuales se emiten señales de televisión y radio. La institución tiene también como prerrogativa el regular el uso de frecuencias y el protegerlas contra cualquier interferencia dañina (El Diario, La Paz, May 12, via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Acting on the report in DXLD 2-078, I started checking for ZYE961, Radio Cultura, São Paulo, which I had not heard for many, many months. I found them around 2300 UT on 13 and 14 May with a fair signal, Portuguese announcements, IDs as "Cultura 'ah - eme' ", and Brazilian music on 17814.93 kHz. The frequency is usually blocked by Radio Romania International, and at 2358 UT there was heterodyne QRM from a carrier on 17815 which was probably them; listening on LSB was best afterwards. Very weak by 0100. Nothing was heard on their 9615 frequency which I had been monitoring recently; are they operating only one at a time now? (Icom R75, dual 16/10 meter dipole w/ANC-4 amp.) 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 15, WORLD OF RADIO 1131, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Eduardo de Moura (from Canção Nova radio station) informed me about the special program for DXers, called Além Fronteiras ("Beyond Boundaries" in English), where incoming reception reports are featured. It's on the air Saturdays at 2130-2300, on 1020, 6105, 4825, and 9675 kHz. The latter frequency does propagate here, but is subject to QRM by CNR1, China (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal May 14 via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. /JAPAN and CHINA. 9680 kHz, 9 May, 1445, two co- channeled Chinese-speakers found there. One of them was louder, in a couple of minutes it announced the website http://www.cnradio.com.cn; so obviously, it was one of CNR domestic programs. The second one must be RCI Chinese, relayed via Yamata, Japan. Is it a mere coincidence, or do the Chinese jam broadcasts from Canada, too? (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** CANADA. from http://www.cnw.ca/releases/May2002/13/c4849.html RADIO-CANADA - AUDIENCES OF TWO SERVICES HIT HARD BY LOCK-OUT MONTREAL, May 13 /CNW/ - First Nation audiences in Canada's North, and the millions of listeners of Radio Canada International have been among the hardest hit of the lock-out at Radio-Canada. News and public affairs programming in both services has almost totally been eliminated since the lockout started March 23rd. In the case of the CBC's Northern Service, which has a 100% listenership in the North, it's Goose Break, a time when Cree hunters and their families in the bush depend on survival information from the Northern Service. At Radio Canada International, the millions of listeners of the five foreign language broadcasts (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian) are getting no news programming at all. All their programs have been replaced by language lessons. English and French programming which normally explains the context of news stories from Canada, has been replaced by CBC/Radio-Canada programming, which is usually unsuitable for non-Canadian audiences. Journalists can meet members of both services Tuesday morning, 14 May, at 11:30 AM at the lock-out headquarters, Saint Pierre-Apôtre Church (facing la Maison de Radio-Canada). There will also be a sale of ethnic and First Nation food, with proceeds going to the union's Domestic Support Committee. As well, employees of both services will be participating in a radio recording for Radio Freedom, the Internet radio voice of the locked out employees, at noon at the "Camion Libre". For further information: Wojtek Gwiazda, Radio Canada International, cell.: (514) 594-9002; Alexandra McHugh, Northern Service, (514) 522- 6579; Source: Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (via Rickey Leong, QB, DXLD) ** CANADA. The union is voting today (Wed. 15 May) on the CBC's "final" offer. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QE, WORLD OF RADIO 1131) BREAKING NEWS from globeandmail.com, Monday, May 13, 2002 CBC UNDER FIRE TO SETTLE STRIKE AT QUEBEC NETWORKS RHEAL SEGUIN The Globe and Mail, Monday, May 13, 2002 QUEBEC - Pressure is mounting on the French network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to settle a labour dispute that has left Quebeckers without their publicly funded regular programming. The 1,425 journalists, anchors, commentators and support staff have been locked out since March 23, seriously affecting the diversity of news coverage in Quebec. Extensive negotiations that began last Tuesday could result in a settlement late tonight. If the two parties fail to reach an agreement, management is expected to table a final offer that the union says it will put to a vote in the days to come. The lockout also affects Société Radio-Canada's radio and television services in Moncton as well as Radio Canada International and part of CBC's northern services. At least a dozen Cree communities in Quebec and Ontario have been without regional news information services. The dispute revolves around a number of contentious issues. The CBC's Quebec employees are paid less than those in the rest of Canada, and the wage gap between male and female employees has reached alarming proportions, according to women activists in Quebec. A recent union study concluded that women journalists earn an average of $2,818 a year less than their male counterparts and a female host $14,728 a year less than a male host. The discrepancy over job security between Quebec employees and those in the rest of Canada has also evolved into a major issue. For instance, half of the employees in Quebec are hired on temporary contracts, compared to only 27 per cent in Ontario. Union members, the vast majority of whom are francophones, say part of the reason for the gap between Quebec employees and those in the rest of Canada is that the CBC board of directors does not understand what happens in the Quebec operation because it has too few members from the province. The 12-member board, appointed by the federal government, includes five representatives from Ontario and only two from Quebec, of whom only one, Marie Giguère of Molson Inc., is francophone. The other Quebec member is prominent Montreal lawyer Roy Heenan. There is no aboriginal representative. Société Radio-Canada spokesman Marc Sevigny rejects the claim that the makeup of the board of directors has anything to do with the dispute. "This is not a major element, because Radio-Canada has a great degree of management autonomy," Mr. Sevigny said (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) RADIO-CANADA UPS OFFER TO UNION --- May 15, 2002 TORONTO -- Radio-Canada, Canada's French-language public broadcaster, sweetened its final offer Tuesday to about 1,400 unionized employees in a bid to end a labor dispute that began March 23. A day after putting on the bargaining table a CAN$9 million ($5.7 million) deal to settle with locked-out employees belonging to the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), pubcaster management bumped up its annual pay raise from 9% to 10%. The pay offer for the first 12 months of the new collective agreement will include a CAN$1,000 ($640) signing bonus. © 2002 VNU eMedia, Inc ============== http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/international/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1491275 (via Dave White, DXLD) Actually, there was a recount of the votes after this piece was posted. The final totals were 502 No, 499 Yes, 9 spoiled ballots. 73- Bill Westenhaver From globeandmail.com, Thursday, May 16, 2002 RADIO-CANADA WORKERS REJECT OFFER BY 2 VOTES Laval, Que. -- Locked-out Radio-Canada employees rejected the public broadcaster's latest contract offer yesterday by the narrowest of margins, prolonging an eight-week work stoppage. Unionized staff struck down the deal by two votes, 502 to 500. Executives with the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada had recommended that the 1,400 employees in Quebec and Moncton, N.B., accept the offer, which attempted to resolve the contentious issues of salaries and temporary workers. Officials with Radio-Canada were not immediately available for comment. The corporation's latest offer included a pay increase of nearly 8 per cent a year to journalists, hosts and researchers, who have been locked out since March 22. Radio-Canada said it was also willing to create 152 permanent positions, including 132 for contract workers. CP (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) RADIO-CANADA EMPLOYEES WANT MORE TALKS AFTER REJECTING LATEST CONTRACT OFFER --- Canadian Press LAVAL, Que. (CP) - Radio-Canada employees in the eighth week of a lockout asked their union Thursday to resume talks with the corporation, after rejecting the public broadcaster's latest contract offer by the narrowest of margins. Unionized staff struck down the deal late Wednesday by two votes - 502 to 500. A recount early Thursday yielded a similar result - the deal was rejected by a mere three votes. Employees then told union negotiators to begin another round of talks over the issue of contract workers, whose tenuous status within the corporation has been a sticking point in the negotiations. "Our members have asked the negotiating committee and Radio-Canada to meet again for (up to) three days," said Michel Couturier, a spokesman for the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada. Union executives had recommended that the 1,400 employees in Quebec and Moncton, N.B. accept the last offer which aimed to resolve the contentious issues of salaries and temporary workers. But Ubald Bernard, spokesman for the union negotiating team, said Wednesday that the deal would not have brought salaries in line with those at the CBC's English service. "There's no pay equity with the (CBC)," said Bernard. "There is equity at certain levels but the disparities are obvious, in many cases." Officials with Radio-Canada did not immediately return phone calls Thursday. The corporation's latest offer included a pay increase of nearly eight per cent a year to journalists, hosts and researchers, who have been locked out since March 22. The corporation also pledged to create 152 permanent positions, including 132 for contract workers. Union executives had initially decided not to recommend that its members accept the deal, but they reversed their position on the eve of the vote Wednesday. The status of non-permanent workers at the CBC's French network in Quebec and Moncton, N.B., is one of the main issues that led to the lockout, which followed a one-day strike. Since the lockout began, programming at Radio-Canada has been reduced mainly to reruns, NHL hockey without commentary and scaled-back news shows. Programming on RDI, Radio-Canada's all-news channel, has consisted largely of newscasts cobbled together by staff outside Quebec. Copyright © 2002 National Post Online =============== http://www.nationalpost.com/artslife/story.html?f=/news/updates/stories/20020516/entertainment-555026.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ON-AIR INEQUALITY AT RADIO-CANADA JANET BAGNALL, Montreal Gazette, Thursday, May 16, 2002 I, for one, have my heart set on a fair and equitable settlement between the CBC and its locked-out unions in Quebec and Moncton, N.B. I want the 26 female hosts who have an equal amount of seniority as their 37 male counterparts to come out of the bargaining process earning $14,728 more than they do now. Which is to say I want them to be paid the same amount of money as the 37 men. For years, the excuse for inequitable salary scales has been that women (in general, no matter what they did, but particularly in television) had less: (1) experience, (2) education and (3) drawing power. A Radio-Canada union study, however, found that female employees were not paid less than men for reasons of less experience or education. The study found that 34 female interviewers earned on average $4,342 less than their 37 male counterparts possibly because, according to the public broadcaster's management, more men carried out permanent, high-visibility functions on air. The standard argument for more men in on-air positions is that they have greater drawing power. Drawing power, unlike experience and education, belongs to the realm of the irrational. Nonetheless, drawing power, despite basically being in the eye of the beholder, is what allows Radio-Canada to pay its male news readers more. If more people watch the flagship newscast, the Téléjournal at 10 p.m., than the Saturday morning newscast on RDI, the all-news channel, Radio-Canada management can say it is because Stéphan Bureau is a bigger star than the woman who reads the news to the few people who are up at 9 a.m. Saturday watching Channel 19. Never mind that more people will watch the main newscast anyway because it is the show that wraps up and analyzes the day's events and that by Saturday morning it's unlikely that too much will have changed, so of course fewer people will watch it. But because more people watch Bureau, that becomes proof that Bureau has the magic. OK, let's look at Bureau, Radio-Canada's counterpart to Peter Mansbridge, main news anchor for the CBC. Both men were chosen to replace older men at points in their respective shows when viewership was falling. Mansbridge replaced Knowlton Nash eons ago. Bureau replaced Bernard Dérôme in 1998, when Dérôme was 54 and Bureau was 33. The only variables apparently considered were age and possibly some sort of viewer-friendly charm, though frankly, Dérôme is the only one of the four with any obvious personal warmth. Skill might have come into the selection, but in that case, I, as a woman, would like to know why no woman seemed to have been in the running. For there to have been no discussion of a woman anchor for the main newscast was a little too close to suggesting that all Radio-Canada's women employees failed the skills test. When Radio-Canada named Bureau, who had worked as its New York correspondent for exactly one year and who said he didn't want a desk job, it passed over three women with the track records to qualify for the job. Céline Gallipeau in 1998 had just finished a stellar turn as Radio-Canada's correspondent in Moscow. (More recently, she has been the CBC correspondent, in both French and English, reporting out of Pakistan.) Marie-Claude Lavallée was host of Montréal Ce Soir before moving over to the weekend position at RDI where she topped TVA's 6 p.m. ratings, a real feat. Geneviève Asselin, as anchor of RDI's 5 p.m. show, was considered one of television's top newscasters. This is not to suggest that Bureau had nothing to bring to the job of replacing Dérôme. He did. He first came to public attention in a big way with his exclusive, pretaped interview with then premier Jacques Parizeau the day of the 1995 referendum, when Parizeau thought he would win. Still, Bureau was up against a star foreign correspondent and two top-notch news anchors. I don't see Bureau having an overwhelming advantage in terms of skills. What I see in the thousands of dollars in wage gaps is another piece in the prevailing pattern where women are somehow deemed to not have "it" but where, in fact, the only "it" that women don't have is respect. In 1998, Media Watch surveyed Canadian newspapers, finding that women made up barely 25 per cent of the total number of reporters and only 20 per cent of all newsmakers. (Most studies show that newspapers tend to be worse in terms of gender equality than television.) An earlier, international study of 71 countries, which included newspapers, radio and television, found that women comprised 43 per cent of journalists and only 17 per cent of interviewees or newsmakers. I think once CBC has settled with its workers in Quebec and Moncton, having achieved parity among its journalists, it and the rest of the media should concentrate on achieving greater balance among those it interviews. That would be fair. - Janet Bagnall is a Gazette editorial writer. © Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. Canada authorizes special amateur prefixes: All Canadian Radio Amateurs have been authorized to use special prefixes to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. From May 18 through July 18 2002, the following special prefixes are authorized on a voluntary basis: XM1 for VE1; XM4 for VE4; XM8 for VE8; XL1 for VA1; XM5 for VE5; XM9 for VE9; XM2 for VE2; XL5 for VA5; XN1 for VO1; XL2 for VA2; XM6 for VE6; XN2 for VO2; XM3 for VE3; XL6 for VA6; XO0 for VY0; XL3 for VA3; XM7 for VE7; XO0 for VY1; XL4 for VA4; XL7 for VA7; and XO2 for VY2.-- Industry Canada (ARRL Letter May 15 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi, 9550, 0304-0334 May 13. Heard with high-life dance music in vernaculars by groups, James Brown's "I feel so Nice' in English. Heard with only one ID at 0327 as 'Ici Okapi' in a jingle form. Numerous selections of high-life dance music followed, with one rap tune in English (0332). Signal was quite readable dispite the strong presence of Cuba. Reception was best on the 5 MHz sloper beamed 60 degrees to Africa (from my location) during sunset enhancement. Signal peaked at 0313 (Ed Kusalík, Coaldale, AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CONGO D.R.? 7435 unID, 15 May at 1720 onwards. French and local languages. Lot of talk about Congo, also Burundi often mentioned. Some songs also are mentioning frequently Congo. Some days close before 1900, sometimes continue longer. Splatters from 7440. Both sidebands and carrier. No ID heard so far [cf report of Lubumbashi, but frequency may vary] (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI's Station Manager, James Latham is featured in a segment of this week's "Making Contact," a program of the National Radio Project. The program, entitled "The Right-Wing Stuff: Movement Conservatives in the U.S." explores some of the components of the Far Right and examines the Religious Right and its ties to the Bush Administration. Making Contact airs on RFPI this Thursday at 1700 UTC and Saturday at 1900 with repeats on the daily broadcast every 6 hours. Frequencies: 15039 (19 meters) 21815 (13 meters, USB) 7445 (40 meters, USB) and streaming live on the internet in MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org For more information, contact us via e-mail: info@rfpi.org (Rfpi-announce mailing list via DXLD) [non] Additional stations webcasting Making Contact, schedule: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=1028 (PublicRadioFan.com via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 981, Radio Ciel 981 AM is on again on 981 kHz until Oct 31st 2002. They call themselves "La Radio Judéo-soft". Tel nr: Nº Azur: 0810 000 981. http://www.cielradio.com (via a French friend of Björn Fransson, Arctic MV-Eko Info Desk May via DXLD) Softly Jewish??? Quite a niche (gh, DXLD) ** GEORGIA/RUSSIA. 9490v: I just received a nice verification letter in Russian for my follow-up report from Sochinskaya GTRK by e-mail. Mr. V.K. Glazunov, the company vice chairman says: "We are very pleased that our programs can be heard by such far-away listeners. We confirm that such a program of R Sochi went on the air at the given time. Our transmissions go on the air on 71,93 MHz, but you received a relayed txion of our progrme through the Abkhazian Republic Radio, which is situated in the town of Sukhum (Zvanba street 8), the capital of the autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, which belongs to the Republic of Georgia. For us it is a foreign state, and there isn't any official agreement about co-operation with our Abkhazian colleagues. So we can't officially confirm operation of our radio on the freq of 9490 kHz." (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX May 15 via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.35, R Guyana 0921-0931 May 12, classical music program, with M at low levels in English. Into subcontinental music format at 0931 (instrumental). Announcer voice modulation poor, but music levels surprisingly good (Don Nelson, OR, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAN? 11230, IRIB/VOIRI, May 13 2056 with talks in Persian, theme on Israeli troops and Palestinians. ID at 2102. Best reception under FM mode! Underground audio with Arabic programming. Signal: S9+30 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sounds like a transmitted mixing product between two IRIB 11 or 12 MHz frequencies; who can figure out? (gh, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. PAKISTAN, 4790, Radio Azad Kashmir, 4 May, *23.40-, 45343 (until 2348), in Urdu and Kashmiri, Anthem "Aza-Azadi", ID in Urdu "Azad Kashmir Radio", some more talk, and then "Radio Pakistan". After a few seconds' pause, they continued in Kashmiri, then starting Quran reading. At 2348 India started to warm up its tx on 4790, leaving Azad Kashmir downunder (Alexander Mak, Lutsk, Ukraine, Signal May 14 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. V of Korea according to station announcement and observed since May 10th: 1300-2200 13760, 15245 (ex 7505, 11335) 1800-2148 (? 9305 ?) (ex 6520) 1800-2048 (? 9640) (ex 9660) 1600-1748 ? (ex 11710) Changes in English: 0100 13760 15180 (ex 6520, 7580) 0200 11845 15230 or 15240 (ex 9325, 11335) 1000 13660 (ex 9850) 1300; 1500; 1900; 2100 13760, 15245 (ex 7505, 11335) Observed May 11th: 0800 Ru, 0900 Ko on 15245 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, May 14, BC-DX via DXLD) Re the North Korean frequency details via Rumen Pankov-BUL - here is the current schedule printed on the NDXC site. 0000 Kp 3560 6195 7140 9345 Chinese 4405 11845 15230 Spanish 11735 13760 15180 0100 English (until 0200) 3560 6195 7140 11735 13760 15180 French (until 0200) 4405 11845 15230 0700 Japanese (until 1300) 621 3250 6070(from 0900) 7580 9650 Russian 3560 9325 9975 11735 15245 Kp 4405 7140 9345 0800 Chinese 4405 7140 9345 Russian 3560 9325 9975 11735 15245 0900 Kp 3560 9325 9975 11735 15245 Kc 4405 7140 9345 1000 English 3560 9335 11710 11735 13650 Kp 4405 7140 9345 1100 French 3560 9335 11710 11735 13650 Chinese 4405 7140 9345 1200 Kc 3560 9335 11710 11735 13650 Kp 4405 7140 9345 1300 Chinese 3560 11735 13650 English 4405 9335 11710 13760 15245 Kp 6575 9325 1400 French 4405 9335 11710 13760 15245 Kc 3560 11735 13650 Russian 6575 9325 1500 Arabic 3560 9975 11735 English 4405 9335 11710 13760 15245 Russian 6575 9325 1600 English 3560 9975 11735 French 4405 9335 11710 13760 15245 German 6575 9325 1700 Kc 4405 9335 11710 13760 15245 Russian 6575 9325 Spanish 3560 9975 11735 1800 French 3560 9640 9975 11735 German 6575 9325 Spanish 4405 11710 13760 15245 1900 Arabic 3560 9640 9975 11735 English 4405 11710 13760 15245 German 6575 9325 2000 French 4405 11710 13760 15245 Kc 3560 6575 9325 9640 9975 11735 2100 Japanese (until 2400) 621 3250 7580 9650 Chinese 3560 7140 9345 9975 11735 English 4405 13760 15245 2200 Chinese 3560 7140 9345 9975 11735 Spanish 4405 13760 15245 2300 Kc 3560 4405 7140 9345 9975 11735 13760 15245 Kc = Korean-Korean Central BS; Kp = Korean-Pyongyang BS Transmissions seem about 57 mins in length, except Korean, which seem 50 mins. Verifying freqs is currently very difficult due to non-propagation and QRM. And audio quality makes it difficult to copy frequency annts with any certainty. I wonder if Rumen actually means 13650 - and not 13660, where BBC Arabic & CVI in Indonesian from 1300 is heard here - ex 9850, which was directed at SE Asia (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX May 15 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Hi Glenn, I notice you refer to Han Hee-Joo of Radio Korea as Han. When we addressed her as such at the ANARC Convention some years ago, she politely pointed out that Han is her surname, and she preferred to be addressed as Hee-Joo. 73, (Andy Sennitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {more in next issue} ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010: Further monitoring has revealed that the HS program in German on Kyrgyz R 1 (4010 kHz & MW/FM) at 1320-1330 is transmitted on a daily basis. The program is followed by a ca. 20 min long broadcast in tentatively Dungan. Dungan is a Sino-Tibetian lang, spoken by about 25.000 people in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz R has been bcing in Dungan since many years (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 10, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. NEW TV HEAD SUGGESTS RFE/RL COULD MOVE TO RIGA | Text of report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 13 May: The newly appointed Latvian Television (LTV) chief Uldis Grava, still the marketing development director at Radio Free Europe, based in Prague, has said that the radio could be moved to Riga and situated in the LTV main building. Uldis Grava said during a TV interview on Monday evening [13 May] that at the next Radio Free Europe meeting this weekend he will be offering the possibility of moving to Riga. Grava said that for around 50 years the radio was based in Munich, Germany, when it later moved to the former Czechoslovakian parliament building in Prague, but the current Czech government wants the building back and the radio is being kicked out of the building currently. "I think it would be great to fill another 28 editorials from Radio Free Europe within this building," said Grava on LTV yesterday. Grava, an American Latvian, is currently in Latvia to meet the staff of LTV and start forming his team after being approved as the chief of the national television station. The National Radio and Television Council plans to sign a contract with Grava on Thursday, while he will be taking up the post in mid-June, as he still is engaged with Radio Free Europe. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 1042 gmt 14 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5100, R Liberia, Totota. 15 May at 2110 EE news (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 3287.5, RTM Antananarivo. 14 May at 1745 also good on parallel 5010. Nowadays stays on very late (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 7130, MBS. 15 May at 1830. At times peaks up nicely with EE pops and MBS IDs. This time I heard myself them mentioning "84.4" in FF as Mahendra said earlier. This is strange, if they refer to FM frequency. Or do they use also "low-FM" there? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn. Re my previous Africa loggings mailing I am forwarding you two audio clips of MBS 7130 received from Mahendra Vaghjee (Mauritius). Maybe you will listen them and comment about that 84.4 they mention. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Jari, Tnx for the clips. In the first one I thought maybe they were saying `quatre-vingts-quinze` instead, 95, which would make more sense for an FM frequency, but the second one was clearer as 84.4. Hard to believe they would use such a frequency. Maybe they are confused or have a badly marked dial?! 89.4? I couldn`t make out much else. 73, (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Madagascar remains on the air in quite unusual hours - occasionally I hear it after 2300, or even after midnight. Traditional sources indicate sign-off at 1900. The word 'Madagascar' is repeated every now and then, so it's not Cameroon, definitely. On 9 May, heard the station after 1600, in vernacular. At re-check at 1713 there was news in French, with frequent mentions of the Republic of Madagascar (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal May 14 via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. RAVALOMANANA INFORMATION MINISTER PLEDGES TO HELP LIFT BLOCKADES | Excerpt from report by Malagasy television on 16 May [Ravalomanana-appointed] Eric Beantanana, the immediate former minister of culture and communications who has been appointed secretary of state for external trade, today handed over power to the new minister of communications, Mamy Rakotoarivelo. The new minister said his only criteria for success were performance and results... [Rakotoarivelo] The Ministry of Communications is bound to contribute to the solving of the problems being experienced by the country, the most important problem being how to lift the blockades [set up by Didier Ratsiraka supporters to starve Antananarivo Province of essential supplies]. The possible duty of the Ministry of Communications in the context of such an effort to lift the blockades is how to disseminate accurate information to the entire country. Even though this objective may be very difficult to achieve, each and everyone's contribution may enable to attain it quickly, which would facilitate the work of relevant officials in charge of removing the blockades... [Ratsiraka supporters are said to have tampered with state radio-TV relay equipment in some parts of the country, thus hindering Ravalomanana-controlled state radio-TV from broadcasting to entire country: "accurate information" may also mean countering alleged "hate" propaganda reportedly disseminated by a Ratsiraka radio-TV station said to be operating from eastern key sea port town of Toamasina] Source: Television Malagasy, Antananarivo, in Malagasy 1000 gmt 16 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) also see NETHERLANDS non below ** MONACO [non]. Re previous item: ``Monaco (France). 702 Trans World Radio is broadcasting for the night a musical program on the frequency of 702 kHz around 0000-0430 UT. However, at this time the frequency of 702 kHz is not from Col de la Madone, but from Roumoules [France]! It's the same frequency [sic - you mean site, or transmitter?] which is used in the evening on 1467 kHz. I don't know the purpose of this transmission (Christian Ghibaudo, April DSWCI SW News via DXLD)`` 1467: Since last week RMC Info no longer transmits on AM 1467 kHz (Nice region, transmitter Col de la Madonne). It is not known if this closure is permanent or temporary (via Steve Whitt, MWC e-mail news 17.4.2002 via Arctic MV-Eko Infodesk May via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Transmitter on 4865 kHz still does operate. By the way, it constantly drifts between 4863 and 4867 kHz. Mongolia is back again on 4850 kHz, also used by CNR2 and All India Radio. Noted their distorted signal on 7 May at 2340 - it's the time when CNR already signed off, while AIR didn't start yet (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) Apparently 4850 kHz is used by the 1st Mongolian domestic program, rather than Khekh Tenger. I noted it parallel to LW frequencies. At 1100-1200 it relays Mongolian Service of the Voice of Russia (MIDXB No. 266 - Fyodor Brazhnikov, Irkutsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. MADAGASCAR UPDATE 15 MAY 2002 from http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html In order to conserve dwindling oil supplies, the authorities in Madagascar have rationed the use of diesel oil daily between 1500 and 1800 UT. Therefore until further notice, our Dutch transmission to South, East and NE Africa at 1630-1725 UTC is on the air with reduced power. 6020 kHz has been moved to Meyerton, South Africa, with 100 kW. The parallel frequency of 11655 kHz is still from Madagascar, but using 50 kW instead of 200 kW (via Ricky Leong, and Andy Sennitt, WORLD OF RADIO 1131, DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Jakada Radio, 12125, 1854 May 15, switching tones before the program starts. At about 1900 (did not see the clock) YL talking, 'Good evening and welcome to Jakada radio International... 8- 830 Nigerian time on 12125 or .... on 25 mb" with background hilife song. Also 'interview with sportsmen and women from Africa.' Then news, and alternating pop and hilife songs. Numerous IDs heard throughout the program (up to annoying level). Program YL speakers were Helen Martin and Kihma Chakabuwka (?). Signal was nearly steady at S9+20 with maximum modulation points to S9+30 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KVOO-1170 is history; as of Wednesday morning May 15, apparently starting at local midnight, I hear instead 1170 KFAQ -- Tulsa's Talk Radio, and this is the program schedule at http://www.1170kfaq.com --- Monday - Friday [CDT = UT -5] 5:00A - 6:00A Oklahoma Today 6:00A - 9:00A Scott Allen Miller 9:00A - Noon Glenn Beck Noon - 2:00P Bill O'Reilly 2:00P - 3:00P Jim Cramer 3:00P - 6:00P Michael DelGiorno 6:00P - 7:00P Rusty Humphries 7:00P - 10:00P Michael Savage 10:00P - 1:00A Laura Ingraham 1:00A - 3:00A Roy Masters 3:00A - 5:00A Best of Beck Saturday 5:00A - 7:00A Green Country Outdoors 7:00A - 9:00A Swingin' Country [talk about, and some MUSIC!!] 9:00A - 11:00A On The Garden Line 11:00A - 11:30A Week In Review 11:30A - Noon America This Week [Jim Bohannon] Noon - 3:00P Mitch Albom 3:00P - 6:00P Moneytalk w/Bob Brinker 6:00P - 9:00P Laura Ingraham 9:00P - Midnight Moneytalk w/Bob Brinker Midnight - 2:00A America On Watch 2:00A - 5:00A Jeff Rense Sunday 5:00A - 6:00A Rusty Humphries 6:00A - 11:00A Gospel Show [could this involve – yecch, MUSIC??] 11:00A - Noon First Baptist Church Noon - 3:00P Mark Davis 3:00P - 6:00P Moneytalk w/Bob Brinker 6:00P - 8:00P Laura Ingraham 8:00P - 10:00P Horsin' Around Show 10:00P - Midnight Swingin' Country Midnight - 5:00A Jeff Rense 2. How do I contact my favorite host? Go to the Programming schedule and click the link to your favorite host's webpage. You should find an e-mail address on the page. 3. What if I want to mail a letter? Just send it to KFAQ, 4590 East 29th Street, Tulsa Oklahoma 74114. 4. When can I hear the news? KFAQ has news on the hour every hour, plus on the half hour as well from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Plus, we break in whenever a major story is breaking. 5. When can I hear traffic reports? We have "Traffic and Weather Channel Weather on the 8's!" Listen for reports at :08, :18, :28, :38, :48 and :58 past each hour weekday mornings and afternoons. 6. When can I hear the weather? As we mentioned earlier, we have "Traffic and Weather on the 8's" mornings and afternoons. At other times, you'll hear the weather after the news and we'll break in whenever the weather turns severe. In addition to listening, you can also call the KFAQ Weatherline at 743- 3311. 7. If you have any other questions contact us at info@KFAQ.com Yeah, I have a question; why isn`t there any live streaming on your website? This close, however, 1170 is audible day and night, Tamaulipans permitting. It was also time to dust off my AM stereo tuner, and hook it up, for KVOO-1170 used to be in CQUAM. So few groundwave stereo stations are left around here, that I first tuned around to see if I got a stereo pilot light anywhere else --- only at KFTI 1070 Wichita, which still does music, imagine that. Yes, KFAQ lights up, tho with one guy talking, or rather pontificating, there is no separation to hear (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST, WORLD OF RADIO 1131) ** OKLAHOMA. Another progress(?) report on Enid`s only local on-air TV station, KXOK-32 (cable 18): Would you believe, months later, the program schedule in the weekly TV supplement to the Enid News & Eagle, is STILL in EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME??? And STILL imaginary? At least, GOOD MORNING ENID seems to have vanished; we rarely awaken in time for 7-7:30 am weekdays, but on May 15 it was gone, replaced by an infommercial. KXOK was not answering their phone at 9 a.m. Maybe no one needs to be there now early in the morning. We did spy their new studios in Oakwood Mall a few weeks ago, near the easternmost entrance across from JCP, and a few doors down from Radio Shack (which was about to move to the other end of the mall near the cinema for better traffic); it was after hours and the gate was down, but we could see signs of activity within. The M-F 6:30-7 pm news/weather has survived, but the 10-10:15 pm news also vanished some weeks ago. Meanwhile, in early May, the ch 45 relay in Enid of KSBI-52 OKC came back on air after an absence typically of several months, not of much use except as a DX target. Oops! It`s gone again at 1645 UT May 15. But that may have been caused by an outage at the primary which we could not detect with inside antenna (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: PRIVATE RADIO AND TV BROADCASTS | The following West Bank radio and TV stations have been monitored: In addition to the Voice of Palestine broadcasting from Ramallah, which is heard on 90.7 MHz FM, the private FM radio station, Amwaj, has been back on the air on 91.5 MHz. Amwaj and other FM stations went off the air in early April when Israeli forces occupied Ramallah. The following radios are also heard: 1. Marah radio, Hebron, on 100.6 MHz. 2. Bethlehem 2000, Bethlehem, on 89.6 MHz. The following TV stations have been observed: 1. Al-Mahd Television, Bethlehem, UHF channel 21. 2. Al-Nawras Television, Hebron, UHF channel 41. 3. Majd Television, Hebron, UHF channel 43. Palestine Satellite Channel TV and Palestine TV, broadcasting in parallel from Gaza, continue to be observed as usual. Other West Bank TV and FM stations remain unheard by BBC Monitoring. Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 May 02 (via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. NBC Port Moresby 4890 was audible 15 May at 1950. Very nice to hear them in May (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. RADIO VERITAS ASIA SHORTWAVE TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE 02 June to 27 October 2002 PROGRAM UTC KHZ POWER CIRAF ANTENNA/AZI Bengali 0030-0055 11995 250 41N HRS 15/300œ 1400-1425 9540 250 41N HRS 15/300œ Burmese 2330-2355 11805 250 49 HR 05/280œ 1130-1155 9615 250 49 HR 05/280œ Cantonese 2300-2325 11705 250 42-44 HR 08/331œ Filipino 2230-2255 15305 250 44-45 HRS 17/355œ Filipino 1500-1525 15305 250 38-39 HRS 14/300œ Filipino* 1525-1555 15305 250 38-39 HRS 14/300œ Hindi 0030-0055 11705 250 41N HRS 14/300œ 1330-1355 9580 250 41N HRS 15/300œ Hmong 1000-1025 9555 250 49 HR 09/280œ Indonesian 2300-2325 11820 250 54 HR 02/222œ 2300-2325 9505 250 54 HR 01/222œ 1200-1225 9505 250 54 HR 01/222œ Kachin 2330-2355 11705 250 49 HR 06/280œ 1230-1255 9615 250 49 HR 05/280œ Karen 0000-0025 11805 250 49 HR 05/280œ 1200-1225 9615 250 49 HR 05/280œ Mandarin 2100-2255 6190 250 43-44 HRS 11/350œ 1000-1155 9520 250 43-44 HRS 17/355œ Russian 0100-0155 17830 250 33-34 HRS 12/015œ 1430-1525 9575 250 31-32 HRS 12/330œ Sinhala 0000-0025 11820 250 41S HR 06/280œ 1330-1355 9520 250 41S HR 09/280œ Tamil 0030-0055 11940 250 41S HR 06/280œ 1400-1425 9520 250 41S HRS 14/270œ Telugu 0100-0125 15530 250 41S HR 06/280œ 1430-1455 9535 250 41S HR 09/280œ Urdu 0100-0125 15335 250 41N HRS 13/300œ 1530-1555 9670 250 41N HRS 15/300œ Vietnamese 2330-2355 9670 250 49 HR 10/280œ 0130-0225 15530 250 49 HR 06/280œ 1030-1125 11850 250 49 HR 10/280œ 1300-1325 7265 250 49 HR 10/280œ LEGEND: * = Mon, Tue, Thur, Sat broadcast extension (via Fyodor Brazhnikov, SWBC via DXLD) {update in next issue} ** QATAR. I have been searching around for Qatar BS, but hear nothing at all on the daytime 17 MHz freqs registered with the HFCC - i.e., 17880 0700-1300, 17795 1300-1700 and 17755 250 kW transmitter 0245- 2130. And band scans haven`t produced anything either. I don't know - yet - where the evening frequency is registered (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX May 15 via DXLD) I can't hear any of them, either. 7110 should be used between 1700- 2130, but even that is empty (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX May 15 via DXLD) I cannot hear anything on 9695 after c0600, but think this would have faded by then if operating. There was a carrier on 17880 today c0655 but it went off before 0700 and no stn appeared. So, unless there is a fault at the station, it could mean another one has gone off SW. I find the morning frequency is shown in the HFCC charts so, their schedule should be 500 kW 0245-0700 9695, 0700-1300 17880, 1300-1700 17795, 1700-2130 7110 250 kW 0245-2130 17755 (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) I can't hear any of them, either. 7110 should be used between 1700- 2130, but even that is empty (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX May 16 via DXLD) ** QATAR. AL-JAZEERA --- The popular Arab satellite news network al- Jazeera on May 14 dismissed scathing criticism from the Gulf state of Bahrain, which banned it for "serving Zionism". Dubbed the "Arab CNN" because of its Western-style coverage, Qatar-based al-Jazeera has earned the ire of governments in the conservative region who are unaccustomed to critical reporting. The Bahraini complaints followed the Gulf country's first municipal elections in 32 years on May 9 that were seen as a first step towards democratic reforms in the Gulf Arab state. Jazeera covered the election despite being refused access to Bahrain, said a senior Jazeera official in Doha who declined to be named. "We were doing our job," he said. Bahrain's Information Minister Nabeel al-Hamer blasted the channel this week, telling reporters that he refused to deal with this "Zionist infiltrator" in the region. Arab officials have often accused opponents of being loyal to Israel, which remains the arch-enemy of many countries in the region. The Jazeera official said his channel was unconcerned by the Bahraini comments. The station gained international renown after it carried exclusive videotaped statements by Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks on the United States (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan May 16 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7210: I have provisionally identified the Russian on 7210 as Radio(stantsiya) Alef. In the Feb 1995 issue of your own SWN World News section they are referred to as "a Russian Jewish station for the Moscow area and Russian immigrants in Israel". They were there again yesterday and at 1624 I heard a tentative ID; later they played Hava Naguila (and possibly other Jewish songs?) and some of the contents had a distinctly religious flavour. Moreover, the 190 degree beam would roughly take the signal to Israel. Can you confirm my ID from recent publications? I have not been able to trace any references to this station lately. I have seen no reference to RSt. Alef for a long time - I think it would have been reported by someone somewhere if it was still broadcast. However, I have seen reference to the broadcasts you mention - Olle - but have not seen details of transmission during A02. I also suspected it might be a transmission such as you report, but had no confirmation, and could not obtain a good enough signal myself. I'll try to remember to check 7210 on other days - maybe other broadcasts will be aired? (Noel R. Green, UK, Apr 25/26, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) Re: 7210 Rather well heard here 1640 to 1700 s-off. This is one of the "big buzz" transmitters at Tbilisskaya. I guess that this is the summer frequency of the regional services of the Adyg and Kabardino- Balkar republics, but no such ID heard. Seemed to be only Russian during the listening period, playing Russian troubadour ballads. The VOR chimes just before 1700 do not necessarily belong to this broadcast as there may be a program feed switch before the local transmitter feed cut-off (Olle Alm, Sweden, Apr 25, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) Yes, R Alef is alive and well; it is an established station for the Jewish community in Moscow. Has license no 1256 of 26.06.1996, issued to the Jewish childrens' organisation "Banim-Banot" with the address P. O. Box 72, 123154 Moscow. The Russian Jewish website http://www.ear-org.ru recommended me the email address fond441@online.ru for contacting R Alef, but I haven't got a reply so far. As far as I know, R Alef is still produced in the broadcasting house at ul. Pyatnitskaya 25 in 113326 Moscow, i.e. the same building like VOR. A switching error could easily feed this program to any SW transmitter site in Russia (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 7, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) What I heard - but could not ID, apart from the VOR interval signal - seemed to be an opening sequence which we would normally hear before a "Russian" transmission commenced - i.e., tones, IS then program. It seemed too precise and on the hour to be a test - but equally, the wrong program could have been put on air. I wasn`t aware that R Alef was still broadcast - it seems a long time since I last heard it via SW. However, the intriguing bit is why two consecutive (at least) Thursdays at 1600 but not on last Thursday. But, if some SW schedules are anything to go by, it is not unusual for broadcasters to expect their listeners to tune for fifteen minutes once per week to hear their own language! (Noel R. Green, UK, May 7, BC-DX May 16 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. "Voice of Russia" relay via SW transmitters of Russia, 31/03-31/08/2002 kHz UTC kW CRR-1 (Moscow) 7390 1800-2100 250 7440 1730-2100 250 9450 2300-0200 500 9775 1700-2100 250 9795 1500-1700 250 9860 2300-0200 500 9865 1600-2000 250 9890 1700-2100 250 9920 1200-1500 250 11630 1500-2100 250 11755 1100-1400 250 11920 1700-1800 250 11985 1400-1900 250 12000 1600-2100 250 12030 1500-2100 250 12040 1500-2000 250 12070 0100-0300 500 12070 1700-2100 250 15460 1200-1600 500 15540 1400-1800 250 17645 1200-1500 250 CRR-2 (S.Petersburg) 7310 1730-2000 400 7330 2300-0300 800 7400 1700-1900 400 9450 1500-1800 400 9450 2000-2100 400 9480 2300-0300 800 12005 1500-1600 400 12015 1400-1700 400 12055 1700-2100 200 12060 1500-1530 200 12060 1600-1900 200 15595 1730-1800 400 15595 1830-1900 400 17580 1500-1600 400 CRR-2 (Kaliningrad) 7300 1500-1900 160 7330 0900-1000 320 7330 1500-1900 160 11830 1400-1700 160 CRR-3 (Samara) 5950 1700-2100 250 9470 1900-2130 200 9480 1700-2100 200 12010 2300-0200 500 15560 1200-1600 250 TCR-4 (Krasnodar) 7305 1400-1900 100 7325 1400-1700 100 9725 0100-0300 500 9830 0000-0200 500 11675 1700-2100 500 12015 1200-1400 500 12035 1600-1800 500 12060 2300-0300 500 15455 0900-1000 250 15455 1500-2100 250 17570 1200-1600 500 17610 1200-1400 500 CRR-8 (Khabarovsk) 7490 1000-1100 080 7490 1200-1300 080 9480 1000-1400 100 12000 0100-0500 100 12000 1000-1400 100 13720 1200-1300 100 17685 0500-0900 100 17795 0500-0900 100 CRR-8 (Komsomolsk-na-Amure) 7330 1000-1400 250 17565 0100-0500 250 17635 0500-0900 250 CRR-10 (Irkutsk) 5905 1000-1400 100 7315 1400-1800 250 9800 1200-1400 100 11685 1000-1300 250 15490 0600-0800 500 21790 0500-0700 250 CRR-11 (Novosibirsk) 7350 1500-1700 200 9820 1400-2000 500 9865 1500-1600 500 9875 1400-1800 500 11640 1200-1400 200 11720 1500-1700 200 15185 1000-1100 500 15470 1000-1400 200 15550 1200-1300 500 15605 1000-1400 200 17675 0700-0900 500 TCR-12 (Chita) 9745 1200-1900 500 11870 1530-1900 500 12055 1200-1300 500 12055 1400-1500 500 Ekaterinburg R Centre 7370 1300-2100 200 11745 1700-2000 200 12020 1700-2000 200 15315 1200-1300 200 15350 1600-2000 200 17685 1500-2000 200 Vladivostok R Centre 5940 1000-1300 100 7315 1000-1400 100 7390 1200-1400 250 7390 1400-1600 500 7400 1000-1300 250 17660 0100-0500 500 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy R Centre 7340 1200-1400 100 12055 1000-1100 100 13640 1000-1100 100 17595 0100-0300 250 17620 0100-0300 100 17650 0200-0500 250 17690 0100-0500 100 "Voice of Russia" relay via SW transmitters abroad Russia 31/03- 31/08/2002 kHz UTC kW Armenia 9965 2300-0200 500 11510 1600-1900 500 15735 1900-2100 500 Moldova 9665 0000-0500 500 11750 0000-0500 500 Tajikistan 4940 1200-1400 100 4940 1500-1600 100 4965 1200-1400 100 4965 1500-1600 100 4975 1200-1400 100 4975 1500-1600 100 9360 1400-1900 200 9945 0100-0200 500 11500 1200-1500 500 11510 2300-0200 500 17495 0700-0900 500 17525 0700-0900 500 Ukraine 11720 0100-0300 500 China 11500 1500-1600 120 Vatican City State 9450 2100-2130 250 11825 0100-0200 250 (Nikolai Rudnev, Russia, RUS-DX, May 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, R UNAMSIL, Freetown. 15 May at 2210. Decent carrier but very low audio. Had EE phone-ins with some music bridges. Couple of times mentioned the station name when taking a new call. Did not get the audio on LSB due to QRM. Maybe they use only USB+carrier (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [6137.85 R. UNAMSIL]: The phone callers are quite understandable; the announcer sounds like he's at the bottom of a well. Very interesting, and the best I've heard them. The language is definitely English; the problem is that the audio from the studio mic is horribly muffled and difficult to understand. The good thing is that the announcer IDs at the beginning of almost every phone call (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DXplorer May 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. Hi Glen[n]: When I went out to the Sierras in California the last week of April, I brought my Radio Shack portable along with me and decided one morning to see if I could hear anything on the Afghanistan/US Military station on 8700. To my surprise, I was listening to Radio Singapore International rather strong and clear with pop music, announcements and features. I haven't read much about this in your columns. Was this a relay or something or is Radio Singapore been broadcasting on this for awhile (Tom Sliva, NYC, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 8700 is still being reported mostly with music, assuming it is PsyOps, but definite IDs lacking. VERY interesting! No one has IDed it as Singapore before (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3280, R Veritas via Meyerton. 14 May at 1733 in English with ID. Scheduled 1600-1900 on this frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, SNBC Omdurman. 14 May at 1858 with AA news. Ending news with "...idhaa tul gumhuriya as Sudan...". Mentioned Omdurman, some music and off at 1902 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN --- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "HeartBeat" X-Rays at the Medical History Museum Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Our cultural magazine "Spectrum" Sunday: "Sounds Nordic" repeat with Caesars Palace and the kids' consumer program REA (SCDX/MediaScan May 16 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. LISTENERS, DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL Familiar to most radio dials in Taiwan, ICRT has entertained local and foreign listeners for decades with its mix of international hits and English-speaking DJs. But in recent years listeners have complained about the station's shift to DJs speaking mostly in Chinese and tendency to play too much POP and allow too much talk. Now the management is revamping its playlist, imposing strict limits on DJ banter and returning to an all-English format in an attempt to take the station back to its glory days, when it was the hippest station in the country. Staff reporter Patrick Kearns spoke with Doc Casey, ICRT's general manager to learn more about the station's overhaul... http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/05/13/story/0000135898 (via Dave White, May 15, DXLD) ** TIMOR EAST. RADIO BROADCASTING IN EAST TIMOR by David Foster, WRTH Section Editor for East Timor and Indonesia, January 2002 On 30 August 1999 East Timorese voted decisively for independence in a referendum. What happened next represented one of the greatest acts of vengeance seen in modern times. Thankfully the UN was able to step in and halt the mayhem. While radio-based considerations seem relatively trivial compared to the widespread destruction in East Timor, radio's reconstruction bears many similarities to what is happening in East Timor society. Radio remains the most cost effective media in the country, given the comparatively high cost of printing in East Timor and low levels of adult literacy. The new nation's mountainous terrain makes the establishment of a nationwide radio system technically complex and costly, involving satellite links and terrestrial transmitters in each district. But it's been done and more is planned. East Timor now has its own section in the pages of WRTH 2002. Plenty of broadcasting developments have occurred since the departure of the Indonesians in September 1999. What follows is information, gathered between June and August 2001 via internet web sites and e-mail, which supplements the usual times, frequencies, contacts and so on that appear in the WRTH. If you haven't bought your WRTH yet, now is the time. Radio UNTAET Radio UNTAET took over the role of RRI Díli which closed on 23 September 1999. It started from scratch in November 1999 after UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor) was set up on 25 October 1999 by UN resolution. The Timorese staff had never worked in radio or as journalists and had instead been vets, teachers, lecturers or university students. They had to learn on the job because the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day almost immediately. They started with only 95 songs in Tetum, which quickly became the country's Top 95. There are about 35 journalists/technical staff working at Radio UNTAET, about 25 of whom are East Timorese. Some 35 district reporters based in the regions are also being trained. They report regularly to the national Díli office. UN officials exercise a certain amount of editorial control over the content of Radio UNTAET, based on UN needs and goals. There is a feeling among some East Timorese media people that Radio UNTAET does not report fully on news in East Timor. The station is tentatively set to be renamed the Timor Lorosa'e Broadcasting Corporation when full independence is attained in 2002. Timor Lorosa'e means Timor of the Rising Sun. Radio Timor Kmanek This station was originally established in 1995 and survived under the Indonesians by restricting its programs to religious and educational topics and adopting a neutral stance on issues. Radio Timor Kmanek recommenced on 8 November 1999. The equipment had amazingly been left intact by the militias and Indonesians but for a brief period until this date there was no power nor staff. Radio Timor Kmanek received a scare in March 2000 when four men on motor cycles threw large rocks through the front doors and windows, smashing them. A note was left threatening to destroy the station and kill staff if the Catholic Church continued to promote alleged pro- independence and pro-Portuguese attitudes. The staff believe it had something to do with a live on-air debate aired earlier that day about East Timor's new flag. Since the attack the station has been protected by a small army of volunteers who stand guard day and night armed with bows and arrows. It has the widest AM coverage (1404 kHz) across the largely mountainous countryside, as evidenced by Chris Martin's reception of it in May 2001 from Darwin (better strength by far than 5 kW Radio UNTAET on 684 kHz). Radio Timor Kmanek enjoys the assistance of an Australian volunteer journalist, Paula Doran. A Voz de Esperança (formerly Radio Falintil) A Voz de Esperança legally commenced operations on 18 October 1999 under the name Radio Falintil. It is now commercial, taking advertisements for restaurants, tea, coffee, CD's, batteries and non- government organisations (NGO's) as well as charging fees to play song requests. Although running very low power the station had access to three transmitters (2 x 20 W and 1 x 10 W) in 2000. It has received donations of equipment and support from foreign supporters including union-affiliated APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad) and the Department of Communication and Media Arts at the University of Newcastle, NSW. It is presently and rather disturbingly located in the former HQ of the Special Forces Unit (KOPASSUS) of the Indonesian Army, used for interrogation and torture. Unsurprisingly it hopes to move into a new office. The station has aspirations to establish a national network but has been outdistanced by Radio UNTAET. A Voz de Esperança is the reincarnation of Radio Falintil, the voice of Fretilin during the armed struggle. UNTAET told the station managers to change the name to something non-partisan if it wanted a permanent licence. The station reluctantly agreed to change its name to A Voz de Esperança. Now it is committed to moving away from its roots and to providing balanced, impartial news coverage, at the same time keeping former fighters in touch with Falintil's plans for transition to peace. When it first went on air in 1997 as a clandestine operation, Radio Falintil broadcast pro-independence music and propaganda for the National Liberation Armed Forces of East Timor (Falintil) which was fighting for East Timor's independence from Indonesia. It broadcast on the FM band with the use of a car battery from a secret station in the village of Remixio, south east of Díli. It reached listeners only within a 15 km radius. To avoid detection the transmitter was moved around, broadcasting from Viqueque one week, Baucau the next. Nowadays the station has a staff of fourteen, all volunteers. Studio technician Jo Gusmão is a nephew of the famed Xanana and station manager Nilton Gusmão must likewise be related. Most of its programs are in Tetum. A Voz de Esperança may already have got into sports sponsorship. In July 2001 Zebra Baucau and Kakusan soccer teams fought out a goalless draw in the final of the first ever Copa Voz de Esperança. Radio Rakambia This one is a student-run Díli community radio station which timed its debut to coincide with the inaugural congress of the Timor Lorosa'e Journalists Association on 10 January 2001. It is planning to relocate as the existing studio is very small with limited ventilation plus it intends to expand community involvement and operate independently from the university. Existing equipment was from a mobile broadcasting unit provided by APHEDA but it was planned that the transmitter would also be used by Radio Lorico Lian prior to and following the August 2001 Constituent Assembly elections. Radio Rakambia has compiled a detailed and impressive set of operational procedures and future aspirations. On the other hand, it has admitted to a number of problems such as weak signal strength and signal black spots, lack of program variety (mostly music), no funding, no transport to cover news stories or for female staff at night, constant power outages and surges, a burnt out generator, lack of a recording studio and other equipment, and more. Rakambia is a combination of the Tetum words Ramelau, Kablaki, Matebian. The station even has a motto: Haktiur lia los haburas rai tasi Timor Lorosa'e. If you know Tetum you'll know what they all mean. Radio Lorico Lian The station was founded in April 2001 but was only scheduled to go on air just prior to the August 2001 elections. Lorico Lian means Voice of the Lorikeet, or in slang, Voice of Youth. Radio Comunidade Los [sic] Palos This community radio station was established by UNESCO in May 2000. The transmitter was upgraded from the initial 20 W unit to a 300 W one. UNESCO feels that the station is their most solid and sustainable operation. Radio Comunidade Los Palos had a real Australian connection because one of its volunteers for six months in 2001 was Juliet Fox from 3CR Melbourne where she was Current Affairs Coordinator. 3CR's connection with the struggle of the East Timorese people for independence inspired Juliet to apply for the position of Community Radio Facilitator at RCLP through Australian Volunteers International. She is a passionate believer in the philosophy of community radio providing a voice for those otherwise denied media access. Juliet reported that there's a lot of support and interest in Los Palos for the station which provides a crucial service to the surrounding population in terms of local news and information. For a largely illiterate population it's incredibly important to have access to information in local language that's accessible - and radio is just that, she said. Juliet added that being a volunteer in a country where you're also not getting social security or some means of income is nearly impossible. It changes the dynamics of a community run volunteer station because if people are working most of the day at the station, how will they eat or live? Currently there are seven active volunteer staff and about the same number on the management committee - a dedicated and committed bunch, according to Juliet. Radio Comunidade Maliana RCM commenced on 26 April 2000 and was also established under the auspices of UNESCO. Equipment and operational funds and support have come from organisations such as USAID (US Agency for International Development) and UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees). The signal reaches as far as Atambua in West Timor and the nearby border refugee camps. Convincing refugees that it was safe to return to East Timor was one of the station's main objectives. As with Radio Comunidade Los Palos, RCM is very much a volunteer operation. A UNESCO representative pointed out that the meaning of community radio is media for and by community members, not professionals. It's very much a shoestring operation with neither typewriters nor computers in sight at the small studio up in the hills. Manager, journalist and part time teacher is João Correia, one of whose tasks is to draw up accountability reports and proposals in order to satisfy the donors that RCM should stay on air. Other UNESCO Stations Stations at Suai and Oecussi were next on the priority list for UNESCO's community radio project, as reported in 2000. However, neither had appeared by August 2001. Since two Agricultural Information stations are also planned for these two towns it is less than likely that the UNESCO community stations will go ahead although UNESCO funds may be channelled toward the Agricultural stations. Radio Same The station started up in July 2001. Community Station in Viqueque There was word in 2001 that a community radio station exists in this town. UNTAET's Tais Timor newsletter of 4 September 2000 reported that a Dutch NGO had expressed interest in helping set up a radio service in Viqueque to keep the whole community informed, starting with an output of one day a week. An Agricultural Information station is also planned for Viqueque so there may be a connection between the two. Agricultural Information Stations These stations are being set up under the umbrella of the Agricultural Rehabilitation Project of UNTAET's Division of Agricultural Affairs. They are intended to be community owned and operated rural stations primarily to provide information for farmers. However, the installation of such community stations was to be postponed until after the August 2001 national elections in order to avoid any pressures for inappropriate use of facilities for political gain by participating parties. Radio Tokodede This station was not included in WRTH 2002. Radio Tokodede will be located in Liquisa but as of August 2001 was not yet on air because equipment had not yet arrived. The Coordinator is Justiana (no full name). Organisation was far enough advanced for it to have an e-mail address but unfortunately messages sent were bounced back. It is receiving support from USAID. Tokodede is a language spoken in the Liquisa district. Pirates Quite a few East Timorese pirates have sprung up, mostly on FM, according to information provided by Chris Martin. Some of these may be legitimate broadcasters, as listed above, but you never know. Indeed, various organisations have expressed interest in going on air in East Timor. For example, the Kdalak Media Group, a journalists' collective, was hoping to start a radio station as reported in April 2000. Given that many of these journalists worked clandestinely under Indonesian occupation, a pirate station under UNTAET administration would be a chance. In addition, an Australian NGO, the East Timor Community Computer Project, discussed the idea of pirate radio as a means of independent communications if it was thwarted in its community radio attempts. RDP Internacional The unknown FM frequencies in Díli and Baucau each use 500 W transmitters. The units were installed in two weeks by the Australian equipment company ARFC from Wyong, NSW. One of the technicians, Geoff Cairns, commented that the only road rules in East Timor you need to follow are to give way to vehicles larger than the one you are driving and watch out for UN vehicles. "Give me Sydney traffic any day," he admitted. ABC Technically these relays are an illegal service because permission has not been granted for them to broadcast from outside Australian territory. The relays were established with the generous assistance of The Seven Network which provided necessary facilities on the ground in East Timor. The reason that the Parliamentary and News Network frequency relays Radio Australia when Australian Federal Parliament is in session is that Australian troops stationed in East Timor object to listening to parliament. It was JJJ's mentions of Díli's weather in their regular forecasts that alerted me to the possibility of ABC broadcasts from East Timor. Other Foreign Relays Internews noted that there would appear to be some interest by foreign broadcasting organisations in establishing broadcasting services in East Timor. Clearly this would need to be approved by UNTAET after consultation with representatives of the people of East Timor. RDP Internacional, Australia's ABC and VOA relays on A Voz de Esperança are no doubt examples of approved relays. One overseas station almost certainly not licensed to broadcast from East Timor was 3AW Melbourne. 'The Australian' of 6 April 2000 reported that 3AW was on relay to Australian troops in East Timor, meaning local residents in Díli could receive the signal too. Goodness knows what other relays have mushroomed! Radio Receivers Not only did the Indonesian TNI (Army) and Timorese militias destroy radio transmitting equipment but they also smashed or stole thousands of radio sets to prevent East Timorese from hearing the latest news. Batteries also became very scarce and expensive. As a result some international efforts were mounted to improve the situation. In April 2000 Japan pledged to donate 8500 solar-powered radio receivers but met with numerous delays so that five months later only 500 had been delivered. The sets were destined only for Díli, Los Palos and Maliana. Portugal also donated 5000 similar receivers. Radio Rakambia reported that a drive for donation of radios was managed by the Office of the Premier of the Victorian State Government in concert with 3AW Melbourne. Radio sets were sent to Radio Rakambia which then distributed them with Rakambia 99.5 stickers on them. Timor Lorosa'e Broadcasting Corporation (TLBC) In its report of February 2000 to assist UNTAET develop transitional media regulations, Internews suggested that the Timor Lorosa'e Broadcasting Corporation be created as an independent public service broadcasting organisation. As soon as it could start broadcasting, the TLBC would share the national transmission system with Radio UNTAET then assume control and responsibility for the system. The TLBC would be independent of government with a Board of Directors responsible for its management and accountability but refraining from day-to-day operations or interfering with editorial independence. Funding would still derive from the UN. It remains to be seen whether the Internews proposals will be adopted by the incoming East Timorese government. Broadcasting Regulation The same Internews report to UNTAET also made several suggestions regarding media legislation, including broadcasting. It recommended the creation of an independent broadcasting authority responsible for three main functions, frequency planning, licensing and a Code of Conduct. Internews stressed the importance of a free media in promoting democracy, good governance, respect for freedom of expression and improving the free flow of information into and within East Timor. And East Timor has TV too! New details can be found in WRTH 2002's Television Section. TVTL (Televisaun Timor Lorosa'e) was established on 18 May 2000. It began life using a repaired VHF Thomcast transmitter, donated by Australia a long time ago, which had not been sufficiently sabotaged. It plans eventually to use UHF, also using a satellite distribution network as Radio UNTAET already does. TVTL has a post box address in Darwin. Mail is brought across daily to Díli by Hercules aircraft. All TVTL staff are based in Díli but travel daily to other districts as required. The station sent East Timorese reporters to Australia for the Olympics and Arafura Games. Operations Manager Jason Benedek said that TVTL is a shoestring operation and very short on technical support and expertise. "We kinda fly by the seats of our pants a little," he wrily noted. Time Zone Under Portuguese then Indonesian government, East Timor's time zone was UT + 8h. The UN administration has changed it to UT + 9h, perhaps as a means of permanent daylight savings in order to save on evening energy consumption. Language East Timor's official language for the time being is Portuguese but the national language, or lingua franca, is Tetum, a hybrid language with many Portuguese borrowings especially in its Díli dialect. 60% of people speak Tetum as a first language and 20% as a second language. It was suppressed during Indonesian occupation although there were very limited broadcasts on RRI Díli. Tetum tends to be more a spoken than a written language. 10-15% of people speak Portuguese. It is the language of the older generation, including the leaders of the Resistance. Use of Portuguese was banned in 1981 by the Indonesians. 90% of people under 30 speak or understand Indonesian but only 50% over 30, reflecting Indonesia's 24 year rule in East Timor. Indonesian could be renamed Malay to solve problems of prejudice against it. It's certainly the language of the younger generation. There are twelve other languages spoken. Illiteracy is estimated at a startling 49% nationally. At least 65% of those illiterate are women. To put it mildly, language is a problem for East Timor. (May Australian DX News via Richard Jary, DXLD) EAST TIMOR: NO MONEY TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL BROADCASTER | Text of report by Hong Kong based E-Broadcastnewsasia on 16 May Radio Australia reports that the world's latest independent nation East Timor may be left without a national radio and TV service from the moment it becomes a nation at midnight on 19 May. Currently, Radio UNTAET [United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor] broadcasts in English, Portuguese, Indonesian and Tetum and the nightly TV news is seen in Díli, with a tape sent by bus to Baukau for broadcast the next night. The law for an East Timor national broadcaster is in place, but there's no money for the 200,000 US dollars service. A programme transcript is available at: http://abc.net.au/ra/asiapac Source: E-Broadcastnewsasia, Hong Kong, in English 16 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) TIMOR LORO SA'E. Am 25. Mai wird Osttimor zum unabhaengigen Staat "Timor Loro Sa'e", was mit "Insel, wo die Sonne aufgeht" uebersetzt werden kann. Leider ist kein Sender von dort zu hoeren, aber vielleicht gibt es Berichte darueber bei der BBC, R Australia oder im hiesigen TV. Proclamation of new independent nation "Timor Loro Sa'e" (Island, where the sun rise) on May 25th, 2002 (Juergen Lohuis, Germany, BC-DX May 12 via DXLD) So is it May 19, 20 or 25? (gh, DXLD) ** TUVALU. TUVALU RISING-TIDE THREAT COULD SWAMP GLOBAL WARMING THEORY [by] Dr Chris de Freitas The prime minister of Tuvalu says his government is ready to sue the US and Australia because they have not signed the Kyoto Protocol. He thinks most of his country, which at its highest is only 5m above sea level, will have disappeared into the ocean within 50 years. The New Zealand government, too, by all accounts, believes this. It recently improved immigration procedures for Tuvalu residents after a false claim the ocean level is rising, presumably to cater for "environmental refugees" wishing to re-settle here. In fact, detailed measurements at the main Tuvalu island of Funafuti have shown no net rise in ocean level over the past 30 years (see graph). Indeed, the measurements show a fall of 8.7 cm over the past seven years. This suit getting to court might be the best that could happen, since the scientific foundation of the global warming scares would be tested in court and independent scientists would be heard as experts. Reasonable scenarios of sea level change are based on calculations that rely on scientifically sound assumptions. Over the short term, climate warming could cause the sea level to rise mainly by the thermal expansion of the oceans. Melting of polar ice caps is not involved since this is a long-term response. As only the surface water is affected, response times can be rapid, but sea level rises only a few millimetres is possible even for worse cases of warming. Sea level changes of many times larger than this are not uncommon and sensitivity of coastal systems seems to be reasonably low. For instance, the large 1982/83 El Niño event raised sea levels 35 cm above average along parts of the west coast of the US as the failure of the prevailing easterly winds caused water in the west Pacific to surge back eastward across the ocean. Supporters of worst-case scenarios of global warming point to evidence of sea level rising. But sea level measurements are subject to a number of biases, usually upward, from removal of ground water, erection of buildings, road and airports, subsidence of the measuring equipment, surface movement due to earthquakes, and as a result of large depositional features such as river deltas. A paper in the October 26, 2001, issue of Science magazine, written by a group of researchers from France, uses highly accurate global sea level observations by precise instruments carried aboard satellites. The paper explains that the rate of sea-level rise over the course of the 20th century has likely been overestimated by a factor of two. In other words, instead of a global average sea-level rise of 15 cm during the past 100 years, the true value is likely to be closer to 7 cm. The authors attribute the overestimate to the fact that historical sea-level measurements have been primarily made from a rather sparse network of tide gauges located at coastal margins - notorious geologically unstable places - rather than a uniform sampling across the world's oceans. Corrected data for a large part of the globe show a 1.8 mm-per-year rise for the period 1900-80, which is roughly consistent with long- term values from corals and other proxies for the past 3000 years. It is noteworthy that historical records show no acceleration in sea level rise in the 20th century. It is important to keep in mind that greenhouse gas induced climate change can also act to substantially reduce sea level. There is now a substantive body of research reported in the peer reviewed scientific journal literature that suggests that sea levels, which have been rising since the end of the last ice age (long before industrialisation), are likely to stabilise or fall in a greenhouse warmed world. This is because empirical evidence indicates that a modest warming of the earth could lower the sea level by increasing evaporation from the oceans. The result is increased deposition and accumulation of snow on the polar ice caps, principally in the Antarctic, thereby transferring large amounts of water from the oceans to the ice sheets. The reasoning is that if the Antarctic air were to warm, it would still be below freezing but its water holding capacity would increase as it warms. With more moisture in the atmosphere over the Antarctic, snowfall would increase and ice sheets would grow, locking up water that would otherwise be in the sea. The result would be thicker ice caps, especially in Antarctica. In this context, it is significant that during the strong warming episode of 1920-40, sea-level rise did not accelerate but actually stopped rising. According to Professor Fred Singer of the University of Virginia: "All these findings point to the conclusion that future warming will slow down rather than accelerate the ongoing rise in sea levels." My hope is that the US offers the Tuvalu government all expenses for the trial, as it will in the end save the rest of the world from the horror scenarios of global warming. Dr Chris de Freitas is an associate professor in the School of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Auckland (via Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DXLD) ** UGANDA. Glenn, Radio Uganda is back on tonight (May 16th) with excellent signals on 4975.97 kHz. The signal was off air on May 14th and 15th. The signal on 5025.97 kHz is also back on tonight after a two day absence. 73's (Graham Powell, Wales, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Ref. the report in DXLD 2-079: Radio Uganda was absent from shortwave from late 13th May onwards. But noted back on both 4976 and 5026 this afternoon (16th May). Unfortunately, absences like this have become a feature of this station recently. Regards, (Chris Greenway in Nairobi, Kenya, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. WEST NILE TO ENJOY RADIO NEW VISION (KAMPALA) MAY 16, 2002 THE first satellite-beamed transmission by Radio Uganda will be received in West Nile region in three weeks time. The region last received clear signals in 1979, reports Jimmy adriko. Installation of the transmitters of the US$3.4m World Bank-funded project kicked off simultaneously at Arua and Lira stations and it is supposed to be carried out at 10 stations in Uganda. State minister of health in charge of general duties Mike Mukula under whose ministry the loan was granted by the World Bank, checked the Arua installation on Tuesday at the premises of the non-functional Ombaci Earth Satellite Station, four miles north of Arua town (from allafrica.com via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** U K. Guardian comprehensive obituary for Austin Kark: http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,714572,00.html Tribute to former BBCWS managing director Austen Kark by former BBCWS managing director John Tusa: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4414420,00.html (via Kim Elliott, WORLD OF RADIO 1131, DXLD) ** U S A. I`ve been intending to mention this for some time, but WBCQ has a show playing some great vintage music immediately following the second broadcast of WORLD OF RADIO, Thursday 0530-0600 on 7415, an antidote to a half hour of talk preceding... It`s called RADIO D.C. Doesn`t seem to have a website, at least no link on the WBCQ schedule. Listen in if you can stay awake... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI programs May 12 WRMI Programming Schedule/ Effective May 12, 2002 Days are local days in the Americas; times are UT [gh deleted gospel huxters] MONDAY-FRIDAY To North America on 7385 kHz: Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UT. 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SATURDAY To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) The following are Sunday UT 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) To North America on 7385 kHz 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Drive-in Double Feature (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Viva Miami (English or español) SUNDAY To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 0900-1000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) 1000-1030 Radio Guiteras - La Voz de Jóven Cuba (español) To North America on 15725 kHz 2200-2230 Wavescan (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) The following are UT Monday. 0030-0130 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) To North America on 7385 kHz 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Wavescan (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) (via John Nofolk, May 16, DXLD) ** U S A. [Re OKLAHOMA KVOO comments]: We currently have no stereo AM stations in the Springfield area. At one time KWTO-560, KTTS/KTTF-1260 and KGBX/KGMY-1400 were ALL C-Quam equipped. KWTO was the first to ditch it, then KGMY when they went ESPN Radio, and now KTTF under the new ownership. My little Sony SRF-42 doesn't actually have a stereo- pilot light for AM, stupidly enough, it's just a signal-strength indicator (it is a pilot light on FM, of course). So if any of the stations in the outlying region (Ava, Lebanon etc.) are running in stereo I'm unaware of it (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I got up to hear WOR on WJIE at 0645 on 7490. Very weak. I could make out that it was you speaking, but not a word was comprehensible. I believe another show started at 0700, since I heard a woman talking after that time, but could not make out what she was saying. And by that time, the signal was even weaker and would be gone entirely from time to time. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Signal was about the same as night before when I made my final check at 0500 May 15. Hmmm, I hope they aren`t just running half of WOR as a rule; the quarter-hour timing did seem a bit strange to me (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Since WWFV became WWRB I haven't seen much information about the station on the net. Their website still has an old schedule and no information regarding a new station address (which must be somewhere in Manchester, Tennessee). No info from the FCC site that I could find either. Is this station QSLing (?) or has it carried on from the WGTG, WWFV days of not responding & taking return postage funds to fill their pockets...etc etc? (I've probably answered by own question havn't I??) Later: Oh, finally found it PO Box 7, Manchester, TN., USA (Ian [Baxter?], May 14, ARDXC via DXLD) ** U S A. (from Mark Williams): "I'm with Clear Channel's WHAS, Louisville (840 kHz). I thought your membership might find this interesting, although I'm not sure you will see this in time to act on it. The WHAS tower at Eastwood, Kentucky took what must have been a direct lightning strike (or a series of them) around 12:45 am Monday morning, 13 May. After the strike we were still on the air, but just barely. On arrival at Eastwood, Don Backherms, our primary RF guy, found the transmitter, a Harris DX-50, operating but the SWR protection/sensing circuits had cut its output to almost nil. We discovered a shorted vacuum capacitor in the antenna tuning network. WHAS was silent last night (this morning) for approximately 3 hours. Temporary repairs were made (finding a 1500 pf, 35 kv vacuum variable at 2 am on Monday can be tough). WHAS was operating at 4 kilowatts through the day today. Here's a heads up for your members. WHAS will be silent overnight Tuesday morning while repairs are effected. We took delivery on a new vacuum variable cap today (it cost about $7500!). I don't know exactly what time he'll take it down tonight, but 840 will be silent for at least part of the overnight hours tonight. Although it's Spring and conditions are pretty noisy, especially with all the thunderstorm activity in the region, your members might want to see if they can hear anything other than West Las Vegas on 840 overnight. Good listening! Sorry I didn't send this earlier; the thought just occurred to me. I tried to find a "chat room" or posting link on the NRC website...but this was the best I could do." (via Paul Swearingen, NRC-AM May 14 via DXLD May 16) ** U S A. Hello Glenn: The Islamic Broadcasting Network, "Voice of American Muslims," in English, is heard in the Washington area via WWTL, Frederick MD, 700 kHz, and elsewhere via http://www.ibn.net Mon-Fri 1400-2100 Eastern (i.e. 1800-0100 UT in the summer). This "presolicitation notice" for MERN/Radio Sawa has much information about the station... http://www1.eps.gov/spg/BBG/ADM/MCONWASHDC/CON-02-205-0205/SynopsisP.html (Kim Elliott, DC, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. From the May 15, 2002 ARRL Newsletter: MIGRATING RV TV AMPLIFIERS BRINGING INTERFERENCE WITH THEM: As many recreational vehicle owners make their seasonal trek northward, unintentional radio interference may be hitchhiking. As reported in February 2001 http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/02/14/3/ certain amplified TV antennas have been found to produce interference in the 400-500 MHz range that could cause problems for Public Safety and Amateur Radio systems. Winegard has been replacing its offending Sensar antenna units at no cost. See the Winegard Web site http://www.winegard.com/products/mobile/sensar_customers.html for details. The FCC's Dave Galosky in the Office of Engineering and Technology says Winegard estimates there still may be thousands of defective units in the field. Boat and RV owners using these antennas may experience interference to onboard systems, such as GPS. According to the FCC, similar antennas from three other manufacturers also produce interference. The RadioShack RS 1624--made by TDP Electronics- -transmits a spurious emission at 468 MHz and at its second harmonic, 936 MHz. The Shakespeare Seawatch 2050 antenna and an unspecified antenna model made by RCA/Thompson also have been reported to generate similar interference, the FCC says (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** VATICAN. ITALY: REPORT REOPENS VATICAN ANTENNA CONTROVERSY Fri May 10, 5:44 PM ET By Rosella Lorenzi FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters Health) - Vatican Radio's forest of antennas north of Rome could be causing leukaemia with the high levels of electromagnetic radiation they emit, a report conducted for a public prosecutor said on Thursday. The findings, released by the Green party, reopened controversy over the antennas that began 2 years ago, when reports showed an increased incidence of leukaemia in the nearby town of Cesano. The antennas, some of which have a 600,000-watt capacity, caused a bitter diplomatic row in 2001, when former environment minister Willer Bordon threatened to cut off all electricity to the radio transmission centre. But last February an Italian court threw out charges against the Vatican, ruling the Vatican-owned site was outside the court's jurisdiction under a 1929 treaty, but prosecutor Gianfranco Amendola has continued his inquiry. The report follows the magistrate's request. It was conducted by Pietro Comba of the National Institute of Health, oncologist Dr. Paolo Crosignani, hematologist Dr. Augusto D'Angiolino, and Dr. Gaetano Licitra, health physicist of the environmental agency of Tuscany. "Regarding the possible link between exposure to non-ionizing radiation and the incidence of leukaemia in the area under investigation, the appointed consultants believe that evidence is in favour of the existence of such a link," says the report, making it the first scientific acknowledgement of the problem. "The report has been sitting on the desks of health minister Sirchia, Rome's Mayor Veltroni, and the president of the Lazio region Storace, for more than 40 days. I took the responsibility of releasing it to break a...conspiracy of silence," Angelo Bonelli, head of the Green party at the Lazio regional council, told Reuters Health. In 2001, a medical report by the public health agency of Lazio showed an excess of mortality for leukaemia among adults and children living up to 6 kilometres (about 3.7 miles) from the Vatican antennas. Those results were swiftly dismissed by a commission of experts who worked under the health ministers Umberto Veronesi and Girolamo Sirchia. But the latest report counters the ministerial commission's conclusion. "That report is totally unacceptable...it goes beyond the ethics of a correct evaluation of the data. The considerations over the infantile leukaemia are frankly wrong," say the scientists in their report. Bonelli announced that his party will begin to collect compensation requests from the inhabitants of Cesano. Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited =========== http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=594&ncid=751&e=5&u=/nm/20020510/hl_nm/vatican_antenna_1 (via Dave White, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Ironic commentary in slick anti-governmental newspaper TalCual run by Venezuelan ex-guerilla Teodoro Petkoff TAL CUAL MARTES 14 DE MAYO DE 2002 --- POLITICA Por mi Madre --- Radio Bin Laden La Universidad Simón Rodríguez, más chavista que Chávez, permitió que se instalara una radioemisora comunitaria (95.9 FM "Alí Primera") en la sede principal de Los Jardines de El Valle. Al parecer, los talibanes a cargo de la emisora se la pasan haciendo señalamientos contra personas a las que consideran "opositoras al proceso", y además insinúan acciones de revanchismo. Que uno sepa, en las canciones de Alí Primera había un gran contenido social mezclado con poesía popular, pero nunca revanchismo. Deberían cambiarle el nombre a la emisora y ponerle "FM Bin Laden", con un slogan que rece: "La emisora que te da en la torre" Copyright 2000. Editorial la Mosca Analfabeta C.A. Todos los Derechos Reservados Para leer este artículo en TalCualDigital.com http://www.talcualdigital.com/ediciones/2002/05/14/f-tal.asp?pv=f-p6.htm&st=f-p6s5.htm Por: http://www.talcualdigital.com (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 5035/6135, V of Vietnam - Xuan Mai confirmed reception of Hmong Sce in 79 days with an e-mail reply to my e-mail follow-up from v/s Phong Tieng Anh after the initial postal reply sent only a schedule/frequency list, program guide, paper flag, and a pennant (Rich D`Angelo, PA, BC-DX May 10 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE? 5975, African station, 15 May at 2000. Most UT evenings audible with African music and at least part of the program is in EE. Splatters from 5980 and also other stations on the fq make it hard to id but once at 1900 I heard them mention "Radio 3". Tent. ZBC (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Re the unID station on 11530 in DXLD-2076 (the one under Denge Mesepotamia): That's WEWN in Spanish; they are here from 1200 to 2300. Don't forget to check my sked (now also available frequencywise) on http://www.eibi.de.vu 73, EiBi (Eike Bierwirth, May 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-079, May 14, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1130: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1130.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRINGS ON WJIE 7490: Wed, Thu 0645, 1245, 1845 WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE The new WJIE Shortwave in Kentucky, successor to WJCR, has offered to broadcast WORLD OF RADIO three times per weekday, and in rotation on weekends, on 7490. This started May 13. However, it appears not to be up to full 50 kW power yet. Specified WOR times are: M-F 1245, 1845, Tu-Sa 0645 UT. More below under USA. We would be interested in informal reception reports from many locations. The number of repeats is expected to decline as WJIE accumulates paid programming but the 1245 airings are supposed to be secure indefinitely. It is not certain when new editions will start airing, presumably sometime on Thursdays (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO #1131, available early UT May 16: Thanks to Dave White, new WOR audio will be stored at his site rather than the main WOR site, in order to reduce traffic and bandwidth usage (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1131.rm (SUMMARY WHEN AVAILALBE) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1131.html FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, Thu 0500 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825; Sat 0500 on 5070 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. R. V. of Afghanistan: Yes, heard still Grigoriopol` on 15480 1330-1430 TODAY, Sun May 12. Service will last til Wed May 15th. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, No sign of Afghan Voice here on 17870 1330 May 13. I assume you will comment on reception quality of RVOA on 17870 & 15480 1330-1430. I only checked 17870 and just at 1330 sign on; did reception improve with age? (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) May 13 *1329:30 on 17870; at first, the overlapping \\ 15480 from Moldova was a bit better, but it soon had co-channel and echo, whilst 17870 improved (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I can report the same [15480 at 1330], since I yesterday went out with my radio to make a good record of this station. I include the opening announcement after the abrupt audio cut-over from the preceding 1 kHz tone. As you can hear, the signal on 15480 is quite good here in Germany, I suspect Moosbrunn will be much weaker than the backlobe from Grigoriopol`. (Of course we are not the, ahem, target audience.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Voice of Afghanistan booming in on NF of 17870 via Moosbrunn, with Dari/Pashto news from 1330 sign-on tonight, May 14. Also heard on // 15480 via Moldova, but at much weaker level, so 16m via Austria is the clear winner in Canberra (not that we are the target audience). (Matt Francis, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. AUSTRIA: Voice of Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari via MOS 500 kW / 090 deg eff. May 13 1330-1430 on NF 17870 (44544) \\ 15480 (43333) via KCH but only until May 15 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) 17870 was active already on Monday. Had some delay compared to 15480. Weak and fluttery signal, i.e. above-MUF propagation (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I found 17870 somewhat better today c1415 and 15480 too. Both were about S5. VOA in Persian takes over 17870 at 1430 via Morocco. This one was peaking to about S7 (Noel Green, England, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. KNLS, Anchor Point, Alaska. Address: KNLS, P. O. Box 473, Anchor Point, Alaska 99556 U.S.A., fax: +615-371-8791 and email: (for reception reports subject should be "reception report" without quotes). KNLS will provide only ONE QSL for each report, regardless the number of entries and does NOT provide QSLs for other transmitter operators who may air World Christian Broadcasting programs. To qualify, a report must include: The date and time (UT only) of the transmission, the frequency and as many program details as you can supply. At the web you will find KNLS at the URL http://www.knls.org (May WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. GERMANY: R. Ecclésia ceased transmissions in Portuguese to Africa via JUL 100 kW / 160 deg: 0500-0600 D a i l y on 15545 1800-1900 Sun-Fri on 13810 1800-2130 Sat only on 13810 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) Hardly unexpected, once they had the more convenient South African relay, but makes it much harder to hear abroad (gh) ** ARGENTINA. Ouvida agora há pouco a Rádio Maranatha desde Puerto Iguazú, Argentina em sua nova freqüência de 6215 kHz. Muito boa recepção. Às 2145 UT o programa era em português com anúncio de Culto em Fóz de Iguaçu (Brasil), agradecimentos a ouvintes comunicando a boa recepção em onda curta, etc. Às 2302 ouvida a identificação em espanhol "Acompañándote todo el dia, Futuro FM y Maranatha AM desde Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. Transmitiendo todo el dia, 24 horas en el aire para las tres fronteras..." Programas religiosos do "Centro de Evangelización Camino Nuevo". A emissora transmite também em 1610 kHz, ouvida regularmente desde o ano 2000 aqui em S. Carlos, SP, Brasil. Penso se tratar de uma emissora não oficial. 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos, SP, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6215.08, Radio Maranatha, Puerto Iguazú, 0121-0223, May 10, Portuguese and Spanish, Religious program, phone in from Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, ID "Maranatha AM 1610" (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As someone pointed out on one of the lists, `Maranatha`, as Brother Stair is always exclaiming, is Aramaic for ``the lord is coming`` or ``may the lord come`` (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RAE: La emisora ahora depende del recientemente creado "Sistema Nacional de Medios Públicos Sociedad del Estado" ex-SOR (Servicio Oficial de Radiodifusión). Frecuencias: 6060, 9690, 11710 y 15345 kHz. 73's (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital May 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. New schedule for Voice International via Darwin 250 kW: CHINESE 0900-1400 13775 / 340 deg 1400-1700 17560 / 340 deg co-ch DW Ge til 1600, BSKSA Ar from 1600 ENGLISH 0900-1000 17645 / 340 deg 1000-1100 13685 / 340 deg ENGLISH/HINDI 1100-1700 13635 / 303 deg in Hindi 1600-1700 INDONESIAN 0900-1300 15365 / 290 deg 1300-1700 13660 / 290 deg co-ch BBC Ar (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6085.2, Radio San Gabriel, La Paz, 1005-1010 May 12. Transmission in Aymara. Andean music (very nice) and short commentary by female about Tarija. 33443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4716.79. Radio Yura, Yura, 0013 - 0035, May 10, Quechua and Spanish, Musical program comments by female announcer. ID "Sintonizan Radio Yura" 24232. 6155.07, Radio Fides, La Paz, 0103-0113, May 10, Spanish, comments by man announcer, ID and tc "Desde Radio Fides... nueve de la noche con doce minutos", 34433, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. R. La Voz de Campesino, Sip Sip [sic] (Cochabamba) heard in Porvoo, Finland, May 13 starting 2223 and going with weak but stable signal until 2242 UT. Then, very weak until 0016 and again with stable signal until about 0106. Best peak reception 0030-0040. Interestingly, the grayline touches Cochabamba 2201-2248 UT and Porvoo 2218-0138 UT. Even though Porvoo this time of the year lie in the grayline zone practically all night, one can clearly observe the effects even in this case: the first peak coincides with local sunset in Cochabamba, the other exactly in the middle of the grayline zone in Porvoo. This is as it should be (Jan-Erik Österholm, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. from the main page of http://www.qctonline.com/ [Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph] KENNY KING IS FILLING IN AS THE AFTERNOON VOICE OF CBC RADIO ONE By MICHÈLE THIBEAU Shannon`s Kenny King is up at bat, filling in as the afternoon host at CBC Radio across Quebec. CBC broadcasters, hosts and journalists in Quebec and New Brunswick have been in a labour dispute with their employer for over a month. This has left King and other CBC administrators working to ensure the public still hears regional news and weather forecasts. "As part of senior management we know we have to do this. It's part of our responsibilities," said King, who hopes the labour dispute will be over soon. With his added responsibilities, King works from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or so for CBC Television, then he goes to the studio to do the afternoon show from 4 to 6 p.m. As Eastern Canada senior sales manager for CBC Television, King is responsible for bringing in all of the advertisers from Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Moncton, Halifax and St. John's... [The Chronicle- Telegraph has the full story] (Ricky Leong, QC, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Here are a few tidbits to add to the item on CIRA. 1) The author/reporter suggested he didn't know what happens at the station beyond midnight. In fact, the station remains on the air, but runs "best of" interview programming until morning. 2) Not all programs on the schedule are always original. I once heard a program that originally ran on the French radio network of the CBC. 3) According to the station's director, CIRA's repeater in Sherbrooke is actually fed by a well-placed Yagi (or some other kind of directional antenna) and a radio tuned to CIRA 91.3 in Montreal. (I spoke with him last summer.) Hope you found this interesting (Ricky Leong, QU, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. The May 17th edition of Wavelength will look at AM, FM and shortwave radio in Brazil with an interview with Geraldoto Barbario from one of the leading news/talk stations in Brazil. Wavelength airs on CRI's domestic service at 8:40 am Beijing time on 91.5 and across China on various AM and FM frequencies. Listeners overseas can listen via the CRI website at 0040 UT at http://www.cri.com.cn/english Wavelength will be archived for 2 days on the popup window for Realtime Beijing. Listeners in the US can tune in Fridays on KRLA 870, WHOO 1080, KTCK 960, KFFM 590, KTKZ 1380, KKOL 1300, KCBQ 1170, WROL 950, WJJG 1530. Wave-Length China Radio International Beijing, China Attention: Lu Feng & Keith Perron e-mail: wavelengthcri@yahoo.com website: www.cri.com.cn/english Tel: 86-13661322248 (Perron, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Hi Glenn-- From the Diario del Huila (Neiva, Colombia, May 11). --Rich Stoller DESMANTELAN EMISORA DE LAS FARC (Mayo 11 del 2002) Redacción Judicial, Diario del Huila, Neiva Una emisora clandestina, con equipos de regular potencia y con la infraestructura básica para difundir mensajes, fue desmantelada por el Ejército en la antigua zona de distensión. "La Voz de la Resistencia" operaba desde un campamento de la columna móvil Teófilo Forero Castro de las Farc, en el sector de Lusitania, zona rural de San Vicente del Caguán. En el lugar las tropas de la Brigada Móvil No. 6 incautaron consolas, mezcladores, generadores de potencia, una planta eléctrica, chalecos camuflados tipo periodista, micrófonos y una antena de largo alcance con la que lograban llegar a zonas apartadas del Caquetá. Según indicó el coronel Milciades Hernández, esta emisora clandestina era utilizada por los guerrilleros de la Teófilo Forero para difundir su propaganda subversiva y ganar adeptos en la región, así como para enviar mensajes a otras columnas guerrilleras sobre planes terroristas. El Ejército no tiene claro quién o quienes eran los subversivos que operaban esta emisora, sin embargo trabajan en su ubicación, ya que se cree que están en la región haciéndose pasar por campesinos. Se calcula que esta emisora operó ilegalmente durante más de tres años (via Richard Stoller, PSU, May 14, DXLD) EQFK? ** CONGO DR. 9550, 0304- May 12, Radio Okapi. Surprisingly strong signals from 0304 tune-in with non-stop African high life music, without any announcements. Cochannel to RHC. Occasionally equal in signal strength, but usually well under, and sometimes fading out completely. Hoping for an ID at TOH. Talk after 0400, but battling it out with RHC making it impossible to understand anything. Appears that reception was better at 0300 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SIERRA LEONE ** CUBA. You are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, and amigos, if you happen to own a receiver capable of receiving single side band signals, try listening to our 11705 kiloHertz SSB broadcasts in English that start at 0100 UTC and last until 0500 UTC. Again our 11705 kiloHertz SSB is operating using upper sideband at reduced carrier, so that you can zero beat to the residual carrier for perfect reception... For those technically minded, we are running around 20 kiloWatts Peak Envelope Power, or PEP, with -12 dB carrier level, and the antenna is an array of dipoles beaming exactly North of Havana... (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, DXers Unlimited May 8, transcript on radiohc.org via rec.radio.shortwave via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Tuning around while driving, the scan stopped on HCJB`s strong Spanish frequency 15140, May 7 at 2350, but it was in English - -- slow English. Turned out to be a show called ``Spotlight``, from something with a website called http://www.radio.english.net At 2359 went back into Spanish without comment. Site above forwarded to a rather rough-looking page at http://specialized.english.net/ which is, of course, just another way of promoting Christianity, with a limited vocabulary, and FEBA also involved, inspired by, but not to be confused with, VOA`s Spe-cial Eng-lish. Also checked 15140 Sunday May 12 2235 for Aventura Diexista, and it turned out to be the familiar voice of Allen Graham, speaking Spanish for a change. Didn`t have time to listen for content; wonder if this one is ondemand now too? No help at all in the program grids and title lists via http://www.hcjb.org.ec/Radio/sw.php3 and since these pages are (c) 2001 I suspect they are outdated. And what does `WS` mean? WaveShort? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. The popular media show DX Party Line on HCJB now has a new, unique, web address of http://dxpl.hcjb.org/ The old address of http://www.hcjb.org/english/dxpl.php just leads to a blank page with no clue of where to turn to, so be sure to change your bookmarks/favourites entry (Tom Sundstrom, May Net Notes, NASWA Journal via DXLD) Previously I had noticed it took a while for ondemand audio file to be posted, e.g. still not available by following Wednesday, but the 5/11 show was already there 5/12, altho the text notes had not been updated since sometime in April. See http://dxpl.hcjb.org/dxplaudio.php (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY: Voice of Oromo Liberation ceased transmission in Oromo/Amharic to EAf via WER 1700-1800 Wed, Fri, Sun on 15335 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** GERMANY: Additional new transmissions on 15545* via JUL 100 kW / non-dir as follows: [MCO = Monaco] Mon-Fri 0655-0820 TWR in English \\ 9870 MCO & 6045 JUL 1030-1225 RNW in English \\ 9860 WER & 6045 JUL Sat only 0645-0750 TWR in English \\ 9870 MCO & 6045 JUL 0800-0900 Radio Rainbow in Amharic \\ 6180 JUL 1030-1225 RNW in English \\ 9860 WER & 6045 JUL Sun only 0645-0820 TWR in English \\ 9870 MCO & 6045 JUL 0900-1000 Evangeliumsradio Hamburg in German \\ 6045 JUL 1030-1225 RNW in English \\ 9860 WER & 6045 JUL *strong co-channel Voice of Turkey in Turkish till 0900 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** GREECE. Re DXLD 2-077, Voice of Greece on 1386 kHz, it`s not really new as several of the Greek domestic MW channels, including 1386, have been carrying the multilingual "Orientations" programmes from Voice of Greece for at least the past two years. I logged 1386 carrying V of Greece in German at 1440 UT back in November 2000 and it was still carrying external programming when I last heard it in June 2001. 73s (Dave Kenny BDXC-UK, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Some additional frequencies for All India Radio: 0000-0045 Tamil 11985 0045-0115 Sinhala 11985 0100-0200 Sindhi 11790 0130-0200 Tibetan 11900 0315-0415 Hindi 17715 0415-0430 Gujarati 17715 0430-0530 Hindi 17715 1000-1100 English 15260 1145-1315 Chinese 11840 \\ 15795 17705 < all jammed by CNR-1 & CNR-2! 1215-1315 Burmese 15415 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. TEAMTALK 252 MAY GET NEW OWNER Teamtalk 252, the new all-sport longwave commercial radio station that launched earlier this year, may soon have a new owner – and possibly a new name. Acquisition of the former Atlantic 252 cost Teamtalk £2m, and they are now struggling to establish the station in the face of strong competition from BBC Radio 5 Live and commercial rival TalkSport. Listening figures just published make dismal reading for Teamtalk. BBC Radio 5 Live has increased its weekly audience to 6.4 million. TalkSport is a long way behind at 2.47 million, but that's still nearly six times the 428,000 that Teamtalk 252 has managed to attract. Owners Teamtalk admit that the acquisition and re-launch of the station overstretched the company, and it is now the subject of a takeover bid by a company called UK Betting, run by Eric Semel, the son of Yahoo! Founder Terry Semel. One problem for Teamtalk is that it has very few commentary rights to live events. So most of its programming consists of people talking about sport, and the station's current name only reinforces that image (© Radio Netherlands Media Network May 13 via DXLD) You might think this in Britain, as above item did not mention IRELAND, a heading we added (gh) ** ISRAEL. IBA update... Here's what I have been told --- and I've been told that it has been in the Israeli press... I don't have an URL for you... at least as of now. Broadcasting Minister, Ra'anan Cohen is leaving the Government soon to run a large financial institution. He appointed Yosef Bar'el as acting Director General and without him [Ra'anan Cohen] his [Yosef Bar'el] future is uncertain. Last week when Cohen's appointment was leaked the Bank of Israel said it was unhappy with it. This was about to be reported by IBA news departments when they were called by Bar'el asking them to suppress the story. The journalists are furious about this and Bar'el has a tough time. Meanwhile nobody knows what is happening with Bar'el's new TV channel (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. FIVE NEW PRIVATE RADIO, TV STATIONS LICENSED | Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) news agency Kingston, Jamaica: Five new members of Jamaica's media landscape were on Friday [12 May] officially given the go ahead to commence operations. Among the five are Mega Jam 99FM, a member of Commercial Suites Limited and Radio Mona which officially signed contracts for broadcasting licences at Jamaica House on Friday morning. The others include three cable subscriber television operators, Matrix Entertainment, Modern Rebroadcasting Company Limited and Westar Communication Limited. Speaking at Friday's contract signing, Information Minister, Colin Campbell said this marks the completion of the first phase of the award of television subscriber licences which now brings the total to 48. The two radio stations will bring to 12 the number of radio licences awarded to date with eight in commercial islandwide broadcasting and four in limited radio broadcasting. Source: Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, Bridgetown, in English 1932 gmt 11 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Ed, P5/4L4FN, is back in P`yongyang after a little holiday in different parts of Asia. He is now using an Ameritron AL80A amplifier that was donated to him by Martti Laine, OH2BH, Bernie McClenny, W3UR and Al Baker, W5IZ, which he picked up on his stop over in Beijing. Also, this past week was a "BIG JOY" for many DXers who received their P5 QSL in the mail. (ed. It was worth the wait! TNX you Bruce) (KB8NW/OPDX May 13/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI webcast doesn't have Multiwave Feedback at 0035 May 13; is everything shifted 30 minutes later? 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Who knows? I heard it starting at 2137 Sunday, right on schedule for that emission. This time it`s Han and a new Canadian woman from Montreal co-hosting. They plugged this week`s Tuesday 5/14 show Kaleidoscope, on what`s new in education, also on-demand, tho not all of their shows are yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RKI webcast "Multiwave Feedback" on at 0108 May 13 (Grishin, ibid.) ** MEXICO. Based on the write-up for the 100 kW rig going to DF, my guess would be XEN La 69 a Grupo station is going to upgrade from their current 25 kW (Alan, WA5DJU, Austin, TX, NRC-AM via DXLD) Any of our Spanish-able members care to try for a DX test for this one? (Eric Loy, Champaign IL, ibid.) It will be directional South. Now operated by the Radio Centro group. I will be meeting with them Thursday, and will ask if I have enough time (David Gleason, ibid.) ** MONGOLIA: Complete A02 schedule of the Voice of Mongolia per the VOM website shows 12014.8 for most broadcasts including English at 1000-1030, 1500-1530, 2000-2030 (via Alan Roe, DX Listening Digest GH via NASWA May 2002 via May WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) ?? I`m fairly certain the VOM website does not claim to be on 12014.8 but 12015 --- some editor must have inserted such a refinement, but useful info nonetheless (gh, DXLD) ** NEPAL. http://www.iicd.org/base/story_read_y?id=4886 MARRYING RADIO WITH INTERNET IN NEPAL Radio Sagarmatha is the first community FM radio in the entire south Asia. Radio Sagarmatha is broadcast on FM 102.4 in the Kathmandu valley. Nepal was connected to the Internet only in 1995. Yet, the majority of population cannot benefit from this new medium due to higher cost, low availability and lack of exposure. It also requires a minimum working knowledge of English. But at the same time, there is no question that in urban and rural Nepal radio is the ubiquitous media. A radio is available at as low as Rs. 60.00 (less than US$ 1), and literacy is not a barrier. Taking the information resource of the Internet to people through radio was an idea that originated over cups of coffee and the need of IT related program at the Radio Sagarmatha... (via Scott Gurian, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn, This morning I noticed that the security guard that had been checking people at the gate of the Radio Netherlands parking lot is no longer there and that people are freely entering just as they did before the assassination of Pim Fortuyn (Ivan Grishin, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DUTCH GENERAL ELECTION 15 MAY 2002 --- 13 MAY 2002 Radio Netherlands will be on the air with a special transmission in Dutch at 2027-2225 UT. Full details on our schedule page. Viz.: Dutch General Election 15 May 2002 Radio Netherlands will be on the air with a special transmission in Dutch at 2027-2225 UT as follows: 5835 kHz (Kaliningrad) to Central and West Europe 9895 kHz (Flevo) to SW & SE Europe, Middle East, North & West Africa incl. Canary Islands. 6020 kHz (Flevo) to south Europe, NW Africa incl. Canary Islands 11655 kHz (Flevo) to Africa 15155 kHz (Bonaire) to eastern North America 17605 kHz (Bonaire) to South America 15315 kHz (Bonaire) to Surinam and Brazil The following Dutch transmissions will be dropped on 15 May: 2027-2125 (Bonaire) on 21590 kHz 2127-2225 (Bonaire) on 6020 kHz 2127-2225 (Flevo) on 13700 kHz (also via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. 15069.66, 0509- May 11, Alfa Lima International. Surprisingly good signal with many IDs for ALI from the Netherlands. SIO of 2.5-5-3. Occasional deep fades as well. Usual fair of technopops. Monitored over several hours. Makes for interesting listening (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Dear Friends, Radio New Zealand is audible here as follows: 0130-0400 UT on [17675] 12 May 35443; 1200-1308 on 11675 12 May 45454 (T. R. RAJEESH, KERALA, INDIA, 13 May, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR MORE FUNDING FOR RNZI A New Zealand government committee says that $6m earmarked by the government for the setting up of a national youth network would be better spent on improving the financing of existing services, including Radio New Zealand International. The Commerce Committee, comprising both government and opposition MPs, notes that special RNZI programmes for the South Pacific Islands have already been cut from 11 to 4 hours week, and says the service might not survive if further cuts have to be made. The committee feels that a youth network is not a priority as this market is already well served by the commercial sector (© Radio Netherlands Media Network May 13 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. ¿Qué pasó con R. América de Paraguay en 41 mb? (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Por el momento no pasa nada... ! Creo que por el momento tienen problemas con el permiso de CONATEL... 73 de (Levi P. Iversen, Capiíbary, Paraguay, ibid.) Sorpresa ** PERU. 4746.8, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta, 1011-1016 May 12. Spanish transmission. Time check and ID as: "la hora 5 y 11 minutos, las 5 y 11 con la mejor música en Radio Tarma". Huaynos. 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6045.7, Radio Santa Rosa, Lima, 1017-1031 May 12. Transmission in Spanish. Romantic music. Greetings. Time check. Announcement and ID as: "Qué tal amigos, cómo estan ustedes? Aprovechamos el momento para saludar... y cumplir con los mensajes por Radio Santa Rosa". 33322 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9720.4, Radio Victoria, Lima, 1122-1130 May 8. Transmission in Spanish. Religious program conducted by male. Christian song. Time check and announcement: "las 6 de la mañana con 27 minutos... de esta manera seguimos con el mensaje del pastor... representante de la Iglesia Dios es Amor para la patria peruana... ya son las 6 de la mañana con...". 23432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** QATAR. AL-JAZEERA TELEVISION FORBIDDEN TO REPORT FROM BAHRAIN | Text of report in English by Bahrain newspaper Gulf Daily News web site on 11 May Bahrain said it would no longer allow Qatar's Al-Jazeera satellite news channel to report from the kingdom, accusing it of seeking to "harm Bahrain" and having links with Israel. Al-Jazeera "deliberately seeks to harm Bahrain", said Information Minister Nabil al- Hamir, who added that the kingdom had not responded to Al-Jazeera's request to send a team to cover Thursday's [9 May] municipal elections. "We believe (Al-Jazeera) is suspect and represents the Zionist side in the region," he said. "We will not deal with this channel because we object to its coverage of current affairs. It is a Zionist channel, penetrated by Zionists," said the minister. Source: Gulf Daily News web site, Manama, in English 11 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.84, 0519- May 14, UN Radio Freetown. Radio UNAMSIL heard with boring male in monotone, I believe, in English from 0515 tune-in with many mentions of peace. Noticed tonight was a good African evening with Radio VOP coming in with clear ID at 0330 on 7315 as 'This is Radio Voice of the People'. Did not hear Radio Okapi, though (a weak het at 0539). Reception improved somewhat by 0525 with more lively discussion in heavily accented English. Seemed to have phoned in reports, or possibly phone-in show (more likely), as I could hear 'take care', etc. Began to suffer from splatter rather suddenly from REE Costa Rica around 0537, making it virtually impossible to follow any further. No firm IDs heard (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A reminder that today May 14 is the big elexion day in SL, so monitoring UNAMSIL should be of particular interest. And it might not last much longer on SW (gh, DXLD) Last night Unamsil with fair signal from Sierra Leone here in Milano, Italy: 6137.85, 14/5 0005-0103, UNAMSIL Sierra Leone Talks in English till 0010 mentioning a lot of time the "election day". From 0010 in Vernacular with talks and phone calls and questions. Sometime short pieces of Afro music suff[icient overall quality] 73 (Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire, Milano, Italy, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. MOGADISHU RADIO STATION LAUNCHES 24-HOUR SATELLITE RADIO BROADCAST | Text of report by UN regional information network IRIN on 14 May Nairobi, 14 May: The Mogadishu-based Somali Television Network (STN) radio and television broadcasting station has officially launched a radio satellite broadcast, an official of the station told IRIN on Tuesday [14 May]. Abdiqadir Abdi Ali, the STN operations manager, said that "after a two-month trial period, we are on 24 hours a day". According to Abdiqadir, the channel targets Somalis in the diaspora, "who have difficulty accessing news from home". "They will get up-to-date information about Somalia," he said. He said the channel would initially reach Somalis in Europe, Asia and Africa. "We plan to add North America before the end of the year," he added. The network would provide a blend of news, business and cultural programmes and inform its listeners about political, economic and social trends at home, Abdiqadir told IRIN. The channel will broadcast in Somali, but "plans are under way to introduce within a short period, English, Arabic, Amharic and Swahili language services," he said. Abdiqadir said STN "will welcome organizations, business establishments, government and non-governmental organizations, media houses and individuals who would like to participate in our programmes, or wish to have a working or business relationship with STN". Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Nairobi, in English 14 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTSK? ** TAIWAN. RTI Targets Québec ... or rather announces that one of their French broadcasts from WYFR can be heard there. I get the 7 UT program quite loudly on the west coast (Daniel Say, BC, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) visit these web pages http://www.cbs.org.tw/French/main.htm Bonne nouvelle pour les auditeurs québecois! Sur une fréquence mise en oeuvre le 1er mai 2002, nous dirigeons notre antenne particulièrement vers le Québec. Dèsormais vous devriez pouvoir nous capter dans de meilleures conditions de 20 heures à 21 heures UTC (probablement de 15 heures ` 16 heures locales) sur 15130 kHz. Il s`agit d`une transmission assurie par WYFR en Floride. Nous comptons sur vous pour nous renseigner des résultats que donne cette nouvelle fréquence. Merci d`avance! http://www.cbs.org.tw/French/frequence.htm Fréquences en oeuvre du 31 mars au 27 oct. 2002 : 1ère diffusion 19h - 20h UTC 6145 kHz 1ère diffusion 20h - 21h UTC 15130kHz, 15600 kHz et 9955 kHz 2e rediffusion 22h - 23h UTC 12060 kHz 3e rediffusion (le lendemain) 07h - 08h UTC 9355 kHz (via Say, DXLD) ** TAIWAN/USA. Some changes for Radio Taipei International effective May 1: German/English 2100-2300 on 15600 via WYFR <<<<< and deleted 11565 via WYFR French 1800-1900 on 17750 via WYFR <<<<< dropped 2000-2100 on 15130 via WYFR <<<<< additional \\ 9955 via TWN and 15600 via WYFR Russian 1300-1400 on 11745 via TWN <<<<< and deleted 15665 via WYFR 1800-1900 on 17750 via WYFR <<<<< new txion, but totally blocked by Libya!!! (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. UZBEKISTAN: Additional transmission of V. of Tibet in Tibetan and Chinese via Tashkent 100 kW / 131 deg: 1432-1520 on 21650 (43443) plus CNR-1 / CNR-2 [jamming] 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** UGANDA. Glenn, As you may be aware I make a nightly scan of the 60 metre Tropical Band. All the usually signals were present this evening with the exception of Radio Uganda. Radio Uganda's signal on 4975.97 kHz is usually the strongest African signal on the 60 metre band here in the evenings, but the is absolutely no sign of it this evening. Obviously nothing to do with conditions as all the other African signals are present. Also, no trace of a carrier noted on Uganda's other frequency 5026 kHz, although this is not always as easy to here as 4975.97 kHz. I will advise when Radio Uganda's signal on 4975.97 kHz returns. Cheers (Graham Powell, May 14, Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook and 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. UAE/UK: Additional transmission for BBC in Pashto via DHA 500 kW / 045 deg: 1100-1300 Friday only on 17845 (55444) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) ** U K. GOLDEN JUBILEE. The complete press release by Don, G3XTT, GB50 Publicity Officer, will be sent to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional bulletin. GB50 activity will take place from a marquee on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle from 0900z on May 29th until 2100z on June 9th, with operation daily from 0700-2200z on all bands 80 through 6 meters. Visit the following Web site for all the latest news on the arrangements for the Golden Jubilee amateur radio event at: http://www.gb50.com (KB8NW/OPDX May 13/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 13:20:58 +0100 From: Don Field g3xtt@lineone.net To: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org Subject: GB50 - News Release 2 I am pleased to attach the second GB50 News Release. For your convenience, it also appears below as a text file. 73 Don G3XTT GB50 Publicity Officer ============================ GB50 Amateur Radio for the Golden Jubilee News Release No. 2, May 2002 Detailed plans for the very special amateur radio event at Windsor Castle, England in late May and early June are proceeding at pace. GB50 will take place from a marquee on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle from 0900z on 29th May until 2100z on 9th June, with operation daily from 0700-2200z on all bands 80 through 6 metres. The event will feature a top-of-the-range amateur radio station, and location provides a great take-off to all major regions of the world. GB50 will feature a "Meet and Greet" area which will promote amateur radio to Castle visitors, and will feature information boards tracking the history of amateur radio from Marconi to the present day. Information will be available on the new Foundation licence, including where to access courses and sit the examination. Cray Valley Radio Society is now solely responsible for the GB50 amateur radio station, while Burnham Beeches Radio Club and the Radio Society of Great Britain are handling arrangements for the "Meet and Greet" area. We are delighted to announce that all the transmitting equipment to be used at GB50 will be supplied by Icom UK. All five operating positions will feature either Icom IC7400 or Icom IC-756ProII transceivers. There will be two operating awards available for working GB50. To obtain the first, you need just one QSO with GB50 between 0001z on 1st June and 2359z on 4th June. A second award is available for making a number of QSOs with the station during the period of operation (29th May - 9th June). Full details appear below and are also available on the GB50 Website or from the Awards Manager, Clare Treacher RS102891, at clarejoan@hotmail.com We understand the RSGB will also be issuing an award which combines working GB50 with working UK stations using the special Jubilee GQ prefix. Check their Website (www.rsgb.org) for details. It will be possible to visit GB50 during normal opening hours at Windsor Castle (see http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page576.asp for information on visiting the Castle). Visitors will need to pay the standard entrance fee to the Castle, which also entitles them to visit the State Apartments and other public areas. Bob Treacher BRS32525 (brs32525@compuserve.com) will be handling all SWL reports for GB50. He is no stranger to QSL Manager duties having handled cards for the 9M0C and D68C DXpeditions. Visit http://www.gb50.com for all the latest news on the arrangements for the Golden Jubilee amateur radio event. GB50 OPERATING AWARDS There are two awards associated with the GB50 special event station. They are the GB50 Golden Jubilee Award and the GB50 Jubilee Points Award. The GB50 Golden Jubilee Award This award is available to any licensed amateur who works GB50 over the Queens Golden Jubilee Weekend (0000z 1st June - 2359z 4th June 2002). Only one QSO with GB50 on any band/mode is necessary. This award costs £3, $5, 8 IRC or 5 Euros. GB50 Jubilee Points Award This award is available to any licensed amateur who works GB50 between 29th May 2002 - 9th June 2002. A total of 50 points are required to claim this award. - Each QSO with GB50 over the Jubilee Weekend (0000z 1st June - 2359z 4th June 2002) will be worth 20 points - Each QSO with GB50 before and after the Jubilee Weekend will be worth 10 points Only one QSO per band/mode will count for points. No cross band, cross mode or APRS contacts will count. This award costs £3, $5, 8 IRC or 5 Euros Both awards are available to Short Wave Listeners Both awards will be full colour certificates. Claims for both awards should be sent to: Miss Clare Treacher, RS102891, Golden Jubilee Awards Manager 93 Elibank Road, Eltham, London SE9 1QJ, ENGLAND (KB8NW/OPDX May 13/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. We've had a few ups and downs the past two weeks. However, as of May 13th, the SW station is up and running, and your first broadcast was aired at 8:45 AM [EDT], and will be repeated at 2:45 PM and 2:45 AM daily Mon-Fri until further notice. We will also be airing the program several times on the weekends in rotation at various times. We have been receiving numerous reception reports, and would appreciate even more. Your program serves a special public service, and we are glad to offer it to our listeners (Doc Burkhart, WJIE Shortwave, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Before I got above message, I was checking for WJIE, May 13 around 1255, when WORLD OF RADIO would have been on, heard some weak music on 7490, but soon into talk intoning like Korean, so I suppose it was RFA or something else. WJIE must still be on very low power. Also inaudible here at 1845. So the times specified in UT are: M-F 1245, 1845, Tu-Sa 0645. BTW, we assume WJIE will be operating on EDT as in Louisville; Upton town itself is just a few km from the Central zone boundary, and I am not certain which side the station be on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Still nothing on 7490 tonight at 0100. If I'm awake, I'll try for WOR at 0645 (Ivan Grishin, Ont., UT May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was able to hear it for the first time, on 7490, May 14 at 0458 with full ID, repeated at 0500 including contact info wjiesw@hotmail.com and P O Box 197309, Louisville KY 40259, phone number. This was very weak, barely above threshhold, on the YB-400 with external antenna clipped on. Had to operate on attenuation to avoid overload from 7 MHz neighbors. Modulation seemed a bit low even considering the barely registering signal level. Some Spanish 2-way USB on 7486 was enough to bother it, even on narrow bandwidth. Could recognise myself in WOR at 0655 recheck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was sound asleep at 0645 this morning. I did tune in to 7490 around 0955, heard test tones gradually rising in pitch until 1000. I couldn't make out who it was, but I don't think it was WJIE. Just noise at 1245 and 1445. It looks like 0645 may be the best time to hear WOR (not the most convenient time!) (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently R. Free Asia is not currently using 7490, tho it seems like it once did. Back on Jan 28, Hodgson in TN had V. of Russia in Chinese during the 1000-1100 hour on 7490-USB // 4010. Site Khabarovsk per below, also the obstacle to WOR at 1245. The only other known broadcaster on frequency is Norway/Denmark, as in current HFCC, which also shows old WJCR usage; in case you were wondering about antenna azimuths, they had 55 and 155 degrees available. All the Norwegian transmissions with 500 nominal kW are a considerable obstacle to WJIE, with nothing to protect it except ionospheric absorption when daylight intervene; once up to 50 kW, perhaps it will have more influence: 7490 0400 2200 9 JCR 50 55 D USA JCR FCC 7490 2200 0400 9,27 JCR 50 55 D USA JCR FCC 7490 2300 1000 11-13 JCR 50 155 D USA JCR FCC 7490 1000 1100 35 KHB 100 065 D RUS RRS MCB 7490 1200 1300 35 KHB 100 065 D RUS RRS MCB 7490 0300 0400 28E,29,39N,40W KVI 500 95 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A3 7490 0400 0500 28E,29,39N,40W KVI 500 110 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A3 7490 1700 1800 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A4 7490 1800 1900 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A4 7490 1900 2000 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A4 7490 2000 2100 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 D NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT A4 Every single entry above was 7 days a week for the entire A-02 season. So the hours when WJIE has 7490 to itself are: 2100-0300, 0500-1000, 1100-1200, 1300-1700. Of course daylight absorption in summer makes Norway beamed south little problem around here at 1700-2100, nor would WJIE likely propagate to Europe even in the absence of it and at 50 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. It`s time for another sweeps stunt, Today on NBC-TV, as another series of Where In the World is Matt Lauer? got underway May 13, it turned out, from Rio de Janeiro. We missed the first hour, but the second hour had only a couple segments, from the beach, about the big Christ statue, and about the Amazon --- all incredibly superficial, but nice scenery and fun. There wasn`t much in the third hour beyond the first few minutes, as Matt and Co. had to get moving to their next secret destination for the following morning. It`s standard procedure for the Today hosts left back in New York to be kept in the dark about each destination, beyond guessing on a clue. But most of the segments have obviously been pre-produced, and one can only wonder if Katie could help overhearing someone in the Today hallway talking about it days or weeks before. If she did, would she still have to pretend to be in the dark, in effect, lying? Dear, sweet Katie, with the sinewy calves no doubt responsible for much of Today`s ratings lead, if not her constant gummy smile? Surely not! If truth were known, many of the NY segments are also pre-produced, and the live hosts just string them together, much like NPR radio magazines. Why go to all the trouble and expense to visit five different countries in a row, and then only do a few segments from each? Can we not suspend even for one week, the usual rounds of NY-based celebrity/author interviews, NBC program promotion and devote the entire two -- yea three -- hours to the exotic locales? Of course not! On Tuesday it was Marrakech, Morocco (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Kim Elliott has closed Communications World aired on VOA, but for the time being we continue to host the website at http://www.trsc.com/cw If you wish to capture or archive some of the info from some of the scripts, please do so sooner than later. We`re not sure how much longer the pages will continue to be available (Tom Sundstrom, NASWA Journal Net Notes, May, via DXLD) ** U S A. Have I missed something?? Have been listening to Radio Sawa this morning on 6040 at 2000z, they give a web address of http://www.ibb.gov/radiosawa/radiosawa_english.html I can't recall seeing this mentioned earlier though may have missed it... Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report, May 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, you also get to it by http://www.radiosawa.com and clicking on English. Since this URL automatically goes to ibb.gov it`s not so stealthy for anyone using internet. Admits it is run by US Government, but still does not mention VOA (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY: New schedule for Voice of Hope to ME on 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg: 0400-0600 English <<<<< new transmissions 1200-1500 English <<<<< dropped 1500-1600 English 1600-1700 Persian 1700-1800 Arabic <<<<< ex in Tagalog 1800-2100 English <<<<< ex in Tagalog (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, May 14 via DXLD) So is part of this, like 1800-2100, still subcontracted to `Voice of the Lord`, Manila, in English if not Tagalog?? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. From M-Street Journal The "Voice of Denver" dies at 78. Gene Amole is best known from his newspaper columns, but he first broke onto Denver's media scene as an actor on KOA – he went on to start KDEN and KVOD in the '50s. Amole died Sunday in Hawaii. He would have turned 79 next week (via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM May 13 via DXLD) Gene was indeed a fixture in every facet of the Denver media for many years. He will be missed. You may be aware that he has been publishing a chronicle of his thoughts about life and his impending death in the form of a public diary. It remains as a powerful testimony to his wit and humor even in the face of a slow and sometimes painful end. Harry Smith interviewed Gene for A&E just last month. So I expect that a fitting tribute will be forthcoming. Gene Amole - 1923-2002 - RIP (Patrick Griffith, CO, ibid.) I used to work for him while at KDEN-FM. Sorry to hear that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Having found nothing more in the Knoxville News-Sentinel since the early April story mentioning the threat to WUOT, and its own original notice about that having disappeared from its website, I just enquired, and was informed that a new item has just been posted. For those unaware, WUOT was my last full-time job, and was where WORLD OF RADIO got its start (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - Urgent! Please Read! As the state's fiscal year draws to a close, the Tennessee General Assembly continues to discuss various options for dealing with the very serious issue of funding state government and services. One of the options, known as the DOGS budget (Downsizing of Government Services) would result in WUOT losing its entire state appropriation. Although we continue to look at alternative funding opportunities, in the event the DOGS budget is enacted effective July 1, 2002, WUOT would most likely cease operations. The level of staffing and programming cuts resulting from a "no new revenue" state budget would be devastating. It is doubtful that WUOT's other funding sources could offset such a significant loss of revenue quickly enough to assure the station's viability as a quality National Public Radio member station. NOW is the time to contact your state representatives to let them know how their actions will impact this community's access to public radio. As the old saying goes, "All politics are LOCAL", so you need to contact your individual state representative and state senator. For information concerning who to contact and how, please refer to these websites: House Members http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/hmembers.htm#COUNTY and Senate Members http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/senate/members/smembers.htm#COUNTY (from http://www.wuot.org May 13 via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6140.08, Radio Montecarlo, 0052-0100* May 10, Spanish, Musical Program, ads, ID "Radio Montecarlo le propone una sorpresa para la mejor madre del mundo" s/off without announcement, 24442 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. See SIERRA LEONE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ WRTH SHORTWAVE GUIDE I sent an e-mail to Universal Radio about the new Shortwave Guide from the WRTH; it will be available from June 30 (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, May 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SUPERMARKET DEPARTMENT ++++++++++++++++++++++ MY UNUSUAL QSL ITEMS I recall receiving a lot of different promotional items from shortwave stations. Without a doubt, the strangest one I can think of was from Radio Japan. It consisted of a white plastic hand, which was mounted onto this arm of coiled metal covered in red plastic, and the whole thing was mounted onto a black plastic base with the Radio Japan logo. I think it is meant as some sort of oddball paperweight, but I'm not quite sure. Radio Japan has also sent me stickers and a ruler, items that are a bit more on the beaten path. HCJB sent several nice things over the years, since I was a frequent "DX Partyline" contributor when Rich McVicar was on, back before I had my own show. One item that I still get some use from is a very tough blue canvas tote bag with the HCJB logo printed all over it. I also have a "DX Partyline Reporter" banner that the station had woven in brightly colored wool by a local Ecuadorian crafter. As I recall, Rich mentioned that they had them made up for me and for the great Texas SWLer Gigi Lytle, who many of you may remember and who died of cancer a couple of years ago. Deutsche Welle sent several nice items, including a couple of calendars with German scenery, a poster-sized map of Germany, and a fabric tote bag with the DW swoosh logo (am I the only one who thinks it looks a bit like the Nike logo?). From Radio Budapest, I have had such things as pins, boxes of matches with the station logo, and an embroidered handkerchief with a lace border. Some nice stickers, too; one was an "I (heart) Radio Budapest" window sticker that I had on my previous car. That one got me the occasional honk and wave on the road, both from fellow SWLs and from people of Hungarian background! It also helped me find the car in crowded parking lots, even when there were a lot of navy blue 1986 Olds Delta 88 Royales on the road. When World Harvest Radio came out with their T-shirt a few years back, I got one of the first ones. I still have that one. Radio France Internationale sent me a little black address and phone number book, which I still use. I have various goodies from VOA such as posters, calendars, rulers, pins, keychains and such. They are forbidden by law from giving such promotional items to U.S. residents who write to them, since we are not the intended targets of their broadcasts, but when VOA representatives have come to such events as the Winter SWL Fest, they have been given permission to bring promotional items for convention- goers. Also, after the death of the great VOA jazz host Willis Conover in 1996, I wrote a letter to his engineer, who kindly sent me some excellent photos of Willis and some studio-quality tapes of a few "Music USA Jazz" shows. I scanned one of the photos of Willis Conover into my computer, and the image of Willis looking up from his microphone at VOA is the wallpaper I see when I switch on my machine every day. When I heard from Radio Damascus, they sent me a couple of copies of the Syria Times in English along with my QSL. Radio Unión in Lima, Perú sent a gorgeous taffeta pennant with gold fringe, plus some of their bumper and window stickers. Radio Bulgaria sent me a bunch of copies of Bulgaria Magazine in English. I believe I sent those to Passport to World Band Radio, to which I have contributed for a long time. I'm sure the guys at PWBR especially appreciated the one with the blonde in the bikini on the cover, LOL! When Radio Luxembourg was still on shortwave, they didn't just send a QSL. They sent these great photo cards with pictures of all the English service announcers working for them in the early 90s, plus a whole bunch of stickers. These are real radio history items now that Luxembourg is off shortwave, and I sent scans of them to Eivind Motland in Norway for his great Radio Luxembourg tribute site. You can check out the Fab 208 site at: http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/neches/636/luxy.htm When I sent RAE from Argentina a taped reception report at the request of their English service so they could show their engineers how poor reception often is in North America, they used my tape to record some excellent Argentinian music and sent it back to me. 73, (Marie Lamb, swl@qth.net via DXLD) Howdy SWL's, Well, I guess it's time I toss mine in. I've received a lot of different stickers, pamphlets, calenders, etc., over the years. Radio P`yongyang once sent me a paperback book on a N. Korean sumo wrestler`s life story, which I actually read. They also once sent me a book on a CD ROM but since I didn't have a CD drive in my 'pooter at the time I passed that one on to somebody else (as I have many goodies I've received.) BUT, my most memorable QSL was hand delivered to me to the "Men in suits". At the time I was stationed on a mountaintop AF Comm site in Greece (Mt Hortiatis) and had put the long unused MARS station on the air. I also obtained a FCC Ham call for the station and subsequently the Accompanying Greek SV0 callsign. As ONE of only TWO legally operating Greek amateur stations at the time, the other one being somebody at the US Consulate in Thessalaniki (Greeks couldn't operate at that time)m every time I put the station up on 20M I was guaranteed a pileup. (For a new op it was baptism under fire!) Anyway, to make a long story short, I got called into the Commander`s office one day. There were two men in "Suits" and the first thing they did was read me my rights. (ooops) After that, when I asked them what it was about they handed me a sealed (??) envelope with a Moscow return address address. When I opened it up, there was a QSL card for a 20 Meter QSO with the University of Moscow, lasting I think all of a minute. So I explained what it was, explained that I had a legally licensed MARS and Amateur station in my room and offered to show them the station, licenses and logbook (we ALL kept logs back then). They examined said station and documents and gave me a clean bill of health. I mentioned that etiquette required a return QSL and they said "Go ahead". So I made it out right then in front of them and they suggested it be sent as a postcard through the Greek mail rather than in an envelope or through the APO mail system. (Which is what I did for all my European QSL's anyway.) Apparently this satisfied "The Suits" as I never heard another word about it and it never affected any of my subsequent high level clearances. 73 de (Phil KO6BB Atchley, May 14, ibid.) Hi All, I did a lot of my DXing back in the late fifties and early to middle sixties. I have a pin for a shirt from Radio Bucharest they sent me in 1961. It was for a listener's club, as I recall. I have some Ecuadorian coins that were sent to me by HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. When I became active again in the late nineties, I received several interesting items. Radio Roma, whom I could not get to verify a report, sent me a very nice calculator for Christmas. Radio Korea International sent me some beautiful calendars on a hand crafted wooden plaque. China Radio International also sent me some very large 18 X 26 inch calendars with gorgeous photos on each page. A truly beautiful and highly educational item depicting their country and culture. Voice Of Russia sent me several signed postcards from different Russian cosmonaughts dating back to the first manned flight. Remember Yuri Gagarian? (I apologize for spelling his last name incorrectly.) Then I have the front page from when the Pope visited Cuba. Somebody wrapped an item they sent me in the front page of the Havana newspaper with that historic cover story! I am not at all sure they meant to do that, but I treasure the Cuban newspaper more than the trinket wrapped inside it! I also have a number of books from Spain, a hat and T-shirt from Portugal, coins and trinkets from N. Korea, CD from Taiwan and cassette tape of music from Greece (Duane W8DBF Fischer, ibid.) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-078, May 12, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1130: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1130.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Mon 0000, 0500 on 3210, Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sun 1830?, Mon 0030?, 0630?, 1230?, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN. From The BBC: Saturday, 11 May, 2002, 10:58 GMT 11:58 50,000 ARCHIVED TAPES WERE SAVED FROM THE TALEBAN By William Reeve, BBC correspondent in Kabul I was walking down a corridor at Afghanistan's Radio and Television Centre in Kabul with BBC colleagues also involved with the journalist training programme. The walls looked as though they hadn't been painted for decades. Signs of decay were everywhere. A pane of glass in a swing door was still missing, no doubt years after a nearby explosion had smashed much else besides. We were being shown around the centre by one of the Afghan radio editors. He politely motioned for us to enter yet another drab room. I really didn't want to bother, thinking there was little more to see in the centre. But we were in for a big surprise - the beginning of a wonderful, unfolding tale of guile and sheer devotion. We were introduced to Mohammad Siddiq, who's in charge of looking after Afghanistan's radio archive. He's listened to the tapes so often he knows them all off by heart With a broad smile, white beard and a brocaded scull cap, he was winding a pile of archive radio tapes forwards then back again on an ancient but sturdy reel-to-reel tape recorder. "I've been doing this for 30 years," he said. "Even when all the bombs were landing in this area before the Taleban arrived, I still came every day." He explained there were 50,000 radio tapes in the archive and that they all needed to be wound forwards and backwards once a year to prevent them from getting too brittle. His colleagues nodded in agreement, with expressions of awe. "We call him Mr Computer," said one. "He's listened to the tapes so often he knows them all off by heart." I asked Mr Computer to show me his treasure trove - in a country where just about everything else of value has been destroyed in more than two decades of conflict: The ancient stone Buddhas of Bamiyan last year by the Taleban, and Kabul museum - one of the world's finest - by the warlords before them. In room after room there were endless shelves of radio tapes, all neatly catalogued on the spines of their boxes. One section was the historical archive including speeches of former Afghan leaders - King Zahir Shah, who's just returned to Afghanistan, and his cousin President Mohammad Daoud, who deposed the monarchy in a coup in 1973, paving the way for the years of chaos that have followed. Another large section had Afghan drama, and there were even more tapes of Afghan music, played and sung by favourite stars of the past. Incongruously, there was one shelf of Mozart recordings. "But Mr Computer, how on earth did you save all these tapes from the Taleban?" I asked. The Taleban had banned as un-Islamic all music with instruments, and they had no love for former secular leaders. Mr Computer explained he'd removed all the markings from each box, covered the shelves with blankets, and firmly but very discreetly bolted all the doors. When the Taleban arrived in Kabul they had indeed destroyed what they thought was the archive - one unlocked room full of Iranian and Indian music. Thinking their job done, they never bothered again. After the Taleban fled Kabul in November last year, Mr Computer neatly stuck back all the markings on his 50,000 boxes, and got back to his work. With me that day was Meena Bakhtash of the BBC World Service Persian Section. She began her career in Kabul and became a well-known Afghan television and radio presenter, but fled Afghanistan a decade ago. This was her first visit back to Kabul since then - and to the radio and television studios. For Meena it was an emotional trip back in time. "Mr Computer, can you find any recordings of Meena," I asked. In a flash he found a tape not far away, and lovingly spooled it onto the tape recorder. Before long we sat and listened to Meena's beautiful voice from a recording of 17 years ago in a programme about classical literature. Most of the transmitters and much other equipment of Afghan Radio and Television around the country have been destroyed. When they arrive in Kabul, the Taleban destoyed what they thought was the whole archive American bombs at the end of last year caused much of the damage. It's not just the hardware that needs to be rebuilt. Editors in Afghanistan are crying out for training of their journalists to put new life into the media, destroyed by Soviet ideology and followed by the anarchy of the warlords and the constrictions of the Taleban. We were at the radio and television centre that day to discuss in detail what they really wanted, but Mr Computer somewhat stole the show. It's clear the Afghan radio archive needs preserving. Indiana University in the United States saved Somalia's archive by recording it all on digital tape. It paid for the recordings of two copies, one for itself and one for Somalia. Hopefully another university will recognise the value of Afghanistan's archive. Mr Computer would be delighted. It would vindicate his life's work (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. TV STATION RESUMES BROADCASTING IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN | Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 7 May [Announcer] The TV Station in [eastern] Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province has started its activities with ceremonies after a five-year break. The head of the Union of Journalists of Afghanistan's eastern areas and the editor of a newspaper in Nangarhar, Mr Shahiwal [as heard], said more about this in an interview. Mr Asaddolla Shahiwal [as heard], we have learnt that the Nangarhar TV station has started its activities. Please tell our audience something about this news. [Shahiwal] A big meeting was held by the governor of Nangarhar Province, Haji Abdol Qadir, and the head of the department of culture and information, Chief Researcher [an Afghan academic title] Mr Abdolla Bakhtani [as heard], to mark the resumption of the activities of the Nangarhar television station after a break of five years. The meeting was attended by the heads of all the departments of Nangarhar Province. On the day the TV station resumed broadcasting it was on the air from 1000 [local time] until 1500 [local time]. Following daytime broadcasts, the TV station is to broadcast regularly for two hours from 1900 to 2100 [local time]. [Interviewer] Mr Asaddolla Shahiwal, what are your TV programmes about? [Shahiwal] Now we are using our archive materials which were taken to Kabul to the main department of Afghanistan Television by the Taleban. We brought the archive materials consisting of 253 video cassettes back to Jalalabad and are using them. There is a variety of music tapes, cartoon films, wildlife films and [televised] performances. [Interviewer] Please tell us what areas of Afghanistan you broadcast your TV programmes to? [Shahiwal] We broadcast to Jalalabad town, districts close to Jalalabad such as Sorkhrud, Kama, Behsud, Chaparhar, Rodat, and some areas of Khogiani [as heard]. [Interviewer] Please tell us what countries and international communities helped you to start the Nangarhar Province radio and TV station and what problems you are having now? [Shahiwal] A large part of the television's installations were destroyed during the bombardment by the Americans and their allies. They have been repaired by the joint efforts of the engineers of the Nangarhar Province radio and TV station and also the engineers of Radio Afghanistan. The antenna was destroyed. We brought another antenna from the centre[capital]. In this connection, the governor of Nangarhar Province, Haji Abdol Qadir, himself, and also the head of the department of information and culture, the head of Nangarhar Province radio and TV station, Gen Abdol Samad Momand [as heard], tried hard. No-one else helped us. [Interviewer] Please tell us, in what languages the Nangarhar TV station is broadcasting? [Shahiwal] Our television station is broadcasting in Pashto and Dari. Also, the television is broadcasting various feature films in foreign languages, but mostly in Pashto and Dari, broadly translated into Dari and Pashto Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0800 gmt 7 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. AMERICANS SEIZE LOCAL RADIO IN EASTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE | Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Peshawar, 12 May: The US and [Afghan] security forces seized control of a [local] radio in [the eastern] Khost [Province] yesterday, 11 May, following a joint operation. Eyewitnesses told AIP [Afghan Islamic Press] that the forces seized the radio station yesterday. They took away some spare parts for the radio and destroyed them. Khost security officials told AIP that all radio staff were taken to Khost airport yesterday and had been asked to run a new radio. The government distributed a number of leaflets yesterday in this connection, saying: To whom it may concern. You are informed that the esteemed governor sahib [a title] [the new governor, Hakim Taniwal] has ordered the establishment of a new radio station in Khost Province. The governor of Khost, esteemed Taniwal, has issued an order closing the radio for security reasons. Kamal Khan [brother of Pacha Khan Zadran, a rival commander and the former governor of the Province] is currently trying to use the radio station illegally and for his own ends. The radio station belongs to the government, but he wants to seize it and prevent people from hearing the facts. In line with an order by the governor of Khost, nobody can deprive people of listening to radio broadcasts. Kamal Khan constantly tried to force the staff to air groundless and false propaganda. From now, 21.02.1381 [solar year, 11 May], onwards, the former radio will be temporarily shut so that we can broadcast freely to the people of Khost. The esteemed governor, Taniwal, has instructed commander Mostafa [the head of security] to carry out the order in cooperation with the American forces. This letter is to inform all people that the governor and the American forces will never allow anybody to threaten the radio personnel or their families. If any people try to threaten the staff or their families, the governor and the American forces will treat them as criminals. This letter is also to warn all people not to place any obstacles in the way of the governor or in the way of the personnel. It is worth mentioning that Kamal Khan is the brother of Pacha Khan Zadran, who commands a number of military divisions in Khost. The radio station was in their hands and was airing pro-Pacha Khan Zadran propaganda. Source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, in Pashto 1108 gmt 12 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. A comment on this sentence in the report about possible Radio Afghanistan relays: ``USAID (the US Government's aid agency) is currently installing a VSAT satellite system at Radio-Television Afghanistan in Kabul. (It should be ready by the end of the week). This will be used to send the Radio Kabul signal via satellite to shortwave transmitters in Norway and somewhere in the Gulf. The programmes will then be rebroadcast back into Afghanistan using Radio Free Afghanistan (RFA) and VOA facilities.`` I would think the given downlink destinations actually indicates a planned use of the Merlin-brokered Kvitsøy/Sveiø and Al-Dhabbaya stations (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. Caros amigos, Seguem as informações relativas ao último QSL recebido: 5800 - HAARP - Gakona - ALS - Recebido cartão QSL - 25 dias - Enviado disquete com gravação em formato MP3 e 1 IRC. V/S: Ilegível. QTH: High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, PO Box 271, Kakona, AK 99586 Com certeza, esta é uma das confirmações mais interessantes que recebi nestes anos de hobby. O disquete continha uma gravação em formato MP3 com os dois minutos de melhor escuta de um total de 10 minutos de escuta. Anteriormente, tinha enviado o mesmo informe por email, mas, como não obtive resposta, resolvi tentar o correio convencional. Há pouco tempo atrás, vi em no boletim do amigo Glenn Hauser que um dexista que se não me engano era do Japão, conseguiu a confirmação em condições parecidas às minhas. Não estava muito esperançoso quanto ao QSL, mas depois desta informação, passei a aguardar anciosamente pela confirmação. Pois bem, este é o meu país de número 39 confirmado. 73 (Ivan Dias, Sorocaba/SP, radioescutas via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. UNIDENTIFIED. Estimados Amigos: En estos momentos estoy sintonizando una emisora aparentemente del Brasil, con programación religiosa en la frecuencia de 6215.08. posiblemente se trate de un armónico; agradeceré vuestra ayuda. El programa tuvo y tiene llamadas telefónicas entrantes desde Brasil, Paraguay y Argentina. Mencionaron Radio Maranatha y Radio Emannuel. El programa está a cargo de una locutora. 73's (Nicolás Eramo, May 9, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ¿En qué idioma?? (gh) La No Identificada es un armónico de Argentina AM 1610 Maranatha que transmite en portugués y español. Disculpas si incomode a alguien. Ahora la programación continúa en portugués. 73's (Nicolás Eramo, ibid.) Pero 6215 *no* es armónico de 1610 aunque lleve el mismo programa (gh, DXLD) The Argentinian Radio Maranatha AM, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones can now be heard with Christian programming in Portuguese, Guaraní and Spanish on 6215v around 23-00 UT here in Scandinavia. Mentioning both 1610, 101.7 and 6215 so the latter is presumably not a harmonic. Heard in Finland by at least Veli-Jussi Rinkinen on May 8(?)-10, and Jim Solatie and Jan-Erik Österholm on May 10-11 (Jan-Erik Österholm (JEÖ), Porvoo, Finland, dxing.info forum via DXLD) Não se trata de uma nova emissora; desde 2000 é sintonizada regularmente em 1610 kHz em português e espanhol. Possivelmente esteja começando em ondas curtas, mas me parece não ser uma emissora oficial. Um grande abraço, (Samuel Cássio, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Is Radio Australia brainwashing the Pacific islands? A Fiji commentator thinks so... http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2002/May/05-09-22.htm http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/Weekly2002/05.07.2002/PacificIslands.htm (Kim Elliott, DC, May 9, swprograms via DXLD) couldn`t find second one ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Cland, 8700, Psyops heard at 2055 with songs and 2105 still with songs. Audible at S3 with 10 dB preamplifier (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, May 10 or 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was just wondering if anyone were *still* hearing this (gh, DXLD) ** BARBADOS. QSL report: VOB 92.9 FM Voice Of Barbados - 135 dias YESS FM 104.1 (Agora denominada LOVE 104.1 FM) - 135 dias Recebida carta pessoal acompanhada de adesivos, cartao postal e folhetos turísticos sobre a ilha de Barbados. Estas emissoras e ainda mais outras duas (Hott FM 95.3 e Gospel 790 AM) pertencem a um mesmo conglomerado de telecomunicações, denominado Starcom Network Inc. V/S: Patrick A.W. Gollop, Manager-Radio Services QTH: River Road, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies E-mail: starcom@s... [truncated by yahoogroups] Obs 1: Captações realizadas no II Ilha Comprida DX Camp Obs 2: Foi com muita satisfação que recebi esta correspondência, pois ainda não possui resposta de emissoras de FM do exterior (Júlio Baldim, Salto-SP, radioescutas via DXLD) VOB 92.9 FM Voice Of Barbados Com muita satisfação informo que recebi uma carta muito amável confirmando minha escuta da emissora Voice of Barbados 92.9 FM. Esta emissora foi ouvida durante o último DX-camp em Ilha Comprida, em 15 de novembro de 2001. Além da carta, a emissora enviou vários adesivos, um cartão postal e um folder turístico sobre Barbados. V/S: Mr. Patrick A W Gollop, Manager-Radio Services QTH: Voice of Barbados, River Road, Bridgetown, Barbados. O grupo Starcom Network Inc. opera, além desta emissora, a Hott 95.3 FM, a Love 104.1 FM e a Starcom Gospel 790 AM. Todas funcionam no mesmo endereço (Pedro Machado Coelho de Castro, Lorena-SP, @tividade DX May 6 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. This is not a popular view, BUT all but very smallest stations SHOULD DO their own publicity. We live in the Topica era; for a small investment everyone including international broadcasters can have their own list, one way or two way. The best example of this is Radio Sweden. Every weekday I receive an email from them listing the lineup for the day`s programs. The same one that appears on the web page. If it takes an extra ten minutes to prepare and send the email lists I would be very surprised. I just hate when stations complain about budgets and every six months mail me a program schedule. RVI spent almost a US Dollar in printing and postage on mailing me a schedule. Just multiply that by five or ten thousand! Would it not make more sense to use those funds to clone what Radio Sweden is doing and start a weekdaily e-mailing? I would never listen to Radio Sweden without this mailing. Some of Radio Sweden`s features are interesting and by them making the effort to tell me, they gain at least one extra listener. I almost never listen to RVI on weekdays not having a clue other than program titles what will be on the schedule. Maybe that's the way their staff wants it? Maybe management will not allow 'thinking ahead of the box.' Saying they don't have money is unacceptable, saying they don't have the time is unacceptable, and saying they don't have knowledge is unacceptable. Will anyone at RVI call George Wood and ask questions? (Larry Nebron, CA, May 12, swprograms via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Hola, queridos colegas y amigos: Entre todos pudimos lograrlo. Hoy a la mañana se identificó La Voz del Campesino, desde Sipe Sipe. Les reproduzco a continuación la captación: Realmente, fue un muy lindo trabajo que hicimos entre todos. Desde ya les agradezco su colaboración y su participación directa en el seguimiento. Muchos saludos a todos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) BOLIVIA: 6537.3v, La Voz del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, Departamento de Cochabamba. 0728-0758 Mayo 11. Reporte en español sobre la reforma electoral en Bolivia. El nombre del programa es: "Abriendo Caminos". Comerciales locales: "médico naturista... con telefono 43694095"; "curandero...."; "use el mejor fertilizando... se llama... cómprelo en la Agropecuaria...". Los comerciales son leídos por OM e YL en quechua y español. A 0758 ID por locutora: "Están escuchando Radio La Voz del Campesino... en el Departamento de Cochabamba". Luego, una bonita pieza de música instrumental andina. After, very 24232 (Conexión Digital May 11 via DXLD) This followed a lengthy discussion of this as an unID and whether it were the Huancabamba Peruvian reported near the same frequency (gh, DXLD) {See 2-077 PERU} ** BRAZIL. A legítima música sertaneja, também conhecida como "música de raiz" pelos paulistas, tem destaque na programação da Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo. Aos domingos, é apresentado "Ponteado". Confira em 6170 kHz, a partir de 0800. Entretanto, o transmissor costuma ser ligado às 0900. O programa é feito exclusivamente com pedidos de ouvintes. Endereço: Rádio Cultura, Rua Cenno Sbrighi, 378, Água Branca, 05036-900, São Paulo(SP). E-mail: ponteado@r... [truncated by yahoogroups] A Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo, foi sintonizada, em 17815 kHz, aqui em Porto Alegre, em 10 de maio. Às 1333, era apresentada reportagem sobre peça de teatro quando o sinal saiu do ar abruptamente. No lugar, apareceu a Rádio Romênia Internacional, em árabe, pois às 1344, o locutor fez a identificação: "Huna Bucareste". Depois de muito tempo, consegui sintonizar, novamente, a Rádio Nacional da Amazônia em 11780 kHz, em 25 metros. Foi em 10 de maio, às 1438, quando era apresentado o seguinte anúncio: "ligue para o telefone do ouvinte e participe da nossa programação!". O sinal era ruim. Surge, nos próximos dias, a primeira emissora de rádio feita inteiramente por universitários. É a grande mudança que ocorre com a programação da Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo, que deixa os programas religiosos da Igreja Deus é Amor. Os alunos de jornalismo da Faculdade Cásper Líbero devem cuidar da programação musical e dos noticiários da emissora. A Gazeta pode ser captada, em ondas curtas, nas freqüências de 5955, 9685 e 15325 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX May 11 via DXLD) Nestes dias reparei que em torno de 10365 até 10470 aproximadamente, recebo com certa intensidade sinais distorcidos da rádio Gazeta que transmite em 9685 kHz. Peguei outro receptor e ouvi a mesma emissão espúria usando a própria antena telescópica, para verificar se era um defeito no meu receptor, o que aparentemente não é (?). Alguém poderia confirmar esta situação e/ou dar uma explicação sobre o que está acontecendo? Sds, (Sarmento Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Maybe mix with their MW frequency, which is? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Back a few years ago I was a big fan of CBC Radio. I thought so much of their service that I volunteered to help publicize their programs on this forum and listened to them a couple hours a day. Lately, however, I find little of interest on CBC. I still make a point of listening to Quirks and Quarks on Saturday morning because I am a technogeek and find many of the topics interesting. If I remember to tune it in, I will also listen to Basic Black on the CBC North Quebec service on Saturday morning. But that's about it. Great programs like "As It Happens" and "Sunday Edition" once had a broad international focus and they often conducted very interesting interviews with newsmakers all over the world. Once AIH attempted to phone the Pope to interview him about some issue. (They couldn't get past the palace guard.) Now they interview authors pushing their newest book instead of the real people doing stuff. Today I find both of these programs to be inwardly focused mostly on Canadian issues. I guess that is a result of trying to make their programs more relevant to their target audience. But even their self- reflecting musings often seem to me to be dwelling on trivial matters. AIH has quit providing advance information about what they are going to broadcast so I have little incentive to tune in since I do not know what they are going to feature. In depth reports usually require some time for preparation so the general topic is known days in advance. The lack of advance AIH program information may simply be a reflection of the fact that they aren't doing many in-depth reports these days but are simply reacting to the headlines of the day with "experts" like so many talking heads we encounter on our domestic TV news channels. Maybe what I think I am observing is simply a shift in my own interests but I think the focus of CBC has really shifted from explaining the world to Canada (And via RCI to the USA) to a new focus which seems to be explaining Canada to Canada as cheaply as possible. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me getting old and crotchety? (~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., Joe Buch, DE, May 8, swprograms via DXLD) I, for one, don't think it's just you (but the "old and crotchety" part I'm leaving alone). At one time, programs like AIH and "This Morning" (previously Morningside) had comparatively very large staffs of researchers and segment producers. Doing this type of work well is very labour intensive and the expense of it was reflected in that. Of course, if you cut the budgets, you reduce the resources (people, expertise, time and money) that can be devoted to the program at large and, coordinately, to the research for and production of each individual segment. So, you shift to longer segments that require less research and background...or you just forego a lot of the latter in the interest of "getting the job done". That's where the "dumbing down" effect comes from, IMHO. And I'm not smart enough to know for sure if this is a result of listeners placing a lower priority on the product and the managers and bean counters following suit --- or whether the cause and effect is the other way around. Once it starts, though, it seems to gather a momentum all its own. One thing I do know: the execs who foster this sort of thing keep grabbing and getting a larger and larger share of the available budget. I've made it known how I feel about the off the rails "business/craft ratio" broadcasting (commercial and, increasingly, so-called public) has today, so I won't go any further down that road here, except to say that it all comes down to priorities (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) I get the CBC information by e-mail via their HOTSHEETS every evening around 5 PM eastern time. Anyone can go to the CBC web site and get on their mailing list. Sometimes the e-mail server at CBC gets bogged down. If I do not have the message by 6 PM, I check for the HOTSHEETS on the newsgroup alt.radio.networks.cbc. If that doesn't work I try to find it on the CBC web site. I provide some "value added" by showing when the program airs on SW in UTC and what frequencies are available. There is no sign of cooperation from CBC or Radio Canada International. In fact, in the case of RCI, there has been a negative attitude demonstrated. The HOTSHEETS are prepared for announcers to read as promo's for upcoming programs. Once the promo's are written, it is a simple matter for CBC to gather them into one message for publication via the internet. I once contacted an RCI person in Montreal to suggest that RCI do what CBC was doing via the HOTSHEETS. The lady I corresponded with had been recommended to me by Sheldon Harvey who knew she had a function to promote RCI. Her response was that RCI did not have any money to devote to such an effort. As a courtesy, I sent her copies of my postings each evening hoping that she would see the benefit of a similar publication for programs produced by RCI. After a few months, she sent me an e-mail requesting that I no longer send her my daily postings. End of story. Your observation that international broadcasters do not promote their product very well is certainly true in the case of RCI from my perspective. I receive neither cooperation nor recognition that anyone at CBC or RCI sees any value for what I do. I began doing what I do because I liked many CBC programs and wanted to share my enjoyment with other SWL's. As you may have detected in my "Is it me or CBC?" thread, I only listen now on Saturday mornings with any regularity. I am waiting for the rumored CBC program revisions that are supposed to take effect this fall before deciding whether I continue this effort. From what I have heard about the new format, it will rely heavily on phone-in programs aired live all across Canada. I am not sure that format will work for an international audience unless they can find a few world class hosts who can make such a program interesting. I do not think Michael Enright, Sheila Rogers, or Barbara Budd will do well with this kind of format. Time will tell. In terms of the general shortwave scene, only a few broadcasters see fit to advertise in the WRTH (latest issue I have is 2000) and there are no ads in Passport 2002 that I could find. It's harder to be sure in Passport because they do not provide an index of advertisers that I could find. One would think that broadcasters trying to promote their product would at least advertise in handbooks keyed to the people who own shortwave radios. I think I remember WRUL ads in Time magazine back in the 1950's. I think that was a tradeout as I distinctly remember WRUL used to run commercials for the Latin American edition of Time magazine. I cannot remember any ads by broadcasters in general circulation news magazines in recent years. I have seen ads by Grundig trying to boost interest in shortwave so they can sell radios. That is well and good as far as it goes. I think the Grundig ads should be done in partnership with major league broadcasters for maximum effectiveness. The product that should be advertised is the programming that is available on shortwave. If people can be made curious about the programming available, the radio sales will come. Government sponsored shortwave stations generally have no idea how to promote their services because the people who work for such entities are not entrepreneurs. They are civil servants, typically content to do only what they must to keep their jobs. In the case of CBC and RCI, they seem more absorbed by their working conditions and other labor issues than they are in any long term innovative approaches to making their services more customer-friendly and relevant (~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*- .,_,.-*~'^'~*-., Joe Buch, DE, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC RADIO ELIMINATES THIS MORNING LOCAL SHOWS CUT BACK AS SCHEDULE REVAMPED National Post Online May 7, 2002 Chris Cobb, Ottawa Citizen, with files from The Canadian Press The CBC is scrapping its national morning radio show This Morning and cutting half an hour from its local morning shows across the country as part of a major overhaul of its daily radio schedule. However, Adrian Mills, the network's radio programming chief, said the 25-year-old parliamentary show The House will remain on the Saturday morning schedule, following protests from politicians and the public about its demise. This Morning, the venerable radio institution that began life in the 1970s as This Country in the Morning hosted by Peter Gzowski will be scrapped this summer. The decisions were made after months of planning and consultations that included staff and listeners, Mr. Mills said. "Change is sometimes challenging for all of us," he said in a statement to CBC staff yesterday. "But it can also be inspiring." Plans for a radical facelift of the rest of the Saturday schedule have been shelved until the end of the year. But Basic Black will end in June when host Arthur Black retires and Saturday afternoon's Definitely Not the Opera will continue through the summer with a new host. Nora Young, the current host, has quit but is expected to return to the network in some other capacity. The cutting of the final half hour from local morning shows, and adding it to the national programming mix, is an effort to attract more listeners in their cars, Mr. Mills said yesterday. "We know that our share of audience drops quite significantly from eight o'clock," he said. "That's the point at which people are getting into their cars and going to work. We don't perform well when it comes to in-car listeners, so we want to do something that will grab the imagination sufficiently to compel people to turn us on in their cars." Of the 6.5 million anglophones listening to all radio stations across Canada at 8 a.m., 500,000 tune in to World Report, the morning peak for CBC Radio One. The audiences share shrinks rapidly as the news broadcast comes to an end. Under the revised schedule, the weekday morning lineup will consist of three program blocks. Local shows will air from 6 to 8:30 a.m., a new town-hall type of program will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m., dealing with issues of the day, and the 10 a.m. to noon block will incorporate both existing shows Workology and Out Front, and new program concepts now being developed. The demise of This Morning, hosted by Shelagh Rogers, after five years ends a long-running radio tradition. The show was the latest evolution of a morning show that began in 1971 with This Country in the Morning and was eventually followed by Morningside, which ran for 15 years. Mr. Mills said he was committed to keeping Ms. Rogers "and am working with her to develop her significant role in the new morning schedule." Mr. Mills had no details of the new programming but said regional hosts would be given the opportunity to broadcast beyond their current early-morning time slots and programming would be driven by the major news issues of the day. The new weekday morning schedule is expected to be in place by in the fall (via Dan Say via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA [NON]. NEWSWORLD MANAGES TO LIVE UP TO ITS NAME The National and foreign newscasts on the service getting noticed in the U.S. --- Sid Adilman, Toronto Star... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=9a24cabb28db2d0a&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1020961347088&call_page=TS_Entertainment&call_pageid=968867495754&call_pagepath=Entertainment/News&col=969483191630 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. RADIO VILLE-MARIE IN MONTRÉAL HAS BEEN AN ECUMENICAL STATION OF WORK IN PROGRESS Montréal (CRU)— Radio Ville-Marie (City of Mary) is an ecumenical powerhouse in Montréal and southern Québec. Comprising flagship CIRA, a 36,200-watt ERP station on 91.3 FM in Montréal, and CJMC-FM, a 15,150-watt ERP station on 100.3 FM in Sherbrooke, not far from the U.S. border, its slogan is ``Une Radio différente et intelligente qui va droit au coeur``— ``A different and intelligent radio station that goes straight to the heart.`` It has also been a station in transition. The website http://www.radiovm.com completely in French (we are talking Québec here) urges visitors and listeners: ``Écoutez, Informez-vous, Partagez, Méditez, priez``— ``Listen, be informed, participate, meditate, pray.`` Radio Ville-Marie offers ``les belles musiques`` (beautiful music) ``that have presence, intensity, attractiveness, and evoke images and sentiments.`` Current events (``actualités,`` the French love to call them) are ``presented and discussed by journalists and [there are] interviews done with the perspective of the spiritual development of the women and men of today. History, philosophy, art, literature, science, psychology, theology, day after day, the best of the human being.`` The reader is urged to join ``with families, youth, elderly, the sick, prisoners, the poor. Associate in the distress of people without a voice through daily call-in shows. Share the joy of life. Take part in the search for solutions with which to vanquish solitude, ennui, despair, suffering. Radio Ville-Marie is a place open to the heart, to mutual help, dialogue, healing. Meditate with the Churches. Celebrations and chants. Prayers from the heart that are in rhythm with life.`` ``Meditate with the Churches``— this clearly displays the ecumenical character of Radio Ville-Marie. Canada does not license radio and television stations to individual Churches, and its telecommunications agency, CRTC, will not consider a station that does not offer a variety of viewpoints on every matter. Hence, Radio Ville-Marie, no matter that Québec is principally Catholic, must offer programs of every faith. ``Our broadcasts are produced by teams from diverse religious traditions and our programming is open to the great spiritual questions of today,`` the home page states. ``The Christian World and its faith in Jesus; the Jewish world and the promises of the Covenant; the Muslim world and its fidelity to the Koran; the world of the great Oriental religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, and the great spiritual currents of today.`` ``I believe in these objectives,`` the site continues; ``a station of Christian inspiration that respects all the dimensions of the human spirit, in a world where the oppression of the person menaces us, in a world where one believes that power and money give a moral sense to existence, in a world where hope has died in so many youth, marginalized people, and elderly; in a world where one has lost one`s identity to the point where one does not know himself; in a world of transformation, the spiritual values can again give to life its true dimensions. Radio Ville-Marie and faith!`` The Story of Radio Ville-Marie Radio Ville-Marie was first conceived by several people working for Radio-Canada in May 1992; they met in the office of René Barbin to discuss putting a religious station on the air, and named it Radio Ville-Marie unanimously. A month later, M. Barbin met with Monsignor Jean-Claude Turcotte, the Archbishop of Montréal, who embraced the concept without hesitation and wrote a public letter supporting the station. Throughout the fall of 1992, that group met weekly to draw up detailed plans, a charter, a mission statement, a generalized program schedule, and secure tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization of ``bienfaisance`` from the Canadian government. In January 1993 the Dominicans lent their support, and the ``Amis de Radio Ville-Marie`` (Friends of Radio Ville-Marie) was formed with 55 members. On June 3rd, the CRTC published its new policy on religious broadcasting (Public Notice No. 78). Responding to a request for more information from CRTC, the group offered as a condition of license, ``Radio Ville-Marie is an organism with a nonprofit end (recognized by Revenue Canada as a beneficent organization), intended to offer a broadcast service essentially dedicated to Christian and inspirational broadcasts, ecumenical and open to the great spiritual currents of today.`` The station planned to sell 504 minutes of advertising a week to support the broadcast. Bureaucracies all over the world move slowly, and it was not until October 14, 1994, that Radio-Ville was issued ``a broadcasting license for exploitation in Montréal, on the frequency of 91.3 MHz, as an enterprise of FM radio programming in the French language, with a vocation essentially religious, with an effective radiated power of 36,200 watts. . . . The Council considers that the request of Radio Ville-Marie respects all the elements of the new policy and exceeds certain hopes, signs of a profound understanding of the objectives that the Council saw in the elaboration of its policies.`` The following February, Radio Ville-Marie moved into its studios and conducted two and one-half months of equipment testing, using tape cassettes at its transmitter site. On May 1, 1995, Radio Ville-Marie was on the air with CIRA 91.3 FM in Montréal. A year later audience survey firm Léger & Léger found an encouraging number of listeners and determined the programs that listeners preferred the most. On September 20, 1998, CIRA was joined by CJMC-FM 100.3 FM in Sherbrooke. The Programming Since I first visited the Radio Ville-Marie website in November 1999, there have been significant changes in programming and a new general manager. To look at the Monday schedule, ``Soleil Levant`` (Rising Sun) with René Barbin at 6 a.m. has been replaced with a program of sacred music; there no longer is Mass from the basilica of Notre-Dame at 7:30. Instead ``Rhythms of the Morning`` is broadcast. Religious news at 9 a.m. is gone; instead ``Colors and Melodies`` replaces it. Spiritual topic programs follow at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., the latter still ``Carrefour des Aînés.`` At noon the news is now carried from Radio Vatican, followed by ``Sur Deux Notes`` which continues from 1999. A long afternoon program, ``Les Yeux du Couer`` (The Eyes of the Heart) runs from 1 until 4:30 p.m., replacing several programs featured daily in fall 1999. At 4:30 p.m. ``Temps Libre`` (Free Time) runs till 6 p.m., when a broadcast, ``Le Monde en Direct`` (The World Direct) from Radio-Vatican follows. A new youth program has replaced the rosary at 6:30, and ``Angles de Société`` (Corners of Society) at 7 p.m., ``Chemin d`Interiorité`` (Path of the Interior Life) at 8:30 p.m., ``Musiques et Voix`` (Music and Voice) at 9:30 p.m., and ``Mélodies`` at 11 p.m. replace a series of other programs since abandoned. Two other new programs follow before midnight, ``Signe du Nuit`` (Night Sign) and ``Veille et Passages`` (``Veille`` is impossible to translate; it has multiple meanings that do not move to English: wakefulness, watching, vigil, insomnia, midnight work, late night hours.) Looking at weekend programming, we see that weekend programming has changed greatly, too. All the morning line-up until 11 a.m., has been overhauled. Gregorian Chants begin at 6 a.m., followed at 7 a.m. by ``Contes et Légendes`` (Stories and Legends), obviously for children; ``Du Pain sur la Table`` (Of Bread on the Table) at 8:30 a.m., ``Méli- Mélodies`` at 9 a.m. The 1999 afternoon line-up remains intact: 11 a.m., ``Rendez-Vous du Samedi`` (Saturday Rendevouz); 1 p.m. ``Dans Mon Temps`` (In My Times); 3:30 p.m. ``Musique à L`Écran`` (Screen Music, e.g., Hollywood films), and at 5 p.m. ``L`Aventure Gospel.`` There is one new program, at 3 p.m. Radio-Théatre, of a half-hour length. Are these plays, or discussions of the theater? Two evening program survive from 1999: ``Messe sur Le Monde`` (Mass on the World) at 7 p.m., and ``Entretiens`` at 8 p.m. There is a new program, ``Les Petits Bonheurs`` at 9 and a jazz program at 11 p.m. Clearly, many of the weekday and Saturday programs could indeed by non-Catholic. The Sunday schedule is much simplified, and there are no more repeat programs from the morning. The day begins at 6 a.m. with Gregorian Chants, followed at 7:30 by ``Méditation.`` ``Entretiens`` follows at 8, ``Horizons Spirituels`` at 9 a.m. A Jewish program, ``Chalom,`` has expanded from a minute length in 1999 to an hour program. Mass from Notre-Dame Basilica follows at 11 a.m., with News from Radio Vatican at 12:15. ``Miroir des Mots`` (Mirror of Words), a long- running program follows at 12:30. At 1 p.m., a new program, ``Carnet Littéraire`` (Literary Notebook); at 3 p.m., a new time for the long- running ``Présence de l``Orgue.`` A music interlude follows until 4 p.m., when the magnificent Evening Prayer from Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is broadcast, the Rev. Michael Pitts conducting. This Anglican service, equivalent to the Catholic and Orthodox Vespers, is an original program. ``Album de Pierre`` follows at 5 p.m., and the long-running program ``Regard Orthodoxe`` is heard at 7 p.m., a new time. So is the Sunday program on poetry, renamed as ``Notes et Poésie,`` heard at 8:30 p.m., with the program ``Histoire de Rire et de Pleurer`` (The Story of Laughter and Weeping) intervening. No other programs are indicated for Sunday evening. Although Radio Ville-Marie streams over the Internet, I did not listen, so I have not ground-proofed some impressions I have about the programming. It seems that much of it is music and commentary, perhaps with some guests, but that is speculation on my part. What is clear from comparison of the November 1999 and May 2002 program schedules is that Radio Ville-Marie has much simplified its schedule; there is nowhere near the multitude of 15, 30 and 60 minute programming that used to be. What do we make of this? Perhaps it is the same experience that American religious and secular stations have discovered: the idea of block programming, that is a schedule built of various ``blocks`` of programming no longer works. The audience has become much fragmented, and people who would listen to a program on contemporary Christian music may not stay tuned for a Rosary broadcast or a Mass, or even a discussion program. More so that would seem the case regarding programming targeted to different faiths. How likely are Catholics to listen to a Protestant minister, or a discussion of a controversy from a Protestant perspective, and vice versa? Do the Orthodox tune in only for their Sunday program? Do the Jews do the same? Is most of the programming a blend of Christian contemporary and rather generalized spiritual commentary? If so, do most Catholics listen? Clearly, the thrust of the station is Catholic, but still ecumenical. Its programming is a far cry from that of WJMJ Hartford on Sundays, where half-hour or hour programs of one Church after the other follow from early morning until late at night. There is another matter to be noted about Radio Ville-Marie. Although its Mission page says it operates 24 hours (as it did in 1999), none of the daily schedules indicate anything beyond midnight. Perhaps the station has found it impossible to stay on the air 24 hours. I do not know. Database Montréal: CIRA Radio Ville-Marie 91.3 FM. (36,200 watts). ``Au couer du monde spirituel; une nouvelle dimension de la radio.`` 505 Mont- Cassin Ave., H3L 1W7. (514) 382-3913, fax 858-0965. On air May 1, 1995. E-mail: info@radiovm.com Website: http://www.radiovm.com/index.html Audiostreams on the Internet. (In the Archdiocese of Montréal) Sherbrooke: CJMC-FM Radio Ville-Marie 100.3 FM (15,150 watts) Sainte- Anne des Monts. Repeats CIRA Montréal. Radio Ville-Marie. 170 Boul. Ste. Anne (G0E 2GO), or C.P. 820. (418) 763-5522, 763-5523, fax 763- 7211. On air September 20, 1998. (In the Archdiocese of Sherbrooke) (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update May 13 via DXLD) So where`s the Buddhist, Islamic, etc. programming?? Aside from a few Protestant and one token Jewish show, it`s obviously overwhelmingly Catholic (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. SPECIAL GOLDEN JUBILEE PREFIXES FOR CANADA On the 6th of May, the Canadian licensing authority, Industry Canada, authorised all Canadian radio amateurs to use special prefixes to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Her Majesty the Queen is, of course, also Queen of Canada. The following special prefixes are authorised on a voluntary basis between the 18th of May and 18th of July: All VE stations may use the prefix XM, VA stations may use XL, VOs may use XN, while VY stations may use the prefix XO. The period of authorisation includes the RSGB Jubilee Contest on the 8th and 9th of June, as well as the Radio Amateurs of Canada's Canada Day Contest http://www.rac.ca/CANDAY.htm on the 1st of July and the IARU HF Championship on the 13th and 14th of July (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News May 12 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** CHINA. I recently saw a notice for a job vacancy for editors at CRI. I wonder if you ever considered such a position. I know you lived in the Asia over 30 years ago, plus to did visit Radio Beijing a while ago, so it would not be all that foreign for you. But it might be hard to leave OK! (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmmm, not really interested (gh) ** COLOMBIA. Enlace a un reportaje sobre la situación de la radio colombiana, a pesar que es de una revista económica contiene mucha información sobre formatos y cifras. Un saludo http://www.dinero.com/larevista/156/NEGOCIOS.ASP (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. Habana clashes with WYFR again: see VENEZUELA [non] ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. RADIO FREE EUROPE LIKELY BE MOVED FROM CENTRE OF PRAGUE - PREMIER | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 10 May: Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and representatives of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) should sign an agreement on moving RFE from the centre of Prague, Premier Milos Zeman told BBC on Thursday [9 May], Pravo writes today. Zeman said that "an entirely concrete building with all requisite parameters" had been proposed. He however would not say where the building is located. Turning to the possibility of building a completely new seat, he said that "Czech press reports are in their majority nothing but rumours." Zeman said that Kavan is obliged and has an opportunity to fulfil a resolution of the government and National Security Council which assigns him to conclude the agreement. Some time ago Czech authorities were considering building a new RFE seat for instance in the abandoned barracks in Klecany on the outskirts of Prague. Soldiers and armoured vehicles have guarded RFE since last autumn when the USA was the target of terrorist attacks. The US-financed RFE/RL moved to Prague from Munich in 1995 and it is seated in the former Federal Assembly building. The decision to launch negotiations with the station's officials on its moving outside the city's centre were started late last year. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 2215 gmt 9 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Radio Prague programming is now also carried within the CRo 6 - Svobodna Evropa network on 1071, 1233 and 1287. Detailed schedule according to Michael Strassmann: Daily 1000-1030 German, 1030-1045 French, 1045-1100 Spanish (instead for the whole 1030-1100 period on Saturdays Spanish, on Sundays French), 1100-1130 Russian, 1130-1200 English. The 1000 transmission is in fact the first airing of the daily German programme and not // shortwave where the 1000 slot contains just another replay of the previous day`s programme. During the recent years there were no longer any mediumwave transmissions of Radio Prague programming, namely the evening broadcasts on 1287 are history since this frequency was handed over to RFE back in 1990. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4780, Radio Oriental, Napo (Tena). QSL card full data, personal letter and sticker. I sent a reception report in English plus US$ 1. Confirmation received in 121 days. V/S Luis Enrique Espin Espinoza (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. [Re query in Cosmopolita report]: "bx" is a Swedish DX abbreviation for tape recorder (in Swedish "bandspelare" (band = tape, spelare = player)). 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. Hi all. Last trip out to the farm saw the reappearance of an old friend in the form of Guyana on 3291.3. According to Craig this has been absent for a while. Heard at best strength so far so maybe is at full power. Heard from 0930 with Hindi and EE vocals. Cheers, (John Schache, Australia, May 11, ARDXC via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. RRI Fak Fak on 4789 became inactive on May 7. RRI Biak on 6153 became inactive in the beginning of May (Atsunori Ishida, JAPAN) RRI Jakarta on 15125 became inactive in the middle of May (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN) (all: Jembatan DX May 12, via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Ship Radio: The Australian ``Kanimbla`` - A unique and remarkable radio broadcasting station Back in the days before World War II, there were two ships in Australasian (OS-tral-Asian) waters that were quite famous in the international radio scene. One was the ``Awatea`` (AH-wa-TEE-a) that plied across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, and we will tell you the story of that ship radio station on another occasion. The other ship radio station was aboard the MV ``Kanimbla`` (ka-NIM- bla) that plied in Australian waters. Both ships were built in the United Kingdom, both were launched in the year 1936, and both were noted for the broadcast of radio programming; the ``Kanimbla`` as VK9MI and the ``Awatea`` as ZMBJ. The notable fact about the passenger liner ``Kanimbla`` is that it was the only ship in the entire history of our world in which a radio broadcasting station was constructed into the ship at the time when the ship was built. The 11,000 ton passenger liner ``Kanimbla`` was built at Belfast in Northern Ireland, by the famous ship building company, Harland & Wolff. The electronic equipment was manufactured by AWA in Australia and shipped to Ireland for installation while the ship was still under construction. The ``Kanimbla`` was granted by the PMG Department in Australia a radio broadcasting license with the experimental callsign VK9MI and, as we mentioned earlier, it is the only ship in the world to have a radio broadcasting station incorporated into it at the time of construction. The radio station consisted of two studios; one for group broadcasts, and the other for announcer presentation. The crystal controlled transmitter was rated at 1.5 kW, though the QSL card states that the output into the antenna system was just 50 watts. This would seem to suggest that the original broadcast transmitter mal-functioned quite early and that the broadcast programs were then radiated from the ship`s communication transmitter. The original AWA transmitter could operate on any wavelength between 20 and 50 meters. The first test broadcast from 9MI was made on April 21, 1936 during sea trials in the Firth of Clyde. The new MV ``Kanimbla`` began its delivery voyage from Northern Ireland to Australia at 4:00 am on April 26, 1936. It is reported that the radio station 9MI made four test broadcasts each day during this 15,000 mile journey to Australia. The official inauguration of the new radio broadcasting station VK9MI was made in a special broadcast to Australia while the ship was south of the continent in the Great Australian Bight,1,000 miles from Sydney. At 8:00 pm Eastern Australian Standard Time, VK9MI went on the air shortwave and the program was picked up and relayed throughout Australia over the ABC mediumwave network. This inaugural broadcast from 9MI was made on 11720 kHz, though subsequently the regular channel was 6005 kHz, though this was modified in April 1939 to 6055 kHz. The at times irregular schedule from VK9MI was usually half an hour or an hour a few evenings a week. The announcer and manager was Eileen Foley, who also signed the QSL cards. The ``Kanimbla`` plied with passenger traffic backwards and forwards on the southern route between Western Australia and Queensland, and the ports of call in this shuttle service were:- Fremantle in Western Australia Adelaide in South Australia Melbourne in Victoria Sydney in New South Wales; and Brisbane and Mackay in Queensland. The local AWA mediumwave stations on land in each of these areas frequently relayed the shortwave programming from VK9MI to the local audience. Among these stations were 2AY in Albury New South Wales, 3BO in Bendigo Victoria, and 4CA in Cairns (pronounced as in air) Queensland. On many occasions, radio station VK9MI was heard on shortwave throughout Australia and New Zealand, and many QSL cards were signed by the famous woman announcer, Eileen Foley. As time went by, the transmitter began to malfunction and it produced a noisy wide signal in the 49 meter band. At the outbreak of the European War at the beginning of September 1939, the radio station VK9MI was silenced, along with all other experimental shortwave stations in Australia. The ``Kanimbla`` then became a troop carrier, and after the war, it was unceremoniously scrapped. The unique ship broadcasting station VK9MI was on the air therefore for a period of just three and a half years. All that is left of this radio station these days is found in radio memorabilia, such as entries in old radio magazines, and articles and books on the history of radio broadcasting, and a few isolated QSL cards in old QSL collections. During the entire period of on-air activity, only one QSL card was printed to verify reception reports. The Pacific Heritage Collection in Dunedin holds a few copies of this exotic QSL card, the CPRV collection in Maryland in the United States holds at least one copy, and there is just one copy of this valuable QSL card in the AWR collection in Indianapolis. Our card was signed personally by the veteran woman announcer, Eileen Foley (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan May 5 via DXLD) ** IRAN. As I sit here, it is 1330 GMT, May 12. I am listening to the Voice of Iran on 11695. Signal is weak, but not terrible. It appears to be in Hindi, but was almost certainly Arabic a few minutes ago. I heard the little "jingle" that VOIRI plays usually just before the news (that's what cinched it for me), and then the speaker started reading in Hindi... Many mentions of Pakistan (Bruce Lindner in Portland, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [AND NON]. VOIRI NOW ON TELSTAR 5 KU The Iranian government continues to expand their worldwide-offering. Sahar-TV, an AlJazeera-like service broadcasts in (at least) Arabic, Farsi, English, and Urdu. Here in North America, SaharTV can be seen on Telstar 5 Ku, 97 degrees West, 11836 GHz Vertical polarization, 20765 Symbol Rate, 2/3rd Forward Error Correction (FEC). Video identifier is 408, main Sahar Audio identifier is 356. Multiplexed on this feed happens to be two audio streams of Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It's located on the 2nd Audio Program (Audio ID = 357). Left channel and right channel audio feeds are distinct. While most programming is in Eurasian, and African languages, I did catch VOIRI's English service at 1600 UT today. Telstar 5 offers a wealth of high quality world-oriented audio. Along with World Radio Network feeds, one can hear VOIRI, Voice of Turkey, DWelle German, many domestic stations... There's even an all-Afghani station from Los Angeles! All on a 30 to 36" dish. See http://www.lyngsat.com/t5.shtml for details (TK Wood, Virginia, May 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. Latest articles on the Radio Heritage Collection include the story of New Zealand's military radio station in occupied Japan... Colin Buck (technician) and I travelled by train through the under-sea tunnel from Honshu to Kyushu where I presented a half-hour NZ programme over the US Army 'Voice of America' network...When I came Off Air, the Americans put on a beer party for us. They eventually took us to the train and we found that our carriage had been loaded up with all manner of radio station goodies including a great many records... their only proviso being that we cue out the announcer's words 'This is the Voice of America'. Read the rest at http://radiodx.com/spdxr/kiwis_japan.htm And check out other new postings at http://radiodx.com/spdxr/Articles.htm Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. Hi Glenn, I know that you monitor RKI quite closely, but just thought I`d let you know that Multi-wave feedback on their webcast started at 1200 May 12. It suffered interruptions for re- buffering. The SW broadcast on 9650 started at 1208 (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. RTM Madagascar has been on the air very late for several days now. Audible here past 2200. Heard on 5010 and sometimes also on 3287.5v. The opposition broadcast heard here in Finland on 7130 between 1700 and 1900. They have relayed FM-station MBS when I heard them. According to Mahendra they at times also relay other FM- stations of that area. I have not yet heard the 31mb frequency 9620 (ex-9685). Note that these frequencies may be jammed by RTM programming. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, May 10, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. While preparing an umpteenth follow-up, I discovered this homepage http://www.xerta.8m.com/ Not much there, and not sure if current (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet May 11 via DXLD) Ha! Claims to be ``high power`` on ``4810``, rather than low-power drifting all over the 60mb (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. I listened to Jakada R on 12125 last Wednesday at the 1900 s/on. The tune-up procedure was that normally used by Tbilisskaya ("Armavir/Krasnodar"). 73 (Olle Alm, Sweden, May 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Jakada website is no longer to be `found`, even by searching at geocities. What has become of it? (gh to Ludo Maes) There has been a slight change in URL, now updated at our website (Ludo Maes, TDP to gh) Viz.: http://www.geocities.com/nac6015/webs/jakada/ ** OKLAHOMA. (Note: went to KVOO-AM's website at http://www.kvoo.com, simply said "Under Construction" and watch for KVOO-98.5 FM). From 5/10/02 online edition of Tulsa World newspaper: KVOO AM SWITCHES TO ALL-TALK FORMAT MICHAEL SMITH World Entertainment Writer, 05/10/2002 KVOO (1170 AM) is getting a D-I-V-O-R-C-E from its classic country roots in favor of an all- talk format beginning next week, changing its call letters to KFAQ and branding itself as "Tulsa's Talk Radio." The Journal Broadcast Group is marrying off the classic country fare to its KVOO (98.5 FM) sister station, mixing with current artists like Alan Jackson and Martina McBride to emerge as "Tulsa's True Country." The new KVOO creation kicked off Thursday night. KFAQ could begin broadcasting its new talk format as early as Wednesday, featuring syndicated programs with hosts including Bill O'Reilly and Michael Savage in addition to veteran local talk host Michael Del Giorno, station general manager Jay Werth said. "Every radio company evaluates all of the assets that they have in a market, and we really felt there was an opportunity for an alternative talk choice in Tulsa," Werth said. "And we don't have to lose KVOO, the call letters that stand for country," he added. "Our research ... has indicated that KVOO -- in this marketplace -- stands for and means country." Del Giorno, a former radio personality at both KRMG (740 AM) and KTBZ (1430 AM), will work the KFAQ afternoon drive time, 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and serve as program director. For the 6-9 a.m. Monday-Friday shift, the station adds Scott Allen Miller, who moves from a Kansas City, Mo., talk station. A KVOO (1170 AM) show, "Legends of Bluegrass" with Dennis McAtee, will switch to the FM side. A Sunday morning gospel music show and "Green Country Outdoors" will stay on the AM side. The popular "Still Swingin,'" with hosts Billy Parker and John Wooley, will have a presence on both stations. KFAQ will continue to carry the University of Oklahoma football and basketball broadcasts, and Jenks High School football games will join the lineup. Weekday radio personalities for KVOO will include Kevin Clay and Heather Miles, 5:30-10 a.m.; Dick Loftin, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Bob Cooper, 3-7 p.m.; and Charlene Lewis, 7 p.m.-midnight. Copyright © 2002, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved. (via Robert Wien, May 10, IRCA via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Shawnee and Norman: Since I haven`t any DX to convey, let me report on some local observations while travelling this week, using motel cable, and portable RS 5" continuous-tuning TV for airchecks. We spent a night in Shawnee, and couldn`t help but notice that ``local`` KQOK-30 had a rather weak signal compared to e.g., KAUT-43 in OKC. So KQOK is either lower-powered than 5 MW or not really in Shawnee, or both. The next evening in Norman, KQOK was extremely strong, enough to put an image around ch. 15. And they have a prime(?) spot on Cox Cable OKC (Norman version), channel 5. We also discovered an LP on air, KDSA-LP NORMAN OKLA continuous ID across bottom of screen, on channel 11, with infomercial when first checked and later some religious network, Inspiration? with a peculiar bug lower-right. On Dave Pomeroy`s request, we looked for a channel 46 in Norman. No sign of anything there. We did have OKC area LPs detectable on 17, 20 (Sulphur? a bit far), 22, 38, 54, 58 or 59. FWIW, a few more observations on cable in Norman OK: ch 3 has something called the-n.com evidently a network especially for teen-agers! ch 4, THE WIRE, http://wire.ou.edu with rock music, ads, repeating computer graphic slide show, but with some nice art, ``Norman`s New Music -- ALTERNATIVE``, 325-WIRE may be called to ID a song heard. The Gaylord (ugh!) College of Journalism (sic) and Mass Communications apparently has something to do with this. Also one may write to news4n-@ou.edu I make records of cable lineups wherever I visit, but won`t bother with that here, except for a few notes. Local access can be found on 18, 20 and 22, the latter seemingly nothing but text. This system manages to go up to channel 78 (which has continuous color bars and COX COMMUNICATIONS OKLAHOMA CITY ID), including a number of programs missing from Cox in Enid; wonder why? Not that we are itching to watch SPEED or GOLF, but sure would like to have BRAVO on extended basic. No DX? Well, actually, some Es was doing some heavy CCI on KFOR-4 (from zero offset station), and on KOCO-5 (also from zero-offset station) for a few minutes around 0220 UT May 9. 73, (Glenn Hauser, back in Enid OK, WTFDA May 11 via DXLD) http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen?lon=-97.3372&lat=35.28055&wid=0.5&ht=0.5&mark=-97.3372,35.28055,redpin,KQOK[30] (hopefully that all comes out on one line) It's a link to a map of KQOK's transmitter site. They have an application in to move, but by less than a kilometer. If the link doesn't work, your later supposition is correct – the KQOK transmitter is on the north side of Norman. KDSA-LP: I believe this station carries "Daystar", a relatively new religious network which appears to be headquartered in Atlanta. They have an affiliate on channel 14 in Nashville – that is, when the satellite receiver is working properly. Good to know this station is now on channel 11. It was originally licensed on channel 46 but will be displaced by KOCM, a full-power station (2089 kW) at Norman. Apparently KOCM isn't yet on (Doug Smith, MN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. NEW FM RADIO STATION LAUNCHED IN SOUTHERN TOWN OF MARKA | Text of report by Somali newspaper Xog-Ogaal on 11 May An FM radio station was yesterday officially launched at the headquarters of Lower Shabelle Region, Marka. The name of the new FM station is Radio Shabelle. The station has been airing question and answer programmes for some time. According to a report received from the owner of the station, Mr Abd al-Rahman Yusuf Mahmud, the new FM station will be available on 94.4 MHz and will carry news reports and various other programmes, adding that the radio will reach Barire, Buulo-Gob Weyne and Barawe towns [all in Lower Shabelle Region]. Mahmud further said the station hopes to expand and encompass a modern television station. He said the station will sign on at 7 a.m. [local time] and sign off at 9 a.m. The station will again sign on at 1. p.m. and continue until midnight. Source: Xog-Ogaal, Mogadishu, in Somali 11 May 02 p2 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. See BELGIUM ** TAIWAN. NARRATOR: THE SHORTWAVE SCENE IN TAIWAN The shortwave scene on the island of Taiwan is at the same time, both very interesting and very complex, and it stretches back over long eras of time with a multitude of different transmitter locations. The first known shortwave broadcasts from this large island at the edge of the western Pacific went on the air back at the time when Taiwan was known as Formosa, and the capital city Taipei was known as Taihoku (TIE-HOE-KOO). As noted in a previous edition of Wavescan, the first shortwave broadcasts in Taiwan were a relay from a mediumwave station JFAB, apparently using the facilities of a communication station with the callsign JFA. Back in the pre-war days, there is only one known QSL from Taiwan, the island that locals say is shaped like a tobacco leaf, and that was received by a listener in Sydney, Australia. Soon after the close of the Pacific War, large numbers of Chinese people migrated very quickly from the mainland to the nearby island of Taiwan. One of the major results of this shifting political situation was the construction of a large number of shortwave stations, both for local coverage as well as for international coverage. It is safe to state that more than forty shortwave stations have been on the air over the years from Taiwan. Two thirds of these stations were quite small low powered operations for local coverage, whereas other stations were established for national and international coverage. The first new shortwave station on Taiwan was erected somewhere around the year 1957. This was a 50 kW unit and apparently located at Panchiao (PAHN-CHOW) on the western edge of Taipei. Other stations followed in many different locations, though always on the coast or near the coastal areas. It is reported that most of the large shortwave stations on Taiwan were erected with financial support from the United States. These large stations have been noted on the air over the years with American programming, and with locally produced programming also. In fact, at one stage some years ago, both Radio Liberty and the Voice of Free China were issuing QSL cards for the same broadcasts. The location names of most of the shortwave stations on Taiwan are known, though it is not always clear just which station has been on the air with which programming. It can be equally difficult to find a particular location on a large map. When searching for a transmitter location on the island of Taiwan, it is necessary to use a map that transliterates the location names from Chinese into English in the same way as the names are given in radio publications, otherwise it is almost impossible to locate these facilities. A large number of local shortwave stations have been on the air from locations all around the island and these have been owned by both the Broadcasting Corporation of China as well as by local agencies, such as the police, the army, the air force and the civil defence authorities. Some units owned their own shortwave facilities whereas others leased air time over a nearby BCC station. All of the large shortwave stations in Taiwan that have been on the air with international programming beamed to the Chinese mainland and beyond have been located on the west coast of the island, in an arc stretching from the northern tip of the island down to about 150 kilometers from the southern tip of the island. Many names have been given over the years as the location name for these large shortwave transmitting stations, and it would seem that in some cases the same location has been known under two or perhaps even three different location names. Even to this day, it is not known exactly just how many large shortwave stations are on the air, nor where exactly they are all located, though these days not one of the small shortwave stations is now on the air. They were all closed progressively some years ago as FM coverage was extended to all areas of the entire island. A little later in this program, you will hear specifically about Radio Liberty and its shortwave stations on Taiwan; and on another occasion, we will tell the story of the many other international shortwave stations that have taken out a relay over the years from stations on Taiwan. * What Happened to Radio Liberty on Taiwan? These days, the story of Radio Liberty on the air from shortwave facilities on the island of Taiwan is almost forgotten. Better known is Radio Liberty in Europe, with its large transmitter bases located at Lampertheim (LUMP-AIR-TIME) in Germany, and Pals in Spain. Radio Liberty on Taiwan was on the air for a period approaching 20 years. The initial broadcasts went on the air shortwave on May 1, 1955, using at first a 1 kW transmitter, supplemented a little later with a 25 kW unit. The original transmitter location was at Panchao (PAHN-CHOW) which is located just beyond the western edge of their capital city, Taipei. This was an interim location while a new base was constructed at Pali (PAH-LEE), on the coast 20 km north of Taipei. Originally, the international radio station at Pali contained four shortwave transmitters at 50 kW each, three of which were on the air with the international programming of Radio Liberty. The Broadcasting Corporation of China, BCC, and the Voice of Free China, VOFC, used one transmitter exclusively and the other three when available. The programming from Radio Liberty Taiwan, it is stated, was beamed to the eastern areas of Russia and Siberia, though it would appear that they were also on the air in Chinese to the nearby mainland. QSL cards were issued for the Radio Liberty Taiwan broadcasts from the address in Germany, and at one stage, also by the Voice of Free China. This station, Radio Liberty Taiwan, left the air at the end of the broadcast schedule on the last day of he year 1973, thus closing its almost 20 year history. The transmitters at Pali were taken into full time usage by BBC and VOFC, though in more recent time they have been replaced by larger units at 100 kW, five of which are listed as in current usage (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan May 12 via DXLD) ** U K. Hi Glenn, Some sad news: BBC teletext is reporting that one of the seven people who died in yesterday's UK rail tragedy at Potters Bar was Austen Kark CBE, 75, who was Head of BBC World Service from 1974 to 86 [sic]. His wife, author Nina Bawden, was traveling with him and survived the crash (Andy Sennitt, ex-UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EX-BBC CHIEF IS AMONG DEAD More details from London Evening Standard 11th May: A former head of the BBC World Service has been named as one of the seven victims of the Potters Bar rail disaster. Austen Kark, 75, died as he travelled with his author wife, who writes under the name Nina Bawden, on the 12.45 pm WAGN train from King's Cross to King's Lynn. Ms Bawden, 77, an award-winning author, remains in Barnet General Hospital with a fractured collarbone and ankle, but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, said her family. A granddaughter said: "This is a terrible tragedy for the whole family. We are only just coming to terms with it." Mr Kark, who lived with his second wife Nina in Islington, north London, was managing director of the BBC External Broadcasting Service, now the World Service, 1985-86. A trainee journalist with the Belfast Telegraph, he later became a freelance reporter and broadcaster both in London and New York. He joined the BBC in 1954 as a scriptwriter and became head of the corporation's south European service in 1964. He reported from, among other places, Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. By 1973 he was appointed editor of the World Service and six years later chaired an inquiry in to the future of radio and television in Zimbabwe for Robert Mugabe, who was then Prime Minister. Mr Kark, who also served in the Royal Navy, was deputy managing director of the World Service from 1981-85 before heading up the service (via Andy Sennitt, May 11, DXLD) ** U K. Glenn, Here are links to various background articles from the world press about Britain's Communications Bill proposal. UK: The Independent: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=292925 The Scotsman: http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/business.cfm?id=493662002 BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_1973000/1973563.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1396000/1396611.stm Reuters: http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=CM0TLPOI3ZVTICRBAEZSFFAKEEATIIWD?type=topnews&StoryID=931396 Financial Times: http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3GD9P4Y0D&live=true&tagid=ZZZPB7GUA0C&subheading=UK U.S.: Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2002/05/07/rtr594603.html http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2002/05/07/rtr594460.html Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/international/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1484543 CBS http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B4A865A74%2D2975%2D47E6%2DA492%2D73F66DCE9DA7%7D&siteid=mktw NEW ZEALAND: NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/./latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=1844106&thesection=news&thesubsection=world Glenn, Here's another batch of press follow-up on the British Communications Bill and attendant fallout. UK: Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,712246,00.html Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/business/comment/story.jsp?story=293220 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=293233 The Scotsman: http://www.business.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4666054 Telegraph: http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml;$sessionid$WNFJJUQAAAQAHQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/money/2002/05/09/cnitv09.xml&sSheet=/money/2002/05/09/ixcity.html Financial Times: http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT32Z84HY0D&live=true&useoverridetemplate=ZZZ99ZVV70C&tagid=ZZZPB7GUA0C&subheading=UK US: Forbes http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2002/05/08/rtr595969.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U K. From the-sun.co.uk Fri, May 10, 2002 TOASTER SPEAKS RUSSIAN, By JOHN COLES FED-UP villagers are waking up to their toasters speaking RUSSIAN. Phones and other electrical appliances in the sleepy hamlet are also talking in tongues. And windscreen wipers mysteriously switch on when locals go out for a drive. The bizarre phenomenon in Hooke, Dorset, is down to a radio centre in nearby Rampisham that transmits the BBC World Service round the globe. The signals are so powerful they are picked up by every kind of electric appliance. Parish Council chairman John Dalton reckons the events would not be out of place in the X Files. He said: "I've heard music and foreign voices through a toaster and an electric organ. "And I was amazed when I got the World Service signature tune through a toaster." Some locals have reported interference on TVs - and videos that cannot record. John added: "There have even been stories of windscreen wipers starting up by themselves when they go past the Rampisham aerials on the main road." Business at a local education centre has also suffered. Boss Mandy Cooke said: "It can be absolutely infuriating because the phones are often blocked by interference." She claimed complaints to the BBC, BT and phone watchdog Oftel had fallen on deaf ears. But Merlin Communications - which owns the transmitter - said: "If people are having problems they should get in touch with us." (Pictures of the "talking toaster" and Rampisham aerials are at: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2002211241,00.html ) (via Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, I noticed these entries under Sundays in "Shows We Like": 0100-0200 WQXR CHAMBER MUSIC FROM KOSCIUSZKO FOUNDATION 0100-0200 WQXR ON WINGS OF SONG Right now, I'm hearing WQXR with Music with Candice Agree. Some very enjoyable music by William Grant Still (his birthday today), but not what you list above. BTW, Candice was an intern for Howard Stern at WNBC in New York. Since then, she has worked in the Russian and English language services at Voice of America in Washington, DC, as well as for WETA-FM, WNCN-FM, WNYC-FM, SW Networks, ABC Radio Network, WNBC, and WAXQ. She was called by CBS News to be the off-camera announcer for "The Saturday Early Show" and CBS News "Sunday Morning," based on her on-air "performance" on WQXR. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) I had just discovered that the programs on WQXR UT Sun 0100-0200 in MONITORING REMINDERS are not weekly, but `occasional`, so specified the next airdates. But WQXR keeps crashing my realplayer when I try to listen; seems OK on WM player (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, WQXR ra crashes a lot for me too. I now just automatically use wm when listening to WQXR (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re WJIE, DXLD 2-077: This would lead me to believe that WJIE-Shortwave gets its programming off the air from its FM station just by tuning a receiver to the FM's signal, and feeding the audio to the shortwave transmitter. Given the "capture ratio" effect of FM reception, it would seem one could drive close to the shortwave transmitter site with a small FM transmitter tuned to the WJIE-FM frequency and perhaps a yagi as a transmit antenna, and OVERRIDE the program signal from WJIE-FM, putting your audio on the shortwave transmitter. Not much security at all, if it is that easy to override. I must be missing something. On the other hand, If you hear the new Elvis Costello CD on WJIE shortwave some evening (Brock Whaley, Atlanta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) `FM` could be used loosely also to refer to 900-MHz (or whatever) band STL, tho an initial temp FM-band relay of WJIE could be the intention. They do plan to run separate programming on SW. Overriding the STL, at whatever frequency, is a pirate/clandestine technique which occasionally happens; the 900 MHz band STLs are just as insecure, tho fewer people may know about this (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEWN Birmingham AL will be off air 1300 UT 9 May to 2200 UT 10 May according to this item on their website http://www.ewtn.com : Attention Shortwave Listeners: On Thursday May 9th, EWTN will be conducting our twice-annual shortwave downtime. WEWN will leave the air at 9 am ET Thursday May 9th and be back on the air no later than 6 pm ET Friday May 10th. All of our regular programming will still be available on our Internet Website and on the EWTN Network of AM & FM affiliates. We're sorry for the inconvenience, but this twice-a-year antenna maintenance will keep our shortwave signals strong for the rest of the year. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for listening. Presumably this affects all their frequencies: http://www.ewtn.com/wewn/freq.htm (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, BDXC-UK May 9, via DXLD) Shucks, got this too late and missed it. Didn`t even notice! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. MOTHER ANGELICA CONTINUES HER RECOVERY, CELEBRATES 79TH BIRTHDAY WITH HER NUNS Irondale, AL, May 10 (EWTN) - ``Mother Angelica is back in full swing and is taking part in all of the Monastery`s daily activities,`` according to Sister Mary Catherine, Mother Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. ``She is with us at meals, for Mass, for the Divine Office and community prayers,`` said Sister Mary Catherine and further commented, ``Mother Angelica continues to spend at least two hours a day in the chapel in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.`` Mother Angelica has been recovering from the effects of a stroke she suffered at the Monastery on Christmas Eve that left her with speech impairment. Sister Mary Catherine remarked that while Mother Angelica very much wants to return to EWTN and to her weekly television program, Mother feels her speech has not yet sufficiently improved to make that possible. ``She is continuing her weekly speech therapy sessions with the hope of returning to the network sometime in the future,`` she said. Father Andrew Apostoli, of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, visited with Mother Angelica in Hanceville earlier this week and found ``Mother looking cheerful and radiant.`` He said, ``I asked Mother to pray for me and she took my hand in hers and quietly offered her prayers. I was very touched by her warmth.`` On April 20th, the Nuns prepared a surprise party to celebrate Mother Angelica`s 79th birthday. They began blowing up balloons at around 4:00 AM. Two hours later, 380 balloons, several bouquets of flowers, small gifts and cards from well wishers were in place as Mother entered the room for Morning Prayers and acknowledged the birthday greetings with a smile and a glint in her eye. Prayers from around the world for Mother`s recovery continue to be placed in the Spiritual Bouquet on EWTN`s website http://www.ewtn.com Network President, Michel Warsaw, reports that since Mother was hospitalized in December supporters have offered more than 320,000 Rosaries, 53,000 Novenas, 172,000 Masses, 83,000 Holy Hours and 603,000 Our Fathers and other prayers (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update May 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. STILL NO SIGN OF ANDERSON -- SOMERSET, By CAROL COFFEY There is still no sign of Steve Anderson. Despite the national attention that the television show America`s Most Wanted cast on the case, Don York, public affairs agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said there has been little progress made on Anderson`s whereabouts. Anderson was the subject of a nine-minute segment on the television show on April 13. York said there were some leads that came in to investigators after the show aired, but all those tips have led to dead ends. York said the ATF is continuing to actively investigate Anderson to determine his location and will investigate every lead that comes in on the case. Anderson has been on the run since last October when he had a run-in with law enforcement officials in Bell County. Anderson disappeared into the mountains of Middlesboro and hasn`t been seen since. He is wanted on federal charges related to weapons found in his truck and in a search of his home that was conducted shortly after he fled. The ATF has increased the reward for Anderson from $5,000 to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Anderson. Anderson fled after firing multiple gunshots at a Bell County deputy sheriff who was attempting to stop him on a traffic violation. Authorities charged the self-proclaimed member of a paramilitary group with damaging a sheriff`s cruiser with an assault rifle early. Bell County Deputy Sheriff John Hoskins said Anderson ``tried to saw a cruiser in half`` with fire from a rifle after Deputy Scott Elder pulled him over to alert him of a broken tail light at about 8:15 p.m. EDT on Oct. 14. Hoskins said Anderson fled in a camouflaged 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck after the shooting, which shattered the cruiser`s windows and left 25 bullet holes, Anderson`s pickup truck was located about 6 a.m. EDT on Oct. 15. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a large amount of ammunition and several pipe bombs. Police also searched Anderson`s residence on Elrod-Martin Road in Pulaski County and shortly after that, federal explosives charges were filed in U.S. District Court in London. York said the agency was hoping ``to shake some trees`` and that the increased reward will prompt someone to disclose Anderson`s whereabouts. But, to date, that hasn`t happened. ``We think somebody is probably harboring him,`` York said. ``We`re hoping that when people see him out they would call the police because of the increased reward.`` Even though new leads haven`t panned out, York said officials still believe Anderson is being helped by ``friendlies`` and probably isn`t outside of Kentucky or Tennessee. He added that several people told authorities that they wouldn`t get a call about Anderson for only $5,000. York also said news of the increased reward was saturated throughout Kentucky and in the middle Tennessee area. Anderson is considered armed and dangerous and is being sought by the Kentucky State Police on charges of attempted murder. He is also wanted by the ATF on federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm, which includes destructive devices, such as pipebombs. Authorities are advising that no one should attempt to apprehend Anderson on their own. If you spot Anderson, immediately notify your local law enforcement agency, the Kentucky State Police at 606-573- 3131 or 1-800-222-5555 or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms at 888-283-8477 (Somerset KY Commonwealth-Journal April 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. A BRIEF HISTORY OF WBAP RADIO The history of WBAP Radio always starts with Amon G. Carter...but, Carter had to be talked into spending the money to experiment with this new concept called "radio". He approved Harold Hough's spending of "up to $300" to get a radio station on the air. Carter further stated "when that $300 is gone, we're out of the radio business." Hough, the circulation manager of Carter's Fort Worth Star-Telegram signed the station on the air May 2, 1922. Hough was also WBAP's chief engineer, chief announcer and program director. The station started with 10 watts of power, which amounted to the 1920's version of electronic string and coffee-can communication. Imagine starting a radio station, talking to an audience that wasn't there. After all, if Fort Worth didn't have a radio station. Why on earth would anyone go out and buy one of those new radio boxes? But WBAP grew....Amon Carter saw a way to make more money...and Harold Hough was given more money to spend. WBAP soon became a more powerful station, eventually becoming one of the few 50,000 watt, clear-channel stations in the United States. Today, according to an independent study, WBAP has the greatest daytime coverage of any radio station in America, and as much coverage at night as any other U.S. radio station. The WBAP Studios have been housed in the Star-Telegram building, the Medical Arts building, the historic Blackstone Hotel (now the downtown Courtyard by Marriott), on Broadcast Hill in East Fort Worth and the current studios in the center of the Metroplex....Arlington. The station was named by Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce and ex-officio head of what would become the Federal Communications Commission. According to Hoover the call letters stood for, "We Bring A Program." Music was a major part of WBAP's programming from the beginning. Live, in-studio broadcasts were scheduled which featured musicians on WBAP such as The Light Crust Doughboys, The Sunshine Boys, Bewley's Chuck Wagon Gang and many more. News has been a major WBAP commitment from the early years, and WBAP has been home to some of the best newsmen in America including regionally and nationally known journalists such as Porter Randall, Hal Thompson, Frank Mills, Jim Byron, Neil Hackett, Bob Scheiffer, Ted Gouldy and Joe Holstead. You're no doubt familiar with the NBC chimes, but did you know that WBAP set the precedent for this by being the first radio station to have an audible logo signal....the WBAP cowbell, which is depicted in the early version of the WBAP logo. WBAP was the first radio station to air livestock market reports and the first radio station to air remote broadcasts of weekly church services. All these historic "firsts" came during the first six months of operation for WBAP. In early 1923 (still in the first year of WBAP's history) the station became the first ever to broadcast a rodeo...the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Other WBAP firsts include: the first radio station in the southwest to broadcast a baseball game and a football game, the first radio station in America with regularly scheduled newscasts, the first station to remote broadcasts by shortwave radio and the first individual station to send a war correspondent to Europe in the early days of World War II (WBAP website? via Bill Smith, TX, DXLD) I was surprised how little fanfare they gave this event over-the-air (Bill Smith, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Habana`s masters of frequency management have done it again: choosing 17750 for Aló, Presidente, Sundays 1400-1830. We finally checked it May 12 and find, of course, WYFR in English already there. Current schedule shows WYFR 1200-1700 English to North America, 1700-1800 Spanish to Europe. That about covers it. AP still somewhat audible on the other new frequency 15230, but on 17750 Habana is nothing but a subaudible heterodyne. After 1700, both weak on 17750. There really is no excuse for SW stations in countries adjacent to USA ever using the same frequencies as American stations, but this is not the only example; e.g., CFVP/Martí on 6030, WYFR/XERMX on 9715, and these have gone on for sesquidecades (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. Thanks to Mayday finally an opportunity to listen a weekday's afternoon. 1 May 1400 UT, Radio Free Vietnam, reportedly via Uzbekistan (45343 here in Belgium!) Test-tones, Merlin's interval tune. ID and speeches, sometimes interrupted by applause seemingly mixed-in like on TV sitcoms. S-off at 1430 UT (Silvain Domen, Belgium, May 1, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) 15235? (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ NEW NASA SPACE STORM FINDINGS Glenn, Sorry the notice I sent you about the NASA panel discussion on geomagnetic storms did not get published in time for the broadcast. But then you are entitled to a few days off now and then. Like the bishop told the priest who confessed to being in love with a nun, "Just don't get in the habit." Here is a NASA press release covering the material which was presented in the panel discussion. There is a link at the bottom for those who wish to view the art work illustrating the new findings. 73, Joe Buch Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 13:20:17 -0400 (EDT) From: NASANews@hq.nasa.gov Sender: owner-press-release@lists.hq.nasa.gov Dolores Beasley Headquarters, Washington May 9, 2002 (Phone: 202/358-1753) Bill Steigerwald Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. (Phone: 301/286-5017) RELEASE 02-84 EARTH'S SPACE-STORM SHIELD OFFERS PROTECTION -- AT A PRICE New observations from a NASA spacecraft reveal that a layer in the Earth's outer atmosphere acts like a heat shield by absorbing energy from space storms and reducing their ability to heat the lower atmosphere. However, it imposes a heavy toll for its services by creating a billion-degree cloud of electrified gas, or plasma, that surrounds the planet. The plasma cloud is so ferociously hot, its particles act like radiation, occasionally disrupting satellites in mid- to high-altitude orbits. This discovery from NASA's Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft confirms the Earth actively participates in space storms. Although past space missions gave provisional evidence for this behavior, IMAGE provides the first global picture of the active role Earth's ionosphere plays in space storms, which is very different from the earlier view that the solar wind itself supplied the energetic particles responsible for these storms. The Earth's space-storm shield is a tenuous layer of the outer atmosphere (outer ionosphere) between 180 and 620 miles (300-1,000 kilometers) high that includes electrically charged atoms. "Just as a heat shield sacrifices itself by allowing its outer layers to slough off during the fiery reentry of a spacecraft, Earth's shield absorbs space-storm energy by throwing some of its charged particles into space," said Stephen Fuselier of the Lockheed-Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, Calif., lead author of the first of two papers on this discovery to be published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. "But this protection comes with a high price, because the expelled particles gain tremendous speed as they leave the atmosphere, become trapped by the Earth's magnetic field and ultimately encircle the Earth, where they form a hot plasma cloud around the planet," said Donald Mitchell of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md., lead author of the second paper. Approximately half the energy deposited by space storms in the atmosphere is absorbed this way, according to the researchers. The solar wind, a thin, high-velocity plasma, blows constantly from the Sun at an average speed of 250 miles per second (400 kilometers/sec). If the Earth had no global magnetic field, or magnetosphere, the solar wind would impact the atmosphere directly and gradually erode it. Instead, the solar wind slams into the Earth's magnetosphere and is diverted around the planet. Buffeting of the magnetosphere is more intense during space storms, when explosive events on the Sun give the solar wind an unusually high velocity or density, or a particularly potent magnetic-field configuration. Although the magnetosphere does a good job staving off the solar wind, Earth is not home free. Since the solar-wind plasma is comprised of electrically charged particles moving rapidly past the Earth's magnetic field, a multimillion amp electric current is generated, which flows down the Earth's invisible magnetic field lines and pumps up to a trillion watts of power into the magnetosphere -- especially above the polar regions, where the aurora (northern and southern lights) form. Without the space-storm shield, heat from these enormous electric currents would cause Earth's lower atmosphere (lower ionosphere) to expand and increase orbit-disrupting drag on spacecraft. The first IMAGE result shows the Earth's shield in action as it absorbs a space storm's electric current and is ejected into space. Fuselier used the Low Energy Neutral Atom imager instrument on IMAGE to discover electrically charged oxygen atoms are ejected into space immediately in response to the bursts of ionosphere-heating by the massive electric currents. The amount of ionosphere lost during a typical space storm is around a few hundred tons, about equal to the mass of the air in the Louisiana Superdome, according to the team. The second IMAGE observation shows the price paid for the shield's protection. Because of their electric charge, the expelled oxygen ions feel magnetic forces and are trapped within the Earth's vast magnetosphere, where they follow magnetic field lines like cars on a highway. Scientists know the magnetosphere distorts under the impact of the solar wind, like an umbrella in a windstorm. In particular, the region of the magnetosphere facing away from the Sun is stretched into a long, tail-like shape as the solar wind blows by. Because magnetic fields have tension, they resist stretching and behave like rubber bands. When the stretching becomes too great, the night-side magnetosphere snaps back towards Earth, carrying the ejected ions from the ionosphere with it like an enormous slingshot. Mitchell used the High Energy Neutral Atom imager instrument on IMAGE to observe that these ions, now accelerated to enormous velocities (about 2,500 miles per second or 4,000 km/sec), appear immediately in the aurora and in the cloud of hot plasma that encircles the Earth during space storms. Earth contributes material and the solar wind supplies the energy that transforms this cool atmospheric material into a dangerously hot plasma cloud. If it were not for the Earth's own ionosphere supplying material, the hot plasma cloud would be very much diminished. This new view is helping scientists to better understand the effects of space storms which create moving plasma clouds that interfere with navigation using Global Positioning System satellites. Images and more information are available at: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20020509imagessu.html (via Joe Buch, DXLD) UPDATED SPACE WEATHER FORECAST Unusually, we have a Media Network Space Weather update on a Saturday. Conditions have changed suddenly, and this is Mike Bird's latest forecast as published on the Radio Netherlands Web site: Update for Saturday 11 May 2002, Report on Friday 10 May 2002 Solar activity was low and no significant flares were reported. A weak shock was observed in the solar wind at 1029 UT and then a little later at 1124 a small sudden impulse of 18nT was recorded in the geomagnetic field. Almost immediately active thresholds were reached which lasted until 1900. Conditions then became unsettled until around 2200 when active levels persisted again until 2400. Very little effect was noticed in the ionosphere and shortwave MUFs appeared to continue at near predicted to enhanced levels. Forecast for Saturday and Sunday 11-12 May 2002 Solar activity is expected to remain low to moderate. Sunspot region 9934 has grown in size to about five times larger than planet Earth and is exhibiting M and possibly even X class flare potential. At 0924 UT on Saturday 11 May a moderate shock in the solar wind was observed and the interplanetary magnetic field pointed southwards by around -10nT. Another sudden impulse to the geomagnetic field appeared imminent and unsettled to active thresholds are expected to prevail with an outside chance it may even reach minor storm (via Andy Sennitt, hard-core-dx via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ Released on May 12th 2002 - http://www.DXing.info is waiting for YOU! DXing.info is the new reliable information source for radio hobbyists. Whether you are looking for the latest DXpedition logs, news, audio samples, background articles or propagation information, you'll find it all on DXing.info. And should you need something that is not on DXing.info, there are links to guide you further to the excellent partner sites of DXing.info and to other DX resources on the Internet. The site is based on "Freeze! 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(Mika Mäkeläinen, editor of DXing.info, email: info@dxing.info DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ MFJ-306 SW CONVERTER Here are some impressions of the car SW converter model MFJ-306. Why buy a SW converter to use with the vehicle`s existing receiver? For me, there were several reasons. I did not want to invest $200+ in a car stereo with SW bands, and did not want to lug around a portable radio which would not provide enough volume with the windows rolled down. I also did not want a set up which would be a distraction to driving. And finally, I didn`t want to leave a radio lying on the seat just waiting to be stolen. All these problems are surmounted with the use of a SW converter, which I placed under the driver's seat out of view. There are however, several disadvantages to this piece of equipment. You don`t get a SW frequency readout. I don`t care about this however, because I find looking at a radio while driving a distraction. I do not want to take my eyes off the road to make adjustments. I am able to tune the converter just using the car radio`s scan button. Another disadvantage of the MFJ-306 is the requirement of a clarifier on the front panel of the unit in order tune stations between the car receiver`s 10 kHz MW digital tuning steps. The biggest problem with this product however, is it`s susceptible to extreme overload from nearby FM stations, particularly in the FM BC band and VHF LOW TV channels. This problem is made worse because the vehicle`s antenna is cut to be specifically resonant at 1/4 wave- length around 100 MHz. Since I live in an area in with a number of very powerful nearby FM transmitters, this was a major problem. Even the most powerful SW signals would be severely degraded due to the heavy FM QRM. When I drove out in the countryside, reception was fine, but I spend 99% driving time in the city, so that meant the converter was unusable, in fact for awhile, I forgot I even had it in the car. The way I fixed this problem was by putting a low pass filter between the vehicle`s antenna and the converter. Again, I did not want to spend money, so I built one for free out of some scrap material I had lying around. I made an inductor by winding a length of copper wire onto about a 6 inch section of plastic PVC pipe, and made sure to maintain the continuity of the coax shielding by jumping a wire between the input and output feedline shielding. Then I placed it inline (actually in the glove box) between the antenna and the converter. The next step was to readjust the trimmer capacitors in the converter. This required making very fine adjustments with the converter on. The final complaint is that the MFJ-306 is overpriced. With shipping it runs close to $90. I think somewhere in the order of $40 dollars would be more in line with its performance, especially considering its problem with local FM image rejection. The homemade low-pass filter is very effective, and now the unit works as advertised, even in the presence of very strong FM signals. To my surprise, there is no problem with QRN from the vehicle`s alternator or ignition system, despite the inductor being unshielded. Presumably, the body of the car is effectively shielding electrical noise from the engine compartment. The only source of noise is the turn signal relay (located inside the vehicle), and it is very minor. The audio is excellent due to the use of the vehicle`s good quality RX/audio amplifier in conjunction with a 4- speaker system. One is not able to do any DXing with this setup, but it does provide simple, very enjoyable, good quality SW listening while driving. So in conclusion, I do not strongly recommend the MFJ-306 considering the price MFJ is asking, especially to anyone who lives in an urban area and who does not want to make the necessary modifications. With the use of a low-pass filter and proper adjustments to the trimmer capacitors, the unit does provide decent performance, and hearing SW stations with nice audio quality, is a HUGE improvement over the garbage these days on the local AM and FM bands. Who knows, maybe you can find a used MFJ-306 somewhere for under $20-$30. In that case it is well worth the effort of installation and modifications (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, May 12, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-077, May 10, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1130: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230? On 5070, Sun 0630 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0230?, 0830?, 1430? [the first airing was at 2030 instead of 1930], 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815- USB MUNDO RADIAL Mayo-Junio: En WWCR, no disponible el 10 de mayo a las 2115, por estar fuera del aire en 15825; esperamos comience el lunes 13 a las 2130; entretanto: Disponible desde 2235 del 10 de mayo - CORRIENTE: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0205.ram BAJABLE: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0205.rm TEXTO: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0205.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS Thanks a lot, Keep it up. With warm regards, (Mr. NAGARAJ ANANTH, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA 560040) Hi, Glenn - saw the 'testimonial' from 'gfm' in 2-075. It looks like it was unsolicited, but would you really want it to be considered a 'testimonial'? Something tells me this person was probably not directly impacted by the BBC deëmphasizing shortwave to North America -- I doubt the BBC occupied many memory slots on his radio. Keep up the great work -- unfortunately you issue DXLD faster than I can get to it, with all the other distractions I have! (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA) Tnx. Oh, it`s only fair to publish some of the hate mail I get, if it is a bit amusing, but couldn`t put it at the top of an issue (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN [and non]. Some up-to-date information on the radio situation in Afghanistan: USAID (the US Government's aid agency) is currently installing a VSAT satellite system at Radio-Television Afghanistan in Kabul. (It should be ready by the end of the week). This will be used to send the Radio Kabul signal via satellite to shortwave transmitters in Norway and somewhere in the Gulf. The programmes will then be rebroadcast back into Afghanistan using Radio Free Afghanistan (RFA) and VOA facilities. This whole arrangement is being put in place especially to provide information to people in Afghanistan about the Loya Jirga process. (This is the body to take-over from the Interim Administration in mid-June). I expect the programmes to start soon, so keep an ear on the relevant frequencies. In addition, we are advised that the IBB (International Broadcasting Board) also from the USA is to provide two x 400 KW mediumwave transmitters to be based in Kabul. One will transmit Radio Kabul programmes and the other VOA and RFA. In addition, two FM transmitters for Kabul are being supplied. I am not sure when the AM transmitters will be installed. Kind regards (Martin Hadlow, Kabul, via Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, May 7, DXLD) It`s rather hard to find Afghan items via http://www.unesco.org/webworld so I recommend instead http://www.unesco.org/afghanistan (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. RADIO VOICE OF AFGHANISTAN ANNOUNCES CHANGE OF FREQUENCY | London-based Radio Voice of Afghanistan carried the following announcement on 9 May: "From next Monday 23 Sawr [13 May], the frequency for Radio Voice of Afghanistan's broadcasts will change. From next Monday you can hear our broadcasts on shortwave in the 16-metre band, corresponding to 17870 kHz, instead of the current frequency. Do not forget the change of frequency from next Monday, 23 Sawr." Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330 gmt 9 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 17870, RADIO VOICE OF AFGHANISTAN FROM MAY 13, MOLDOVA TO BE REPLACED BY AUSTRIA Hi folks, presenter Wolf Harranth OE1WHC of Radio Austria International's INTERMEDIA and DX TELEGRAM sent me the following item, released from Friday May 10th, 1500 UT: Afghanistan/Russia/Great Britain/Austria. "Afghan Voice" via Austria, Moosbrunn from 13. May, 1330-1430, 17870 kHz, 500 kW, 90 degrees. Parallel transmission [15480, presumably – gh] from Russia until 15. May. (Wolf Harranth, ROI "Intermedia"). 73 de Wolf 10.5. --- Wolf HARRANTH, Redaktion Computer und Medien, ORF - Radio Österreich International, A-1040 Wien, Argentinierstr. 30a. Fon +43-1-501 01-160 71 / Fax 160 56 wolf.harranth@orf.at _________________ From Afghan Broadcasting Company website: If you have any ideas or comments about our broadcasts please do contact us. URL: http://www.afghanbroadcasting.com/ E-mail: afghanbroadcasting@hotmail.com Afghan Broadcasting Company, P.O.Box 36467, London EC2A 2DW, United Kingdom The station is located at: The Studio Centre, Nicon House, 21 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DW United Kingdom Tel: 0044 20 7382 9610 (Switchboard) Tel: 0044 20 7588 0828 (Listener Line) Fax: 0044 20 7382 9608 (Apr 22, 2002 via BCDX 572) _________________ [Moldova] Radio Voice of Afghanistan in Pashto and Dari at present on air at 1330-1430 daily via Maiac Grigoriopol`, Moldova on 15480 with 500 kW at 100 degrees. (formerly in B-01 season on 9950). This will last till May 15th, see ABOVE. [Norway] Also some tests of RVOA from Kvitsøy Norway observed recently on 17525 and 18920 kHz in same time span. 73 wb df5sx (BC-DX May 10 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. I have been hearing [Christian] Voice International from Darwin on three freqs from around 1420: 13635 is carrying English and clear channel. 13660 is carrying Indonesian and co-channel with BBC via Skelton in Arabic (180 deg). 17560 is carrying Chinese and co-channel with DW Wertachtal in German until 1600 and then Saudi Arabia in Arabic. Via their web site I obtained this "New On air Schedule/Program - effective 31 March". English 0900-1000 17645, 1000-1100 on 13685. 1100-1700 on 13635. Indonesian 0900-1300 on 15365, 1300-1700 on 13660. Chinese 0900-1400 and 1400-1700 on 17560 (Noel R. Green, UK, May 5, BC-DX via DXLD) I've also been trying to put together a current R Australia frequency schedule. What appears on their web site gives no times - just freqs and "morning" "afternoon" "evening". Merlin is no longer listing Taiwan 15240, but I can hear Shepparton leave the air at 0800 via 353 deg. Another SHP on freq via 090 deg remains (0700-0900) - with yet another one on the freq but slightly delayed. SHP 090 deg goes off at 0900 and a weak RA signal continues until fading out about 30 mins or so later. I cannot find a listing anywhere of where it comes from - could it be Darwin? It is announced c0900 as for SE Asia. VOA Iranawila opens in English on 15240 at 1000 with a crash start (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX May 5 via DXLD) Latest schedule of R Australia, zipped format file, but contend latest .XLS Excel sheet and the WinWord .RTF format file too, entry at 0800- 1130 on 15240 kHz too, maybe via Darwin, as 'Line-Y' indicates Darwin for 13620 kHz too, later at UT night 2200-2330. But VOA Iranawila is using 15240 too at 1000-1300 UT. RA 0800-1130 towards Hong Kong 15240 and 11880. 15240 entries make me wonder ... There is no entry of 13605 anymore (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX May 5 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Hi Glenn, Radio Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 6135, May 9, 2002 0934 - 1015, SINPO 22332. Romantic music, ballads, and band selections, several ID's, extended talk at the top of the hour. All in Spanish (of course). The Bolivian band music was particularly interesting. There was ongoing QRM from a double pulse every three seconds throughout the monitoring time (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Bolivians noted at 1000-1030: 4716.83 Radio Yura *10:00 4732.33 Radio La Palabra 4796.29 Radio Mallku 4761.71 R. Constelación presumed 5926.80 Radio Dif. Minería drift downward? R-75, NRD 535, Drake R7, Noise Reducing Antenna (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach FL, May 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. 2435.0, a strong spur noted here between 1600 and 1800 on Apr 28 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) Spur of what? Formula? (gh, DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030, no data form letter QSL received from Tahere Ouedraogo, Chef de Services des Programmes in 1 month for French report and my amateur QSL card (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, May 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON [and non]. Three interesting stations reported earlier as inactive now claimed to be heard by Ouma Samuel of Uganda: Garoua, Cameroon 5010 kHz around 1800 UT in Vernaculars; Bangui, Central African Republic 7220 kHz after CRI s/off at 1757 - in Vernaculars; Mozambique 3280 kHz after 1800, ID in PP in 1830, then in Vernaculars All signals are weak in Ouma's location. GOOD DX, (Karel Honzik the Czech Republic (Czechia), hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6070, CFRX, 0800 UT noted back on the air with usual talk format program (Joe Buch, DE, May 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. A multi-ethnic TV station for Vancouver, BC, gets the go- ahead: http://www.mvbctv.com/MVBC_news_rel_2002_05_09.phtml (via Keith Perron, Beijing, China, DXLD) ** CANADA. More approvals to extend the Chaîne culturelle: Vancouver, B.C. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-129.htm Halifax, N.S., Charlottetown, P.E.I. and St. John's Nfld. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-132.htm Calgary & Edmonton, Alta. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-133.htm (Ricky Leong, QE, May 7, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. See CAMEROON ** CHINA. [Besides MEXICO] Also last month a 3DX50 went to China for 981 kHz, low power. We have a few 600 kW rigs going to China in the near future and I will keep you up to date. We are finishing a 600 kW rig on 918 kHz for China as we speak. When I find out the location I will let you know. 73 (Glenn Swiderski, W7GS/9, May 7, Harris Corp., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 11950.52 harmonic (2 x 5975.26), Radio Auténtica, Villavicencio, first noted with M in Spanish around 0215 May 8, obviously religious program, back to regular programs at 0255 w/ads; by now I was on #swl and had Ralph Brandi tuned in, Ralph pegged two ID's as "Cadena Radial Auténtica" just before TOH. Pretty weak with lots of adjacent splash (Al Quaglieri, NY + Brandi-NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. KINSHASA (Dem. Rep.) R. Okapi, 9550 has not been heard since before the end of March 2002 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. LA DIPLOMACIA DEL RADIO CAUSA INTERFERENCIAS ENTRE CUBA Y EU The Washington Post, PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba, AP VICKI HUDDLESTON, la jefa de la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana, muestra uno de los radios. [caption] Víctor Rolando Arroyo tiene un radio de onda corta nuevo. Es poderoso y le permite seleccionar programas de cualquier parte del mundo, incluso de su emisora favorita: Radio Martí, la estación anticastrista fundada por el gobierno de Estados Unidos. Lo mejor de todo es que le salió gratis. Vicki Huddleston, la principal diplomática norteamericana en Cuba, entregó 39 radios a Arroyo y otros disidentes cuando visitó en febrero Pinar del Río. ''Durante 43 años, solamente hemos conocido un lado de la historia'', dijo Arroyo, de 50 años, periodista independiente que ha pasado 2 años y medio en la cárcel por actividades antigubernamentales. ``Estos radios nos dan la oportunidad de escuchar a las dos partes, de manera que la gente puede decidir por sí misma cuál es la verdad''. El gobierno cubano está disgustado con este programa, que ha colocado más de 1,000 radios en manos de cubanos de un extremo a otro de la isla. ''Esta es una franca intervención en nuestros asuntos internos'', dijo un funcionario del gobierno cubano. ``Lo hicieron en Europa del Este, y piensan que tienen el derecho a hacerlo en Cuba. No vamos a tolerarlo. Es una prueba más de la arrogancia del gobierno de Estados Unidos''. La diplomacia del radio está provocando una conmoción en las relaciones entre Washington y La Habana, que han estado particularmente escabrosas últimamente. Tras un período de relativa calma después del 11 de septiembre, las relaciones se han deteriorado desde enero, cuando el exiliado cubano Otto Reich aceptó el cargo de dirigir la política latinoamericana. Muy pronto se concluirá una revisión general de la política con Cuba, dirigida por Reich, y algunas personas que han sido consultadas al respecto esperan que se recomiende un apoyo más acentuado a los enemigos de Castro dentro de Cuba. Bush dijo en enero que estaba ``determinado a estimular y profundizar el vínculo con el pueblo cubano, especialmente con aquellos bravos activistas independientes que luchan por la democracia y los derechos humanos''. Bush citó ''innovadores'' pasos que ya están en marcha. Eso significa, en parte, los radios, que están incluidos en un esfuerzo de ''diplomacia pública'' en Cuba y que los funcionarios dicen se ha acentuado desde el verano pasado. En sus embajadas en todo el mundo, los diplomáticos estadounidenses distribuyen literatura, cintas de video y audio, y en ocasiones antenas de satélite, a fin de ayudar a incrementar el contacto con Estados Unidos. En las oficinas de la Sección de Intereses de Estados Unidos en La Habana, los cubanos tienen acceso a revistas y periódicos estadounidenses, e incluso a un par de computadoras con acceso a internet. Los diplomáticos de Estados Unidos entregan regularmente esos materiales en todo el país, y también a la pequeña biblioteca independiente que Arroyo dirige aquí. Huddleston dijo que los radios eran simplemente una extensión de ese programa. 73'S (via OSCAR, DXLD) About US-distributed shortwave radios in Cuba... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33759-2002May4.html 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** CUBA. 1 May, 0005 - 5990 kHz. Radio Havana Cuba with a Spanish broadcast. SINPO 32442. QRM by Radio Liberty in Russian (5985 kHz) and unidentified co-channel. 4 May, 0000 - 6000 kHz. Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish, SINPO 43543. Heavily squeezed between DLR Berlin (German, 6005 kHz) and VOA (English, 5995 kHz). (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus, Signal via DXLD) I suppose that on May Day, RHC forgot to switch from 5990, which carries CRI before 2400, to 6000 for the RHC service itself (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Glenn! I got this information from WIK after e-mailing him about 5900/5905. I had not seen that BM also noted the station on 5905, so this log was correct. WIK also raises a good question at the end of his reply which is as follows: Regards (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin editor) "When it comes to my log of R. Cosmopolita on 5905 the history is that I checked the tip from BM for 5900 several nights, but heard nothing. After reading SWB again I saw that BM also noted the station sometimes on 5905. So I tested also this frequency April 27. Completely silent on 5900, but on 5905 a LA was heard and before I managed to switch on the bx [?] I thought I heard a weak "Radio Cosmopolita". They also talked a lot about Riobamba and then closed at 0405 SST [Swedish summer time, so 0205 UT – gh]. This convinced me that it was that station I have heard. The frequency was 5905U. This morning I checked again and 5905 silent, but with a LA station on 5900. Very hard to catch anything. It sounded like there were two stations on the frequency but perhaps this was due to heavy noise from a strong nearby station. I am curious how to count such a station regarding QSL. It is not a real station on an official frequency but only a link. Will it count as a pirate QSL or what?" /WIK = (Rolf Wikström, Sweden, translated by SW Bulletin editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [non]. Hi all, Per information from the UN: The address of the United Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea is: UNMEE, Sembel, Asmara, Eritrea. E-mail to the information officer: bakari@un.org 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FAROE ISLANDS/DENMARK. 243 LW, Danmarks Radio, Kalundborg, Apr 30, 2200-2310, relay in Faroese of Útvarp Føroya, Tórshavn after today`s local parliamentary election with reports on election results from various districts and a round of discussion between party leaders on the final and amazing result. After that Danmarks Radio continued at 2310 in Danish with classical music from DR 1. 55555 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLW) The previous coalition Government favoured that the Faroe Islands should break away completely from Denmark within a few years, but it lost votes at the election which had no less than 91.1% participation! Now 50% of the Faroese population are for and 50% against a secession, so it will last many years, before the islands leave the Danish Kingdom, if ever (Ed. Petersen, ibid.) ** GEORGIA. Contrary to other reports, official sources in Georgia have confirmed that the country did introduce Daylight Shifting Time also this year. Local Time during the summer months is UT+ 5h (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX May 2 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Wie ich soeben im ORB-Videotext auf Tafel 699 gelesen habe wird der 500 kW Sender von Mega R [1575 kHz] nur von 1800-0400 UT (2000-0600 LT) eingesetzt, sonst wird weiterhin nur mit 10 kW gesendet (Thomas Schweder, Germany, A-DX May 6 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GREECE. Found a new MW frequency of the Voice of Greece: 1386 kHz. Polish service begins at 1800, // SW 12105 kHz. Before 1800, there was a broadcast in French on this frequency, // 792 kHz. Didn't manage to hear Russian on this new channel yet. 1386 kHz is subject to heavy QRM from the Voice of Russia. And if the planned Lithuanian transmitter joins the play, it will be a real mess (MIDXB No. 265 - Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine, Signal May 9 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Hi Glenn, not much to report. But I have been getting a fair to good signal from Voice of Indonesia on 15150 with English broadcast from 2000 to 2100 UT (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, May 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 15150.03, Voice of Indonesia noted 1836 May 7 with German program, W short items interspersed with local music; 1842 M ID, fair (S7-8) and steady, but noisy band. Nice to finally have a live WindowsMedia feed http://www.rrionline.com/streaming/voi.asx to check programming (Al Quaglieri, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. UNITED KINGDOM: WRN PLANS TO CARRY ADVERTISING | Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site on 8 May It has emerged that World Radio Network (WRN) has decided to seek commercial advertisers and sponsors for its broadcasts. WRN carries programming from 25 public broadcasters from around the world, including Radio Netherlands. A recent survey found that WRN has a weekly reach of almost 90,000 via its satellite service on the Sky Digital platform. Of these, 56 per cent are in the ABC1 group, a key market for the sort of companies that already advertise in media, such as Time, Newsweek and CNN. WRN Managing Director Karl Miosga said "I'm delighted with this research, and confident to welcome aboard an exclusive group of commercial advertisers and sponsors to share this opportunity." WRN Strategic Consultant Richard Jacobs, who will spearhead the move to attract advertising and sponsorship added that "WRN is a unique and exciting radio station. This development means that the commercial sector now has access to an audience regularly tuning into a truly global radio station." Source: Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site, Hilversum, in English 8 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN. Feeder audio on 15084 is mixed with Persian main program, and either German or French services. GERMAN 0730-0827 15084 17590 1730-1827 11765 11855 13730 [15084] FRENCH 0630-0727 17590 17780 21645 1830-1927 11765 11860 11880 13665 13700 [15084] 2330-0027 9560 11970 (BC-DX via DXLD) Guess this concerns the unID 15084 reported here ** IRAQ [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to IRAQ. 9155, Ashur Radio at 1710 May 5 in Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic) with folklore and "Jingle Bells" (!?!? it was Easter Sunday for the Assyrian/Chaldean community, but in no case Christmas) then into commentaries mentioning Iraq. Good, O=4 reception, with some fading. Thanks to Erich Bergmann, Germany for this tip (Christian Mocanu, Romania, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. UNIDENTIFIED. Hey Glen[n]; been reading yer stuff since you used to DX with a Hammarlund HQ-160!!!! I'm still at it too. Retired now and enjoying it more than ever (except for some bad local noise problems; but that's another story). A friend called and wanted to know if I could ID a station. I didn't have a clue. It's on 13580 at 0000 to 0400; it's running 10 to 20 over s9 so I assume it's a relay from RCI. It's not in English; sounds like a call-in type show. did hear "shalom" several times. got any ideas?!?!?!?? (Tim O'Hare, Spokane, Washington, May 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I sampled a bit of it UT May 10, and got the impression it was Hebrew; likely Israel direct; and *2355 May 10 joining talk and music in progress, Hebrew, 0000 timesignal and Kol Israel ID. This is in HFCC A-02, 250 kilowatts beamed 334 degrees toward us, or rather you: 13580 0001 0600 6-10,27,28 ISR 250 334 1234567 310302 061002 D HEBR ISR KOL ISR (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. Reshet Bet Hebrew news headlines can be heard live Mon - Fri at 7 AM Eastern on, "JM in the AM." (Subject to pre- emption - and this morning there were transmission problems with the rebroadcast--- rare.) This is 91.1 FM (WFMU - listener sponsored) in the New York City area and 90.1 FM in the Catskills (NY). They also have a live and recorded webcast at http://jmintheam.org They have been re-broadcasting Reshet Bet news for a while now, but it had been very sporadic. WFMU's home page is: http://www.wfmu.org/ Also, http://israelradio.org now has links to the previously mentioned English / Spanish / French broadcasts found on the http://bet.iba.org.il website. --------- (Daniel Rosenzweig, May 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Edisher Giorgadze, P5/4L4FN, has returned to North Korea. During a stop-over in Beijing, Edisher collected an Ameritron AL80A amplifier that was donated by Martti Laine, OH2BH, Bernie McClenny, W3UR and Al Baker, W5IZ. In his first contact using the increased power he contacted K4SSU who told him he was S5 barefoot at 100 watts but an amazing 10 db over s 9 with the AL80A in line. He days that this basically guarantees more QSOs from the skylines of Pyongyang. Especially since he has extended his contract and will be in North Korea through June of 2003. Also, now that his operation is fully accredited by the ARRL a full-color QSL has been released by his QSL manager, Bruce Paige, KK5DO (KK5DO, Amateur Radio Newsline May 10 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) P5/4L4FN back in North Korea; QSLs are in the mail: Ed Giorgadze, P5/4L4FN, reports that he is back in Pyongyang, North Korea, after a short recreational trip to other parts of Asia. And he returns with good news: He now has an Ameritron AL-80A linear amp, donated by Martti Laine, OH2BH; Bernie McClenny, W3UR; and Al Baker, W5IZ. Giorgadze expressed is gratitude to the trio as well as to Jari Wirzenius, OH2BVE, and his staff at the Nokia office in Beijing, who made a special effort to clear the unit through complicated custom procedures in China. He says he's already fired up the amp and obtained the expected result. ``So the unit works well and generates lot more RF power from the skylines of Pyongyang,`` he said in a posting to QSL manager Bruce Paige, KK5DO. ``Now I am ready for more P5 QSOs, are you?`` Meanwhile, Paige reports that he mailed some 4500 P5/4L4FN cards on May 4, representing replies to all cards he's received to date. ``From now on, all cards received will be processed on the day received and mailed the next day, so there won't be a long delay in receipt of the much-sought-after card,`` he added. The Daily DX reports some European stations already have their cards in hand (ARRL May 8 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Kyrgyz R 1 on 4010 kHz has been observed by a DXer in Tajikistan with a program in German at 1320-1330 on Monday 29 April. This is part of the Home Service. It is intended for the German minority in Kyrgyzstan (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 30, BC-DX via DXLD) ** LESOTHO. 4800: I phoned the Station Engineer Mr. Rametse who told me that they indeed plan to reactivate 4800. Apparently they are waiting for the spares and expect to be back on air before the end of May. He thought it was quaint that someone who does not speak Sotho is interested in his station. Please note that the telephone number given for Mr. Rametse (+266 323561) is the office line. His mobile number is +266 859636 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. 15205, LBJ, Tripoli via Issoudun, France (Cf. DX- Window no. 193), Apr 28, *1800-2000*, it's "sout afrikia" - Voice of Africa in Arabic. Very low signal strength... I'd give it S 2 !! (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, DSWCI DX Window May 8 via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. 9875.0, R. Vilnius, May 4 2353, English SWBC to Europe; excellent signal at this time, program "Mailbag" including comments re listeners` mail including the importance of R. Vilnius in the world of SWBC and the uniqueness of the station inasmuch as it is the only station in the Baltics that features programming for outside listeners. 43343 (Randal Morrison, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA [and non]. As you may already know, Radio Baltic Waves will start broadcasting on 1386 kHz with a high-power transmitter in Lithuania, after having received a license. According to the ITU, Lithuania is registered for high-power on this frequency, and not Russia/Kaliningrad, who will probably be forced to shutdown their transmitter (or go low-power). I was in touch with Mr Rimantas Pleikys, head of Radio Baltic Waves International and he could give me the following information: The Lithuanian Telecommunications Administration is in the process of talks with the Russian Administration to eliminate the harmful interference. The frequency is registered with the ITU as Lithuanian, and the transmitter in Skaisgiriai [Sovetsk] operates on this channel without a legal basis. Radio Baltic Waves International will broadcast from Sitkunai on 1386 kHz with a non-directional antenna as follows: 0300-2000 UT: 250 kW, 2000-0300 UT: 750 kW; Future plans are 1000 kW (1600 kW ERP). (Herman Boel, Medium Wave News e-mail via NRC IDXD May 10 via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, R Madagascar, 1930, running well past usual sign- off. Male and female announcers in vernacular, frequent mentions of Madagascar. Talk till 1937 then lively back-back music. No sign of 4990 opposition (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAWI. Still no SW outlets active (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window May 8 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Glenn, Sorry, I have been short with info but here`s a new one for you. I just got through testing and it shipped today. A DX 100, 100 kW rig going to Grupo Radio Centro in Mexico. Don`t know the exact location but the frequency is 690 kc with a 100 kW power output (Glenn Swiderski, Harris Corp., May 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DF I guess ** MONGOLIA. 12015.0, V of Mongolia, May 7, 1011 English broadcast with male and female announcers. Signal level has improved greatly from last check of 22 April. Same format of casual conversation between the two announcers with some comments on employment in Mongolia. Local tune played at 1014. S-9 level with usual rapid flutter. Best reception in some time. Mailbag at this time, which was an email from a gent from India, mentions unable to hear the station. A list of locations where they are being heard. Again, very casual conversation. I think there has been a new couple of announcers as compared to last summer as this gent has a British accent whereas the previous male announcer had more of an Aussie accent. Female a bit more difficult to understand than previous announcer. Weather forecast in the mountains mentioned at 1022. Temp of minus 8. Tune at 1028 as end of broadcast. IS at 1029 and carrier off (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Radio Medi Un heard local eves on 9575. On 8 May 2317 in Arabic. Other times in French. Moderate (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. The SW transmitters seem to be in a good working order again, all four freqs noted on Apr 28: 3270.1 (vernaculars sce.): 1600-0500 3290.1 (Afrikaans/German): 1600-0500 6060.05 (vernaculars sce.): 0500-1600 6175.0 (Afrikaans/German): 0500-1600 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn, One of the presets for the Radio Netherlands skycam is Mediapark, the site of the assassination. I notice that there is now a guard standing at the entrance to the RNW property, who appears to be checking people's ID before they enter. As shown in this map, RNW appears to be separate from Mediapark proper. From the skycam, you can see a mass of trees between them. I have seen some reports that say RNW is in Mediapark. Glenn, The BBC reported that tight identity and security checks were in place at Mediapark in Hilversum, which would have restricted the general public from entering the area. But it from what I could see, this was not the case at RNW, before today. While there is badge access for cars entering the parking lot, I frequently saw cars tailgate behind others before the gate closed. And anyone could cycle or walk onto the grounds without hesitation. But now, everyone entering RNW property is met by a security guard. The live feed from the Radio Netherlands website has worked fine for me all day. It has been the archived feeds that have come back with "Server has reached capacity" message (Several May 7 messages combined, from Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. [HCDX] SCHEDULE OF ALI UPCOMING MONTHS, FINAL NEWS Hello. Always sending program announcements into all these groups will only annoy the majority of all these groupmembers and moderators of them. So here we will send for the upcoming weeks/months some kind of schedule of our station. We can say that we are almost every week on 15070 during the weekend somewhere around Saturday from 2300 till Sunday 0700 UT. Sometimes we might start a bit later or earlier. Also when conditions are bad we mostly shut down a few hours earlier. Of course we are sometimes (often these days) also at other times active in the weekend (also sometimes weekdays); lots of times we are // into our other freq 21900 or 15070 kHz. Other part of SW where we will stay very active is the 48 mb. Can only say that you just might try for us often on these frequencies. Alfa Lima International is a very active station and replies to reception reports by snailmail 1000% [sic] if a reply fee is enclosed (just enough to cover reply) and that a few details are entered in the RR. We always reply to emails and postings in our guestbook with an email. Email addresses: alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl or info@alfalima.net Also a nice thing is our hotline, when on air we will put you live into the air. So if you want to give us a live reception report, have something to tell us and share with the listeners or what ever, Call in!! The same number also accepts SMS messages. The number is 00 31 619 508 938 where you can also contact us during weekdays between 0800 and 2100 UT. Output of transmitters: 1 x 140 watts, 1 x 350 watts Antennas: 1 x dipole cut to 15070 freq; 1 x dipole cut to 21900 freq; 1 x inverted V dipole cut to 6280 freq; all around 20 m above ground Hope you'll catch us soon and may the props be with you all. Greetings, Alfred _____________________________________ Download Info and new photos in high resolution http://www.alfalima.net/foto-paket.zip Huge webpage with just everything related to short-wave http://www.alfalima.net and take a look at our SW-online shopping centre. http://www.alfalima.net/store.htm _____________________________________ And are you already a member? SW pirates group!!! Receive the latest SW-Pirates info Simply subscribe by sending a blanc email to: SWpirates-subscribe@egroups.com More info at: http://www.egroups.com/group/SWpirates _____________________________________ Contact information Alfa Lima International, P O Box 663, 7900AR Hoogeveen, Netherlands Enclose 1 US$. email: alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl web: http://www.alfalima.net (ALI May 9 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Just listened to a recording of the second program of Jakada R International, broadcast yesterday (Friday). They called it their "Weekend Program". This time they had a short bulletin of African News, in addition to the interview already broadcast in their first program. The rest of the time was filled with music. It still is not clear what they want to achieve. Maybe they are still testing. Or they are starting to find out that it is not easy to fill three half hour programs a week with relevant content ;-) They do not give any hint at their web site or eMail address in the programs. Quality of signal again was quite good here in Germany, though at the beginning they had some modulation problems. Furthermore, the style of the program is not very professional. Seems like a one (wo)man operation. An eMail sent to them after their first broadcast remains unanswered (Harald Kuhl, Germany, DXplorer May 4 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Hi Glenn, Re: [Jakada] "Unless you know something we don`t, no connexion with `BRT` other than TDP being based in the same country, or has TDP made such a disinformative claim as they apparently did to Ezra?" My mistake! I am sorry about that! I don't know anything about the transmission site! No disinformation to me from anyone! 73 from (Björn Fransson, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. A recent Wall Street Journal article says Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly will debut a 2 hour radio talk show in a couple of weeks. I suspect the "new" all-talk KVOO will pick him up to go head-to-head with Rush Limbaugh on KRMG-740. The Tulsa AM radio dial is a reflection of current trends with one exception: KRMG-740 is *#1* in the market with News/Talk/Dr. Laura/Rush Limbaugh/Clark Howard et al. They do a great job on local news and severe weather coverage in the Tulsa area BTW. KVOO does/did a good job on severe weather as well....hope they continue with some local stuff but I'm not real optimistic about it now. KRMG is the only station I listen to for severe weather coverage. The rest of the local AM stations reflect the sorry (in my opinion) state of AM radio around the country well documented on this list: 970 KCFO non-stop preachers/ 1050 KGTO Urban Contemporary/ 1170 KVOO soon to be talk/ 1270 KRVT a mix of standards and religion/ 1300 KAKC La Zeta SS/ 1340 KTFX UC/GOS "God's Station"/ 1430 KTBZ SportsYell...uh..er...Talk/ 1530 KXTD La Que Buena SS/ 1550 KXOJ Southern Gospel (Bruce Winkelman, AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, R8, Quantum Phaser, 2-130 foot wires, NRCAM via DXLD) Local TV news on KOTV-6 reports this evening that KVOO-1170 will change to KFAQ-"Tulsa Talk Radio" with a "conservative" slant, but time/date unknown. I suspect this will occur in the very near future, likely tomorrow. Still "Classic Country" as I type this (2230 CDT 5/9/02). I'm sorry to see another piece of radio history going up in smoke. Paul Harvey, Gene Autry and Bob Wills got their start at KVOO. The news story indicated that "some" classic country will still be broadcast on KVOO-FM. The general manager of KVOO was quoted as saying: "Music belongs on FM". In my opinion, those 4 words sum up the current thinking and attitudes in the broadcast industry as well as any (Bruce Winkelman, AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, May 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) Friday afternoon, still KVOO-1170 with classic country, but saying that format has (already) moved to FM 98.5 (which I can`t hear). Checking 1170 again at 0400 UT May 11, for a legal ID, Tulsa was losing out to a Tamaulipan here about 190 km from KVOO site! (Glenn Hauser, Enid, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 17520.0, R. Pakistan, May 7, 0958, three time pips at TOH and then ID and announcements by female announcer. Male announcer began news at 1001. Difficult copy but did manage a few English words during some fade ups. Signal level of S-3. Then to what sounded like station ID and short tune, possible NA. Off air at 1006 (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. DSWCI`s DX Camp on the west coast of Jutland, Denmark in the village of Vejers Strand where we celebrated the 45th anniversary of the DSWCI. Guest of Honour was Toshi Ohtake from the Japan SW Club who came to Denmark particularly for this event. Among the loggings: 5557.6, R. Comercial, Lajas, Chota 0145-0200 Spanish talk, "El Centro de Lajas", song 25222. The reception conditions were fantastic at the sea and with antennas up to 200 meters long. There is very little local electrical noise in dunes and the path towards Bolivia crosses just water until Belem in Brazil (DSWCI DX Window May 8 via DXLD) ** PERU. 6537.3v UNID, 0743-0805 and 0825-0845, May 7. Transmission in Quechua. Local ads read by male and commentary. Incomprehensible ann. by female at 0752. Afterwards, very nice huaynos and sanjuanitos. At 0825+, only huaynos (non stop). 24422. Today, on May 8, I heard this station a few minutes ago, at 0915, with huaynos non stop on 6537.4, SINPO 24432. Rare hour for a Peru station on shortwave (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This could be Radiodifusora Huancabamba (Marcelo Toníolo, NY, Cumbre DX ed., via DXLD) ** PERU. Peruvian amateurs celebrate World Telecommunications Day with special prefix: The International Telecommunication Union celebrates May 17 as World Telecommunications Day. To mark this event, amateurs in Perú will use the special prefix OC from May 13 to May 19. The Radio Club of Perú (Radio Club Peruano) will operate special event station OC4O during that week on all bands. Visit the Radio Club of Peru Web site at http://www.qsl.net/oa4o/oadx.htm --The Daily DX (ARRL May 8 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RRI heard on 9570 at 2300+, //15105. On 7 May, latter freq excellent. On 8 May, poor. Radio Romania International Encyclopedia heard on 7 May, kind of a cultural tidbit/history show (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RADIO DAY CELEBRATING IN TOMSK While Western people think radio was invented by Marconi, here in Russia we're sure the only real radio's inventor was Alexandr Popov. Marconi made much more for developing radio communications but first experiment of receiving radio waves was held on May 7th, 1895 in St. Petersburg. So May 7 is official Radio Day in Russia and professional holiday for all broadcasters and communication professionals. I'm not only DXer but also radio engineer. I work for state communications control organization searching and eliminating radio interference for communication and broadcasting stations. So the Radio Day is absolutely my personal holiday. I got my education here in Tomsk and I'm a Tomsk State Control Systems and Radio Electronics University graduate. It's one of four universities which are situated at the same avenue next to each other. They say it's the only such university complex in the world. There are yet another two universities and six in all. Quite many for not a large city. My university is the only radio and electronics specialized in Eastern part of Russia (we say "beyond the Ural"). Radio engineering faculty is oldest and most popular. Radio engineering students have great tradition of Radio Day street procession. Last time I participated was exactly 10 years ago. This year I took part again. Yesterday, May 7, I left my office at 5.30 PM and got to student hostels complex at South Square by 6 PM, right before procession started. While walking I noted road police cars at neighboring street crossings ready to stop the traffic. There was a big crowd of present and past students before number 6 hostel, the home of radio engineering students. I also lived here and know all its floors and corridors. Cameramen were ready, someone was informing his colleagues by mobile phone : "Yes, I'm here, everybody's ready, everything is about to begin!" At last the crowd went through South Square to Krasnoarmeyskaya Ulitsa (street). First were girls marching and waving little color flags. Then university professors and supervisors walked. Then brass-band sometimes played music and the bass drum made rhythm all the time. Next there was a man sitting in a chair carried by several students. I didn't know him but guess he's the faculty dean. And the crowd of students restrained by security followed them. Some of participants waved flags, carried slogans, played drums and trumpets. It was funny. I tried to find friends by unfortunately they weren't there. It would be good to walk through the city to the University's main building although that way would be two times longer. But it would paralyze city's main avenue for an hour. So municipal authorities allow procession to use shorter route taking place at some minor streets. It took 40 minutes to complete a street circle. When the procession came back to the 6th hostel some participants run ahead. I thought they knew more than me and looked forward to see something interesting. OK, when the girls stopped and the band became silent first fireworks appeared above the sports ground. But fireworks weren't the event's climax. Most interesting action was throwing away old devices. Four students threw old TV-sets and even refrigerators out of opened window on the 8th floor. TVs flew 30 meters down and noisily blew up. The crowd waved after every exploded TV and asked for more devices. Students inside went away for some time and then threw yet more TVs. There were thrown about 10 TVs and 2 refrigerators in all. After that students went to special dancing party and I went home because I'm married and too old for dancing. I'm 27 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, special report for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. WE DO OUR BEST SO THAT THE WORLD CAN HEAR US On May 7 Russia traditionally marks Radio Day --- the holiday of all communication industry workers and listeners. On that day in 1895 the great Russian inventor Alexander Popov tested his progeny - a small radio transmitter. He was overjoyed when he could hear its sounds at a distance of ... 600 meters. More than a century has passed since that. Radio communications have become virtually limitless. And today we are on the threshold of a radical reform in this kind of communications - digital broadcasting which will make it possible to improve the radio signal qualitatively. To raise the quality of broadcasting is a major problem for all who work for radio, for listeners. We are mindful of our listeners' response. We broadcast in 32 languages, and our audience comprises more than 100 million people. The Voice of Russia radio company receives an enormous number of letters in which listeners express their gratitude for our programs; but sometimes they are critical about the quality of reception. Here's what Gennady Sklyar, Director General of the state-sponsored Russian Television and Radio Network, has to say about what is done in Russia to modernize broadcasting. - Our major task is technical modernization, transition to broadcasting in digital format, said Gennady Sklyar. With this aim in view it is necessary to work on international level, to get the opportunity for such broadcasting to the countries near us and far away. I think that the Ministry of Communication, as a major coordinator of communications in Russia and this nation's representative at the International Telecommunications Union, will vigorously work in this direction, said Gennady Sklyar. In the past few years the Voice of Russia radio company has expanded broadcasting to the CIS countries and Baltic states. Russian-speakers in those countries need to be informed of what happens in Russia and have a better opportunity for their children to improve their command of Russian. Therefore the policy pursued by the Voice of Russia is extremely important, said Gennady Sklyar. Today we must find new approaches to the ways to expand our broadcasting to foreign countries. In the long run our national and social interests demand that as many people in the world as possible could know about Russia, about new Russia, and get authentic and interesting information, said Gennady Sklyar. Today radio remains a major part of the news media, even though scientific and technical progress offers humanity new kinds of communication and sources of information. This is easy to explain: people listen to radio everywhere - at home, in office, in their cars. Broadcasting is the most accessible means of receiving information. In the past few years the number of broadcasting channels has increased in Russia manifold, with new channels emerging annually. With the diversity of styles and formats available in this country each listener can find a radio station to his or her taste. 05.07.2002 /source: http://www.VoR.ru/ (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. THE VOICE OF RUSSIA WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL RADIO-GUILD PRIZE The Voice of Russia was given a special Radio-Guild Prize for its contribution to the dialogue of cultures, as was announced at the awarding ceremony that took place in Moscow on May 7th, when this country celebrates Radio Day. This prize was instituted by the Russian Media Union - a professional organization of media workers - and Russia's ministry of communications. More from Lada Korotun. The national prize in broadcasting, called "Radiomaniya", was given for the first time. The awarding ceremony consisted of congratulatory speeches and messages, including those from the Russian President, which is the custom, and the names of all nominees were kept in secret till the last moment. Taking part in the contest were more than 140 radio stations, which presented 800 programs. The organizers believe that this is convincing evidence that radio today remains one of the most popular media means. The programs, submitted to the contest, confirm their authors' high professionalism and continuity, and also their upholding the best traditions existing in radio journalism in this country. The works competed in 17 categories. The organizers tried to cover all radio professions, such as announcer, musical host, sound director and reporter, and all types of programs. As was expected, the Moscow companies proved to be the leaders. As for the regional companies and anchormen, they also excelled at the contest, and at times their performance was better than that of the Moscow companies. Besides the Russian radio stations, the Russian-speaking radio companies from Finland and Latvia, and also the BBC have taken part in the contest in Moscow. The popular host of the BBC musical programs Seva Novgorodtsev was given a prize in the radio-legend category. We were happy to learn that our work was estimated at its true worth, since a special prize for contribution to the dialogue of cultures was given to the Voice of Russia. We have been conducting this dialogue with you, dear listeners, for more than 70 years now. Receiving this prize, the head of the Voice of Russia Armen Oganesyan said: Of course, ours is a unique radio company since it is the largest radio company in Russia. We broadcast in 32 languages 87 hours a day. The Voice of Russia personnel is a team of topnotch professionals. Many radio stations in Moscow have the former employees of the Voice of Russia on their staff. Invisible celebrities - this is how radio workers call themselves. Therefore, the national radio prize is not only the recognition of their professionalism but also a good chance to let the people see those whom they know only by voice. The founders said that later this prize would be given not only to those who prepare radio programs but also to all radio workers. 05/08/2002 /Source: http://www.VoR.ru/ (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Did anybody hear radio station Atlantika (Murmansk, Russia) in the summer season? Formerly it uses to operate on Tu/Fr at 0800, frequency was 17266 kHz USB (MIDXB No.265 - Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, via Signal May 9 via DXLD) See also TANNU TUVA; TATARSTAN ** RUSSIA. 7210, R. Alef on SW? Since I didn't listen to the program myself, I would not try to guess the origin. I could add though that according to most sources, the schedule of Radio Alef on 612 kHz in Moscow: is 2000-2100 Moscow Time, 1600-1700 UT during summer, which would coincide with the log on 7210. There are no clear details available on the exact days when R. Alef is on the air on 612; some sources talk about Tue, Thu, Sun. *IF* the 7210 transmission was indeed R Alef, it could be presumed from Tbilisskaya or another Russian site, but it could just as well be a "switching error" in Moscow which put out R Alef on SW accidentally in whatever way (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX, May 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 17715-LSB, Deutsche Welle via Komsomolsk heard 3 April 2002 at 0911-0930. SINPO=15211. "Stuttgart" QSL received in 26 days, v/s Horst Scholz, via Köln. Responding to my mail DX Report (George Glotzbach, Santa Fe NM, Cumbre DX May 9 via DXLD) LSB, really? ** RUSSIA. 5925, Radio Center, St. Petersburg, QSL card received for December reception. My e-mail report resulted in a request for $1, so I did that via snail mail. Included with the QSL is a business card of Andrey V. Kekrasov, Director, who signed it (Jim Renfrew, NY, Cumbre DX May 9 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 0108-0115, 6617 kHz. Sankt Peterburg Meteo, SINPO 55444. Weather for the following airports: Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Domodedovo, Pulkovo, Vnukovo (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal May 9 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. 6055, R Rwanda, 6 May in French at 2002 in clear with fair signal. (6055 is blocked by Slovakia here for previous 2 hours). ID as "Radio Rwanda" at 2004 then mix of souly music and talk all in French (mainly about football - Rwanda/Senegal then updates on various European National leagues) until instrumental anthem at 2055. No ID at sign-off heard. Anthem blocked by tone preceding start up of NHK via Skelton at 2057. (Tony is probably correct in assuming his UNIDs on 2 and 3 May were Rwanda, though no London Radio Service programmes heard last night.) (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, AOR 7030+/ longwire, BDXC-UK via DXLD) I listened to 6055 on March 9th at 2010-2057. Only few French announcements with bad audio, mixture of western soft pop oldies with relatively good audio and some breaks of several seconds. No English, no ID heard, no typical Radio Ruanda freq. announcements. But program format and audio quality were quite as it used to be there. I'm not sure about the NA, but could be just a new recording. The reason for closing three minutes earlier than usual could be that the transmitter is used for something else afterwards. Ask DW... LRS programmes from London are free for rebroadcast, so why shouldn't they do sometimes? (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.84, something there May 1, 2055-2330, probably R UNAMSIL, which had been absent for several days. Pretty good strength, though badly QRMed e.g. from Tirana. Not heard on subsequent days. Some interesting, if dated, URLs about this one: http://www.mediachannel.org/originals/unradio.shtml , http://www.cmetfreetown.org/Documents/RadioMonRpt.stm , http://www.ijnet.org/Archive/2000/6/9-7122.html (Jerry Berg and Carlos Gonçalves, DSWCI DX Window May 8 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. I tried to hear the new R. Veritas transmission via Meyerton on 3280 yesterday evening as conditions were good to Africa here but no luck. So I checked with the station. Patrick Rogers (Executive Producer) has confirmed they are now on the air: "YES WE HAVE BEEN BROADCASTING SINCE FIRST MAY, FOUR HOURS A DAY, 12 - 1 PM and 6 - 9 PM." [S African time = 1000-1100 UT and 1600-1900 UT] "THE FIRST HOUR IS ON 7.24 MHz AND EVENINGS ARE ON 3.28 MHz .... TRANSMITTERS ARE LOCATED AT MEYERTON ABT 60 KMS SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG. CAN YU SAY HOW CLEARLY YU RECEIVE SIGNAL? REGARDS PAT ROGERS, EXEC PRODUCER." Both 3280 and 7240 Meyerton transmitters are listed as 100 kW (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham UK, May 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. A new update of Spanish MW Stations List (=España en Onda Media) was uploaded at: http://www.aer-dx.org/listas/eaenom.htm The list is compiled by Martín Estévez, ee@aer-dx.org, and edited by Pedro Sedano, editor@aer-dx.org; both are members of AER Asociación Española de Radioescucha (= Spanish Radiolistening Association) http://www.aer-dx.org The data of every station are: QRG, Name, Location, Network, kW, Observations, Transmitter Location, QSL, Address, Tel. and Fax. Next: web and e-mail. There are 3 PDF files sorted by frequency, by location and by network. Till next one! (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, Spain PSEDANOR@coitt.es editor@aer-dx.org AER http://www.aer-dx.org info@aer-dx.org DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [non?]. Comment from Tore B Vik regarding 5540 logging: The history is as follows. Early in the night I registered a weak SS stn on 5540 mostly with talk px - QSA1/2 -- no IDs noticed. I didn`t know what it was, but I interpreted that the signal might be a LA- station. After some more hours I came across REE which just had started the transmission on 3350 kHz and to my disappointment it was in parallel to 5540. It is NOT my meaning to hint that this is a harmonic to 3350, but that the program on both frequencies was the same REE. I believe so because what I logged on 5540 most likely was a harmonic from one or another REE-frequency. I heard exactly the same on 2 different receivers so it cannot be an internally generated RX- product. I contributed this log so others will notice that an eventual station on 5540 might be REE. Hope this will solve the problem (TBV) (via Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks; still would like to figure out how REE could appear on 5540 if not 9540 minus 4000. The right pair of receivers could both do that (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. /USA. RTI changes its Russian schedule starting 1 May: deleted 1300-1400 on 15665, added 1800-1900 on 17750 kHz. Relayed via WYFR, USA (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA. RUSSIA 6100 kHz: Tuvinskoye Radio (from Kyzyl) heard last time on Sunday, 21 April. Transmitter didn't operate since then (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal May 9 via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN. Attention all DXers who are planning to request QSLs from the Voice of Tatarstan!!! If you send me IRCs as return postage, please get sure that coupons were issued in the country which you live in. That's because of some changes in post office rules here. IRCs cannot be exchanged to stamps in advance now, it can be only done at the moment of dispatching the letter (Ildus Ibatullin, QSL Manager, Kazan, Russia, Signal May 9 via DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE has a website; it is http://www.wjiesw.com/ (Hans Johnson, FL, May 8, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Not much there yet; claims two 50 kW transmitters, now on the air and receiving reports from overseas, but inaudible here on 7490 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7489.95, WJIE, ex-WJCR, extremely poor signal, apparently a transmitter problem, 0625-0700 May 3, almost all Christian vocals, program host Jason Brock, quick vocal "WJIE" ID 0625, weather at 0633, prgogram notes at 0650, also promo for Avalon 02 CD, "88.5 WJIE" ID. Succumbed to sudden fried eggs QRM at 0657, cleared up a few mins later but signal the same. Tried their live internet audio but it locked up my browser. Follow-up to earlier WJIE item: Per Larry Baysinger, the reason reception is so poor right now is that the transmitter took a lightning hit less than eight hours after coming back on at full power. The same storm blew down the FM receiving antenna with which they were feeding programming from Louisville to the site at Upton. Larry has been working all week on repairs while running just the exciter into the antenna about 100 watts (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer May 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. AMATEUR RADIO TO GAIN NEW 60-METER BAND? AMATEUR RADIO POISED TO GAIN TWO NEW BANDS! NEWINGTON, CT, May 10, 2002 --- Chalk up three runners on base for Amateur Radio. The FCC has proposed going along with ARRL's request of last summer for a new domestic (US-only), secondary HF allocation at 5.25 to 5.4 MHz. The FCC also is ready to adopt at least part of ARRL's longstanding request for a low-frequency amateur allocation by proposing to permit operation on a 136-kHz ``sliver band.`` And, in response to a third ARRL request, the FCC has proposed elevating Amateur Radio to primary status at 2400 to 2402 MHz. ``I'm just as tickled as I can be,`` ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said upon hearing the news. ``This is a classic example of our ARRL at work.`` The FCC voted unanimously May 2 to adopt the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in ET Docket 02-98. The Commission released a Public Notice May 9, and the NPRM is expected to be released soon. A comment deadline will be announced as soon as it's available. Approximately 100 comments were filed in response to the ARRL's petition for a band in the vicinity of 5 MHz --- which has become known as ``the 60-meter band.`` [yeah, by those who don`t know anything about conversion, or that it already applies to tropical SWBC mostly below 5 MHz --- gh] The League's request to the FCC followed a period of operation on the band by about a dozen stations across the US under the ARRL's WA2XSY experimental license. 60-Meter Band Would Be First New HF Allocation Since 1979 In announcing the 60-meter proposal, the FCC said the new band would help amateurs ``better match their choice of frequency to existing propagation conditions.`` The band, if approved, would be the first new amateur HF allocation since World Administrative Radio Conference 1979 gave amateurs 30, 17 and 12 meters--the so-called ``WARC Bands.`` Assuming the 5-MHz band eventually is authorized, it could be a few years before it actually becomes available. The League said its successful WA2XSY experiments demonstrated that amateurs can coexist with current users and that the band is very suitable for US-to-Caribbean paths. In comparisons with 80 and 40 meters, the WA2XSY operation also showed the 60-meter band to be the most reliable of the three. The ARRL has told the FCC that a new 5-MHz band would aid emergency communication activities by filling a ``propagation gap`` on those occasions when 80 meters is too low in frequency and 40 meters too high for reliable ionospheric propagation. This can be a particular problem on paths between the US and the Caribbean, when the ``propagation gap`` can disrupt emergency communications during hurricanes and severe weather emergencies. The ARRL also argued that a new 150-kHz allocation at 5 MHz could relieve the overcrowding that periodically plagues 80 and 40. The ARRL has proposed that General class and higher amateurs be permitted to operate CW, phone, data, image and RTTY on the new band running maximum authorized power. No mode-specific subbands were proposed. If allocated to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis, hams would have to avoid interfering with--and accept interference from--current occupants of the spectrum, as they already do on 30 meters. The band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz now is allocated to Fixed and Mobile services on a co-primary basis in all three ITU regions. 136 kHz Band Would Mark First LF Allocation for Hams The ARRL asked the FCC for two LF allocations in October 1998 --- 135.7 to 137.8 kHz and 160 to 190 kHz. The petition had languished at the FCC until this month, apparently in part because of concerns expressed over the 160 to 190 kHz request. Unlicensed experimenters-- some of them hams --- currently operate on LF in the US under the FCC's Part 15 rules. ``This action proposes changes that would enhance the ability of amateur radio operators to conduct technical experiments, including propagation and antenna design experiments, in the 'low frequency' (LF) range of the radio spectrum,`` the FCC said in its Public Notice. The 135.7 to 137.8 kHz band that the FCC appears willing to grant adheres to the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) band plan. Several countries in Europe and elsewhere already have 136-kHz amateur allocations. The first amateur transatlantic contact on the band was recorded in February 2001. The ARRL has proposed allowing General and higher-class amateurs to operate a transmitter at up to 200 W PEP output, but in no case greater than 2 W EIRP (effective isotropic radiated power). Hams would be secondary to the Fixed and Maritime Mobile services in the 136-kHz allocation. The League said its engineering surveys suggest that hams could operate without causing problems to power line carrier (PLC) systems already active in that vicinity or to government assignments. Unallocated Part 15 PLC systems are used by electric utilities to send control signals, data and voice. FCC Proposes to Elevate Amateurs to Primary at 2400-2402 MHz The ARRL asked the FCC to elevate the domestic status of Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services at 2400 to 2402 MHz from secondary to primary in July 2000. The FCC said its proposal to upgrade the Amateur Service allocation to primary ``seeks to protect current amateur use of this band.`` Amateurs already are primary at 2390 to 2400 and from 2402 to 2417 MHz. The ARRL has said primary status in the intervening spectrum slice was needed ``to provide some assurances of future occupancy of the band segments for the next generation of amateur satellites,`` including Phase 3D. Hams have shared their other 2.4 GHz spectrum on a secondary basis with government users. The League has said it wanted an allocation that was not subject to reallocation or use by ``an incompatible sharing partner.`` In its November 1999 Spectrum Policy Statement, the FCC said current use ``restricts the availability of the bands for new services, given current sharing techniques.`` As a result, it lumped the 2400-2402 MHz segment with 2300-2305 MHz and 2417 to 2450 MHz as part of an informal ``spectrum reserve`` for possible future reallocation when technology or other changes made other uses more feasible. The ARRL has expressed its belief that hams can continue to accommodate Part 15 and Part 18 devices at 2.4 GHz since these typically are deployed higher in the band and are geographically separated (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, and Brock Whaley, DXLD; excerpts also via Bill Smith) ** U S A. Fred Vobbe has posted the audio of an interview John Callarman conducted with Ernie Cooper at the 1959 convention. http://www.nrcdxas.org/mp3 There's a wealth of other material on the tape John gave me. I'm doing some audio restoration on it and hopefully it will be the start of a sort of historic audio collection (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX, May 6, NRC-AM via DXLD) Lots more good audio material at this site! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. According to Neal Newman, now CE at WTTM [1680 kHz], the station was purchased by Multi-Cultural Broadcasting EBC Radio on May 1st 2002. The address is now 456 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840. E-mail: groucho@skyweb.net and web http://www.ebcmusic.com. The format changed from ESPN Sports to South Asian (Indian) Hindu, Telugu, Urdu News, Talk, Music. Neal is also a ham-operator, KA2CAF (Hakan Sundman, Helsinki, May 9, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. Correxion: the name of the person doing the VOA music show was Ray Freeman, not Ray Briem (Ron Trotto, IL, May 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY. Got a QSL from R. Africa Int`l (which belongs to United Methodist Church). Frequency 13820 kHz [see schedule in BC- DX #573]. Broadcast relayed via Juelich, Germany, but the card says nothing about it. Sent my report by e-mail to radio@gbgm-umc.org Replied in 41 days. Card features the map of Africa with borders drawn, but without countries' names. Verification signed by Donna Niemann and Raphael Mbadinga (Dmitri Mezin, Russia, DXsignal Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6165, V of Vietnam (presumed) 1226-1328* April 29 with exotic Hmong vocals, occasional M and W announcers; 1259 probable ID with "Vietnam" mentioned, then into M&W talk, news maybe; misc. talk and music to close out transmission; flute theme and off at 1328*. Fair signal but co-channel VOA QRM (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX May 9 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Both 5975 and 6045 seem to be on 24 hours a day (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR [CLAND to Zimbabwe]. The ID by far and large is "Radio VOP", although every now and then "Radio Voice of People" is also announced. By the way, a strange choice of the new evening freq of 7215: the broadcast suffers significantly from a het from Angola on 7216.84 here (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Apr 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. A strange Arabic utility station noted on 9235 kHz USB in the evening, they play music between the calls (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Signal May 9 via DXLD) Perhaps same as Liangas` unID +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE For Immediate Release: May 8, 2002 DRM RE-ELECTS DEUTSCHE WELLE'S PETER SENGER AS CHAIRMAN -- Radio Netherlands' Jan Hoek and Steering Board Also Re-elected -- Ohio, U.S.A. - For the fourth year in a row, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) has chosen Peter Senger, Chief Engineer and Deputy Technical Director of Deutsche Welle (DW), as its Chairman. Senger has led DRM since its inception in 1998. DRM also re-elected Jan Hoek, CFO/CTO and Deputy Director General of Radio Netherlands, as its Vice Chairman. Hoek has been Vice Chairman since DRM's beginning. DRM also re-elected all 18 members of its Steering Board. The voting took place at the consortium's annual General Assembly, held this year in Mason, Ohio, U.S.A., at the corporate headquarters of DRM member Harris Corporation, Broadcast Communications Division. "I'm proud to report that, in just four years, DRM's members have built a universal, on-air system that will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 MHz in markets worldwide," says Senger. "The clarity of DRM's near-FM quality sound offers a dramatic improvement over analogue AM. And DRM is the world's only non- proprietary, digital AM system for short-wave, medium-wave and long- wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe." DRM's Steering Board members remain the BBC, Coding Technologies GmbH, IDT Continental Electronics, Deutsche Telekom AG, DW, Fraunhofer IIS- A, Harris Corporation, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., International Broadcasting Bureau/VOA, Merlin Communications International Ltd., Radio Netherlands, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, TéléDiffusion de France, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, Telenor/Norkring, Thales Broadcast and Multimedia and Voice of Nigeria. Senger started his career with Cologne, Germany-based broadcaster DW in 1965. After working at DW's relay stations in Africa, Europe and the United States [?? -- -gh] for 16 years, he returned to Germany. Senger spent 13 years as head of DW's Radio Frequency Department. In 1995, he was promoted to Chief Engineer and Deputy Technical Director. In this role, Senger is in charge of new technologies, as well as planning and negotiation for the satellite network that distributes DW's television and radio programs worldwide. In 1998 Senger was nominated for the Communication Section of the German Space Center "Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V./DLR". Also, he was a member of the Steering Board of WorldDAB, and chairman of Module 4, Satellite Services, for four years. DRM Vice Chairman Jan Hoek has been CFO/CTO and Deputy Director General of Radio Netherlands, based in Hilversum, since 1994. Prior to that, he worked in publishing, consultancy and IT. About DRM DRM is an international consortium of 72 broadcasters, network operators, manufacturers and researchers who joined forces in 1998 to create a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM is scheduled to launch in 2003. DRM reached several milestones toward its launch in the past year. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved its recommendation of the DRM system in April 2001. DRM unveiled mobile reception tours at IFA 2001, Germany's largest consumer electronics show, in Berlin last August. DRM introduced new equipment specially built for its system, at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC 2001) in Amsterdam last September. Soon after, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) published the DRM system specification. DRM will be featured at conferences worldwide throughout the year, including IBC 2002 in Amsterdam in September. For a full list of upcoming DRM appearances plus DRM audio samples, click on http://www.drm.org DRM Members DRM members are FARB (Australia); Nautel Ltd., Radio Canada International (Canada); Academy of Broadcasting Science of China (China); Riz Transmitters (Croatia); HFCC (Czech Republic); ESPOL, HCJB World Radio (Ecuador); Egyptian Radio and TV Union (Egypt); Digita Oy, Kymenlaakso Polytechnic (Finland); Atmel ES 2, CCETT, Radio France, Radio France Internationale, TéléDiffusion de France, Thales Broadcast and Multimedia (formerly known as Thomcast SA) (France); APR, Coding Technologies GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Deutsche Welle, DeutschlandRadio, DLM, Sender Europa 1, Fraunhofer IIS-A, Innovationszentrum Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT, IRT, Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt, Micronas GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, SWR Südwestrundfunk, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, University of Applied Sciences - FH Merseburg, University of Hannover, University of Ulm, VPRT (Germany); Antenna Hungaria, Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary); All India Radio (India); RAI (Italy); Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., JVC Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., NHK (Japan); Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg); Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia); Nozema, Radio Netherlands (Netherlands); Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand); Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria); Telenor/Norkring (Norway); Main Centre for Control of Broadcasting Networks/Voice of Russia (Russia); Universidad del Pais Vasco, (Spain); Factum Electronics AB, Radio Sweden International, Teracom SE (Sweden); EBU, International Committee of the Red Cross, ITU (Switzerland); Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia); BBC, Christian Vision, Merlin Communications International Ltd., QinetiQ, RadioScape Ltd., Roke Manor Research Ltd. (U.K.); IDT Continental Electronics, Harris Corporation, IBB/VOA, National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, Sangean America, Inc. and TCI, a Dielectric Company (U.S.A.). (Siriol Jane Evans, Director, Press and Communications, Digital Radio Mondiale, phone +33 2 99 19 55 07; fax +33 2 99 82 80 92 pressoffice@drm.org DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION NOTES +++++++++++++++++ COMING SOON - A NEW IPS WEB SITE * When? A preview link to our new web site will be available from the current IPS Home Page by mid-May, 2002. Advice on when the new site is to become fully operational will be posted to our current web site soon after. * Where? The IPS Home Page web address will remain as is - http://www.ips.gov.au * Why? As our current web site has grown, navigating around it has become more complex. With our new site, we are simplifying the means of accessing various pages, so users can more readily benefit from the wide range of information, data and services we offer. * Will I be able to access IPS pages I currently have book-marked? Once the new site is operational, clicking on book-marked pages from the current site will re-direct you via a transfer page to the new site. To find the location of a previously book-marked page, you can then enter the title of the page (not its URL) into the Site Search Engine, located in the Other Categories Navigation Bar. This will re- direct you to the nearest equivalent page on the new site. Alternatively, the Main Categories Navigation Bar at the top of each page will help you find your way around. * Who do I contact for more information? If you have any problems locating a page from the current site, please e-mail marketing@ips.gov.au and advise us of the title (and URL, if possible), of the page you are looking for. We will then advise you of where to look on the new site (Patrick Phelan, May 7, via Nigel Holmes, Australia, DXLD) NASA SPACE WEATHER PRESENTATION The influence of space weather on shortwave radio has long been known by DXers and professionals alike. NASA continues to investigate the relationships to better refine our understanding of these interactions. The following announcement is from a recent NASA press release. DishNetwork customers in the USA can also watch the NASA channel (213) to view this upcoming panel discussion. A Directv customer can also view the program on channel if the system receives the 119 degree West Longitude satellite. The meeting is scheduled for 1700 UT this Thursday. Space storms are often heralded by dramatic auroral displays (northern and southern lights), and also are occasionally harmful, potentially disrupting satellites, radio communications and power systems. New findings from NASA's Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft reveal how the Earth actively participates in space storms. These new observations will be discussed during a Space Science Update, 1 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. SW. The panelists will be: * Richard Fisher, division director of the Sun-Earth Connection, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington * Stephen Fuselier, manager, Space Physics Laboratory, Lockheed- Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, Calif. * Donald Mitchell, principal staff physicist, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md. * Dr. John C. Foster, associate director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory, Westford, Mass. * Janet Kozyra, senior research scientist, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor The Space Science Update will be carried live on NASA Television with two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the briefing from NASA centers. NASA Television is broadcast on satellite GE-2, transponder 9C, at 85 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization, frequency 3880 MHz, audio of 6.8 MHz. The briefing will also be webcast live via links: http://www.nasa.gov (via Joe Buch, DE, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unfortunately, this appeared during a few days off we were taking. Perhaps it will be repeated; let us know (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION REPORT Flare activity has been low with only a couple of minor flares in the past week. An M1 flare and CME on May 4 is expected to have affected geomagnetic conditions May 9-10, possibly causing minor storm levels. This may cause degraded conditions especially over high latitude paths. Possible disturbed conditions are forecast until May 20. Otherwise conditions over the past week have been good with MUFs enhanced at various times (Prepared for Cumbre DX May 9 by Richard Jary using data from http://www.ips.gov.au via DXLD) GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Phil Bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary March 26 2001 through May 7 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 3/26 166 11 3 none minor 7 27 169 5 2 none minor 4 28 176 3 1 none minor 3 29 181 6 4 none minor 5 30 189 18 3 minor minor 7 3/31 204 14 2 minor minor 6 4/ 1 207 13 3 none minor 7 2 206 12 1 none minor 6 3 209 12 2 none minor 6 4 216 6 0 moderate minor 4 5 217 3 1 none minor 3 6 206 4 2 none minor 5 7 208 8 1 none minor 4 8 206 2 1 none minor 2 9 205 2 1 minor minor 4 10 194 6 2 moderate minor 5 11 197 9 5 minor minor 8 12 212 16 3 minor minor 1 geo storm 13 226 12 2 none minor 7 14 210 11 2 minor minor 4 15 203 6 3 minor minor 7 16 196 7 2 minor minor 7 17 194 31 5 moderate minor 9 geo storms 18 188 45 3 strong minor 9 geo storms 19 180 37 6 moderate moderate 10 geo storms 20 177 41 3 strong none 6 geo storms 21 173 8 3 strong strong 4 22 170 13 2 strong moderate 5 radiation storms 23 175 18 2 moderate moderate 8 geo storms 24 177 7 2 moderate minor 6 radiation storms 25 167 3 0 minor minor 2 radiation storms 26 163 3 1 minor none 1 radiation storms 27 157 9 2 none none 6 28 147 17 2 none none 5 29 153 7 1 none none 5 4/30 153 8 1 minor minor 3 5/ 1 162 4 1 none minor 4 2 169 6 1 none minor 3 3 179 7 2 none minor 4 4 190 6 2 none minor 5 5 180 4 2 none minor 5 6 191 10 3 none none 8 5/ 7 187 8 2 minor minor 7 ********************************************************************** (IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FROM BOULDER :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2002 May 07 2212 UTC Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center Product description and SEC contact on the Web http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 May - 03 June 2002 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels during the period. Isolated low-level M-class flares are likely during the period. No proton events are expected. Greater than 2 MeV flux levels are expected to be at normal to moderate levels during the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during most of the period. However, active conditions will be possible during 9-10 May due to a CME passage (a halo-CME occurred early on 07 May). :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 May 07 2211 UTC Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center Product description and SEC contact on the Web http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table Issued 2002 May 07 UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 May 08 200 5 2 2002 May 09 205 10 3 2002 May 10 200 15 3 2002 May 11 200 10 3 2002 May 12 195 8 3 2002 May 13 195 8 3 2002 May 14 190 8 3 2002 May 15 185 8 3 2002 May 16 180 8 3 2002 May 17 175 8 3 2002 May 18 175 8 3 2002 May 19 175 8 3 2002 May 20 175 8 3 2002 May 21 175 7 2 2002 May 22 170 7 2 2002 May 23 165 7 2 2002 May 24 160 8 3 2002 May 25 155 15 3 2002 May 26 155 8 3 2002 May 27 155 8 3 2002 May 28 160 7 2 2002 May 29 170 7 2 2002 May 30 180 7 2 2002 May 31 190 8 3 2002 Jun 01 190 8 3 2002 Jun 02 190 8 3 2002 Jun 03 195 8 3 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1130 [non], DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NEW PUBLICATION AVAILABLE: The DOMESTIC BROADCASTING SURVEY 4 (DBS-4) edited by DSWCI Chairman, Anker Petersen The 45 year old DSWCI which has experienced DX-ers in 36 countries all over the world as members, has just published the 4th Edition of its annual Domestic Broadcasting Survey. It includes the Tropical Bands Survey for the 30th year in a row and the Middle East Survey. This 48 pages booklet covers all ACTIVE stations broadcasting to a domestic audience or relaying such broadcasts to compatriots abroad in the shortwave spectrum of 2200 - 30000 kHz. Active Clandestine stations are also included with schedules and identifications. This new Survey is based upon many official sources and DX-bulletins. In order to make the DBS reliable, we have checked, if each of the 1600 station frequencies is on the air, by our own monitors around the world throughout the period May 2001 - April 2002. Stations confirmed being ACTIVE are marked with an A ("Regular") or B ("Sporadic") in the list. C means "Likely inactive". A unique feature is the right column called LOG. It shows the last month and year before DBS deadline on April 30, 2002 when the particular station was reported logged by a DX-er somewhere in the world. This is another way of indicating the current audibility of the station. To make this DBS up-to-date and user-friendly, most frequencies which have not been heard during the past year have been deleted and moved to a new appendix on the rear pages. The DBS is updated continuously throughout the year. Other useful features for easy identification (ID) are the parallel frequencies and reference to Station ID sentences. The 48 pages A-4 size DBS-4 is available only by e-mail as pdf-format, or upon request in Microsoft Works database. It is sold for USD 5, EURO 5, GBP 3, DKK 40 or 7 IRC per issue by the treasurer: DSWCI, c/o Bent Nielsen, Egekrogen 14, DK 3500 Vaerloese, DENMARK 15% discount is given, if a DX Club orders a total of 20 copies or more. Payment by cash notes is preferred. DSWCI Bank is Danske Bank,2- 12 Holmens Kanal, DK-1092 Copenhagen K, Account No: 3001-4001-528459. Swift: DABADKKK. Postal Giro Account: Copenhagen 710-3409 (add fee: DKK 30). Best 73's, Anker Petersen anker.petersen@get2net.dk Bent Nielsen bentndx.elinh@post.tele.dk (DSWCI DX Mirror May 8 via DXLD) COMPREHENSIVE SHORTWAVE SCHEDULE ADDS FREQUENCY SORT Dear friends! The summer season's (A02) comprehensive shortwave schedule is now finally ready and con be seen or downloaded as usual at http://www.eibi.de.vu/ (Please use always this URL which is a link; the actual address may change some time, e.g. on finishing university) NEW FEATURES! Apart from the known UTC-sorted format there is now also a list sorted by FREQUENCY, similar to the "Blue Pages" of PBWR, which was the idea and work of M. Mueller, Berlin. Also there is a little BASIC programme which, if it runs (maybe it won't run on all PCs) will extract only broadcasts at a certain time, in a certain language or so. Nothing new, but yet available is the FM listing for Germany. The site once again: http://www.eibi.de.vu/ Best wishes, EiBi (Eike Bierwirth, Stary Petergof, RUS-78, St. Petersburg metropolitan oblast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-076, May 6, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1129: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Dear Glenn Hauser, I've been a listener since 1988 to World of Radio and love listening to your reports. It`s the coolest communication show on shortwave. I've recently got the internet hooked up and clicked into World Of Radio and able to listen to Continent of media which is just like listening to World of Radio, Is there a difference between the two programs? Once again it`s cool to listen to World of Radio So keep up the cool work man, < World Of Radio > < is the Coolest > (From DXer Dave, Canada, via DXing.com) ** ANTARCTICA. Re DXLD 2-074, the frequency I reported for LRA36 should have been 15475.54, not 15476.54. Sorry! (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Hi Glenn, since this is an important site, and in order to prevent a confusion, it seems necessary to point out again that the town Kamo where the high power Armenian transmitting centre is located, has been renamed GAVAR several years ago. The use of the name "Kamo" for this site is thus no longer correct. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAKER ISLAND. Activity is going strong. One of Hrane's, YT1AD, reports stated that it took seven ship crew members, and 13 + 1 radio fanatics almost 48 hours to set up three complete camps. The USA camp is operated by KW4DA, N6TQS, Z32ZM and S56A. The Serbian camp is operated by YT1AD, YU1DX, YU1AU and ZS6MG. The Russian camp is operated by RZ3AA, RA3AUU, RW3AH (9X0A) and LY3NUM. Remember, all CW, RTTY, PSK and SSTV QSOs are via YT1AD: Dr. Hrane Milosevic, 36206 Vitanovac, Yugoslavia. All SSB QSOs are via RZ3AA: Roman Thomas, P.O. Box 2059, Moscow, 101000, Russia. Activity should last until May 9th. For the latest updates, try the Web page: http://www.magma.ca/~ve3exy Some of the logs are now available at: http://www.magma.ca/~ve3exy http://www.kragujevac.co.yu/kh1/ http://dx.fireroute.com/kh1/index.php (KB8NW/OPDX May 6/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** BELGIUM. See HUNGARY; NIGERIA ** BENIN. 7210, 0558-, R. Benin, May 5. Relatively nice signal, SIO of 3.5-3-3. Sign-on with national anthem, and ID in French. Further announcements, then into African hi life music (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5926.9, 2.5 2250, Radio Difusora Minería, Oruro. Lots of news, local ads and a clever style, BUT disturbed by various trash, which take away the pleasure of listening. QSA 2-3 QRM, and my AR7030- sync gets crazy on this station JB (Johan Berglund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 5927, 30.4 2245, R. Minería s/off about 2300 TBV (Tore B. Vik, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 5927.1, 28.4 2310, Radio Minería, Oruro with football (San José - Oriente I think) from the stadium in Oruro. Inserted a "Radio Minería en onda corta" now and then in the commentary. QSA 3. JE/RFK (Jan Edh and ???, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.43, 27.4 2240, Radio Pío XII - the Locutora in Aymara but the listener answered in Spanish - obviously most of the people are bilingual in Siglo XX and neighbourhood. Very strong and steady signal (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 5952.45, 28.4 2300, Radio Pio XII unbelievably good in comparison to "everything" else. Tango etc., later on sermon from the Acts of the Apostles. QSA 4. JE/RFK (Jan Edh and ??, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Radio Difusora de Roraima deve estar com problemas em seu transmissor de Ondas Tropicais (4875 kHz). Desde há algum tempo venho percebendo por volta das 1000 UT que eles não estão em 4875 kHz mas sim em 4852 kHz porém com o som totalmente distorcido. Pude identificar a emissora na semana passada e enviei um email ao departamento técnico sugerindo que eles consertem o problema. Até agora não recebi nenhuma resposta deles. Alguém mais percebeu esse problema? (Marcelo Toníolo, NY, May 5, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. This is the reply I received from RCI regarding the wrong feed on 5995 at 20 UT (French instead of English). 73 de (Kjell- Ingvar Karlsson, Upplands-Väsby, SWEDEN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Subject: Re: Wrong programme Dear Mr. Karlsson: Thank you again for your e-mails of 25 April. Our technical people have been investigating the problem you described, and seem to have found an answer. It turns out that there was a switching error in London, at part of our foreign distribution network. The people there did not take the correct feed for the second of a two-hour transmission lineup, which is why you heard French instead of English. We thank you very much for having brought the matter to our attention, so that we can make sure that the problem is rectified. Yours very truly, (Bill Westenhaver (for Maggy Akerblom), RCI, May 1 via Karlsson, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [NON]. RUSSIAN REGIONS DO NOT FANCY BROADCASTING TO CHECHNYA | Text of report by Russian news agency Ekho Moskvy [No dateline as received] Organizing radio and television broadcasts to Chechnya is quite feasible, the director-general of the Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Network federal state enterprise, Gennadiy Sklyar, told Ekho Moskvy radio. It is possible to organize such broadcasts by locating transmitters along the republic's border, he said. "There are too many groans and there is too much craftiness" when discussing the subject, he said. "It is possible to broadcast to Chechnya not only from Groznyy, but also from Ingushetia, Stavropol Territory, and Dagestan. However, each federal entity asks the question: how come that broadcasts would go out from my territory, and not from me? This is where we start running into problems," Sklyar said. Source: Ekho Moskvy news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1200 gmt 6 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5588.2, RADIO NUEVA JUVENTUD. Pasto. 0219-0310 Mayo 5. Gracias a una llamada telefónica del Sr. Omar Alberto Cabrera, operador de esta emisora, el sábado en la tarde, anunciándome que iba a operar la emisora (lamentablemente por no disponer de correo electrónico en mi hogar, no pude dar oportuno aviso a los colegas); pude escuchar este estación colombiana que reporté por primera vez en noviembre del 2000, la cual fue construída y es operada por el Sr. Cabrera como afición con música popular colombiana y mensajes a familiares, además de algunos saludos a mi persona. ``...El nuevo rumbo de la radio colombiana es Radio Nueva Juventud desde Pasto, 5585 kcs onda corta, banda de 60 metros; juventud en radio es dinamismo, juventud en radio es cambio.`` En la conversación telefónica el Sr. Cabrera me confirmó además que va a operar la emisora todos los sábados local (domingo universal) desde las 0200 a 0500 UT y que está interesado en reportes de recepción a la dirección: Carrera 1 No.21-36 Pasto, Nariño, Colombia. Ya que además de un reporte que le envié en el 2000, había recibido uno del ``Diexista`` Bellabarba desde Boloña, Italia; ante lo cual me apresuré a contarle la historia de este personaje non apreciado por la comunidad diexista pero con una agilidad y desfachatez incomparable (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 7435, CONGO KINSHASA. Heard from here Radio Lubumbashi on this frequency on 4 May at around 1500 with long talk and debate in French and at 1600 program in vernacular; then at 1735 in French again with announcement mentioning Lubumbashi twice, then followed by long talk and African songs until 1835 and in vernacular again just after that and went off at 2105 after a short announcement and mentioning Lubumbashi. Still there when checked to-day at 1730 but the reception is very poor and noisy (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, 5 May 2002, hard- core-dx via DXLD) An interesting frequency, also by some Europirates; and WWCR is no longer there (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Na sexta-feira, o pessoal da RHC, estavam reformulando a página na internet! Com isso não havia como verificar as frequências, horários e idiomas! Hoje, já estava no site as freqüências atualizadas. Você pode verificar em http://www.radiohc.cu/frecuencia.html (Valerio Ferreira, May 6, radioescutas via DXLD) Radio Habana Cuba "UNA VOZ DE AMISTAD QUE RECORRE EL MUNDO" TRANSMISIONES EN ESPAÑOL EN LA MAÑANA ZONA GEOGRÁFICA FRECUENCIAS HORARIOS CARACAS 11760 11-15 NORTE-CENTRO-SUDAMÉRICA 11760 11-15 MÉXICO 9550 12-14 CARIBE 6000 11-14 BUENOS AIRES 15230 12-14 EN LA TARDE EUROPA 13605 21-23 15120 21-23 AMÉRICA DEL SUR 15230 21-23 11705 21-23 EN LA NOCHE CARACAS 9600 00-05 NORTE-CENTRO-SUDAMÉRICA 11760 00-05 MÉXICO 5965 00-05 BUENOS AIRES 15230 00-05 CHICAGO 9820 00-01 WASHINGTON 6049 00-01 [sic, must mean 6000 kHz on 49 meters, actually 50 --- gh] MESA REDONDA INFORMATIVA (DE LUNES A VIERNES) CARIBE 6000 23-01 CENTROAMÉRICA 11875 23-01 "ALO PRESIDENTE" (PROGRAMA DOMINICAL DEL PRESIDENTE DE VENEZUELA, HUGO CHÁVEZ FRÍAS) [length varies, as late as 1830] CARACAS 11705 14 CENTROAMÉRICA 15230 14 ANTILLAS 6140 14 ESTADOS UNIDOS 17750 14 CHILE 11875 14 TRANSMISIONES EN INGLÉS EUROPA 13660 20:30-21:30 [one of these in USB??] 13750 20:30-21:30 ESTADOS UNIDOS CHICAGO 9820 01-05 WÁSHINGTON 6000 01-05 11705 PACÍFICO 9820 05-07 9550 05-07 [note: no longer toward ENAm/Eu] 9665 05-07 [reported previously as USB] [omitted, but recently reconfirmed here::: CARIBE 9550 22:30-23:30] TRANSMISIONES EN FRANCÉS EUROPA 13750 20-20:30 13660 20-20:30 CARIBE 9550 22-22:30 9550 00-00:30 NORTEAMÉRICA 9550 00:30-01 9550 01:30-02 TRANSMISIONES EN PORTUGUÉS EUROPA 15120 20-20:30 13605 20:30-21 BRASIL 17705 22-22:30 17705 23-23:30 15230 23-24 TRANSMISIONES EN GUARANÍ 17705 22:30-23 17705 23:30-24 TRANSMISIÓN EN QUECHUA 17705 00-00:30 TRANSMISIONES EN CREOLE CARIBE 9550 21:30-22 9550 23:30-24 AMÉRICA DEL NORTE 9550 01-01:30 TRANSMISIONES EN ESPERANTO (SÓLO LOS DOMINGOS) PACÍFICO 9820 07-07:30 NORTE-CENTRO-SUDAMÉRICA 11760 15-15:30 EUROPA 13750 19:30-20 13750 22-22:30 AMÉRICA 9600 23:30-24 11760 23:30-24 9505 23:30-24 (from http://www.radiohc.cu/frecuencia.html re-edited and annotated by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CUBANET INDEPENDIENTE 3 de mayo, 2002 INSTALAN MISTERIOSAS ANTENAS EN LA HABANA LA HABANA, 2 de mayo (Juan Carlos Linares, Cuba-Verdad / http://www.cubanet.org - Una serie de antenas cuyo uso no se ha podido precisar están siendo instaladas acelerada y discretamente en diferentes puntos de la capital cubana. Se trata de unas estructuras de 20 metros de altura y diseño diverso, las cuales causan numerosas especulaciones entre la población habanera, que no recibe ninguna información sobre el asunto por los medios de prensa. Cuba-Verdad confirmó la instalación de esos aparatos en la azotea del edificio donde radica el Ministerio de la Industria Ligera; en la sede del Poder Popular del municipio Habana Vieja, en la del Observatorio Nacional, en el ultramarino pueblo Casa Blanca; así como en la zona llamada Altura de la Víbora, en el municipio Diez de Octubre; en la esquina de las calles Vento y Camagüey, cerca del cuartel nacional de la policía política, y en la azotea del hotel Habana Libre Tripp, en la barriada del Vedado. Otras direcciones donde también han instalado estas antenas no han podido confirmarse por ahora. Aunque muchos habaneros se han percatado del asunto, nadie ha podido contestar cuál es la función de estos aparatos. "Sólo sé que son estructuras nuevas en el paisaje capitalino" -dijo un transeúnte al ser interrogado sobre las antenas. Un especialista en electrónica se limitó a especular: "Pudieran servir para la instalación de teléfonos celulares, pero también para la emisión de señales con diversos fines". Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) CUBANET INDEPENDIENTE 3 de mayo, 2002 AUMENTA LA CENSURA EN LAS EMISORAS DE RADIO CUBANAS LA HABANA, 2 de mayo (Juan Carlos Linares, Cuba-Verdad / http://www.cubanet.org - La censura musical de autores extranjeros en las emisoras radiales de Cuba, principalmente los de habla inglesa, ha aumentado últimamente. "Siempre se ha exigido a los realizadores de programas musicales que el 80 por ciento de las piezas que salgan al aire sea de autores nacionales y el resto, el 20 por ciento, de creadores extranjeros. Sin embargo, en este momento no se cumple ni esa proporción" -informó una fuente vinculada al medio cuya identidad no será revelada. La fuente aseguró que cualquier programador que ponga varias piezas musicales en inglés en el mismo espacio es citado de inmediato por la dirección de la emisora. "Los realizadores de los programas musicales de mayor audiencia están sufriendo una ola de presión creciente" -denunció. Se pudo confirmar con varios trabajadores del ramo, que igualmente solicitaron no ser identificados, que la opinión con que la mayoría de ellos explica el aumento de la censura es que el gobierno de Castro está reforzando el proceso de aislamiento de la sociedad cubana del mundo exterior. Uno de los encuestados concluyó que esta medida es parte de la denominada Batalla de Ideas y producto de los recientes conflictos del gobierno de Fidel Castro en el ámbito de las relaciones internacionales. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD). ** ECUADOR. 2480 harmonic, RADIO SONORAMA. Riobamba. 1020-1035 Mayo 5. Música del Ecuador. ``...potencia musical Sonorama...``, `` Sonorama qué buena...``, ``...frecuencia digital Sonorama, la mejor programación, escúchenos...`` (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 5900-USB, 3.5, 2330, Radio Cosmopolita, the same strikingly energetic voice of the DJ, which led my thoughts to a football commentary even if it is not. No ID this time but I can`t be wrong with that voice (Johan Berglund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) (Listened to the frequency at exactly the same time and the station was also heard here but very weak. /ed Thomas Nilsson, ibid.) 5905, 27.4, 0200, Radio Cosmopolita with lots of talk about Riobamba. Never coming above QSA 2 and with all the junk on the frequency it was hard to get any programme details. Close down at 0205 without any ceremony at all. WIK (Rolf Wikström, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) (you mean 5900 USB? /ed Nilsson) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GREAT BRITAIN, 21550, 1427-, MILLENIUM VOICE, May 4. Heard with nice signal with talk by OM, just over co-channel Voz Cristiana. Talk continued to 1430 without any obvious sign-off when transmitter cut. Voz Cristiana ID followed with a strong signal, now in the clear. Music program (música cristiana). (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. No luck whatsoever with SWR this month. The Euro hobby pirates were not propagating at all this weekend (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Don`t you believe the `UTC` times given by Frans Vossen, RVi Radio World for English from R. Budapest. He kept saying `UTC` after every time. They were actually CEDT of UT + 2. Perhaps Budapest does not make this clear on their website? But since when has RB ever had English at `0430`? The old interview he had also didn`t make clear that Hungarian is no longer produced by RB but home service relays only, according to a reorganization a few months ago (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3264.657, 1253-, RRI Gorontalo, May 1. Nice signal. Strongest 90 meter station with Indo music and light hearted talk and chuckling by male announcer followed by more EZL Indo music. About an S5 signal. Jakarta interval signal continuously from 1300 until 1303:50 and into the news. Must have had a feeder problem (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4925.01, 1326-, RRI Jambi, May 1. Nice signal and local ID at 1324, then into a radio play or possible relay of a television program. Slightly overmodulated. S7 signal (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. W4EHW Announces Hurricane Season 2002 On-The-Air Test NEWINGTON, CT, May 5, 2002--Amateur station W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center in Miami has scheduled its Hurricane Season 2002 On-The-Air Station Test for Saturday, June 1, 1300-2200 UT. Amateurs are invited to contact W4EHW during the event. ``The purpose of the annual station test is to test all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas,`` says W4EHW Amateur Radio coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY. The test also will provide an opportunity to check for any RFI to NOAA and NHC equipment. ``We will also be testing some new antennas and equipment that are being installed for this coming season,`` McHugh noted. In addition, some new volunteer operators will be getting some hands-on training. The test also marks the kickoff of the 2002 hurricane season. During the hurricane season, W4EHW works with the Hurricane Watch Net http://www.hwn.org and amateur and non-amateur volunteers to gather real-time weather data via Amateur Radio and forward it to forecasters. W4EHW also disseminates NHC hurricane advisories via the Hurricane Watch Net to maritime interests, the Caribbean islands, emergency operating centers, and others in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. During the June 1 test, W4EHW will be active on HF, VHF and UHF. The station will use these frequencies ( plus or minus QRM): SSB, 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525 MHz; CW, 14.035, 21.035 and 28.035 MHz; PSK31, 14.070 MHz. W4EHW also will use South Florida-area VHF and UHF repeaters plus 146.52 MHz FM simplex and 144.200 MHz SSB. Stations contacting W4EHW are asked to supply call sign, signal report, location and a short weather report. Non-hams are invited to submit their actual weather using W4EHW's On-Line Hurricane Report Form http://www.fiu.edu/orgs/w4ehw/WX-forml.html QSLs are available via W4VBQ; include a SASE. Due to security requirements, no visitors will be allowed at the NHC during this test. For additional information, visit the W4EHW Web site (same URL as the Hurricane Form above) (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** IRAQ [NON]. US/IRAQ: US SPOKESMAN COMMENTS ON US FUNDING FOR IRAQI OPPOSITION TV | Excerpt from US State Department press briefing on 1 May .. Question: A lot of us in the State Department Press Corps today received a press release from the INC saying that they had been forced, essentially, because of lack of funding, to shut down Liberty TV. They say that they weren't able to agree on a budget. Don't you guys support Liberty TV? State Department spokesman Richard Boucher: Yes, we do. And, in fact, of the about 15m dollars of funding that we provided to date to the Iraqi National Congress, something like 5m dollars of that was devoted to support the operations of Liberty TV. We fully funded that programme, including the Liberty TV part of it, earlier this year. We anticipate providing additional funding as soon as grant negotiations are successfully concluded. We have been in the process of negotiating a new grant agreement with the Iraqi National Congress. That process has been complicated by ongoing problems in the Iraqi National Congress' financial management practices. Those issues remain important to us and we are working with them to resolve the problems as soon as possible so that we can sign a new grant. Question: Can I just follow up? Liberty TV has been on for a while now. What is your assessment so far? Mr Boucher: As I say, we provided 5m dollars or so. Question: What do you think? Are they reaching the right people? Are they broadcasting stuff that - Mr Boucher: Well, I don't think I have an assessment. I'm not sure how much audience Nielsen kind of work [audience market research] is done in their target audience area, so I'm not sure how much one can do. They do broadcast I think something like, what, four hours a day or something like that. But I don't think I have an assessment of how many people they have been able to reach that way. Question: Are you confirming [inaudible]? Is that your understanding? Mr Boucher: You would have to check with the operation, themselves, over whether they are still operating or not. Tune in to turn them on. Question: [Inaudible.] Mr Boucher: The fact is the United States has supported them consistently. We have been discussing a new grant to provide additional funds. They say they are out of money. We have been discussing with them a grant to provide additional funds, but frankly it has been complicated by the financial management practices that have continued to bedevil this whole operation. Question: Is one of the issues where they haven't been able to come up with paperwork on exactly how that 5m dollars has been spent? Mr Boucher: I'm not sure whether it's a paperwork issue, but the kind of responsible accounting for funds that we're looking for, that we have discussed with them many times needs to be done as well in the context of the new grant. And we want to provide the money, but these things have to be worked out responsibly. Question: Is that the only reason that they are not getting money right now? Because of the finance? Mr Boucher: Yes. We continue to support the activities of the INC. We continue to support Liberty TV programming. We are happy to fund it, but it has to be done under conditions that ensure the appropriate use of the money. Question: And it doesn't particularly trouble you at all that they say they have been forced to go off the air because they don't have enough money? Mr Boucher: As I said, we have been trying to give them more money, but we have to work out the grant agreement under responsible standards. Question: So it is their fault. Mr Boucher: We have been trying to work this out. Question: Richard, can you give us a bit more detail about - sometimes you say we are financing Liberty TV, but do you know when the last payment was made on this part of the - Mr Boucher: Earlier this year. I think there was a payment either in March or for March. Question: Do you know how much that was? Mr Boucher: No. It's something around 400,000 dollars a month that they need, I think, for the operations... Source: US State Department web site, Washington, in English 6 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ITALY. 9670, 0405-0425*, RAI INTERNATIONAL, May 5. Not usually very well heard, but tonight brought fair to good signals in Ukrainian. Followed a program in Russian. Parallel frequencies 11800 poor to fair, and 7235 which had been fair, but was obliterated by Meyerton AWR at 0400. Gave ID as 'RAI International'. Into news (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 9870, 1609-, R. KOREA INTERNATIONAL, May 5. Interesting clash here with both CRI and RKI on in English at the same time, with predictable results! CRI wins out with a signal stronger by a third or so vs RKI. So much for frequency planning! (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. 9710 - sequence of programmes heard on Sunday 28 April: 0900 R Vilnius in Lithuanian, 0930 R Vilnius in English, 1000 Radyo Avaye Ashena in Persian, 1100 FBN in English and 1200 Universelles Leben (may have called itself something else) in German. Close at 1300. All good (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA [non]. RUSSIA, 12015, 1504-, VOICE OF RUSSIA, May 4. Looking for Voice of Mongolia, but completely wiped out by growly transmitter of VOR with Farsi program with S7 to S9 signal. Had a Russian lesson before the TOH. Piano music at 1505 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND: RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL BACK ON SW AFTER TRANSMITTER FAILS | Text of report by Radio New Zealand International on 6 May Shortwave transmission of Radio New Zealand International resumed a few hours ago after a transmitter failure kept the station off the air for more than two days. Broadcasts were restricted to the Internet, with links available at http://www.rnzi.com Source: Radio New Zealand International, Wellington, in English 0800 gmt 6 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Frequency Schedule from 5 May to 1 September 2002 UT kHz TARGET 1650-1750 6095 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1751-1850 11725 NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1851-2215 15160 All Pacific [also heard in Europe] 2216-0458 17675 All Pacific [also heard West Coast USA] 0459-0658 11820 All Pacific [also heard in Europe] 0659-1105 9885 All Pacific [also heard in USA] 1106-1305 11675 NW Pacific, Bougainville, East Timor, Asia 1306-1649 6095 Usual Closedown is 1305 UT --- this frequency is for occasional over- night broadcasts to the Pacific for Sports commentaries or Cyclone Warnings (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous version matches more or less, except it said 9825 at 1105; which is it? And who has priority if RNZI needs the single transmitter during the DVB 15620 relay at 1430-1530? (gh, DXLD) Glenn, NZDF Timor has asked us to remain on 11675 as reception there is satisfactory. 9825 had been identified for use and we may yet move there if 11675 becomes unsatisfactory. Any hired time on the RNZI transmitter may be suspended for cyclone broadcasts to the Pacific. Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 15120, Voice of Nigeria, 0935, 28 April. Quiz show in English called ``Ten Seconds``, a favourite programme of mine on Sunday mornings when reception holds out till this time! (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. 12125, 1.5 1900, Jakada Radio, via BRT, Belgium - a new Nigerian station with the ambition to produce programs for Africans. African-English and a very badly mannered program, but very nice African music. S 4-5. BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) Unless you know something we don`t, no connexion with `BRT` other than TDP being based in the same country, or has TDP made such a disinformative claim as they apparently did to Ezra? (gh, DXLD) ** NORTH AMERICA. PIRATE, 6955, 0222-, NOEL, May 5. White Christmas instrumental. Excellent modulation. About a S7 signal with some static crashes. As so often is the case, the voice audio is far worse. They gave an ID at 0226, but couldn't make it out clearly. Went on to more Christmas carols (the First Noël). Jingle ID again at 0230, then into Let in snow....ID again just before 0235 when they left the air. ID'd as NOEL, all Christmas, all the time (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: VOICE OF PALESTINE EXTENDS TRANSMISSION HOURS Voice of Palestine from Ramallah, the official radio station of the Palestinian National Authority led by Yasir Arafat, was observed on 4 May to announce the extension of its transmission hours to 0400-1600 gmt instead of 0400-1200 gmt. The station was also observed to resume carrying scheduled news bulletins, in addition to hourly news summaries. The rest of the station's programming consisted mainly of patriotic and other songs. The station was heard on the FM frequency 90.7 MHz. Voice of Palestine went off the air on 29 March after Israeli troops entered Ramallah. The station reappeared on 26 April on 90.7 MHz. The station continues to be unheard on the mediumwave frequency 675 kHz. Source: BBC Monitoring research 4 May 02 (via DXLD) ** PERU. 13565.40, 21.4+ 22.4 2315, Radio Ondas del Pacífico. Ayabaca, I dare say. Very weak signal, readable (but only just) these two dates, not a trace the following two nights. Was heard with male DJs and nice flutes. An ID is recorded, which clearly fits, but the signal to noise ratio is of a level that makes future examination giving nothing more. Not even with CoolEdit. This is a harmonic from 5782.7 where I can´t hear them. Obviously it must be sunset in northern Peru if everything shall fit. QSA 1-2 (Johan Berglund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** PERU. 3375.1, RADIO SAN ANTONIO. Callalli. 0033-0102 Mayo 5. ``...atención a la hora exacta en Radio San Antonio, 7 de la noche, 41 minutos, 7 y 41 minutos; ésta es Radio San Antonio...`` luego el locutor en Quechua con saludos para oyentes. ``...estás en sintonía de Radio San Antonio...`` A las 0100 con un espacio de formación producido por ALER, ``Siembra para recoger``. Interferencia fuerte de la brasileña. Notado el cierre a las 0140* (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 4940, RADIO SAN ANTONIO. Atalaya, 0105-0130 Mayo 5. Completa identificación en la voz del locutor: ``...Radio San Antonio, radio intercultural y misionera; estamos al servicio de la educación y la cultura, la formación de jóvenes y niños. Es nuestro propósito promover valores, anunciar el evangelio, el diálogo intercultural, hemos ser [sic] y comunicarnos con todos los pueblos y comunidades de nuestra bella provincia de Atalaya. Y llevar al mundo un mensaje de paz y alegría... Radio San Antonio se transmite en dos frecuencias, en frecuencia modulada estéreo OBW8U, 95.50 MHz, y en onda corta OAW5A, 4940 kHz. Radio San Antonio AM y FM se transmite desde la esquina Rioja con Equitos, teléfono 46?1240 en Atalaya...`` Luego con el programa de música cristiana ``La canción se hace oración``. Notado el cierre a las 0150* con oraciones y como final el ``Ángel de mi Guarda`` para seguir con el Himno del Perú (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 5544.7, RADIO SAN LORENZO (Tentativa). dónde??? 2319-2331 Mayo 4. Música romántica, baladas de los años 80 y 90. Locutor con fuerte acento indígena, señal débil, ninguna identificación positiva, pero en esta frecuencia Malm en SWB via DXLD reporta esta nueva emisora. Cabe mencionar que en marzo del año pasado en esta frecuencia se escuchó la emisora Estación X desde Bagua, la cual no se ha reportado desde entonces (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 6560.2, RADIO COMERCIAL HUANCABAMBA. Huancabamba, 2340-0001* Mayo 4. Nueva emisora, ex - Radio Estación 2. Pensando en escuchar saludos para mí a través de Radio Estación 2 a la cual envié una carta solicitando, para esta fecha y hora algunos mensajes ante la realidad que era muy poco probable que me enviaran alguna confirmación, me encontré con esta nueva emisora presentando el programa: ``Aires Huarinqueños`` con música folclórica. ``...En señal de prueba, ésta es Radio Comercial Huancabamba...``, ``..La radio de la nueva generación, Radio Comercial Huancabamba...`` El único anuncio comercial fue del maestro curandero Santos Neira, además mencionando dirección en Calle Ayabaca 646, salida a las Huarinjas, en Huancabamba; dirección en la cual también atiende este curandero por lo que considero probable que haya adquirido la emisora pero hay que averiguar más ya que mencionaban al Federico Ibáñez, propietario de la RD Huancabamba y el cual al parecer también tenía intereses en la R. Estación 2 (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** RUSSIA, 7390, 1509-, VOICE OF RUSSIA, May 4. Excellent reception of VOR World Service in English with Russian sport and cultural news. Headlines at 1510. Parallels noted: 11500 almost as strong, and 11985 poor to fair (the latter beamed to Middle East). (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also MONGOLIA non ** SRI LANKA. I was enjoying one of my favorite moldy oldie shows last night, Radio Sri Lanka's "Early Bird" program on 15425 kHz. It is a wake-up show that goes back to the Commercial Service days of Radio Ceylon. At 0048 UT they played a number that took me on another nostalgia trip, Shirley Bassey singing "Kiss Me Honey". Back in the 60's there was a station which played a continuous loop of that song to jam the clandestine, anti-government Radio Peyk-e Iran on the 25 meter band. The jammer became known as Kiss Me Honey. It sure was a lot easier to listen to than the music that China is covering others with today! (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND [non]. GUIANA [FRENCH]. 11905, 2355-2400*, SWISS RADIO INTERNATIONAL. May 4. SRI in English, closing at 2351 and into instrumental music. A sad shadow of its former self. They can't even fill a full half hour. To South America. Fair + reception. Parallel 9885 poor to fair (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Some alternative frequencies from CBS Taiwan that may be used to combat interference to their services: NEWS NETWORK I (In Mandarin): To Northern China Normal Frequency Alternatives 15245 15330, 15345 11885 11865, 11970, 11985 15215 15175, 15235 15395 15525, 15645 To Southern China Normal Frequency Alternatives 9680 9700, 9735 To Central China Normal Frequency Alternatives 7105 7310, 7380 9640 9650, 9670, 9685 11905 11900 To South East Asia Normal Frequency Alternatives 15290 15105 NEWS NETWORK II (In Mandarin): To Central China Normal Frequency Alternatives 7395 7515 To Southern China Normal Frequency Alternatives 6060 6145 9660 9680 73 (Sean, G4UCJ, May 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Haven`t checked to see if this match previous info here, but even if not, convenient to have this broken out (gh, DXLD) ** U K. BLAIR BULLIES BEEB? Sun May 5, 7:20 AM ET LONDON (Reuters) - The British government said on Sunday it may fine the British Broadcasting Corporation if it dumbs down its television programming. Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell will publish a long- delayed draft Communications Bill next week that will shake up regulation of the entire media industry. Commercial broadcasters complain they are more heavily monitored than the publicly funded BBC, which has been criticized in recent years for chasing ratings rather than focusing on high-quality, public service television, which is a key part of its remit. More at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=772&e=1&cid=772&u=/nm/20020505/tv_nm/media_britain_bbc_dc_1 (via Tom Popyk, Tabloid addict, PBS supporter, CAJ List via Ricky Leong via DXLD) ** U K. Speaking of `dumb`, BBC Radio 4`s Quote, Unquote, May 6 referred to the Eisenhower Presidential library being in Abilene, Texas! It`s Kansas. At least they didn`t say, ambiguously, ``Abilene, USA``, altho that would have been correct (gh, DXLD) ** U K. BILL THROWS BROADCAST UP IN AIR. THE FALL-OUT FROM THIS WEEK'S PROPOSALS WILL AFFECT VIEWERS FOR DECADES TO COME Steven Barnett, Sunday May 5, 2002, The Observer It has been a mighty long gestation period, but the end is in sight. After months of speculation, select committee hearings, leaks and counter leaks, Wednesday finally sees publication of the Government's draft Communications Bill. The fact that this is still a draft, even after a comprehensive White Paper, followed by 17 months of debate, is testimony to the sensitivity of the issues and the Government's caution. Number 10 is right to be wary. This will be the most comprehensive reform of the communications industries at least since the 1990 Broadcasting Act, and perhaps since the introduction of commercial television in 1955. It is the first under a Labour government. Not only will it deal with some highly sensitive commercial and political issues, but in the longer term it will reshape a large part of Britain's cultural and creative environment. In other words, this Bill matters because it will ultimately dictate the nature, quality and variety of what appears on our TV screens and radios - and what doesn't. As a direct result of the 1990 Act, companies like Thames lost their licence to broadcast, programmes like World in Action and This Week disappeared from ITV, and Sky (courtesy of Margaret Thatcher) was exempted from the newspaper/TV cross- ownership restrictions that applied to terrestrial broadcasters. We are still seeing the fall-out today. So what are the key issues to look out for this time? The headline story will be ownership, where the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Number 10 have stayed firmly on the fence until the last possible moment. Relaxing rules on radio ownership and allowing a single ITV will not be controversial, but cross-ownership will: in particular, will we see an end to the so-called 20-20 rule, which prevents any newspaper proprietor with more than 20 per cent of the national market from owning more than 20 per cent of a terrestrial TV licence? Put more crudely, will Rupert Murdoch finally be allowed to get his hands on terrestrial television through BSkyB? If so, Channel 5 would be BSkyB's most likely target. With cross- promotion, Premiership soccer and fewer public service obligations, it could easily challenge and overtake ITV within five years - a sort of televisual replay of the Sun's rise from obscurity after 1969. On Wednesday, ITC chief executive Patricia Hodgson insisted that safeguarding news coverage should be the Bill's priority, and explicitly made the link with funding: 'I hope the Bill will require proper investment in news, underpinning obligations [of commercial broadcasters] to compete in the field of high quality national and international news.' The real signal of government intent will be how far along this road it will go. Will Ofcom have the power to specify minimum limits of news in peak time and minimum funding levels? And will it have the teeth to turn the rhetoric into reality, even in the face of fierce lobbying from commercial broadcasters? The same goes for regional programmes. While a single ITV is a foregone conclusion, the Channel 3 regional commitments will remain. Again, the 1990 Act specified only a 'sufficient amount' of regional programming, which the ITC then translated into hours for each regional licence. It could enforce volume, but not investment; predictably, as budgets were squeezed and ratings pressures increased, regional programming budgets were cut and quality declined. Will the Bill give Ofcom the power to set and enforce funding levels for regional production? Original production has always been one of the strengths of British broadcasting, which has a high proportion of first-run home-grown production compared to (generally cheaper) foreign imports. The ITC sets targets (currently 65 per cent, 60 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively, for ITV, C4 and C5), and Ofcom will presumably inherit similar powers. With intensifying competition from cable and satellite companies - which seem to escape the EU rule of 50 per cent European production with ease - these targets will be under pressure. Will the Bill give Ofcom teeth to set limits and impose sanctions for non-compliance? Finally, there are the 'fluffy bits': the White Paper's third tier of regulation covering the traditional public-service responsibilities that the Government is committed to keeping. Will the Bill specify that commercial terrestrial broadcasters must offer education, arts, children's, science and religious programmes? Will it be looking for programmes serving different views, interests and minority groups? If it is, the crunch will be in the detail. Commercial companies will be desperate to ensure that obligations in the Bill are vague; they will want to keep the Government to its promise of greater commercial freedom and flexibility for broadcasters to define their own commitments and be judged retrospectively. But how does Ofcom then guarantee the range and diversity that the Government insists it wants? Unless it can insist that a particular broadcaster is responsible for delivering a particular mix of programming, each will furiously pass the buck - and probably insist that it stop with the BBC. So we should be looking for a Content Board within Ofcom, with a duty to ensure that all three obligations are fulfilled across the board. And we should be looking at Ofcom's levers of influence: how will it enforce those obligations? There is still a long way to go. Publication will trigger the next stage of consultation, a three-month review under an all-party committee from both Houses of Parliament. There will be more evidence and lobbying, and the Government has said that while the main principles are non-negotiable, the detail is. It aims to have the final Bill ready for the next Queen's speech, and on the statute books by the end of next year. And it will be relieved to have it out of the way well before the next election. Steven Barnett is Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act threatens the future of streaming for noncorporate stations like WHRB. To learn more about how you can help WHRB and save the streams, please see how you can Fix the DMCA: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~willr/cb/sos/ ALL EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY RADIO WEBCASTS ARE IN JEOPARDY. You must ACT NOW to Save Our Streams... (via DXLD) ** U S A. Another story about Radio Sawa: VALUES AND PHILANTHROPY Radio Sawa Exports U.S. Values to Young Arabs By MARK O'KEEFE c.2002 Newhouse News Service WASHINGTON -- From a cramped studio in a nondescript government building, a young Egyptian woman reads the day's news in Arabic for "the new station for the new generation," those 25-and-under in the Middle East. Radio Sawa is on the air, broadcasting a formatted mix of Arabic and Western pop hits on a growing network of AM, FM and satellite frequencies throughout the Arab world. Fully funded by American taxpayers, the network is the brainchild of a California media mogul and wealthy contributor to former President Clinton. Foreign critics call it clever propaganda... http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1a050302.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. QSL. 6010, EMISORA CIUDAD DE MONTEVIDEO. Verificación a través de Tarjeta QSL, firmada por el Director de la emisora Sr. Aramazd Yizmeyian. Confirmó en 8 semanas (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VATICAN STATE. 5890, 0343-, VATICAN RADIO, May 5. Interesting, since the transmitter, 80 kW, is located on the grounds of Vatican City. Reception of listed Hungarian program is poor to fair with talk. Lots of atmospheric QRN (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN. A-02 Schedule for Vatican Radio Schedule effective to October 2002 Albanian 0520-0540 EU 1260 1611 1900-1920 EU 1260 1611 7250 9645 Amharic/Tigri 0405-0430 AF 103.8 9660 11625 1635-1700 AF 103.8 15570 17515 Angelus 1000-1015 EU/AF/AS/AU (7,H) 93.3 105.0 585 1530 5890 9645 11740 15595 21850 Arabic 0400-0430 AF/AS/AU 1260 9645 11715 0645-0700 EU/AF/AS/AU (W) 93.3 1530 5890 9645 11740 15595 1530-1600 AF 1260 11625 15595 1530-1600 AS/AU 1260 11625 15595 2045-2100 EU/AF/AS/AU 93.3 1530 5890 7250 9645 Armenian 0210-0230 EU 1260 7345 9645 1550-1610 EU 1611 11715 15185 Bulgarian 0440-0500 EU 1611 6185 7345 1820-1840 EU 1260 1611 6185 7365 Byelorussian 0320-0340 EU 1260 6185 7345 1700-1720 EU 1611 9585 11715 Chinese 1230-1315 AS/AU (1-5,7) 103.8 6020 17515 21620 2200-2245 AS/AU 103.8 7305 9600 11830 Croatian 0250-0310 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 1650-1710 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 Czech 0310-0325 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 1730-1745 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 ENGLISH 0125-0140 AS/AU 103.8 9650 12055 0250-0315 AM 7305 9605 0310-0340 AF 103.8 9660 0500-0520 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 0500-0530 AF 103.8 9660 11625 15570 0630-0645 EU/AF/AS/AU (W) 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 0630-0700 AF 103.8 11625 13765 15570 0900-1000 EU (W) 105.0 585 5890 1535-1550 AS/AU 103.8 12065 13765 15235 1615-1630 EU/AS/AU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 15595 1730-1800 AF 103.8 13765 15570 17515 1950-2010 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 2000-2030 AF 103.8 9660 11625 13765 Esperanto 1920-1930 EU (7,H) 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 1920-1930 EU (3,4) 1260 1611 7250 9645 French 0230-0250 AM 7305 9605 0240-0310 AF 103.8 9660 0430-0500 AF 103.8 9660 11625 0440-0500 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5880 7250 0600-0630 AF 103.8 11625 13765 15570 0615-0630 EU/AF/AS/AU (W) 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 1100-1200 EU (W) 105.0 585 5890 1600-1615 EU/AS/AU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 15595 1700-1730 AF 103.8 15570 17515 1930-1950 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 2030-2100 AF 103.8 9660 11625 13765 German 0420-0440 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 1400-1415 EU 93.3 5890 9645 11740 1820-1840 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 Hindi 0040-0055 AS/AU 103.8 9650 12055 1450-1505 AS/AU 103.8 12065 13765 15235 Hungarian 0340-0400 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 1710-1730 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 Italian 0520-0530 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 0600-0615 EU/AF/AS/AU (W) 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 1000-1015 EU (W) 105.0 585 5890 1015-1100 EU (7,H) 93.3 105.0 585 5890 1200-1300 EU/AF 93.3 105.0 585 5890 9645 11740 15595 21850 1430-1500 EU (5) 93.3 5890 7250 9645 1530-1600 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 5890 7250 9645 1900-1920 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 1920-2000 EU (1) 1260 1611 9660 2100-2200 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 Kiswahili 0340-0400 AF 103.8 9660 11625 1610-1700 AF (1-5,7) 103.8 15570 17515 Latvian 0400-0420 EU 6185 7345 1740-1800 EU 1611 9585 11715 Lithuanian 0340-0400 EU 1260 6185 7345 1720-1740 EU 1611 9585 11715 Malayan 0110-1125 AS/AU 103.8 9650 12055 1520-1535 AS/AU 103.8 12065 13765 15235 Mass in Chinese 1230-1315 AS/AU (6) 103.8 6020 17515 21620 Mass in English 1130-1200 AF/AS (5) 103.8 15595 17515 1550-1620 AF/AS/AU (6) 103.8 12065 13765 15235 Mass in Italian 0730-0810 EU (7,H) 93.3 105.0 585 7250 Mass in Latin 0530-0600 EU/AF/AS/AU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 15595 Music 1430-1500 EU (1-4,6-7) 93.3 5890 7250 9645 Oriental Liturgy 0830-0950 EU (7,H) 93.3 11740 15595 17515 Papal Audience 0745-0900 EU (3) 105.0 585 5890 Phillipino 1920-1930 EU (5) 1260 1611 Polish 0400-0420 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5880 7250 1415-1430 EU 93.3 5890 9645 11740 1800-1820 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 Portuguese 0030-0100 AM 1260 7305 9605 0530-0600 AF 103.8 11625 13765 15570 1100-1115 AM (W) 1260 21850 1315-1330 EU 93.3 1260 9645 11740 1800-1830 AF 103.8 13765 15570 17515 2030-2045 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 Rosary 1840-1900 EU/AF/AS/AU 93.3 103.8 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 6185 11625 13765 Romanian Liturgy 0610-0730 EU (7,H) 93.3 7250 9645 Romanian 0420-0440 EU 1611 6185 7345 1800-1820 EU 1260 1611 6185 7365 Russian 0230-0300 EU 1260 6185 7345 9645 1230-1300 EU 1260 15595 17630 1610-1640 EU 1260 1611 6210 9585 11715 15185 2000-2130 EU 1260 7305 9575 Scandinavian (Languages) 0500-0520 EU 1260 1611 7345 9645 1840-1900 EU 1260 1611 7250 9645 Slovak 0325-0340 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 1745-1800 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 Slovenian 0230-0250 EU 93.3 1530 4005 5890 1630-1650 EU 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 Somali 1620-1635 AF (6) 103.8 15570 17515 Spanish 0100-0145 AM 1260 7305 9605 11910 0145-0230 AM 7305 9605 11910 0315-0400 AM 7305 9605 0800-0810 EU (1,2,4-6) 105.0 585 5890 1130-1200 AM (W) 1260 21850 1300-1400 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1260 9645 11740 1900-1930 AF (6) 103.8 9660 11625 2010-2030 EU 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 Tamil 0055-0110 AS/AU 103.8 9650 12055 1505-1520 AS/AU 103.8 12065 13765 15235 Ukrainian 0300-0320 EU 1260 6185 7345 1640-1700 EU 1260 1611 9585 11715 Ukrainian Liturgy 0615-0745 EU (7,H) 1611 9850 11740 Vespers 1500-1530 EU 93.3 5890 7250 9645 Vietnamese 1315-1400 AS/AU 103.8 12055 17515 2315-2400 AS/AU 103.8 7305 9600 Key: W = Weekdays H = Holy Days 1 = Monday .... 7 = Sunday Printed schedule via Michael Beesley, World DX Club. As the printed schedule does not show end times of transmissions, I have assumed them in the above sked - (Alan Roe, England, May 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually, I think many of them may be about 5 minutes shorter, allowing for IS, beam changes, e.g. NAm at 0255 to 0310 rather than 0315; but haven`t checked it lately (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Saludos queridos colegas diexistas. Para todos un abrazo rompecostillas [this is an interesting expression he uses -- a ``ribs- breaking hug`` --- gh]. La siguiente información que van a leer a continuación apareció en el semanario LA RAZON el domingo 28 de Abril del 2002. Fué leida en la sección "Carrusel Político" que escribe el periodista Luis Felipe Colina. RADIO NACIONAL. El director de Radio Nacional de Venezuela y ex moderador del programa "¡ Aló, Presidente!", Roberto Ruiz, fué despedido por su supuesta complicidad con el golpe de Estado de Carmona, ya que el dia viernes 12 llamó al personal de la emisora del Estado para que no se presentaran y mandó a cerrar la estación, aunque ya antes los periodistas Mará Teresa Waisager y Miguel Ángel Cariel, jefes del Canal Clásico y del Canal Internacional, respectivamente, habían salido al aire dando gracias a Dios por la salida del tirano. Nota: si algún colega quiere verificar esta información y constatar que fue copiada identica al original puede visitar la pagina del Semanario La Razón que es: http://www.razon.com Nota: durante estos hechos no logramos captar ningún sonido de RNV aquí en el estado Anzoátegui, porque la señal 1310 que cubre la parte norte del estado, tiene más de dos años fuera del aire y la señal del Canal Internacional cuando por casualidad logramos oirla, es pura portadora y nada de audio (José Elías Díaz, Venezuela, May 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Poor Venezuelans who can`t hear the Hugo Show locally should get it on RHC, as above under CUBA, and since in previous originalversion there was no cross reference to it under VENEZUELA, here are the new frequencies again, the first designated for CARACAS: 11705, 15230, 6140, 17750 for USA, 11875 (gh, DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. ZNBC, 6265, UT Fri May 3 at 1800 with news in English instead of vernacular usually heard at this time (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE (to Zimbabwe) - 6145, SW Radio Africa via Meyerton, 1755, 2 May. Pop music, several IDs, economic report mentioning Mugabe etc, English. Fair at best but some splash from 6140 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, BDXC-UK via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5499.4. 0013-0130* MAYO 3. Lotes de música folclórica instrumental sin parar, sin anuncios o locutores. Considero que puede tratarse de una emisora desde Perú o Ecuador. Con una fuerte señal (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, May 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5540, 14.4 0000, unID SS which fooled me until REE was heard on 3250 - that means a harmonic with QSA 1/2 TBV (Tore B. Vik, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ?? I don`t see how this would be a harmonic, and REE via Costa Rica is on 3350, not 3250, anyway and not scheduled until *0200. Please explain. Hmm, maybe one of those minus 4 MHz receiver images, from 9540? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6055 kHz at 2045 on 2 May, tune-in at end of programme in English produced by the ``London Radio Service, 76 Lloyd(?) Square, London, W1C 5LL, UK``, e-mail address given as info@l... [truncated by yahoogroups], into talk in French, music, then orchestral version of a presumed National Anthem followed by choral version of same tune. This was then blocked by Skelton carrier for Radio Japan relay at 2057. Same anthem heard on 3 May at same time. Could this be Radio Rwanda? However, they always used to sign- off with multi-lingual ID's in French, English, Swahili and Kinyarwanda, which were not heard on either day (Tony Rogers, Birmingham-UK, AOR AR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11530, 1551-, May 5. Was tuning in Denge Mesopotamiya, which I can hear below a much stronger Christian program. My ILG states Liberia, but surely this is not the case. Anyone know location? English hymns. Talk, however, was in Spanish. ID, I think at 1600, then into Spanish choir. Mixed badly with D.M., but in the clear after 1600 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) High Adventure registered this frequency for Liberia, to replace Lebanon, but believe no attempt made to construct it (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WRTH GOING FOR PASSPORT LOOK-ALIKE World Radio TV Handbook, WRTH, is trying a frontal assault on Passport to World Band Radio with its new The Shortwave Guide, which copies the Passport layout to a great extent. This guide uses colour bar-graphs to show the broadcasts in 25 different languages, all shown in different colours. "It's a simple, colourful and effective way for the DXer or listener to see what is being broadcast in a particular language at a particular time", says WRTH Managing Director Nicholas Hardyman. And a format that has proven successful for WRTH's main rival, Passport to World Band Radio. The WRTH guide will also focus on most parts found in Passport, with the first volume containing these items: This first volume of The Shortwave Guide contains: ** The Summer broadcast schedules. ** A simple guide to shortwave listening. ** Domestic shortwave broadcasts ** Contact details for the main international broadcasters. ** Colour maps showing transmitter sites. ** And "other reference material". All covering 224 pages, with a retail price set at US$ 17.95. Publication date is set to June 2002. (hcdx news desk, 6 May, 2002 via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-075, May 5, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1129: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0100, 0500 on 3210; Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Mon 0030, 0630, 1230; Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN. From the NZRDXL DX Times http://radiodx.com/spdxr/edxt.htm UPDATE FROM AFGHANISTAN by Martin Hadlow in Kabul British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) now has two FM channels operating in Kabul. These simply relay programmes from London and, to my knowledge, there are no local studios for break-outs. As I don`t have a digital read-out on my radio, I`m not able to give the exact frequencies (but I will check). BFBS-1 is mostly popular music and operates on about 102.5 MHz. BFBS-2, which relays both BFBS produced content, plus the output of BBC`s "Radio 5 Live" and Radio 4 news from the UK, operates on about 105 MHz. It`s especially interesting to hear the BFBS weather forecasts which, obviously, target places where British forces are currently serving. The roll-call includes Sierra Leone, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Oman, Brunei and Kabul, amongst others, thus indicating that the BFBS has an extensive network of transmitters in operation. Over the past few days, I have heard an Italian language station operating very close to the BFBS-1 frequency in Kabul. No doubt this is for Italian ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) personnel. I feel sure that the AFRTS must also have an FM operation here too but, as yet, I`ve not been able to hear any signals. This could be because the main US Coalition contingent is based at Bagram Air Base, about an hour`s drive north of Kabul. The base is in a valley surrounded by mountains. The national broadcaster, Radio-Television Afghanistan (RTA) is seeking immediate support to re-establish a national radio broadcasting network. RTA`s old Soviet-era transmitter is off the air and cannot be repaired, due to a lack of spare parts. A new transmitter, provided by Iran over the last couple of months, is also off the air and awaiting spares. RTA in Kabul is, therefore, now operating on mediumwave with only one 10 kW transmitter. The Ministry of Information and Culture has indicated that a donor might provide a 500 kW transmitter to RTA. However, obviously this would take a long-time to deliver and install. RTA operates a television service in Kabul utilizing a newly acquired transmitter, the previous sender having received a direct hit from Coalition aircraft at the start of the campaign against the Taliban regime. The RTA television studios were installed in the 1970s and are still in pristine condition. They include old 2- inch videotape machines, as well as high-band U-matic editing equipment. The old Toshiba studio cameras are still operational but are slowly fading as the years take their toll. We have attempted to purchase spare parts, but to no avail. The broadcasting situation outside Kabul is not clear, although I understand there are mediumwave radio transmitters operating in several major cities, such as Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar. The BBC recently delivered two FM transmitters. One will be used by RTA for transmissions in Kabul. It is expected that the other will relay BBC World Service broadcasts. The BBC has also installed two state-of-the-art digital radio studios at RTA. These are totally computer-based and include Cool Edit Pro editing software. In addition, the BBC has developed a small training centre within the RTA building. UNESCO is working extensively at the Faculty of Journalism at Kabul University. We recently sent eight senior lecturing staff overseas for one month`s intensive skills-upgrading. In their absence, our office rehabilitated the Faculty offices and installed a library and INFOYOUTH Computer Centre. This will soon be supplied with a satellite Internet connection, the first of its kind at any University in Afghanistan. Our international appeal for reference books and textbooks for the Faculty library has borne fruit and literally hundreds of titles are arriving in Kabul. The Faculty of Journalism will end up with the most modern collection of library books in the country! Details of our media activities here in Kabul are available on the net at http://www.unesco.org/webworld There, you will also find an outline of the women in media network we have established, not to mention photographs of the Faculty of Journalism library. (via Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Hello Glenn, Received this to my web site http://www.ydunritz.com from Benjamin Dawson, Seattle, USA in an email (30/4-2002): Contrary to your correspondent`s statement re Armenia transmissions on 864 and 1314 (DXLD 2-067 April 22th), those are from the extensive LF/MF/HF site at Kamo, on L. Sevan, 60 or more km E of Yerevan. Both transmitters are ~1 MW. There is also a 500 kW LF facility at that site, but it was inactive when I was there making measurements on the 864 directional antenna 2 or 3 years ago". Best 73s (Ydun M. Ritz, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAKER ISLAND. Glenn, the URL you have is missing a "c". The correct URL is: http://www.kragujevac.co.yu/kh1/ (Walt Salmaniw, BC, May 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. See NIGERIA [non] ** BRAZIL. A emissora brasileira que está, atualmente, na freqüência de 3325 kHz, em 90 metros, é a Rádio Mundial AM, de São Paulo. Foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre, em 27 de abril, às 02h59, com o encerramento da transmissão. Já em 4975 kHz a programação irradiada é da Rádio Mundial FM (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6070, CFRB, 0815 May 4th, Up and running again. Noted here with strong signal. News/talk multiple IDs (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. MUSIC BENEFIT IN MONTREAL FOR LOCKED OUT SRC EMPLOYEES SIXTH WEEK OF LOCKOUT X-URL: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/archives/story.asp?id=F0B20126-8485-40C9-BC69-5B5CB8B3D7E4 CBCERS LOCKED OUT BUT LAUGHING BILL BROWNSTEIN Montreal Gazette Thursday, May 02, 2002 Had organizers of last night's Taste of the Nations fundraiser at the Queen E Hotel been notified earlier, they just might have felt compelled to make the 1,400 locked-out employees of the CBC - in addition to Dans la Rue, Share the Warmth and Oxfam Quebec - beneficiaries of their largesse. Instead, the CBC workers took it upon themselves to organize their own benefit the night before at Le Petit Campus cafe on Rue Prince Arthur. The plight of the CBC employees is no laughing matter as the labour impasse is about to enter its sixth week and negotiations with management are proceeding at a snail's - with gusts up to a tortoise's - pace. Many are on the verge of financial as well as emotional collapse. Yet, the locked-out CBC workers packed the aptly named Petit Campus to the max with 300 supporters and were somehow able to laugh heartily at their own foibles - and raised almost $3,000 in the process. Local musicians like the awesome Dawn Tyler Watson, Stephen Barry and Michael Jerome Brown belted some appropriate blues. Local wits like the Bionic Yahoos, the Vestibules and Lorne Elliott provided wonky relief. But it was the gallows humour of CBC staffers Dave Bronstetter, Dennis Trudeau, Dave Rosen, Sonali Karnick and "Sex- Guy" Christopher Hall that resonated most with the throng. To the side of the stage, veteran broadcaster Bernie St. Laurent lamented that he was in a particularly precarious position. His wife is on the negotiating team - for CBC management. "At least she has a decent paying job," he deadpanned. "But we made an agreement a long time ago not to bring our work back home." Or perhaps not. Sex-Guy Hall, on stage, had a news flash for St. Laurent: "Bernie, sad to report this to you, but we've just learned that your wife has locked you out of the bedroom, too." On the plus side, Hall went on to claim that Radio Canada International had scored a ratings coup. "They now have more people listening to them on the picket line than they ever did when they were on the air. In fact, they don't seem to realize that they've actually been off the air for the last two years." Hall, like the others, noted he was having a heck of a time living on $219 a week of picket pay: "That goes in an hour and a half at Chez Parie!" But Lauren McCallum, the CBC Radio news reporter and union rep, indicated that as of this week locked-out employees were now earning $279. Which goes a long way toward explaining why such a benefit was necessary. Proceeds are going to the Domestic Support Fund, which will help defray a few mortgage and food bills. "Some of our members are in serious distress," McCallum indicated. "As for me, I'm looking for a summer job for the first time since I was a teenager and worked as a lifeguard." Because she is prohibited from doing other radio work, McCallum could be teaching a course in CPR - which might also come in handy on the picket line. "Something has to give, though. I just got married. My husband just graduated from university. We have tens of thousands of dollars in student loans and other debts," she explained. "The good news, though, is I am getting a workout on the picket line - it's about 1.2 kilometres each time we loop the entire Radio Canada building." McCallum, like most in Montreal, is also thrilled the Habs won the opening playoff round against the Bruins in six games. But not only because she is a big hockey fan. As CBC Radio morning man Dave Bronstetter pointed out on stage, a seventh game would have taken place on the same night as this benefit: "Which would have meant that I'd be here tonight talking only to (radio sidekick) Dave Rosen - again." Rosen, however, did announce that he and Bronstetter would be reprising their morning show from home to home of all their devoted listeners and picking up a little pocket change. "The only problem is what will we do when the 10 days are up," Rosen cracked. And researcher Sonali Karnick is so desperate that "I will now take my shirt off on the picket line for tea." CBC TV news anchor Dennis Trudeau is grateful for small mercies. "With picket pay up $60, I can now get my bus pass for May and spend my days riding around the city," he said. "Plus, I no longer need to shave." But Trudeau is otherwise bristling. "I've been working at the CBC for 23 years and I've always preached the CBC. I'm taking this very personally that they're locking me out. My wife has an income, but soon I'm going to have to find another job - if there is one." Last words go to grizzled buddy Charlie McKenzie, past vice- president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Parti Rhinoceros Veterans' Disassociation and now a poet: "I think I shall never see A thing as sad as the CBC ... But that's the truth, and one I gravely fear Our house is like unto a fridge that simply has no beer." (via Daniel Say, BC, May 4, DXLD) ** CUBA. 6120.00, Radio Rebelde, La Habana. April 28 2002 - 0325 UT. Super strong signal and not // with Radio Rebelde on 5025 kHz. Listed on the frequency but first time logged by me here and until now only this date (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Used to be on 6140? (gh, DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC [non?]. 6025.05 /6039.42: Radio Amanecer Internacional, Santo Domingo. April 2002 - 0000 UT. After April 11 and 12 when I heard Radio Amanecer on 6039.42 kHz it has all the time during mornings and evenings been on 6025.05 kHz; at least you can detect a carrier -- very stable in frequency. At the same time no trace whatsoever of a carrier on 6039.42. WHRI-6040.00, Radio Clube Paranaense-6039.94 are heard there and some mystic carrier on 6036.74 kHz --- which closes rather early in the evening, before 0000 UT I think, and completely clean from audio. Our member Henrik Klemetz/HK points out that the Bolivian "Radio Trópico" has been around on this split-frequency. My logging of "Amanecer" on 6039.42 might be either Radio Amanecer or another station relaying Radio Amanecer; there are no other alternatives. Michael Schnitzer from Hassfurt, Germany has logged a Peruvian on 6039.45 kHz ID-ing as "Radio San Antonio" (see DXLD April 20). Henrik Klemetz/HK has been listening to the recording and says that there are nothing indicating a "Radio San Antonio"-ID. I will check the frequency very carefully and if there in fact is a Peruvian radiostation there it will sooner or later be heard here in Quito (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 3289.90, Radio Centro, Ambato. May 3 2002 - 1015/0200 UT. A station mostly off air. Has been heard for several days now and this might give pleasure to our member Arnstein Bue/ABU, the Norwegian who has been hunting a QSL from Radio Centro since January 1995 - Centinela del Sur below has been hunted by Arnstein since June 1984, so now is the chance! Ambato is a very pleasant town to visit, especially during February when the festivity "La fiesta de las flores y frutas" is held. It is also said that Ambato is wellknown for its flowers and beautiful women. I happened to take part of a very funny incident a few years ago in Ambato. We were eating in the very huge and very unorganised restaurant located on a big market area. A very old man stumbled along our table with the help of a cane. An old man at his eighties with a wildgrown beard and dirty clothes. He just took my plate with fried fish, rice and vegetables --- stumbled away to another table and began eating! I was very astonished but ordered a new plate letting him enjoy the food. 4770.07, (Tent.) Radio Centinela del Sur, Loja. April 2002 - 1115 UT. Has been gone for a very long time but sometimes during mornings relay of Radio Quito/Platinum FM with news (Ecuador Radio). No local ID but the frequency is exactly the same as I noted in Oct 1999. 5499.25, unID LA, probably Ecuador. April 25 2002 - 2315 until cd 0045* UT. I stuck on the frequency Thursday evening at 1815 local time, that is 2315 UT. I first thought it was "Radio Comercial" in Lajas who was in the neighbourhood when they started up, at a frequency around 5498 kHz for a few days. But it was not this one, as Radio Comercial as usual was found on 5557.65 kHz. My second thought was the Colombian pirate "Nueva Juventud" who could be found somewhere between 5500-5800 kHz. That station often broadcasts nonstop music but gives ID sooner or later. This station on 5499.25 kHz had nonstop music without mentioning a thing during 1 sesquihour and also closed down without any ID, which indicates a test transmission. "San Juanitos" and "Cumbia" seemed to dominate the music. "Happy" music is a good description. What makes me believe, of course without knowing, that it is an Ecuadorian station is that many of the song lyrics contained Ecuadorian geographical names, except for "Ecuador" also the cities of Loja, Latacunga, Quito, Ambato and Cuenca. Geographically places spread out and therefore give no clue to any province. Songs mostly in Spanish but also some "quichua". Stable in frequency and very good audio quality. What speaks against QTH in Ecuador is that it is extremely unusual with Ecuadorian "out-of-band"-stations. But this makes it far more exciting ... The above was sent out in a very fast "special preview". The station has so far not yet come back but I check the frequency regularly and I hope you will do the same back home! I am convinced it is not "Nueva Juventud", lately heard on 5588.73 kHz, announcing 5585 kHz, but with another type of music, lots of talk and greetings. That transmitter is unstable and drifts all the time some 10-parts up/down, but my unID above was totally frequency stable. 6110.00, HCJB, Quito. May 3 2002 - 1100* UT. Their broadcasts in "Quichua" have all the time been on 6080.00 kHz. 6110 is a new frequency for me. I checked 6080 and there was a man with Quichua and a pretty weak signal much weaker than normal. I didn`t wait for ID for any of them --- took it in pure "feeling"! Björn Malm, c/o Susana Garcès de Malm, Avenida la Prensa 4408 y Vaca de Castro, Quito, Ecuador. Tel: +593 2 598 470, email: bjornmalm@yahoo.es, rx: NRD-535, Loewe HF-150 samt Sangean 808ATS. Ant: lw 24m, kopplad till magnetic longwire balun (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Hi DX community, MegaRadio seems to be on with full power (500 kW were planned) on 1575 kHz from Burg near Magdeburg. Actually (Fri May 3, 2100 UT) I can hear the station here in the west of Germany with a strong S5 signal, but also relative strong QRM by RAI Radio Uno (Genova 50 kW et al.). Also some heavy fading. A real powerhouse now on the upper MW scale throughout Europe, I presume... 73, (Sascha Zimmer, Viersen, Germany, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. Do you know the postal address of Radio Telefis Eireann? Thanks (Márcio Roberto Polheim da Silva, Brazil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RTE has lots of addresses, but here is one I found at http://www.rte.ie/about/contact/nationwide.html RTÉ, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. KOL ISRAEL ENGLISH ON RESHET BET WEBSITE The Kol Israel 1900 UT English broadcast (only) is available on- demand on the Reshet Bet website: http://bet.iba.org.il French and Spanish are also available. If this is supposed to replace the israelradio.org broadcasts (and shortwave), I hope that they expand the number of broadcasts on their website! Thanks to Joel Rubin's post for the heads-up (Daniel Rosenzweig, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. La réorganisation des services extérieurs de Kol Israël sera effective à la fin du mois de juin 2002. Le département des langues étrangères sera rattaché la chaîne Reshet Aleph. Pour les émissions en français sur ondes courtes, cela signifie que seuls les programmes diffusés à 1530 et 1930 TU seront conservés (Mati Ben-Avraham, Rédacteur-en-chef à Kol Israel - 27 avril 2002 -- les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) I suppose we could extrapolate this to English at 1600 and 1900, but would prefer to have something explicit about this (gh, DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. MBS 9685 // 7130: The Station pro Marc Ravalomanana is now being identified as MBS and beside 9685 it is also on 7130 from 0300 to ? but it is still on the air at 1900. Identified after every song as MBS and some time as MBS Radio. 1623 Guitar Music before News then followed by National and International News bulletin at 1625 until 1635 and just after the news some advertisement clips in Malagasy has also been heard. RTM 3287 is on the air from 1400 to 0300 while 5010 went off at 1900 (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, 3 May 2002, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 11770.17, Radio México Internacional, Ciudad de México. April 2002 - 0245 UT. TexMex and romantic (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn, Sorry, I forgot to reference Andy Sennitt's excellent article about May 4/5 in the Netherlands. http://www.rnw.nl/holland/html/herdenking020503.html (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Editor`s Response: I will leave it to the reader to go back to Mr. Ricquish`s initial response and see if anywhere in it he makes clear that the New Zealand telecommunications authority will license radio stations to specific Churches. In doing so, the reader will also see that, in my response, and in my initial commentary, I said that I was uncertain of the situation in New Zealand. I also was uncertain about the situation in Australia, although the government there has not granted the Melkite Eparchy and the Archdiocese of Melbourne community low-power FM stations that they have sought for two years. In any event, I appreciate Mr. Ricquish's response and Glenn Hauser, editor and publisher of DX Listening Digest, for publishing it and passing it on to me (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update May 6 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. R. New Zealand Int'l schedule announced on April 25 Mailbag going into effect May 5. 1650-1850 6095 [M-F only, isn`t it?? -- gh] 1850 [-1950] 11725 1950-2215 15160 2216-0458 17675 0500-0700 11820 0700-1105 9885 1105-1305 9825 (Richard Lemke, via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave http://www.triwest.net/~dsampson/shortwave/ via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. 12125 both Jakada Radio International weekdays, and Voice of Biafra International weekends RUSSIA 12125 Nigerian [opposite?] groups from Tbilisskaya-Armavir site in Krasnodar oblast, near the Caucasus foothills, extended usage to other days of the week. See HFCC entry: 12125 1900-2000 46 ARM 200 235 0 218 1234567 3103-271002 RUS VOR MCB ARM = Armavir site 12125 is used for another service on weekends since Sept 1st, 2001: Voice of Biafra International, 1900-1930 English, 1930-2000 Igbo. Started on Samara site and moved then to Armavir. Both Nigerian broadcasts checked here, on Fri 3rd 1900-1930, and on Sat 4th at 1900-2000 UT. Both signals have same characteristics and originate seemingly from same relay site in southern Russia near Caucasus. A piece of recording taken at Stuttgart Germany. Fri May 3rd, 1900- 1930 UT 12125 kHz and sent to you yesterday night too. Jakada Radio International on Friday [and Mon-Wed also]: because the opening announcement of the Jakada Radio International audio was heavily disturbed, as well as also the whole first quarter hour, I put the closing announcement on TOP of this .mp3 file example. And the OPENING announcement put at the end of the recording. Audio level was very, very low in general. S=3..4, and deep fading, despite the main target is West Africa, and that's the reason why Central Europe lobe is very poor. Program is more a Playlist station of Nigerian popular music than a news format station. Like given in the station description: It does not represent any political or ideological tendencies or manifests. And the lady reader on the audio desk forgot few times to open the gain switch! 12125 is used for another service on weekends since September 1st, 2001: Voice of Biafra International, 1900 English, 1930-2000 Igbo, via that same relay facility in Russia. E-mail: biafraland@biafraland.com URL: http://www.biafraland.com Postal address: Voice of Biafra Intl, 733 16th Street, North West 3700, Washington, DC 20005, U.S.A. On the latter program I didn't hear any piece of music noted, but lots of hate tirades on investigation and high court session like a 'radioplay' dispute between Christians and Muslims, I guess. 73 (Wolfgang df5sx Büschel, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, Regarding the meaning of Jakada, it is the Hausa word for Ambassador. Kind regards, (Ludo Maes, TDP, May 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Local KOTV Channel 6 news reported last evening that internet rumors are flying that KVOO-1170 will change from classic country format to all talk in "a couple of weeks". KVOO has been country music "since dirt" or at least as long as I can remember (Bruce Winkelman, AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, May 4, NRC-AM via DXLD) Since at least the early '50's (Paul Swearingen, KS, ibid.) It appears to be true; appeared in all the trades last week (David Gleason, ibid.) Why not. We need more stations carrying Limbaugh/Art Bell/Dr Laura/Phil Henreid etc. I'll bet folks within the KVOO coverage area only have 60 or 70 choices for those shows already...(sarcasm intended). What's really sad is that in the presence of digital satellite radio, this is the precise moment in time when terrestrial broadcasters should be setting themselves apart by emphasizing their unique localism. But nope...they just don't get it (Mark Durenberger, Grand Junction, CO, ibid.) In my tape collection is a very brief aircheck of KVOO dated Sept. 1989 in which the DJ comes out of Dwight Yoakam's version of "Little Sister", gives the station ID, and thanks "Rick, all the way up in Oakland, Iowa" for calling in to request that song. It's one of my most treasured memories of my early years (late 1980s and early 1990s) of active DXing. It is truly a shame that KVOO is bowing to the almighty idols of $$$ and Arbitrons, if that indeed is the case. May KVOO R.I.P., because it sure won't be the same (Rick Dau, Omaha, NE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, PAPUA, Nat. Radio, 1129 May 4, YL and OM in EG, only fair (since coming back after being off for a while, this station is significantly weaker than previously) (Jerry Lineback, Scranton KS, NASWA Flashsheet May 5 via DXLD) ** PERU. 5979.71, Radio Chasqui, Cusco, la provincia de Cusco, el departamento de Cusco. April 2002 - 0000 UT. Very hardworked signal when it is badly splashed from both sides. Early in the evening religious program in Indian language and as well later in the evening heavy religious programs, but then in Spanish. I think they probably changed from Indian language to Spanish at 0000 UT and then gave a nice "Radio Chasqui"- ID. 0300 UT a short news broadcast preceded by "Ésta es la Red Radiodufusión de...". The first logging of "Radio Chasqui" for me. Maybe the station has been inactive or just has been `buried` below other stronger stations? Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Cusco, cuya capital es Cusco. Sus distritos son: Ccorca, Cusco, Huánchac, Poroy, San Jerónimo, san Sebastián, Santiago, Saila; con una població total de 271,905 hab. 6937.67, Radio LV del Campesino, Huarmaca. April 2002 - 0000 UT. "Spur" from 6956.67 kHz. It can´t be a real harmonic, or? (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. The logging of Radio Manantial below was sent to our members and exchange partners Sunday April 28. Without the suggestion for the name "Manantial" from our member Henrik Klemetz/HK probably I have made the mistake of misspelling the name because it is not in my dictionary which in fact contains 93.000 words. Now I happen to have an "additional" dictionary here at home, my wife Susanita, and she explains that "Manantial" means `a smaller waterstream` or "creek" as we say here in Sweden. Then the suggestion for the slogan made by Henrik fits "....fuente de vida" which means "spring of life". When Henrik unfortunately gave an incorrect statement to the DX press below you will find a minor "correction of a wrong comment", I hope nobody minds! This is the comment in DXLD: ``** PERU. Re 5387.76, DXLD 2-071: I sent along a message to all of the SWBers on the email list to say that Manantial (without a QTH) was the first option I came up with. (As Björn did not come back, proposed others, later). In Björn´s message, the order of events is different. As for the slogan, I suggest "fuente de vida". (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` The three suggestions of names were of course just suggestions for names and not an attempt to ID my "Marancay" with QTH and everything! Some of you have got a mail from Henrik where he "pinpoints" an incorrect note in my tip below. Henrik means that he indeed did not give any suggestion regarding the name of the QTH for his name suggestion of "Radio Manantial", ie "Jaén". I take the liberty to publish what Henrik wrote to me April 10 via email: "What about for instance Manantial? /HK" "Yes, that name was actual two years ago when I identified a station with this name for Jay Novello. I don´t exactly remember where on the band it was, but the place of the station was Jaén, as I remember. /HK" (The underlining of the word "Jaen" is my own ....../BM). (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin May 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) I hope these two excellent DXers will not need to dispute about such matters in future. Since I published HK`s remark previously I felt obliged also to publish the above from BM. Having already seen that, HK wants me to publish this. Enough, now! (gh, DXLD) Björn is turning two subsequent messages into one. That`s a bit unfair. However, as the station now seems to have been identified by Björn, let`s all try and log the station while it is on the air (Henrik Klemetz, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Depuis le 1er mai, Radio Taipei International a supprimé son émission en français à 1800 TU. En contrepartie, une nouvelle fréquence a été ouverte à destination de l'Amérique du Nord, lors du programme à 2000 TU. La nouvelle fréquence est 15130 kHz. RTI est consciente que l'horaire n'est pas adéquat pour la zone visée, mais il n'a pas été possible de trouver un autre créneau dans l'immédiat (Radio Taipei International) NDR : si la réception de cette nouvelle fréquence était impossible en France le 1er mai (tout juste un souffle), l'écoute était confortable sur le continent américain, dans l'état de New-York, tout comme la fréquence de 15600, dirigée pourtant vers l'Europe. Par ailleurs, le flux audio à 1800 TU transmettait le programme en français (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, just tried RUI's RA feed, and as opposed to the last few days, it's now back on in Ukrainian with Orthodox Easter greetings at 1739 UTC. URL is: rtsp://real.nrcu.gov.ua:7554/encoder/rui.rm or via their www site at: http://router.nrcu.gov.ua/eng/frame.html Take care, (Walt Salmaniw, BC, May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Glenn, Although all Prom concerts will be audible live online via BBC R3, what about the video webcasts? Last summer, they had a number of live concerts scheduled for live video, but that was reduced to three or four (including first and last nights). So what about this year? Well, from what I can glean from the BBC Proms website, they will carry 14 concerts from July 20 - Aug 2, the ones carried by BBC4 digital. But no mention of either the first or last night. I really can't see them not showing the last night. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. DYKE SAID THE BBC SHOULD FOCUS ON PROGRAMMES, SO WHY IS HE TAKING ON GOOGLE? SEARCH ME... By Charles Arthur and David Lister, 3 May 2002 When he expounded his philosophy in the MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival shortly after becoming BBC director general, Greg Dyke did it in his usual direct manner. "It's the programmes, stupid!" he said, stressing that his overriding concern was creative output. But his three years in office have seen little curbing of the commercial instincts of a man whose background had been totally in the private sector. But even by his standards, yesterday's move was nakedly commercial. By giving his blessing to a BBC internet search engine, Mr Dyke took on the American hi-tech giants in a venture that will heighten the BBC's international brand --- but with no direct benefit for programmes or licence fee payers. BBCi Search is the latest in a stream of Dyke initiatives to make the public-service broadcaster a commercial player on the world stage. The search engine was inspired by a survey showing that 80 per cent of its website users believed that "current services could be better" --- a phrasing that could be applied to most things, not least the BBC's schedules. The corporation was eager to trumpet the service, which it suggested to some people would "rival Google and AOL" --- respectively, the most popular search engine, and the biggest internet service provider. This was slightly disingenuous --- the BBC is licensing its database from Google. So what, then, can the BBC really bring to the search engine party? Commercial rivals expressed surprise that the BBC should think it worth jumping into what are already very competitive waters. "As a licence fee payer, I'd want to see the rationale for this," said Alex Kovach, UK managing director of Lycos, one of the most popular search engines. To which Tom Loosemore, head of applications at BBC New Media, replied: "It's really aimed at new users. People who start on the Net expect that they'll be able to type 'recipes' or 'cars' into a search engine and that it'll be intelligent enough to give them just a few of the best results for those things in the UK. Instead they get thousands, headed by sites trying to sell them cars or food in the US." He said that it is part of the BBC's new remit to help people to use the Web; with that in mind, the BBC has licensed access to the index run by the leader in search engines, Google, whose results it then tweaks to incorporate hand-picked ones selected by people paid by the BBC. It also applies a "family-friendly" filter (to exclude pornographic sites) that is "more powerful than you get even on Google", he said. The humans overseeing the listings will also, the BBC says, exclude "derogatory" websites --- though as many "filtering software" companies have found in the past seven years, such a task is endless. Mr Kovach said: "The fact is, this is a highly competitive market, and they shouldn't under-estimate the cost of doing it. It's pretty labour-intensive to do what they're doing." Mr Loosemore insists that the new search engine will let people find the best sites for their search in the UK if they want. However, it will not exclude people from overseas (who don't pay a licence fee) from using it; blocking them would be impossible because AOL users, for example, appear to computers on the Net to be based in the US, no matter where they are physically located. Ashley Highfield, director of BBC New Media, insisted that everything was in place. "It is quite clear that the current search marketplace doesn't have the need of internet users at its heart ... Given that 90 per cent of respondents [to the survey] stated that they would use the BBC search engine, and that a similar number said they would prefer unbiased search, it is evidently something that people want." But that overlooks the fact that that search is already available, through Google --- although without the UK-tailored service that the BBC is offering. There is also the question of how it can be cost-effective, since a search engine is never a destination, only a jumping-off point --- and many of the sites that the BBC will point to are outside itself. The BBC refused to say how much the project is costing, except to say that the whole of bbc.co.uk --- which incorporates more than a million pages of its own news and other information --- costs less than 3 per cent of the revenues from the licence fee. It also says it researched the need for yet another search engine thoroughly. Current search engines aren't helping people find their way around the Web, according to a poll the BBC commissioned from NOP. The BBC said that the survey had also found that 71 per cent of people were unaware that some search engines (though not Google) let advertisers pay to get more prominent positions in search results. However, most search engines don't. Mr Dyke is used to provoking controversy when he pushes the BBC's boundaries yet further beyond its traditional remit of making television programmes. Making the corporation a major player in the internet world is consistent with Mr Dyke's multimedia ambitions. Whether it also conforms with the expectations of those who would prefer the corporation to stick to basics is another matter. ========== from The Independent, http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=291393 (via Dave White, DXLD) I happened to hear a commercial for BBCi Search, on Radio 4 at 2159 UT May 4. Not a word in it mentioning google! (gh, DXLD) ** U K [NON]. SOMALI EDUCATION MINISTER SAYS BBC PROGRAMMES OBSTACLE TO INSTALLING TV STATION | Excerpt from report by Somali newspaper Ayaamaha on 4 May The Transitional Government of Somalia's [TGS] minister for culture and higher education [Dr Zakariya Mahmud Haji], has said the country's educational system, which was previously in Italian language, would be changed to English. Speaking to Ruunkinet newspaper, the minister said the reason behind the changing of the syllabus was because, Italy failed to communicate [presumably with the TGS]. ... Commenting on his achievement during his tenure as the information minister, Dr Zakariya said he was planning to install a TV station, had it not been for some obstacles. According to his statement Mr Zakariya criticized the BBC World Service for launching several stations without consulting the government. "The biggest hurdle we are facing today are the BBC programmes released through FM stations in the country, among them a Christian Programme, and Sunday church preaching. When we took the matter to lawyers on whether the BBC had the right to do so in a foreign country, the lawyers said it was an illegal act," said Dr Zakariya. Source: Ayaamaha, Mogadishu, in Somali 4 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) There you go. Will BBCWS now get it, that they have no business pushing any particular religion? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. This station is soon to start on AM (high powered transmitters?) as well: Gulf News; May 5, 2002 BY PATRICIA ANN DAVID Two FM radio stations in the UAE have joined the Middle East Radio Network's (MERN) Radio Sawa, broadcasting international and regional news around the clock. The new stations are part of the radio network that debuted in March when Radio Sawa went on air in Amman, Jordan on FM 98.1 and Kuwait on FM 95.7. In Dubai the Arabic-language station can be heard on FM 90.5 and in Abu Dhabi, on FM 98.1, said the American embassy. Radio Sawa's news programmes titled The World Now are broadcast twice, an hour each, providing up-to-the-minute information about fast-moving events in the Middle East and around the world. Besides news and entertainment, the station has launched a series of Public Service Announcements (PSA), the first of which targets driving under the influence of alcohol. "Accurate, objective news and information are the lifeblood of Radio Sawa," said Norman J. Pattiz, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which spearheaded the creation of the US government funded network. "We are committed to fighting misinformation and in telling the truth about what is happening in the Middle East and the world," he added. The radio network is expected to be fully operational by late summer. The programmes would contain a full mix of news, analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, round-tables, sports, weather, music and features on a variety of political and social issues. All Material Subject to Copyright (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Also from http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/text/0429sawa.htm 29 April 2002 RADIO SAWA DELIVERS ARAB AND AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC FAST-PACED, CONCISE NEWS BULLETINS ALSO FEATURE IN THE MIX By Vicki Silverman, Washington File Staff Writer Washington - An American visitor, who recently returned from Jordan, said he heard Radio Sawa playing in the taxicabs, fast food restaurants and in the gyms that have become a popular outlet for the young urban elite in Amman. "It sounded so good; the music is great," he told the Washington File. Mouafac Harb, one of the principle creative forces behind Radio Sawa, says he's not surprised by this report. "Today's Arab pop music has a rock beat. When you mix Arab and Western hits they just sound so good together." "Music is part of our format and, in radio, format is key. But 'Radio Sawa' offers a lot more," Harb told the Washington File April 27. Greeting us in his modest office located in the U.S. government building that houses Voice of America (VOA), Harb apologized for his casual appearance. "I've been up for 24 hours," he said. "Radio Sawa is now broadcasting the news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have our own newsroom, our own wires and our own correspondents. We're not policy makers. We're journalists," he said. "We offer two news stops every hour, giving up-to-date, objective and accurate information. This is something new for our listeners - fast-paced, concise news bulletins that go straight to the point," he said. Asked why he believes this will appeal to young people in the Arab world, Harb drew on his experience to say, "There is glut of Arabic-language media outlets that cater to emotions and the sensational. Some people want the sensational, but others want to know and we're now the only station that brings you this package in Arabic, commercial-free, 24 hours a day." Mouafac Harb, an energetic 35-year old Lebanese-American, brings considerable experience and perspective to Radio Sawa. He may be best known in the Arab world as the former Washington bureau chief for al Hayat, the Saudi-owned, Arabic language daily newspaper based in London. He also worked for four-years at ABC's "Nightline" program, one of the most reputable in-depth television news programs in the United States. "Nightline" is remembered in the Arab world for its 1989 groundbreaking series of broadcasts of town meetings with Palestinian leaders from Jerusalem. Prior to his work at "Nightline," Harb worked in Lebanon, setting up a private television and radio station from scratch that became one of the most popular in Lebanon within two years. This year Harb joined the team of broadcast professionals, headed by Norman Pattiz, that created "Radio Sawa," as a totally new concept, funded by the U.S. Congress, for conveying America's image to audiences aged 25 and under in the Arabic-speaking world. There are plans to expand both the radio coverage and the news content. Harb wants to draw on his contacts in within Washington's official and press circles to produce longer news features that are of particular interest to young people in the Arab world. As Radio Sawa's operation and programming expand, Mouafac Harb says his news focus will remain on providing information that is objective and accurate. Noting that the news operation is fully digitalized, he sees Radio Sawa "using 21st century technology to deliver the clearest, fastest audio picture of news events." Today Radio Sawa can be heard on FM in the West Bank, Jordan (Amman - 98.1 FM), Kuwait (95.7 FM), the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi - 98.7 FM), Dubai (90.5 FM), Qatar and Bahrain. Information on Radio Sawa is available on the Internet at http://www.ibb.gov/radiosawa/ Along with Radio Sawa, this Internet site will be expanding its content and expects to offer on-line listening and inter-actives by late summer 2002 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Is Washington File, US-Government sponsored?? ** U S A. From M-Street Journal: KFI, Los Angeles goes into damage control mode after playing "I Shot The Sheriff." The morning show admits it goofed by playing the song's hook next to news stories about L.A. County Sheriff David March being shot to death. KFI's set up a special phone number to apologize to law enforcement officers and others, has posted the apology on its website and made it on-air, and is even offering to e-mail it (via Fred Vobbe, NRC- AM via DXLD) OMG. This is truly sickening. I'd expect something like this from Mancow or Stern but on KFI ?!?! I sure hope that the grieving relatives of the late Mr. March sue KFI and what ever big company that owns them for millions. While I'm normally very opposed to what happens in our over litigious society, here's one case where I'd sue. If I were a KFI exec, I'd certainly be sending out a donation to some charity to benefit LA 's numerous deceased law officers' families. 73, a disgusted KAZ (Neil Kazaross, ibid.) That particular hook has long been one of those used on KFI's local talk programs to go into or out of news breaks, spots, etc. I don't think this was malice so much as gross stupidity; somebody probably just grabbed the next cart in the rotation without looking at its title (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA, ibid.) As said elsewhere, that cut was a staple of KFI programming. They just neglected to pull it on the day the sheriff was actually shot. Considering that KFI is a live, local station and has a real local news staff, some of this can be attributed to the very fact that it is a big operation staffed by living humans. They were probably so used to the cut they did not even "hear" it when it played. This is not something that can be blamed on consolidation, voice tracking, or any other perceived evil of radio. It was just human error (David Gleason, LA, CA, ibid.) I never heard it but seems to me ``I shot the sheriff`` should never have been a staple of KFI in the first place (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Rick Kenneally's comments on AM IBOC have now appeared on the FCC website. Nice job, Rick! I think this is the kind of grassroots response that will help to get the point across to the FCC that AM IBOC is not in the public interest. Let's hope that there will be a lot more comments in that vein. There are also some interesting comments from small broadcasters who are beginning to realize that they could get royally screwed by IBOC. To view the comments, go to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html and then click on the Search for Filed Comments link on the lefthand side. When you get the search form, enter "99-325" (without the quotes) in the first box (labeled "Proceeding") and then click the Retrieve Document List button. That should get you the list of all the filings on IBOC, in batches of ten at a time, in reverse chronological order. All of the documents are downloadable, in PDF format (Barry Mishkind, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. While it isn't the biggest fine in the world, at least here is another instance of the FCC catching up to a station that didn't see the need to turn off the carrier when they were not programming. KCLF, New Roads, LA a daytimer running 24 hours. http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2002/DA-02-912A1.html (Barry Mishkind, NRC-AM via DXLD) For those who are curious but do not have the AM Log handy, KCLF is on 1500 kHz and is listed as 1kw D-1 with a schedule of LSR-LSS. Thanks to Barry Mishkind for sharing the FCC forfeiture info (Marc DeLorenzo, Marstons Mills, Mass., ibid.) ** U S A. PETITIONS TO DENY FILED AGAINST DOZENS OF RELIGIOUS LPFM STATIONS IN FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST Washington, Apr 27 (CRU)— Protests have been filed against dozens of low-power FM stations in Florida and the Southwest as the battle against awarding scarce LPFM frequencies has begun. According to the Broadcast Applications lists indexed in the FCC Daily Digest, dozens of petitions to deny were filed against applications for LPFM stations filed by three fundamentalist organizations in Florida– Assembléia de Deus–Ministério Belém de Imigración [sic]; its English-language counterpart Bethelehem Immigration Ministry, and the JWBC Bible College. According to the website Christian Community Broadcasters http://www.ccbroadcasters.com/ ``Private non-profit educational groups are currently allowed to apply for only for one station. In violation of this regulation, the names Assembléia De Deus do Belém, Bethlehem Immigration Service, and JWBC Bible College appear 17 times on the Florida list. A Brazilian pastor, Joel Costa, is listed on all these applications; no board members are given and exhibits are identical`` (March 21 update). According to my count of applications on the FCC`s CDBS database for Florida, Bethlehem Immigration Ministry has filed 18 applications, Assembléia de Deus–Ministério Belém de Imigración [sic --- is this the ministry specializing in portuñol? -- gh] an additional 19 applications. The biggest of all applicants is JWBC Bible College, which has filed 22 applications. Addresses of applications that I have spot-checked are in Cocoa, Panama City Beach, and Alva. A search of the yellow pages in Cocoa and its surroundings show no JWBC Bible College, and a web search using two search engines did not come up with a JWBC Bible College website at all. Their applications read the same: ``The station will be used to broadcast programs to the minority community around the area covered by this station and also to the members of the JWBC Bible College in Williams Point [the name of the town inserted here—editor] living around the same area. The main goal is help people to improve life`s quality through the programs with a positive message in areas as social, financial, intellectual, moral, psychological, and spiritual. The JWBC Bible College was incorporated in 1997 in the State of Florida.`` The petitions to deny come from several individuals— the FCC lists them as Roberta Watson, Samuel Kirkendoll, Kathy Chaille— but also from the Florida Community Broadcasters Association and a group named ``National Lawyers,`` presumably the National Lawyers Guild. (See a related article below.) According to professional radio websites, what the petitions to deny have in common is the argument that these are not individual, local churches filing these applications, but large organizations that are building statewide networks under the guise of helping local churches get on the air. Up until the week before last, all the petitions to deny had been filed in Florida, but Monday before last, John A. Broomall, Sr., who may be the same John Broomall of the Christian Community Broadcasters group, filed petitions to deny against another organization, Iglesia de Cristo Miel, which is seeking about a dozen LPFM stations in the Southwest, some in large cities. PROTESTANT GROUP MAKES ACCUSATIONS AGAINST SOME CATHOLIC LPFM APPLICATIONS May 3 (CRU)— The Protestant community radio group, Christian Community Broadcasters, claims that many Catholic low-power FM (LPFM) applications were filed under dubious circumstances. On the March 21st update page of its website http://www.ccbroadcasters.com/march21update.htm the group states, ``Approximately two dozen of the applications were filed by Lyle Evans (``The Chief``) of Wisconsin. Previously we reported that Mr. Evans filed hundreds of applications for Catholic organizations, which he has created without permission from the people listed as board members.`` David Asher, president of Starboard Broadcasting, which has spearheaded the Catholic LPFM movement and has provided assistance to local groups in filing their applications, denies the allegation. ``We have followed through as carefully as possible. We have had someone working fulltime on the LPFM movement.`` Far from inserting names on the applications without their owners` knowledge, Mr. Asher said, ``We have tried to make sure they are comfortable with the application, that they would be willing to commit themselves. We will walk with any applicant [towards putting a low-power Catholic station on the air] and . . . they can depend on us.`` Asher says that he has made many phone calls and send much e-mail to the applicants so that they may ``be assured that they know exactly what they are getting into.`` Asher says that the accusations were leveled as a result of applications filed by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, which owns dozens of mostly noncommercial FM stations and translators across the nation and has filed for dozens more. The stations are linked by satellite to form the Calvary Satellite Network --- CSN http://www.calvarychapel.com/csn/index.htm It also operates K- Wave, KWVE 107.9 FM San Clemente, California, and an on-line Internet radio service, Effect Radio http://www.calvarychapel.com/effectradio/index.htm A number of Catholic LPFM applicants were contacted by lawyers, apparently in an effort to determine their involvement. Once he heard about the matter, Mr. Asher again contacted the board members in every community in which Starboard worked with local applicants. ``I drove to everyone`s house, contacted and talked to every one of them [the applicants]. All were asked if they wanted to continue with the applications.`` Some, fearing lengthy litigation and hassles, decided to bow out, which accounts for the number of application withdrawals reported several weeks ago in CRU. Mr. Asher emphasizes that there is nothing in these projects for Starboard; these new stations if granted will not be Starboard stations and Starboard will not manage them. ``There is nothing in this for us,`` he said. Ironically, Calvary Chapel itself is the target of informal objections. Radio Business Report online reported last December that the National Lawyers Guild Center on Democratic Communications http://www.nlgcdc.org/ the Microradio Implementation Project, and the Prometheus Radio Project http://www.prometheusradio.org/ have objected to 31 proposed Calvary Chapel FM`s. According to RBR, the groups say that ``Calvary`s local licenses are not substantially different from the national organization and have not demonstrated that in each case the broadcasts will have `a distinct local presence and mission``` http://www.rbr.com/e/1011013.html (Catholic Radio Update May 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. WJR TAKES A DEEP BREATH FOR 80 CANDLES X-URL: http://www.freepress.com/entertainment/tvandradio/wjr3_20020503 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) After weeks of non-webcast Saturday-morning specials on 760, the actual celebration was May 3-4; sorry, Mike got this story to us in time, but we didn`t get to it in time. Anyway, read all about it (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I've updated and restored public access to my "Greater Florida Ethnic Radio" site at the following URL: http://it.domaindlx.com/awh/FLEthnicRadio.asp Its purpose is mainly to provide a reference to help DXers keep the domestic nonAnglo stations straight from the non-domestic, and geared in a non-strict fashion to stations we can hear in Florida. Additions from the general-SE US are welcome. Domaindlx.com is notoriously unreliable, but still the best mostly-functioning free NT server I've located (David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, United States of America, May 5, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Mr. Hauser, do you know the postal address of Radio Africa International that broadcasts at 1800 UT on 15265 in English language? (Márcio Roberto Polheim da Silva, Brazil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think you are talking about the Methodist one, not the Austrian one, tho I can`t seem to find current UMC schedule. At their website http://gbgm-umc.org/general/contact.cfm the address and toll-free phone are: General Board of Global Ministries The United Methodist Church 475 Riverside Drive - New York, New York 10115 1-800-UMC-GBGM While there, I found this ``update`` on R. Africa International (Methodist), as of last December, tho now with outdated frequencies: http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=700 (Glenn Hauser, May 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA [and non]. Re SW Sexism: Glenn, I think in the absence of other details, reporters include the gender of the announcer or singer as evidence slightly more substantial than nothing that they have heard a particular station. However, Jean Burnell explained to me that it is unusual to find female announcers on Venezuelan stations, so in this case (and the Taliban, as you mentioned), it might be a significant item (Jim Renfrew, NY, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 3289.9, Latin American station 0700 May 4th, Definite Spanish language/ L Am program (not Guyana). Ballads and up tempo pop music till around 0740, then woman gave long speech in SS. From tone of her voice it sounded like preaching. Could not understand ID, but heard " Voz de..." several times (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The answer: see ECUADOR above UNIDENTIFIED. 6715-USB, presumably the unID Korean religious station, heard 2210 Apr 26, weak, just a shadow of what it was a month ago. Off by 2233 re-check, so probably 2230* (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet May 5 via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BENELUX DX-CLUB (BDXC) INFORMATION (5th May 2002) ================================== UPDATE BDXC WEB-PAGES at: http://www.425dxn.org/swls/bdxc/index.htm CHANGES/MODIFICATIONS/UPDATES ----------------------------- "Club Information" - Modified Index DX-Hotline (January - May 2002) [PDF-Format; 1 page; ~ 30 kB] "Frequency Listings" (5th May 2001) - Broadcasts in DUTCH to EUROPE [PDF-format; 1 pages; ~ 47 kB] - Updated Broadcasts in English to the Americas [PDF-format] 73 Jan =========================================================== In case of attachments with this E-mail message ... Attachment(s) checked for viruses by: - Symantec Norton AntiVirus 7.50.846 - Scan engine 4.1.0.6 - Virus definition file 40502c (2-May-2002) ----------------------------------------------------------- Computer system guarded by: - NetworkIce BlackICE Defender 2.9cap for Workstation ----------------------------------------------------------- Greetings from Texel Island (53.05N / 04.50E) Jan Nieuwenhuis [phonetic: Jæn Njuenh'eis] =========================================================== But when one goes to http://www.425dxn.org/swls/bdxc/broadcasts_to_the_americas.htm One only finds: ENGLISH to The Americas is NO LONGER AVAILABLE! WHY? Well, I have published this list for about 2 years now, and so far I have had ONLY 1 response about it. I therefore concluded that nobody is interested... (via DXLD) UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL From : gfm gfm@tiac.net Subject : Nice Voice, Commie Sympatico Hauser, Now that VOA Communications World is gone, there is only you left, pardon the pun, and sadly we now know that SW is truly dead. It used to be such an interesting ether. Blather on, seditious one, for your liberties are guaranteed by those you revile. It must gall you to no end. Companionship has been rather sparse for you of late, and so, in your loneliness, you now find common cause with adult beverage buddies from Saudi and Algeria. Gives new meaning to the expression "drinking alone." It really must have sucked to see the U.S.S.R. go down. Kinda shrinks your company down to, well, anti-Semites? Perhaps you are about ready to avail yourself and your sail boat to the great jihad. Glenn Hauser, Barbary Pirate. Fare thee well, stateless one, or, do you hold on to your American Passport? I truly hope not. I pray that you have done the brave and right thing. Because surely, you are not a hypocrite. (RL, SO [sic], May 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Huh?? (gh) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-074, May 3, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1129: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500 on 5070, Sun 0230? on 5070, 0630 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Rest of world Sat 0800, NAm Sun 1400 ** AFRICA [non]. R. Jakada seems primarily non-NIGERIAn so further stories on it are filed under N ** ANTARCTICA. Your best chance of hearing LRA36 is when they stay on late past 2100 UT, which happens unpredictably. On 1 May they were heard on 15476.54 from 2030 with Argentine music and Spanish announcements until the carrier went off at 2201 with no closing ID. The signal improved steadily after 2100, reaching 34443 with slight het. S/off times other days have been 2058 and 2119. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAKER ISLAND. K1B, the Amateur Radio DXpedition station, was well heard in southern Oregon on 28495 USB 2300-2400 UT with Roman Thomas at the mike. Website is http://www.kragujeva.co.yu/kh1/ Reports/QSLs go to RA3ZZ in Moscow (Bill Flynn, southern Oregon, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4865, R Centenario La Nueva (ex?), Santa Cruz, April 28, 2205-2310, Spanish, Christian songs, program of the Salvation Army called "Diario de Dios", announcement of the QRGs 1160 and 4865, ID as "La Cadena Ana"; maybe the new name of the station or the name of a bible society. 33323 (Michael Schnitzer, Bavarian DX-pedition, Receiver: JRC NRD-525 Antennas: 300m terminated Beverage, 7 antennas to the world, Location: a lovely place 50 km north east of Nuremberg, Germany hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: Saturday, May 4: DEFINITELY NOT THE OPERA This week on DNTO...a report on pirate radio - alive and well and living in the UK... After the news 1 pm local on CBC Radio 1 [+1/2/3/4 hours timeshifted. This topic of interest is only the first of many listed for this three-hour program. Let`s hope it is really the first item – gh] Sunday, May 5, live in all zones 2005-2200 UT: CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP De-regulating power. California's done it. Alberta's done it...and now Canada's largest province, Ontario, is de-regulating the production and sale of electricity. Proponents insist it will eventually mean cheaper power and greater choice. Opponents say it's a sellout of a public trust...and everyone will pay. What do you think? Who does a better job of providing electricity? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheets via DXLD) ** CUBA. RADIO HABANA CUBA. CONCURSO SOBRE LA HISTORIA DEL RON CUBANO. Se debe contstar a esta pregunta: ¿QUÉ SABE USTED DEL MUSEO DEL RON HAVANA CLUB? y mencionar los rones que conforman la marca HAVANA CLUB. Los ganadores de los dos primeros premios viajarán gratis a Cuba, con una semana de estancia. También se otorgarán diez menciones, consistentes en souvenirs y obsequios de los patrocinadores. El plazo de admisión de las respuestas cerrará el 31 de diciembre del 2002. RADIO HABANA CUBA, Infanta 105, AP 6240, La Habana, CUBA Tel. (537) 57 6533/34 Fax. (537) 70 5810/ 57 6531 E-mail: radiohc@ip.etecsa.cu (RHC via Noticias DX May 3 via DXLD) ** CUBA. We are getting a noon time opening into downtown Havana. Channel 4 is coming in stronger than my Ft. Myers stations on the same directional heading of the antenna. I don't have any call letters yet but my listings from many years ago show chan 4 to be CMBF and channel 6 simulcasting on CMQ. So far they have gone off the air momentarily for about 10 seconds, twice. It seems that Fidel may be experimenting with some new transmitters, definitely higher power than I'm used to seeing out of Cuba. Channel 4 is actually running stereo sound. Currently they are transmitting a news, weather and sports program. More maybe later if I can get any call letters. [Later:] At 1:37 PM, EDT Chan 4 and 6 went to color bar test patterns. Also Channels 2 and 9 Joined in with test patterns Chan's 2, 6, and 9 are running the same test pattern. Chan 4 is running straight color bars. I checked the four stations out on my ICOM R8500, Chan 2, 4 and 6 are giving me a signal strength reading of S-8 and Chan 9 is giving me a S-4. Not too bad of an opening, having 4 Cuban TV stations coming in at the same time and even hitting up to the VHF-Hi band with channel 9. I'm going to keep my eye on this for a while to see what is going on. At 1:57 PM, EDT chan 2 started program "Tele Rebelde"; chan 4, 6, and 9 still have their test patterns up. At 2:00 PM, EDT Chan 2 and 4 have an English lessons program, 6 and 9 still have test patterns. Right after channel 2 finished the "Tele Rebelde" program they panned to a copy of the World Radio TV Handbook sitting on a desk. Then started the English language lessons program. This is getting very interesting. I wonder what kind of signal is hitting the Miami area? (Jim Gill, Bradenton, FL, May 3, WTFDA topica list via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB According to Ozaki Kazuo, Chief of Japanese Section, HCJB will broadcast the special program in Japanese on May 5, at 0430- 0500 UTC on 9745, 11840, 21455 (USB) and 17870. 17870 is toward Japan on 250 kW (Mizuno Mitsuaki, May 3, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Tonight, Burg 1575 (Megaradio) booms in with local-like signal here, wiping out co-channel Italy completely. This is no doubt the new 500 kW transmitter. Evidently Burg 1575 runs 500 kW only at night but much reduced power (probably still 10 kW) during daytime. The time slot for high power operation could be 1700-0400, at least Michael Fuhr observed the power drop this morning at 0400 while now at 1720 Burg is back on full power. Since May 1st Radio Bremen carries on 936 no longer Funkhaus Europa but instead Bremen 1. That's indeed the official spelling of this network, which replaced a while ago both Hansawelle and Bremen 3. The FM outlets formerly used by the discontinued Bremen 3 now carries Funkhaus Europa, so 936 was no longer the only Radio Bremen outlet for this program. Now the original situation on 936 was restored to some extent, but it remains to be seen if the new arrangement will last, since a Radio Bremen spokesperson stated a while ago that it would be an option to lease the mediumwave outlet to another broadcaster like Saarländischer Rundfunk does for years now. (The 1422 transmitter is only leased by Deutschlandradio but still owned and operated by Saarländischer Rundfunk.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 2-3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does the 1575 500 kW now also bother Studio X, Italy on 1584? (gh, DXLD) ** GHANA. 3285.3, R Ghana, April 28, 2100-2110, English, news; spurious from 3366 (Michael Schnitzer, Bavarian DX-pedition, Receiver: JRC NRD-525 Antennas: 300m terminated Beverage, 7 antennas to the world; Location: a lovely place 50 km north east of Nuremberg, Germany hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** INDONESIA: CENTRAL KALIMANTAN GOVERNOR APPEALS TO RADIO TO EXPAND SERVICES | Excerpt from unattributed report by Indonesian newspaper Kompas Cyber Media web site http://www.kompas.com on 3 May Palangkaraya: Thousands of families in the interior of Kalimantan are still closed to information as there is no access to radio, television or other forms of mass media. Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Palangkaraya only reaches 60 per cent of the province, which extends over 154,560 sq. km, while some residents are unable to enjoy television broadcasts or printed media circulation. The same applies to private radio broadcasts or regional government broadcasts which generally only reach urban areas. The deputy governor of Central Kalimantan, Nahson Taway, said in Palangkaraya on Tuesday (30 April) that conditions such as these were the reason that communities in the interior still lived in a traditional way and used traditional methods to resolve problems between themselves. Nahson put a request to the head of the Palangkaraya RRI sub-branch, Jasran Abubakar, that he put pressure on RRI to extend access to information to the interior of the province... Source: Kompas Cyber Media web site, Jakarta, in Indonesian 3 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ?? you`d think the entire province would already be covered on SW (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. "Radio Europe 7306 USB kHz will be operating a special program devoted to the participants to the Danish Short Wave Club International AGM DX CAMP held in South Danmark, the next weekend. Radio Europe will carry special MAILBOX program in English and many other programs from 2100 hours UT Friday 3 May till 0900 hours UT Saturday 4 May, repeated from 2100 hours UT Saturday 4 May till 0900 hours UT Sunday 5 May. All the correct reports will be answered with special QSL card featuring ELETTRA MARCONI ship saling Venezia sea port in 1934. Please enclose 2 IRCs or 2 $ with your reports. To get this special souvenir QSL card send your reports to : Radio Europe C/o PLAY DX, Via Davanzati 8, IT-20158 MILANO, ITALY. Reports sent via e- mail to : radioeurope@iol.it are also appreciated but WILL NOT BE ANSWERED by snail mail (Dario Monferini, Italy, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIECHTENSTEIN. Thanks for your defending my webcasts QSLing! It`s still a very new medium -- perhaps like radio in the 20`s. Who knows how it will evolve? Perhaps quite differently than now. Cheers (Bill Flynn, Cave Junxion OR, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. MADAGASCAR MEDIA ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT ON 3 MAY 02 Media developments in Madagascar are inevitably beginning to reflect the division of the country into two political camps following the disputed 16 December 2001 presidential elections. As of 3 May 2002, the rough situation is that the incumbent president, Didier Ratsiraka, has greater influence in four of the six provinces, especially in coastal areas, and his rival, Marc Ravalomanana, controls Antananarivo Province and the adjacent province of Fianarantsoa. The media situation can be described as developing, fluid and vibrant. The ethnic dimension Ravalomanana is a Merina from the central highlands, an area which produces most of the country's GNP but which feels that this has not been sufficiently acknowledged by successive regimes led by non-Merina politicians. Increasing polarization of the media Since the 16 December presidential elections, and as the political temperature has risen, the media scene has become more focused on political rivalries, and several new web sites have appeared. Media overview Madagascar's 16m people have six daily newspapers and a number of weeklies and monthlies, as well as numerous TV and radio stations, including a large number of FM stations broadcasting in all provincial and district capitals. Because of the low literacy rate, the print media is mostly aimed at the French-educated urban elite. It is therefore mostly in French and urban-centred. The print media suffers from low circulation because of the low literacy rate, poor road network and lack of purchasing power. Another emerging feature of the Malagasy media in the past few months is: \ \ the independent media's backing for one or other of the rival presidential candidates \ the fact that some pro-Ratsiraka radio stations have started operating like "hate radios" (see below). Factors hampering media development There are several factors hampering the development of the media: low literacy rate (most people therefore tend to listen to the broadcast media), poor road network, lack of purchasing power, low advertising revenue. Press freedom Journalists in the country have been accustomed to working in a relatively free environment and producing reports critical of the government. There are signs that this situation is changing: For example, the pro- Ratsiraka governor of the southern Toliara Province banned a large number of newspapers in his province on 12 April 2002 (Madagascar Tribune web site, 15 April). In late February, President Didier Ratsiraka's information minister suspended normal broadcasting. Reporting on the move, the daily L'Express de Madagascar web site on 2 March 2002 said "the move has thrown outlying and coastal regions into total confusion in terms of information". Another recent example: Pro-Ratsiraka radio stations in the northeastern coastal town of Sambava did not carry reports of the 18 April 2002 Dakar Accord between Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka (Midi- Madagasikara web site 22 April). Malagasy Journalism Malagasy journalism has tended to be characterized by: \ \ lengthy reports \ use of flowery and veiled language \ focus on power/political issues more than development matters \ lack of distinction between information and opinion \ individual politicians being backed by certain journalists, who do not hesitate to publicly attack their colleagues Internet Access to the Internet is restricted more by lack of purchasing power than poor telephone infrastructure. By African standards, the country can boast a relatively modern and efficient telecommunications network. Commenting on a "news blackout" said to be have been deliberately imposed by the Ratsiraka information minister in late February 2002, the daily l'Express de Madagascar web site said: "The telecommunications boom, sustained by extraordinary technology advances (cellphones, Internet, satellite TV) at the beginning of this third millennium, has luckily spared them [residents of other provinces exclusive of Antananarivo Province] the "blackout" imposed by RNM [state-run Malagasy National Radio] and TVM [Malagasy Television]." All major newspapers or newsletters are on the Internet, and more and more Antananarivo-based FM radio stations have also become available on the Internet (see below). New web sites launched since disputed December elections Since the December 2001 presidential elections, a number of Internet sites and web sites have been created. The following now carry more or less regularly updated news: \ \ Marc Ravalomanana's political association named Tiako i Madagasikara [I Love Madagascar], TIM. Until mid-March 2002, the site carried daily news and information, in Malagasy and French, on Ravalomanana and his supporters. It is now publishing mainly information in French, English and German about Ravalomanana's plans and projects, as well as announcements and comments by the Ravalomanana camp. URL addresses (any of the following): http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara.org http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara-net http://www.marc-ravalomanana.org http://www.marc-ravalomanana.net \ Didier Ratsiraka's election campaign web site which also carries news and comment in French (not regularly updated). URL address: http://www.ratsiraka2001.mg \ Madagascar-Évènements [Madagascar-Events]: The site, which publishes daily news and comment in French, is said to be close to the pro-Ratsiraka politician and presidential candidate, Herizo Razafimahaleo, who is also the main shareholder of the daily newspaper L'Express de Madagascar. URL address: http://madaevenement.kilio.com \ Radio and TV - overview A particular feature of the state radio and TV stations is that the French bulletins do not necessarily come at the scheduled times: broadcast generally after the Malagasy bulletins, they may start earlier or later, depending on the duration of the previous bulletins. An emerging feature of FM stations across the entire country is their affiliation to, or ownership by, rival politicians. Residents of the capital, Antananarivo, have access to a dozen FM radio stations and six free-to-air terrestrial TV services (see listings below). Listeners and viewers elsewhere have much less choice, with the state- owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) providing the only domestic radio and TV for the entire country. Indeed, RNM is the only radio station authorized to broadcast on shortwave. TVM can broadcast to the whole country because it is relayed by satellite. The BBC World Service (in French) and Radio France Internationale (RFI) are relayed on FM in Antananarivo. RFI can also be heard on FM in a few selected provincial capitals. Listeners throughout the country can hear the BBC and other international stations on shortwave. Shortwave and some mediumwave stations from neighbouring countries (Reunion Island, Mayotte, some neighbouring Comoran islands, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda) are also audible, most of them in the capital, others in coastal towns. It is not clear whether regulations, cost or other factors are hindering local TV stations from relaying their broadcasts by satellite. There are no restrictions on the use of satellite dishes, although their cost puts them out of the reach of all but a very small minority in a country ranked among the poorest in the world. The ownership of radio sets is widespread, which is not the case with TV sets. These are only found in major urban centres because of their cost and also because of limited access to mains electricity in rural areas. Radio stations RNM [Radio Nationale Malagasy - Malagasy National Radio] RNM is the state-owned radio station. It operates from the capital and still holds the legal monopoly on shortwave transmissions in the country. Its news bulletins are in Malagasy and French. Until 28 February 2002 when it fell under the control of the Marc Ravalomanana "regime", RNM news in Malagasy was very lengthy, with its evening bulletin - the main bulletin of the day - lasting up to 45-50 minutes, but its daily evening news in French relatively brief. Until 28 February 2002, RNM's news output gave heavy prominence to government activities, with lengthy coverage of new government projects, and especially President Didier Ratsiraka's official trips abroad. Immediately after resuming operations under the control of the Ravalomanana "regime" in early March 2002, the radio on 6 March 2002 said it would be neutral in its reporting of national affairs, for instance describing both Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana as "presidents", and trying to provide a balanced coverage of events around the two rival political camps. However, following some violence perpetrated by Ratsiraka supporters, the radio stopped describing Ratsiraka as president, giving that title only to Ravalomanana. In the same way, it stopped providing the Ratsiraka camp with the coverage it initially promised to offer. However, this may also have to do with the violence which is preventing its reporters from travelling to Ratsiraka-controlled areas. Until the signing of the 18 April 2002 Dakar Accord between Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana, the radio would also broadcast security-related announcements and messages addressed to all parts of the country. Until recently, it was relayed on satellite. RNM news is now available in print and in French on the Internet http://takelaka.dts.mg/radmad Radio MBS [Malagasy Broadcasting System, expansion originally in English] This FM radio station is the radio branch of the Malagasy Broadcasting System, MBS, owned by business tycoon now declared president, Marc Ravalomanana. Probably the most recent FM station to operate from the capital, it became very popular after Marc Ravalomanana announced his candidacy for the presidential elections in about September 2001. During the ongoing political crisis, Radio MBS, particularly its evening bulletin in Malagasy, has carried the very latest political news. It has ususally been ahead of even the state-owned RNM controlled by the "Ravalomanana regime" since early March 2002. Though not on shortwave, Radio MBS also operates in other towns through local branches. As suggested by its name, the station also broadcasts in English. The radio is said to be available on the Internet through Ravalomanana's political association TIM web site (at any of the following): http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara.org http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara-net http://www.marc-ravalomanana.org http://www.marc-ravalomanana.net Radio Mada ["Mada" is a short name for Madagascar], Radio Antsiva [Trumpet Shell], Radio Ravinala [Travellers' Palm] There is little information about these FM radio stations also operating in the capital, apart from the fact that listeners turn to them generally for music, and that some if not all of them are owned by Antananarivo-based pro-Ravalomanana politicians. Recently, these three FM stations and Ravalomanana's Radio MBS have joined together in broadcasting pro-Ravalomanana security-related messages and directives to the crowds in the capital. The above- mentioned four radio stations have recently started broadcasting a "joint editorial" on a daily basis. Radio Antsiva is reportedly available on the Internet (URL address not available). Radio Ravinala is on the Internet http://ravinala.online.fr Ma-FM [Madagascar-FM]: Little information is available on this station operating from the capital apart from the fact that, along with Ma-TV (Madagascar-TV - see below) and two daily newspapers, it belongs to the Antananarivo-based Andriambelo family. It also broadcasts news. Ma-FM is available on the Internet on the Ma-TV web site http://www.matvonline.tv RTV [Radio Tsioka Vao - New Breeze or New Tune] is a pro-Ratsiraka FM station which was broadcasting in the capital. Media reports say its premises and equipment were burnt down a few months ago. Radio Fahazavana [Light] This FM station operates in the capital. It is owned by the most important protestant church, the FJKM (Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, of Presbyterian denomination), and also reportedly partly by Marc Ravalomanana, a lay vice-chairman of that church. Radio Fahazavana covers mainly religious and church matters. RDB [Radio Don Bosco - Don Bosco is the name of a Roman Catholic congregation] Operating from the capital city and owned by the Roman Catholic Church, this FM station is reputed, in some quarters, to be providing good quality news bulletins, especially after it managed to hire some of the best radio journalists in town. RDB is available on the Internet http://www.radiodonbosco.mg Radio Feon'ny Merina [Voice of the Merina] The Merina are central Madagascar's people of Malay origin who restored their ties with the world Malay family in 1996. The Merina claim to have been politically marginalized since independence (Marc Ravalomanana is the first Merina president since independence in 1960). Yet, their province, they say, which is just one out of six provinces, has been contributing over half of the state budget. After the Antananarivo Royal Palace was burnt down in 1995, some Merina intellectuals resolved to initiate an awareness campaign on the Merina issue. Radio Feon'ny Merina, an FM radio station operating from Antananarivo, which is also the historical capital city of the Merina community, is part of this drive. Radio Lazan' Iarivo [Fame of Iarivo - Iarivo is the name of the Antananarivo region], Radio-Korail [Coral], Alliance FM92 [Alliance Francaise FM92] There is little information about these Antananarivo-based FM radio stations, apart from the fact that listeners turn to them generally for music, and that some of them may also be owned by Antananarivo politicians. They also broadcast news focusing on the capital. "Hate" radio stations Some pro-Ratsiraka FM radio stations operating in coastal areas are broadcasting programmes inciting tribal and racial hatred mainly against the Merina people and, in some cases, against southcentral Fianarantsoa Province's Betsileo people who are racially close to the Merina. Neighbouring Reunion Island newspaper Le Journal de l'Île [The Island's Newspaper] web site http://www.clicanoo.com/articles/sommaire on 5 April 2002 quoted a pro-Ravalomanana MP from northeastern Madagascar as saying that two pro-Ratsiraka radio stations in the northeastern coastal town of Sambava - where there have been regular reports of political violence perpetrated by pro-Ratsiraka militias - were "broadcasting hatred and racist messages meant to incite people against the Merina people", adding that "it is the Malagasy Mille Collines Radio" (reference to the Rwandan "hate radio" Radio- Television Libre des Mille Collines, RTLM, broadcasting some time before the 1994 Rwanda genocide). Mooted pro-Ratsiraka Radio-TV station in Toamasina The Antananarivo-based state radio and TV stations fell under the control of the "Ravalomanana regime" in early March 2002. At the same time President Ratsiraka on 26 March said a "powerful" radio-TV station broadcasting to the entire country from the eastern port town of Toamasina (declared Ratsiraka's "capital" by his supporters), was to be operational soon. Ratsiraka's remarks were widely commented on in the Malagasy media on 28 March. Neighbouring Reunion Island daily newspaper Le Journal de l'Île web site http://www.clicanoo.com/articles/sommaire on 29 March 2002 said: "The launching of his private station - on which he will surely spread and broadcast hatred and racist messages against Merina people - would be the most serious danger faced by the country." The daily L'Express de Madagascar web site on 28 March 2002 quoted a technical officer as describing the proposed radio-TV's equipment as "top-of-the-range digital equipment more sophisticated than that of Marc Ravalomanana's MBS (Malagasy Broadcasting System)". No further media reports on this project have been monitored since that time. Foreign FM radio stations RFI (Radio France Internationale, in French) has been relayed on FM in Antananarivo and a few provincial capitals until recently. After it was accused of being "pro-Ratsiraka" by the predominantly pro- Ravalomanana Antananarivo residents, the expansion of its acronym (RFI) was changed locally into "Radio Feon' Iavoloha" (Voice of Iavoloha), Iavoloha being the site of Ratsiraka's Iavoloha Presidential Palace some 20 km south of the capital. BBC World Service (in French) is also relayed on FM in Antananarivo. The BBC has become more and more popular among Malagasy nationals, especially Ravalomanana supporters. In fact, President Ravalomanana has constantly had recourse to the BBC, instead of RFI, to make his most important announcements to the outside world. TV TVM [Television Malagasy - Malagasy Television] TVM is the state-owned TV station. Because it is relayed by satellite, it is the only TV station broadcasting to the whole country. Its news bulletins are in Malagasy and French, with most of its video being from archives. After resuming operations under the control of the Ravalomanana "regime" on 6 March 2002, it appears that the TV has adopted an editorial line that is somewhat different from its counterpart - the state radio. This is a change from the situation under the Ratsiraka regime. Also, the state TV news tends to be less up-to-date than the state radio. TVM has stopped describing Ratsiraka as president, giving that title only to Ravalomanana. In the same way, it stopped providing the Ratsiraka camp the coverage it initially promised to offer. However, this may also have to do with the political violence which is preventing its reporters from travelling to Ratsiraka-controlled areas. Nevertheless, on 21 April 2002 - after the signing of the Dakar Accord between Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka - the station granted a telephone interview with Ratsiraka (he was then in France). This was the first time he had had access to the station since 28 February. TVM news is available in print and in French on the Internet http://takelaka.dts.mg/tvm but its site has not been updated since 18 August 1999. MBS TV [Malagasy Broadcasting System TV, expansion originally in English] The TV station is reputed to produce well-documented programmes. It has also constantly striven to display a more "nationalistic" slant, for instance featuring women announcers appearing in Malagasy traditional hairstyles. Like the radio known by the same name, it is owned by business tycoon now declared president, Marc Ravalomanana. It has also become more popular since Ravalomanana announced his candidacy for the 2001 presidential elections. During the ongoing political crisis, MBS evening bulletins in Malagasy, like those of its radio branch, have carried the most up-to- date political news. It is not clear whether it is available in other towns. As suggested by its name, the station also broadcasts in English. RTA [Radio Television Analamanga - Analamanga is the site of the Royal Palace in Antananarivo] Initially broadcasting exclusively in the capital city, this station turned out to be a "fast-growing" media enterprise. It can now boast four branches operating in four major towns: RTA-Antananarivo, RTA- Antsirabe (central Madagascar), RTA-Tamatave (eastern coast), RTA- Majunga (northwestern coast). Little information is available on these stations apart from the fact that they also broadcast news. Ma-TV [Madagascar-Television] Broadcasting only in Antananarivo, this station has developed a reputation for impartiality, fairness and balanced coverage among Antananarivo-based Malagasy officials. However, its editorial line has recently come under serious criticism from many Antananarivo residents and foreign-based Malagasy nationals who portray it as now "pro- Ratsiraka". The station, along with two daily newspapers and the Ma-FM radio station, is owned by the Andriambelo family, one of the few local media entrepreneurs apart from agro-business tycoon now self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana. The management and editorial lines of Ma-FM/Ma-TV are said to be totally dissociated from those of the family's two newspapers. Ma-TV is available on the Internet http://www.matvonline.tv TV Ravinala [Travellers' Palm], TV Plus: Little information is available on these two TV stations apart from the fact that they also feature news, and that TV Ravinala is the TV counterpart of the pro- Ravalomanana Radio Ravinala. "Hate" TV stations Residents of the northwestern port town of Mahajanga reportedly denounced "an incitement to tribal hatred against Ravalomanana's Merina community", calling on the pro-Ratsiraka provincial governor to scrap the daily political broadcast by the local branch of TVM. (Madagascar Tribune web site, 23 April). Foreign TV stations TV-5 - Europe [Belgium-based TV station broadcasting in French] and TF1 [Television Francaise 1 - French TV Channel 1: an independent French station] can be received by satellite through two local TV satellite channel providers. (L'Express de Madagascar web site, 2 March 2002) Main newspapers Midi-Madagasikara [Madagasikara Noon or Midday] This daily tabloid newspaper is owned, along with Ma-TV and the weekly newspaper Gazetiko (see below) by the Andriambelo family. It is mostly in French but also carries a few pages in Malagasy. Midi-Madagasikara is the oldest of the existing daily newspapers in French. Claiming to be "the leading national news daily", its circulation was said to be about 30,000 in 2001. Even though it is an independent newspaper, it has turned out to support Ravalomanana openly during the ongoing political crisis. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. Midi-Madagasikara is available on the Internet http://www.dts.mg/midi Madagascar Tribune [Madagascar Forum or Rostrum] Tribune is a daily tabloid newspaper mainly in French, with a few pages in Malagasy. Its circulation was reported to be 12,000 in 2001. It has backed Ravalomanana and also some pro-Ratsiraka moderates during the ongoing political crisis. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. Madagascar Tribune is available on the Internet http://www.madagascar-tribune.com L'Express de Madagascar L'Express is a daily tabloid newspaper mainly in French but also carries a few pages in Malagasy. The paper also focuses on economic and financial reports and its circulation (said to be 8,500 in 2001) is hampered by the fact that its main shareholder is pro-Ratsiraka politician and presidential candidate Herizo Razafimahaleo. Even though it has striven to provide balanced and neutral coverage of the ongoing political crisis, its "neutrality" has turned into a subtle promotion of a "neither-Ratsiraka-nor-Ravalomanana-third- choice" political agenda said to be favouring its main shareholder, Herizo Razafimahaleo. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. L'Express de Madagascar is available on the Internet. Its web site is more attractive and functional than those of its competitors http://www.lexpressmada.com Gazetiko [My Newspaper] Founded in 1998 by the Andriambelo family which owns Ma-TV and the daily Midi-Madagasikara, it is the most recent Malagasy daily newspaper. It is an independent tabloid newspaper exclusively in Malagasy, featuring sensationalist reports and open attacks on the Ratsiraka regime. Its circulation in 2001 was said to be 42,000 - reportedly more than 50,000 on Saturdays, which is the highest in the country. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. Gazetiko is not available on the Internet. Maresaka [Resounding, sensational] and Basy Vava [Virulent, corrosive] Little information is available on these two independent daily tabloid newspapers entirely in Malagasy. The two dailies used to be very popular among the Antananarivo urban masses before the beginning of the socialist era in 1975. The two dailies do not appear on Sundays. They are not available on the Internet. Weeklies DMD [Dans les médias demain - In the Media Tomorrow] Independent weekly newsletter in French with the focus on economic and financial reports. It has attracted a significant number of readers among foreign-based Malagasy nationals. Its owner and publishing manager is also Reuters' correspondent in Madagascar. DMD has just launched its Internet version http://www.dmd.mg Lakroa [Cross]: Owned by the Roman Catholic Church, run previously by the Jesuit congregation and now relayed by the Assumptionist congregation (which specializes in media and communications issues), this not-for-profit weekly newspaper in both French and Malagasy has always been at the forefront of major moral causes in the country. The weekly is operating both from the capital city and from the southcentral town of Fianarantsoa which is a major Roman Catholic publishing base. Operating under the name of Lumière [Light] in the 60s and 70s, Lakroa is the oldest of all the weeklies in Madagascar. It can also claim to be the only print media outlet that has truly national coverage. During the ongoing political crisis, Lakroa, echoing the Roman Catholic Church, is backing the "struggle for justice and truth" advocated by Ravalomanana. Lakroa is available on the Internet http://www.geocities.com/lakroam A weekly newsletter in French named "Lettre confidentielle de Madagascar" [Madagascar Confidential Newsletter], LCM, which is "like the Indian Ocean Newsletter but devoted to Malagasy current affairs", was to release its first issue on 18 February (L'Express de Madagascar web site, 15 February 2002). The daily said the newsletter, ambition of which was "to deliver strategic information firstly to all decision-makers, diplomats and members of the intelligentsia", would be available only on subscription. No further reports have been issued on the proposed plan. Monthlies Jureco [Mensuel Juridique et Économique - Law and Economic Monthly] As suggested by its name, Jureco is a monthly magazine focusing on legal and economic issues but also on political matters. Antananarivo-based, independent and published in French, it features analyses and in-depth reports generally bylined by legal and economics professionals and university lecturers. Jureco is part of the same group as the Feon'ny Merina weekly newspaper and radio, but has a far less pronounced Merina slant. Though theoretically available on the internet, its web site http://www.jureco.com has not been updated fully and regularly over the last three months. R.O.I. [Revue de l'Océan indien - Indian Ocean Review] ROI is an Antananarivo-based independent monthly magazine published in French. Compared to the above-mentioned Jureco, ROI is mostly a newsmagazine with a relatively "glossy" look and less scholarly articles. Its readers include foreign-based Malagasy nationals and foreign nationals who previously lived in Madagascar. ROI claims to be "the leading news magazine in the Indian Ocean (islands)". It focuses on Madagascar news and events. ROI is available on the Internet only on subscription http://www.madatours.com/roi Feon'ny Merina [Voice of the Merina] Feon'ny Merina is the newspaper counterpart of Radio Feon'ny Merina (see list of major radio stations above). Though not fully available on the Internet, some of its features appear on an Internet site called "Zaikabe" [forum, congress] which promotes the Merina cause http://home.cwnet.com/zaikabe/KI/FMERINA Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 3 May 02 (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. The law does not specify that the 12.5% is for public affairs... in fact, the "public affairs" definition we know in the US has no translation nor on-air equivalent in Mexico. The law allows the government to take time to promote and circulate information about government programs and activities. This is usually done in Mexico by means of spot announcements or cuñas, usually 20 to 30 seconds in length. I believe this is just a reference to the 1969 law which allows stations to give up to 12.5% of all airtime to the government in place of payment of income taxes. Most stations do not use this alternate form of tax payment. And I do not believe that the government would have the facilities to use the time, anyway. Here is the full decree: USO OFICIAL DEL 12.5% EN RADIO Y TELEVISION PUBLICADO EN EL DIARIO OFICIAL DEL 1o. DE JULIO DE 1969... (David Gleason, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. May 4 Remembrance Day and May 5 Liberation Day. On May 4, check the Radio Netherlands skycam and see if the flags in front of the RNW building change and fly at half-mast. Two minutes of silence at 8 PM local. Check for a stoppage of activity at that time (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1800 UT ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Hi Glenn, Some updates for you: Radio Netherlands Update 2 May 2002 Antenna maintenance on Bonaire has been completed earlier than expected, which means that our Dutch transmission to West Africa at 2030-2125 UTC on 15315 kHz is again via Bonaire, instead of via Germany, since May 1st 2002. DRM Frequency Change 2 May 2002 As of 2 May 2002, Bonaire has moved from 11795 kHz to 11790 kHz for the DRM test transmission to the Pacific at 1001-1058 UT (Andy Sennitt, RN, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. Radio Jakada Begins Test Transmission Daily Trust (Abuja) May 2, 2002 Posted to the web May 2, 2002 --- by Rabiu Ibrahim Denied radio broadcast licence by the Nigerian authorities, former Nigeria's ambassador to Spain and factional chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Yaro Yusuf Mamman yesterday, began test transmission of his Jakada Radio International on the short-wave (SW) band, to Africa. It broadcast from Spain. Jakada Radio, according to briefs posted on its website, is a team of international broadcasters and broadcast investors" led by a distinguished Nigerian international broadcaster and diplomat, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman." The statement said the radio station is registered with all the relevant broadcasting bodies in the world and has fulfilled all the requirements for the issuance of shot-wave [sic] broadcasting licence. It added that, Jakada Radio has a poll of international correspondents around the globe with bureaus in Frankfurt, Cairo, Accra, Washington and Harare, and would broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "We will start a daily broadcast to Africa, however, we are now on test transmission three times a week from 8.00 am to 8.30 pm Nigerian time on frequency 12125 Khz (24.74 metres in the 25 metre band)." The team of broadcasters and broadcast investors involved in the venture ­ five in number ­ including Yusuf Mamman, was also profiled on the website. Yusuf Mamman was beside his local profile described as the only Nigerian with the singular distinction of being honoured by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II with grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius, said to be the highest Vatican honour. He was also decorated by King Juan Carlos of Spain with grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit. The only female member of the team, Helen Martin, is said to be an American of Spanish heritage with 20 years experience an international broadcaster. [must be she we hear on clip below, then] Another, Aldo Ares was described as a Spanish businessman with a chain of entertainment-related business in Europe and Latin America, as well as pioneer in the digitisation of radio and telecommunication network. Beside Yusuf Mamman, is another Nigerian ­ Ahmed Yahaya who will head the Jakada Radio German Bureau. He had started his broadcasting with the German Radio DW in Cologne, reporting in English, French and Hausa. Mr. Yahaya, a native of Kano, born in Agege, Lagos speaks in addition, German, Spanish and Arabic fluently. The fifth investor is José Manuel Contreras, a Spanish practicing lawyer with diverse interests in the banking sector, international retail and multi-media. (from http://allafrica.com/stories/200205020433.html via Mike Dorner, LA, DXLD) The Spanish connexion had not come up previously, except as the country of one of the backers; surely the 12125 transmitter is not there but in one of the usual places. So are production studios and offices actually in Spain? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Glenn: Yo olvidé poner el signo de pregunta via DTK?? 73's (Nicolas Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Two minutes, 14 seconds of Radio Jakada. http://www.intervalsignals.net/files/nig-jakada_radio_international_010502.ram 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``jah-KAH-dah`` is the pronunciation, ``Africa`s premier independent radio`` So what does the word mean, where does it come from? (gh, DXLD) all.africa.com info also via Bill Wilkins, Springfield, MO, who adds: Couldn't find anything about pronunciation or derivation of name "jakada." It is not mentioned in Library of Congress's book NIGERIA, A COUNTRY STUDY. In a separate search I did find that Jakada is a also brand name owned by Folgers and used for bottled iced coffee. Cheers, (Bill Wilkins, Springfield, MO, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Glenn, The "Islamabad Today" program is not heard every day after the 1200 news. In fact, most days R. Pakistan goes straight into other languages. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I didn't hear any English after the 1200 news bulletin from Pakistan. Looks like the English program I heard after the [webcast only] news earlier this week was an anomaly. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Maybe some of you will be interested in the news, that here in Poland a new radio-related postmark has been issued today, May 2, 2002. It is commemorated to Radio Free Europe in connection with 50th anniversary of the very first broadcast of Radio Free Europe Polish Service, which took place May 3, 1952, 09.00 GMT. If you want to see the postmark together with special stamp pressed on the first day of circulation, please go to my website: http://www.go.to/poldx or http://www.rybus.net Best regards, (Krzysztof Rybus, Poland, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** RWANDA [and non]. From Matt Francis, Canberra: COMBATING HATE RADIO - REVIEW OF ARTICLE The Journal of International Communication (vol 8, no 1, 2002) carried a scholarly contribution by Aaron Karnell on counteracting 'hate radio' in Africa's Great Lakes region. Karnell is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. His article made some interesting observations, drawing on official UN reports and other sources, about the success or otherwise of efforts to counter state-sponsored 'hate radio', and attempts by the UN itself to establish a radio station in a conflict zone - in this case, Radio UNAMIR in Rwanda. He identified three main forms of 'positive response' to hate radio: existing international broadcasters (such as BBC and VOA) that offer objective reporting and can produce reconciliation-oriented programs; UN-managed peace radios, such as UNAMIR; and, NGO-sponsored peace radio stations and production studios. A 'negative' response according to Karnell includes the jamming of hate radio stations. He covers this issue in some length, including the decision by the US not to jam Radio Television Libre Mille des Collines, despite the station's central role in promoting anti-Tutsi propaganda and the violence directed against Tutsis in Rwanda during 1994. The jamming of RTLM was advocated on the floor of the US Senate and considered by the US State Department. Karnel cites three reasons why the US did not jam RTLM: the technical difficulty, a lack of political appetite in Washington post-Somalia for intervention in another African conflict, and because it could violate international law. He notes views that jamming could be considered a legitimate policy option in future to try to prevent acts of genocide. Describing Radio UNAMIR, established in February 1995 as part of the UN mission in Rwanda, as a disaster, Karnel examines the main reasons for its failure. The station was given the wrong equipment by the command of the UN mission. Test transmissions were carried out without proper authorisation from the Rwandan authorities. Engineers realised that the UNAMIR compound was an inadequate location for their transmitter to maximise coverage of the country due to its low elevation. From Karnell's article: 'Radio UNAMIR's director was then faced with the dilemma of either requesting more funding than originally budgeted for to secure a more powerful transmitter, or placing the existing equipment at high altitudes where it would be unprotected. A solution was proposed: use the protected high-altitude broadcast towers of Radio Rwanda and Rwandatel, the Rwanda telephone service. Unfortunately, Radio UNAMIR's engineers were to discover that using these facilities would also cause interference with both Rwandan telecommunications and radio. A 1996 UN report concluded that Radio UNAMIR was under-resourced, had limited equipment and lacked technical maintenance facilities. It could broadcast for no more than four hours a day. And Karnell adds another caveat about UN peace radios: the risk of compromising the appearance of neutrality of the UN through even a minor reporting error or distortion. Another kind of response to hate radio, and potentially a much more effective model than UN-backed broadcasters, is that of the NGO- sponsored peace radio. Karnell refers to the success of the 'Voice of Peace' in Burundi, Radio Agatashya in the eastern Congo, and Studio Radio Umwizero, also in Burundi. He devotes some attention to the achievements of Studio Ijambo ('wise words') in Burundi, which focused on producing programs rather than operating a transmitter. Its programs were heard in Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo with a combined audience of about six million listeners. There were some restrictions caused by not having its own transmitters, but on the whole, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages (which can include being subjected to censorship by state-run broadcasters). The studio draws less attention to itself without a transmitter; by having programs aired on different broadcasters, it is not perceived as a 'station' and partisan in any way; and, more effort can be given to making programs. Studio Ijambo assembled ethnically balanced teams of highly dedicated journalists, who often face great personal risks because of their commitment. A Studio Ijambo journalist, Pamphile Simbizi, was murdered in June 1995 for his reporting on the killings of Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-dominated Burundi army. Karnell says in his conclusion about the development of responses to hate radio beyond the Great Lakes region: 'What may not be replicable elsewhere is the human element which as made a program producer such as Studio Ijambo successful. Accurate and impartial reportage by local journalists about ethnically charged local politics requires extraordinary courage and dedication. An NGO which failed to assemble a team of journalists who evince this kind of fidelity to the truth and willingness to risk their own safety would not enjoy as much credibility.' Karnell's sources include official reports by the UN Department of Public Information, and Department of Peacekeeping. He also cites Nick Grace's clandestineradio.com, and Radio Netherlands` Media Network 'hate radio dossier'. -Counteracting 'hate radio' in Africa's Great Lakes region, by Aaaron P. Karnell, in Journal of International Communication, vol. 8, no. 1, 2002, published by the International Communication Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research http://www.mucic.mq.edu.au/JIC/ ======================= (Matt Francis msjjfrancis@bigpond.com May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ======================= ** U K. Hello Glenn, I went to BBCWS website today to hear the Thursday 1430 UTC John Peel show... it wasn't there.... oh right that webcast link is the Euro feed not the Americas... let's see... oh right, the European stream will have Peel later, at 1830. But another schedule says 1430 would indeed have John Peel's program via the Americas stream. Okay then, I'm in my office and can't use my SW, so lets let's click on the Information and Entertainment feed icon at the Yahoo Broadcast site at http://www.broadcast.com/bbc/ Hmmm.... Peel's show isn't there either, it's news coverage instead... even though the schedules link for Information and Entertainment stream says it should be there, 1430 UTC. As a last resort checked the other Yahoo Broadcast schedule, the BBCWS News And Sports stream schedule, and Peel is not listed as appearing on that stream, at all, ever. But clicked on the Yahoo News And Sports stream icon anyway, and RealPlayer launched, and surprise, there was Peel's show, in progress. So Yahoo, still, after all these months, have the BBCWS News and the BBCWS Entertainment feeds crossed. I will give Yahoo Broadcast a little credit however... both the BBCWS Homepage link and the Yahoo Broadcast BBCWS links claim to stream at 16.0 kbs, but the Yahoo links sound far better. (Tom Roche, Atlanta) Go thru the links at http://www.publicradiofan.com where they are uncrossed (gh, DXLD) Thursday, 2 May, 2002, 22:29 GMT 23:29 UK RADIO AWARD FOR 'UNRIVALLED' PEEL Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has won a top prize at the prestigious Sony Awards for British radio. The 62-year-old presenter for Radio 1 and Radio 4 took the honorary gold at the annual ceremony, for his years of championing bands... http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1964000/1964063.stm (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** U S A. INFO@KCRW Newsletter for May 3 - 17 PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - Help Save KCRW.com ** KCRW has invited the RIAA, major record labels, artists, and webcasters to participate in an on air editorial campaign about the pending U.S. Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) recommendation to Congress, which will be presented on May 21. The recommendation concerns the establishment of royalty rates for record companies from radio stations that stream recorded music. Beginning Thursday, May 2, KCRW will air recorded statements from companies who have responded to our invitation. The on air campaign is scheduled to run for a week, and may last longer. To find out more about CARP and how you can express your views - just go to our home page and click on the button: ``HELP Save Internet Radio.`` Read about what you can do to help and be sure to tell a friend. http://KCRW.com/about/frame_internetradio.html KCRW General Manager RUTH SEYMOUR, explains KCRW`s position (the following statement will be broadcast on air as part of the Public Awareness Campaign): ``KCRW, a pioneer and leader in Internet radio, is alarmed that the record company royalty rates, now pending before the U.S. Copyright Commission, may spell the end for many independent webcasters. The digital fees that are being proposed are exorbitant and totally unrealistic. For example a midsize webcaster with a staff of two or three, who has an audience of 1,000 listeners over the last 3 years, will owe retroactive royalties of more than half a million dollars! ``KCRW`s three streams are currently covered for the next year, under an arrangement negotiated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. But we do not want to serve as a fig leaf for the Record Industry Association of America while our independent colleagues on the web are forced to close down because of these draconian rates. Anyone interested in the diversity and future of the Internet, should also be concerned. ``KCRW agrees with industry leaders who are asking Congress for a five year moratorium on Internet music fees. ``KCRW has no quarrel with paying copyright fees to artists and record companies for playing their music over the Internet. In fact, KCRW, through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, already pays a fee to songwriters to play their music over the air and the Internet. The difference is that the composer`s associations, ASCAP and BMI, charge reasonable rates based on revenue. The Recording Industry Association of America would have us pay per song, per listener, regardless of income even if there is little or no income and at exorbitant rates. ``Only through fair payment based on revenue can the small, idiosyncratic, and original music sites continue on the Internet.`` (KCRW Newsletter May 3 via DXLD) BTW, my favorite for the `simulcast` hi-quality stream changed itself into the `news` stream --- kept getting VOA on it (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. CN TOWER RIVAL: BROADCASTERS EYE NEW TOWER TO REPLACE ONE LOST ON SEPT. 11 JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - Broadcasters who lost transmission facilities when the World Trade Center collapsed are eyeing Jersey City or Governors Island in New York Harbour as the site of a 610-metre-tall tower that would be the world`s tallest free-standing structure, topping Toronto`s CN Tower. The two sites are being proposed for the hourglass-shaped tower because it would have to be located no more than five kilometres from the former trade centre site in order to avoid interfering with broadcasting in other nearby cities. ``It`s a very beautiful form that could be a great asset to the entire New York area,`` said A. Eugene Kohn, one of a team of four architects who drew up plans for the tower. ``It could be a symbolic replacement for the World Trade towers on the New York skyline, which are sorely missed.`` His firm, Kohn Pedersen Fox, was hired by a Manhattan development firm interested in building the tower. Kohn said the tower could become a tourist attraction similar to the 553-metre-tall CN Tower in Toronto, which is the tallest free-standing structure in the world. Most of that tower is hollow, but the base and top include observation decks, restaurants, retail shops, an arcade and a movie theatre. The Metropolitan TV Alliance, a trade group representing 10 New York- area stations, has met with the architects and is considering the proposal, which is still preliminary, said Jim Grossman, a spokesman for the alliance. The broadcasters urgently need new transmission facilities to replace the antenna that fell when the trade centre`s north tower collapsed. ``They must have a tower to have a telecast,`` said Phil Roberts, executive director of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association. ``It has put high-definition TV on the back burner because they don`t have the tower. And aside from high-definition TV, they`re having trouble broadcasting regular TV right now.`` Broadcasters have temporarily relocated their antennas to the Empire State Building. But that location isn`t high enough and doesn`t allow for a signal strong enough to reach the entire metropolitan region. The broadcasters also estimate that 350,000 homes in New York City still have no reception or an unclear signal. Architects envision an open-air concrete and steel tower encircled by crisscrossing 25-centimetre steel cables. The project could cost between $150 million and $200 million, but part of the cost would be offset by locating a restaurant and observation deck at about 396 metres and retail shops around the base. The world`s tallest occupied building is the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 452 metres. The World Trade Center`s roofs were 415 metres above ground level, and the antenna on the north tower reached to 527 metres. Kohn said he doesn`t think the tower would become a tempting target for terrorists because it would not have nearly as many occupants as a large office building. ``Everyone`s sensitive about building anything tall right now, but if you think about it, in addition to destroying a symbol, the terrorists also wanted to kill a lot of people and do a lot of damage,`` he said. Jersey City officials said they support the concept of the tower but want to hear more details. The project would require numerous layers of approvals. Roberts predicted the Governors Island site might ultimately be judged more feasible than Jersey City. ``The not-in-my-backyard factor will dictate that it can`t be where anybody lives,`` he said. ``Think of where there wouldn`t be that problem: on an island in the middle of a river.`` (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ANTENNA TO REPLACE WORLD TRADE CENTER THREATENS CN TOWER'S HEIGHT RECORD http://www.nationalpost.com/news/national/toronto/story.html?f=/stories/20020503/111597.html At least this National Post piece on the proposed Governors Island transmission tower shows an architectural rendering of what it would look like. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, The call Letters of WJIE (am) 680 kHz at Newburgh, KY were changed effective April 23, 2001 to WDRD. WJIE-FM should now be able to change WJCR (SW) to WJIE. I don't think a public notice of this is out yet. To avoid the call letter conflicts that appear to have occurred with WGTG WWFV WWRB, they should probably contact Tom Polzin at the FCC International Bureau, before attempting the change on the Media Bureau Call Sigh web page (Donald Wilson, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRMI Radio Miami International WRMI Programming/Programación [gospel huxters deleted by gh] WRMI Schedule/Horario Effective April/Abril 29, 2002 Days are local days in the Americas; times are UT. MONDAY-FRIDAY/LUNES-VIERNES To North America on 7385 kHz: Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UT 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SATURDAY/SABADO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) The following are Sunday UT 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) To North America on 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Drive-in Double Feature (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Viva Miami (English or español) SUNDAY/DOMINGO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 0900-1000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) To North America on 15725 kHz 2100-2300 Viva Miami (English/español) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) The following are UTC Monday. 0030-0130 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) To North America on 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Wavescan (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) (WRMI via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. EDITORIAL VOICE OF AMERICA STATION WILL COUNTER ANTI-U.S. ARAB MEDIA Wednesday, May 1, 2002 EDITORIAL & COMMENT 06A Throughout the Middle East, the United States is daily demonized in the Arab media, even by the government-controlled press in such U.S. "allies'' as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Until recently, Washington's response to this torrent of misinformation and vituperation has been a single, underpowered, underfunded shortwave radio station whose intermittent signal barely lapped the shores of the Mediterranean. This service had little chance against Arab broadcasters such as Al Jazeera television, Osama bin Laden's favorite forum, and al-Manar, the Lebanese TV station affiliated with the Hezbollah terrorist group. But last month, the situation improved with the launching of Radio Sawa, a $35-million, sophisticated, high- energy radio service that is being made available to Arab listeners throughout the region on AM, FM and satellite broadcasts. The new radio station, operated under the auspices of the Voice of America, the U.S. government's overseas radio service, was long overdue. Radio Sawa is the creation of Norman Pattiz, the founder and chairman of Westwood One, the largest radio network in the United States. With unsurprising demographic savvy, Pattiz has aimed Radio Sawa directly at the burgeoning under-30 segment of Muslim society. In March, the station opened up with 24- hour, seven-day music broadcasts that mix songs by Western pop stars such as the Backstreet Boys and Jennifer Lopez with those of North African and Middle Eastern music icons. It debuted on FM stations in Amman, Jordan, and Kuwait City, Kuwait. Earlier this month, the network began lacing the music with news reports produced by Arabic-speaking reporters schooled in Western- style journalistic methods. The aim is to create a source of reliable, balanced reporting largely unavailable to much of the Arab world. Pattiz has said that when he toured the Middle East last year, he found a media environment beset with "disinformation, incitement to violence, hate radio, government censorship, journalistic self- censorship. They've only heard it delivered one way. We're going to deliver it in a way that they have not heard before.'' So far, the station has not determined how many people may be listening, though initial projections called for 4 million this year, and nearly 7 million next. The network could not have picked a worse or better time to go on the air. Anti-American feeling in the Muslim world is probably at an all-time high. The Arab press is livid over the Israeli incursion against Palestinian terrorists in the occupied territories, and the United States is widely condemned as Israel's partner in the action. At the same time, the Arab world is unnerved by President Bush's threats to topple Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein, and Muslim extremists are busily fomenting anti- American sentiment over the U.S. destruction of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Yet it is precisely under such circumstances that Arab and Muslim audiences need to hear some balanced reporting that gives America's side of these stories. Whether Radio Sawa will make a difference is impossible to predict. But the effort is justified. (Major newspaper in Columbus OH via Artie Bigley, ibid., DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Steven Weber will team up on Monday, May 6 to announce the nominations for the American Theatre Wing's 56th Annual Tony Awards, which are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing. The announcement will be webcast live at http://www.tonys.org beginning at 8:30 a.m. (ET) sharp. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. Just now (2 May 1815 UT) I am hearing the Voice of Vietnam in English on the following frequencies: 13690-13700-13710-13720- 13730-13740- 13750-13760-13770-13780-13790-13810 kHz all in parallel. According to the ILG the only really used frequency should be 13740 kHz. I heard this phenomenon on both my Kenwood and my Sony so I am sure it is not a receiver problem. Does anyone have an explanation for this (transmitter/antenna error?)? Many thanks in advance! 73 (Herman Boel, Aalst, Vlaanderen (Flanders), hard-core-dx via DXLD) Already reported to have +/- 70 kHz spurs, so just adding a few (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. V. of People (via Madagascar), 7215, heard in English UT May 2 at 1630, blocked after 1700 by VOA in English (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa, the Zimbabwe opposition station that is relayed via Meyerton, clear on 6145 kHz at 1755 UT on 2nd May. Not that strong and some splash from 6140, but several ID's heard, pop music, talk about Mugabe, etc. Scheduled 1600-1900 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR AR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Finally I heard SW Radio Africa today, May 2nd, on 6145 kHz at 1820- 1900. Splashed, but alone on the frequency until close down at 1900. Nice African music and Zimbabwe mentioned almost every minute! 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15084 (zero beat) May 1, 2345. What I believe to be RFI, programme in French. According to ILG this frequency is allocated to VOIRI, with programming in Farsi at that time. This was definitely NOT Farsi, and as far as I could tell was not Iran. I have heard this before on this frequency. Any ideas? 73 (Sean Gilbert, UK, ICOM IC756 + 26 FEET VERTICAL (WITH 32 RADIALS) OR VARIOUS INDOOR DIPOLES+SEM MULTI-FILTER GRUNDIG SATELLIT 600+1.3M MW LOOP+PREAMP, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ANALYSIS: WATCHDOGS SEE MEDIA UNDER THREAT FROM "WAR ON TERROR", GLOBALIZATION | Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 3 May Media freedom in many parts of the world has been increasingly eroded since the attacks on US targets on 11 September, according to international journalists' groups. A number of reports issued to mark World Press Freedom Day on Friday 3 May suggest that the "war on terrorism" has brought tighter controls on the media. And in dozens of countries, journalists continue to be the victims of violence from the state and paramilitary groups. Thirty-one journalists were killed in 2001, eight of them in Afghanistan, compared with 32 in 2000, the Paris-based watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) said. Arrests of journalists doubled to 489, threats and attacks against members of the press rose 40 per cent to 716 and instances of censorship rose nearly 30 per cent to 378. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed the world's worst places to be a journalist - 10 areas where the media face the greatest dangers and restrictions. Top on the CPJ list is the West Bank, where the Israeli government has regularly used force to hinder journalists covering its military incursion into Palestinian areas. Other high-risk areas for the media include Afghanistan, where US forces have curbed independent reporting on the war, and Colombia, where nine journalists were killed in 2001. CPJ also placed Eritrea, Belarus, Burma, Zimbabwe, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Cuba on the list of the worst places to be a journalist. "In these countries where press freedom is under attack, journalists endure violent assaults, crackdowns by authoritarian regimes, danger from military operations and harsh financial reprisals designed to bankrupt independent voices," said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper. Media neutrality under threat Reporters Sans Frontieres said in its annual report that "on every continent the basic right to media freedom was harshly attacked, along with those who exercised it". RSF warned that in some Western countries, tighter controls on the flow of information following the September attacks had weakened the right of journalists in the US and Canada not to reveal sources. It said: "The news media are pressed to take sides, and propaganda takes precedence over truth." This contrasts with the findings of Freedom House, another watchdog based in New York. Its annual survey said that despite initial fears of restrictions on covering the war in Afghanistan, "press reporting of the war has been robust, from battlefield accounts to analyses of future strategy". Some laws adopted by democratic states have restricted access to information, "but not press freedom per se," in Freedom House's view. The CPJ, meanwhile, called on the US government not to recruit journalists as spies or to allow US intelligence agents to pose as journalists. Threat of media conglomerates The International Federation of Journalists warned that while the profession faced continuing violence and intimidation, "at the same time, from within, the values of journalism are undermined by the insidious agenda of global media corporations". The IFJ said the media faced more subtle threats to freedom of statement "as a result of media concentration, globalization and a culture of greed in the industry". It cited as a prime example the case of Italy, where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi exercises political power as well as controlling much of the TV sector. Some media freedoms gained Reporters Sans Frontières said media freedom had improved in Serbia after the overthrow of Slobodan Miloshevich in October 2000, while in Chile and Peru, media were under less pressure from strict security laws and the secret police. But in nearly a third of the world's countries, media freedom remains heavily restricted, with China top of RSF's list of offenders. Syria, Iraq, Burma and Saudi Arabia all maintain "absolute" control of the flow of information, RSF said. Source: BBC Monitoring research 3 May 02 (via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE SEXISM Isn`t it about time we quit making a point of the gender of announcers we hear on SW station? Yet ``man talking,`` ``woman talking`` is still a staple of loggings. Does this really matter, and does it help to convey any useful info? Only in the case of Taliban Afghanistan, would it have been noteworthy if a woman were heard on the air. Furthermore, not all voices can be properly identified. For example, I keep thinking I am hearing a woman on Counterspin, until he is referred to by a male name. Also, there are some people whose gender is not clearly defined one way or the other. Must we insist on categorizing them? One may still discuss the relative intelligibility of male and female-sounding voices. And perhaps pay a bit more attention to what they are saying than guessing their gender (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW SEARCH OPTIONS AT RADIO-PORTAL The search engine radio-portal was restructured completely. Now the following search options are at your disposal on the start page: Detail Search: Here you may enter several search terms, which can be combined by the operators exact / and / or. These functions offer the opportunity to adopt the selectivity of a search. This is a great improvement compared to the previously used search routine. Now your search phrase does not have to fit exactly the text in the database to get a usable result. Additionally, a search can be restricted to one of the 63 categories. Category Search: These option corresponds to the former "Search in broad". Here you can combine two of the given categories by the operators and / or / not. For example 'Reviews' and 'Antennas', to get an impression on choosing one's own equipment. This search routine is extremely useful to get an overview on a field of interest - a search phrase is not necessary. Advanced Search: On a separate page all functions mentioned above can be combined at the same time. So it is possible to restrict the number of results to a senseful value or to find entries belonging to various search phrases or categories. I am currently working to enable a search within results pages as a further option. You will find further explanations and operating examples via the "FAQ" Button. The Classified Advert pages have been updated also. Here you can offer or search for hobby related items. I hope you will like the new options. They are meant as a help to find a quicker way to radio related information. Meanwhile more than 34.000 pages are in the database - all of them were checked manually. Probably one of the reasons, radio-portal got the Millenium Innovation Award by Radio Netherlands Media Network in the year 2000. Your comments will be appreciated. Regards, have a good weekend. Willi Passmann, DJ6JZ -- _/_/ http://www.radio-portal.org _/_/ Shortwave and more linked to you _/_/ Willi H. Passmann Media Consulting _/_/ Oberhausener Str. 100, D-45476 Muelheim, Germany _/_/ Tel.: ++49-(0)208-77 93 99 _/_/ Fax:: 01212 - 52 50 49 647 (Passmann, GRDXC May 3 via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-073, May 2, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1129: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.rm (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1129.html FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFRICA [non]. Hi Glen[n], Jakada radio International coming with fine signal on 12125 kHz (+10 db). Clear channel. English program with female speaker and African music. May 1, 1900 UT (Alpo Heinonen, Rovaniemi, Finland, WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard the inaugural broadcast tonight (May 1) on 12125 of Jakada R International. It opened with orchestral music at 1900 followed by a female, African host giving English IDs including the slogan ``Africa`s premier independent radio`` and schedule in UT and Nigerian time. Afropops and short talk about women in Nigeria. Interview with Ambassador Mamman. Close at 1925 and sign off. 45333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Também sintonizada, com bom sinal, em Porto Alegre, entre 1900 e 1915 UTC, em 12125 kHz, com músicas pop e africanas e entrevista com ouvinte Glória, em inglês (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre - Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) 12125, Jakada Radio International, via DTK, May 1, 1900-1925, English by female announcer, comments about Africa and Musical Program (African Music and other very nice music). ID This is Jakada Radio International (in several opportunities), carrier until 1930, SINPO 45444, (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, SWBC via DXLD) How do you know it is via DTK, instead of CIS, or Merlin? And could someone who has heard it explain pronunciation of Jakada. Inaudible here on May 1, not surprisingly (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DX LISENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN HDTV 'OBSOLETE' by Matt Price MAY 1, 2002. AUSTRALIA'S digital television regime, under review by the Howard Government, was yesterday ridiculed by a visiting British broadcasting expert. British Radio Authority chairman Richard Hooper told the Australian Broadcasting Authority in Canberra that high-definition television as prescribed by the Government was obsolete around the world. "I go to a lot of conferences," Mr Hooper said. "I've not heard the word mentioned for four years." Mr Hooper, who has also worked for BBC Television, European satellite television and British Telecom during a 40-year career, said he was "surprised" Australia persisted with a technology rejected by Japan, Britain and the US. Under the existing digital legislation, Australia's commercial television networks are required to deliver 20 hours of HDTV content a week. However, there is virtually no consumer demand for HDTV, which is expensive and spectrum-hungry. The Seven Network has urged the Government to change the laws and permit a lower-quality digital transmission, which would free up spectrum to allow multi-channelling. Communications Minister Richard Alston said on Monday that the Government was seriously considering allowing multi-channelling on free-to-air television, a move that will be strongly resisted by pay- TV companies. Multi-channelling is banned until after 2005 under laws introduced to pave the way for subscription television in Australia. While a comprehensive review of datacasting is being undertaken by the federal Government, Senator Alston is believed to favour a reversal of the HDTV laws to allow multi-channelling. ============== from Australian IT, http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,4234302%5E15333%5E%5Enbv%5E15306%2D15321,00.html (via Dave White, WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. A conference was held earlier this week in Canberra on digital broadcasting. There were a number of presentations and papers on a range of topics, including DRM, Eureka and IBOC. Roger Broadbent attended the conference and will have a number of interviews drawn from attendees at it, as well as from key RA/ABC people, over the next few weekends in his "Feedback" program on RA. Here are the links: http://www.aba.gov.au/conference2002 http://www.aba.gov.au/conference2002/program.htm (John Figliozzi, swprograms via WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Radio Pio Doce, Oruro, 5952.50, 2215-2238 Apr 29, Bolivian songs, talk about the "...aniversario de Pio Doce...", ID, very good signal, SIO 433. Other signals from Bolivia without ID: 4649 Radio Santa Ana; 4681.4 Radio Paitití. Radio Panamericana, La Paz, 6106.40 khz! 2256-2312 1 May, after 2300 very good signal, sport live (fútbol) "...equipo de Bolívar...", ID, SIO 423 (Daniele Canonica, Switzerland, RX: JRC 535 D, ANT: T2FD 25 meters, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5970, Radio Itatiáia, Belo Horizonte, 0924-0935 April 28. Music, ads: "patrocinio Cerveja Kaiser.... Banco Mercosul do Brasil... Supermercado Champion....". Time check: "seis e vinticinco..". Ann.: "A seguir... Jornal da Itatiáia". Complete ID as: "...você está ligado... 5970... onda curta..." Jingle. Headlines and development of the news. 24442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Re: DXLD 2-072/Reinventing CBC IMHO, the problem here is not the idea of change itself, but the manner in which it is being pursued. Heavens, the current format for CBC Radio was developed in the "radio revolution" days over 30 years ago! It's tired and cries out for an overhaul. The problem is the "top down" mentality that's attempting to drive this effort. The account in the Globe and Mail says over and over again that no one is willing to touch it. For something of this magnitude to work it must be staff-driven to a much greater extent than the current crop of CBC managers seems willing to allow. The success of the effort in the late '60s and early 70s flowed from the "grass-roots" nature of the creative planning and implementation. This is what made it a "revolution" --- it was so "organic", "democratic" and "proletarian". By comparison, from just reading the language of the memos in the G&M article, this time is appears to be the exact obverse: artificially conceived by people who never produced a program in their lives (the laughable idiocy of the "live weekend" idea), autocratic (the "all is well and we'll let you know when you're input is needed" memo to staff) and wholly inorganic (as if the makeover needs to be a total departure from what came before). Hell, these are the same "managers" that can't even manage a relatively minor difference of opinion with staff, having manufactured a lockout to seemingly all but put a final bullet in any semblance of pride and esprit-de-corps that might still inexplicably remain at RCI and SRC (John Figliozzi, April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. "VOICES UNITE TO SUPPORT CBC WORKERS" Correspondents, benefit show solidarity over lockout Ten CBC correspondents posted in four continents have appealed publicly to their employer to lift a lockout of 1,400 unionized employees in Quebec and Moncton, N.B. The broadcast reporters denounced the lockout as "incomprehensible" and a threat to the survival of the CBC's French network. "Would such a deterioration be tolerated if a similar conflict hit our CBC colleagues in the rest of Canada?" they asked rhetorically in a letter sent to CBC president Robert Rabinovitch... http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=A6D6B22B-FC7F-4CB1-B0C8-9D9F5158A0AD Here's another update on what's happening with the SCRC strike. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QB, DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI in English at 2340 April 29 on 35390 = 2 x 17695 (Ron Trotto, IL, WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Hi Glenn, Re items in DXLD 2-072: Domestic service CRo 6 adding an English half-hour at 1330 local does have a webcast. But will this be a separate program or just Radio Prague in English? Program schedule on web site says 12.00 Radio Praha - zpravodajsky a publicisticky magazin (NJ, FJ, SJ, RJ, AJ) where presumably AJ = English (Kevin Kelly, MA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/UK. RADIO PRAGUE NO LONGER ON BBCWS FM FREQUENCIES Text of announcement in English on Radio Prague (Czech Radio external service) web site on 2 May As you may be aware, Radio Prague's broadcasts in English on the Czech frequencies of the BBC World Service are to cease at the end of April 2002. Our presence on the BBC frequencies in the Czech Republic over the last six years has been the result of a reciprocal agreement between Czech Radio and the BBC World Service. Unfortunately the agreement is being terminated due to circumstances beyond the control of either Radio Prague or the BBC and as a result our broadcasts on the World Service's frequencies are to be brought to an end. We feel that this is a loss to our listeners, and are therefore looking for ways to maintain our presence. We are keen to restart talks with the BBC World Service, but so far without success. It would be of great help to us if our friends here in the Czech Republic and especially our listeners on the Czech Republic's BBC frequencies could rally to our support. We would be very grateful if you could write to us here at Radio Prague on english@radio.cz or at Vinohradska 12, 120 99 Praha 2, to let us know if you will miss our broadcasts and for what reasons. Even a couple of lines will be more than welcome! However, the news is not all bad. From the first of May it will be possible to hear us in English in the Czech Republic on medium wave. We shall be broadcasting every day, including weekends, from 13:30 to 14:00 on the medium wave frequencies (1287, 1233 and 1071 kHz) of Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe. I hope you will still be able to listen to us and, above all, I hope that we shall return to our familiar frequencies soon. END Source: Radio Prague web site in English 2 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.8, Radio Cristal Internacional, Santo Domingo, 0220-0230 April 28. Música non stop (salsa). Ann. and ID: "el Especial... por Radio Cristal Internacional...". 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Hi Glen[n], Here is info on HCJB`s DX-programs, both DX Partyline and Spanish Aventura DXista. That info got from Allen Graham of HCJB. I listened to both programs directed to Europe. DX Partyline came with good signal at 0600 UT on 11680 kHz (signal +10 db) and Aventura DXista beginning at 2100 UT (other program first half hour) on 17795 kHz, signal 8. Both clear channels. The DX Partyline airs on the following schedule: Saturdays 0200 India 21470 0600 Europe 11680 0700 South Pacific 11755, as well as 21455 SSB 2000 Europe 17660 Sundays 0100 Eastern North America 9745 and 11960, as well as 21455 SSB 0400 Western North America 9745 and 11960, as well as 21455 SSB The segment, Aventura Diexista, airs as part of the program Club de Amigos on the following schedule: Saturdays 1400 South America 15140 1400 Mexico and Central America 17690 2030 Europe 17795 and 15205 Sundays 2200 Southern Cone of So. Am. 15140 Mondays 0200 Central America 15140 (Alpo Heinonen, Rovaniemi, Finland, http://personal.inet.fi/koti/alpo.heinonen/ NRD 525, "A weak voice from the Finnish Arctic Circle", May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GEORGIA. Hi Glenn, I would disagree that it is Russia who is trying to jam Radio Hara on 4540 kHz. This is without doubt an action by the Abkhaz separatists in Suxum who have access to Radio Mayak. Russia is not involved in any jamming of broadcasts neither outside nor inside its territory since jamming stopped in the USSR in 1989. 73, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 29.505 MHz, 1509 UT, AIR with news program, harmonic x 3 = 9835 kHz 100 kW. GOOD DX ALL 73s (Jan Griep, Kreileroord, Netherlands, 52.845 north, 5.078 east, April 30, vhfskip yahoogroup via Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup, via DXLD) ** IRAQ [NON]. IRAQ/USA/UK: OPPOSITION INC SATELLITE TV CEASES BROADCASTING | Text of press release in English published by London- based Iraqi National Congress web site on 1 May London 1 May 2002: Liberty TV, the satellite channel owned and operated by the Iraqi National Congress, ceased broadcasting today due to a lack of funding from the US State Department. "Although the US Congress has appropriated funds for broadcasting to the Iraqi people, the State Department has not released any funds to Liberty TV since February and therefore we are unable to pay our service providers," said Sharif Ali Bin-al-Husayn member of the INC Leadership Council. "Despite continued assurances from the Bush administration of their full confidence in the role of the INC and in particular Liberty TV, the State Department has failed to allocate adequate funding to Liberty TV at a time when our audience is growing and the impact of our programming is increasing. The Iraqi people are yearning for free and unbiased news and information. Liberty TV was an important element in the democratic Iraqi opposition's strategy of breaking Saddam Husayn's stranglehold on the media in Iraq," he said. Liberty TV, which is called Television Al-Huriyah in Arabic, was broadcasting 24 hours a day in Arabic to Iraq, the Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. Liberty TV's programming was made up of a mixture of news, current affairs, talk shows, documentaries and entertainment and cultural programming for the Iraqi people. Liberty TV was the first Iraqi television channel to broadcast programming banned by the Iraqi regime. Contact: INC Press Office London (020) 7584 0555. Source: INC web site, London, in English 1 May 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Israeli broadcasts in EG, FR, SP at http://bet.iba.org.il This was announced on the 0400 UT English news. Of course, the Reshet Aleph English and French broadcasts and the live Reshet Heh streem have previously been available at WRN.ORG / israelradio.org (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms May 1 via DXLD) ** ITALY. During the DSWCI DX-Camp this coming weekend at Vejers on the westcoast of Denmark where we celebrate the 45 years jubilee of the Club, there will be special broadcasts in English and Italian from R Europe, Pioltello, Italy on 7306 kHz (USB) from Friday 2100 UT till Saturday 1000 and repeated from Saturday 2100 till Sunday 1000. Special QSL's are promised from Dario Monferini. Best 73, Anker Petersen, Denmark, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAMAICA. NEW RADIO STATION TO TRANSMIT ON 98 FM GOVERNMENT yesterday announced the granting of a commercial radio broadcast licence to Kommercial Suites Limited, bringing to 12 the total number of radio stations licensed to operate on the island. This includes the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which will begin transmitting its world service programme, including the Caribbean Report, on 104 FM in September this year under a special licence from the Jamaican Government. The new local station is expected to broadcast on 98 FM, Colin Campbell, the information minister, told reporters yesterday following the weekly Cabinet meeting. He added that broadcasting would begin in seven parishes -- Kingston, St Andrew, Portland, St Thomas, St Ann, St Mary and St Catherine. Kommercial Suites paid $50,000 for the licence. Copyright© 2000-2001 Jamaica Observer =================== http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20020429T210000-0500_24871_OBS_NEW_RADIO_STATION_TO_TRANSMIT_ON____FM.asp (via Dave White, DXLD) ** JORDAN. See USA ** KOREA NORTH. NORTH KOREA SAYS RADIO FREE EUROPE IS US "PROPAGANDA ONSLAUGHT" The resumption of Radio Free Europe broadcasts to the North Caucasus area at the beginning of April is part of a US move for "world domination", the North Korean paper Nodong Sinmun has said. It added that the radio's launch is "essentially a new ideological and cultural offensive and a demolition operation against Russia". Following is the text of an article by Ri Hyon-to entitled: "Strategic propaganda offensive of United States towards Russia"; published by North Korean newspaper Nodong Sinmun on 22 April The great leader [suryong] Comrade Kim Il-sung instructed as follows: "The inconsistencies of imperialism that had been temporarily hidden by confrontation between the superpowers during the Cold War era have surfaced with the end of the Cold War and are creating problems." The US "Radio Free Europe" broadcast is said to have started broadcasting to the North Caucasus area on 3 April 2002 in the Chechen, Avar, Circassian and Russian languages. According to an ITAR- TASS reporter at the headquarters of the "Radio Free Europe" broadcasting station in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the information centre at the station said they would do "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts to the Northern Caucasus every morning and evening. The editorial department in charge of the Caucasus at the station consists of nine people, and the same number of special correspondents do the work of getting information from Moscow, the Caucasus, Brussels in Belgium, and Istanbul in Turkey. In addition, they expect to increase the editorial staff and the broadcasting time. This is overt interference in Russia's internal affairs by the United States and an outright strategic propaganda offensive. In connection with this, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic memorandum expressing their concern to the US embassy delegation in Moscow. In their memorandum, Russia pointed out that these broadcasts to the region, which includes Chechnya, could create obstacles to the Russian government's efforts to stabilize the regional situation, and they added that such measures are contrary to the spirit of the "strategic partners relationship" being formed between Russia and the United States in the common war on terrorism. A Russian presidential aide stated in a televised interview that the North Caucasus is a region of special concern in which Russia's national interests are involved, so Russia needs to closely watch the organizations of those who prepare the content and reports for "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts to that region and, in the future, take countermeasures within the framework of Russian law. Russia's objection to the start-up of "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts to the North Caucasus region is entirely reasonable. The United States established "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts in the Cold War era in opposition to the Soviet Union and the socialist nations of Eastern Europe; since the Cold War is over, it is no longer needed. As has been disclosed, the Russian government has withdrawn military units of the commonwealth from Chechnya, since the larger groups of armed hooligans there have been destroyed or dispersed and there is no need for a sizeable army. The withdrawal of federation forces from this place is aiding the voluntary surrender of people who want to return to peaceful living. Antiterrorist operations in Chechnya and efforts to stabilize the daily lives of the people here are being carried out successfully. Looking at the stabilizing situation in Chechnya, the United States has no cause to intensify its "special propaganda" towards this region. Why on earth would the United States want to resume the "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts - a product of the Cold War - in this region? The United States is scheming to use the war in Afghanistan as an opportunity to station its forces in the former republics of the Soviet Union in central Asia and establish its supremacy in the region. What the United States has foremost in mind here is the existence of Russia. While the United States chatters about a "strategic partners relationship" with Russia, it still considers Russia an enemy that cannot be ignored, just as in the Cold War era. The United States shows this by busying itself in establishing a missile defence system after withdrawing from the anti-ballistic missile treaty and by indicating Russia as a target for nuclear strikes in its "Nuclear Posture Review" some time ago. The goal of the United States is to isolate Russia, which is aspiring to build a powerful state, and form an encircling ring around it in order to realize US ambitions for world domination. This is why the United States is resuming "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts to the North Caucasus region. This is essentially a new ideological and cultural offensive and a demolition operation against Russia. It is all to clear what the United States, which turns to strategic propaganda by any means and methods for its invasive objectives, intends to inject into Russia through its "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts. The United States, bringing in psy-op [psychological operations] units to the war in Afghanistan, distributed leaflets and all kinds of propaganda materials, introduced portable printing facilities, loudspeakers, and other measures, and used a "flying radio station" in broadcasts tuned to radio frequencies at the location. There is little doubt that the United States will have no scruples in using similar methods for its war of strategic propaganda in the North Caucasus. It is the opinion of political analysts that the strategic propaganda offensive of the United States will become a seed of discord that incites new confrontation between Russia and the United States. Source: Nodong Sinmun, Pyongyang, in Korean 22 Apr 02 p 6 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. PAGINA WEB DE KBS RADIO COREA INTERNACIONAL A partir del miércoles 1 de Mayo de 2002 la página en Internet de KBS se renueva, según se anunció en el programa "Antena de la Amistad" de Radio Corea Internacional, el pasado día 28/4/02. Además del canal de 24 horas de transmisión donde se intercalan las horas de emisión de cada uno de los idiomas, ahora se agregan dos canales más. Ingresando a la dirección http://rki.kbs.co.kr se puede observar un icono de color rojo que dice "24 HORAS AL AIRE" (24 hours on air). La hora completa del Servicio en Español se emite entre las 2000 y las 2100 UT y entre la O100 y 0200. Ahora se agrega otro canal de 24 horas por el que se podrá escuchar dicho programa entre las 1300 a 1400 y de 2100 a 2200 UT. Para escuchar la hora entera de programas en español de RCI en Internet se debe ingresar y hacer click en los mencionados horarios. Por otro lado, la página web de KBS ofrecerá un canal totalmente de música durante las 24 horas. En cuanto a los programas que se ofrecen en audio por demanda se sumarán "Corea a Diario" en el Magazine de los viernes y "Redacción Económica" pudiéndolos escuchar en otros momentos ya que quedan guardados en archivos. Además, con motivo del Mundial de Fútbol Corea/Japón 2002, se inaugura una nueva página web exclusiva sobre este evento. Todos los datos de las selecciones, jugadores, sedes, estadios y la información de los resultados, actualizados al momento cuando se inicie el certamen, estará disponible en esta página. Se debe ingresar al Mundial 2002 a través de la página de Radio Corea Internacional en Internet: http://rki.kbs.co.kr (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So now there are two separate program streams, giving us a couple more chances to hear English: So English webcasts are: 2100 on 1 0000 on 2 0200 on 1 0400 on 1 and 2 [why???] 1100 on 2 Furthermore, a number of English programs are now available ondemand, including Murtiwave Feedback, the last two editions there at the moment. I listened to the previous 4/20 edition with a guest hostess, who reminded us of a monthly series of `Best of Korea` specials, on the last Thursday of each month, e.g. 4/25 had the third, about TFTLCDs; so the next one will be May 30. The site may have been revamped, but still has annoying features, such as: just to read the above two schedules, one actually has to launch the players at the same time. And the pop-ups have no page-down funxionality, so had to use control keys to copy to another file in order to read! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Program One [UT]: 1500-1600 Russian 1600-1700 Arabic 1700-1800 French 1800-1900 German 1900-2000 Russian 2000-2100 Spanish 2100-2200 English 2200-2300 Korean 2300-2400 Indonesian 2400-0100 Japanese 0100-0200 Spanish 0200-0300 English 0300-0400 Korean 0400-0500 English 0500-0600 Korean 0600-0700 German 0700-0800 French 0800-0900 Music Break 0900-1000 Korean 1000-1100 Korean 1100-1200 Arabic 1200-1300 Japanese 1300-1400 Chinese 1400-1500 Indonesian Program two [UT]: 1500-1600 Korean 1600-1700 Korean 1700-1800 Arabic 1800-1900 Russian 1900-2000 German 2000-2100 Chinese 2100-2200 Spanish 2200-2300 French 2300-2400 Chinese 2400-0100 English 0100-0200 Korean 0200-0300 Korean 0300-0400 Japanese 0400-0500 English 0500-0600 German 0600-0700 Arabic 0700-0800 Russian 0800-0900 Korean 0900-1000 Music Break 1000-1100 Japanese 1100-1200 English 1200-1300 Indonesian 1300-1400 Spanish 1400-1500 French (RKI website via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 17885, R. Pinoy via R. Kuwait, Apr 29 1112-1120 Tagalog, Talk and pops music. ID at 1113 and 1115 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Dear Glenn, wish to inform you about my "DX Programme" from "Voice of the Mediterranean" in Malta. I'm Italian living in Italy. I read sometime your DX News on the Radio Enlace from Radio Nederland. But also from "HCDX". "Onde Radio" on line: http://www.vomradio.com AIR http://www.arpnet.it/air/onderadio.htm P.O.Box 21 -70051 Barletta (Bari) -Italia (Alfredo Gallerati - IK7JGI - A.I.R. Associazione Italiana Radioascolto, redazione italiana di "Onde Radio" Voce del Mediterraneo -Malta - April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sun 0705 on 9605 (Gabriel Iván Barerra, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO. An interesting little article on my favorite news and views website - http://www.commondreams.org - has some information of direct importance to Mexican DXing. Mexican broadcasters will be required to devote 12.5 percent of their programming to public affairs. The entire article is worth reading, but it is the third asterisk point that tells of the new broadcasting law. The specific link is: http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0428-07.htm (Don Moore, IA, http://donmoore.tripod.com April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO: NEW CHIAPAS COMMUNITY RADIO REPORTS HARASSMENT Text of communiqué issued by San Cristobal de las Casas community radio station in Chiapas on 25 April, published on Chiapas Independent Media Centre web site San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 25 April 2002: To the alternative media; to non-governmental organizations; to the World Association of Community Radio (Amarc); Esteemed comrades, fellow radio enthusiasts, and friends: On 23 March, a group of citizens from San Cristóbal de las Casas came together as the legitimate founders of the 99.1 Free Frequency from San Cristóbal de las Casas. We know we are backed by the right to exercise freedom of statement and that our duty via the radio responds to the increasingly urgent need to contribute to the democratization of the media. We have just finished one month of transmissions and we are taking it one step at a time, but we are secure in the knowledge that our broadcasting is on the right track. Nevertheless, today two individuals who identified themselves as inspectors from the SCT (Secretariat of Communications and Transportation) came to the 99.1 FM station and, without presenting any sort of warrant, threatened and intimidated our colleagues on the premises. In view of this, we reaffirm more vigorously than ever our commitment to remain on the air, and we reiterate that for our work, there is no turning back. We will continue strengthening our purpose of alternative and community communication and promoting the creation of these wherever organized society continues to demand the right to communicate. We do not want partial free speech; we want it in full! [Spanish: No queremos medios de comunicación, los queremos enteros!] 99.1 Free Frequency from San Cristobal de Las Casas Voices of the Earth Radio 99.1 FM Free Frequency Radio from San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. Source: Chiapas Independent Media Centre web site in Spanish 26 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non, via Boston?]. There's definitely no licensed FM in Boston carrying more than 30 minutes a week of Radio Netherlands. (WBUR has a half-hour, Sunday nights 2230-2300 ET.) If the report is correct, this would have to be a pirate (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, PublicRadioFan.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I checked with our Programme Distribution Department re the Boston FM station reported carrying RN programming. We think it's probably WBUR-FM at Boston University, which officially rebroadcasts our English programming. RN English programming may also be heard on WGBH, but that's taken from NPR. The only other possibility is that it's one of the stations that receives audio CD's of RN programming. In the absence of any frequency information, that's all we can tell you. The reference to 24/7 is puzzling, unless they recorded our programming and looped it. 73, (Andy Sennitt, RN, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Glenn, Qur`an recitations at 0200 May 1 from Radio Pakistan online. No English news. Radio Pakistan online did have English news at 1200 today, May 1. It gave exact vote count from Pakistan and abroad (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aside from that feature segment which follows 1200, I find it much more convenient to listen to or read the scripts of R. Pak news ondemand, also provided (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3355, R Simbu 1123-1203* May 2. Pop PNG music. At 1128 male announcer in Tok Pisin. Weak signal improving after 1130 with strong ute on LSB. String band at 1129. ID by M at 1132 in Tok Pisin for Radio Simbu then into pop PNG string music. Time check at 1140 with ID then more Pop PNG music. Male announcer at 1145 then more music. Signoff with local anthem at 1202 then national anthem at 1203. Cochannel utes on LSB and USB, combined with lower signal strength (then other PNGs) make this difficult. 3315, R Manus 1145-1202* May 2. Pop Western music mixed with pop PNG. Male announcer in Tok Pisin with time check for 10 o`clock at 1158 and into soft easy listening music, M in Tok Pisin with signoff with frequencies, tones at ToH for time check (at 1201). "nighty-night" at 1201 followed by local anthem and bird sounds. Bandscan 1135 UT 2 May: 4890, 3905(exceptional signal with F announcer in Tok Pisin), 3315, 3275, 3260(weak), 3245, 3235, 3220, 3204.96... (Don Nelson, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4855.8, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 0212+, April 28. Football transmission: match Melgar vs. ?. Local ads and short announcement; 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5940.4, Radio Melodía, Arequipa, 0942-0950 April 28. Spanish transmission. New frequency (ex 5995v) Time check time and ID: "cuatro de la mañana con cuarenta y dos...Melodía antes". Short news. Local ads.: "Semillería Alejandro Montoya, hoy, agradable "adobo" (local food) en calle Castilla 303, a espaldas de la Iglesia Mormona... un adobo suave, agradable, sin colesterol... los esperamos hoy". Greetings: "muchos saludos a los oyentes que cumplen años hoy...". 24532 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. PRIZE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH --- Wednesday, May 1, 2002 Noticias Aliadas/Latinamerica Press. Apr 30, 2002 Latinamerica Press scoops first place in journalists' awards. A Viva Voz, the weekly radio series produced by Latinamerica Press, has won first prize in the 'Cardenal Juan Landázuri Ricketts' National Awards for Journalism and Social Communication -- 2001, for a program focusing on Truth Commissions in Latin America. The competition is organised by the Peruvian Bishop's Conference under the auspices of international Catholic communication organisations such as SIGNIS and UCLAP. This is the second consecutive year that A Viva Voz has been awarded first prize. It also took second place with a program about the Economy of Solidarity. Barbara Fraser, English editor of Latinamerica Press, won an honorable mention for the articles Trapped in El Dorado and Sustainable for whom?, both about mining in Peru. The ten minute radio program, produced weekly by Raquel Gargatte for Latinamerica Press, is broadcast by community radio stations throughout Latin America via the ALER network. The series, says Gargatte "offers us the space to broadcast the views and opinions of the marginalised and excluded sectors of Latin American society , as well as raise the profile of the issues that affect them and publicise new initiatives underway to protect their rights." The 'Cardenal Juan Landázuri Ricketts' awards are presented to journalists and social communicators who, through their work, demonstrate creativity and professionalism as well as promoting positive social values. Gargatte highlights the significance of the award for Latinamerica Press saying, "It encourages us to carry on working in this field of communication, from the perspective of deprived people, giving them access to the media and a space to raise their voices. It is also important because it is a recognition of the quality of not just the program itself, but also its subject matter." Click on the link below to download an mp3 of the award winning programme (only available in Spanish) http://www.latinamericapress.org/radio/JUSTICIA3.mp3 Copyright Noticias Aliadas/Latinamerica Press 2002 http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?IssCode=&lanCode=1&artCode=2816 (via Dave White, DXLD) ** SUDAN. 7200 Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation 1825-1903* April 29th. Six pips, last one lengthened 1832, identification with "as-Sudan", short piece of incidental music, news commentary programme. Off 1903 without any discernible announcement or anthem. Thanks to Noel Green for helping with the identification. Has been fading in here around 1730 quite regularly the last few days. Fair and steady signal with very slight co-channel interference (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Glenn, I enjoyed the Thor Heyerdahl special on Radio Sweden (I downloaded the program this morning). To hear the May 1 program from Radio Sweden, I had to download the file. By clicking on "listen", I got the April 30 program (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIMOR EAST. EAST TIMOR GOES FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1020031650230&call_page=TS_News_Columnists&call_pageid=970599109774&call_pagepath=Columnists Glenn, Not radio-related, but interesting. 73, (Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** TURKEY. Dear Glenn, Of course the show would remain on the VOT despite our presumed departure. You must understand that none of the speakers are regular staff members and therefore have no real committal to appear there all the time. The speakers are all free lancers. At present I myself am involved in painting the holy images, for after all I wrote and presented, ``Sacred Sites of Turkey`` for quite a few years. I will send you an example of my work along with his excellency, the ambassador of the Vatican. At this time in my life I have something more rewarding to do. You must understand that the VOT has been on the air for over fifty years and a show is never cancelled once it is on the schedule because there are no ratings and no sponsors to act as a control mechanism. The public has a certain percentage deducted from their electric bill and this goes towards funding Turkish Radio and Television. The amount deducted from everyone`s electric bill used to be 3 percent but today they say it is higher. How successful a show is depends upon audience feedback and many of our listeners just don't like to hear voices that sound like a drone or as if a prayer is being intoned at a funeral, but to each his own. After all, Glenn, native speakers are certainly not valued in many countries but the proof is in the pudding. I am sure that Mr. Poppin will be a welcome addition to Mr. Berdi's show and Olayto will not have to tire his vocal cords too much for Mr. Poppin with his excellent English and pronunciation will take up most of the time and not bore the audience. Warmest regards, (Reshide Morali, Turkey, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. I noticed that the link to Radio Ukraine International via their website is down. Perhaps they are behind with their bill payments again (Ivan Grishin, Ont., May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Just discovered a very interesting on-line project devoted to the history of BBC (mostly, domestic service): http://www.bbc.co.uk/thenandnow/history/index.shtml (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wednesday, 1 May, 2002, 09:29 GMT 10:29 UK SEVENTY YEARS OF BROADCASTING HOUSE By Alex Webb, BBC News Online entertainment staff The battleship-like prow of BBC Broadcasting House in London's West End has come to personify the corporation to generations of listeners and viewers. Despite this, more of its London staff - and most of its TV operations - are based several miles out to the west at Shepherd's Bush. The building, which officially opened on 1 May 1932, is celebrating its 70th birthday with the news that it is once more to be placed at the heart of the BBC's London operations. A huge new development attached to the site will house BBC news staff and the BBC World Service in the world's largest live broadcast centre. The architecture reflected the tastes of the 1930s The story of Broadcasting House began in the late 1920s, with the purchase of some residential properties just north of Oxford Street at a cost of around £650,000. The BBC had been based at the Savoy Hill Studios near the Strand since May 1923, and was desperately short of space. Architect G Val Myer conceived the bold, modern design adorned by statues of Ariel and Prospero, characters from Shakespeare's The Tempest. They are among the most famous works by the British sculptor and designer Eric Gill. 'Dreadnought' The first broadcast from the new building took place on 12 March 1932, ahead of the official opening. It was followed on 22 August by the first experimental TV broadcast. Not everyone liked the building - one critic described it as a "petrified dreadnought" - and the design reflected programming priorities which now seem quaint. Bomb damage in 1940 The 1931 BBC Handbook promised the building's 20 studios would include "a small apartment necessary for news". Within the decade the building would come to symbolise the BBC's war mission and its reputation for unvarnished news about the progress of World War II. The war came home to the BBC on the evening of 15 October 1940, when a German bomb exploded in Broadcasting House during the nine o'clock news, killing seven staff. On 8 December the building was badly damaged by a landmine. Coronation The war made the nine o'clock news broadcast essential listening for the nation, but many other classic radio programmes came out of Broadcasting House. They included the surreal comedy of It's That Man Again, Vera Lynn's Sincerely Yours and Desert Island Discs, first broadcast on 29 January 1942 and still running today. The post-war years saw TV become the principal face of British broadcasting - helped on by the live broadcast of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 - and the BBC moved many of its operations westwards. A new complex will be added to Broadcasting House Lime Grove TV studios opened in Shepherd's Bush in 1950, followed a decade later by Television Centre, a few minutes' walk away. But the BBC's radio news operation remained in Broadcasting House until the controversial decision in the 1990s to move all non-World Service BBC journalists out to Television Centre. Many staff, used to a central London location, were unhappy about the move. They will be cheered by the news that a new and improved Broadcasting House, digitally equipped for national and international radio, TV and online operations, is set for completion in 2007. /from http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1960000/1960312.stm/ (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** U S A. CLASSICAL MUSIC MAY FIND HOME ON LOCAL RADIO http://www.indystar.com/article.php?classradio27.html Hoosier Broadcasting Corp. awaits FCC approval for station that would air programming full time for first time since '98. By Marc D. Allan, April 27, 2002 Indianapolis is on the verge of having a full-time classical music radio station for the first time since 1998. Hoosier Broadcasting Corp., run by radio veterans Bill Shirk and Bill Mays, says it is awaiting final Federal Communications Commission approval for a construction permit for a noncommercial classical station at 89.1 FM. Once the FCC gives the go-ahead -- which could come shortly after a 30-day public comment period, an FCC spokesman said -- the station would take about six weeks to get on the air, Hoosier Broadcasting vice president and general manager Chuck Cunningham said. "This was an opportunity they saw that would provide something the community didn't have," Cunningham said. The station would be financed by corporate and listener underwriters, similar to public radio. Hoosier Broadcasting applied for a 49,000-watt station licensed out of Cloverdale, with a transmitter tower in Hendricks County. Its studios will be at the Pyramids on the Northwestside of Indianapolis. Indianapolis hasn't had a full-time classical station since WSYW-AM (810) switched to Spanish language in 1998. Public-radio stations WFYI-FM (90.1) and WICR-FM (88.7) broadcast some classical programming. Hoosier Broadcasting made an offer to buy WFYI-FM, but general manager Lloyd Wright said the station wasn't for sale. Cunningham said the company thought WFYI would be "a great teammate" for the classical station. In 2000, Shirk and Mays sold their previous company, Hoosier Radio & TV, to Radio One for $40 million. Their current company operates Lebanon-based WIRE-FM (91.1), a country music station that also broadcasts local news and high school sports. Shirk is getting back into the Indianapolis radio market because "he just loves radio," Cunningham said. "And this is an opportunity for him to put something back in the community." (Indianapolis Star via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Chicago Sun-Times --- DUMB AS A PEACOCK May 1, 2002 BY PHIL ROSENTHAL TELEVISION CRITIC It's said that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, but repeating in television is all the rage these days so long as it's called "repurposing" or an "encore presentation" rather than a rerun. There's nothing TV loves more than showing us what it's already shown us --- except maybe telling us just how great all of it is. NBC on Sunday celebrates its 75th anniversary as a profitable commercial enterprise, first in radio and now in television, by throwing itself a big ol' star-studded, clip-filled hootenanny on live TV. Hard to believe the network will limit the backslapping to a mere three hours. Greats and near-greats will cram into Studio 8H of NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York for the broadcast, with the conspicuous exception of the one man who helped define the network for nearly 30 of those 75 years. "There's no need for me to go back," Johnny Carson tells Chicago writer and bon vivant Bill Zehme in the June issue of Esquire. "It's going to be one of those self-congratulatory things. Come look at what we've done! Look how good we are!" And Carnak has a point. Who, in fact, does need that? We get enough Look How Great We Are in the promos the network runs at practically every commercial break, right? "I'm just trying to celebrate what is worth celebrating," Lorne Michaels, the man assigned to produce this network pep rally, told Entertainment Weekly. But what's worth celebrating is subjective. There are unforgettable moments that NBC, apparently prone to mistakes, might well be trying to forget come Sunday. Let's be sure to cherish, for example, the memory of the idiot network exec who cut Jack Paar's water-closet joke without telling him, so upsetting Paar that he quit "The Tonight Show" on the air the next night. Or the doofus who chose Jean Doumanian to take over "Saturday Night Live" in 1980 and nearly ended the long-running late-night franchise right then and there. Or whoever it was who told Richard Pryor he couldn't appear to be a eunuch when joking about having made no sacrifices to get "The Richard Pryor Show" on the air. This is the network that spent a ton of money on a new logo once only to find a public broadcaster in Nebraska had come up with the exact same logo years earlier. It's the outfit that invested millions in Vince McMahon's XFL while dumping the NBA, the NFL and major league baseball. This is the network of the Olympic TripleCast, the Heidi Bowl and the Deborah Norville-for-Jane Pauley trade on "Today." Let's recall the hopelessly drunken cast of "Cheers" marking the end of its series by trying to drag down Jay Leno with them in a particularly ill-conceived live edition of "Tonight" from a Boston bar. And how NBC Sports' O.J. Simpson could be seen on the sideline in those Aris leather gloves and Bruno Magli shoes that would become oh so famous just months later. And how former NBC West Coast boss Don Ohlmeyer still swears O.J. is OK with him. Do we have to forget "Manimal," "Misfits of Science" and "Supertrain"? How about "My Mother the Car" and the General Motors truck that "Dateline NBC" blew up? Then there's "Pink Lady ... and Jeff" (1980), a deservedly short-lived variety show featuring two Japanese singers who didn't know a word of English and comedian Jeff Altman, the poor schmo, all because parent company RCA thought the ladies might sell a few records. NBC not only gave game-show contestants answers in the 1950s, it gave a reporting job to "21" cheater Charles Van Doren. It's the network that was convinced David Brinkley was through about 15 years before he retired. This is the network that gave us Dick Ebersol's "plausibly live" Olympics coverage that led viewers to think events weren't on tape. NBC is the network that teamed Rona Barrett and Tom Snyder in a near-successful attempt to sabotage both their careers. NBC is the network on which Jessica Savitch went on the air to read headlines on a news break and struck many as broken. NBC is the network that thought Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt were worth $1 million per week when "Mad About You" was getting clobbered by "JAG." Heck, it's the network that gave up on "JAG" after one season, letting it go to CBS, where it could clobber "Mad About You" and just about anything else up against it. We're talking about a network that can't program 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to save itself. It's the one that convinced itself that Joe Namath was a sitcom star and David Hartman was a drama star. It talked Dennis Weaver into leaving "Gunsmoke" to star in "Kentucky Jones." Smart moves, all around. But there's only three hours to Sunday's special, so there may not be room for all of this. Everyone will want to move on as soon as possible to the post-show party. Who knows what will be on the menu? Maybe they'll serve pig rectums and live worms from "Fear Factor." Maybe they serve a summons from the GE lawyers to David Letterman, trying to get some of its "intellectual property" back. Maybe they'll dine on a peacock. Or maybe they'll just eat some crow, because it's been 75 years of highs and lows (via Tom Roche, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WTIR, Winter Garden-Orlando, FLA DOT station was dominating 1680 at 0908-1000 May 1, and previous few nights, instead of the religious station; invites listeners to visit them at a hotel in Lake Buena Vista (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe running 10 kW day power instead of 1 kW (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Surprised to hear Ray Briem(?) hosting an oldies show, British rock of the 60s, on VOA Monday April 29 at 2135 on 15410 via Morocco to Africa. Not sure if it is the same Ray Briem who did talkshows (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {later corrected to Ray Freeman} ** U S A. Media, the mid-east conflict and media (including NPR). Interesting comments from NPR's ombudsman -- whom I've met in a wholly other context: he has interesting ideas about what CBC should do with its radio service, namely making it sound more in touch with reality and... more like NPR. He is an ex-CBC employee. US MEDIA UNDER FIRE OVER MIDDLE EAST COVERAGE. 25/4/2002. ABC News Online http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s539967.htm (via Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) ** U S A. PUBLIC PREPARED FOR BIAS IN PROPOSED US SATELLITE CHANNEL By Maia Malas AMMAN — The US government's plans to launch an Arabic language satellite television service for the Middle East are being met with much public scepticism. The proposed television service is part of the US Congress-approved $245 million for media and cultural projects in the Middle East. Both the television service and the newly launched Radio Sawa, an extension of the Voice of America (VOA), are operated and funded by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a US government agency. While Radio Sawa, broadcasting on 98.1 FM frequency, has received a warm welcome by the public, some argue that a television station would not win the same applause. Radio Sawa has managed to attract many local listeners despite its US origin because the music is interspersed with only brief news broadcasts, said the editor-in-chief of Ad Dustour Arabic daily, Nabil Sharif. ``The American bias, however, will be way more evident via television programming,`` Sharif said. Following the attacks of Sept. 11, the US became more conscious of its image in the Arab world and is attempting to polish it through the media, according to Sharif. ``This television broadcasting scheme will not succeed in influencing how Arabs view Americans. The US must employ fair-handedness in the Middle East in order to prove itself,`` he said. According to the US House of Representatives' webpage, Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) warned that the US government must do more to counter ``misinformation overseas about American policies and culture, or risk undermining its influence in the world.`` American attempts to reach the global population through mass communications are being spotlighted by the international press: An article in The Washington Post compared America's interest in the media following the attacks of Sept. 11 with the launching of VOA into countries like Germany during World War II. According to Ahmad Karrash, a 25-year-old architect, there is no apparent propaganda in the news broadcasts of Radio Sawa, but that could change, he said. ``The media, after all, has become an alternative method of US colonialism,`` he said. Sharif suggested that the US government is determined to infiltrate the Arabic media to compete with the Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera, famous for its in-depth coverage of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. A thirty-seven-year-old homemaker agreed. ``America has lost the media war to Al Jazzera and is attempting to restake its claim,`` she said. ``The US plans TV station to rival Al Jazeeera`` read the headline of one article in the British daily, The Guardian, published during the early stages of the Arabic language satellite project in November 2001. The article explained that the US government is looking for ways to combat anti-Americanism and to deflate ``claims by [Osama] Ben Laden and Al Qaeda spokesmen on Al Jazeera.`` Asked whether he thinks that the new US television programming would contain an underlying American bias, the regional correspondent for VOA, Mahmoud Zawawi, said he is not yet aware of the format of the proposed service. ``The project is still in an early stage, considering the US Congress just approved it. It will still be months before a formula is set,`` he said. ============= from The Jordan Times, http://www.jordantimes.com/Tue/homenews/homenews9.htm (via Dave White, DXLD) also see KOREA NORTH ** U S A. BROADCAST TOWER IS URGED FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND May 1, 2002, By JAYSON BLAIR A 2,000-foot-tall tower with a restaurant and observation deck on top, modeled on the Space Needle in Seattle, is being pushed by television executives as a replacement for the broadcasting antenna that was lost when the World Trade Center towers fell, broadcasting executives say. Television executives who are concerned about the loss of millions of viewers and the advertising dollars they attract are pressing forward with a proposal to build such a tower on Governors Island, which returned to the list of potential sites for an antenna last month after President Bush promised to return it to New York for a nominal fee. Station executives have circulated drawings of a design by Kohn Pedersen Fox, an architectural firm in Manhattan. The plan is for a $200 million tower that would be considered an architectural asset and would include retail space at the bottom. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. George E. Pataki have proposed turning Governors Island into a campus for the City University of New York, which would have to come up with a way to pay the annual cost of maintaining the buildings on the island, at an annual cost city officials have estimated at $20 million to $30 million. CUNY officials have expressed interest in the broadcasters' plan, which would include the stations' sharing the cost of the island's maintenance and starting a journalism or broadcasting school there. The loss of the antenna knocked out reception of many channels to about one million households in the New York market, mostly in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Since the Sept. 11 attack, about 219,000 additional households have signed up for cable, while others have bought satellite dishes. Television executives had looked at other locations but were blocked by airline flight plans, bird migratory patterns and the need to avoid interfering with other cities' signals. Governors Island had been taken off the table as a possible location because Congressional Republicans had said that they planned to sell it to the highest bidder. With President Bush's decision, the stations must now obtain support from Mr. Pataki and Mr. Bloomberg. The mayor's press secretary, Edward Skyler, said yesterday that the city was willing to work with the stations to find a suitable site but that the current proposal was "inconsistent with the mayor's vision for the island." The governor has said he supports the stations' efforts to build a tower quickly, but he has not committed to a site. Still, a vice chancellor and spokesman at CUNY, Jay Hershenson, said the university was open to the idea. "There is just enormous potential for entrepreneurial thinking and almost anything is on the table," he said. If they are unable to persuade Mr. Bloomberg, the stations said, they would turn to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, a site some executives prefer. Science center officials have expressed interest in the tower - but only if it makes an architectural statement, attracts tourists and generates revenue. Several city politicians who are expected to be involved in the development of Governors Island support the idea. "The bottom line is that if we go with the proposal for an educational institution, as the governor and mayor have suggested, we have to have some kind of revenue to pay for it and this could be it," said the Manhattan borough president, C. Virginia Fields. She added that she planned to bring the issue up this week with the deputy mayor for economic development, Daniel L. Doctoroff, and said she was concerned about losing the antenna and the accompanying jobs to New Jersey. "My call to the mayor is to look at the issue and not dismiss it outright," she added. Executives at the parent companies of the stations most affected by the loss of the antenna have pressed federal officials to assure Mr. Bloomberg that the tower would fit within the president's definition of "public use." Walt Disney owns WABC (Channel 7); Viacom, WCBS (Channel 2); the Tribune Company, WPIX (Channel 11); the News Corporation, WWOR (Channel 9) and WNYW (Channel 5); and General Electric, WNBC (Channel 4) and WNJU (Channel 47). In a recent conversation with Governor Pataki, Dennis Swanson, the president and general manager of WNBC, made a passionate argument that most of the 2.6 million people affected by the loss of the antenna were blacks, Hispanics, poor or elderly, according to an executive familiar with the conversation. "Most dramatically affected are the elderly and the economically disadvantaged, who depend on free over-the-air signals for their television," Dr. William F. Baker, the president of WNET (Channel 13) and chairman of the alliance, said in a speech last month at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. Despite the talk of public service, Dr. Baker did not ignore the financial implications, adding that, "with every day, the losses mount." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/nyregion/01TOWE.html?ex=1021279740&ei=1&en=6b919cc631929126 (via Bill Westenhaver, WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DXLD) ** U S A. I'm sorry to hear of the passing of a great DXer, Ernie Cooper. I was fortunate to have met him at several New England and NJ conventions from the '70s through the '90s. He also showed up at most of Ray Arruda's November "Lower Deck" get-togethers in Acushnet, MA over the years. The bound volumes of veries always got everyone's attention. Ernie was quite a conversationalist and provided a vital link to the early days of broadcasting and DXing. This was quite valuable to the younger DXers. I've been DXing since about 1960, but I didn't join the NRC until late 1972 or early 1973. Those were the heydays of Gordon Nelson, but Ernie's Musings column figured very prominently in DX News issues of those days as well. Some DXers chose to put loggings in their Muses in addition to, or instead of, sending them to IDXD and DDXD. So the Musings of that era had a lot of "meat" in them: today's, by no fault of the present editor, are a shadow of their former rich and varied content. The e-mail list has largely replaced the original function of Musings. Ernie's "April Fuel" contributions added humor and levity to a hobby that many, including myself, often pursued too seriously, too much like a job. He tolerated Bill Wurtzel's goofy poetry: that drew some flak from the Louisville publishers and others. He and companion Bob Stenger had a "Provincetown lifestyle" that bothered one or two members, notably Tom Farmerie. Against the occasional low-level controversies, most of us can look back at Ernie's life in the hobby as one well-lived. Beyond the sheer achievements of logging and confirming so many stations, there's the aspect of Ernie being a congenial and ever-helpful person who did not look down on, or deride, DXers of lesser skill and experience. Another memory I have is listening to his marching band show on WOMR- 91.9 several times during running errands for my parents who lived in W. Yarmouth, MA. My mother showed me a Cape Cod Times with a photograph of Ernie at his receiver. The accompanying article mentioned all the foreign countries he heard as well as discussing his WOMR show. Though his health was already starting to falter in the mid '90s, Ernie showed up regularly at WOMR for his Saturday morning stint. I could hear the old voice get weaker as the years went by. Ernie gave up DXing, something as hard to imagine as a bird giving up flying. His annual Christmas newsletter told of failing health. The last time I spoke with him was on the phone from Ray Arruda's 2000 pre-Thanksgiving get together. He was too ill to make the 90-minute drive to Ray's. Shortly after that, he went into the nursing home. As someone who has seen the decline and passing of my parents, my wife's parents, and other relatives and friends, I know how difficult the last days of life can be. I do have faith that good people are rewarded and are reunited with loved ones who have gone before them. I am not so presumptuous as to think that only those of a specific faith or lifestyle have this opportunity. Heaven, or whatever you may wish to call it, should have some of the things a person enjoyed on earth. May Ernie have a room full of HQ-180A's, R-390A's, and R8B's awaiting his arrival. ERC R.I.P. (Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Glad to have the correction on Ernie's conversion to enjoyment of the Mets. I made one other error in my tribute ... I dated the ``triumvirate rule`` segment as 1961-1968. It actually began in 1959 with the decision of the Omaha convention goers. I continue to be moved by the eloquence of all of our memories (John Calllarman, ibid.) I, too, was saddened to hear of the passing of Ernie. Like Patrick, I never had the pleasure of meeting Ernie, but we exchanged cards at Christmas, and the occasional letter. Shortly after my first Musing (around the late 60's or early 70's), Ernie wrote to welcome me to the hobby...and to orient me about DXing, Musing, sending reports, QSLing, and more. His positive attitude inspired me to become more involved in the hobby and to try and QSL all stations which I heard...through providing a detailed and accurate report, and including return postage. He will be missed. By chance, I recently came across a web site which mentions Ernest "Lefty" Cooper, and WOMR-FM: http://edge.edge.net/~dphillip/DistantListener.html Ernie was truly the DXer's DXer. Rest in Peace (Mike Hardester, IRCA via DXLD) He was probably the most influential AM DXer during the period 1930- 1975 and just as Mike Hardester stated was the most helpful person you could imagine. Gosh yes, we sure miss him. But where he's at now the reception is probably a hell of a lot better than what we have, so go gettem Ernie! We enjoyed you tremendously while you were with us. 73 (Don Kaskey, ibid.) For those close enough to attend. Ernie Cooper's funeral service will be held at St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church, 517 Commercial St., Provincetown at 2 PM, Monday May 20th. The Provincetown Banner, the weekly newspaper did a write up on Ernie with a photo. Go to: http://www.provincetownbanner.com/index.php 73s, (Patrick Martin, NRC- AM via DXLD) Viz., including a nice photo of Ernie with a couple of march albums: ERNEST R. COOPER, 83 LONGTIME RESIDENT, RADIO HOST OF 'FORWARD MARCH' Provincetown Banner Staff Ernest R. Cooper, 83, a long-time and well-known Provincetown resident, died on Sunday, April 28, in the Cape End Manor. He was the life partner of Robert J. Stenger. Mr. Cooper was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for 33 years in the Acceptance and Securities Dept. After retiring in 1974, he and his partner moved to Provincetown. Billed as the 'left-handed band master,' he was a volunteer for Provincetown's non-commercial radio station WOMR-FM. For 18 years, he had an hour-long Saturday morning program called 'Forward March,' which featured march music from around the world. He also did classical music and interview programs throughout the years. He was a volunteer at Provincetown's now defunct Drop-In Center and an active member of St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church, where he served as a lector and sexton. Since 1940, he was a member of the 'DX'ers,' a national radio club. In addition to his partner, he is survived by many loving friends. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 20 at St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church, 517 Commercial St., Provincetown. Burial will follow. Family and friends are invited to attend (via DXLD) ** U S A. Thursday, May 2, will be the 80th Anniversary of WBAP-820. They fortunately plan to celebrate the event on the air. I'll be rolling mini-disc, I hope they ring the cowbell again! (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (whose own call letters are 80 years old as well), NRC-AM via WORLD OF RADIO 1129, DXLD) Did that cowbell have a purpose other than as an audio logo? The reason I ask is that I used to listen to the station on 820 from my home in New Jersey back around 1950. WBAP at that time shared both 820 (50 kW) and 570 (5 kW) with WFAA in Dallas. And which station had what frequency varied with the day of the week and time of day. When the changeover for the stations to switch frequencies, I would hear those cowbells. I had wondered if that was the cue for the transmitter engineers to make the switch. (Allan Dunn, ibid.) The cowbell was WBAP's way of telling listeners that it's time to change frequencies. It probably kept the transmitter guys awake too. I have an old program schedule from the 570/820 operation days (the one I have is from around 1964). In a nutshell, the stations swapped frequencies every 2 1/2 hours. And an interesting footnote is that the network remained on the same frequency. So when WFAA was operating on 820, it was the NBC affiliate. When WBAP operated on 570, it was the ABC affiliate. When WBAP was on 820 they were NBC, WFAA-570 was ABC. I mentioned previously that I was involved in an archive project several years ago. All the old aircheck tapes of WFAA radio's coverage of the Kennedy assassination (and those of KRLD as well) were transferred to audio cassette and digital tape for storage. It was also the first time anyone listened to the tapes from start to finish in years! And promptly, every 2 1/2 hours, WFAA would switch frequencies and network coverage. This is a bit of a sore point with me but the audio tapes of WBAP's radio coverage still exist but are in the hands of Channel 5 TV locally, which at one time was WBAP-TV. For some reason the present day incarnation of Channel 5 (now KXAS, an NBC O&O) will not release them to Dallas' Sixth Floor Museum, which maintains an incredibly complete archive of the event. BTW, by the 1960's, the 2 1/2 hour rule did not apply to evenings. WBAP/WFAA alternated operations each evening from about 6:30 PM to 12 midnight sign off. Growing up in Chicago I could never figure out why I heard WFAA on one evening after WAIT signed off (at local sunset, Grapevine, TX) and on other nights I heard WBAP. And back then 820 put a monster signal into Chicago, particularly in the winter. The share time agreement was ended in 1970. WBAP assumed full time operation of 820 and WFAA took over 570. WFAA and FM sister KZEW were sold in the mid-80's. I'll scan a copy of a WFAA/WBAP schedule from the 60's and send it to Fred. Hopefully he'll post it on the NRC website (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX, NRC-AM via DXLD) Tapes (converted to Real Audio files) of KLIF's coverage of the Kennedy motorcade and assassination can be heard at http://reelradio.com. If, like me, you're old enough to remember the Kennedy assassination, you can't listen to those tapes without getting the same sick, disoriented feeling we all got on 11/22/63 and again last year on 9/11. Those tapes are truly harrowing (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA, ibid.) ** U S A. Webcast Strikers for May Day: So far, the ones I've found are KPIG (Freedom, Calif., near Sta. Cruz, the successor to the late lamented KFAT), WKIT (Stephen King's "The Zone" in Bangor/Brewer, Maine) and KOZT, "the Coast" in Ft. Bragg, CA. These stations seem to be commercial but independent. WNYC, WBAI, KGNU, KMUD, and WHYY and KACV-FM among non-commercial stations, are up and running (Well, I got server full messages from WHYY and KACV-FM but nothing about the strike on their pages). KPEZ, an Austin station owned by Clear Channel, is up and running (Joel Rubin, NY, May 1, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. AMERICAN COMMERCIAL RADIO IS IN ITS DEATH THROES Of course, Tom Bryant is right when he says that commercial broadcasting in the United States is not healthy. It's worse than that. It's an industry that's currently in it's death throes. If it's not reregulated sooner or later, then we will have no more commercial radio stations. The vast majority of American radio listeners are not listening to the homogenized formats that illegal radio monopolies like Communist Channel Communications of San Antonio is force-feeding the American public. Commercial radio has lost at least one-fifth of its listenership since 1989 due to the declining quality of programming available in the medium. At the same time, listenership to public radio has more than doubled. NPR and PRI have not been the only ones reaping the benefits; it's also the smaller, independent commercial stations and the college radio stations. Commercial radio, especially the corporate-controlled version, has lost the trust of the American listening public. Many low-powered AM and FM stations in major markets have been attempting to cover the whole market with its programming, while its signals cannot reach the whole market. For instance, WFUN-FM 95.5 tried to cover St. Louis with a locally-originated Pre-Teen format; the station, which was operating with 6 kW at the time I worked there, had trouble covering the western suburbs of St. Louis. It's the same way now with the Radio Disney affiliate in St. Louis, Belleville-based WSDZ 1260. If they targeted the area where they had the best coverage, and not the whole metro, then the programming may appeal to a broader spectrum of the audience. WFUN-FM made an honest attempt at this with local high school and regional collegiate sports. These days, the smaller commercial and non-commercial educational stations are the very last bastions of homegrown talent. The vast majority of corporate broadcasters avoid homegrown talent like the plague. One example of a corporate broadcaster that did not avoid homegrown talent is Radio One, who sponsored a local DJ talent search in 2000 for it's St. Louis acquisition, WFUN-FM 95.5 (known as "Q 95-5"). Many listeners are also tired of the same types of voices on the airwaves; they want more variety in DJ voice types on the radio. Commercial radio has also avoided several sources for new talent, most notable of which is college radio. College radio is full of potential top DJs, but commercial radio stations (even the small market stations) are not taking advantage of this crop of new talent. Commercial radio has also avoided taking talent who lost their jobs at stations that had changed formats or owners. Many are more talented than the crap DJs that many stations now employ. Some of the DJs that work in commercial radio have NO COLLEGE RADIO EXPERIENCE. The lack of non-commercial radio experience that many DJs commercial radio now employs is why minimum educational requirements (at least an Associate of Arts degree in COMMUNICATION ARTS or MASS COMMUNICATIONS only!) are needed now. Talent alone (regardless of level of education) might have been good enough in the 1950s and 1960s, but not in 2002. What deregulation has created is a commercial radio system similar to the government-run systems once prevalent in the former Soviet Union, and still prevalent in Cuba and North Korea. Elimination of competition has become the "by-word". Historically, such deregulatory ideas were synonymous with ruthless dictatorships. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini cozied up to big business in Germany and Italy, respectively, during their dictatorships. Currently, our Congress has ripped a page from Hitler's and Mussolini's playbooks by cozying up to companies like Communist Channel (they have no right to be called "Clear Channel"), who have taken away 11,000 hard-earned jobs from REAL radio people, and put those with NO RADIO EXPERIENCE in charge. Sex-driven shock radio has become the rule of the day for many rock and CHR stations. Enough to make Robert W. Morgan roll over in his grave. If the radio business had been more regulated, as it was prior to 1996, then Randy Michaels would be out of a job. Tom Bryant's career and my own commercial career would have been prolonged. What's worse, commercial radio HAS NOT EMBRACED DIVERSITY. I don't see enough Hispanics working in commercial radio, especially in English language commercial radio. Very few African-Americans are working in commercial radio. Even fewer Asian-Americans are working in the business. Native American employment in commercial radio is limited to those stations run by Native American groups. Arab-Americans who do not embrace the fundamentalist Islamic belief in terrorism are practically shut out of commercial radio employment. Americans who are employable but have some sort of disability are almost totally shut out of commercial radio employment. In order for commercial radio to be a TRUE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, then the industry MUST EMBRACE DIVERSITY. That means hiring more ethnic minorities and more workers with disabilities for jobs that they are DULY QUALIFIED for. The ownership picture is much worse. Not enough women and African- Americans are owning stations. Few Hispanics also own stations. Very few Asian-Americans and Arab-Americans (especially those who are opponents of Osama bin Laden and his thugs) own commercial radio stations. Americans with disabilities are totally shut out of station ownership. This is an industry that's still dominated by white males and able-bodied people, and for absolutely no reason. Sometimes, I equate people like Lowry Mays and Mel Karmazin to history's most ruthless dictators, like Adolf Hitler (Germany), Josef Stalin (Soviet Union), Fidel Castro (Cuba) and Alfredo Stroessner (Paraguay). Would you feel safe if you compared Randy Michaels to Josef Goebbels, the propaganda minister for the Third Reich? Deregulation has also failed in making commercial radio more profitable. Communist Channel has not made a profit in several years. On $8 billion in revenue, they still managed to lose $1 billion and remain $8 billion in debt. Infinity Broadcasting lost over $2 billion in 2001. Most of the commercial broadcast monopolies have not made a profit since Telecom took effect. The FCC is proposing to deregulate newspapers and television, too. If that happens, then commercial television will start losing viewers to cable and PBS, and daily newspapers will continue to lose readers. Our economy will suffer to the tune of 100,000 more job cuts. On top of the 11,000 jobs that radio has lost, that's too much for an economy to bear. If commercial radio cannot get rid of their Communistic attitudes, and become reregulated, then the listener decline will continue until commercial radio has literally no listeners left. And thus, commercial radio lose its ability to make money. We can very well see many more Enrons coming out of the radio business. Demographics-driven research will not make a hill of beans; it has been a major failure, anyway. Attitudes have been negative. Localism has been taken away. Discrimination in ownership and employment makes the industry very unattractive to most Americans considering a career after they finish high school. Which laws have been violated here? As I have said repeatedly, discrimination on the basis of race and origin (even local origin) runs afoul of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination on the basis of disability, and denying access to employment in commercial radio to someone with even a minor disability (such as a learning disability) runs afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. And the foul-mouthed jocks that dominate American commercial radio? That violates FCC rules against what the Commission terms "on-air indecency". In other words, no profanity, sexual innuendos or mentions of sexual organs (except when such things are discussed in a clinical sense with a health care professional, such as a doctor) should ever be intentionally said on our airwaves. Commercial radio deregulation also runs afoul of the Constitution of the United States. The attitude prevalent in commercial radio is "free speech for me, but not for thee". In other words, it's "free speech for Randy Michaels, but not for Joe Average". That actually violates First Amendment guarantees of free speech for opponents of deregulatory policies. Access to the airwaves should be open to ALL, not a select few. If commercial broadcasters cannot accept opening the airwaves to all, and opening employment to ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, then commercial radio should be abolished. Abolition of commercial radio DOES NOT run contrary. In fact, abolition of commercial radio would mean more access to the airwaves by those who cannot have access to the airwaves under the current system. Radio stations would be put in more qualified hands (colleges, universities, not-for-profit community and religious organizations). Corporate entities, in my honest opinion, ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS. Even I am more qualified to run a radio station in the community interest, service, safety and necessity than Lowry Mays, and I'm just a lowly public radio personality! Which will it be? A reregulated commercial radio industry or a radio dial (AM and FM) that's ALL NON-COMMERCIAL? Most Americans would choose a reregulated commercial radio industry. But, if Congress and the FCC can't get its act together, then the only choice would be a radio dial that is all non-commercial. Enough said. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but Deregulation has accelerated this event. For the first time in over 30 years, KMOX 1120 has plummeted below 10 percent. The Winter book put KMOX at a 9.0 rating, it's lowest in over three decades. Many longtime broadcasters are grumbling now...they remember when KMOX had as much as a quarter of the audience in St. Louis (most recently in the summer of 1987, when the Cardinals won the National League pennant).There are two other reasons for this. One is that there is more formidable competition in the News/Talk format these days. KTRS 550 and KWMU 90.7 have benefited the most from KMOX's decline. Several ex-KMOX staffers now work at both stations. "Niche" talk formats like free-form talker WGNU has also gotten a small number of listeners away from KMOX. KFNS 590/100.7 has also cut into KMOX's audience. The second reason; the general decline in commercial radio listenership nationwide (down by one-fifth since 1989). The Once-Mighty Mox isn't ready for the crematorium yet; it's still the top dog in the market. Who's #2? Sister station KEZK 102.5, which runs a Soft AC format. 73 and good DX from Eric (Bueneman, IRCA topica list via DXLD) Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, Registered Monitor KDX0STL, KMO0CN Hazelwood, MO Grid Square EM48, DXing The World since 1981 Turn Off Clear Channel Communications! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turnoffclearchannel PRAY FOR AN END TO COMMERCIAL RADIO DEREGULATION "For the love of money is the root of all evil"-1 Timothy 6:10 ** U S A. http://www.courier-journal.com/features/columns/dorsey/fe20020501dorsey.html TV/Radio WHAS BLASTED FOR BLOWING STORM NEWS By TOM DORSEY, The Courier-Journal It may rain on WHAS-TV's coverage of the Great Steamboat Race today, but it will be nothing compared with the storm of protest thundering down on the station and WHAS Radio for its performance while tornadoes raged through the area early Sunday morning. Not only did the TV station fail to get a meteorologist on the air, but it failed to activate the weather warning for WHAS Radio. And that had the potential to endanger listeners all over the state who tune to WHAS Radio for weather information. "WHAS bases its reputation on being 'The Storm Team' and being first. They were dead last," said Mark Van Meter, who retreated to the basement when lightning and thunder began pounding his Bullitt County, Ky., home. "A station that promotes itself as having 24-hour coverage should have just that," wrote Lawrence Estep in an e-mail. "There is no excuse in my book for their weather staff not being on hand." "Pitiful . . . pitiful . . . they blew it!" said Van Meter. "So much for 'The Storm Team,' " e-mailed M. Hertzman. On the other hand, there was high praise for WLKY and WAVE for getting on the air and sticking it out all night. "John Bateman at WLKY and Kevin Harned at WAVE were . . . on the air the entire time, and I think they deserve much credit," Hertzman wrote. "I do have to give Kevin Harned a lot of credit," said Chris Jadick, WAVE-TV news director. "He could see it (the storms) setting up, and he stayed overnight." WHAS, which didn't have any meteorologist live on the air until after the tornadoes had come and gone, makes no excuses. "We blew it, no doubt about it . . . no excuses," said WHAS chief meteorologist Ken Schulz. "We have to make sure it doesn't happen again." It happened because WHAS doesn't have news staffers on duty after its 11 p.m. Saturday night newscast. WHAS did air a continuous radar picture and a bottom-of-the-screen severe-weather advisory. Worse yet, WHAS-TV is responsible for the weather on WHAS Radio and for activating the Emergency Alert System that warns participating stations and listeners of approaching severe storms. Since no one was on duty at the TV station, the signal wasn't sent to the radio outlets. (The EAS system requires someone at WHAS-TV to activate it. However, some broadcast media outlets also subscribe to a different system, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which cuts into broadcasts automatically when warnings are issued.) Schulz said he's told WHAS Radio that there are times when the TV station doesn't have a meteorologist on duty and that a separate backup system is needed. Kelly Carls, operations director for Clear Channel in Louisville, said WHAS Radio is looking at alternatives for such situations, but added that the station has someone in its newsroom 24 hours a day, and that periodic reports on the severe weather were broadcast early Sunday morning. Reed Yadon, who had been on duty at WHAS-TV since 2 a.m. the night before covering Derby Festival activities, reported the approaching storms on his 11 p.m. forecast. Although there were no warnings or watches at that time, he phoned Schulz. Yadon was told to alert the engineer on duty overnight at the TV station to notify the meteorologist on call if anything came up. The engineer did, but by the time Schulz got the message and raced into the station, the bulk of the bad weather had moved through the Louisville area. The bottom line? The TV station that heavily promotes itself as "having severe weather coverage you can count on" got caught sleeping on the job. Part of the reason WLKY and WAVE didn't was because they have Sunday morning newscasts and had staff on duty overnight. Another reason is that their meteorologists decided to baby-sit the situation and were ready when the emergency arose. "This is the perfect example of why we started weekend (early morning) newscasts," said WAVE's Jadick. "I think WHAS will have to come up with a Sunday newscast. This is a 24-hour business now." WAVE says the overnight ratings showed that people worrying were tuned to WAVE, which had almost a third of the households watching television at the height of the storm in this area. WLKY registered an 18 percent share. The two combined had half the audience while WHAS had a 12 share (via Blaine Thompson, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Son La I reported last week was mistyped. 4725.80. 4725 were [supposed to be] 4795.80 and 4795 (Gaku Iwata, Japan Premium May 2 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. I heard UN-ID station on 4865.70-4866.55 kHz at 1115- 2100 Apr 27. 23222. Drifted frequency and bad moduration. Heard diarogue man and woman, some like central Asian music and language. At the top of hour, 6 pips and pops in Russian(?) by woman. Heard only that day (Gaku Iwata, Japan Premium) See previous item in DXLD under MONGOLIA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BROADCASTS IN ENGLISH SUMMER 2002 - Press release from British DX Club 1 May 2002 The Summer 2002 edition of Broadcasts in English is now available from the British DX Club. It was compiled by Alan Pennington and includes details of all currently known international broadcasts in English on shortwave and mediumwave for the Summer A-02 schedule period. It is in time order throughout and covers all target areas. Transmitter sites are listed where known. A comprehensive guide to DX and Media Programmes is also included plus full schedules for WorldSpace and World Radio Network's Euromax channel. Copies are available at the following prices (postage included): United Kingdom - 2 pounds sterling Europe - 5 International Reply Coupons; or 4 US Dollars Rest of the World - 6 International Reply Coupons or 5 US Dollars UK cheques/Postal Orders should be made payable to "British DX Club". Payments in Dollars or Euros are only accepted in cash. All orders/enquiries to: British DX Club, 126 Bargery Road, Catford, London SE6 2LR, UK Web site http://www.bdxc.org.uk Email: secretary@bdxc.org.uk (BDXC May 1 via DXLD) Just received my copy – quite handy (gh, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-072, April 30, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1128: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB WORLD OF RADIO #1129: FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, UT Thu 0500 on 7415 NETS TO YOU: New May 2002 edition by John Norfolk is now available: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html SELECTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS ON SHORTWAVE compiled by John Norfolk, OKCOK April 30, 2002 revision: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html MONITORING REMINDERS Many new entries for May have been made: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL It is apparent to me that DXLD is serving the SWL hobby like no club or print publication ever has, mainly because of: 1. Rapid dissemination and accuracy of information 2. Accessibility 3. Your dedication. Keep up the great work! 73, (John Cobb, GA, April 29) ** AFRICA [non]. Jakada Radio International is a commercial radio station that starts broadcasting on shortwave on May 1, 2002. Initially, broadcasts will take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1900 to 1930 UT on 12125 kHz. A link to the web site of Jakada Radio International wit more background information can be found on the TDP Shortwave Transmitter Airtime web site at http://www.airtime.be (TDP Mailing List, Belgium, April 30, 2002). Viz.: Jakada Radio International (JRI) is owned by OSCAR MARIANO BENJY Inc., a legally registered media company in Europe with offices in London, Madrid and Frankfurt. It is made up of international broadcasters and broadcast investors led by a distinguished Nigerian international broadcaster and Diplomat, Ambassador Yaro Yusufu Mamman. Jakada Radio International is registered with all the relevant Broadcasting Bodies in the world and has fulfilled all the requirements for the issuance of Short-wave Broadcasting License. JRI has a pool of international correspondents around the globe with Bureaus in Frankfurt, Cairo, Accra, Washington and Harare. We will start a daily broadcast to Africa, however, we are now on test transmission three times a week from 8.00 to 8.30 p.m. Nigerian time, 1900­1930 UT, Frequency 12125 KHZ (24.74 metres in the 25 metre band). The program will start on 1 May 2002 and will be broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Jakada Radio International is a non-religious, non-political, commercial radio station. It does not represent any political or ideological tendencies or manifestations. We are committed to fundamental human rights, democracy, rule of law and pluralism. Although African in perspective, we are global in our belief and committed to the highest level of radio broadcast professionalism and ethics. We have a team of some of the best Africans, Africans in diaspora and others in radio journalism. Our objective is to air views and opinions that will advance peaceful co-existence among people and NOT to preach hate or promote views and opinions that undermine peaceful co-existence and public peace. As professionals, our team will endeavour to accommodate and give balance, report and account at all times. Our listeners have right of reply, but the station reserves the right to reject comments or expressions inciting violence or that fall short of acceptable language. We will provide you with News, Sports and Interviews across the African continent and beyond. Another area that JRI will also promote is the situation of women and children in Africa. Additionally, we are committed to public awareness on the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the continent of Africa, and the environment. Finally, we would like to always have the comments and views of our listeners on all aspects of the programme aired. Please send us your letters by e-mail to: jakint2002@yahoo.com From http://www.geocities.com/nac6015/Jakada/jakada_radio.html (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Is R. Australia still operating in "vacation mode", wherein things air not as scheduled or announced, and programming can be on at unusual times? I ask because the (local US Saturday-morning) Science Show has been on one week at an hour different from the next week (usually at 1300 UT, a couple weeks ago at 1200 UT). Also, just this past weekend, I was tuned in on 21740 kHz at 2358 UT Friday for the 0005 UT Saturday airing of "Feedback", and heard a frequency announcement that went thru the usual list of what is changing and what was continuing. They distinctly stated that 21740 kHz was continuing for the Pacific and then, a few seconds later, 21740 kHz cut off and never returned!!! I left the radio tuned on that frequency for some minutes, hoping that it was either a shift in transmitters or an error that would be corrected, but they never came back. I eventually heard "Feedback" six hours later but of course fell asleep during it because it was so late by then. So should we expect to be able to hear 21740 kHz after 0000 UT or not? I can't tell from the RA website; they still haven't put actual times of transmission per each frequency out there, or put UT on the program-schedule page. (They seem to insist that people download a Word file to get the UT schedule, which I cannot do on these public-access library computers I use.) 21740 kHz is coming in fine prior to 0000 UT here in the central US; no reason for them to cut it off so soon. 73, (Will Martin, St. Louis, Missouri, April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don`t think it`s ``vacation mode``, but they just don`t have their act together. How sad (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Catholic Radio discussion continues; see NEW ZEALAND ** AUSTRIA. Summer A-02 schedule for DX TELEGRAMM and INTERMEDIA over ORF/ROI [in German only]: DX TELEGRAMM Fri 1655-1700 6155 13730 Fri 1855-1900 1476 Sat 1655-1700 1476 6155 13730 Sun 1655-1700 6155 13730 INTERMEDIA Fri 1705-1730 6155 13730 Fri 1830-1855 1476 Sat 1905-1930 1476 5945 6155 Sun 1630-1655 6155 13730 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. Voice of Azerbaijan English heard regularly starting at 1700 on 6110.85, interval signal, news in English by lady, weak but steady signal (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) see also IRAQ non ** BRAZIL. Re Rádio Canção Nova`s ``Friday`` program for distant listeners, "Além Fronteiras", Beyond boundaries on 6105 4825 and 9675: Website says the programme is 1830-2000 Saturdays, presumably Brazilian time (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact) I.e. 2130-2300 UT (gh, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma: Checking today the 20th April 1500-1530 I think I can confirm that the station is indeed originating not from Europe. Beaming to NZ gets a better signal today after AWR closes down at 1500 on 15615 kHz. Anyway I think this is a waste of Money. The Madagascar relay is excellent on 17495 but the RNZ relay on 15620 is almost inaudible on Domestic type radios (G. V. A. Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, You are correct: À Propos is an English program about French music. The show is produced in Montreal, so it is currently on reruns because of the labour dispute at CBC Quebec. Regards, (Ricky Leong, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. No news is bad news for francophones Chantal Hebert, MONTREAL, Toronto Star WHAT DO the first Canadian casualties in Afghanistan, the upset victory of France's extreme right on the first ballot of the presidential election, and the huge cracks in Parti Québécois support exposed in a recent set of by-elections have in common? Or how about the advent of Ernie Eves as Ontario Tory leader, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell's failed peace mission to the Middle East and the Queen Mother's passing away? The correct answer is very little, unless you happen to be a francophone Canadian, in which case they are part of an ever-growing string of events that this country's public broadcaster has left the taxpaying audience to figure out on its own while Radio-Canada information has gone missing in action. It has now been more than five weeks since Radio-Canada locked out its editorial staff. Over those five weeks, the public French-language radio network across Quebec and in New Brunswick has become little more than a jukebox while its television counterpart has been broadcasting a nightly management-assembled offering of reports extracted from international news services as well as its handful of outside Quebec correspondents who happen to belong to a different union. The result is a haphazard mix.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1019988282994&call_page=TS_News_Columnists&call_pageid=970599109774&call_pagepath=Columnists (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** CANADA. SLEW OF APPROVALS FOR CHAÎNE CULTURELLE Today's CRTC decisions regarding service coverage extensions of the Chaîne culturelle: New Brunswick http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-120.htm Charlevoix Region (Quebec) http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-121.htm Lower St. Lawrence Region (Quebec) http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-122.htm Lac St. Jean Region (Quebec) http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-123.htm Laurentians/Lower Laurentians Region (Quebec) http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-124.htm Southern Saskatchewan http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-125.htm Windsor and Paris, Ontario http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/db2002-126.htm (via Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) ** CANADA. REINVENTING CBC (BUT NO ONE'S READY): Managers of Canada's CBC Radio are attempting to reinvent the network's schedule. "Network management figures the makeover is necessary if the CBC is to better reflect Canada, attract younger listeners and widen its appeal among minority groups." But sources inside the corporation say the network is totally unprepared to make the kinds of changes that are being proposed. "They have nobody in place to produce the entire morning show. No execs and no production team. No one will touch it. It's very difficult to have somebody in place for radio programs when no one knows what they are." The Globe & Mail (Canada) 04/29/02 ... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?tf=tgam/common/FullStory.html&cf=tgam/common/FullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/config&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&date=20020429&dateOffset=&hub=thearts&title=Arts&cache_key=thearts¤t_row=5&start_row=5&num_rows=1 (via Arts Journal via Chet Copeland, and Globe & Mail via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. LITHUANIA 5925, World Falun Gong R via Sitkunai, at 2056 Apr 26. Tones prior to start of broadcast in Chinese at 2100; opening music, ID and announcements; Weaker CNR-1 noted in background \\ 7935, but WFGR strong and good (Tony Rogers, UK, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. See you on 10 meters around 28.5 megaHertz, on 6 meters on 50.110 and also I will try to be around on 15 meters, 21.295 is my favorite spot, looking for DXers Unlimited's listeners around the world that are already enjoying amateur radio too!!! (Arnie Coro CO2KK, DXers Unlimited April 20 transcript at http://www.radiohc.org via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Czech Radio to broadcast in five languages | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 30 April: Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe will offer a new broadcasting plan aimed at foreigners living in the Czech Republic beginning 1 May, Czech Radio has told CTK. The program will be made up of news and reports from the areas of culture, business and sports and will be broadcast everyday between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. [1000-1200 gmt]. The scheme calls for broadcasting in German beginning at noon, French broadcasting begins at 12:30 p.m., Spanish starts at 12:45 p.m., Russian from 1:00 p.m. and English from 1:30 p.m. The programme will be broadcast on the frequencies 1287, 1233 and 1071 in the Czech Republic. The project, which is being prepared by Czech Radio 7 - international service, will be put together by a constant team made up of Czech journalists as well as native speakers. "We would like to oblige foreigners who don't speak Czech and we expect that the broadcast will be especially interesting for the Russian-speaking community," director of foreign broadcasting Miroslav Krupicka told CTK. "Anyone who wishes to perfect themselves in the said languages can listen as well," Krupicka added. Another change beginning 1 May is that Czech Radio 6 and Radio Free Europe will broadcast their programs in separate blocks, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [0400-2000 gmt] on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [0700-2000 gmt] on weekends and holidays. Czech Radio 6 will no longer broadcast the BBC and the broadcasts of the Voice of America will begin at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. Furthermore, Slovak re-broadcasts of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty return and will begin at 7:10 a.m. on weekdays. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0713 gmt 30 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. El Domingo 28 de Abril escuché a travez de HCJB en Español el segmento "Aventura DX-ista " con la conducción del señor Mauricio Carpio por los 15140 a las 2240 UT. Gracias Glenn. (Dino Bloise, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So now HCJB has a Spanish DX program. Elsewhen? (gh, DXLD) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [non]. United Nations Mission in ETH and ERI, (UNMEE) Tues and Fris in English, Oromifa, Amharic and Tigrinya. 13750 1900-2000 MNO DHA 500 kW 225 degr. 48 UN R ETH/ERI. (Fris) 15215 0430-0530 MNO DHA 500 kW 225 degr. 48 UN R ETH/ERI. (Tues) (BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) ** FAEROE ISLANDS [non]. DENMARK/FAROE. Elections on the Faeroe Islands. Erik Koeie at R Denmark reports that the Danish PTT is going to use its LW transmitter at Kalundborg on 243 kHz for relays of the Faeroese transmission of their local election on Tuesday April 30 from 1900 UT, only interrupted by the detailed weather forecast for seamen in Danish at 2045. Maybe a rare chance for some of you to hear the Faroe Islands via Denmark? (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DXplorer Apr 26 via BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Tests and more... SWR 3rd to 4th May 2002 Alpo Heinonen, Rovaniemi, Finland http://personal.inet.fi/koti/alpo.heinonen/ Scandinavian Weekend Radio Info for 3rd to 4th May broadcast 3rd to 4th of May transmission ` We will have propagation test towards North-America beginning 21 hours UTC until 8 hours UT. Our 25 mb antenna direction will be 320 degrees! ` Another test will be arranged towards Far-East and Oceania during the last transmitting hours on Saturday 17 to 21 UT. More details can be found from our web-pages. (Note, that these test can be arranged only during good weather conditions! Our technicians do not climb to mast if it is slippery) ` PLEASE let us know immediately during transmission if you are able to listen to us (call, send SMS-messages or e-mails). ` Tentative Schedule for our next broadcast beginning 21 hours UT on Friday 3rd May (Changes might happen) Time UT (21 UT Friday 3rd May to 21 UT Saturday 4th May) 21-22 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 22-05 5980 kHz 11720 kHz 05-08 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 08-10 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 10-15 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 15-21 5990 kHz 11720 kHz News ` SWR's current broadcasting licenses are valid on following dates of rest of year 2002: May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd and 17th, September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd, December 7th and 25th. ` All correct reception reports for our April-transmission received will be verified in the middle of May. ` First snowstorms of last winter cause some injuries to our 25mb 2-element beam. Because of that, antenna radiation pattern was close to normal dipole. Our technical crew has fixed the beam before our transmission in April. ` New compressor-limiter has installed to the output-line at studio, by the comments from listeners. It has been working very well! ` Our webmaster V-V has updated photo-gallery at our web-sites, check those out! Also a new discussion forum called Electric Sauna has been taken in use. ` There will be at least four (4) different QSL's available in the year 2002. ` Special event radio EDXC-radio will broadcast via SWR during European DX Council Conference 17th August 2002. This conference along with FDXA. Summer meeting will be held in Western Coast of Finland Pori. More details will be published later on SWR web pages. General Info: ` Scandinavian Weekend Radio is Scandinavia's first and only private shortwave station. Studios and transmitters are located in Virrat, western Finland. (N 62 23' E 23 37') Scandinavian Weekend Radio's transmitters are "home-made" and fulfils all requirements. Transmitter RF output power is 50 watts in 25 meters and 100 watts in 48 meters. Maximum ERP power what our license permit is 2.5 kW. Antenna in the 25 meters is 2-element beam, major beam is towards 230 degrees and in the 48 meters we use cage dipole directed to 160 degrees. With 25 mb transmitter we have and will made DX-tests. (Most of them towards NA until now) ` SWR is on the air at every month`s first Saturday 24 hours, starting 0:00 local time. (+3 UT daylight saving time, +2 normal). Our frequencies are 11720 and 11690 in 25 meters and 5980, 5990 and 6170 at 48 meters. ` All reception reports and feedback are most welcome. You can also send report via our Internet pages or by e-mail: raportit@swradio.net Electronic reports can be verified on our website on request. If you want our QSL card, send your report with 2 IRCs (correctly stamped), 2 euros or 2 USD via traditional mail: SWR/Reports, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40321 JKL, FINLAND ` Also Phone number +358 400 995 559 is on use during transmission weekends. (SMS –messages are welcome, too.) More information, latest news, pictures, sound clips, schedule of our next transmission, reception forecasts etc. can be found on our website: http://www.swradio.net or mail us: info@swradio.net With best wishes, (DJ Madman, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE/LIBYA. What's about the Libyan relay via France?? Realized yet?? Still doubts that they indeed originate from Issoudun? Perhaps it is a good idea to contact Thierry Vignaud at Paris: thierry.vignaud@laposte.net On his website he also has details about the C-QUAM stereo operations on 864, including samples in RealAudio format: http://home.worldnet.fr/~tvignaud/am/rbleue/rbleue.htm Interesting stuff, there are more interesting websites, like: http://home.worldnet.fr/~tvignaud/galerie/am/04roumoules.htm http://www.rmcstory.fr.fm/ http://perso.wanadoo.fr/monte-carlo-radiodiffusion/ http://membres.lycos.fr/rmcstory/newindex.htm http://home.worldnet.fr/~tvignaud/am/ (wb df5sx, Wolfgang Büschel, Apr 17, BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. A contact in Tblisi confirms Radio Khara on 4540 and Russia is trying to jam it with a Mayak relay, which I guess is a military low power transmitter in AM mode. I heard Radio Khara irregularly tune in 1515 to past 1530 quite strong (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine via Wolfgang Bueschel, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, The following changes made by AIR from 21st April, 2002. 13695 (ex-13685) 2 x 500 from Bangalore 1000-1100 GOS-1 in English; 13695 kHz (ex-13700, 13685) from Bangalore 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215-1245 Telegu. 15410 khz (ex-15235) Panaji 1115-1200 Thai (Alok Das Gupta, Kolkata via Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india April 30 via DXLD) ** INDIA. Some freq changes of All India Radio for A-02 period: 0130-0230 Nepali NF 7250 <<<<< additional 0130-0230 Nepali NF 11775 <<<<< additional 0315-0415 Hindi NF 11835 <<<<< additional 1000-1100 English NF 13695, ex 13685, re-ex 13700 1000-1100 English NF 17800, ex 17840 1115-1200 Thai NF 15410, ex 15235, re-ex 15330 1115-1215 Tamil NF 13695, ex 13685, re-ex 13700 1215-1245 Telugu NF 13695, ex 13685, re-ex 13700 1215-1330 Tibetan NF 9575, ex 9565 1215-1330 Tibetan NF 11775, ex 11695 1300-1500 Sinhala NF 9820, ex 9895, re-ex 9700 1330-1430 Nepali NF 11775, ex 11695 1515-1615 Swahili NF 17670, ex 9950 1615-1730 Hindi NF 15075, ex 9950 1745-1945 English NF 11620, ex 9950 1745-1945 English NF 13605, ex 13795 1745-1945 English NF 15075, ex 15120 1945-2030 French NF 13605, ex 13795 1945-2045 Hindi NF 11620, ex 9950 2045-2230 English NF 11620, ex 9950 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Thor Heyerdahl: see NORWAY, SWEDEN ** IRAN. Some freq changes for VOIROI /IRIB/: 0530-0627 Bosnian dropped 15084 1430-1527 Bengali NF 9520 and NF 12000, ex 9525 and 11995 1730-1827 German and 1830-1927 in French additional 15084 co-ch Persian sce!!! (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIRI, 12095, 1542- Apr 27. Looking for BBCWS, and found instead VOIRI in Russian with good signal, well over BBC. When switched to N/S oriented 25 m dipole, BBC dominates with sports broadcast. Interesting to see that having several directional antennae helps at times! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. in DXLD 2-070: "The Assyrian ID is something like: "Huna Sout Demokratiy Ashuria", ... " What? That is in Arabic! Instead the ID confirmed by the station is in Western Assyrian (Suroyo) as follows: "Harga pras Qalo d'Ashur men Athra, Qalo d'Zowao Demokrataio Atouroyo." And in Eastern Assyrian: "Lakheley pres Qala d'Ashur men Athro, Qala d'Zowaa Demokrataia Atouraia". It means "this is Voice of Ashur from the Homeland, the Voice of Assyrian Democratic Movement". "Zowaa" is not an acronym but "movement" in Assyrian. I take this opportunity to thank all the people who led me on the right track with this station, most of all: Takuya Hirayama, Bernd Trutenau, Hans Johnson, Tarek Zeidan and Dmitri Mezin. This is an international hobby! 73, Mauno Ritola, Finland, April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AZERBAIJAN. 9154.95, Ashur R. (Assyrian Democratic Movement), at 1645 Apr 27. Tune-in to Middle-Eastern type songs, various announcements in presumed Assyrian, long talk (story?) at 1713 over music, back into music/announcements at 1730; clearest ID at 1751 when "Ashur" heard as part of slogan over stirring background music; mention of "arabiya" by woman at 1758 and then clearly into main Arabic segment of program at 1800, several mentions of "ashuriyah"; mainly music again 1815-1840; news at 1840 in presumed Assyrian with mentions of George Bush, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine, etc. Fair signal at tune-in and building well as time went on, although perhaps past its peak by 1900 sign-off. Best reception on LSB; used recent reports in the DX press as a guide for IDing this one (Tony Rogers, UK, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Channel 7 (Sed'moy Kanal) from Israel can be well heard in Ukraine and South Russia. Broadcast is in Russian, it lasts from 0700 to 1900 local time in Ukraine (that must be 0400-1600 UTC - Ed.). Station uses MW frequency 1539 kHz. Formerly it was a service on international waters' station Arutz Sheva, but now it got a license and settled on the coast (MIDXB No. 264 - Tina Krasnopolskaya, Deutsche Welle, Germany, via Igor Yaremenko, Novosibirsk, Russia, Signal April 29 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 738 kHz, the superpower is silent since a month. And the Arabic service is heard on 1026, 1206, 5915 and v12150. Iraqi type jammers are heard on 1116 and 1206 at 1600-2100 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April 24, BC-DX Apr 30 via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Glenn, Because of Golden Week in Japan, many regular Radio Japan programs may not be aired. I got the following from http://www.japan-guide.com 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Golden Week is a collection of several national holidays within seven days. Together with good placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of the longest holidays of the year. Many companies give additional days free to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday, while others do not. Green Day (Midori no hi) April 29: April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in the year 1989. After his death, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature since the emperor was very concerned about the environment and loved nature. Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi) May 3: On this day 1947, the new post-war constitution was put into effect. The day remembers the most important changes of the constitution such as the prohibition of leading war, human rights and the sovereignty of the people. "Between Day" (Kokumin no kyujitsu) May 4: Recently created national holiday to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday. [hey, that`s a good idea... --- gh] Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) May 5: This holiday is also called the boy's festival (Tango no Sekku). Families with boys celebrate this day to wish their sons a good future. Carp streamers are hung outside and samurai dolls put inside the house. They symbolize strength, power and success in life. Traditionally, special sweets are eaten: rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and mochi wrapped in oak leaves. The oak and bamboo, again symbolize strength and a successful life. The girl's or doll festival (Hina matsuri), on the other hand, is celebrated on March 3. The Golden Week is the longest holiday beside the New Year and summer vacations, and many Japanese make trips during these days. Therefore, the Golden Week is one of the busiest travel times on any means of transportation and concerning accommodation. Many people also travel abroad during the Golden Week. If you plan a short trip to Japan, we advise you not to do so during the Golden Week (via Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 29, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. V. of Korea, 9335, 1515-1557* Apr 28. English news with a very North Korean/communist slant 'the great leader, Kim....' and 'to defend and glorify socialism'. As I was listening, it suddenly jumped frequency and started to drift slowly upwards from 9355.0 to 9355.08. Usual distorted signal. Voice of Korea ID at 1517 at end of news. Within a few minutes it dropped back to 9355.02. Parallels noted 7505 poor, 11335.04 good, and 11710.10 by far the best, with the latter two reasonably clean audio. At 1525 began the 30th installment of the condensed biography of Kim Il Sung(!). Very interesting programming ;)!!! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. After missing it for a few weeks, caught RKI Multiwave Feedback, UT Mon Apr 29 on webcast, starting a bit later than usual around 0240. Turned out to be Joe Matey`s last appearance, as his one- year(?) contract is up and he is returning to the ``greener pastures`` of Ohio. Co-host was the Korean Dr. whose name I could never catch, and I am still wondering about how Joe`s surname is really spelt. Even tho the program is always totally scripted, the co-host seemed uneasy with the task, and fortunately Miss Han will be back next week (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Voice of National Salvation, 3481, verified a follow-up report in 83 days with a no data schedule card and a partial data letter from the "editorial Staff of the Voice of National Salvation" for a report to National Democratic Front of South Korea, Grenier Osawa 107, 40 Nando-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan (R. D'Angelo, PA, Apr 27, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. US Government Commentary: 04/25/2002 EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09845 KURDISH SERVICE TENTH ANNIVERSARY This week marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Kurdish Service of the Voice of America. The first to broadcast in Kurdish, VOA serves a potential audience of some twenty-seven million Kurds. Millions of Kurds have no source of reliable news and information in their own language. And in Iraq, the Kurdish people have been victims of extreme repression. United Nations investigators have verified mass killings of Kurds in Iraq and the destruction of thousands of villages by the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Each day, VOA broadcasts to Kurdish-speakers in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East and Caucasus. The service broadcasts in two major Kurdish dialects - Kurmanji [kurh-mahn-jee] and Sorani[soo-rah- nee]. The Kurdish service adheres strictly to the VOA charter, which requires that the news be presented in an accurate, objective, and comprehensive manner. Consistent with the VOA charter, Kurdish broadcasts include news and information on events that affect Kurdish people everywhere. In January of this year, the service introduced a weekly call-in show, "Hello Washington." The goal is to increase audience discussion of such subjects as cultural rights and democratic representation for the Kurds. The Kurds are considered to be the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East. Among other fundamental rights, they have the right to receive and impart information and ideas in their own language. For its part, the Voice of America, through its Kurdish service, will continue to help make that right a reality. Kurdish listeners often express what it means to them to have a major international broadcast service that speaks to them in their own language. "We thank you for this important work you do," wrote one listener. "It was like a dream for us to hear Kurdish from VOA." /Source: IBB/ (via Sosedkin, DXLD) Seems like US government is unaware that during last decade Kurds suffered mostly from Turkey, not Iraq where they are enjoying semi- independence (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. IRAQ [clandestines] Voice of KOMALA in Kurdish and Persian observed on new 3935 (ex-4550) at 1650 UT. All three frequencies are "jumping" around (to avoid Iranian jammers) in ranges 3925...3935, 4600...4625, 6800...6825. There is also a time slot when both V of Mojahed and V of KOMALA were using 6825 kHz. KOMALA in the 90s was or is yet a Kurdish section of Iranian Communist Party. On "Kurdish-Middle East" band 3800-4400 kHz at 1650 UT were: 3880 (\\ 4375), 3905, 3925 (\\ 4625 6820), 4062 (\\ 6995), 4085 (not active on \\ 5850), 4173, 4235 & 4275, several different stations. At 1710 UT only: 3925, 4062, 4085, 4235 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April 20, BC-DX Apr 30 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. A DXer in neighbouring Tajikistan confirms that Bishkek 4050 kHz (ex Kyrgyz R 2) has gone silent. As for Kyrgyz R 1 (4010 kHz), database shows a program in English at 2350-2400, preceded by Russian 2340-2350. This OM says that Kyrgyz R 1 does not have any program in English at this time. Basically, Kyrgyz R 1 is bilingual throughout the day with programs in both Kyrgyz and Russian (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 29, BC-DX via DXLD) ** LAOS [and non]. /CHINA I think I can suggest a solution to the mysterious Chinese-sounding station which has been reported at 1200- 1230 on 4660v kHz. It's Houa Phan, Laos, which at that time is trying to relay the main evening news bulletin from Lao National R in Vientiane. Houa Phan uses 6130 kHz from Vientiane as its feed, which is co-channel with the Tibetan language channel of Tibet (Xizang) PBS in Lhasa, transmitted on 6130 kHz via Xi'an. So Houa Phan is inadvertently relaying Tibet as well as Vientiane; noted around 1215 on 28 April with audio from Tibet and Vientiane struggling for dominance (Alan Davies, Indonesia, April 29, BC-DX via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. See FRANCE ** MALTA [non]. "ONDE RADIO" es el nombre del programa DX [en italiano] producido por LV del Mediterráneo, el que se emite todos los domingos a las 0700 en 9605 khz. QTH: Redazione italiana del programma "Onde Radio"; P.O. Box 21; 70051 Barletta (Ba); Italia. Para informes de recepción: Voce del Mediterráneo; P. O. Box 143; Valletta; Malta. (Alfredo Gallerati, A.I.R., I, Redazione Italiana de "Onde Radio", La Voz del Mediterráneo, Malta; via Gabriel Iván Barrera, Conexión Digital) ** MEXICO. R. Mexico Internacional, 9704.88, 0323-, Apr 28. Good reception, but requiring notch, with English programming and mailbox show, pen pal searches. Parallel 11770.14 stronger, but more adjacent splatter (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. An undoubtedly Mongolian station operates on 4865 kHz. 26 Apr noted with a very good signal at 2300; after time pips ID in Mongolian followed, in which Ulaanbaatar was mentioned. Probably this new frequency is a replacement of 3960 kHz (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal April 29 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Glenn, I heard Het Wilhelmus on KXMS at 1600, but for those who missed it, it's available on demand at the RNW website: http://www.rnw.nl/holland/html/wilhelmus.html They also have the text in Dutch, so you can sing along. I noticed that at the RNW HQ, via the Radio Netherlands webcam, they are flying the national flag of the Netherlands, with an orange ribbon! Normally they fly a "Nederland TV" logo flag in the middle location. Here's a link to a webcam of the Amsterdam Central Train Station. This is where last year's riot occurred. http://www.amsterdam-webcams.com/Detailed/7.html 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. While in Boston last weekend I came across a local FM station broadcasting 24/7 radio Netherlands in English. I am ashamed to say I never managed to stay awake long enough to get an ID however. Could not find BBC doing same (LeRoy Long, OK, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Andy Sennitt, any info on this? ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Digital R. Mondial, 11965, 0513- Apr 27. DRM test heard with irritating white noise splatting across about 10 kHz on each side, though 11960 HCJB and 11985 DW Bonaire was little affected. Jonathan Marks gave voice ID, then brief Spanish announcement, then back to the white noise (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Religious Radio in NZ and Australia (again) Michael Dorner (DXLD 2-071) apparently fails to appreciate that, in New Zealand, the government does not issue broadcasting licences. We have a free radio market in terms of station ownership and control.. I'll say it again, the Roman Catholic Church can bid for any available AM or FM frequency or network of frequencies in NZ. If they bid the best price, they're on air. It can also buy commercial frequencies from existing networks, or lease them. If successful, they can change the format and broadcast what they want, commercial or non-commercial. There are several Canadian owned networks up for sale here right now. Go ahead and buy them. It can also set up a nationwide network or multiple networks of low powered FM stations on reserved channels free of charge. It can originate own programs, relay US based Roman Catholic programs or Vatican Radio if it chooses. The point is, there are no restrictions, so it's simply not true to say that New Zealand doesn't allow Roman Catholic radio stations. Perhaps Michael could look within the Roman Catholic Church to find out why they don't take full advantage of this freedom of the airwaves. In Australia, the Roman Catholic Church used to own 2SM Sydney, the Methodist Church used to own 5KA Adelaide. Today, the Roman Catholic Church can apply to buy an existing AM or FM station or network. It can apply for new low powered FM licences and narrowcast licences, and can bid for new commercial frequencies as they come on the market. In both countries, the Roman Catholic Church has no less an opportunity than any other would be broadcaster to get on air. The fact they haven't, has nothing at all to do with any licencing restrictions. There are no such restrictions that would keep them off the air. Christian radio broadcasters are welcome in both countries. We already have some. More are also welcome. Whether listeners choose to listen to them is a different issue. Of course, whether the Roman Catholic Church in Australia and NZ wants to compete in an open and free market for radio frequencies is completely up to their own local dioceses and where they place their financial and pastoral priorities. Thanks Glenn, for your indulgence on space for this issue. I've no further comment to make. 73's (David Ricquish, Talkback, NZDX Times / http://www.radiodx.com April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. STRANGE CASE OF FIRED TV EXEC GROWS STRANGER John Davy, fired for falsifying CV, now claims it was changed to protect him WELLINGTON (CP) — Canadian John Davy, dismissed as chief executive of Maori Television Service in New Zealand, says he has legitimate qualifications but his records were altered under a witness-protection program after his involvement in a sensitive financial forensic case.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1020161766798&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News&col=968793972154 This was discussed at length on RNZI news this morning. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. PIRATE Voice of the New World Order, 6955, 0504- Apr 27. Nice S7 signal with humorous programming and contact information, giving a yahoo email address. Went off the air at 0508:20. Mentioned they were in NYC, which I find hard to believe judging from the good signal strength (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY [non]. Explorer, researcher, scientists and promoter of amateur radio Thor Heyerdahl passed away recently; he was 87, and achieved worldwide fame when in 1947 he crossed the Pacific on a raft made of balsa wood logs. Heyerdahl trusted amateur radio so much, that he included two ham operators aboard the Kon Tiki. Today I will have the pleasure of reading to you an article written by Daniel N0BN, about the Kon-Tiki Scientific Expedition and Amateur Radio. I hope you enjoy this nice and well-written account of how a 6 watt transmitter and makeshift antennas raised by kites or weather balloons kept explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his crew aboard the Kon- Tiki in touch with the world while sailing across areas of the Pacific Ocean far off the shipping lanes.... Daniel wrote: THE KON TIKI EXPEDITION AND RADIO Many of us in our youth were thrilled to read about the voyage of the Kon Tiki in 1947. Thor Heyerdahl and his band of adventurers built a balsa raft in Peru and set sail for Polynesia to prove the South Pacific Islands could have been populated from South America. How many of you remember the radio connection? The group wanted to be able to communicate with the outside world and thus recruited a couple of seasoned radio operators. One crew member, Knut Hoagland, had been caught by the Gestapo in occupied Norway with a clandestine radio and barely escaped in a hail of bullets. Another, Torstein Raaby, had been smuggled into Norway and for ten months transmitted reports about battleship activities using a German officer's receiving aerial. The "Radio Amateur League of America" (probably the ARRL) arranged to have amateurs listening for reports from the raft. The Kon Tiki's radios were built both from scratch and also from "secret sabotage" sets from World War Two. An NC-173 receiver was also used. It appears only Morse was used as there is no reference to phone operations and only keys and "peculiar clickings" were mentioned by Heyerdahl, who apparently did not understand code. The only references to power and frequency were to a maximum of 6 watts and the frequency as being 13,990 kc so this was definitely a QRP operation. The expedition used call sign LI2B. Constant attention and tinkering was needed to keep their equipment operational. For instance, the batteries were kept charged with a hand-cranked generator. The small craft's aerials also needed special care as they were raised by kite and balloon. No one anticipated the group's pet parrot would bite through and eat portions of the wire antenna. And water, water, everywhere, meant keeping their gear dry was no little task. The Kon Tiki's initial transmission when it completed its journey was delayed while they dried out their equipment. That first contact happened to be with an amateur in Colorado named Paul (whom I tried to identify further but unsuccessfully), who thought someone was trying to pull a fast one on him when Torstein told him they were with the Kon Tiki and stranded on a desert island in the Pacific! Nightly they sent out reports and weather observations which were picked up by random hams who relayed the messages to various destinations. Eventually skeds were developed by which fairly regular reports could be made, both officially and to friends and family. One evening a contact was made with a Norwegian station which at that point was completely on the other side of the globe from the Kon Tiki. Congratulations on King Haakon's 75th birthday were relayed and the next day the King responded by wishing the crew good luck and success. I first read Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl in the '50s or '60s as a kid, and was delighted to read it again recently in my 50s and discover the radio connection! 73, Daniel N0BN Well, amigo Daniel, I also read Kon Tiki, the book by Thor Heyerdahl, when I was a very young kid and, my friend, reading it made amateur radio still more attractive to me -- so much so, in fact that I soon found my mentor's antennas two and a half blocks away from my home and started to be a regular visitor to CM2DK, Dr. Ignacio Díaz Pérez's amateur radio station... But that's another story... Thank you, Dan, for this nice piece describing how the Kon Tiki scientific expedition used amateur radio in such a relevant way to the hobby!!! (Arnie Coro CO2KK, DXers Unlimited April 23 transcript at http://www.radiohc.org via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** OMAN. Radio Oman 1400-1500 English broadcast on 15140 has not been heard on several checks though is still registered. The 0300-0400 broadcast on 15355 was still being reported late March (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Tuesday's referendum will decide whether General Pervez Musharaff can remain President of Pakistan for another five years. Radio Pakistan 10-minute news bulletins daily at 0200, 0700, 0900, 1200 and 1500 online at http://210.56.8.72:7070/ramgen/encoder/radio.rm They had a multi-lingual program "Islamabad Today" after the English news at 1200. The female announcer, out of breath, announced that since Radio Pakistan "always tells the truth", she revealed that she had just raced into the studio with mere seconds to spare. She had been held up in traffic on the way to work. I wonder if any referendum protests had impeded her commute today. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Radio Pakistan did have a news broadcast at 1200 April 30th via their website, but only noise was heard at 1500. The news at 1200 mentioned that the referendum had turned into a "festive occasion", much happiness abounding as people "exercised their franchise". It brought back memories of Radio Moscow's news items about their "elections", back in the days of the Soviet Union. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: PALESTINIAN TV AND RADIO STATIONS OBSERVED | The following Palestinian TV stations were observed by BBC Monitoring on 27 April: 1. The official Palestinian Authority TV from Gaza on UHF channels 30 and 34. It was also observed on Arabsat at 26 degrees east and on Nilesat at 7 degrees west. 2. Al-Mahd Television from Bethlehem on UHF channel 21. 3. Al-Nawras Television from Hebron on UHF channel 41. 4. Majd Television from Hebron on UHF channel 43. The following radio stations were also observed on 27 April: 1. Voice of Palestine, which reappeared on 26 April for the first time since 29 March when Israeli forces occupied Ramallah. It announced on 27 April that it would be broadcasting from 0700 to 1200 gmt for the next few days. It was observed on 90.7 MHz. 2. Marah radio from Hebron. It was heard on 100.6 MHz. This station was observed on 26-27 April to join 90.7 MHz in relaying Voice of Palestine programmes in addition to its own programmes. Source: BBC Monitoring research 26-27 Apr 02 (via DXLD) WEST BANK: HEBRON TV, RADIO UNHEARD AFTER ISRAELI RAID The following Hebron-based private Palestinian television and radio stations were not observed to be active on 29 April following the Israeli forces reoccupation of the city. 1. Al-Nawras Television on UHF channel 41. 2. Majd Television on UHF channel 43. 3. Marah radio on 100.6 MHz. (Marah Radio had been observed to join 90.7 MHz in relaying the Voice of Palestine programme in addition to its own programmes since 26 April when VOP was observed back on the air after 28 day absence.) Al-Mahd Television in Bethlehem continues to be observed on UHF channel 21. Source: BBC Monitoring research 29 Apr 02 (via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3355, NEW GUINEA, presume R. Simbu, 1131 Apr 24, OM in Vern, apparently reactivated for a few days, not heard since, poor (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet Apr 28 via DXLD) So much for that. NASWA defines NEW GUINEA separate radio country from PAPUA ** PERU. Re 5387.76, DXLD 2-071: I sent along a message to all of the SWBers on the email list to say that Manantial (without a QTH) was the first option I came up with. (As Björn did not come back, proposed others, later). In Björn´s message, the order of events is different. As for the slogan, I suggest "fuente de vida". (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. R. Veritas Asia, 9660, 1451- Apr 28. Excellent reception with Russian religious programming (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. RADIO PLUS SHOO-IN FOR WARSAW FREQUENCY, by Anna Kociñska The National Television and Radio Council (KRRiTV) was expected to throw a lifeline to Radio Plus last week and grant the financially troubled station a license to broadcast in Warsaw, the nation`s biggest radio advertising market. ``There is no (successful) radio network without Warsaw or other big cities such as Kraków or Gdansk, so this is our `to be or not to be,` `` said Kazimierz Sowa, the station`s chief executive officer. The KRRiTV was considering granting a license to either Radio Plus or the Pentecostal Church, which applied for a frequency to broadcast religious programming. ``We were surprised because the Pentecostal Church consists of some 19,000 members dispersed in southern Poland,`` Sowa said. ``Its group in Warsaw is not numerous either (400 members according to the church`s Web site) and they would have a totally different profile without advertising. Of course you can`t forbid others to apply.`` According to Joanna Stempien, spokeswoman for Juliusz Braun, the KRRiTV`s chairman, the council last week was likely to vote in favor of Radio Plus, which failed two previous times to get a license for Warsaw. ``If there are any discussions it will be about details,`` she said. Sowa was more cautious about the station`s chances of being awarded the license. ``We`ll see, nothing is decided yet but I think we can count on at least four out of nine votes and I wouldn`t be surprised if one of the council`s members delegated by President (Aleksander) Kwasniewski would vote for us,`` he said. Meanwhile, private equity group Dresdner Kleinwort Capital (DrKC) said it is ready to invest in Radio Plus if the network receives the Warsaw frequency. ``Subject to this decision and a few more conditions, we are looking at closing this transaction,`` said Roger de Bazelaire, regional director of DrKC`s Central and Eastern European private equity unit. Radio Plus was set up in 1998 when 15 regional radio stations agreed to establish a network using feeds from the Warsaw-based Spólka Producencka Plus, a content producer owned by the Polish Episcopate. The station features a mix of news, talk, music and religious content targeted at 25-45 year-olds. Radio Plus` Sowa wouldn`t comment on changes in the ownership structure once a deal is signed with DrKC. ``All I can say is that the investor will be very important (in the structure),`` Sowa said. ---------------------------------- From Poland`s Warsaw Business Journal, http://www.wbj.pl/user/article.asp?ArticleID=147863 (April 29 via Dave White, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Starting 1 May, change of local time in Tomsk and Tomskaya oblast will be introduced. After the correction it will be UT +7h (it was UT +8h before). (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal April 29 via DXLD) So in effect going *off* DST, permanently? (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 12168, A harmonic of R Mayak (supposedly from 1521 kHz) was heard on 12168 around 0400 on April 29. Audio sounded as if it was produced by FM transmitter. The location of transmitter is unknown, but according to WRTH 2002 two pretenders may be: Kazan (Tatarstan) and Zapolyarnyy (Murmanskaya obl.). On my previous such question recently, Dmitry Mezin from Kazan rejected any suspicion from Kazan. So Zapolyarnyy transmitter is implied (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, WWDXC top news Apr 29 via BC-DX Apr 30 via DXLD) see also TANNU TUVA ** SEYCHELLES. Frequency change for FEBA Radio effective April 26: 1600-1700 Amharic; 1700-1800 Oromo/Tigrina NF 11625, ex 11640 to avoid V of Vietnam (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6134.8, apparently R. UNAMSIL, UN Mission in Sierra Leone, "me too" of a primo log by Ralph Brandi, heard weak signal here around 2200 Apr 20, building slowly, audio discernible from around 2300, building, dropping back after 2340 or so, unusable in QRM after 2400. Checked again on and off over the next few hours and it was continually present, pretty decent at 0235 check Apr 21 but almost immediately lost its steam. Was always present, however, and was "best" after 0600 with music, interludes of studio talk; though mostly QRM free by then, still a weak signal, with occasional very brief fade-ups. I gave up around 0630, hoping for better reception another day (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Apr 28 via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL - Competition - Piestany Spa The Piestany Health Spa is in a picturesque location and is the most important in Slovakia as regard to the treatment of patients with nervous diseases. It has an excellent reputation based on the healing powers of its thermal waters. Evidence of settlements in the area of Piestany date from prehistoric periods. The first clues about the life of people living in this area are 80,000 years old but the first written mention about Piestany dates from 1113. However, greater importance can be attached to the 18th century, when interest in making use of the healing springs increased. Nowadays, nearly 40,000 patients annually search for and also find relief here. Spa guests can choose from a wide variety of musical events: concerts of classical music, opera and jazz. There are also dance programmes performed by domestic as well as foreign folk, tap, flamenco and Spanish ensembles. The House of Arts offers theatrical performances and ballet, and the Balneological Museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Spa town. Ludovit Winter was the most significant personality in the history of Piestany and its Spa. The name of the Winter family is inseparably linked to half a century of development of the municipality of Piestany, which grew from a desolate provincial spa and small village into an international spa resort. Today, the Health Spa Piestany is the most popular spa destination in Slovakia, with a hotel complex offering over 2,400 beds. The Competition Radio Slovakia International's Piestany Spa Competition is now underway and by taking part in this contest you could win a two-week stay for two people at Piestany. The contest consists of 3 rounds. Each round has a winner who will receive a prize. The deadline for each round is 6 weeks after it is first broadcast. After the 3 rounds are over, a final draw will take place. Everyone who answers the questions correctly will be included in the draw and so will have an extra chance to win. If you have read carefully everything that has been written about Piestany Spa town you may be able to answer the first round question: When did the first written mention about Piestany appear ? a) 1110 b) 1113 c) 1115 Tune into RSI for further details as the competition progresses or visit their website http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi (JONATHAN MURPHY via Paul Youngs, May World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up on Radio Sweden: Wednesday: May Day Special -- Part 1 of "The Voyages of Thor Heyerdahl" Thursday: In "Nordic Report", our co-production with Radio Finland, migration from the countryside to the cities Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: We link up with major international broadcasters in "Network Europe" Sunday: "In Touch With Stockholm" -- alternative energy and gender in the Swedish language Part 2 of "The Voyages of Thor Heyerdahl" will broadcast on May 9 (SCDX/MediaScan April 30 via DXLD) What is the current pattern for first and last broadcast of a given day`s programming? (gh, DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA. RUSSIA Tuvinskoye Radio noted on 6100 kHz on Saturday, 20 Apr, at 2330 (it's already Sunday local time), with a broadcast in Tuvinian language. At 2337 language changed to Russian. Some QRM comes from Radio Liberty in Russian on 6095 kHz. No signal before 2300. On 23 Apr broadcast of Tuvinskoye Radio was not heard at 2300 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal April 29 via DXLD) ** U A E. MBC FORMALLY OPENS BASE AT MEDIA CITY By Rasha Owais | 28-04-2002 Arab broadcasting giant Middle East Broadcasting (MBC) has officially opened its Dubai Media City headquarters. The opening is the culmination of a massive process of relocation from London to Dubai, said Ali Al Hedeithi, MBC CEO. Meanwhile, Ahmed bin Byat, director general of Dubai Technology, E- commerce and Media Free Zone Authority, said a new press freedom law is under formulation. "It will be within the frameworks of the UAE federal law and will actually explain its articles and have additional points," he added, following a question to Al Hedeithi, who assured that DMC did not restrict MBC's freedom of expression. Al Hedeithi said DMC and MBC are also in relocation negotiations of MBC FM radio service, also in London. MBC is further planning to launch its own specialised channels, on which details would be announced soon. It is also working on developing its existing website, said the CEO. "We closed down the London headquarters and only have correspondents. The move is estimated to have cut down around 30 per cent of our expenses in our first year of operations," said Al Hedeithi. He also debunked rumours that MBC could have had political pressure to move to Dubai. "Yes, we had some economic pressures - mainly concerning reductions in expenses. Employees were compensated and we brought with us those we need. Others stayed in London for their own reasons." MBC, he noted, has no plans to launch an English service because of the severity of competition with foreign services. "It is costly and easy entry to their markets will not be given." Though an entertainment service, Al Hedeithi stressed that MBC, in solidarity with the current Palestinian crisis, has reduced lots of entertainment programmes and intensified its news content. Considering angry Arab feelings towards Israeli atrocities, MBC also stopped interviewing 'Israelis ' in their political and news analysis. "We used to interview them during peace talks but we stopped that. Some channels interview them, claiming they are objective and leave decisions to viewers," said Al Hedeithi. Commenting on the higher popularity of other channels like Al Jazeera and Abu Dhabi, especially for news coverage, Asaad Abu Jabail, Ara Media Services CEO, said latest researches show high advertising and viewership rates in MBC. "It is very logical for news-based channels like Al Jazeera to have high viewership now because of the current crisis in Palestine." Bin Byat said MBC has played a pioneering role in the region's broadcasting industry "The relocation of its headquarters to Dubai signifies the development of the region's broadcast infrastructure." ----------------- From Gulf News, http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=49206 (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U K. WORLD SERVICE FACES SECOND RACE TRIBUNAL Jessica Hodgson, Monday April 29, 2002, The Guardian The BBC is facing a second race discrimination tribunal in the wake of the Sharan Sandhu case, it has emerged. Perry Grambas, a former World Service contractor, is bringing a claim of racial discrimination and unfair dismissal against the corporation. Grambas claims he was turned down repeatedly for a permanent post at the World Service Greek section after working there for five years on contract. He will call as witnesses a number of senior BBC journalists and executives, including the BBC's director of news, Mark Damazer, the head of radio news, Stephen Mitchell, and the editor of World Service news and current affairs, Mary Hockaday. Grambas will claim the decision not to renew his application was made in spite of a recent ruling, passed by the BBC, allowing employees on long-term contracts to bypass the normal appointment process and keep their jobs on a permanent basis. The BBC confirmed it was facing a race tribunal but was not willing to comment on the details of the case. The tribunal, which will begin on June 6, is the second the BBC has faced in recent months. Last week the corporation paid an out of court settlement to Sandhu, a former World Service journalist. She withdrew her claim of discrimination after accepting a settlement of up to £50,000. Sandhu claimed she was passed over repeatedly for promotion between 1991 and 1999 because of her colour and gender. Following the settlement the BBC said it did not accept her career was affected by discrimination. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** U K [non]. 9825 / 12095 Additional 2300-2400 slot [BBCWS]. 9825 2300-0300 via ASC 250 245 degrs 13S,14,15,16 BBC En SoAM 12095 2100-2300 via ASC 250 245 degrs 13S,14,15,16 BBC En SoAM Additional 2300-2400 slot from UK, instead of ASC. 12095 2300-0300 via SKN 300 230 degrs 12S,13,14,15,16 BBC En SoAM (BC-DX via DXLD) see also IRAN ** U K [non]. 7140 BBC Arabic, maintenance break at Cyprus, so replaced by Al Dhabbaya at 0730-0900. [for how long?] 7140 0300-0730 BBC CYP 300 170 degrs 38E,39SW,48NW BBC Arabic 7140 0730-0900 BBC DHA 500 270 degrs 39,40W 7140 0900-2400 BBC CYP 300 170 degrs 38E,39SW,48NW 17870 0700-0730 BBC CYP 300 077 degrs 40 BBC Pashto 17870 0730-0900 BBC DHA 500 345 degrs 40 BBC Persian (Fri?) 17870 0900-1300 BBC CYP 300 077 degrs 40,41NW BBC Pashto/Persian (BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) Hmmm, has BBC used DHA before? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. 'ASPIDISTRA' ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION On Wednesday the 1st of May an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the secret second world war 'Aspidistra' transmitter at Crowborough in Sussex will open. The exhibition is located at the Ashdown Forest Centre, Wych Cross, East Sussex, just off the A22 to the south of East Grinstead. Follow the AA signs off the A22. In 1942 'Aspidistra' was the most powerful broadcasting transmitter in the world. The 600- kilowatt transmitter was used for BBC World Service and European Service broadcasts on medium wave until 1982. The exhibition will contain photographs of the site and transmitter which was buried in secret underground bunkers. Also on display will be tapes of the broadcasts which were to deceive Germans into thinking they were listening to their own broadcasts. The exhibition is open from the 1st of May to the 30th of June from 2.00pm to 5.00pm weekdays and between 11.00an and 5.00pm at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Further details on the exhibition can be obtained by e-mail from David Ansell, RS 184720, at david.ansell@bushinternet.com (RSGB via Mike Terry, in the BDXC-UK mail list via May World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U K. UK MEDIA LAW SHAKE-UP SET TO BLOCK MURDOCH By Cathy Newman, Political Correspondent Published: April 28 2002 21:28 | Last Updated: April 29 2002 08:29 Rupert Murdoch is to be barred from expanding into free-to-air television stations in Britain under a shake-up of media laws to be announced within weeks. Downing Street is putting the finishing touches to the communications bill, which is to be published after this week's local elections. Currently, media organisations such as Mr Murdoch's News Corporation that control more than 20 per cent of the national newspaper market are prevented from buying more than 20 per cent of ITV, Channel 5 or a national or local radio service. Most of these cross-media restrictions are set to remain. However, according to details of the bill, the new laws will enable Mr Murdoch - whose newspapers have been courted by the New Labour government - to acquire more than 20 per cent of local radio stations, subject to strict conditions. But that is a small consolation prize, given his lack of interest in the sector to date. Ministers hope to avoid alienating Mr Murdoch, whose News Corp owns The Times, The Sun and 36.3 per cent of pay-TV group British Sky Broadcasting, in the run-up to any possible euro referendum. But they are also keen to preserve the editorial independence of the country's media. Downing Street could yet alter the fine print of the bill, which has been agreed by the trade and culture departments. The ownership changes will clear the way for a merger of struggling ITV groups Carlton Communications and Granada by scrapping the rules limiting one company to 15 per cent of the television audience. The radio changes will be a big relief to another national newspaper proprietor, Trinity Mirror, owner of the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror and a host of regional titles. The company will be free to pursue its long-stated aim of buying into local radio. Trinity Mirror does not give direct political donations, but it paid £55,250 in sponsorship to the Labour party in 2001, and £65,000 in 2000. An aide to Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, said that the new laws did not favour any one proprietor. "We are going to do this on principles rather than trying to be friendly to any media group." The two big national newspaper groups will still be prevented from buying more than 20 per cent of Channel 5 for the time being. But the Whitehall insider indicated that Ofcom, the new communications regulator, could review restrictions on Channel 5 ownership "if competition increases". The insider said: "Ofcom will be able to look at Channel 5 if the time comes, if there are other channels that come along." The changes to cross-media ownership rules were only recently agreed and will be published alongside the communications bill in a separate policy document. -------------------------------- From London's Financial Times, http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3M7FTCL0D&live=true&tagid=ZZZPB7GUA0C&subheading=UK (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Glenn: Here is an Israeli listener's comment to VOA News Now about the elimination of VOA English from 1260 and 1548, to make way for Radio Sawa. He says OK to use it in DXLD, if you want to use it.... Sir: I am at a loss as to why VOA is attempting to commit journalistic suicide in the Middle East. First, VOA news was taken off 1260 kHz, where it had resided for decades. Now you take it off 1548, which is also receivable in the Middle East. Do you now intend to take it off 792 and 1197, which are broadcast at odd-ball hours for long-distance propagation and which therefore afford poorer reception? Do you understand that not everyone in the Middle East speaks Arabic and/or not everyone is interested in what VOA thinks is lovable music in Arabic? I recall you as the Jerusalem correspondent. Surely you understand that. We in the Middle East need a hard news program and we need it in English, the universal language in this part of the world. You are alienating long-time listeners by causing us to perform frequency-chasing exercises, not to mention that you are running out of frequencies to deprive us of. Not everyone is willing or able to listen to short wave. Would you kindly preserve news in English on medium wave? I take the liberty of also sending this to Kim Elliott, who knows more about these issues than anyone else I've ever heard on radio. Sincerely, Dr J P Newman Department of Neurology Hadassah-University Hospital Jerusalem, Israel (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** U S A. http://www.nypost.com/technology/46724.htm April 29, 2002 -- DotcomScoop.com IF you try to listen to your favorite Internet radio station on Wednesday and you don't hear any music, don't be surprised. Web- casters are banding together in what's being called a "Day of Silence" to get the word out that their industry's future is on the line. The one-day blackout and informational blitz comes three weeks before The U.S. Copyright Office has to decide whether to accept, reject or amend a ruling from an arbitration panel that, if accepted, could put thousands of Web-casters out of business. "We're seriously concerned," Raghav Gupta, chief operating officer of Live365.com told The Post. [...] (via Joel Rubin, CA, swprograms via DXLD) KCRW is the only public radio station I have heard about actually doing this. Others? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. AMATEURS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ARMED FORCES DAY ON-AIR EVENT NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 29, 2002 --- Amateur Radio operators are invited to take part in the 52nd celebration of Armed Forces Day by exchanging contacts with Army Air Force, Navy-Marine Corps and Coast Guard radio stations. This year`s traditional Armed Forces Day Anniversary and Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will take place the weekend of May 11-12. ``These tests give Amateur Radio operators and short-wave listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills and receive recognition from the Secretary of Defense or the appropriate military station for their proven expertise,`` the chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) said in announcing the event. Armed Forces Day actually falls on May 18, but the office of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld rescheduled the traditional cross-band communications test to avoid a conflict with the Dayton Hamvention May 17-19. During the cross-band test, military stations in the continental US, Germany and Hawaii will listen on amateur frequencies in the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-meter bands and transmit on selected MARS frequencies -- - a mode of operation similar to the split operation used by many DXers. Participating military stations will announce their listening frequencies. Not all stations will be active on all amateur bands. Starting at 1100 UT on May 11 (individual stations` operating hours will vary), 13 military stations will be on the air on SSB and will exchange QSL cards. MARS has requested that contacts be limited to two minutes or less. Depending on staffing and propagation, some stations may not be on the air during the entire communications test period. Ten additional stations will transmit the Secretary of Defense`s Armed Forces Day message at stated intervals via digital modes including PACTOR, AMTOR, G-TOR and Clover. Commemorative certificates will be awarded to amateurs submitting ``as received`` hard-copy evidence of successful reception. A full listing of stations, frequencies, anticipated hours of operation and operating instructions is available on the Army MARS Web site http://www.asc.army.mil/MARS/afd/mars_afd.htm (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Seattle Free Radio, 6945, 0057- Apr 28. Strong reception, so I assume they are in fact in the Pacific northwest. Having mike problems. Barely able to make out the ID, though taped items (Treasure Island, etc) were very clearly heard. ID at 0057. 'This concludes our broadcast day' over and over, and multilingual goodbyes, bagpipes, the Last Post, etc. Strange! Seattlefreeradio@yahoo.com address. Donations encouraged. Website given. Then into the Star Spangled Banner. Suffered from some feedback. Nasty tone, then '73s everybody, Seattle Free Radio' and off (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NORTH AMERICA ** U S A. NRC member Ray Arruda sent this message to me, and I'm forwarding to club members, with great sorrow: It is with great sadness that I report to you the passing of longtime NRC member, DXer and Musings Editor Ernest Cooper on Sunday April 28, 2002. He died of complications from pneumonia at Cape End Manor Nursing Home in Provincetown at age 84. Condolences, cards, letters may be sent to his longtime friend and companion Bob Stenger at 5 Anthony Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. He was a very good friend and I along with many will miss him dearly. 73, Ray Arruda (via Paul Swearingen, NRC, April 29, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) Although I never met him this news is so sad. He was such a great DX'er and always willing to help a new comer like myself. He will be missed by all of us (Shawn Axelrod, Manitoba, ibid.) I couldn't agree with you more. I did meet Ernest at a number of NRC and WTFDA Conventions thru the years and attended the get togethers he held in Brooklyn during the 1960s. I first met him in Nov. 1960 at one of those get togethers, not too long after I joined the NRC. I have missed his musings in DXN for quite a few years now as he gave up AM DXing for health reasons a while back (his doctor wouldn't allow him to get up in the middle of the night to DX......). Yes, he will be missed (Joe Fela, ibid.) In a lot of ways, Ernie was the heart and soul of the National Radio Club for many years. His "Musings" column was how the various members got to know each other before there was an internet, and he often had the task of cranking out several pages of Musings on a weekly basis using his manual typewriter --- and he did so, year after year. He still found time to DX, and even managed to hear WERA (long-time members will recall that as Ernie's closest unheard, and he chased it for years before finally succeeding). For most of his life, Ernie DXed from Brooklyn, and in the fall of 1974 he took early retirement from the Federal Reserve to move to Provincetown, where --- with the reduced QRM and sea paths --- he DXed with the enthusiasm of a kid. He also got interested in FM DX and hosted a program of march music, "Forward, March!", on the local FM station. Above all, he was a terrific person. Did he have a single enemy in the DX hobby? Guys like Ernie made the DXing hobby fun for a lot of people over the years. We'll never see his like again. RIP, old friend (Harry Helms AK6C Ridgecrest, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) In a way, there's not much more to add to Harry's comments, but in another way, there indeed is. Ernie's stamp on the NRC goes back into the 1930's. In terms of continuous service to the club, his record will surely never be equalled. I remember first meeting him at one of his Brooklyn Thanksgiving Get- Togethers. I cannot recall if I went by myself or with someone else, nor what year it was, although I'd guess 1964 or 1965. There was a good crowd, many of them regulars, others not. I met many new friends there, some of whom are still active and with whom I'm still in touch. And he outlived WERA after he'd finally logged it! We've lost a great DX'er, a gentleman, and for those of us privileged to have known him, a lasting friend. 73's, Ernie ! (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) I knew when I saw the subject line of Paul's email that it had to be really bad news, and it was. I'm a sad person right now after reading it all. Ernie was Mr. NRC to me. When I got my first sample bulletin in '67 (?), there was Ernie running the Musings. I'm not sure when he started, but I believe he ended up with about a 40 year reign. I hope somebody will give him the retrospective that he deserves and fill in all the right dates. I am not so sure it was just coincidence that over the weekend a small picture fell out of a book and I fetched it to find out that it was a picture Ernie had sent me of him, Joe Brauner, etc. from the 50's or 60's. I'm sorry I didn't get to see Ernie again. It had been too long since I had last seen him. The presence of the ghosts of club history and Ernie are really felt heavily right now. I really do hope that we can get together and make some sort of memorial to Ernie and put it on the NRC server. He was our Arthur Cushen, a real legend, and an era has passed. The old gentleman has ridden off into the sunset (Chuck Hutton, Redmond WA, ibid.) I was very sad to hear about the passing of Ernie Cooper. Even though I never met the man, I have talked with him and exchanged letters many times. He was always there to help a DXer if he could. When I used to call he talked a lot about how important QSLing is to the hobby and we both wished more DXers would take an interest in it. When you think about the term AM DX, Ernie's name should come to mind. He will really be missed. Rest in Peace, Ernie (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) Ernie was a mainstay of the NRC when I joined the club in 1958. I met him several times, including conventions in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1983, and at area meetings such as at John Sampson`s in New Jersey in 1964. I was a regular contributor to his superb Musings columns down through the years, and I backed him up during the difficult times of the NRC/IRCA split in 1964. We often wrote to each other on DX matters and I valued his wisdom. I visited Ernie in 1980 in Provincetown and we had a wonderful time together discussing our common hobby, DX. He was truly a National Radio Club great, and we will miss him. And his huge collection of veries was incontestable. When Ernie counted a station we knew it was for real (Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford, PA, ibid.). When I first joined the NRC in April of 1956, I was impressed by the friendliness of the club, and the great sense of personal contact, as exemplified by Ernie Cooper's musings column. Ernie always found a quip or a quote from one of the Musings to highlight on the front page of the bulletin, and I remember what a thrill it was when something I wrote made it. Shortly after I joined the club, I volunteered for the draft, and as luck would have it, after basic training, I was assigned to the Army Information School at Fort Slocum, on an island just off New Rochelle, N.Y. I arrived in New York by bus the night before I was to report to Fort Slocum. I called Ernie Cooper and he, graciously, at short notice, not only invited me to visit, but he also put me up for the night. Ernie was the first NRC'er I had met in person, and he was a tremendous ambassador for the club. Later during my stay at Fort Slocum, Ernie arranged for an opportunity for me to meet two other New York City DX'ers, Jim O'Brien of Brooklyn and Bernie Duffy of Staten Island. A long friendship with Bernie Duffy evolved ... and Bernie visited with me in Fort Worth when he flew to the area to be fitted with a prosthetic device. Ernie Cooper knew us all. We were all his friends. He believed Musings should be open to all contributions, no matter how controversial, and on several occasions battled for this belief ... Board of Directors Chairman Hank Ward in 1958 thought some of the argumentative Musings should have been cut ... there was a problem during the period in the early '60s that led to the formation of the IRCA ... and later, Ernie did not care for the decision that eliminated poetry from Musings, sticking up for the right of a troubled kid with a tin ear to continue to make his weekly contribution. Ernie was, indeed, the spirit of the NRC, but he was also the sprite of the NRC. Until his health made it prohibitive, he was a regular convention attendee. Following conventions in the '50s and '60s, we could expect a clever convention poem from the late Carroll Seth of Buffalo (who died in that tragic wreck on the way to the Indianapolis convention in 1962) and then and beyond, Ernie would capture the laughter we shared with a page or two one one-liners that related to precious convention experiences. The wit often was pure corn, but every once in a while, Ernie would come up with the real gem. Ernie was so well loved, though, that he could get away with pure corn, and we loved it. I remember "Omaha-ha-ha-ha" from 1959 and "West-perings from Cedar Rapids" in 1965. He had a T-shirt for every occasion, it seems, and that first pops into my mind is the one I submitted to Fred Vobbe for the picture file on the NRC website. He balked at dressing formally for the club banquets, and at one of the Louisville conventions, he wore a T-short with the word "NECKTIE" printed horizontally down the middle of the shirt. When I went to the Buffalo convention in 1964, the convention date coincided with the date a dear, young lady friend of mine was due to fly from LaGuardia to Tunisia for her stint as a Peace Corps English teacher. Since I was going to New York anyway, I saved Ernie and Bob Stenger air fare by taking them from Buffalo to Brooklyn following the convention. It was one of the most enjoyable conversations of my life, and, while I have had occasion to cart Bob Feller and, later, Jay Randolph from place to place, Ernie is my all-time favorite passenger! (Well, with certain personal exceptions!) Ernie, during his tenure as Musings Editor, also made the FCC information a part of his Musings Column. It was Ernie who invented the antenna pattern symbols D1, D3, U1, U2, U3, U4, etc., because they were shorter than the FCC's system of DA-D, DA-N, NDA, etc., and those descriptions remain in use today, not only in DX News but also in the U.S. and Canadian listings in WRTH. Ernie also invented the abbreviation "SS" for Spanish Speaker, and transmogrified it into EE for English, GG for German, PP for Portuguese, FF for French, etc., another system of abbreviations in wide use today. Ernie's "SSB" stood for "Star-Spangled Banner" long before "Single-Sideband" became an operative phrase. And then there was the trauma when GSTK became GSTQ! One of Ernie's pet peeves was ham lingo, and it was only grudgingly that he succumbed to the use of "73." But he wasn't too proud to invent his own code, such as "CUN 7" for "See you in Seven Days," when the next Musings Column would be in our mail boxes. Another pet peeve was the move of his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles. He was a devout baseball fan until then and I doubt that he ever brought himself to go to Shea Stadium to watch the imposters play. I was only able to attend one of Ernie's Brookyn get-togethers at 438 E. 21st Street, just a couple of blocks from the Courtelyou Avenue subway stop. That was 35 years ago, but the address and the subway stop remain fixed in my memory. For a brief period of time, in the overall scheme of things, Ernie Cooper was part of the "Triumvirate" that served as the NRC government from 1961 to 1968, during simpler times before the club wisely incorporated and established the checks and balances that resulted in the smooth operation we've been blessed most of the time since. The publisher, the IDXD editor, and the Musings Editor were designated, at the NRC convention in Omaha in 1961, to BE the government. Publishers during that period were Pop Edge, then Dick Cooper (no relation to Ernie), then myself. IDXD editors were Pete Taylor, myself, and Gordon Nelson. Ernie Cooper, of course, was Musings Editor during the entire time frame. Of these "potentates," only Pete and I survive. The greatest of us now are gone. If there were two words that could sum up Ernie Cooper's 60-plus years with NRC, they would be "sharing" and "caring." If the word "legendary" can be applied to any of us in this strange and unique hobby, it should first be applied to the Spirit and the Sprite of the NRC, Ernest R. Cooper. Reverently, (John Callarman, Krum TX, ibid.) You are right about Ernie being the sprite as well. Remember how he morphed into "Hefty Blooper" around April 1 each year? And his anagrams from station call letters, like "As they say in Warsaw, Indiana, WNMM -- we need more Musings!" (Harry Helms, ibid.) Truly a sad day for the NRC. We have lost a true NRC and BCB DX legend. Paul S., can we dedicate the rest of this DX News volume to Ernie or find a way to honor him? If anyone deserves a DX News/NRC "memorial", it's Mr. Cooper. Let's hope there's an HQ180A in heaven for Ernie to use! (Bruce Winkelman, AA5CO, Tulsa, OK, ibid.) Many NRCers were lucky enough to talk to Ernie early in the AM, I certainly remember him being very kind and patient to a teenager calling from Central Illinois. It was great eating pizza with him at a Louisville NRC convention. R.I.P. ERC (except for the nighttime DX sessions of course, as I imagine there's no static there) (Eric Loy, Champaign IL, ibid.) I've never had the pleasure of meeting Ernie. I almost feel I know him as a result of his frequent musings and other contributions to DX News though. He's certainly one of the most influential members - and one about whom I've never heard a bad word spoken. The hobby can't afford to lose members like this. Unfortunately that's beyond our control... (Doug Smith, W9WI, ibid.) I'm not as eloquent as some of you, but I too knew Ernie and I would like to echo the sentiments expressed by Helms, Edmunds, Hutton, Dangerfield, Callarman and others by simply stating that ERC was quite a guy and he will be missed - Forward March! (Marc DeLorenzo, Marstons Mills, Mass., ibid.) ** U S A. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: MANY BROADCASTERS WILL NOT MEET MAY 2002 DIGITAL TELEVISION DEADLINE GAO-02-466 April 23, 2002 The transition of broadcast television stations throughout the United States from analog to digital television (DTV) is under way. This transition to digital technologies was sought by many broadcasters and was mandated by Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). At some point, the analog signals are to be discontinued, leaving television stations to continue broadcasting only in digital format. FCC established 2006 as the target date for ending analog transmissions and this was later codified by Congress. At the present time, at least 24 percent of all commercial television stations are broadcasting a digital signal. However, current DTV stations reported that they perceive little interest in DTV among consumers in their viewing area at the present time. Compared with transitioning stations, current DTV stations are less likely to report having had as many problems in building their DTV stations. Transitioning stations reported funding to be one of the most prevalent problems in building their DTV stations. Seventy-four percent of transitioning stations reported that the problems they are facing are so significant that their station may not be able to begin broadcasting a DTV signal by May 2002, as required. Sixty-eight percent of transitioning stations said that, were FCC to extend its deadline for having the digital signal on the air, a realistic extension for them would be one year or more. Thirty-one percent of the transitioning stations that said they might miss their May 2002 deadline reported that, if the transition were driven by market forces such as competition, technology, and consumer demand, they likely would not be on the air with a digital signal until after 2010. Another four percent of these stations reported that without a government mandate, they likely would never transition to digital (GAO via Kevin Redding, NRCFMTV via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. High Adventure Global Network in A-02: 1200-1600 UT Novosibirsk 13590 kHz towards China (100 degr). The station announces only "You are listening to the High Adventure World R Network" with no mention about transmitting station. English until 1245 UT, Vietnamese 1245-1400 and Mandarin 1400-1600. S-off at 1600. High Adventure Ministries web-site lists this as "China Beacon". (BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) Previously reported on x2 27180 an hour earlier; DST time conversion confusion? (gh, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN [non]. Uzbek is indeed spoken in NW China, but only by a very small minority. As far as I know, CNR has no broadcasts in Uzbek. The Kazakhs are the largest Turkic minority (more than 1 million) next to the Uigurs, who amount to more that 7 million. The Kirghiz amount to over 150,000, so the Uzbeks must be much fewer than 100,000. Maybe Uzbek is understood by many Uighurs? Uzbek and Uighur belong to the same (southeastern) subgroup of the Turkic langs. Northern Uzbek is close to Kazakh, but standard Uzbek is based on the southern dialect, which has been influenced by Tajik (Olle Alm, Sweden, Apr 25, BC-DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Spurious signals +/-70 kHz for Voice of Vietnam from fundamental 13740: [i.e., 13670, 13810 --- gh] 1100-1127 in Spanish // 11640 1130-1157 in Russian // 11640 1300-1327 in French // 11640 1330-1357 in English // 11640 1600-1627 in English // 11640 1630-1657 in Russian // 11640 1700-1757 in Vietnamese // 11640 9725 1800-1827 in English // 11640 9725 1830-1857 in French // 11640 9725 1900-1927 in English // 11640 1930-1957 in French // 11640 2000-2027 in Spanish // 11640 2030-2057 in English // 11640 2100-2127 in French // 11640 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Hmong Service of the Voice of Vietnam finishes its morning broadcasting on 5035 kHz at 2259. Evening broadcasts continue till 1329 (not 1400 as per ILG database). (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal April 29 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Son La noted signing on just before 1200 on 28 April with a very clear ID and Hmong-style music on the usual 4796v. Has been reported on 4725, but all I could hear on 4725 was Myanmar radio with its usual severe transmitter buzz (Alan Davies, Indonesia, BC-DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Bearing change for relay at 0400 UT [via CANADA]. 6175 0100-0400 VOV SAC 250 212 degrs 8, 11W VOV 6175 0400-0500 VOV SAC 250 268 degrs 2,6 VOV (BC-DX April 30 via DXLD) Thought they always changed then (gh, DXLD) ** WALES [non]. 17845, 1230-1300 MNO RMP 500 062 55,56,58-60 Sat Wales Celtic Notes. 17615 RMP at 1230-1300 is listed for Wales R (Sat 1230-1300) so I assume this has moved to 17845 (Noel R. Green, UK, BC- DX Apr 25 via DXLD) U.K.: Freq change for Wales Radio Int/Celtic Notes in English via Rampisham 500 kW, 062 deg 1230-1300 Sat only NF 17845 (55544), ex 17615 to avoid VOT in En and RDP in Port (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 30 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR, V. of People, 7310, 0330- Apr 28. Listened carefully this evening. Reception wasn't too bad, with usual brief musical piece, then I'm quite sure that I heard 'Radio Voice of Peace'. I suppose, though, he might have said Radio VOP. Could someone in the area confirm the actual ID once and for all? (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-071, April 28, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1128: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Mon 0500 on 3210, Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Mon 0630?, 1230?, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** BAKER ISLAND. Posted by Tony on April 28, 19102 at 18:33:34: K1B heard April 28 in Pacific around UT 1230 on 14021 1600 on 7004 2230 on 21020; all CW (Monitoring Times chat board via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. !!! Frequency update !!! Russia - Krasnodar Tbilisskaya: 17785 kHz (250 kW) Lithuania - Vilnius Sitkunai: 9945 kHz (100 kW) Germany - Jülich: 7180 kHz (100 kW) [addition] On the occasion of its 20th anniversary DX-Antwerp will broadcast a special commemorative program, on the 25th of May 2002 between 0800 and 0900 UT. The program will be aired via the 3 stations listed above. A specially issued QSL card will be available for correct reception reports. During this broadcast five keywords will be given. If you note at least 4 of these keywords, you can send them, together with a reception report to the following address: DX-Antwerp, PO Box 16, B- 2660 Hoboken, Belgium or email us at: qsl@dxa.be. After verification of your report, we will send you this special DX-Antwerp QSL card by mail (Guido Schotmans - Antwerp, BELGIUM, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A respeito de informação veiculada nesta lista dando conta de que a Rádio Gazeta de São Paulo/SP haveria deixado de transmitir a programação da Igreja Pentecostal Deus é Amor, do Pr. David Miranda, gostaria de tornar pública uma carta que me foi endereçada pela referida emissora, datada de 21.03.2002 e assinada por Benedito Leite da Costa (e-mail: fuba@r...) "Amigo Márcio, Recebi sua correspondência contendo informações que você ouviu a Rádio Gazeta OC 31 mts-9685khz, e fico muito agradecido. Márcio, a programação da Rádio/AM e OCs - 24hrs, é toda locada pela Igreja Deus é Amor do Pr. Davi Miranda; e de segunda à sexta das 08h00 às 13h00 nós temos a Rádio Universitária c/ uma programação voltada aos trabalhos da Faculdade Cásper Líbero e na qual eu faço um programa o "Encontro Marcado"que é das 10h30 às 11h00 toda sexta-feira..." Na mesma carta há informação das frequências e potências da Rádio, as quais gostaria de compartilhar com todos: ZYK 690, AM 890 kHz, 50 kW ZYE 962, 5955 kHz, 10 kW ZYE 963, 9685 kHz, 7.5 kW ZYE 964, 15325 kHz, 1 kW ZYD 821, FM 88.1 MHz, 70 kW Atenciosamente, (Márcio Roberto Polheim da Silva, Jaraguá do Sul/SC, radioescutas via DXLD) Prezado Márcio, A carta que recebestes é datada de 21 de março. Portanto, faz algum tempo. Tenho monitorado a emissora praticamente todos os dias. Ela passou a semana inteira com programação musical e, hoje, por volta de 03h UTC, todas as freqüências, em ondas curtas, estavam mudas. Se 5955 kHz prosseguir fora do ar, a dica é a sintonia do Canal África, que não consegue chegar por aqui, devido a interferência da emissora da Cásper Líbero. Complementando a informação, acabo de sintonizar a Gazeta, em 5955 kHz, com muita interferência da Rádio Pio Doce, e com uma interessante informação: o locutor está anunciando uma nova emissora. Ele diz: 'Aguarde! Vem aí a primeira rádio universitária em AM! Gazeta!' Será que teremos novidades? Até as próprias músicas já mudaram. Agora, é mais estilo MPB. Vamos aguardar .... (Celio Romais, Porto Alegre - Brasil, April 27, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio-Canada Nord-Quebec, 9625, schedule, effective Sept 2001, English only extracted, and converted to UT during DST; much other programming in French, Inuktitut, Cree, etc.: M-F 1300 News; 1700 News; 2100 Canada at Five; 2130 Regional News; 2200 News and The World At Six; 2230 As It Happens; Tue-Sat 0000 News; 0100 News; 0200 News, The Arts Today; 0240 Between the Covers; 0400- 0500 News, Northern Lights [classical music]; 0500-0507 News. Sat 1100 and 1200 World Report and All In A Weekend until 1300; 1300 World Report, The House; 1400 and 1500 News, and Basic Black until 1600; 1600 News, Quirks & Quarks; 1700 News, Definitely Not the Opera; 2100 News, Art Talks; 2300 News, Global Village. Sun 0000 and 0100 News, and Finkleman`s 45`s to 0200; 0200 News, À propos [I think this be in English despite the French title, but not sure – gh]; 0300 and 0400 News, and Saturday Night Blues to 0500. 0500-0507 News. 1100 News and Fresh Air; 1200 World Report and Fresh Air; 1300 World Report, and The Sunday Edition to 1600, with News at 1400, 1500. 2200 The World This Weekend; 2230 Sound Advice until 2400 with news at 2300. Mon 0000 and 0100 News, and On Stage; 0200 News and Sunday Showcase; 0300 and 0400 News, and Jazz Beat to 0500; 0500-0507 News (via Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. LOGGINGS FROM EXUMA, SOUTHERN BAHAMAS, APRIL 2002 Full bandscan and a few sound clips are available at: http://havana.iwsp.com/radio/exuma2002/ 1280 R. Guaimaro, Guaimaro, Camagüey, new here and apparently full-time, ex-part time on 1400, sports news (béisbol nacional), 1726 ID, into "La Vida Es un Carnaval", 1800 theme and "Noticiero Provincial de Radio", Apr 8. Still no sign of listed R. Rectángulo or R Mambí. 1420 R. Grito de Baire, Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba. New station. Cha cha cha by Orquesta Aragón, then novela 1353 Apr 9; Original de Manzanillo with guaracha song, Chico Buarque song, ID into Noticiero Nacional Apr 10 1300. ID at 1400 said "Estimados oyentes, están escuchando Radio Grito de Baire, CMJH; transmite desde Contramaestre, provincia de Santiago de Cuba, através de los 1420 kHz en Amplitud Modulada. Ésta es la hora exacta: dos en el mediano." Never would have parsed out ID without a Google search on "Contramaestre" and "Radio". [so all these times are UT -4??] 1430 R Amanecer, Primero de Enero, Ciego de Ávila. New part-timer, noted when taking one last bandscan during last hour of the last day of beach listening. Happened to note this one not // as usual to 1440, and almost immediately ID'ed 1718 Apr 15: "Por las 1430 kHz Amplitud Modulada, ustedes escuchan a Radio Amanecer, desde Primero de Enero, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba" then into music. Every other time checked, heard R Surco // 1440. (Jay Novello, Wake Forest, NC, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Habana Cuba posee el siguiente esquema de emisiones en español, vigente de Marzo a Octubre de 2002: 0000-0100 6049 [sic --- 6000?], 9820 Norteamerica 0000-0500 5965 Mexico 0000-0500 9600 Sudamerica [N] 0000-0500 11760 Sudamerica [N/C] 0000-0500 15230 Sudamerica [S] 1100-1400 6000 Caribe 1100-1500 11760 Sudamerica [N/C] 1200-1400 9550 Mexico 1200-1400 15230 Sudamerica [S] 2100-2300 13605, 15120 Europa 2100-2300 11705, 15230 Sudamerica 2300-0100 6000 Caribe (Lun a Vie) 2300-0100 11875 Centroamerica (Lun a Vie) Nota: El programa "Aló Presidente" a cargo del Presidente de Venezuela Hugo Chávez, se irradia los Domingos desde las 1400 UT por los 6140, 11705, 11875, 15230 y 17750 KHz. [17750 would be new, ex-9505 -- gh] {and more importantly 15230 is new and our ex-best 9820 is gone; is one of these still beamed to NAm??} Transmisiones en otros idiomas: 0000-0030 Frances 9550 0000-0030 Quechua 17705 0030-0100 Frances 9550 0100-0130 Creole 9550 0100-0500 Ingles 6000, 9820, 11705 0130-0200 Frances 9550 0500-0700 Ingles 9550, 9665, 9820 0700-0730 Esperanto 9820 (Dom) 1500-1530 Esperanto 11760 (Dom) 1930-2000 Esperanto 13750 (Dom) 2000-2030 Frances 13660, 13750 2000-2030 Portugues 13605, 15120 2030-2130 Ingles 13660, 13750 2130-2200 Creole 9550 2200-2230 Frances 9550 2200-2230 Esperanto 13750 (Dom) 2200-2230 Portugues 17705 2230-2300 Guarani 17705 [2230-2330 Ingles to Caribe 9550 not mentioned here; cancelled? -- gh] {no, still there, confirmed May 1} 2300-2330 Portugues 17705 2300-2400 Portugues 15230 2330-2400 Creole 9550 2330-2400 Esperanto 9505, 9600, 11760 (Dom) 2330-2400 Guarani 17705 QTH: R. Habana Cuba, Apartado 6240, La Habana, Cuba. Web: http://www.radiohc.cu (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 28 via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. Dear Glenn, For your records something on FM stations of Cyprus. 73,s. Costa ****** Forwarded Message Follows ******* Hi Costa, I'll just send the logs again in this format in case this is more helpful: 87.5 Bayrak Classic, Sinan Dagi 87.5 Unid Continous Turkish pops, No Speech, Lefkosa 87.8 Bayrak Intl, Sinan Dagi 88.0 Unid Local, Kyrenia (Yagin Dogu FM??) 88.2 Love radio, Limassol 88.3 Bayrak Classical, Kyrenia 88.4 R Mega, Larnaca 88.6 Akdeniz FM, Kyrenia Area 88.6v R Anastasti, Nicosia 88.7 Sky FM, Limassol 88.8 TRT-FM, Unlisted Relay on N Cyprus, No RDS, Kyrenia Area 89.0 Kiss FM, Nicosia C3F6 10 PTY 10 M (Dynamic PS) 89.3 R Proton, Larnaca 89.7 BFBS-1, Nicosia 89.8 BFBS-2, Ay. Nik 90.0 First FM, Lefkosa (NOT on 105.6 as listed in WRTH) 90.1 Unid Greek stn w pops, Nicosia? 90.2 PIK-1, Larnaca//693 90.6 Bayrak-1, Sinan Dagi \\ 1098 Khz 90.8 Sports One, Limassol 90.9 R Napa, Ayia Napa 91.1 PIK-2, MT Olympus 91.4 Coast radio, Limassol (Not 24 hrs) 91.4 PIK-1, Paralimni 91.7 BFBS-2, Nicosia, Relays BBC R4 in the morning 91.7 Astra, Pafos 91.75v Radio Kokkinochoria, Kokkinochoria Paralimni. 91.8 R Niata, Larnaca 91.9 GRK unid 92.0 GRK unid 92.1 Bayrak FM, Kyrenia (3rd Prog) \\ 98.1 24hrs 92.1 BFBS-1, Larnaca and Limassol 92.4 Pik-2, Larnaca 92.5 R Pafos, Pafos 92.8 Astra, Mt Olympus 93.1 Greek Pops, Nicosia 93.3v R Zenon, Larnaca, RLG 93.3 PIK-1, Pafos 93.6 R Pafos, Pafos 93.6 R Eraklis, Nicosia 93.9 Super 94.1 Apostolos, Andreas 94.2 PIK-2, Paralimni 94.4 TRT-3, Unlisted Relay on N CYP, No RDS, Kyrenia Area 94.8 PIK-3, Mt Olympus 95.2 Unid, Famagusta Area (N. Cyp) 95.3 BFBS-2, East Sovereign Base 95.5 Dance FM, unid site N. Cyprus 2101 10 PTY 10 M (Dynamic PS) 95.8 Dance FM, Unid Site N. Cyprus, No RDS on this tx, even though the Dynamic PS on the 95.5 tx gives this as the main frequency 96.0 PIK-1, Larnaca//603 96.1 R Capital, Limassol 96.4 R Zenith, Vavatsinia 2001 10 PTY 09 M No AF ZENITH__(Dynamic) 96.5 PIK-2, Pafos 96.6 R Larnaca, Larnaca 96.8 R Pyrgos, Pafos 96.8 Unid, ID sounded like "Radio Ivislon" (Greek) 96.9 R. Ammochostos, Nicosia 97.0 TRT-1, Unid tx in N. Cyp, No RDS, Kyrenia Area 97.2 PIK-1, Mt Olympus 97.5 R Colon/Coast, Famagusta, N. Cyp 97.7 "OZ FM", Lefkosa (Turkish station with electronic music) 97.9 PIK-3, Paralimni 98.1 Bayrak FM, Sinan Dagi, Local pops 98.2 R Limassol, Limassol 98.4 Canali 7, Nicosia 98.6 Sim FM, unid site (Kyrenia Area) not // with Mainland Turkish Station of the same name on 89.5 98.6 Kanel 986, Limassol 98.9 Super FM, Kyrenia 99.0 R Pafos, Pafos 99.0 R 99 FM/Ennemedia FM, Larnaca 99.3 R Proton, Nicosia 99.6 BFBS, Larnaca 99.8 PIK-3, Pafos 99.9 R.Top, Nicosia 100.2 Kibris FM, Quantara //103.4 100.2 Radio Yialoussa and Epilogi, Pafos 100.4 Unid Local \\ 104.3, tx is at Sevili tepe 100.7 Athina R, Nicosia 100.8 Unid Greek 101.1 R Logos, Trodos Mountains 101.4 Unid, NOT "D Radyo", N.CYP 101.6 R Logos, Unid site \\ 101.1 101.8 TRT, Kyrenia 102.0 Radio Yialoussa and Epilogi, Pafos 102.0 Bayrak 1, Kyrenia 102.0 Antenna Radio, Nicosia \\ 102.4 102.2 Unid Russian Stn, Limassol 102.4 R Logos, Kykkos \\ 101.1 102.4 Antenna Radio, Nicosia \\ 102.0 102.4 R Magic, Larnaca 102.7 Tymbou, Larnaca 103.0 R Pyrgos, Pafos 103.0 R Frederick, Nicosia 103.0 R Melody, Limassol 103.1 R Greco, Ayia Napa 103.4 Kibris FM,Sevili Tepe 103.7 Tymbou, Larnaca 103.9 R camares, larnaca 104.0 Metro FM, Kyrenia 104.3 "R. Vatanta?", unid site \\ 100.4 104.3 R Epistrophi, Nicosia 104.7 Super FM, Limassol 105.0 Bayrak Intl, Kyrenia (Shuts Down at Midnight) 105.0 Aris, Pafos 105.1 Astra, Unid Site 105.3 Unid, Turkish Stn, N. Cyp 105.4 Radio Diastasi, Nicosia 105.6 Policia FM, (Nicosia?) 105.6 Unid another Greek Stn, NOT The above 105.7 Stereo Blank Carrier, Kyrenia 105.8 Unid Turkish Local, Karpasia, HUM on Audio During Ad Breaks 106.0 Radio One, Nicosia 106.0 Unid Turkish, N. Cyp 106.3 R Contact, Peristeron 106.3 R Blue Star, Nicosia 106.5 R Emu, Famagusta 106.7 Unid Turkish, N. Cyp 106.8 TRT-FM, Unid site, Kyrenia Area \\ 88.8 107.0 Kral FM, Sinan dagi?? "on satellite" , relay of a Turkish national Commerciall FM stn, Kyrenia Area 107.0 Unid, N. Cyp sounds like "Elacke radio" 107.2 R Amore, Limassol 107.3 Unid Greek Stn 107.6 R Elios, Vavatsinia FFFF 00 PTY 00 M STATION_ 108.1 Turkish Unid w ads for Premises in Lefkosa Compiled By Tim Bucknall, Costa Constantinides & Christian Bruelhart Please send any Corrections/additions/updates to Tim.bucknall@skywaves.info (Tim Bucknall, UK, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. LA VOZ DEL NAPO STILL ON AIR FROM TENA; RUNS RADIO MARIA ECUADOR OVERNIGHT Tena, Apr 20 (CRU) --- HCVN7 La Voz del Napo, the Catholic radio station of the Josephite Mission on 3280 kHz in the eastern slope jungles of Ecuador, is still on the air with its own programming, and runs the internationally reported Radio María Ecuador only overnight, reports Rafael Rodríguez of Colombia in the Argentine radio club magazine, Conexión-Digital. ``I want to comment on this station, which still continues to present regular programming in Quechua and Spanish from 9 a.m. to 10:55 p.m. Then from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. it rebroadcasts the signal of Radio María Ecuador and occasionally Radio María Colombia in parallel with 1220 AM there in Bogotá.`` Catholic Radio Update had run an item several weeks about La Voz del Napo, which does not appear on the official shortwave station list of the Ecuadorian government, having revived and now broadcasting Radio María Ecuador. It has been reported in Italy and Argentina, but at night, which fits in with the report of Señor Rodríguez. Both Radio María Ecuador and Radio María Colombia receive this newsletter`s Spanish edition, Radio Católica al Día, but like so many other readers, neither bother to send in information or correct it when I get it wrong. Database: Tena: HCVN7 La Voz del Napo, 3280 kHz (2,500 watts). Misión Josefina, Tena. Señor Ramiro Cabrera, director. Relays Radio María Ecuador, sometimes Radio María Colombia, overnight (Catholic Radio Update April 29 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo, a las 0045 UT, con pobre señal y mal audio por los 9740 kHz con SINPO: 22232, siempre y cuando continúe sin trasmitir Radio Nacional de Paraguay, por 9736, si no es inaudible. He envíado una carta al Apartado 566, El Cairo, Egipto, manifestando los incovenientes para la correcta escuha, cuando tenga contestación se los haré saber. (He sugerido la utilización de la banda de los 22 metros que está menos congestionada). Atte. (Manrique Beceiro, Uruguay, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Rechecked YLE UT Sun Apr 28 after 0000 for Capital Weekend. Unlike the night before, English audible on 11990 \\ 13730, better on the latter, but both poor and unlistenable. Anyhow, we now know it is scheduled UT Sundays, not UT Saturdays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Esquema de Radio Finlandia en inglés, vigente de 31/03/02 a 27/10/02: 0000-0100 11990, 13730 Domingos 0630-0700 15135, 21670 Lun a Sáb 1000-1100 15330, 21520 Sábados 1230-1300 15400, 17670 Lun a Sáb (via Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 28 via DXLD) ** IRAN. La Voz de Irán: con excelente recepción a las 0230 UT por la nueva frecuecia de 13730, con SINPO: 45444. Esquema en español Irán: Europa: 2030: 9705 y 11765 América: 0030: 13755, 9655 y 9515 " : 0130: 9560 y 9810 " : 0230: 13730 Europa: 0430: 17785 y 17590 (Manrique Beceiro, Uruguay, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. BAGHDAD USES SATELLITE TV TO INTIMIDATE EXILED OPPONENTS By Charles Recknagel The phone call that Faiq Sheikh Ali, an exiled writer in London, received from Iraq early this year should have been a happy one. On the line was one of his close relatives telling him to watch Iraqi satellite TV because family members would be appearing on it soon. That would give him a rare chance to see and hear his loved ones, whom he has not met in person for more than 10 years. But if the message sounded appealing, the tone of the caller's voice -- flat and emotionless -- assured Ali that seeing his family on TV would be anything but pleasant. Ali described the call in a recent interview with Radio Free Iraq correspondent Sami Shoresh: "I have two brothers with me in London. The Iraqi security forces arrested my family [in Iraq] and spoke with them about my situation. They told my family members: 'Contact your sons in London and tell them that you will appear on Iraqi satellite television on such-and-such a day.'" When Ali watched the Iraqi satellite channel at the appointed time, he saw his mother, two sisters, and a brother nervously take turns denouncing him in a video made in their house in Najaf, south of Baghdad. His mother, dressed in the dark robes traditionally worn by women in the south, said, "Your father died because of your activity...you have to think about us." His younger brother sat uncomfortably beside his mother. "I don't want to say 'hello' to my brother...I don't know him," he said. At another point in the 25-minute ordeal, a younger sister also spoke up. "Please Faiq, you have to think that you have a sister in this country before you do anything," she begged. Ali recalls his relatives also said that they no longer regard him as part of their family and that the government can kill him without any regrets or anger on their part. The frightened family members then disappeared from the screen and the satellite channel resumed its usual programming, which mostly features idyllic portraits of Iraq under President Saddam Hussein. The Ali family's brief moment on TV marked the third time Baghdad has used its satellite television channel to reach out and intimidate exiled opponents. In recent months, the families of the London and Damascus representatives of the largest armed opposition group operating in southern Iraq -- the Iran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) -- have also been shown on the channel. Those families, too, called on their kinsmen to give up politics. The television broadcasts are the latest twist in a long-standing Baghdad policy of pressuring political opponents by attacking their families. In the past, the most common method has been to arrest and imprison the relatives of those the regime deems a threat. Thousands of families with sons or fathers active in Kurdish, Islamist, communist, or other opposition groups have been routinely put in prison for varying lengths of time -- with women and children jailed apart from men. The detentions can include beatings as well as other forms of abuse. At times, the regime has also used rape of female relatives to intimidate opposition figures. In June last year, Najib al-Salihi, a former army general who fled Iraq in 1995 and joined the Iraqi opposition, received a videotape showing the rape of a close relative by intelligence agents. Immediately afterward, the general received a call from the Iraqi intelligence service threatening to publicize the tape if he continued opposition activities. Instead of complying, al-Salihi publicly denounced the regime for using rape as a political tactic. In doing so, he broke with the more usual custom of keeping silence over the rape of relatives because it is often seen as a shame to the family. Britain's daily "Independent" newspaper reports that the video of the Ali family was taped in mid-January when a convoy of black Mercedes cars and Land Rovers suddenly appeared in front of the family home at 7 am. The visitors included a group of armed men -- some in black masks -- and two Iraqi TV crews. The paper, which does not divulge its source of information, reports that "whenever the interviewer was dissatisfied with [the family members'] replies, they were forced to repeat their words. The whole process took five hours." Despite the threats to his family which were implicit in the events, Ali says that he refuses to be intimidated by the broadcast. He told Radio Free Iraq that he will continue to criticize the regime of Saddam Hussein for its human rights record. "Saddam's regime thinks that after this crime against my family, I will give up the struggle and stay at home and give up any political and media activities against the regime. But that conception is wrong and unrealistic because I will continue my struggle." Ali has written newspaper articles critical of Hussein and a book about assassinations by the Iraqi security services. He recently participated in a debate on the widely watched Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera -- based in Qatar -- in which he said that the "first terrorist in the world is Saddam, not Osama bin Laden" -- a statement which may have prompted the action against his family. Ali practiced law in Iraq until the failed Shiia uprising against the Iraqi leader in the south of the country following the 1991 Gulf war. After taking part in the rebellion he was forced to flee and has lived the past nine years in London. In 1996, his father was arrested four times and died soon after his last release. The "Independent" reports that his family suspects he was poisoned (RFE/RL Media Matters April 26 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. O site da Radio México Internacional mostra que êles tem um programa quinzenal, aos domingos, em lingua portuguesa, das 1530 às 1600 UT. O programa se chama O MEXICO DOMINICAL. Não acredito que esse programa seja dirigido ao Brasil mas talvez a colónia portuguesa/brasileira residente no próprio México ou na Califórnia. A razão é que não há propagação nesse horário do México para o Brasil nas faixas de 31 e 25 metros. Além disso, o transmissor dêles tem apenas 10 kW (Marcelo Toníolo, NY, radioescutas via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Commentary. NEW ZEALAND, CANADA READERS OF INTERNATIONAL DX JOURNAL RESPOND TO LAST CRU COMMENTARY Last issue I dedicated my commentary to the difficulty of getting church-owned radio station licenses in most member nations of the British Commonwealth. The item was picked up by Glenn Hauser, an internationally noted shortwave and radio listening expert, and published in his prestigious DX Listening Digest (No. 02-067, April 22, 2002. ©Copyright by Glenn Hauser. All rights reserved). The response came: [q.v.] My response: Q.E.D. Both readers prove my point. These governments will license only ecumenical stations, which fact translates almost always to Protestant evangelical programming, since even the mainstream Protestant Churches seldom interest themselves in radio other than perhaps on the local level. (Lately, the Methodists have begun using international shortwave.) By default, in most English- speaking countries the Evangelicals (if one wants to shy away from the pejorative term ``Fundamentalist``) have the media left for themselves. I cannot speak for the New Zealand, Australian and other Commonwealth systems, but in the United States Catholic programming is almost never heard on Protestant Evangelical stations. (I am not talking about paid Catholic programming on secular commercial stations operated by businessmen for a profit.) The ugly truth is that, even in this allegedly ecumenical age, there is an abiding, strong prejudice against Catholicism; I believe it was John Kenneth Galbraith who said that it is the last enduring prejudice permitted in American culture. And elsewhere, I would add. Ask Catholic contemporary Christian singers and musicians who have tried to get airplay for their discs on Protestant-owned stations. Look, folks, I live on a Catholic island in the middle of a sea of Bible-belt fundamentalists forever squabbling among themselves; if they unite on anything, it is their dislike of Rome. Their attacks on Catholicism, even if not named as such, are relentless. Of course, no one admits to this kind of anti-Catholic prejudice. The cultural elite and those who identify with them assume the pose of being broad-minded. They find the position of individual Churches ``sectarian,`` ``narrow-minded,`` ``intolerant,`` and --- comes their favorite word of the day, particularly from the journalist sector --- ``divisive.`` In their own minds, they themselves are tolerant and culturally sensitive: All points of view must be presented by all voices at all times. This demand has posed problems in England and Canada, for surely there are positions taken by Christians that are incompatible with the positions of others. A Christian who follows the Gospel cannot accept some things, and that is the end of it. As St. John writes in his first epistle, all those who try to live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. Christians may not be thrown to the lions literally these days, but they are thrown to the lions of ``broad-minded`` and ``tolerant`` public opinion marshaled and formed by an increasingly antagonistic, liberal news media. This of course is not to belie the necessity that Christians must take exception to positions and behavior incompatible with the Gospel, but we must do so with respect and kindness: ``Love the sinner and hate the sin.`` But this is not what the ``broad-minded`` cultural elites maintain; no, for them, one position is as good as another, one truth is as relative as another, one belief is as worthy as another. (So is one art form as good as another; hiphop is as good as Mozart, Andy Warhol is as good as Michelangelo, the latest scrap-metal atrocity in a public plaza is as good as Rodin. They are hoist on their own petard, but they don`t know it. But I digress.) My Commentary of last week stands. British Commonwealth nations do not like to license stations to individual Churches. If there are religious stations in these nations, these are ecumenical, which almost always translates to Protestant Evangelical. If anyone believes that Evangelicals have changed their attitude to Catholicism, he lives in a dream world. He has not been listening to Evangelical preachers, either. I have (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update April 29 via DXLD) ** PALESTINE. PALESTINIAN RADIO CARRIES SPECIAL PROGRAMMES ON WEST BANK EVENTS Voice of Palestine (VOP), broadcasting in Arabic from Ramallah, whose broadcasts were observed to resume recently, has been carrying special programmes on 28 April to cover developments in the Palestinian territories. Since it signed on at 0400 gmt, the radio has been carrying patriotic songs, interspersed with short commentaries on Palestinian "steadfastness" and live reports filed by VOP correspondents in the West Bank cities on "developments in the war launched by the Israeli war machine". The radio has not been observed to carry any news bulletins or interviews with senior Palestinian officials. Broadcasting on 90.7 MHz, VOP signed off with the national anthem at 1200 gmt on 28 April after repeating a statement it carried the previous day about the technical difficulties that forced the station to limit its transmission time to 0400-1200 gmt. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 1200 gmt 28 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PERU. 5387.76, Radio Manantial, Otuzco, la provincia de Otuzco, el departamento de La Libertad. April 8/28 2002 - 0100* UT. New Peruvian! It took exactly 20 days of intense listening to catch an ID of this new, religious station. We sent out info by e-mail to our members April 10 about this unID station as a `special preview`. I noted the name of the station phonetically as "Marancay". Directly I received several proposals of names from our member Henrik Klemetz/HK: "Radio Abancay" (Apurímac), "Radio Maranatha" (Ucayali) and "Radio Manantial" (Jaén). QTH was not appropriate but Henrik´s suggestion with the name "Manantial" helped a lot when finally the station came up with a signal strength good enough for an ID April 28, i.e. this morning: "Están en sintonía de su nueva estación Radio Manantial desde Otuzco, el departamento de La Libertad". Thanks a lot, Henrik! Somtetimes also gives ID as "Radio Manantial..." plus something I catch as "...de Vida". The DJ of station is absolutely delirious in his head --- gives exact time on the "minute" but often mixes different time zones. During 5 minutes he gave TCs from UT -4, UT -5 and UT -6! Then it is not easy to be a DX-er. What I caught as "Marancay" and "Universal" is in fact "Manantial". It shows how difficult it is to `hear correct` when the signal is weak and noisy. I have heard programs from "Maranatha" and "LV de la Salvación". At other times their own programs, often religious music. I think you can reach the station by writing to "Maranatha" in the town "Otuzco". Closes pretty regularly at about 0100 UT and begins at 1000-1100. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Otuzco, cuya capital es Otuzco. Sus distritos son: Agallpampa, Charat, Huaranchal, La Cuesta, Lucma, Mache, Marmot, Otuzco, Paranday, Salpo, Sinsicap, Usquil; con una población total de 117,670 hab. 73 from BM in Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es (Björn Malm, Ecuador, Apr 28, translated by Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Radio Rumania Internacional, con buena recepción a las 0000 UT por 11730 con SINPO: 33333 y 15270 con 32332 (interfiere Deustche Welle por 15275) Esquema en español de Rumanía: 1800 (Europa): 15370 y 17745 2200 (América): 11730 y 15380 0000 " : 11730, 15270, 15340 y 17815 0300 América Norte: 9570, 11725, 11970 y 15255 (Manrique Beceiro, Uruguay, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. As part of its support to the electoral process in Sierra Leone and to ensure a level playing field necessary for free and fair elections, the Public Information Section of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) invites all Presidential candidates to discuss their election platforms live on Radio UNAMSIL (FM103 and SW6140 khz). A special one-hour programme, "Time with the Candidates," will begin airing on Monday, 29 April at 19.30 hrs (7:30 pm) [1930 UT]. Each candidate will be offered one full hour to be interviewed on his/her party manifesto in UNAMSIL's Radio City studio at the Mammy Yoko Hotel (UNAMSIL press release via Nicolás Éramo, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. Is anybody getting reply from R. Singapore International? What about their quarterly newsletter "Connexion"? No reply received after several email reminders (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Another victory for shortwave: Hi Glenn, Last night (4/27) I decided to tune in to the BBC World Service on the internet. I listened to the 15 UT world news from a futon across the room. No sooner had I got comfortable under the covers than the news ended & a repetitive announcement by a woman came on saying something like "because of an agreement with the copyright holders, the present program is unavailable at this time." I got up and went to another room where I keep my portable SW radio. Tuning to 9740, I found the Saturday (UT) sports programming getting under way. The obvious question is "What good is new technology if copyright laws prevent it from being utilized?" Best regards, (Ralph Famularo, Osaka, Japan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I never deliberately try to hear BBC Saturday sporting coverage, but it was my impression this was embargoed from internet more often than not, and more so than any other BBC programmes. The same happened at 1600 UT Sunday April 28 (gh, DXLD) ** U K. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, WHY DO THEY BAN CHRISTIAN RADIO? (Filed: 12/04/2001) You know there is an election in the offing when people start fixing you with a gimlet-eye, and asking you the most baffling questions. I remember standing in the drizzle in north Wales in 1997, and churning the air with slogans about tax and the NHS, when a man suddenly shouted, "But what are you going to do about St Helena?" Nothing I said seemed to interest him, not even John Major's record in bringing down interest rates. He wanted to know the candidate's views on St Helena, and the candidate, though broadly sympathetic to St Helena, was simply unversed in the controversy. And I had the same sort of feeling last night, in a school hall in Oxfordshire, when someone asked us about the apparently infamous decision by Her Majesty's Government to prohibit Christians and other religious groups from running their own national radio stations. "What do you mean?" I asked (it is often a good idea, in this situation, to turn the question back on the questioner, in the hope of playing for time). "Are you saying that it is illegal in this country for religious groups to run national radio stations?" Yes, he replied, his eye growing beadier still. And he wanted to know what I thought. Well, I said, thinking of first principles: it seemed, on the face of it, an outrageous infringement of liberty. I couldn't see any reason why Christians should be prevented from trying to find an audience over the radio, and I promised to look into the matter. I have done so; and I am naturally relieved to discover that I was right, and so was whoever asked the question. Because the legislation involved is a classic product of the British liberal mind, with all its lust to nanny and to interdict, not to mention a fastidious distaste for anyone who exhibits religious zeal. They have Christian radio stations, nationally, in Australia and New Zealand. They have just launched one in Iraq, for Heaven's sake, and anyone who has travelled in America will know that the ether is alive with hallelujas and sobbed confessions of sin, followed by appeals from mascara-lashed ministers for large cheques. And yet in Britain, the land of Wilkes, and liberty, it transpires that the Government has banned all faiths, including the established faith, from access to the national airwaves. Under the terms of the 1990 Broadcasting Act, no religious group may have a licence to broadcast nationally, and when you ring up the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to find out why this might be, you discover that they have not the faintest idea. After some pushing, a spokeswoman said: "We feel a bit funny about having religious dogma on the airwaves." Really? What's wrong with a spot of religious dogma, on an independent commercially funded radio station? We have plenty of political dogma. Are we really such adolescents, that we must be protected from Christianity on the radio, in case it should corrupt us, when the authorities are perfectly happy for us to be pelted with advertisements for everything from pensions to Sunny Delight? What is the risk we run if we accidentally tune into this hotgospelling? Perhaps our legislators really think that we will imitate Mick Jagger in the Rolling Stones song, and jump 20 red lights in a row, because a chap on the radio station tells him he will always have the Lord by his side. The Radio Authority, which has recently repeated its opposition to religious broadcasting, cannot possibly be actuated by such fears. If it were, it would not have agreed to allow the establishment of so many local religious radio stations. There's one called Sunrise, which is broadly Hindu, and Spectrum, which is broadly Muslim, and there are two Christian radio stations in London. Are they bewitching the young and the psychologically vulnerable? Are they driving us all potty with their hellfire sermons? No, the real reason for a national ban is nothing to do with the alleged pernicious effect of religious radio, and everything to do with a de haut en bas establishment leeriness of Christianity, and especially of evangelical Christianity. Apart from anything else, says Chris Smith's Department of Culture, Media and Sport, it would be a political nightmare to give the Christians a licence to broadcast nationally, because that would be asserting the primacy of the Christian religion. "Then the Muslims would want to broadcast, too," she said. "This is very tricky stuff." Well, I am all in favour of multiculturalism, and teaching everyone to respect and understand the faith of others. I was very touched when my four-year-old came back from his Islington school with a card that said "Dear Daddy, Happy Eid", because when I was his age we were not taught about Eid, and it is nice that he should be. But I do sometimes feel, obscurely, as one who is the feeblest of church-goers, that there ought to be an awareness in our schools that this is, or has been, a Christian country and civilisation. And in any case, if you allowed the Christians access to the national airwaves, that would not necessarily mean that other religions were squeezed out. We are now in the age of digital frequencies, and there ought to be room for new stations, provided they can pay the fee. It may be that Christians are able to bid most in the auction, since they represent (still) the most popular religion in the country. But I can't see the disgrace in that. Many people don't think much of current religious broadcasting, such as Thought for the Day, with its heavy emphasis on veganism and world trade. Shouldn't they be allowed their own show? I don't promise to listen to their station, but then no one is going to force me to, or, indeed, force anyone else. The great thing about a radio is that you can always switch it off. But to ban a Christian station is censorship. Boris Johnson is editor of The Spectator © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002. (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. FOR DUKE ELLINGTON, A PRESIDENTIAL SUITE WHITE HOUSE TRIBUTE STILL HAS THAT SWING http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55313-2002Apr26?language=printer [Recording still exists from Nixon administration thanks to VOA and Willis Conover...] (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WOR was back on WWCR 5070, UT Sun Apr 28 at 0230 after a two-week absence for an infomercial. We cannot predict what will happen next, but just note it was back this week (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, WJIE, 2035-2055* April 27, The former WJCR is back on with a positive of "WJIE-FM" heard at 2049: "88 point 5 WJIE For Him ... heard three ways on FM ... on the internet and now on Shortwave Signal 7 point 490 megahertz ...." followed by some commercial announcements. SINPO = 35443. Mostly Christian music but several IDs and commercials were also heard. I found a web site at http://www.wjie.org (Lee Silvi, Mentor Ohio, April 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked 7490 several times since and not found; preliminary tests, no doubt. But they do plan to run 24 hours (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. EWTN TO AIR TWO LIVE PROGRAMS ON THE CRISIS IN THE CHURCH Irondale AL, Apr 26 (EWTN) - EWTN Global Catholic Network will air two live programs during prime time Monday and Tuesday focused on the scandal in the U. S. Church, according to Doug Keck, Vice President of Programming and Production. The programs will be carried worldwide on EWTN`s television and radio networks and on the network`s web site http://www.ewtn.com On Monday 8:00 to 9:00 PM, The World Over host Raymond Arroyo will team with Colin Donovan, EWTN`s Vice President for Theology for ``Crisis in the Church, a Special Report.`` According to Keck, Arroyo and Donovan will lead a round table discussion of the contents of the ``Letter of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Priests for Holy Thursday 2002.`` Joining them will be a panel of distinguished Church experts and theologians, including Janet Smith, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan; Father Benedict Groeschel from Larchmont, New York; Michael Novak, Catholic theologian and Templeton Award winner; and Dr. John Haas, President of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Boston, MA. In the document the Pope said, ``We are personally and profoundly afflicted by the sins of some of our brothers who have betrayed the grace of Ordination in succumbing even to the most grievous form of the mysterium iniquitatis at work in the world.`` The Pontiff has called on victims to seek trust in the healing power of divine grace. ``The panel will also discuss the ``Message to the Priests of the United States of America`` issued by the 12 U.S. cardinals in Rome following their meeting with the Pope. During the two days, the Pontiff called for `a zero-tolerance policy` for sexual abuse and the need for pastors of the Church `to promote the correct moral teaching of the Church, including reprimanding individuals who spread dissent,``` Keck stated. On Tuesday 8:00 - 9:00 PM, Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J., host of Mother Angelica Live and his guest, EWTN`s Father Angelus Shaughnessy, O.F.M., Cap. will devote the program to a discussion of: 1) the Church`s concern for the victims; 2) concern for their salvation; and 3) those priests and religious who have done no wrong, but are touched by mere association with the scandal. ``Crisis in the Church, a Special Report`` will re-air on Tuesday, April 30 at 1:00 AM. The special edition of ``Mother Angelica Live`` will re-air on Wednesday, May 1 at 1:00 AM and 9:00 AM and on Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 PM (Catholic Radio Update April 29, April 28, via DXLD) Times presumably Eastern? As preferred by EWTN even tho it be in Alabama!! And will these necessarily also be on WEWN shortwave, at same or other times? I guess not (gh, DXLD) {** VENEZUELA [non]. See CUBA} ** VIETNAM. Voice of Vietnam A02 schedule 0000-0030 Khmere 7285 0000-0100 Vietnamese 11640 13740 0030-0100 Lao 7285 0100-0130 English 6175S 0130-0230 Vietnamese 6175S 0230-0300 English 6175S 0300-0400 Spanish 6175S 0400-0500 Vietnamese 6175S 0830-0930 Mandarin 12020 9840 0930-1000 Indonesian 12020 9840 1000-1030 English 12020 9840 1030-1100 Indonesian 12020 9840 1100-1130 Spanish 11640 13740 1100-1130 English 7285 1130-1200 Thai 7285 1130-1200 Russian 11640 13740 1200-1230 Japanese 12020 9840 1200-1230 Khmere 7285 1230-1300 Lao 7285 1230-1300 English 12020 9840 1300-1330 Russian 7285 1300-1330 French 11640 13740 1330-1400 Khmere 7285 1330-1400 English 11640 13740 1400-1430 Japanese 12020 9840 1400-1430 Lao 7285 1430-1500 Mandarin 7285 1430-1500 Indonesian 12020 9840 1500-1530 Thai 12020 9840 1500-1530 Cantonese 7285 1530-1600 Cantonese 12020 9840 1600-1630 English 11640 13740 1630-1700 Russian 11640 13740 1700-1800 Vietnamese 9725M 11640 13740 1800-1830 English 9725M 11640 13740 1800-1830 English 11640 13740 1830-1900 French 11640 13740 1830-1900 French 9725M 1900-1930 English 11640 13740 1900-1930 Russian 9725K 1900-1930 English 11640 13740 1930-2000 French 11640 13740 1930-2030 Vietnamese 9725K 2000-2030 Spanish 11640 13740 2030-2100 English 11640 13740 2100-2130 French 11640 13740 2130-2200 Japanese 12020 9840 2200-2230 Mandarin 12020 9840 2230-2300 Cantonese 12020 9840 2300-2330 Thai 12020 9840 2330-0000 English 12020 9840 Domestic Service Relays 0200-1000 Vietnamese 9875 2200-1600 Vietnamese 5925 *5975 6020 7210 9530 * 5975 is noted some days on 5970 Sign-off time is nominally 1600, but transmissions may close at different times, sometimes noted as early as 1400, and occasionally later than 1600. Close-down times for each channel may differ. These relays carry VOV1 (News and Current Affairs), VOV2 (Economic/Social/Cultural/Education) and VOV4 (Ethnic minorities) H'mong Service (VOV4) (Programs for ethnic minorities in Khmere, H'mong, Ede, Giarai Bana and Xedang) 0500-0600 Hmong 6165 1200-1300 Hmong 5035 1200-1300 Hmong 6165 2200-2300 Hmong 6165 2200-2300 Hmong 5035 Note: 5035 is not normally used for the 0500 service (noon in Vietnam) K=Skelton, UK M=Moosbrun, Austria S=Sackville, Canada (Compiled: Bob Padula, Apr-24/EDXP via May NASWA LN via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6715, suggestion it is actually in Korea South or vicinity: Glenn, I can't believe that propagationally this last statement can be accurate. Reception has been quite good at times in Eastern North America around 2100 to 2300 UT or so. I doubt very much that this could be possible at that time, from South Korea. It has to be much closer. Nothing has been heard in WCNA so far. I suggest it would be fairly easy for the big boys to do a little DFing! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS SONY ICF-SW7600GR, FM STEREO/SW/MW/LW, PLL SYNTHESIZED RECEIVER I finally received delivery of the new Sony portable and have been having the time of my life learning how to use this apparently great radio. The reviews I had read last year and the year before seem to be pretty much on the button. Although I am not going into the technical side of things, the SWL side has been great. There are 100 presets that Sony lets you input by use of the keypad plus 10 presets within 10 pages (banks). One is able to scan the banks or all the frequencies as desired. With the attenuation control, a portable FINALLY can be adjusted to a level of reception that is above just the noise and the radio only stops on legitimate signals. This applies to either scanning the memories or scanning up and down the bands. Controls include a tone control for music/news: high and low tones. In the AM mode one can choose between the normal mode without PLL synchronous detection, with S.D. and, or use the USB and LSB sidebands. There also is an analog tuning control to allow one to tune in closely to the tight signals or when going with one of the sidebands. It runs on 4 AA batteries or a 6V center positive power source. The attenuation feature can be turned off or used as previously described. A line out and an external antenna jack is present. Sony sends along a roll up antenna that clips to the whip antenna which is one of the surprising things to me. Reception is MUCH better using the antenna jack instead of the addition to the whip antenna. I had always thought these were for the lower scale radios that did not include a way to run up a decent antenna. The bells and whistles also include all the usual timers, clocks, sleep function and, a lock or "hold" button and a lighted background. A smart battery saver will turn the radio off when left unattended for a length of time. A leather like case holds the thin (1" X 6.5" X 4.5"+/-) and sturdy device. I paid $170 from Universal and I believe this radio will finally take over as my radio on the road. I have been using a Panasonic RFB45A very happily for 10+ years but think this new Sony will become quickly as familiar. Virtually all of the tuning and such can be done easily in the dark and I would think this radio would be one good for the visually impaired. All the buttons have a tactile response so you always know when a button has been pushed. All in all this one was worth the 6 month backorder wait. The FM and such is nice to have, but it is the SW side I am interested in. Best regards and thanks for the up to the second news you put out (LeRoy Long, OK, April 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-070, April 27, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1128: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0230? on 5070, 0630 on 3210, Mon 0000, 0500 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830?, 2430? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRING ON WRN: North America Sun 1400 MONITORING REMINDERS: lots of great stuff to listen to compiled at: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. U S A [sic]. 8700 USB and AM, Information R continues to be heard all night (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window April 25 via DXLD) (Cf. DX-Window no. 192) ** ANGOLA [non]. /REP. OF SOUTH AFRICA. 6100, R Ecclésia (via SENTECH), Meyerton, Apr 21, *1900-2000*, Portuguese announcement and religious talks by man and woman, many hymns by choir, at 1955-2000* continuous R Ecclésia interval signal in lack of more program to transmit! 22322 with sidesplashes. New, starting Apr 15, using 250 kW. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 18020, R São Luiz, São Luiz Gonzaga, RS, Apr 21, 1520-2206, 17th harmonic of 1060 MW, Portuguese. 1600-1700 program: "Rio Grande Canta e Saudade", with sertaneja music, realized by 'Sindicato de Trabalhadores Rurais de Santo Antonio das Missões'. ID as: "A Super Rádio São Luiz, a emissora da comunidade regional". Also announcements of the "aniversário do Município de São Nicolau". Advertisements: 'Supermercado Rodrigues', 'Mercado Agropecuário São Nicolau', 'Minimercado Monte Alegre', etc. 1700 ID: "Sintoniza à Rádio São Luiz, ZYK302, 1060 KHz, desde São Luiz Gonzaga para as Missões". 1700-1800 program: "Domingo Alegre", and 1800-1900 "Descubendo Calor", including talks by men, advertisements and sertaneja music too. From 1900 ballads and romantic music only (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) Thanks to Marcelo I also heard it Apr 21, 1840+, 25422. According to the WRTH 2002 the MW call sign is ZYK302 and address: Caixa Postal 172, 97800-970 São Luiz Gonzaga, RS, Brazil. The Brazilian Guide "Quatro Rodas" say about São Luiz Gonzaga: 30000 inhabitants. The town is 527 kilometres northwest of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul State (Arnaldo Slaen, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD ** CANADA. GZOWSKI FIGHTS FOR BREATH IN FINAL TV SHOW From Canadian Press During his decades behind a CBC microphone, the late Peter Gzowski became famous for his rambling yet engaging delivery. It was all part of his folksy charm. But in his final TV performance, the former Morningside host's halting delivery had nothing to do with gathering his thoughts or thinking on his feet. Gzowski, 67 and hooked up to oxygen, was fighting for every breath.... The half-hour show, With Every Breath, airs Sunday at 4 p.m. on Global TV in Toronto and at 8 p.m. on the Prime network in Toronto... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1019772124598&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** CANADA. HYSTERIA OVER EDMONTON TOWER Oh my god! With regards to this statement: "I don't know if we would ever have darkness again, if I'd be able to see the stars, because it's just right there." That's a hyperbole if I ever saw/heard/read one. At night, your local friendly neighbourhood street lights are much more of a nuisance to sky-lovers than are radio antenna towers. Most warning lights are *red* for a reason -- I guess for the same reason they're used in dark rooms. They're visible, but they're not that bright! Strobes or flashes are used for the same reason. Case in point: I live not more than 2 to 3 km away from the now-unused CBC/Radio-Canada AM towers in Brossard, Qc. They are *ABSOLUTELY GIGANTIC* -- I forget what the wavelengths for 690 and 940 kHz are. (And incidentally, they are located near the intersection of two highways (Autoroutes 10 and 30) and within kilometres of the St. Hubert Airport.) In daylight, I can see them from my window in clear weather. If you look carefully, you can see some of the guy wires too. They stick out of the ground like two sore anorexic thumbs. We've driven up really close to the place before -- in the dark -- and it comes nowhere near lighting up the area. Where the people have an argument is *not* with lights, but with the following: why is this Edmonton tower so close to civilization? If it's going to be that high, they could move it a little farther away and it wouldn't make a difference. And it's for FM and TV stations, so ground conductivity shouldn't be a problem either. If these people really want to see the stars, they should lobby their city councils to lower the wattage on their streetlamps and use lamp shades that redirect their light down to the street and not up into space. A communications tower can't light up the sky. 73s, (Ricky Leong, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See http://www.darksky.org (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. From Canadian Press, http://canada.com/news/story.asp?id={FE74C844-A72F-497C-87B3-76EA7ABAAF3A} ----------------- LANDRY SIDES WITH UNION IN CBC CONFLICT Thursday, April 25, 2002 QUEBEC -- Premier Bernard Landry has sided with locked-out CBC employees, signing a petition Thursday that decried a drop in programming in Quebec and Moncton, N.B. Employees of the CBC's French and English arms in the two regions were locked out six weeks ago, after a one-day strike by the union representing 1,300 employees in Quebec and New Brunswick. At a picket line in Quebec City, Landry signed a petition calling on CBC president Robert Rabinovitch to restore full public programming to taxpayers. "I have decided as a taxpayer, a consumer, and a progressive politician, to support you,'' Landry told the picketing workers. "It's without hesitation that I sign this petition.'' Programming at the CBC's French network, Radio-Canada, has been reduced mainly to live news conferences, NHL hockey without commentary, and a steady stream of news from outside Quebec. The union says salary rates are lower for women, for Quebecers, and for temporary workers. Negotiations are moving at a snail's pace, with CBC officials citing "a major gap'' between their offer and the 141 demands put forth by the union. Landry was asked whether the lockout is a case of Quebec-bashing. "I hope it's not but there are worrisome discriminatory practices,'' he replied. CBC has declined to comment on the specifics of the labour dispute, citing an agreement reached with a mediator earlier this month. But a CBC official said it's bizarre Landry would claim to sign the petition as a regular taxpayer, and do it in front of news cameras and journalists who reported the event. "It's a little particular to claim you're an ordinary citizen when you're the premier,'' said Marc Sevigny, a CBC spokesman. Employees used pickets to hide the scene from CBC cameras. Such incidents have become common because, unlike journalists, camera operators and technicians haven't been locked out. Many of those other employees went on strike two years ago, but settled on a new contract that gave them increases of 9.3 per cent over four years. CBC camera operators have been asked to leave some news events. (© Copyright 2002 Canadian Press via Dave White, DXLD) ** CANADA. Saturday Afternoon at the Opera line-up for CBC Radio2 http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/sato/calendar.html Die Fledermaus this afternoon at 1800. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHECHNYA. RUSSIA: CHECHEN PRO-RUSSIAN OFFICIAL WARNS RADIO LIBERTY AGAINST MEDDLING | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 26 April: The summer of 2002 will be a turning point in the antiterrorist campaign in Chechnya, Deputy Chechen Prime Minister Beslan Gantamirov has said. "The results of the antiterrorist campaign should be clear this summer. I have always said that the campaign will end when a decisive fight begins between the Chechen police and guerrillas. This has begun," Gantamirov told a news conference in Moscow on Friday [26 April]. Gantamirov, who is simultaneously Chechen press minister, also talked about an agreement on the terms of Radio Liberty's broadcasting to Chechen territory. "Before the broadcasting began, [Chechen Prime Minister Stanislav] Ilyasov and I met with the local representative of the radio station. We came to an agreement that the radio station would work as long as it does not interfere in the course of the antiterrorist operation. We are not going to bother them," he said. "But if their broadcasting disagrees with purposes they officially stated or if they start pursuing their own ends, we will naturally intervene," the deputy prime minister said. Gantamirov said that, in his view, Radio Liberty "has not violated the agreement so far". Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1212 gmt 26 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) KREMLIN AIDE HITS AT RADIO LIBERTY'S CHECHEN PROGRAMMES | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 27 April: Russian presidential aide Sergey Yastrzhembskiy has described the recently launched Radio Liberty broadcasts to Chechnya as mainly critical. "The basic orientation of materials broadcast by this radio station cannot be called constructive," Yastrzhembskiy said in a commentary published in the Saturday [27 April] edition of Izvestiya. "These materials are either inflammatory or critical of the activity of the federal centre," he said. At the same time, the presidential aide said he believes it is too early to raise the question of banning the broadcasts. "I am not a supporter of extreme measures. We will continue to monitor materials of the radio station," he said. Director of the North Caucasus service for Radio Liberty Ferit Agi said in an interview with the same publication that it was the US Congress that made the decision on Radio Liberty broadcasts in the languages of the North Caucasian peoples. "These are political issues. If the Congress ordered us to do this, we must obey. We are financed by the Congress every year, although we are an independent radio station. But we have the council, which is designated by the US president, and consists of Republicans and Democrats. We are responsible to them for the quality of our programmes," Agi said. Agi rejected accusations of biased news coverage of events in Chechnya. Radio Liberty "supports the right of all peoples to self- determination: However, broadcasts shall not advocate or endorse separatist or secessionist causes", he said, citing Radio Liberty's code of professional journalism standards. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0841 gmt 27 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6075 Yushu PBS. From web site: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis-Mars/6235/cn/cnr.htm Basically a news story about the Tibetan Autonomous District of Yushu in Qing Hai Province, which says that since September the state has invested 6.7M yuan to update two 10 kW MW transmitters and added a 50 kW SW transmitter. Five counties in the district got some new equipment, so the whole district can better listen to radio, and now Qing Hai Province is very up to date (Ron Howard, CA, DSWCI DX Window April 24 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de la Resistencia was last reported on 6260 in November 2000 and on 6233 in January 2001, so the station seems definitively to have left SW (Anker Petersen, Ed., DSWCI DX Window April 24 via DXLD) ** CUBA [NON]. RADIO MARTÍ UNDER ATTACK Posted on Thu, Apr. 25, 2002 http://www.miami.com [by] SALVADOR LEW Radio Martí was founded in light of Cuba's struggle for democracy. It was created to inform, entertain, offer ideas and promote the principles for Cuba's freedom. Since the station's debut in 1985, it has exposed the island to the truth. It has been said that Cuba's history can be divided into two parts: before and after Radio Martí. Before the station went on the air, there was absolute censorship. Now, there is an open window to the facts. On matters of information, Radio Martí transmits the news exactly as it is. This is to say that the facts are portrayed with all of the basic elements -- truthfulness, objectivity and thoroughness. There is no distortion or manipulation of the facts. Federal regulators, as well as the ethics of professional journalists who report the news, have confirmed this. Radio Martí's commitment to fairness in its 17 years of existence is overwhelming. It carries the message of democracy and freedom from the United States to the Cuban people and other parts of the world where the station is heard. It is an example of modern radio broadcasting, thanks to the professionals who work here. It has a record audience, despite electronic interference from the Cuban government. The station also transmits musical, cultural, humorous and a variety of other programming. Before I joined the station's administration, the audience circumstantially dropped to 7 percent from 70 percent. However, after introducing new broadcast programs in October 2001, the station recovered its traditional audience. This fact has bothered Fidel Castro, his spokespersons and sympathizers. Indeed, the enemies are stirred up. On the aspect of ideas, the station encompasses the foundation of democracy and freedom, diverse opinions and balanced debates so that audiences may receive and analyze different ideologies and systems and doctrines of government. Radio Martí presents the subjects that were taught at high schools and universities before the Marxist-Leninist system was introduced in Cuba. This opens up boundaries different from Cuba's official education, which creates a monolithic ideology. MANY CRITICS Commentators, analysts, journalists, political leaders, human-rights activists and philosophers from various ideological currents appear on Radio Martí talk-show programs. In the federal mandate of promoting peace for Cuba, those options are discussed. There are many critics of Radio Martí for many different reasons. Possibly a dozen out of 158 employees are dissatisfied, and their dissidence is perfectly acceptable as their right. The dissatisfaction springs from several things. Some employees have been reassigned to different positions within the organization. No one has lost a job, something that I would never support. Others are discontent due to complaints that they consider to be legitimate, which I also respect. Regarding reassignments, these are logical and sometimes necessary in a new environment. These decisions are made in every agency to improve the outcome. There is new leadership at the station, and there is a lot of work to be done. It is natural that people don't like change. When I started as director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting last year, I requested an increase in the volume of news, which is what the Cuban population is demanding. It was increased from five to seven days. The news programs are now longer and broadcast four times a day. MORE COVERAGE Further, there are informative bulletins presented every half-hour, each lasting from five to seven minutes. Correspondent services were reinstated in all parts of the world. There is now more air time to broadcast Cuba's internal opposition and reports from independent journalists. With the new and dynamic broadcasts, Radio Martí's microphones cover Cuba and the world daily, 24 hours. When President Bush appointed me, he requested ''new management and strong leadership.'' He also called on Radio and TV Martí to support Cuba's internal opposition and independent journalists. That is precisely what we are doing. Because this policy hurts Castro's tyranny, he has ordered a defamation campaign against the station. Radio Martí is heard in Cuba and has credibility. For this reason, Castro wants to suppress the voice of truth. Salvador Lew is director of Radio and TV Martí (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Radio World: Sunday April 28 2002 SOUND Radio Prague jingle Today I would like to say something about Radio Prague. It`s only fair that after having looked at Radio Slovakia International, Radio Polonia and Radio Austria International, we include Radio Prague in our tour of stations that participate in and contribute to the new programme Insight Central Europe. Logically, this means that next week we visit Radio Budapest. But first Prague. I have a special interest in this station because I very much like Prague. So I tune into Radio Prague every now and then to listen to the news, especially when there are important things going on in politics, like the discussion, also taken up in Insight Central Europe, about the Benes decrees. It was the top story in the news on Friday: SOUND Radio Prague News When I`m in Prague I listen to Radio Prague on FM, but this might be different this year, because you might have heard that the station will cease to transmit on the Czech FM frequencies of the BBC World Service at the end of April, that`s this Tuesday. The station says on its website that its presence on the BBC frequencies over the last six years has been the result of a reciprocal agreement between Czech Radio and the BBC World Service. Unfortunately the agreement is being terminated due to circumstances beyond the control of either Radio Prague or the BBC, and as a result, so it says, our broadcasts on the World Service`s frequencies are to be brought to an end. I quote: ``We feel that this is a loss to our listeners, and are therefore looking for ways to maintain our presence. We are keen to restart talks with the BBC World Service, but so far without success. It would be of great help to us if our friends here in the Czech Republic and especially our listeners on the Czech Republic`s BBC frequencies could rally to our support. We would be very grateful if you could write to us here at Radio Prague on english@radio.cz or at Vinohradská 12, 120 99 Praha 2, to let us know if you will miss our broadcasts and for what reasons. Even a couple of lines will be more than welcome! However, the news is not all bad. From the first of May it will be possible to hear us in English in the Czech Republic on medium wave. We shall be broadcasting every day, including weekends, from 13:30 to 14:00 on the medium wave frequencies of Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe. I hope you will still be able to listen to us and, above all, I hope that we shall return to our familiar frequencies soon.`` End of quote. Speaking of that medium wave transmission, the station make the following announcement: we can now also be heard in English, Russian, German French and Spanish on medium wave (AM) in the Czech Republic and neighbouring countries on the Czech Radio 6 - Radio Free Europe frequencies: 1071, 1233 and 1287 kHz. Broadcasts are on weekdays from 1200-1400 local time. I suppose that`s 1000-1200 UT. So, the half-hour programme in English begins at 1130 UT, 1330 local time. Oh, just one thing, before I forget: Radio Prague is broadcasting Insight Central Europe on Saturdays, like the other partners, at 0700, 0900, 1300, 1700, 2130 and 0100 UT (Sunday, I suppose). (Frans Vossen, RVi Radio World April 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. The yearly "fiestas de Riobamba" are on right now. It is a very important event with several web pages dealing with it, http://www.fiestasderiobamba.com and http://www.quepleno.com among others (Henrik Klemetz, Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window April 24 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Per gh`s request, checked YLE`s scheduled weekly broadcast to NAm UT Sat April 27 at *0000 on 11990 and 13730. Using YB-400 as portable, absolutely nothing (but sidesplatter) audible on 11990, and only a very weak carrier on 13730. Must check again UT Sunday which always seemed more likely for this despite schedule specifying `Saturday` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DTK heard with a test loop on 25700, April 25; and April 26 at 1140 but not at recheck 1230. It`s in German, English, Dutch, Spanish, a Slavic language, and others, giving address to write for details, but not asking for reports. DW quit using 25740 March 31; RFI France is still on 25820 [until 1230]. La Rochelle TIS 25926 not heard since Feb (Alan Roberts, St. Lambert, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA; same thing DTK did before; for propagation research? ** GERMANY. Re: ``They have also been testing DRM on some European MW signals, including the AFN Berlin 873 kHz, if memory serves right.`` Well, 873 is indeed an AFN frequency, but at Frankfurt. This outlet is infamous for low audio, the result of a transmitter problem: The rig cuts off when the modulation depth becomes too high. This problem exists for already ten years or so and worsened further when the transmitter was struck by lightning a while ago. Looks like AFN has no resources for a thorough fix. At Berlin AFN was on 1107, this frequency was never used again since AFN closed down there. AFN's former Berlin FM frequency 87.9 is now used from the Fernsehturm (Alexanderplatz) by a commercial station called Star-FM which also relays VOA programming. But DRM tests indeed take place at Berlin, on 855, the old RIAS 2 frequency. Deutschlandradio now runs DRM on 855 more or less daily, but only when the frequency is not needed for special broadcasts which are still carried in AM of course. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Lacklustre conditions noted at Limekilns on Wednesday night, though John Schache did manage to do some good work on mediumwave with a phasing unit. On SW, I came across an unID on 3103.47, presumed to be from Indonesia. Had Koran at 0940 t/in, then what sounded like Eastern European folk music at 1000 (!). No announcements and the signal drifted up to 3103.95 in a 30 minute period. At first I thought it was a spur from the strong RRI Ternate, which also had Koran on 3345, but it became evident that it was definitely a different guy chanting. Lack of announcements suggest a non-RRI, and probably not as far to the west as Java or Sumatra, based on the early fade-in. (24/4). (Craig Seager, R75, 300m Bev., April 26, ARDXC via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 9155: In DX-Window no. 192 under Clandestines, Rumen Pankow questioned, if an unidentified on this frequency, heard with a new evening broadcast on Mar 31 at 1720-1905 and Apr 01 at 1655-1720, could be the External service of Azerbaijan which is named R Dada Gorgud. Our monitoring so far gave the following result: Apr 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 & 22, 1700-1900*. The station signs on at various times between about 1550 and 1647, and plays non-stop folkmusic until 1700. Then follows political programmes mainly in Assyrian, but on some days, but not all, there is also a programme in Arabic. The station always signs off with a patriotic song by a male singer and a mixed choir. 33333 with strong CWQRM daily on USB and on some days also with another strong CW transmitter on LSB. It is not R Dada Gorgud, although their transmitter at Gäncä, Xanlar in Azerbaijan may be the one used. But it is a clandestine station with programmes in Assyrian and Arabic mainly beamed towards Iraq. They are produced by the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), an opposition party based in Northern Iraq. Zowaa is the abbreviation for this movement. It was established 23 years ago. It is representing the Assyrian community in Kurdistan. They are celebrating the new year on April 01 each year. This year is 7652 according to the Babylon- Assyrian calender. More at http://www.slider.com/Society/Ethnicity/Assyrians/Assyrians_in_Iraq.htm and http://www.zowaa.com/english/index.html but the audio files there are two years old. The Assyrian language is an Aramaic dialect. Aramaic was the dominant language in the Near East from about the 4th century B.C. through the 6th century A.D. With the rise of Islam, Assyrian and the related Syriac language gave way to the dominant influence of Arabic. Assyria (or Athura in Persian) was an ancient state in Mesopotamia with capital Ashur south of Mosul. Today Assyrian is still spoken by 150,000 people mainly in Iraq, but also in northeastern Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Russia, and Syriac at a few places in Syria and Turkey. On Friday Apr 12, 1740-1825 there was a political speech in Assyrian to an enthusiastic and shouting audience. It mentioned Kurdistan 4 times and Iran and its President 3 times. On Monday April 22, 1717-1722 a man was leading a shouting crowd of children in Assyrian during a news report read by a woman. It was followed at 1725-1729 by a speech about Iraq given by a man also mentioning Afghanistan and Islam. On Friday Apr 12 at 1830-1900 (after the speech mentioned above) and on Wednesday Apr 17 at 1820-1835 a woman read short news stories in Arabic. On Friday Apr 19 at 1736-1758 a man read news in Arabic. During these 22 minutes he mentioned "Demokratiy Ashuria" 14 times, Iraq 20 times and Kurdistan 15 times! Syria, Turkey, Iran, France and America were also mentioned, as were the U.S. Ambassador in Ankara, a Senator from Michigan and the Voice of America! On Saturday Apr 20 at 1712-1757 we both heard a man reading the whole news paper published by the ADM. They were talking about changing the Iraqi regime. Also a lot of talking about the ADM all over the world in Michigan, Turkey, and Australia. He also mentioned an interview with the chairman of this movement in VOA and R Free Iraq. The Assyrian ID is something like: "Huna Sout Demokratiy Ashuria", translated to English: "Here is the Voice of the Democratic Assyrian". The Arabic ID is "Idhaat Ashurr" (Radio Assyria), and not "Iza'at Saut' Azerbaijan" or "Huna Baku" which are used in the Arabic programmes of R Dada Gorgud (Cf. DX-Window no. 185). Short ID in Russian has also been noted just in front of the Assyrian ID, as well as fragments of wellknown Russian oldies, like the theme from "Stenka Rasin" which was noted on three days (Anker Petersen, Denmark, and Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, DSWCI DX Window April 24 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL RADIO DEFINES ARABIC NEWSPEAK, by Ori Nir Journalists in the Arabic language department of Israel Radio must not use the word "victim" when referring to Palestinian civilians killed in the intifada, according to guidelines distributed a week ago to editors and journalists at Reshet Daled, the Arabic station of Israel Radio. Instead of "victim" broadcasters should say "the dead"(katla). The guidelines include other instructions on the use of certain expressions: l "Quotations of Palestinians or Arabs should not be preceded by the word `akkada'" which means "underscored." This, says the guide, might "give the impression that you support or identify with the quote." l The word "version" should not be used to describe statements by "official Israeli spokespersons" - like the Israeli Defense Forces - "because this gives the impression you are casting doubt on the statement." But it does add "there is no restriction on using the word when referring to the Palestinian side." l When an official Israeli spokesman, such as the IDF spokesman, denies "lies and slander like the massacre in Jenin, it is not sufficient to use the expression `nafa' [denied] as has been done in some broadcasts." Instead, journalists must use verbs that make clear the allegations are a lie, and reiterate this by adding at the end: "The spokesman underscored that these slanderous allegations are entirely false and baseless." l When a Knesset member contradicts or refutes statements by the prime minister "never use expressions such as `refuted' or `contradicted,' but say instead: `The Knesset member objected, or expressed his objections to, the prime minister's statement." l The word "assassination" should not be used in referring to Israel's assassinations of Palestinian activists. Instead the word "killing" (katal in Arabic) should be used for those actions which the IDF itself calls "targeted assassinations." Journalists in the Arabic news department say that since the intifada began in the territories a year and a half ago, there has been considerable management interference in broadcasting. Several employees argue that this harms the reputation for reliability and integrity which the station has among its Arab Israeli listeners and in the Arab world. Edmond Skhayyek, the head of the department, said the guidelines have yet to be approved and he has not taken a position on the directives. He said they had not yet been distributed in the department, but employees denied this http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=156135&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y (Ha`Aretz April 27 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** JAPAN. Hi Glenn, I noticed this on the Radio Japan Web site. Perhaps it's of interest to some DXLD readers. Technical Monitors: NHK World Radio Japan is looking for technical monitors in the African, Middle Eastern and Russian regions. Qualified persons are required to monitor Radio Japan's programs and report on the reception conditions every month. Applicants must have either Fax or Email. For further details, please contact: NHK World Radio Japan Monitor Section FAX: 81-3-3481-1877 Email address : info@intl.nhk.or.jp (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010, R TV Malgache, Apr 14, *0300-0309, very nice interval signal with drums, National Anthem, man announcer, ID in Malgasy by man annoucer, 44444 (Barrera and Eramo, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) This station still supports President Didier Ratsiraka who has moved his Government to the harbour city of Tamatave. The other President, Marc Ravalomanana, has established his Government in Antananarivo. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, Ed., DSWCI DX Window Apr 24 via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. I have heard the night frequencies over two weeks ago: 3290.1 with a strong but undermodulated signal, and on 3270.1 there was a much weaker carrier with no modulation at all. The day frequencies I have heard on Apr 23 at 0600-0800 are 6060.05 (vernaculars service) and much weaker reactivated 6175.00 (German/Afrikaans). Both with decent signals, so possibly both 90 m frequencies could be back on at night? The switch-overs between the day and night frequencies are at 1600 and 0500 UT (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window Apr 24 via DXLD) Note that 6175 had been recently reported as Zimbabwe. Was that ever confirmed? (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KLGB-LP, 94.3 is active again in Enid, OK. On a walkman less than a mile from it reception was spotty, but in just the right position at 2100 UT April 9 I was getting southern gospel music, and late ID at 2104 which said it was *still* in equipment testing phase, non-profit, hoping for coöperation from other ministries, P O Box address. If this is still transmitting from the Covenant Life church, nothing has been done to repair the antenna damaged in January storm leaving only one vertical element hanging (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. PALESTINIAN RADIO STATION DESTROYED From an article in The (London) Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,690805,00.html ------------------------ Peace and Love radio station which has been broadcasting since 1995 to a target audience of young people. It has a staff of 25. Its founder, Mutazb Seiso, 36, said that the station's transmitter, tapes, mini- disks, mixers and all the other equipment needed to broadcast had been destroyed. He estimated the cost of the damage at more than $250,000 and said it would take months to get back on air - provided there was help from radio stations abroad. Israeli response: No specific information about this site (via Dave White, DXLD) ** PALESTINE. VOICE OF PALESTINE RADIO HEARD ON FM Ramallah Voice of Palestine was heard in progress at 1927 gmt on 26 April at 90.7 MHz carrying Palestinian and Arab patriotic songs. The radio went off the air following Israeli military activities in Ramallah. The radio was also heard being relayed on the Palestinian FM station, Marah, on 100.6 MHz, in parallel with 90.7 MHz. At 1943 gmt, an announcer on the 100.6 MHz channel was heard saying behind the music: "You are with the Voice of Palestine through Marah Radio in Hebron." When this was heard, VOP's medium wave channel on 675 kHz was inactive Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 1927 gmt 26 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) VOICE OF PALESTINE ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF TRANSMISSION Voice of Palestine, official radio station of the Palestinian National Authority, broadcasting from Ramallah, carried the following announcement at 1200 gmt on 27 April: "O sons of our steadfast Palestinian people: "We will always remain with you. We have overcome the destruction, which was inflicted on Voice of Palestine five times over the past one and a half years of national steadfastness in the march of independence and the establishment of the state. "Today, we overcame the recent destruction and interruption caused by the occupation. All engineering teams are working hard to resume transmission as it used to be throughout Palestine. "We will resume transmission only from 0700-1500 [0400-1200 gmt] for technical reasons until we complete the preparations for the return of normal transmission. We hope we will accomplish this in the next few days. "The pledge is the pledge; and the oath is the oath. As our great national symbol President Yasir Arafat says: We will continue the march towards holy Jerusalem, the capital of our Palestinian state. "This is Voice of Palestine." Voice of Palestine, broadcasting on 90.7 MHz, became unheard following this announcement. It was also unheard on the medium wave channel of 675 kHz. The Palestinian FM station Marah continued to be transmitted on 100.6 MHz, while the other private West Bank FM stations of Amwaj, broadcasting on 91.5, and Ajyal, broadcasting on 103.4 MHz were also unheard. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 1200 gmt 27 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Regarding your question on R Chimbu, (or R Simbu) PNG on 3355: As editor of the Domestic Broadcasting Survey I have noted that it was heard by DX-ers as transmitting most days in March, June, July, August, September, October, November 2000 and in January, March, April, May and June 2001, but never since. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Friday, 26 April 2002 Christian radio network planned for PNG. There are plans to establish a Christian radio network in Papua New Guinea. The project is being undertaken by a group of local and foreign Christian organisations, but the technical side is being handled by HCJB Radio, a US-based religious broadcaster with wide international experience. One station, Wantok Radio Light, is already up and running in Port Moresby, and Sam Rowley of HCJB's engineering section in Indiana, says there are plans to eventually cover the whole country, despite the severe challenges posed by extreme geography. [audio on demand at RA site] In case you haven`t seen this - it is from the Pacific Beat web site of Radio Australia (E. Baxendale, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I happened to be tuning across RA when this item was airing. Interviewee said, SW to be used to fill in gaps FM cannot cover in mountainous PNG (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 6039.7v, Over modulated announcement 0900, "kilociclos.... en Perú" with electronic sounds but can't get clear ID from tape. Similar 0930 still electronic laser sounds and Perú without station ID. 25 April (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, R7, hard-core-dx via DXLD) unID here previously identified by Malm, Ecuador, as R. Amanecer, DR; is there a Peruvian off-frequency too? (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. I received a computer generated QSL card from Russian Time Signal Station RWM, 9996 kHz, on June 19, 2001 for report in March 2001 and $1US. The address on the card is RUSSIAN STATE TIME AND FREQUENCY SERVICE, Institute of Meteorology for Time and Space (IMVP), GP "VNIIFTRI", Moscow Region, Mendeleevo 141570, Russia (Wade Smith, NB, VE9WGS, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. [6137.84?] Steady carrier Apr 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2205-0350, but seemingly low modulation and a conversation between a man and a woman probably in English, not competitive against QRMs. Readability - just "poor" at best. At 0600 the sun is shining here. Seemingly East Coast NAm has favour in this case, hi... (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Apr 24 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. See TRANSKEI below ** SPAIN. O programa Amigos de la Onda Corta, da Radio Exterior de España, agora é transmitido quatro vezes nos finais de semana. Aos sábados, às 11h05, em 15585 e 13720 kHz. Também às 18h05, em 17755 kHz. Aos domingos, às 01h05, em 7170, 9620, 9540, 11680 e 6020 kHz e, por último, às 16h05, em 21610 kHz. Em pauta, notícias do mundo das ondas curtas, com apresentação de Ángel Rodríguez Lozano. Entre em contato com o programa pelo endereço eletrônico: ree.rne@r... [truncated by yahoogroups] (Célio Romáis, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** TRANSKEI. Johannesburg, Apr 25, 2002 (Business Day/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) – GOVERNMENT says it will soon announce its plans for the disbanded Capital Radio 604, an independent station which provided an alternative to the state-run SABC in the 1980s and 1990s. "An announcement will be made by the end of this month," the communications department's deputy director-general, Joe Mjwara, said. He said he could not elaborate on government's plans for the station until then. Former Capital 604 DJ Dave Simons, now living in the UK, and Craig Johnston, the manager and editor of the station's website http://www.capital604.com which he runs from New York, are pushing hard to win back the station's licence. The pair is adamant that the station has a loyal listenership which would again tune in should they succeed. Even now, a core of listeners is in correspondence with the two via the website, and the station's well-known Sunday Solid Gold music show is being broadcast via the site. Johnston said they were exploring the option of broadcasting via satellite should the government delay its decision much longer. "The reason we want to make a comeback via satellite and internet radio is because (the broadcast authorities) are handling the matter so badly and they are taking so long," he said. "The station closed in 1996, now it`s 2002." Johnston said if it proved viable to revive Capital 604 on satellite, they would have their main studio in the New York area and other studios possibly in SA, from where local DJs could broadcast. Asked when this could go on air, Johnston said he and Dave Simons were only in the planning stages, checking out the viability of broadcasting 604 on satellite and in search of venture capital, "so if anything, it will be early next year". But first prize would still be to get its MW licence back. This was due to the costs associated with satellite and the marketing that would be needed to bring Capital 604's MW market listenership over to satellite. by Cyprian Gumede Copyright Business Day. Distributed by All Africa Global Media(AllAfrica.com) (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** TRANSKEI. SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE FATE OF FORMER CAPITAL RADIO 25 April 2002 Joe Mjwara, Deputy Director-General of the South African Government's Communications Department, has announced that the government will decide within the next week on the fate of the former Capital Radio 604, an independent station that operated from the former Transkei until 1996. At its peak, the station had two mediumwave transmitters, one of 500 kW and one of 100 kW, and two 50 kw shortwave transmitters. Former Capital 604 Manager Craig Johnston runs a Web site called http://www.capital604.com and wants to get the station's licence back. Johnston is exploring the option of broadcasting via satellite should the government delay its decision much longer. He claims that response to the Web site shows there's still a viable audience for the station in South Africa. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network Apr 26 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. George Poppin, official monitor in San Francisco, advises that V. of Turkey`s Olcayto Berdi plans to interview him by phone next Tuesday April 30 on Live from Turkey in the 1830-1920 UT broadcast, which is only on 9785 to Europe (but also webcast). So apparently the show remains despite the departure of the Morali sisters. George also points out that Olcay and two other VOT people (not the Moralis) are pictured on page 268 of the current PWBR (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. SUBJECT: BBC MAJOR NEW MONTHLY SERIES From: Brian Robinson brian@gbrmusicweaver.demon.co.uk Newsgroups: rec.music.classical Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 14:42:23 +0100 You may like to note: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/intheworks.shtml IN THE WORKS Broadcast: monthly at 7.30 pm 25 April: Stravinsky - Apollon Musagete 22 May: Bartók - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste 26 June: Debussy - La Mer Jocelyn Pook presents In the Works, a major new monthly series for BBC Radio 3 that explores the origins, musical impact and enduring significance of classic works of the Twentieth Century from 'the inside'. In one edition of 'Performance on 3' each month (except during the Proms) a musical masterpiece of the last century - one of the foundation stones of modern musical experience - is turned inside out in a simultaneous musical and documentary analysis. Each programme consists of two parts. The first, an impressionistic feature, evokes the work as it was created and as it has come to exist within our cultural landscape. This combines contributions from musicians and artists, scholars and members of the listening public with recordings of the piece. Following the musical and verbal impressions presented within this feature, there will be a complete and unadorned broadcast of an authoritative performance of the work. The series, presented by Jocelyn Pook, is devised and produced by Alan Hall who has pioneered a highly crafted and personal style of feature compilation in programmes such as Beethoven's Fifth (Sony Gold in 1997 and Prix Bohemia in 1998) and Knoxville: Summer of 1995 (Prix Italia in 1997). -- Brian Robinson (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U K. TRADITION IS RESTORED TO LAST NIGHT OF PROMS By Hugh Davies, Entertainment Correspondent (Filed: 26/04/2002) TWO classic numbers have been restored to the Last Night of the Proms programme after the BBC rejected plans to abandon permanently traditional elements of the finale. Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia! were dropped last year in deference to the sombre mood of the country after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The BBC later considered a complete overhaul of the flag-waving format, but it was eventually decided that the nationalistic elements of the last evening of the Proms were vital. One of the deciding factors was that to alter such a popular programme so radically, especially in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, would be disastrous. http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/26/nprom26.xml (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) And another version: Rule Britannia returns to Last Night of Proms THE traditional patriotic music will be restored to the Last Night of the Proms this season, a year after the terrorist attacks on America dampened the mood for boisterous, balloon-bursting celebration. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-279035,00.html (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) (also another version via Mike Cooper) ** U K. IAN GILLIES (Filed: 20/04/2002) IAN GILLIES, who has died aged 74, was better known as "Mycroft", Robert Robinson's polymath sidekick on Radio 4's long-running general knowledge quiz show Brain of Britain; he had been Brain of Britain, Top Brain and Brain of Brains. The title Brain of Britain was first competed for in 1954 in a radio competition What Do You Know?; it changed its title in 1967. The format involves four contestants, each of whom is asked questions until they get one wrong - up to a maximum of five questions. If a contestant is close to the right answer, the question master consults "Mycroft". (The name comes from Sherlock Holmes's cleverer brother in the Conan Doyle stories.) The phrase "Mycroft is shaking his head" is code for a near miss. For nearly 30 years Gillies was the question setter on the programme and sat as the adjudicator at Robinson's right hand, nodding or shaking his head as appropriate. He also contributed occasionally to Quote Unquote, Radio 4's quotations quiz and, during the 1980s, was the adjudicator to Ned Sherrin's quizmaster on the musical quiz series Counterpoint - on this he was nicknamed "Young Grove", after the musical reference book. Ian Malcolm Gillies was born at Hampstead, north London, on December 7 1927. During the Second World War he was evacuated to Worcester and educated at the city's Royal Grammar School. After reading History at Jesus College, Oxford, he did his national service with the RAF, then went into advertising, becoming an account director. He applied to Brain of Britain as a joke, but won the title in 1964, then became Brain of Brains in 1965 and Top Brain in 1971. When Brain of Britain's original quiz master Frank Engelmann died in 1972, Gillies chaired the final programme of the series, then gave up his job in advertising to become question compiler. He used his own vast reference library and typed up the questions and answers on cards. He was sometimes criticised for not including enough questions on science or modern culture. A selection of his questions was published as Brain of Britain: A Family Quiz Book (1986). A modest and unassuming man, Gillies was rarely recognised, even by general knowledge quiz aficionados. Friends sometimes brought him along to pub quizzes as their secret weapon, when he invariably pulverised the opposition. (Telegraph via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Also: IAN GILLIES ERUDITE QUIZ COMPILER WHO, AS MYCROFT, WAS BRAIN OF BRITAIN'S UNSEEN ORACLE FOR 30 YEARS http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-279494,00.html (via Bill Westenhaver) ** U K. BBC JOURNALIST SETTLES DISCRIMINATION CASE Jessica Hodgson, Thursday April 25, 2002, The Guardian Sharan Sandhu, a journalist working for the BBC World Service, has reached an undisclosed settlement with the BBC, ending her case for race and sex discrimination against the corporation. The settlement comes at the end of nearly two weeks of evidence which saw BBC World Service colleagues past and present speak of a "colonial culture" at the organisation. They said this culture was especially bad in the early 1990s and talked about the sexist and racist attitudes of several managers and senior white colleagues in powerful positions in the organisation. Sandhu alleges she was repeatedly passed up for promotion at the BBC because of her race and sex. Early on in the trial Sandhu spoke of a "boys' club culture" at BBC World Service, comprised of "Oxbridge types" and boozy tabloid journalists. She later referred to shift patterns introduced which created a "ghetto" for working mothers, giving them "little or no chance" of promotion. Another witness spoke about the manner in which senior managers spoke about Sandhu during their management meetings. In a statement, the BBC said it was "very happy that this case has been resolved amicably and that Sharan Sandhu has withdrawn her complaint to the tribunal". "The BBC does not accept that Sharan's career was affected by sex or race discrimination. The BBC has shown Sharan exceptional goodwill and generosity. We do not recognise the colonial mentality she described." "The BBC stands by the selection procedures, both successful and unsuccessful, that Sharan went through and believes that the procedures are demonstrably fair." The settlement brings to an end a three-year crusade by Sandhu which she claims was designed to bring to the public discriminatory practices "that have been allowed to flourish in a publicly funded organisation which said it was committed to equal opportunities and multiculturalism". During her case, in which she was supported by the National Union of Journalists, Sandhu's lawyers attempted to compel the BBC director general, Greg Dyke, to appear as a witness. The case is highly embarrassing for Mr Dyke, who has made clear his intention to radically increase the corporation's intake of staff from ethnic minorities. Shortly after he took over as director general, he pledged that 10% of its UK workforce and 4% of management would be drawn from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2003. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) Well, I wonder how much the settlement was? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Story in today`s Times not in the online edition: BBC PAYS JOURNALIST 50,000 POUNDS TO SETTLE RACE CASE by Adam Fresco A female journalist who claimed that the BBC World Service was dominated by white male journalists with a colonial mentality yesterday agreed a 50,000 pounds out-of-court settlement with the corporation. Sharon Sandhu, 51, said that she was repeatedly passed over for promotion between 1991 and 1999 because of her colour and gender. She claimed that a corps of white male journalists reigned over the Service with a mentality that demeaned and embarrassed ethnic minority colleagues. During the employment tribunal in Central London, which started last week, Miss Sandhu said that she had to endure a boys' club culture at Bush House in which non-white staff were deliberately restricted to junior posts. She claimed that being passed over for promotion between 1994 and 1999 led to stress and depression. Miss Sandhu, a mother of three, told the tribunal that while long liquid lunches were the order of the day for the ruling clique, demanding 11 hour shifts for working mothers made life intolerable. She joined the BBC in 1990 as a sub editor and soon noticed a clear divide between the senior Oxbridge middle class "boozy tabloid journalists" and their junior non-white colleagues. Miss Sandhu, who alleged direct and indirect discrimination, said yesterday she was looking forward to putting the whole affair behind her. "I'm quite relieved that it's all over. It has taken three years of my life. I am going to start a new life- I feel a great burden has been lifted from my shoulders." Miss Sandhu, who formally left the BBC yesterday, said the first thing she would do was take a holiday and enjoy a proper family life again. She said she hoped future generations of World Service journalists would benefit from her action. "I was doing this not just for myself but for lots of other people as well. I think I suffered for ten years and kept silent, hoping things would change, and they have recently started changing but it is too late for many ethnic minority journalists like myself." In a statement yesterday the BBC said that they did not accept her career was affected by gender or race discrimination. A spokesman said: "The BBC has said Sharan exceptional goodwill. We do not recognise the colonial mentality she described. We gave Sharan extensive opportunities to develop her career. After a prolonged period of sickness the BBC gave Sharan every help to return to work designing a special shift for her and exempting her from night working. The BBC stands by the selection procedures, both successful and unsuccessful, that Sharan went through and believes that the procedures are demonstrably fair. The BBC accepts with sadness that relations with Sharan have effectively broken down. We wish her success in the future." (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA HOME PAGES AND RADIO SAWA Hi Glenn: VOA has new-look Web homepages at http://www.voa.gov and http://www.voanews.com (both now virtually identical). Comments welcome. Note that the VOA websites no longer mention Arabic. Officially, it's no longer a VOA language. VOA Arabic has been replaced by Radio Sawa, operating on its own at http://www.radiosawa.com Radio Sawa never mentions its connection to VOA, despite being administered by VOA. Some of the recent newspaper articles about Radio Sawa have anticipatorily used the present tense. Contrary to what the Jerusalem Post reported, Radio Sawa is not yet on medium wave via Cyprus or Djibouti, and not yet on FM in Qatar and Bahrain. VOA News Now and VOA Special English are now completely off 1260 kHz medium wave via Rhodes to make room for Radio Sawa. News Now and Special English will be taken off 1548 kHz medium wave via Kuwait this weekend, also in deference to Radio Sawa. Radio Free Iraq might also go off 1548 to make way for Radio Sawa. Two recent articles about Radio Sawa are at http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020425-69263382.htm http://www.sauditimes.com/p/f4/c646e4432b22.html [actually a familiar? AP story] 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz.: U.S. TO GO ON AIR IN ARABIC [sic] By Joyce Howard Price, THE WASHINGTON TIMES [Moony] New in-depth Arab-language radio news and policy programs slated to debut in the Middle East on May 1 are an attempt by the U.S. government to recreate the way Radio Free Europe countered Soviet propaganda during the Cold War.... (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. HOUSE PANEL PUSHES MEDIA BROADCASTS TO MIDDLE EAST By Reuters WASHINGTON - As the United States tries to improve its image among Muslim nations, a House of Representatives panel on Thursday voted to target $245 million over two years for television and radio broadcasts and cultural exchange programs in the Middle East. The House International Relations Committee approved a bill for "public diplomacy" programs that provides funds for a 24-hour Arabic language satellite television service to the Middle East, education programs in English, journalism and other subjects, sister city partnerships, fellowships and other efforts to bring closer relations. "While our broadcasts will never turn committed terrorists into American patriots, the vast majority of people in the region are open to different points of view," said Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat. Qatar-based al-Jazeera operates a satellite television channel in the Arab world and has been an influential voice in the region. The committee passed Berman's amendment to add another $135 million to the bill's $110 million in new money for broadcasts to Muslim countries. The bill also reorganizes oversight of the government-funded Voice of America, which broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of news and other programming in English and 52 other languages through radio, satellite television and the Internet. Voice of America has been run by an independent board criticized as slow and unresponsive. Under terms of the bill, the board would remain in place but a director would be hired to report to the board. The committee also approved a measure providing $375 million over two years to continue programs to help women in poor countries get small business loans Reuters story in the English edition of Israel's Ha'aretz, http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=156498&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y (via Dave White, DXLD) ** USA/AFRICA: VOA INCREASES WEEKEND BROADCASTS TO HORN OF AFRICA | Text of press release by Voice of America on 19 April Washington, DC, 19 April 2002: VOA's Horn of Africa Service has expanded its weekend programming to one hour on Saturdays and Sundays, a move that coincides with the Amharic Service's 20-year anniversary. The new format will present broader programming, ranging from enhanced coverage of topical subjects from the region and beyond to a full- length Sunday magazine show for a younger audience. Response to the expanded format was immediate and enthusiastic. Addis Ababa resident Tamiru Geda's response was typical. "It is breaking news that VOA is now one hour every Saturday and Sunday. Most Ethiopians were eager to see the dream - and now it has changed from dream to reality." The first expanded broadcasts aired on 6 and 7 April and featured an exclusive interview with one of the world's leading experts on border disputes, Martin Pratt from the International Boundaries Research Unit at the University of Durham. Pratt discussed the upcoming decision on demarcation of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, a contentious issue that ignited a bitter and bloody border war in 1998. The new Saturday broadcast will have reports from VOA correspondents in the United States, a forum for listeners, a wrap-up of the world events each week, and a 20-minute segment with features and interviews. Sunday's broadcast alternates between the ever-popular "Radio Magazine" and "Mestawot" ("Reflection"), a new magazine programme for the younger generation. "Radio Magazine" is hosted by Mimi Sabbatu and Addisu Abebe, and "Mestawot" is hosted by Fregenet Asseged and Konjit Taye. On 15 July 1996, the Voice of America added broadcasts in Tigrigna and Afan Oromo -its 49th and 50th languages - for listeners in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tigrigna is one of the working languages of the independent nation of Eritrea, and Afan Oromo is spoken by the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. The two languages joined VOA Amharic, which has been on the air since 1982. The newly expanded one-hour format on Saturdays and Sundays is broadcast only in Amharic, which has been on VOA since 1982. On 15 July 1996, VOA's Horn of Africa Service added broadcasts in Tigrigna and Afan Oromo. Monday through Friday, the service's one-hour programme includes 15 minutes in Tigrigna, 15 minutes in Afan Oromo and 30 minutes in Amharic. Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 19 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?????? I continue to be amazed that stations issue press releases like this and see no need to mention, even as a sidebar, the *frequencies* where the programming dealt with can actually be heard! (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Federal register publication of the NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING AND ORDER in ET docket 02-16, was on April 8, 2002 at 67FR16673. The deadline for comments is May 8, 2002, reply comments June 7, 2002. In the Matter of Amendment of Parts 2, 73, 74, 80, 90, and 97 of the Commission's Rules to Implement Decisions from World Radiocommunication Conferences Concerning Frequency Bands Below 28000 kHz (Donald Wilson, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi. My name is Ted Chittenden, and I did write you once last November to make you and other DXers aware of Yahoo's charging one to listen to some of its Internet radio stations. This time around, I'm going to let you know about May Day. While I have not heard you mention it on World of Radio or Continent of Media, I am sure you are aware of the recommended royalty rates for Internet radio. If not, please visit http://www.saveinternetradio.org for the full story. The organizers of this site (Kurt Hanson and Paul Edwards of Chicago) also run RAIN --- Radio and Internet Newsletter, available at http://www.kurthanson.com They, along with others, are requesting that Internet webcasters and broadcasters seek more public support by not airing their programs over the web on May 1. They are recommending webcasters take one of one of three approaches: (1) do not stream anything over the web from sunrise to sunset on May 1; (2) replace the normal stream with bird and cricket chirps interspersed with PSAS recommending listeners contact their Congressmen about the issues involved; or (3) replace their normal web stream with a 12-hour talk program being developed by WOLF, the Internet radio station in Nashville, designed to educate people on the issues. It may be of interest to spot check some of your favorite non-CPB stations Internet webcasts that day to see if they are participating and possibly do a short piece on it on the next edition of World of Radio or Continent of Media. I guess I've gone on long enough, but I think these issues deserve further airing. Take care, and I live in Phoenix, Arizona. (Ted Chittenden, April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CALL TO ACTION - HELP SAVE KCRW.COM ** MAY DAY MAY DAY! WEDNESDAY MAY 1! In solidarity with webcasters across America, KCRW will participate in a "Day of Silence" by shutting off its three live streams - KCRW.com, KCRWMusic.com, and KCRWWorldNews.com - on Real and Windows. KCRW is supporting the nation-wide 'silence' protest to send a message to the U.S. Copyright Office about the up-coming ruling on royalty rates that may shut down or bankrupt the vast majority of the nascent Internet radio industry. This is your opportunity to express your concern to Congress. KCRW makes it easy - just go to our home page and click on the button: "HELP Save Internet Radio." Read about what you can do to help and be sure to tell a friend. http://KCRW.com/about/frame_internetradio.html (KCRW Newsletter via DXLD) ** U S A. PBS Press Release: Subject: 'NOW/Moyers': Why Does Radio Sound the Same WHY DO SO MANY RADIO STATIONS PLAY THE SAME SONGS? NOW With Bill Moyers Takes A Look At What Radio Has Become in the Age of Media Consolidation Coverage includes interview with T Bone Burnett airing on Friday, April 26 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) Stations on autopilot, air personalities churning out programs that listeners think are local, and cookie cutter play lists across the country are the new reality for radio. This week NOW with Bill Moyers reports on current radio industry business practices and why some critics suggest the variety of music available for listeners has sharply declined over the past decade. Six years ago, when the Telecommunications Act ended more than 60 years of limits on the number of radio stations a company could own, it triggered a wave of consolidation in the industry. One company, Clear Channel, took advantage of the new rules more aggressively than any other. Clear Channel got its start in radio in 1972, with one station in San Antonio, TX. Since Congress relaxed ownership limits in 1996, Clear Channel has grown to include more than 1200 stations. Clear Channel is on the radio dial from coast to coast. In fact, 46 of Clear Channel's stations are known as "KISS-FM," part of the company's vision of creating a national brand identity through local stations that target one demographic and air a music play list shaped by focus groups. In an interview that will be broadcast Friday evening on NOW with Bill Moyers on PBS, T Bone Burnett, one of the hottest record producers in the world right now, explains the downside of media consolidation for the listening public. His soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou, won five Grammy Awards this year, but it was rarely played on the radio. Burnett asserts that a single-minded focus on advertising profits has overridden all other factors to determine radio play lists. Burnett says, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, does not fit into Clear Channel's notion of country music. They're not up there saying, 'we want to build a community.' They're not saying, 'we want to help keep country music vital.' They're not saying, 'we want to champion great musicians.' That's not their business plan. Their business plan is to capture as much, as many, advertising dollars as they possibly can in that marketplace." The FCC is responsible for insuring that the radio and television industries serve the public interest. Burnett says, "I think the FCC has its work cut out for it thenŠthe public's interest is not being served by the modern day radio establishment." To hear more of T Bone Burnett's interview and Clear Channel's response to the allegations that they have a monopoly on the industry, tune in to NOW With Bill Moyers on PBS Friday, April 26 at 9:00 p.m. (check local listings) (via Tom Roche, DXLD) This was entered in advance upon MONITORING REMINDERS. I have just been watching it, first half hour of show. Video available ondemand from PBS? Guess not, but see: http://www.pbs.org/now/indepth/042602_media.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) ** U S A. 26 Apr 02 Dear Glenn: Thought your DXLD readers might like to know that the Army has the Armed Forces Day MARS Crossband Tests schedule on line at http://www.asc.army.mil/MARS/afd/mars_afd.htm This year they have 13 sites representing Army, Army Corps of Engineers, Air Force, and Navy/Marine Corps. All are in CONUS except AEA which is in Edlingen, Germany. Again, this year the tests are done on 11/12 May, one week before actual Armed Forces Day. My thanks to all veterans, past and present. Cheers (Bill Wilkins, Springfield, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The County Engineer in Lake County, Ohio has a new TIS on 1640 kHz advising residents of a public hearing regarding proposed construction. The meeting is the evening of April 30 so this new TIS may be on for only a short time. Given the range I've noticed so far my guess is the transmitter might be at a higher elevation. This because I've heard it over most of the county, in both higher and lower elevations. If DXers combine this possibility with the transmitter being somewhat near Lake Erie and some good grayline conditions the signal might travel more than your average TIS. (I don't believe this is the same TIS I reported on 1640 the other night. The signal for this is quite strong around here all day and night. The one the other night had Pennsylvania weather and was a weak signal at 2300 EDT so as many have reported it is probably somewhere on a Pennsylvania highway.) (Lee Silvi, Mentor, (Lake County), Ohio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I make daily scans of the 25-26 MHz band, especially in the morning when propagation is best. 25950 in Portland OR has not been heard since last Nov/Dec; 26470 Fort Pierce not since October. WFLA 25870 is still there most days, but propagation has been poor lately. The one-watters have not been heard since April 6 (Alan Roberts, St. Lambert, QU, April 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY ** U S A [and non]. Two years ago we published our first WTFDA TV Station Guide in many years. It sold out. Now we've done it again and it's ready for the 2002 E skip and tropo season. The guide covers the USA, Canada and Mexico. It's well over 400 pages, 3-hole punched and ready for your binder. You get listings by channels and stations plotted on channel maps. Everything is there; commercial stations, DTVs, LPTVs and translators. Club members (NRC/WTFDA/ODXC/IRCA and ANARC Clubs)pay $23. All others pay $25. Complete information can be found at this URL: http://fmdx.usclargo.com/tvg.html or email me for more info. Have a great skip season! -- Mike Bugaj - Enfield, CT USA WTFDA Circulation http://pages.cthome.net/fmdx (via amfmtvdx list via DXLD) ** U S A. I've just made some changes to my database software (not yet on the web) that cull out expired licenses. (I'd thought that's what the "archived" field was for, but apparently not...) I find a grand total of *14* stations left licensed above channel 70. Three of them hold permits to move to lower channels. (and a local in the area says one isn't operating on either channel) One is reported off the air by locals. I suspect some of the others (especially in Virginia) are gone too: K70FL Hartsel, CO KMGH-7 K70DR Blue Earth, MN KTTC-10 K79BK Fairmont, MN KTTC-10 K07IT W. Glacier, MT KXLY-4 (licensed on ch. 71 but permit for ch. 7) K83AT Farmington, NM KRQE-13 K30FP Sta. Rosa, NM KOAT-7 (licensed on ch. 74 but permit for ch. 30) K71AT Burns, OR KBCI-2 W80AN Amherst, VA WBRA-15 W79AT Chase City, VA WCVE-23 W70AP Lovingston, VA WCVE-23 W73AS Oak Grove, VA WCVE-23 W71AH S. Boston, VA WCVE-23 W73AJ S. Boston, VA WCVW-57 -- (Doug Smith, W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com WTFDA via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN [non]. I have two theories as to why China might jam VOA in Uzbek. There is a language spoken in far western China called Uigur, or Uighur. I know it is a Turkic language, as is Uzbek. I do not know how closely Uighur and Uzbek are related, but, if, for example, they were as close as Spanish and Portuguese, it might be that the Uighurs understood some of the Uzbek, and the Chinese government might not like that. Another theory, less likely, but still possible, is it possible that the government of Uzbekistan is getting the Chinese to do some of their "dirty work," I.E. jamming VOA for them. I know Uzbekistan is supposed to be one of our allies in George Bush's war in Central Asia, but I believe the country is ruled, with a pretty strong hand, by the same operatives who ruled during Soviet times, and they, too, might be less than fond of VOA (Tim Hendel, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. There are few radio stations (and no TV stations) in Venezuela that aren't owned by members of the upper classes. Generally, they are the people most opposed to Chávez. I doubt there are any radio stations owned by the trade unions, for example. The one significant exception would be those owned by the Roman Catholic church (La Voz de la Fe and the Radio Fe y Alegría group). On the other hand, as I understand it, radio in Venezuela has not gotten to the point where just a few large corporations own huge blocks of stations and control most of the radio programming that the public hears. That, of course, is the situation in some other countries like Colombia and the USA (Don Moore in DX-plorer, via DSWCI DX Window April 24 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re: ``6715U Korean program. Initial technical monitoring results seem to indicate that this station may be located in the CIS (Bueschel Apr 25 via Cumbre DX)`` Hi. That speculation is totally wrong. I would never speculate this way. The CIS / Russians / Mr. Titov would never broadcast midst an ute band! Bearing of 44 degrees from EUR, if latter is true, would suggest, broadcasts coming from South Korea area instead. 73 (wb df5sx to Cumbre DX via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SUBJECT: [SWL] THE FUTURE OF SW RADIO The behavior of international short-wave stations is anything but logical. First, they are not interested in reception reports for the purpose of their signal quality, as they used to be. Some have openly stated this, the BBC for one. They are not very interested in who listens to them either. Look at the cancellation of the SW Clubs. The failure to respond to listeners of many stations. Look at Radio Budapest who is using a mailing list well over ten years out of date with no updates! Look at the large number of stations going to a web based service and turning off the transmitters. Look at those claiming the Public Radio can carry their programs, so there is no need to transmit them. This is not about reaching people to share a message. It is about political attitudes, totally. Consider this: half of the listeners around the planet do not have Internet access or can not afford it or do not even own a computer. Of the half that remain, one half refuse to listen to a web cast. It is on the air, or they are not interested. (I am in this group.) The last half is divided in half again. One half of them do not have a Public Radio broadcast they can hear or it is not at a time they can listen. This leaves about 1/8 of the original who will actually 'hear' the broadcast via Public Radio or the web casts. Obviously the stations are not concerned about who hears the programs or how many people hear the programs. It is not about people anymore. It is about political groups within a country struggling for control of the way that things are done. Look at the estimated fifty thousand Russian Jews who listen to the Voice Of Israel. They do not have computers, for the most part. When the SW transmissions stop, the Voice Of Israel loses these listeners. Israel desperately needs public support from around the globe to bolster their fight. Yet, they are giving up on tens of thousands of listeners who have been listening and supporting them. Once again, the destiny of something is being decided not by the people for whom it was intended to help, but by a handful of politicians who have an attitude to grind and do not care at what expense to their own welfare. The money saved by turning off the lights at the transmitter sites is minimal when compared to the loss of listener support for a cause, the education of those who have no other viable means of hearing news and world reports and the good will generated between different nations generated by the sharing of cultural exchanges. The QSL has become nothing more than a token courtesy extended to listeners. Once reports were valued. Now they are stolen for IRC or green stamps, or the hopes thereof. The reports fuel the fireplace on a cold night. Enjoy it while you can, as within a decade, most will be long gone, never to return to the air again. What remains will bear little, if any, resemblance to the short-wave stations us over forty listeners remember from our youth (Duane W8DBF Fischer, MI, swl list via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-069, April 25, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1128 available April 26: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230? on 5070, 0630 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB FIRST AIRINGS ON WRN: Rest of World Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN/USA. USA TO FINANCE TWO FM RADIO STATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN | Text of report by Afghan television on 24 April Broadcasting and technical contracts between the Ministry of Information and Culture [of Afghanistan] and the International Broadcasting Administration [presumably the US International Broadcasting Bureau] of the United States of America were signed by Abdol Hamid Mubarez, broadcasting deputy [minister] of the Ministry of Information and Culture, and the head of the abovementioned office. Bakhtar News Agency reports: Under these contracts the International Broadcasting Bureau of the USA will set up two FM stations, the first of which can develop the Dari and Pashto services of the Voice of America in Afghanistan. Under this contract, the US International Broadcasting Bureau will pay 50,000 dollars to Afghanistan for its broadcasting. The second station will be fitted out with everything it needs and will be submitted to the interim government free of charge. Source: Afghanistan Television, Kabul, in Dari 1430 gmt 24 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RAE: Las emisiones programadas para salir en italiano, al momento están demoradas hasta tanto no se solucionen otros temas del área, aunque su horario de emisión y frecuencias, serán los mencionados el pasado 22 Abril. 73's (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Apr 25, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Entonces, no se ha movido el inglés a las 18? (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 12210.24, April 13 2255, Radio Cultura Filadélfia again on its harmonic, but now slightly higher in frequency. Worse here than on its fundamental. JE/RFK (= Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3245 kHz, (presumed) R. Clube Varginha, Varginha, MG, Brasil. At 2237 UT I ran into a signal on 3245 with the compulsary Voz do Brasil program; at 2300 the station switched to a relay of Rádio Transamérica. Could it be that R. Clube Varginha has reactivated their transmission on 3245 kHz today? Note that I have not yet heard an ID of R. Clube Varginha, but relaying R. Transamérica at night is a known custom of them and Varginha is the only Brazilian that was on 3245 (Rik van Riel, Curitiba, Brasil, April 25, BDXC via DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. Glenn, At NAB I stopped by the RIZ Transmitters Booth [HQ: Zagreb, Croatia]. I asked if they had any current model 100 kW short wave transmitters in the field. I was told that they had one now installed in Burkina Faso; a picture of this installation was in their display. This transmitter is probably the source of the Burkina Faso transmission (Donald Wilson, Apr 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Re recent speculation about the Burkina 5030 kHz outlet - this report confirms they have a new 100 kW SW transmitter: BURKINA FASO: NATIONAL RADIO TRANSMISSION CAPACITY BOOSTED | Excerpt from report by Burkina National TV on 11 April The transmission capacity of the national radio station has been enhanced to go beyond the frontiers of the country. The extension programme cost almost 2 billion CFA francs. [Correspondent - recording] Reducing distances has always been the ambition of Radio Burkina. Today, this project is a reality. The transmitter that was inaugurated this evening is a 100-kW shortwave transmitter, covering a radius of 1,500-2,000 km. This facility will enable Radio Burkina to go beyond the country's frontiers, and to reach out to our compatriots beyond the country's borders, thus bringing them closer home. During the inaugural ceremony, the minister of information recalled the frustration of listeners in the past when they could hardly tune in to the radio station. According to the minister, it was no longer possible to troubleshoot the numerous equipment breakdowns, which date back to several decades. Today, this is an old memory, the minister said. Henceforth, Radio Burkina is on good terms with its listeners... Source: Television Nationale du Burkina, Ouagadougou, in French 2000 gmt 11 Apr 02 (via Dave Kenny, BBCM, Apr 25, DXLD) 5030, R. Burkina Apr 19, 2000-2137 program of French mostly talks. 32432 /S9, QRM by Uzbek Radio at 5025. And 21 April with S9+10 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. From globeandmail.com, Thursday, April 25, 2002 CBC RADIO SHOULDN'T SHUN ITS STRONGEST FANS, by MURRAY CAMPBELL Some of CBC Radio's most venerable and most popular programs will be on trial when the public broadcaster's board of directors gathers in Halifax on the weekend -- potential collateral damage from a management initiative to reshape English radio network programming to make it more "reflective" of the Canadian populace. Although many consider CBC Radio to be the jewel in the broadcaster's crown, and there has been much comment to the effect that "if it ain't broke, why try to fix it," the proposed shakeup seems to be a legacy project for Alex Frame, vice-president of English radio, who is retiring later this year. Up for major change or even elimination are two national stalwarts -- This Morning, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon each weekday morning, and The House, a Saturday morning review of the week in national politics. Local shows will also be changing to stress more outreach and more participation in their communities. Mr. Frame and his executive director of English programming, Adrian Mills, are convinced their network has grown stale and out of touch with the new and more diverse Canada. When they trill on about it in sociological or demographic terms, they put out a pretty good spin. The percentage of their audience in the 35-to-49 age bracket has declined as their collective audience ages; 69 per cent of CBC Radio listeners are 50 or over. Moreover, the baby-boom bulge is larger than its share of the CBC audience. But what new CBC chairwoman Carole Taylor and her board will have to decide is whether change for the sake of change should be a priority. This Morning reaches 1.43 million listeners daily and would have been untouchable until Peter Gzowski, the national icon, died. Even though it has gone through changes, it is still associated in CBC management minds with too much fiddle music and too many pickle recipes. Not enough about jerked goat and roti from the Caribbean or the role of women in Muslim societies. Mr. Mills quotes a listener who told him CBC Radio reflected Canada as it was, not Canada as it is and not Canada as it could be. Questioning the role of The House reflects another Toronto-centred management bias against national politics, which is seen as too institution-centred. Mr. Frame recently told a group of journalists and producers that it represented "the precious emblems of a dying elite." One can understand the pressure for legacies -- indeed, Prime Minister Jean Chretien suffers from the same thirst -- and the somewhat naive notion of wanting CBC Radio to be the equivalent of the town square or at least the buzz around the water coolers. But the CBC board or anyone else has to wonder about the questionable proposition of throwing away the strong audience you have, regardless of its demographics, in a thrust for experimentation. On top of that, it amounts to political stupidity. While it may be true that CBC audiences are growing older, like the population, these aging baby boomers still have firm hands on the levers of power. (Mr. Chretien is 68, after all.) Moreover, it has been the loyal support of CBC Radio that has prevented successive governments from slicing budgets even more deeply than they have. Sure, The House deals by and large with a political elite; our whole system of national politics is an exercise in elite accommodation. More than that, our politicians like the program because it is the one venue that deals at length with serious issues that concern them. It was very significant that members of the Commons heritage committee departed from their study of television to press Ms. Taylor and CBC president Bob Rabinovitch about the future of The House recently. One might think Mr. Rabinovitch might have learned from his experience when he tried to kill local television news shows. The message to the would-be razzle-dazzlers at CBC Radio should be, "Reach out all you want, but you shun your strongest fans at your peril." (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC NEGOTIATIONS NOT GOING WELL From La Presse, April 25, 2002, page A5 (Liberally/conservatively/freely translated from the original French.) Negotiations at snail's pace, by Louise Leduc Locked out Radio-Canada employees got the proverbial cold shoulder from management: besides progress on salary equity between men and women, negotiations have been advancing at a snail's pace. The Syndicat de communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC) was less than enthusiastic after two closed door general assemblies yesterday. In its strike newsletter, Le Petit Canard (The Duckling), the SCRC wrote: "We are forced to concede that the employer hasn't signaled a desire for a rapid and honourable resolution." The union also questioned the wisdom of agreeing to a complete media black-out during the length of the negotiations. "After a month on lock-out, continued silence is no longer possible," the Duckling reported. On the matter of employee permanence, there was no progress. According to the union, CBC/Radio-Canada categorically rejected the right of recall based on seniority. It also maintained its position on the 300-day trial period for temporary workers and continued opposing the awarding of benefits for temps. Salaries have not yet been discussed. "People seemed disappointed, even angry about the lack of progress," said Raymond Saint-Pierre, who normally hosts "Montréal ce soir" (local supper-hour TV news program), as he exited one of the union's coldest meetings. Marc-André Côté, an editor at RDI (French TV all-news channel), thought there would be better news. "Rumours indicated that everything would be settled by the end of April, but that now looks highly unlikely. We can only hope that the CSN (Confederation of National Trade Union, an umbrella organization of Quebec unions) congress in May will decide to improve our strike pay to help us out financially." His colleague, Mélissa Hervieux, a closed-captioning writer, was also discouraged. "The precarity (of temporary workers) is at the heart of workers' demands and the two parties are far from agreement on this point. It even looks like they're farther apart now." CBC workers are expected to demonstrate today in front of the Complexe Guy Favreau, a building that houses many federal government offices. Meanwhile, CBC management would not comment on the negotiations. Talks should restart today (via Ricky Leong, April 25, DXLD) ** CANADA. From The Edmonton Journal, http://canada.com/news/story.asp?id={11F66EC5-8AC4-4D38-8457-C9798DD61899 ---------------------------------- SMALL CITY RADIO STATION THOUGHT TOO BIG ON TOWER NO GO FOR 2ND-TALLEST STRUCTURE IN THE LAND Don Thomas and Conal Mullen, Journal Staff Writers, Edmonton Journal Thursday, April 25, 2002 Public opposition and safety worries cost an Edmonton broadcasting company its bid to erect a radio tower in Strathcona County that would have been Canada's second-highest structure. The O.K. Radio Group, which owns Edmonton's CKER Radio and stations in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Victoria, wanted to erect a 425- metre tower just south of the intersection of Highways 21 and 14. The $5-million tower would have been nearly 150 metres higher than existing radio towers in the Edmonton area and only about 128 metres lower than Toronto's CN Tower. But Strathcona County council Tuesday rejected a proposed rezoning bylaw after a lengthy public hearing attended by nearly 200 area residents, pilots, environmental groups and others. A tower of that height is necessary to provide a superior signal as radio and television companies move into digital broadcasting, said O.K. Radio president Roger Charest Sr. CKER, at 101.9 FM, is a multicultural station broadcasting since 1980, in more than 20 languages. Susan Mossing lives next to the location where the tower was to go and said she was grateful it's not going ahead. "It's huge," she said. "I don't think people really realize unless it's happening to them how big this thing would have been, how tall. I'm right next door to it and I don't know if we would ever have darkness again, if I'd be able to see the stars, because it's just right there. There's got to be all kinds of warning lights and everything that are on this tower." Mossing said people in the area were relieved by the decision. "They know this tower is probably going to go up somewhere, but it's not going to go up in our neighbourhood. "There's lots of towers here," she said. "We don't need something that's that high. Mayor Vern Hartwell of Strathcona County said council decided unanimously to reject the proposal. "On that individual piece of property, the issue is dead. There is no appeal to that site. That site is out of any consideration." Hartwell said the decision applied only to that site and did not preclude an application elsewhere in the county. He said council heard concerns from pilots, comments about the esthetics of such a tower and its visibility from highways 21 and 14, and concerns about safety. Coun. Cathy Olesen said it came down to the fact that there were unclarified safety issues involving aircraft. Pilots from the Cooking Lake airport, eight kilometres east of the site, said the tower and 27 guy wires needed to support it would pose too much of a hazard for aircraft. It's too close to the flight paths of student pilots flying between the Cooking Lake, City Centre and International airports, said Orville Hewitt, manager of the Cooking Lake Aviation Academy. Transport Canada and NavCanada, the agency that controls air traffic, did not object to the proposed tower, Charest said. But in bad weather pilots flying by visual control tend to fly along highways, "and that tower is just way too high for something like that," Hewitt said. Charest said they planned to relocate their broadcasting equipment from CTV's 281-metre tower, about two kilometres to the south. They hoped other broadcasters would locate their equipment to the new tower, as well, he said. Eventually, over a period of 10 or 15 years, it might have been possible for all broadcasters in the Edmonton area to use just one tower and to remove the others, he said. Charest said he planned to take a few days to assess the situation. "Nothing will be decided from my point of view what we're going to do for a while yet." He said he didn't believe there's any way to appeal the decision. There are always alternative sites but none as good as the one that was proposed, he said. "It's so disappointing, you just need a few days to think about all the options." The proposed location is best because at about 765 metres above sea level it's one of the highest spots in the Edmonton area, said Stantec Consulting engineer Simon O'Byrne. Downtown Edmonton is 690 metres, while Stony Plain is about 700 metres. County policy on radio and cellphone towers calls for companies to share towers where possible, says Andy Boyd, who helped develop the policy on behalf of Sherwood Park Fish and Game Club. But OK Radio had no firm commitments from other broadcasters, he said. WHO'S THE TALLEST IN THE LAND? CN Tower - 553 metres Manulife Place - 144 metres Radio tower - 425 metres © Copyright 2002 Edmonton Journal (via Dave White, DXLD) ** CANADA. Re National Post story about Toronto AM: Toronto is home to six ENGLISH-LANGUAGE AM commercial stations: 590 CJCL, an all-sports station, The Fan 640 CFYI, an all-guys station, Mojo 640 680 CFTR, all-news, 680-New 740 CHWO, Nostalgia format, AM-740 1010 CFRB, news-talk 1050 CHUM, Sports, The Team But also to TWO MULTILINGUAL AM commercial stations: 1430 CKHT, Multilingual 1540 CHIN, Multilingual I believe both of these run ads, far as I can tell from listening, but the National Post seems to be excluding them, so let's be generous and assume they don't run ads, and that the six the NP refers to are all mainstream English-language stations. # of English language commercial stations: 92.5, 96.3, 97.3, 98.1, 99.9, 102.1, 104.5, 107.1 (I count EIGHT in Toronto) Multilingual commercial stations: 88.9, 100.7 (TWO) Campus-community / non-profit stations: 88.1, 89.5, 91.1, 105.5 (FOUR) So that's EIGHT English-language commercial FMs, and TWO Multilingual commercial FMs, for a total of TEN; compared to SIX English ones and TWO Multilingual ones on AM, for a total of EIGHT. So, if the National Pustule, er Post, says "Toronto is home to a mere six commercial AM stations, fewer than half the number of FM competitors," then the Pustule must believe there to be more than 12 commercial stations in Toronto. Even if we include the two ethnic FM stations and not the two ethnic FM stations, the numbers still don't add up the way the newspaper article has configured it. I suspect the story here is that a reporter and editorial staff at a Canadian daily are missing some fingers and don't know it. I don't disagree that AM stations sound bad in some areas of the city, but I can also attest, living downtown, to some difficulty with receiving local FM stations. Because of all this, and the fact that FM stereo has advanced quicker than AM stereo, it makes sense to place sports, news and talk stations on AM, and music on FM. Do we need a brain surgeon to figure this one out? (Saul Chernos Guess where..., NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. I just received word that the company doing the transmitter maintenance for CINW 940 News in Montreal has completed their work after two nights work. Therefore they will NOT be going off the air again tonight after Midnight (Sheldon Harvey, QB, April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So, did you get some fantastic stuff in its absence, and what about 690? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. Glenn, Re DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-068, April 24, 2002 and your comment on ANZAC. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. I don't know what, if any, association the Canadians had with this action. Being British Empire I suppose there is a good chance they were represented in the Dardanelles campaign in WWI. See http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac_acdoc.htm and http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/anzac.html amongst others. Regards (Ian Johnson, Australia, Apr 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I sit corrected. I had always thought ANZAC stood for ``Australia, New Zealand And Canada``, perhaps influenced by ANZUS (gh, DXLD) Glenn, You've probably had a ton of emails on this already, but ANZAC is an acronym for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. Canada was certainly part of the war effort, but Anzac Day is strictly an antipodean observance. Regards, (Chuck Albertson Seattle, Wash, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Apparently CRI has made up its mind. It was on the 9570 Cuba relay for quite a while. A few weeks [ago?] I found it on 9580, Then it would alternate, one day 9570, next day 9580. Couple times 9580, then 9570. So far its`s 9580, It`s been poor to fair. Splash from 9575 Arabic (Bob Thomas, CT, Apr 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. James was ill for a couple weeks, so the Interactive Radio Show at 0345 UT Tue-Sat was suspended; producing it depends on James` available time; will return later. Antenna for 7445-USB finished at last, and mounted on 100 foot tower, not the 200 ft, but may go there in future. The antenna for 15039 is 200 feet up and keeps working well. The `ladder` feedline for 21815-USB is sometimes cut by gardeners, who must not realize what it is. The 7 MHz antenna is 70 feet across, 30 to 50 feet long, so it is hard to work on, better to have at lower level. Reports of 7445-USB are wanted; it is still possible this will go back to AM. It depends on a blocking capacitor. The one installed now was used, and it was unknown how much power it could handle, so slowly increasing it to test. For AM, a heavy duty one is required for maximum. TI5KD donated one big enough to handle AM, so AM can be run in evening, and SSB later in night to Europe. Among those reporting RFPI, with WORLD OF RADIO on 15040 was Vasily Strelnikov in Moscow (RFPI Mailbag April 19, with James Latham and Joe Bernard, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. UNIDENTIFIED: 17837v - Spanish here daily around 20-21 UT with variety of programming. Starts out on 17837v and drifts upward 300-400 Hz per hour, ending up on 17838v. Next day, starts out on 17837v again. Fair on peaks but have been unable to pull an ID or clues as to location (John Wilkins, CO, Apr 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Radio Finland Summer 2002 SW schedule. All transmissions from Pori [excerpted: only non-daily, some of which would carry Capital Weekend in English, times and UT days needing confirmation --- gh] kHz UT azimuth kW target 6180 0700-0800 *80 250 East Europe 11990 0000-0100 **310 500 North America 13730 0000-0100 **325 500 North America 15530 1000-1200 *225 500 Central, West Europe 17670 1600-1800 *295 500 North America 21520 1000-1100 **90 500 Asia/Australia 21670 0600-0700 *75 500 Asia/Australia ** = Saturday only * = Saturday and Sunday only (via Prabakaran Prabakar, INDIA, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** GEORGIA (Abkhazia). Republic of Abkhazia Radio usually uses a spoken ID "Abkhazskoye Radio". The radio station broadcasts during winter and summer season during the same hours: Tu-Sa 0200-0230 in Abkhazian on MW 1350 kHz //9489.76. Sign-on of the transmitter is about 3-7 min before the beginning of the program at 0200. On Sun and Mon the transmissions begin at 0400. Heard in March-April (Robertas Petraitis, Lithuania via Mathias Kropf, Cumbre DX Apr 25 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Notes from Deutsche Telekom public schedule, released/updated on April 24: DRM tests since April 22 until April 29: 0700-0900 on 13850 towards 265 deg. (Australia via long path) IBRA-Radio frequency change, effective April 24: 1645-1715 new 13760 (80 deg.), ex 13840 TWR frequency change, effective April 27: 1600-1645 on Sat new 9660 (110 deg), ex 9690. Sat 1600-1645 on 7135 is operated by Wertachtal. IBB slots at Jülich: 0100-0300 12030 0300-0400 11910 0400-0600 12030 1600-1700 9620 1600-1700 9825 1700-1800 9575 1800-1900 9705 1800-2000 9885 Beam heading always 100 deg., except on 9620: 70 deg. Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo was only today 1700-1759 also via Wertachtal on 15335, alongside with usual 15750 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. See NORWAY [non]. Heyerdahl ** IRAN [non]. 13430V, V. of Mojahed, Apr 21 1620-1639, 34333 Farsi, Talk. ID at 1629. Shifted frequency 13400, 13420, 13470. Parallel 5660V, 8880V (Kouoji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. The Assyrian Democratic Movement, ZOWAA, has confirmed that the unidentified "clandestine" on 9155 kHz is "their" station - "Ashur Radio" as they call it. According to ZOWAA, this station has been broadcasting towards Northern Iraq on 9155 kHz already since April 2000. The program is on the air 2h daily (currently approx. 1700-1900), mainly in Assyrian (two dialects) with some programs in Arabic. Kurdish is not used. The station can be reached at info@zowaa.com Mauno Ritola, Finland, was first to receive an email QSL. It might be of interest that the zowaa.com domain is registered in Sweden (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. I understand that DX op in P5 is active almost daily working split 15m, transmit on 21225, listening between 230 and 240 (Bob Thomas, CT, Apr 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LESOTHO. 4800, LNBS: I asked the Transmitter Engineer at Radio Lesotho, Emmanuel Rametse, about the status of their transmitter on 4800 kHz. This was his reply: "Our short wave transmitter is still off air due to a problem of spares that are still in the US. These spares have been ordered and we are expecting them any time from now. I hope as soon as we get the spares we will be able to resume transmission." (George Maroti, NY, Apr 23, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 12014.82, Feb 8 [means April 8?] 2005, Voice of Mongolia in English beaming Europa. Disturbed. 2-3 (The second transmission for Europe at 1500 on 12015 is totally blocked by the Voice of Russia in Persian). CB (= Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD)) ** NETHERLANDS. I enjoy watching the webcam of Radio Netherlands. Perhaps Andy Sennitt can tell us where he usually parks and what type of car (or bicycle!) he owns, so we can "pick him out" when he leaves at 1630. Andy, could you wave to the camera when you leave for the day, so we know it's you? 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I recall, Thursday is Andy`s day off? (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. WARNING TO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AFTER BRIBERY REPORT | Text of report in English by French news agency AFP Abuja, 24 April: The Nigerian government warned Wednesday [24 April] it will prosecute foreign journalists who publish "malicious falsehood" about the country following a report in US news magazine Time linking the government with corruption. Last week's issue of Time reported that Information Minister Jerry Gana called a meeting with foreign journalists in the capital, Abuja, in February to complain about aspects of US network CNN's coverage of riots in the city of Lagos. At the end of the meeting journalists from Lagos were given a pack of information which included an envelope containing 50,000 nairas (430 dollars) nestled inside. The AFP bureau in Nigeria was represented at the meeting by a correspondent based in Abuja who did not receive the pack containing the envelope. Most other foreign media organizations attending told AFP they did receive the pack but returned the money. Justice Minister Kanu Agabi, standing alongside Gana, told reporters in Abuja that an inquiry following the publication of the Time report had found the suggestion that this money was given in an attempt to influence the journalists' coverage was false. The money was given to cover transport expenses to and from Lagos, the ministry claimed. "It is a criminal offence to publish such malicious falsehood. I hope that henceforth the police will investigate such publications and take steps to have their authors prosecuted and punished," Agabi told Nigerian reporters. "I want to assure you the next time anybody comes here and publishes falsehood about our country, we will submit him to the due process of law so that if there is need for him to go to prison, he can go to prison. "Those foreign journalists who come here and publish falsehood about Nigeria don't do the same about their own country ... The time has come for our country to punish with determination those who insult us with lies and falsehood," Agabi said. Lawyers said it was not clear under which legislation the minister planned to prosecute foreign journalists nor whether the legislation would be intended to cover only foreign journalists. The government has become increasingly sensitive about coverage in the foreign media in recent months, and in the run up to elections due in 2003. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1659 gmt 24 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [and non]. E-MAIL SCAM COSTS VICTIM THOUSANDS http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1019599305258&call_page=TS_Municipal_Election&call_pageid=968867504910&call_pagepath=GTA/Municipal Glenn, Re DXLD 2-068. FYI, we received three similar messages in the inbox in this morning's e-mail at RCI. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** NORWAY [non]. Thor Heyerdahl of Kon-Tiki fame dies at 87: Noted Norwegian explorer and ethnologist Thor Heyerdahl died April 18. He was 87. In 1947, Amateur Radio played a critical role in the success and safety of Heyerdahl`s 101-day Kon-Tiki raft expedition, which used the call sign LI2B on the amateur bands. Heyerdahl was attempting to prove that it was possible for South American tribes to have crossed the Pacific from east to west to settle the Polynesian islands. Two former World War II Norwegian underground radio operators, Kurt Haugland, LA3KY, and Forstein Raaby, operated LI2B aboard the Kon-Tiki. The receiver was a National NC-173. All ham gear was powered by dry batteries. LI2B kept a schedule with W1AW and other US stations during the historic voyage. The gear was soaked upon landing on Raratonga. In his book Kon-Tiki, Heyerdahl described how the NC-173`s maximum operating frequency slowly rose as the unit dried out --- finally reaching the frequency of 13,990 kHz, where the crew had been forced to move its 20-meter operation because of a crystal failure. The crew used a hand-cranked emergency transmitter to send out an ``all well, all well`` message via LI2B just in time to head off a massive rescue attempt. The call sign LI2B was reissued to Heyerdahl`s later expeditions of Ra and Ra II. The 1997 PBS documentary Across The Sea Of Time by ARRL member Charlie Cotterman, KA8OQF, showed Haugland sending CW from LI2B (ARRL April 24 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma`s Premier Music Festival April 17, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2001 OK MOZART FESTIVAL CONCERTS BEGIN AIRING ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO With a later schedule and changed format, the 2001 Broadcast Series of OK MOZART Festival concerts will begin airing on May 22 at 7 p.m. [CDT] on Tulsa`s National Public Radio station KWGS-FM 89.5. The concerts are arranged in eight programs which run on consecutive week- night evenings beginning May 22 and ending May 31. The broadcast will be carried at various times this spring by other public radio stations in Oklahoma; Pittsburg, Kansas; and Joplin, Missouri. Excerpts from several of the concerts have already been heard nationally on NPR`s ``Performance Today.`` One station, KCSC in Edmond, began airing the series on Saturday, April 13. Host Rich Fisher, General Manager of KWGS, and recording engineer Frank Christel, University of Tulsa Director of Broadcast Services, are co-producers of this series, which is being broadcast for the sixteenth time in the Festival's seventeen-year history. Each year KWGS returns to the Festival to capture the sounds and spirit of the June event. Many of the world`s greatest musicians travel to Bartlesville each summer to participate in the OK MOZART Festival along with artistic director and flutist Ransom Wilson and his Solisti New York Orchestra. In 2001 the lineup of artists included clarinetist David Shifrin, pianist Andre Watts, composer/satirist Peter Schickele, Jim Walker and Free Flight, bass-baritone Simon Estes, violinist Itzhak Perlman, violist Paul Neubauer, pianist Robin Sutherland, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, violinist Ani Kavafian, violinist Nai-Yuan Hu, flutist Marina Piccinini and cellist Ronald Thomas. The eight radio programs are thematic this year rather than being composed of individual concerts, according to Fisher. Also, the concerts were programmed to fit into eight, two-hour programs instead of the ten programs of past years. Following are KWGS broadcast dates and content of the 2001 series with the dates of last season's concerts: BROADCAST PROGRAM 1 Mozart: Overture to Abduction from the Seraglio - Solisti New York (Candlelight-Sat 6/9) Mozart: Concerto for Clarinet in A Major - David Shifrin, clarinet (Candlelight-Sat 6/9) Brahms: Quintet for Piano and Strings in F Minor - Festival Masters Ensemble (Salon - Sat 6/16) Copland: Concerto for Clarinet - David Shifrin, clarinet (Candlelight- Sat 6/9) Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier - Solisti New York (Candlelight- Sat 6/9) BROADCAST PROGRAM 2 Tchaikovsky: Overture to Romeo and Juliet - Solisti New York (Palace - Sun 6/10) Mozart: Symphony Number 39 in E-flat Major - Solisti New York (Palace - Sun 6/10) Kreisler: Quartet for Strings in A Minor - Festival Masters Ensemble (Chamber - Wed 6/13) Three Pieces Arranged by Kreisler - Festival Masters Ensemble (Chamber - Wed 6/13) Mozart: Quartet for Flute and Strings in D - Festival Masters Ensemble (Chamber - Fri 6/15) Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano Number 2 in C Minor - Andre Watts (Palace - Sun 6/10) BROADCAST PROGRAM 3 Tchaikovsky: Overture to Marriage of Figaro - Solisti New York (Kaleidoscope - Mon 6/11) Prokofiev: Sneaky Pete and the Wolf - Peter Schickele, narration (Kaleidoscope - Mon 6/11) Selections from PDQ Bach Concert of Tue 6/12 Kreisler suite [w/intro] - Paul Neubauer, viola (Kaleidoscope - Mon 6/11) Britten: Young Person's Guide - Martin Goldsmith, narration (Kaleidoscope - Mon 6/11) BROADCAST PROGRAM 4 Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmuzik - Solisti New York (Woolaroc - Wed 6/13) Francaix: The Flower Clock - Diane Lesser, oboe (Woolaroc - Wed 6/13) Haydn: Symphony Number 100 in G Major - Solisti New York (Woolaroc - Wed 6/13) Mozart: Quintet for Clarinet and Strings - Festival Masters Ensemble (Chamber - Mon 6/11) Strauss: Emperor Waltz - Solisti New York (Woolaroc - Wed 6/13) Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture - Solisti New York (Woolaroc - Wed 6/13) BROADCAST PROGRAM 5 Wagner: Overture to Rienzi - Solisti New York (Royale - Fri 6/15) Verdi/Wagner set - Simon Estes, Baritone (Royale - Fri 6/15) Verdi: Prelude to La Traviata, Act III - Solisti New York (Royale - Fri 6/15) Hammerstein selections - Simon Estes, Baritone (Royale - Fri 6/15) Mozart: "Per questa bella mano" - Simon Estes, Baritone (Royale - Fri 6/15) Gershwin: I've Got Plenty of Nothing [encore] - Simon Estes, Baritone (Royale - Fri 6/15) Haydn: Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano - Festival Masters Ensemble (Salon - Sat 6/16) Mozart-Grieg: Sonata in C Minor for Two Pianos- McDermott & Sutherland, piano (Salon - Sat 6/16) Mendelssohn: Andante and Allegro assai Vivace in A Major - McDermott & Sutherland, piano (Salon - Sat 6/16) Mozart: Symphony Number 40 in G Minor - Solisti New York (Royale - Fri 6/15) BROADCAST PROGRAM 6 Haydn: Serenade in D Major - Solisti New York (Finale - Sat 6/16) Mozart: Symphony Number 41 in C Major - Solisti New York (Finale - Sat 6/16) Beethoven: Serenade for Flute, Violin & Viola - Festival Masters Ensemble (Chamber - Wed 6/13) Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin in D Major - Itzhak Perlman, violin (Finale - Sat 6/16) BROADCAST PROGRAM 7 Takemitsu: Air - Marina Piccinini, flute (Mini-Concert - Mon 6/11) Colgrass: Wild Riot - Marina Piccinini, flute (Mini-Concert - Mon 6/11) Fukushima/Debussy: Mei & Syrinz - Marina Piccinini, flute (Mini- Concert - Mon 6/11) Prokofiev: Sonata Number 2 - Anne-Marie McDermott, piano (Mini-Concert - Tue 6/12) Rachmaninov/Kreisler: Liebeslied - Anne-Marie McDermott, piano (Mini- Concert - Tue 6/12) Ysaye: Sonata pour violin - Nai-Yuan Hu, violin (Mini-Concert - Wed 6/13) Kreisler: Viennese Rhapsodie Fantasietta - Nai-Yuan Hu, violin (Mini- Concert - Wed 6/13) Britten: Suite Number 3 for Solo Cello - Ronald Thomas, cello (Mini- Concert - Thu 6/14) Rorem: Night Music - Ani Kavafian, violin (Mini-Concert - Fri 6/15) Bloch: Suite Hebraique - Paul Neubauer, viola (Mini-Concert - Sat 6/16) Kreisler: Berceuse Romantique - Paul Neubauer, viola (Mini-Concert - Sat 6/16) Kreisler: Aucassin und Nicolette - Paul Neubauer, viola (Mini-Concert - Sat 6/16) BROADCAST PROGRAM 8 Free Flight (Free Flight - Thu 6/14) In addition to KWGS, other NPR stations airing the broadcast series include KRPS, Pittsburg, Kansas; KCSC, Edmond; KOSU, Stillwater; KCCU, Lawton; and new this season -- KXMS in Joplin, Missouri. For dates and times, please contact the individual station in your listening area. The 18th season of the OK MOZART Festival is June 7-15, 2002. For more information and to receive a free brochure, please call 918.336.9900 or visit our website: http://www.okmozart.com # Contact: Jeanette Swindell, Public Relations Director, 918.336.9900 (via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 7093.58, R. Pakistan, Apr 20 1454-1514, 33332-34332, English, Talk. ID at 1458 and 1459. 1500 News (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Same news as on external service, now time-shifted to 1500? (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Small correction to Savolainen's report of Radio Samorodinka. This station broadcasts not from Serpukhov, but right from SW part of Moscow with approximate power of 10 -12 Watt. Op verifies correct reception reports on the following address: Lev (Leo) Shishkin, P. O. Box 898. Moscow-centre 101000 - Russia (Artyom Prokhorov, Russia, Apr 19, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.84, UN Radio Freetown, 0645/0700 Phone-in show. ID 0650 female voice over music. ID again 0658. Male voice talked past 0700. Weak signal overall. Faded badly after 0700 Apr 20 (Kevin Murray, VA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 6137.8, Radio UNAMSIL (tentative) A signal, but one that just had nothing but pop-sounding music 0501-0517 Apr 23 (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE at 0000 UT, 15385 English to NAm very poor since UT Thu. It faded out within 10 minutes. UT Fri JBA. I believe opening announcement only mentions 0000. So repeats 0100 and 0500 gone?? UT Thu and Fri most higher frequencies on SW were quite dismal, except DW which did quite well (Bob Thomas, CT, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Same old story with Spain. 6055 is really too low in summer, and 15385 subject to propagation disruptions like this. Anything from 9 to 13 MHz would be better. I`ll bet the DW frequencies you still heard were from nearby and/or tropical relay sites. Speaking of which, Spain still refuses to put English on its Costa Rica relay, who cares? (gh, DXLD) ** U A E. Hello Glenn, I'm writing on behalf of a blind friend of mine who`s an avid SWL. He`s hoping to locate a shortwave station for the Arab Emirates broadcasting in both English and Arabic. The UAE radio website has been ``under construction`` for quite some time???? I`m wondering if it`s just been taken down. I think UAE Radio is located near Dubai. Any info that you might have regarding UAE Shortwave listening or internet streaming would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, (John Galeota, S. Windsor, CT, April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) John, I`ve looked thru the past few months of DX LISTENING DIGESTS and it seems we do not have a recent full schedule for UAE Radio, Dubai. The lack of an up to date website, and lack of response from the station is the problem. Someone did hear them announce this address: radio@dubaidd.org.ae They are best heard here at 1330 UT with English on 21598 variable (nominal 21605, not to be confused with Saudi Arabia on 21600). Another English broadcast is at 0330, on 15400 or 15395. Other frequencies to check at both times are 13630, 13675. Perhaps your inquiry will prompt someone to get a current schedule. Regards, (Glenn to John, via DXLD) ** U K/AFGHANISTAN: BBC WORLD SERVICE LAUNCHES INTERNET SITE IN PASHTO | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 25 April BBC World Service has launched an internet site in Pashto for Pashto speakers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the diaspora. The new site, which employs a specially commissioned Pashto script, has been warmly greeted by the leader of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamed Karzai. "Afghans listen to BBC Pashto Service with great keenness. They get news about their country and the world from various BBC World Service programmes. BBC Pashto Service has many listeners, Afghans trust their news and appreciate BBC World Service for its journalism. I hope BBC Pashto Service will introduce positive aspects of internet technology to the Afghans," said Hamed Karzai. Few sites worldwide use the Pashto script. At present BBCPashto.com offers text and audio from BBC Pashto's three daily news and current affairs programmes. There is a special page about how the Loya Jerga - the Grand Assembly Afghans have traditionally used to solve political crises - will convene in Afghanistan in June, plus music and concerts from some of the country's favourite musicians and singers. BBC World Service has the largest audience of any international or local broadcaster in Afghanistan. As well as news and current affairs BBC World Service broadcasts the popular soap drama "New Home, New Life" and children's programmes in Pashto and Persian. Pashto broadcasts are heard by Pashto speakers in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India and by Afghan refugees scattered in Iran, the USA, Australia, Canada and Europe by 23 years of war. Baqer Moin, head of the Persian and Pashto Service, said: "BBC World Service has been a lifeline to Afghans; our news is trusted and respected for its impartiality. The BBC has continued to broadcast to Afghanistan throughout the last 60 years. After the crisis last year we increased our Persian and Pashto output and introduced a new mediumwave frequency. The internet site is an exciting development and we plan to expand BBCPashto.com. " Chris Westcott, head of New Media, said: "BBCPashto.com is the latest example of our commitment to building world class web sites in key languages and follows on from developments in our Persian, Hindi and Urdu sites. Developing a web site in Pashto has been technically challenging, requiring us to commission a Pashto font and build a content production system for our Pashto journalists. It demonstrates how our editorial, technical and design teams are focused on building web sites that embody the trust and impartiality so highly valued in our radio services and delivering them to a global audience on the net." Earlier this year BBC World Service Trust began work in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to strengthen the local media. The Trust project involves training Afghan journalists, the supply and installation of radio equipment for Radio Afghanistan and building a media resource centre for local journalists. BBC World Service staff are also advising the Afghan Interim Authority on a regulatory media framework. Issued by BBC World Service Press Office, 25 April 2002 Phone: +44 207 557 2941 email.worldservice.press@bbc.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 25 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Papers were signed and money changed hands yesterday afternoon and as of 9:00 AM this morning WJCR became the property of Word Broadcasting, WJIE! First broadcast day under new ownership is sked for Sunday the 28th but may be sooner if I can get the 7490 transmitter back up to full power tomorrow! They plan on using only the 7490 frequency initially. May put 13595 back on using the old 270 degree antenna later in the season. They have not as yet gotten any means of program delivery established between their studios in Louisville and the transmitter site in Upton. They had been talking about an ISDN or maybe a Switch-56 landline interconnect because the 68 mile long path was too much for a microwave STL link (Larry Baysinger, KY, Apr 25, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) ** U S A. Notice: Effective April 29 at 22 UT, WWCR moves from 7435 to new 7465 kHz for the time period 22-04 UT. This transmitter carries Brother Stair programming. The transmitter schedule page at the Web site http://www.wwcr.com/ has been updated to reflect the change in frequency (Tom Sundstrom, WWCR Webmaster, April 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AP story in the LA Times, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-getting-the-arab-ear0424apr24.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dpolitics%2Dheadlines U.S. TRIES TO GET THE ARAB EAR By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON -- The standing of the United States is in extreme decline these days among the Arabs, but Norman Pattiz thinks he can turn things around. Pattiz is a member of a board that oversees U.S. government radio stations abroad and the primary inspiration behind the new Middle East Radio Network, which is aimed at bringing American values and pop culture to the Arabs. "Broadcasting is the most efficient way to wage the war for hearts and minds," says Pattiz, a Californian who is founder and chairman of Westwood One, America's largest radio network. Pattiz calls the station "The New Station for the New Generation." The station is certainly new -- it is one month old -- and it is targeted at the under-25 generation in Arab countries. The music features American favorites such as Jennifer Lopez and the Back Street Boys along with Arab pop stars from Egypt, Lebanon and other countries. But music is the gateway to the station's main purpose: to provide fair and balanced information about the Middle East and other regions as a means of countering anti-American tirades Arabs are accustomed to hearing on local stations. The station is known in the region as "Radio Sawa," which means "Radio Together" in Arabic. Station officials say they are pleased with the initial response, particularly since little effort had been made to promote Sawa. In Jordan, a few people said they knew of the station, whose launch was overshadowed by popular rage over the Israeli offensive in the neighboring West Bank. Still, those who listen said they liked most its pop songs. Samir Fadoul, 27, a sales manager, told The Associated Press in Amman, Jordan: "I listen to Radio Sawa because it's picked up clearly in Amman, its news bulletins are short and because it offers a wide variety of songs -- a mixture between modern and classic, English and Arabic." High school teacher Carol Shomali, 23, said: "I like Radio Sawa because it offers a variety of songs and there are no ads or announcements by broadcasters between songs like other stations do." She said Sawa also offered "short and objective news reports." "Young people may only want to hear news headlines and not full and boring reports," said Suha Jazrawi, 26, an Arabic-language teacher. "Sawa satisfies that." The "talk" portion of Sawa is limited mostly to half-hourly newscasts around the clock and international headlines. But within a week, Sawa will begin broadcasting policy programs, editorials and reviews and critiques of Arab press reports. Given the depth of Arab feeling against the United States these days, there are misgivings that the station could be knocked off the air in some places by governments or angry mobs. To overcome that problem, Sawa has plans for surplus transmitters so that its voice won't be silenced for long. FM transmitters now are operating in Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Rebroadcast agreements have been signed with the governments of Bahrain and Qatar. AM transmitters are planned in Cyprus and Djibouti. Sawa also plans to hire its own staff of reporters. The station was ready for action last week when Secretary of State Colin Powell was traveling through the Middle East. Sawa listeners heard his words minutes after he spoke them. The station is on the air 24 hours a day, much like al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based satellite television channel that is a principal source of news for Arabs. Former Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow calls Al-Jazeera the favored news outlet of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan's deposed Taliban. Planning for Sawa started well before the Sept. 11 terror attacks. From the American perspective, its debut came at a fortuitous time, given the decline in American standing in Arab countries after the attacks and Israel's anti-terrorist invasion of Palestinian-held lands. Demonstrations against both Israel and the United States have been on the increase as fighting between Israelis and Palestinians intensified. Part of Sawa's message is to reinforce the administration's post-Sept. 11 stand that the war on terror is not directed at Muslims. A quote from President Bush heard on Sawa: "We're not fighting against Islam; we're fighting against terrorists. Those who commit evil in the name of Allah, blaspheme Allah." Minow, the former FCC chief, sees Sawa as refreshing change compared with past efforts in the Middle East by the Voice of America, which also is administering the new station. "People in these countries already know and are drawn to our music, our movies, our clothes and our sports," he wrote in USA Today. "Why do they not also know our freedom, our values, our democracy? It is largely because many of them learn about us through al-Jazeera." (via Dave White, April 25, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO JOURNALIST EDWARD DE FONTAINE Thursday, April 25, 2002; Page B07 Edward John De Fontaine, 72, a broadcast journalist who was a founding managing editor at Associated Press Radio and director of broadcast operations at the Voice of America, died April 23 at Woodbine Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Alexandria. He had congestive heart failure. Mr. De Fontaine took over the number two spot at the fledgling AP Radio in 1974 and over the next eight years oversaw award-winning coverage of a variety of news, features and sports events. His staff won two Peabody Awards and a Foreign Press Club award for the best news reporting from abroad. He joined VOA in 1983 and for years served as director of news and English broadcasting. He was director of broadcast operations when he retired in 1997. In the late 1990s, he did freelance voice-over work for a Trenton, N.J., radio station, WPST-FM. Mr. De Fontaine was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He attended Loras College in Iowa and served in the Army from 1954 until 1957. He did part-time broadcasting work as a teenager. From 1957 until 1974, he worked as a reporter in Europe for two radio networks, the American Forces Network and Westinghouse Broadcasting. He was London-based foreign news editor at Westinghouse when he took the AP Radio job. His marriage to Karin De Fontaine ended in divorce. Survivors include two daughters, Stephanie De Fontaine of Alexandria and Katherine De Fontaine of Germany. © 2002 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Re: [NRC-am] Digital radio (what else?) ``you`` wrote: Has anyone who went to NAB seen or heard anything about the DRM radio demonstration? That's Digital Radio Mondiale, another plan to bring digital to AM; their URL is http://www.drm.org/indexdeuz.htm Apparently they have a paper on the site (in "News") discussing it but I haven't opened up the file yet. I didn't get a chance to check out the demonstrations, but did attend one of their presentations at the Broadcast Engineering Conference. DRM is *not* an IBOC system -- it replaces traditional analog AM broadcasting on the MW/SW dial. It's being pitched, at least initially, to shortwave broadcasters who use multiple freqs at the same time to reach a target area -- the idea is to replace one of those analog freqs with digital. DRM differs from Ibiquity (I'll call it iBiquity when they start addressing me as sCott) in another way, too: it utilizes several different transmission modes and can dynamically adjust among them as propagation shifts. (Remember, DRM is designed for both skywave and groundwave.) Three neat things I learned about DRM: 1. They're trying an experiment wherein they put receivers in target listening areas, linked back to the transmitter site, to dynamically adjust transmission mode depending on how the signal is being received at the target zone. Cool. 2. One of the DRM partners (Fraunhofer, IIRC) will soon introduce a software-based DRM receiver as freeware, enabling all of us to download it, connect our shortwave radios to the computer and listen away in digital. Very cool. 3. They've been experimenting with using DRM in the 13- and 11-meter SW bands in Europe and found they can get good small-area local coverage with fairly low power, raising the possibility of a new domestic broadcast band in an area that's strapped for available frequencies. Interesting. During NAB, they were testing DRM from RCI/Sackville, Radio Nederlands/Bonaire, WEWN/Birmingham and at least one other site that escapes me. Didn't get a chance to listen. They have also been testing DRM on some European MW signals, including the AFN Berlin 873 kHz, if memory serves right. Will Mark Connelly be the first US DXer to hear mediumwave DRM from Europe? :-) And speaking of Europe, I'm off for two weeks in England and France -- will let you all know what I hear when I return May 10! (Scott Fybush, Apr 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) -s ** U S A. COMPLETE LIST OF RECENT FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS For a complete list of recent FCC enforcement actions, see: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-929A1.doc (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. AM TIME SHARE IN TOPEKA WINS WIBW FOOTBALL RADIO RIGHTS This ruling is a result of one of the last time share agreements of an AM frequency left in the US. Mighty interesting, and perhaps one of the only situations where they'll be more than one originating broadcast of a college football team! (Mark Erdman, Herington/Salina KS, NRC-AM via DXLD) From the Topeka Capital-Journal: The airwaves might have become a little more crowded Tuesday. A Riley County KS judge issued a temporary injunction allowing WIBW-AM 580 to broadcast Kansas State football games as a stand alone entity. WIBW, owned by Morris Communications of Augusta, GA has broadcast Kansas State athletic events since the 1950's and originated the Wildcat Sports Network in 1980. However, the network package came up for bid last fall and Kansas State awarded exclusive rights in December to the Mid-America Ag Network, which submitted a bid of almost $1.2 million over five years, doubling the $600,000 bid of WIBW. Tuesday's ruling means that both WIBW and the Mid-America Ag network have rights to broadcast K-State football. During negotiations, officials in the Kansas State athletics department were advised by WIBW representatives that there was a clause in a share-time agreement that allows the campus station, KKSU, and WIBW to broadcast on the same frequency. KKSU broadcasts weekdays from 12:30 to 5:30 PM. In a 1969 revision to that agreement, which was first enacted in 1929, a clause was inserted that gave WIBW the rights to broadcast K-State varsity football games. After awarding the rights to the Mid-America Ag Network, which is based in Wichita, Kansas State filed suit in Riley County District Court seeking an interpretation of the football clause in the share- time agreement. WIBW contended that it wanted the share-time agreement amended in 1969 to gain broadcast rights to K-State football games and certain special events, such as the state high school basketball tournaments. In exchange, WIBW agreed to surrender an additional 15 minutes of broadcast time from 5:15-5:30 PM each weekday to KKSU, then known as KSAC allowing the campus station to extend its weekday news programming to 30 minutes. The judge ruled that the university wanted to ensure that either WIBW or KSAC broadcast KSU football games on their frequency, and it gave WIBW that right as long as it did not abandon it. In effect, WIBW has paid and continues to pay a fee for the non-exclusive right to broadcast football. That fee is paid each weekday from 5:15 to 5:30 PM. The judge's ruling found that the network agreement doesn't supersede the share-time agreement. Larry Steckline, president of the Mid-America Ag Network, was away from his office on Tuesday and unavailable for comment (via Erdman, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. International Missing Children`s Day special event set: An Amateur Radio special event operation will mark the observance of the second International Missing Children`s Day in Massachusetts, sponsored by the Association of Missing and Exploited Children`s Organizations (AMECO). This year`s theme is ``Searching All Four Corners of the World.`` The event takes place May 19, 11 AM to 5 PM, on the grounds of Lyceum Press & Gifts and Hebert Candies, 1 River Rd, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. KB1HGK, Radio Operators for Missing Children, will coordinate the event and suggest ways that ham radio operators can help to find missing children. Sheree Greenwood, KB1HLZ, said she, her husband Jerry Stiles, KB1BKK and Ron Lucier, W1AAE, organized the first special event last year because of the abduction of teenager Molly Bish of Warren, Massachusetts. Lucier was among those who searched for the missing girl after her disappearance. Greenwood said she and her husband have known the Bish family for many years and that Molly Bish went to school with her son. Authorities believe she was abducted, and her story has been dramatized on TV`s America`s Most Wanted. Molly Bish`s parents, John and Magi Bish, plan to be at the special event site. Operation will be in the General 40, 20 and 15-meter bands. Certificates will be available. More information is available on the Radio Operators For Missing Children http://www.lyceumpress.com/ham_radio.htm , KB1HGK and AMECO Web site (ARRL April 24 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Have you seen USA's new International Reply Coupon? It is almost currency quality, 4" X 5 7/8" in size, costs $1.75, and expires 31 December 2006. Explanatory terms in French, Deutsch, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian. (It only took the U.S. Post Office a year to replace their old $1.05 coupon!) (George Glotzbach, Santa Fe NM, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yup, New IRCs replaced old ones in post offices around the world on 1 Jan 02. Here in Singapore, they still sell for S$2.50. The old ones should still be valid indefinitely (- ed Richard Lam, Cumbre DX Apr 25 via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6140, R. Montecarlo, s/on noted 0900v Apr 24 and on this channel apparently on all local daylight and possibly early evening, though s/off couldn't be traced yet. Not there at 0100, for instance on Apr 24. 9595 and 11735 appear to be inactive. I personally wonder if the sked for SW will be affected in occasion of the coverage of the 2002 Soccer World Cup that begins in late May and will last for all Jun. Uruguayan team will be present on this occasion at Korea/Japan. Some matches are scheduled to start at 0630 (0330 URG time). If SW is activated or not on this possible overnight operation will evidence the interest of the station in the use of the SW (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 4725.80, Son La BC. Apr 20, 1330, Vietnamese, 33433. Singing man and woman. Russian on 4725 jammed (Gaku Iwata, Chiba, Japan Premium via DXLD) Klingenfuss 2002 does not list Son La (or any Vietnamese) anywhere around this frequency; WRTH 1998 had Son La on 4739. Now at 4725, one must be careful not to confuse it with Myanmar. And: what Russian?? (gh, DXLD) New frequency? Son La has been on 4795.6 for a long time (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. Updating item in DXLD 2068 - around 7 to 8 minutes of news plus press comment in English heard via http://www.radioyu.org yesterday (24th April) and today (25th April). Different bulletin today at 1400 than yesterday at 1600 so seems to be updated daily (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. From Harare Financial Gazette, http://allafrica.com/stories/200204250062.html ------------ ZBC NOW GROUPED WITH POLITICAL PARTIES Financial Gazette (Harare) April 25, 2002 Posted to the web April 25, 2002 THE widely publicised attacks on the news crew of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) at political rallies by political party supporters and by soldiers at demonstrations bring yet another chance for debate on the role of the public broadcaster in Zimbabwe. Without doubt any attack on any media personnel from anywhere for whatever reason is totally abhorrent and unacceptable. The Zimbabwe situation is however gaining some form of peculiarity in that the public broadcaster is always under attack from certain political groups and is indeed always praised by the ruling party and the government. The role of the ZBC as a public broadcaster has never been subjected to public debate in Zimbabwe since the country's independence in 1980. What is becoming clear from the physical attacks being perpetrated on the ZBC crew is that there are certain political and social groups that see the public broadcaster as an active political player or, in other words, a mouthpiece for the ruling party. This means that the ZBC is being grouped together with political parties and activists. From its reports and programming, it is clear that the public broadcaster has fallen into the hands of political spin-doctors and these people ultimately decide the structure of broadcasting Zimbabwe currently has. Being the only broadcasting station in Zimbabwe and supported by taxpayers' money and using taxpayers infrastructure, there is need for the ZBC to enforce impartiality and serve the interests of the nation. This cannot, however, be achieved under the current regulations, be it that which governs the ZBC or the Broadcasting Services Act 2001. These laws stifle free expression by the ZBC and ultimately affect fair coverage of issues. The violent attacks on the ZBC crew are as a result of the anger in some quarters that the public broadcaster has not been fair in its coverage of national issues and events. Addressing a Law Society public meeting in Harare, the chairperson of the Electoral Supervisory Commission, Sobusa Gula-Ndebele, acknowledged that the ZBC had not covered the elections fairly and that the observations of the commission were in a report to be presented to President Robert Mugabe. The Commonwealth observer team also made similar observations. The use of inflammatory language by the ZBC even on fellow media houses and journalists is well-documented. Such words as "stooges", "unpatriotic", "racist", "oppositional", "puppets" and "terrorists" have become trademarks of the ZBC. Such inflammatory language has the effect of inciting political party supporters from both divides to carry out acts of violence. This violence cannot be far from what has been happening to the ZBC when it tried to cover certain political rallies. In terms of the use of hate speech and inflammatory language, the ZBC is in clear breach of Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which prohibits any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, violence or hostility. The use of hate language, many will remember, contributed to the Rwandan genocide. Contrary to the statement made by one government minister arguing against the freeing of the airwaves, that a private radio station had contributed to the genocide in Rwanda, the truth is that the "private" radio station, Radio-Television Libre Des Mille Collines (RTLM), was an offshoot of the government. This was so because the Rwandan government had come under pressure to stop the use of Radio Rwanda to promote hate speech after the earlier genocide that took place in March 1992, hence the formation of RTLM. The Rwandan situation, many will agree, must never be tolerated or allowed to take root in Zimbabwe. The dominance of the ZBC in terms of reaching out to a wider audience cannot be disputed. This is so because of its broadly spread infrastructure. This advantage can indeed be used to promote peace and development in Zimbabwe rather than violence that can ultimately catch up with its advocators. Peace and development is not only harping on about certain economic programmes like the land reform but also giving a voice to those with critical and differing views. Any public broadcaster worth its salt must have a commitment to balanced scheduling and political content. This, as mentioned earlier, cannot however be achieved without a change of the legislation governing broadcasting in Zimbabwe. New regulations are needed that require the ZBC to provide reasonable access to differing points of view on public issues. The opening up of the airwaves is not enough to guarantee a plurality of voices on the airwaves. This is so because the ZBC, unlike private players, is obliged to reach out to anyone in spite of economic considerations. Private stations might decide to reach out to particular groups and concentrate on limited programme issues. At a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation conference held in Namibia in 2001 to celebrate 10 years of the Windhoek Declaration, which seeks to promote a free Press, delegates came up with an African Charter on Broadcasting. In terms of public broadcasting the charter calls for: All state- and government-controlled broadcasters to be transformed into public service broadcasters that are accountable to all strata of the people as represented by an independent board that serves the public interests, avoiding one-sided reporting and programming in regard to religion, political belief, culture, race and gender. The charter also calls for public broadcasting to be governed by bodies that are legally insulated from interference and that their editorial independence must be guaranteed. The ZBC is under the yoke of the government through the appointment of a board by the minister of information. But the need for an independent body accountable to the people and not the minister is gaining wide acceptance all over the world. There is therefore need for an independent board and Broadcasting Regulatory Authority in Zimbabwe if broadcasting is to be truly free and representative. Regulatory bodies, though largely the creations of politicians, are still expected to operate with a degree of independence and to be appointed transparently. The attacks on the ZBC crew will not be solved by simply controlling political party thugs; these attacks mirror serious underlying problems that need to be solved through a broad and all-inclusive reform programme at Pockets Hill. Rashweat Mukundu is a research and information officer with the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa. (via Dave White, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6715U Korean program. Initial technical monitoring results seem to indicate that this station may be located in the CIS (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Apr 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Operator? 9235 at 2215 with signal S4 playing Arabic songs! 21 April (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-068, April 24, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1128 available early UT April 25: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.rm (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1128.html FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, UT Thu 0500 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on NEW 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB FIRST AIRINGS ON WRN: Rest of World Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Whatever WRS means, it was the R Voice of Afghanistan stn that appeared on the air with usual Afghan program today (Wed), ex-9950. [on 15480] Tuning tones were heard at tune in 1325 - a quiet pause - then the telephone dialling tones followed by a single tone then straight into program - without a false start - at 1330 to 1430 finish. The transmitter went off air shortly afterwards. Signal strength here was much less than when on 9950 - peaking only 7+ - and with splatter from the BBC-Skelton outlet on 15485, which was stronger. Conditions seem slightly disturbed so maybe this had an effect if the signal is from Moldova (Noel R. Green, UK, April 17, BC- DX via DXLD) If you have any ideas or comments about our bcs please do contact us. URL: http://www.afghanbroadcasting.com/ E-mail: afghanbroadcasting@hotmail.com Afghan Broadcasting Company, P O Box 36467, London EC2A 2DW, United Kingdom The station is located at: The Studio Centre, Nicon House, 21 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DW United Kingdom Tel: 0044 20 7382 9610 (Switchboard) Tel: 0044 20 7588 0828 (Listener Line) Fax: 0044 20 7382 9608 (BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. The NT outlets previously reported missing soon returned, as strong as ever (Chris Hambly, Victoria, April 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Note: Thursday [April 25] is ANZAC Day, a national holiday. There will be special programming to mark the occasion, at 1928 [UT] Wed.; 0230, 0235 and 0830 Thu. (Remember that AET is UT +10.) (RA Previews by John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) I assumed Canada might participate too, since the C in ANZAC stands for Canada, but Ivan Grishin tells me it`s not observed there (gh, DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. I was enjoying those nice, strong signals from Burkina Faso on 5030 last month. Is there any more news on the location of the transmitter? It was a nice complement to Mauritania on 4845, a longtime favorite of mine in that 2200-0000 time slot. Cloud static getting too strong here for good 60m listening lately. Best 73 (Steven Zimmerman, Milwaukee, WI, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing further on 5030 site, beyond the speculation that it was a relay. I tend to doubt that now (Glenn Hauser, reply to Steven via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn; I was just curious if anyone was noticing strong spurs from RCI-Sackville, on their English broadcast on nom. 15170 at 0100-0200 UT? The spurs occur 135 kHz above and below 15170, on 15305 and 15035; the latter freq. causes co-channel grief with RFPI. I hear these signals on three different receivers with three different first (or only) IFs, so it's not an image problem. The 15305 signal had a report of 54555, almost as strong as the very strong fundamental. The 15035 signal had a report of 33444, but is a real pest nonetheless (reports for 4-22-02). I have been noting this problem for approximately a week, but up until now have just knocked it out with the crystal phasing control on my old Hallicrafters SX 99 rather than investigating it (Steven Zimmerman, Milwaukee, WI, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mixing products from certain transmitter sites, notably Sackville, are unfortunately all too common. 15305 is not a spur, but a scheduled frequency at that hour along with 15170. So those two transmitters are mixing to put a product on 15035, 135 kHz apart in this case. This also happens a lot just above the 6 MHz band, often involving relays of other stations by Sackville (Glenn Hauser, reply to Steven via DXLD) ** CANADA. DRM test of Radio Canada International to AU and NZ as follows: April 22 to April 29 and May 10 to May 15: 0801-0858 and 0901-0957 on 11975 SAC 250 kW / 285 deg to AUS May 1 to May 7: 0801-0858 and 0901-0957 on 11975 SAC 250 kW / 253 deg to NZ (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** CANADA. National Post Online April 24, 2002 FM RADIO'S UGLY STEPSISTER Can Toronto's AM radio stations survive against their FM competitors? James Cowan, National Post Spin your AM radio dial any weekday morning and you'll find two sports gabfests, a testosterone-laden talk show, a musical stroll down memory lane, a news program as reliable as Old Faithful and Iron Man Ted Woloshyn. Unlike the morning zoos on the FM dial, AM formats vary widely, and you'll probably either love or loathe any spot on the dial. AM radio is FM's ugly stepsister. Cursed with inferior sound quality and a broadcast signal that sometimes can't penetrate the city's concrete and steel, AM stations have struggled to prove themselves in the media marketplace: Toronto is home to a mere six commercial AM stations, fewer than half the number of FM competitors. Can it survive? MOJO 640 morning man Fred Patterson has this to say of AM naysayers: "Piss on them. In 10 years we'll all have digital radios and then it won't matter which band you're on." Until then, AM will continue to fight for listeners and, with one-third of listeners tuning in during the first three hours of their day, morning radio is the battlefield on which the war is waged. Last year, CHWO 740 commanded 7.4% of the Toronto marketplace (the top-rated FM station, CHFI, has 11.1%), followed by the venerable CFRB 1010 (6.4%), 680 News (3.9%), the FAN590 (1.8%), MOJO Radio (1.3%) and Team 1050 (0.7%). So who's got the goods? The National Post tuned in to find out. They may not rock like their FM brethren -- only one plays music, and it's more likely to spin Glenn Miller than Steve Miller -- but the mandate of all is to keep you rolling in the morning. CFRB 1010 To watch Ted Woloshyn in his studio is to witness a dervish. He arranges and rearranges news copy, thumps his desk, taps his foot or drums his fingers as he waits for a caller to make a point or a guest to answer a question. And the energy Woloshyn displays in person translates to the radio. "It's called momentum," he says. His specialty is a fast-paced mix of politics, sports and entertainment, catapulting listeners from one commercial break to the next. Like many morning personalties, Woloshyn is a former stand-up comic -- which shows in the speed with which he processes hard news into one-liners. A story about a father who, high on hallucinogens, ate his son's thumb lands on his desk. Moments later, he reads it on the air, then wonders aloud, "How the heck is the kid going to hitchhike?" Despite seeming impatience with some of his callers, Woloshyn says he likes taking calls: "I enjoy talking to the listeners during the call-in sections. It can get a little repetitive if every guy wants to say hello and ask me how I'm doing before he gets to the topic. But other than that, I don't mind it." After 5 1/2 years, he still isn't used to getting up early to do his show. "I get a wake-up call in addition to my alarm," he says, adding, "All my friends want to go for wings and a beer at 7 and I want to do it at 4. It's like every one I know is living on West Coast time." AM 740 -- PRIME TIME RADIO When CBC moved its news and information station to the FM dial, Michael Caine, whose family has operated CHWO in Peel since 1956, saw it as a chance to enter the Toronto market.The industry was busy chasing young listeners, so in January, 2001, he cannily launched a station dedicated to the greying generation. Prime Time Radio fills its mornings with a mix of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Louie Prima -- a perfect choice for twentysomething cocktail swingers to listen to with their grandmothers. Though the station does next to nothing to promote itself, it's No. 4 in the Toronto market, and the number one 50-plus station in North America. "We don't really need a lot of advertising ... We really get promoted through word of mouth," says Breakfast Bunch co-host and producer Mary Feely. Feely's co-host Tom Fulton is oddly upbeat about arising at 3 a.m. "I really love to get up in the morning," he says. "I'm incredibly happy at 5:30 in the morning, and I think we spend the first half hour just calming down because we're just so delighted to be at work and delighted to play the music." He seems serious. For her part, Feely admits to a few embarrassing moments in the past year. "Coffee's very important in the morning, and coffee can do very different things to very different people. If I forget to turn my mike off and I have a bit of gas from my coffee, everybody knows. Moments like that you don't want to put down in your historical annals." 680 NEWS When 680 News launched eight years ago, the station followed a news-wheel schedule, where news, traffic and weather updates followed one another with resolute precision. Since then, it has broken the format's repetitiveness and now offers on-location reports from around the city, along with headline, business and health news. "We had a reporter covering the OCAP protests in downtown Toronto last fall," says Marlane Oliver, who anchors the newscast with Paul Jones, "and the protest started to get heated as we were covering the story. So we went with it. Of course, then we have to find time to fit in the traffic report." Oliver says getting up at 2:45 a.m. has an upside: "I have young kids, and they've never known an afternoon when their mom isn't home. In fact, there are some mornings that I finish the news, and by 10 a.m. I'm off on a field trip. Of course, the schedule is hard on our spouses, who are stuck rumbling around our homes at night after everyone else has gone to bed." THE TEAM 1050 For 44 years, Chum 1050 broadcast music, first playing the hits of the day as a Top 40 station and then recycling those hits when it switched to an oldies format in 1987. Then in May, 2001, CHUM became The Team, the flagship station for Canada's first national sports news network. In the morning, The Team features sports commentary by Paul Romanuk and Mike Richards. Call-in topics run from the standard "Who's going to win what?" to the esoteric "Does the press have any right to cover athlete's private lives?" The same morning it featured the latter topic, it also had a brilliant comedy bit involving an alternative universe play-off game (on a station called The Evil Fan) between the Cougars and the Smiles. The Smiles were captained by Julia Roberts; the Cougars included Cher, Kathleen Turner, Bo Derek and "that old hag" Joan Collins. MOJO 640 In the past decade, the 640 frequency has been home to four formats: It was a hard rock station, a Top 40 station, a talk-radio station and for the last year has billed itself as "Talk Radio for Guys," often described as "Maxim magazine on the radio." Humble Howard and Fred Patterson moved their top-rated show from CFNY to MOJO one year ago, but the veteran team has changed little. And why should they? In 1994, Howard Stern appeared on Toronto morning radio and pushed Humble and Fred from the top of the heap ("We got kicked in the balls," is how Patterson once described Stern's sudden dominance). By the time they signed off on CFNY to make the jump to MOJO, everyone was tired of Stern and they were once again No. 1 with the young men advertisers covet. Howard is the ringmaster, keeping the show on-track. He also offers a daily Humble Report (sample commentary: "Sven Robinson remains the NDP Foreign Affairs critic but will no longer speak on the Middle East issue. However, he is still speaking out on Afghanistan. And now he's apparently taken Osama bin Laden's side"). Patterson contributes sports commentary and sardonic asides, as well as serving as the alter ego of crank caller Mr. Goohead. The team left behind news and traffic reporter Sandra Plagakis when they switched stations (acquiring Jessica Baker in her stead), but brought to MOJO the backstage talents of producer Chicken Shwarma and technical guy Bingo Bob. As for the accusation listeners are slope-skulled Neanderthals drawn by the models on MOJO billboards, operations manager Stewart Myers isn't so sure. "My dentist is a radio junkie," he says, "and when CHUM AM was an oldies station, he listened to it. So when it changed to the all-sports format, he was in mourning. He'd tried CHFI in the office, but he found it boring. When I spoke with him, he said hadn't listened to us yet, but he was at the Ontario Dental Convention and everyone was talking about MOJO radio. So our audience certainly isn't a bunch of knuckle-draggers." FAN 590 Of all the hosts on morning radio, Pat Marsden probably commutes the furthest. The former director of CFTO Sports lives in Florida with his family but spends five days a week in Toronto slogging away on the airwaves. With Don Landry, Marsden helms a sports show that tries to cover more than just sports. "We have a round table at 6:10 where we talk about current events and the news," says Marsden, "I like that I can express an opinion and call the other three guys who are on with me idiots." After 40 years in the business, Marsden has made many friends. "On one of my birthdays, Brian Mulroney called to wish me happy birthday. Mike Harris called me last week," he says. Marsden's position as the Dean of Canadian Broadcasters isn't without risk. "I'm sure if Detroit doesn't win the Stanley Cup, you'll hear lots of clips of me predicting that they would." http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/printer/printer.asp?f=/stories/20020424/15432.html Copyright © 2001 National Post Online (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. RUSSIAN MPS VOTE TO QUIZ PREMIER ON RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS TO CHECHNYA | Excerpt from report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 24 April: The State Duma on Wednesday [24 April] almost unanimously passed - by 347 votes to one - an inquiry to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov about Chechen language broadcasts of Radio Liberty being beamed to the North Caucasus. The Duma regards the decision of the radio station [to broadcast to Chechnya] as gross interference in Russia's internal affairs. The inquiry says that the beginning of broadcasts was preceded by the 20 March US Senate resolution denouncing the violation of human rights in Chechnya and the need for a political settlement of the conflict. "The contents of the resolution leave no doubts that Radio Liberty, which is financed by the US Congress, will be unable to observe the principle of neutral broadcasting and its programmes will be dominated by the attitude of the forces resisting Russian government bodies and the government of the Chechen republic," the inquiry says. They asked the prime minister to say on the basis of what legal norms and international understandings Radio Liberty was given a licence, whether there is any understanding about English and Spanish language broadcasts of Russian government radio stations beamed to the United States, whether Russia has taken any steps to prevent "the subversive activities" of Radio Liberty in the North Caucasus and what steps the government intends to take to improve the awareness of the Chechen public about the efforts to stabilize the situation there... Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1412 gmt 24 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6029.7 kHz, RADIO SANTA MARÍA, Coyhaique continúa activa en esta frecuencia, confirmado 100%. Esquema: Lunes a Sábados *1030- 0400* (-0400* Domingo), Domingo *1130-0200* (-0200* Lunes). La emisora ha creado una cadena bajo el nombre de RED de EMISORAS MADIPRO (MADIPRO = Madre de la Divina Providencia), la que opera en toda la XI Región de Chile a través de diversas emisoras (P. Andrade V., Coyhaique, Chile, via Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, April 24, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. VOA changed 1230-1300 Uzbek program frequency from 19000 to 19015. On April 22 I noted Chinese jamming by CNR1 still stayed on 19000. Yesterday, April 23 they followed VOA moving to 19015 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia via Signal for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Freq change for Radio Havana Cuba in English: 0500-0700 NF 9665 USB (55444), ex 9655 USB, re-ex 9830 USB \\ 9550 AM, 9820 AM (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Re: Clandestine or not: I agree with Hans in some cases, when broadcasting organization has lack of marketing resources and publication worldwide of their aim and their schedule. BUT, there is a lot of information in past decades, that Payam-e-Doost (Radio Bahai) organization, or let's say their supporters living in Iran are subject of prosecution and suffer in Iranian jail for many years (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) Yes, but whether the audience is oppressed or not is not the key to whether the program is a clandestine or not. By that measure, many religious programs would be clandestines (Hans Johnson-USA, Cumbre Apr 23, BC-DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 9155 well ... concerning this one on 9155 I heard them yesterday almost from 1625-1900 on and off I'm 100% positive the language spoken during the whole transmission was not ARABIC ... they never used Arabic!! I think there was some Russian ID, or close to Russian ID before the Assyrian ID so it's always two ID's one in that close to Russian one followed by the Assyrian one. Around 1625 UT the program was mainly songs and music. Around 1700 there was patriotic music, followed by two IDs as I said before ... followed by a YL reading the program details, followed by some music and then another piece of music, followed by two OM talking a long talk mentioning the word University. Of course the language was Assyrian. Around 1745 another program, a man having a long talk too.!! Anyway I kept on waiting till 1830 to check out, if there's an Arabic program, but much to my regret!!! There was no Arabic program. I kept tuning in till 1857 UT, when they went off the air (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, April 17, BC-DX via DXLD) Well, got some good news if I may say so ... (Wed 17th) I tried to come up with anything from this frequency, and I picked ARABIC around 1820 UT. A YL speaking in Arabic saying some short stories, followed by an ID as IDHAAT ASHURR, followed by a song then another ID by the same YL (YOU ARE TUNED TO IDHAAT ASHURR FROM...) I couldn't get that unfortunately!! Then around 1835 UT back to Assyrian language, a guy speaking about the old God of this region ASHTAAR and his great powers concerning agriculture and other things in life. I'll give it another try today from around 1800, maybe this time I'll get something out of it (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, April 18, BC-DX via DXLD) I've been interested, and several times this week tried to pick up those announcements. Never heard any Russian or other Slavic-language IDs, though. Well, after those comments from Tarek, who can definitely say whether this station uses only one Assyrian lang, or maybe two dialects of it in its transmission? I've read somewhere that various Kurdish dialects do not sound not very close to each other. One of them is similar to Turkish, while another is a relative of Persian. May this be true for Assyrian, too? Probably "Ashur" and "Aturaya" are the same word in two different dialects? (Dmitri Mezin, Russia, April 20, BC-DX via DXLD) Re 9155 it's a clandestine beamed to Iraq representing the Assyrian Democratic Movement. I checked them on Saturday [20th] and around 1715 a guy started reading the whole newspaper published by the Assyrian Democratic Movement. I confirm that it's a Clandestine to Iraq by this movement as they were talking about changing the Iraqi regime also a lot of talking about the ADM all over the world in Michigan, Turkey, and Australia. This movement was established 23 years ago. It's representing the Assyrian community in Kurdistan. They are celebrating the new year on April the first each year; this year is 7652 according to the Babylon- Assyrian calender. Also that guy mentioned an interview for the chairman of this movement with VOA ... and also R. Free IRAQ. So as I said mainly a Clandestine beamed to Iraq in Assyrian and Arabic. Their ID is not that clear as on Sat. I never heard a clear ID but I think it's "Sout al haraka eldemokratyih al ashuriyah" "The Voice of the Democratic Assyrian Movement". (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, April 21, SU1TZ, BC-DX via DXLD) Check this one out; it may be an interesting one http://www.zowaa.com/ashur/ The Democratic Assyrian Movement: please check this site you'd find more about this movement http://www.zowaa.com/english/index.html (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, April 23, BC-DX via DXLD) In order to summarize some conclusions, I think what we hear on 9155 is obviously a clandestine targeted at "Assyrian Lands" which would equal to Northern Iraq in this case. The languages used are obviously Assyrian and Arabic, since both are spoken in the target area. Assyrian and Arabic are related; they both belong to the Semitic group. Because of this relationship, Assyrian might be misunderstood for "bad Arabic" by untrained ears; in addition the announcers might have accents influenced by other languages with which they grew up. There is a possibility that also Kurdish is used in the programs, since it is another local language in the target area, but this is not a must. Kurdish is of the Iranian language group; it would remind of Farsi. All these languages are not directly related to any Turk language and differ essentially from for example Azeri. Here some quick info about "Assyrian Lands" from the Web: Assyria was an ancient name for that part of MESOPOTAMIA on the upper Tigris River now included in the northern Iraqi provinces of Ninawa (Nineveh), Sulaymaniya, Tamim, and Irbil. Watered by the Tigris and its tributaries, the Greater and Lesser Zab, ancient Assyria stretched from just west of the Tigris to the Zagros Mountains on the east and from about 34 deg north latitude up to the hills of Armenia. With moderate rainfall that permitted farming without irrigation and with considerable resources of stone for building, Assyria had advantages over BABYLONIA, where irrigation was necessary and mud brick was the principal building material. Assyria took its name from its original capital, Ashur, situated just north of the junction of the Tigris and the Lesser Zab. Its founders, who are now called Assyrians, were a Semitic-speaking people who arrived from the southwest shortly after 2000 BCE. The four successive capitals of Assyria Ashur (Qalat Sherqat); Calah (NIMRUD), founded by Ashurnasirpal II; Dur Sharrukin (KHORSABAD), the fortress city of Sargon II; and Nineveh, selected by Sennacherib have all been excavated by archaeologists, revealing the brilliance of Assyrian civilization. Despite the notorious brutality (and efficiency) of the Assyrian army, which the Assyrians themselves assiduously publicized, the great accomplishments of ancient Assyria in art and architecture, and also in literature, are universally recognized (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Apr 18 via DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. Glenn, On April 24, 1000-1100, Emerald Radio with excellent reception via WWCR 5070, but no sign of them on 15825. I couldn't get through via their webcast, it kept rebuffering. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ve always felt that 4 a.m. CST is a bit too early for 15 MHz to be propagating well from WWCR (gh, DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 6945.1, very tent. Kyrgyz Radio, 0157 Apr 17, minor key IS, into program in unID language at 0201, occasional minor key interludes, off at 0218 with apparent Kyrgyz NA; drifted up to .15, then down to .02; tnx Lee Reynolds for pointing this station out. Sound clip of anthem at http://www.brandi.org/6945_0217_20020417.mp3 Compare to MIDI anthem at http://www.countryreports.org/sounds/kyrgyzstan.mid I'm not positive if this was them. I didn't have the tape running for the IS, unfortunately, and by the time I listened to a couple dozen NAs to figure out who this was, I didn't really remember what the IS sounded like exactly. But the IS at the end of the ID on Kernick's site sounds familiar, so I think it was them. NA really seems to match; let me know if you agree. The music starts about 20 seconds into the clip. (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Quem diria! A Rádio México Internacional também transmite no idioma português! A emissora enviou carta a Antônio Argollo, radioescuta brasileiro residente em Jequié, Estado da Bahia, pedindo divulgação da novidade. O programa vai ao ar, aos domingos, entre 1630 e 1700 UT. Detalhe: os programas são a cada quinze dias, de acordo com Ana Cristina del Razo, Gerente da estação. Freqüências: 9705 e 11770 kHz. Na Internet: http://www.imer.gob.mx Confira! (Celio Romais, Porto Alegre - Brasil, April 23, radioescutas via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Glenn, You are right, some of the azimuth and power numbers were grouped together in 2-057. You may view the entire schedule on their Web site at http://www.mongol.net/vom/ and click on "schedule." It is hard to believe that they're actually using 250 kW for the transmissions on 12015 kHz! 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW CALEDONIA. Mystery of the Disappearing Islands, with a twist The big island of New Caledonia lies about a thousand miles off the east coast of the Australian mainland. From the air on a bright sunny day, New Caledonia is indeed a beautiful big island covered with the lush growth of the dark green jungle, surrounded by sparkling white beaches and emerald green waters. All in all, there are some 25 islands making up this overseas French territory in the South Pacific. The original inhabitants of these French islands were the Melanesians who came in from New Guinea many centuries ago. They were followed some time later by the Polynesians who came in from other islands in the South Pacific. The first European explorer to visit New Caledonia was Captain James Cook in 1774. However, the French annexed these islands in 1835 and used them as a penal colony for some 33 years. During World War 2, the United States established a military base near the capital city Nouméa, and during this era, they operated an AFRS radio station under the callsign WVUS. This station belonged to the Mosquito Network and its 1 kW transmitter was verified by several prominent DXers in New Zealand. WVUS was on the air for a period of nearly four years, 1943-1946. A recent edition of an international airways magazine contains an article stating that discussions are underway with the French government regarding the possibility of New Caledonia being granted independence. Thus, it is quite possible, that New Caledonia could be disappearing quite soon, not as an island underneath the waters of the blue Pacific, but as a department of the French government. If this were to happen, what then would be the status of their government owned radio station? Currently, Radio Nouvelle Calédonie is on the air from a network of 20 FM stations and the one mediumwave outlet with 20 kW on 666 kHz. The QSL letterhead identifies the station as FR3, France Region 3. Under independence, would New Caledonia take a new radio prefix? Would the station then be given a new international callsign? (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan April 21 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Religious Broadcasting in Australia, NZ etc. UCB is non-denominational, so I understand individual Roman Catholics can become members, stand for office, vote and be involved in its activities. No different from members of other Christian denominations.. In NZ, there are few restrictions on broadcasting. The Roman Catholic Church is free to bid for frequencies, or lease them from current owners, can set up one station or networks of them, operate low power FM stations nationwide without even bidding for frequencies, and relay Vatican Radio 24 hours a day if it chooses. Individual churches have successfully bid for and obtained AM and FM licences in New Zealand. In Australia, I think CRU will find the Roman Catholic Church is able to establish a similar low powered FM network to that of Vision FM, and apply for AM licences in the extended AM band like any other narrowcast broadcaster. New FM licences are auctioned, so the Roman Catholic Church can always put a funding and program package together and lodge a bid like anyone else. For community licences (AM or FM), the Roman Catholic Church simply has to prove its case on a market by market basis on an equal footing with other applicants. They can also freely produce and supply programs for which they buy airtime on commercial and community stations. Our local community radio and TV stations in Wellington carriy such paid programs from the Roman Catholic Church. It seems that the Roman Catholic Church has a wide range of options for local broadcasting in Australia and NZ and has equal access to frequencies and licence hearings. (David Ricquish, Talkback, NZDXTimes / http://www.radiodx.com hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non]. DRM Digital R Mondiale. This morning I said au revoir to my colleague Jan-Peter Werkman, as he set off for a DRM field trip to Australia and New Zealand. It means that over the next few weeks special DRM transmissions will be beamed towards Melbourne, Wellington and Sydney as part of the DRM Long Distance Tests carried out by the DRM System Evaluation Working Group. The program transmitted is a special 57 min compiled sequence consisting of AM and DRM audio and special channel sounding signals. We've put the schedule and a detailed description of the test sequence on the Web site. These are MS Word files that you can either display within your browser or download and save to your Hard Disk. Go to http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html and click on the links to the two pages (RNMN newsletter Apr 19 via BC-DX via DXLD) Today I am hearing the first of a series of long range digital bc tests sponsored by Digital R Mondiale (DRM), a consortium including Radio Netherlands, R Canada International, Deutsche Welle, BBC and RNZI. Adrian Sainsbury mentioned these inaugural broadcasts on RNZI Mailbox today. If you don`t know what digital sounds like already, its worth knowing, as you might otherwise conclude it is a jamming transmitter when you are scanning the SW bands. Full details of the schedule have been posted at R Netherland's Media Network website. For the 7 days beginning Mon 29 April broadcasts are beamed towards Melbourne from Bonaire, Juelich, Sackville and Sines. For example at 0900 UT on Bonaire 9890 and Sackville 11975. An announcement by Jonathan Marks in AM mode was noted just after 0914 on 9890, and at 0943 on 11975. The test digital broadcasts to NZ will run from Wednesday 1 May until Tuesday 7 May as follows: 0501 UT on Bonaire 9605 0601 UT on Bonaire 12015 0701 UT on Bonaire 11975 0801 UT on Sackville 11975 and Bonaire 9790 0901 UT on Sackville 11975 and Bonaire 9760 1001 UT on Bonaire 11795 1201 and 1301 UT on Sines 21760 Also tentatively as follows: 0401 and 0501 UT on Juelich 11515. Listen around the top of the hour for an opening announcement in AM mode and further 60 second announcements around 14 minutes past, 28:30 minutes past and 43 minutes past the hour. In his announcement Jonathan mentions that more information on digital broadcasting can be found at http://www.drm.org (Bryan Clark, New Zealand, hard-core-dx Apr 23 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. NIGERIA GRAPPLES WITH E-MAIL SCAMS CYBER-CAFES HAVE PROLIFERATED IN LAGOS By the BBC's Sam Olukoya, Lagos Tuesday, 23 April, 2002, 11:00 GMT 12:00 UK Nigerian fraudsters who dupe people around the world by writing scam letters have invaded cyberspace. The fraudsters send the phoney e- mails mainly to Europe and the United States.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/world/africa/newsid_1944000/1944801.stm (BBC News online via DXLD) ** NORWAY. 7215, Uke Senderen, ND VL [no-data verification letter] received for taped EE report for October reception. V/s is Helge Lund Kolstad. Mine would appear to be their most distant report. Their e- mail address is given as uka@uka.no and web-site http://www.uka.no (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, Apr 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. CHIMBU PROVINCIAL RADIO BACK AFTER TWO YEARS | Text of report by Papua New Guinea newspaper The National web site on 24 April Radio Chimbu "Karai bilong Kundu" [Radio Karai is the National Broadcasting Corporation's vernacular service and Kundiawa is the capital of Chimbu Province] is on air again - thanks to Governor Louis Ambane and his government. Radio Chimbu went off air nearly two years ago. It started broadcasting services this week. The Ambane government gave 24,000 kina last week to the radio station to pay water, telephone and electricity bills. The main purpose was to inform the people of Chimbu about the progress of elections and other big things happening in the province and country. Fr Ambane, while presenting the cheque to the station manager, John Bare, said he wants the radio station to keep the people up to date with what is going on at this time of elections. He stressed that many people living in remote parts of the province relied on radio as a means of communication and getting news. Mr Bare assured the provincial government they do their best to restore all the services. Source: The National web site, Port Moresby, in English 24 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?? That`s the one on 3355. Do DX listeners confirm its absence and return? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Hi, just one log, and of all things it`s a harmonic. The SWB arrived as expected around noon April 21 local time, a lot of good stuff there, and I punched about 20 fresh frequencies, all from the loggings and info, into the AR7030 memory. So there was a great deal of QRG jumping around next night. At 2324, Apr 21 on 13565.40, Radio Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca (Piura Prov.) Peru managed to get through at local sunset. I only got four minutes into the taperecorder, Peruvian music, then a male announcer reading it out rather slowly gave a timecheck at 2325, seis de la tarde... 25 minutos, ... señoras y señores ... a "en Radio Ondas...." ID, and flutes tooting as a background. A possible word later is "Ayabaca" a few seconds later. QSA 0-1, the signal bar didn't react, then fadeout, and not coming back. At 2314, Apr 22, the station slowly got over the noise level, this time with a much more lively DJ and Peruvian music. So here I got 20 minutes of 95% background noise but not other details than a TC at 2331. Also tried Apr 23, not a thing was noted. On the real frequency 6782.70, QRM was too severe to let anything through on all occasions. But well, this was another good DX there on an unofficial frequency. Many thanks for info from Arnold Slaen, Argentine. Seems I am at a place were the background noise is lower than e.g. at Henrik Klemetz' QTH, Luleå. So he says. I have though one rather weak QRM source, the electric fence of a neighbour's fancy garden sparking. The hunt goes on. This one is a challenge, I think I need a few more details for a better report. 73 (Johan Berglund, (10 km SW of) Trollhättan, Sweden, AOR7030, LW, K9AY, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137... This is very likely the new 1 kW SW transmitter that we delivered to the UN in Sierra Leone some time ago. Principal frequency is 6140, other crystals include 6085 and 6110. (Ludo Maes, Belgium, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) I may have heard this station back on Apr 5. On 6137.8 between 2230 and 2259 I heard what sounded like an African station, but the language sounded like French to me; however the modulation was weak and I couldn't make much out. Around that time, Mahendra Vaghjee reported Madagascar, so I just assumed that's what I heard. I checked 5010 to see if they were //, but Madagascar wasn't on 5010 at the time. I haven't heard them since in the afternoon, although I haven't been diligently checking for them either (George Maroti, NY, ibid.) This wasn't Madagascar, I can say that for sure. Madagascar had been in sunlight for at least 3-4 hours by this time, so propagationally it wouldn't have worked, and there was a TC that matched time in W. Africa. The broadcast was definitely in English. I've gone back and listened to my tape and I believe I got an ID for R. UNAMSIL, the UN radio station in Sierra Leone. There were IDs at the beginning of every phone call, it was just a matter of finding one that I could bring above the noise and out of the muffle with the DSP filters on my computer (Ralph Brandi, NJ, ibid.) ** SPAIN. Subject: Nueva emisora de radio Hola Glenn: Te informo que a partir del 26 de mayo del 2002 una nueva emisora pirata surcará las frecuencias de la onda corta. Se trata de Radio Naranja, desde Valencia, España, y aparecerá en un primer momento por la frecuencia de 25615 kHz en modo de USB. Saldrá al aire cada domingo de la semana desde las 08'00 a 08'30 UT y emitirá en idioma español, con noticias generales, música, y un pequeño espacio dedicado al mundo DX. Más adelante ya se está mirando de salir por otras frecuencias alternativas que rondaran los 7000 kHz con más horas de programación y días. Todo informe de recepción será contestado con su respectiva QSL vía correo postal, pero en cambio, los informes sólo se recibirán mediante é-mail, que es el siguiente: radionaranja@hotmail.com Ruego anuncies este comunicado a Radio Enlace de Radio Nederland, sin duda el mejor espacio dedicado al diexismo que existe. Si necesitas algo, o simplemente quieres saber acerca de este proyecto, no dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros en la dirección de Radio Naranja. Un saludo de (Vicente Ribas, Apr 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Listened to REE Sat/Sun ONLY English outlet last night, according to this schedule: Sat/Sun 2100-2200 UT 9840 EUR, 9570 AF (but bad signal Hungarian service of CRI Urumqi ahead). Mon-Fri 2000-2100 UT 15290 EUR, 9570 AF. (Wolfgang df5sx Büschel, Germany, Apr 22, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "S-Files" -- Estonian treasure returned, and a Baltic shipwreck Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In "Studio 49" -- Palestinian and Jewish Swedes on the Middle East Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" -- another chance to meet Moe and kiddie band Peaches Following the recent death of Norwegian adverturer Thor Heyerdahl, we will be repeating our two part series "The Voyages of Thor Heyerdahl" on May 1 and 9 (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Apr 24 via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. UNOFFICIAL RADIO / JAMMING Today heard V of Tibet Dushanbe? on 15660 totally clear, n o t affected by Chinese jamming. \\ Tashkent 21520 was covered by Chinese jamming ... at 1215-1300, but frequency changes day by day. The 3rd channel, \\ Almaty outlet of registered 15715 couldn't heard here at my place, - as usual (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, Apr 21, BC-DX via DXLD) 21650 via Uzbekistan, V of Tibet, 1430-1515, Tibetan language, news mentioning China daily, QRM by Chinese speaking stn on same channel, 433 (Swopan Chakroborty, India, April 22, BC-DX via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. Freq change for RTT in Arabic effective April 21: 0400-0700 NF 7190 co-ch DW in Bul/Alb/Bos/Ser/Alb 0500-0700, ex 7110 1400-1900 NF 11950 co-ch Radio Free Europe in Romanian 1500-1530, ex 11655 1900-2300 NF 7190 co-ch Voice of America in Ukrainian 2000-2030, ex 7110 (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** U K. BBC RETREATS FROM COMMERCIAL WEB SECTOR --- 23 April 2002 The BBC plans to close down its commercial web division known as Beeb Ventures, having failed in its aim to make a profit by exploiting of some of the Corporation's best known 'brand names'. The division, launched less than two years ago, was a joint venture between the BBC and a US venture capital firm. The remaining staff of nearly 40 will lose their jobs, but some are expected to be offered alternative BBC jobs elsewhere at the BBC. 40 staff were made redundant in January when the operation was downsized in an effort to make it work. The BBC came in for a lot of criticism for using part of the licence fee to subsidise a commercial operation. Its other Web operations are not affected by the decision. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) BBC SHUTS DOWN BEEB VENTURES from http://media.guardian.co.uk/newmedia/story/0,7496,688894,00.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U K. From the BBC News website on the future of MW in the UK: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_194 4000/1944097.stm 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, QE, DXLD) ** U S A. Our previous item about VOA News Now`s new program schedule did not extend to the Saturday and Sunday features, so here they are; unfortunately, times within each hour are not specified. Since many of these are supposedly less than half an hour long, what fills the other half-hour, and when, exactly do these start?? UT SATURDAYS SUNDAYS 00 Coast to Coast Encounter 01 VOA News Review The Best of Talk to America 02 On The Line On The Line 03 Our World Issues in the News 04 Press Conference USA Encounter 05 VOA News Review The Best of Talk to America 06 On The Line On The Line 07 Our World Issues in the News 08 The Best of Talk to America The Best of Talk to America 09 Jazz Jazz 10 On The Line On The Line 11 Our World Issues in the News 12 Press Conference USA Encounter 13 Jazz Jazz 14 On The Line On The Line 15 Our World Issues in the News 16 Press Conference USA Encounter 17 The Best of Talk to America The Best of Talk to America 18 On The Line On The Line 19 Our World Issues in the News 20 Press Conference USA Encounter 21 Jazz Jazz 22 On The Line On The Line 23 Our World Issues in the News Some of our weekend programs are repeated during the week after the headlines at half past 02, 04, 06, 10 and 22 UT as follows: Monday: Press Conference USA Tuesday: Encounter Wednesday: Our World Thursday: On the Line Friday: Best of Talk to America from: http://www.voanews.com/NewsNow/article.cfm?objectid=AF5087B3-D0ED-4CFB-8A1ADC14026AF335#weekends (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Some freq changes for Voice of America: 0030-0100 HINDI NF 9680, ex 9585 0400-0500 UKRAINIAN NF 7115, ex 7245 0400-0500 UKRAINIAN NF 9710, ex 9560 1230-1300 UZBEK NF 19015* ex 19000 \\ 12140* 15120* ***** 1300-1400 KOREAN NF 7260* ex 7290 1500-1530 UZBEK NF 7265* NF 15580*, ex 7275 15185 \\ 17785* 1600-1700 KURDISH NF 17765, ex 11975 1630-1700 HINDI NF 11695, ex 12075 1700-1730 SERBIAN NF 15245, ex 15545 1730-1800 HINDI NF 11695, ex 12075 2000-2030 UKRAINIAN NF 7190, ex 15255 * jammed by CNR-2!!!! 73 from (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Summer A-02 schedule for Radio Liberty in Pashto and Dari, with kW powers and azimuth degrees: PASHTO DARI 0300-0400 11705 HOL 250 / 077 0400-0500 11705 HOL 250 / 077 15705 IRA 250 / 340 15705 IRA 250 / 340 17560 IRA 250 / 334 17560 IRA 250 / 334 1200-1300 15265 IRA 250 / 340 1300-1400 15265 IRA 250 / 340 15355 IRA 250 / 334 15355 IRA 250 / 334 15370 HOL 250 / 057 15370 HOL 250 / 057 17685 UDO 250 / 300 17685 UDO 250 / 300 1700-1730 9845 UDO 250 / 300 1730-1800 9845 UDO 250 / 300 11835 HOL 250 / 077 11835 HOL 250 / 077 12030 UDO 250 / 300 12030 UDO 250 / 300 15210 IRA 250 / 340 15210 IRA 250 / 340 1800-1830 9845 UDO 250 / 300 1930-2000 7285 UDO 250 / 304 12030 UDO 250 / 300 9575 UDO 250 / 300 15210 IRA 250 / 340 15340 IRA 250 / 340 (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]: Some freq changes for Radio Liberty: 0400-0600 UZBEK NF 17630, ex 17665 0500-0600 TATAR on 15425 DELETED 1100-1300 RUSSIAN NF 13745, ex 13685 1300-1400 KAZAKH NF 15455, ex 15440 1500-1600 GEORGIAN NF 17725, ex 15440 1500-1600 TATAR NF 11995 ADD FREQ 1600-1700 AZERI NF 9620, ex 11670 1600-1800 UZBEK NF 11980, ex 11825 1700-1800 NO.CAUCASUS* NF 11925, ex 11760 ******** 2300-2400 KAZAKH NF 7250, ex 6050 *RUSSIAN/AVARI/CHECHEN/CHERKESSI (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, April 23, via DXLD) ** U S A. Did anyone catch America`s Most Wanted, April 20? I missed it, but wonder if there was any follow-up to the Steve Anderson segment, any mention of the sheriff who participated being assassinated. Website still has Anderson on the list as not captured. A large file of stories concerning the assassination of Sheriff Sam Catron, the funeral, testimonials --- he was widely beloved --- and about his accused killer is at: http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/news/index.cfm#1462 But Steve Anderson is only briefly mentioned in one of the stories, and that is to say that there is no known connexion (Glenn Hauser, Apr 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn: WJIE has used this suffix for at least several years on their F.M. station. Back in Feb. or March of 1999, 680 A.M. was purchased by the owners of WJIE FM. The 680 A.M. was brokered before it was purchased by WJIE. In fact, it seem to me that they found a very unique way to sell time, before they were sold to WJIE. They had billboards on the city busses around town that said, "Have your own radio show. Just give us a call here at 680 A.M." WJIE, took over the 680 A.M. station in April of 1999. During June of 1999 they started to I.D. as WJIE A.M. on 680 A.M. The 680 A.M. spot was sold to A.B.C. last week and is now programming Radio Disney as of last week. It remains to be seen if the call letters are changed once again. It seems as though ABC usually changes call letters for the stations that carry it's Radio Disney format. Could new call letters be in the works for 680 A.M. which would make this whole discussion moot?? Here is the article about Radio Disney taking over the 680 A.M. spot: http://www.courier-journal.com/features/columns/dorsey/fe20020109dorsey.html (Artie Bigley, OH, April 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. From The Boston Globe Online http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/113/living/Live_and_in_Yiddish+.shtml LIVE AND IN YIDDISH TOURING RADIO PROJECT REVIVES LOST PERFORMANCE ART By Linda Matchan, Globe Staff, 4/23/2002 They're calling it a ''Yiddish Prairie Home Companion,'' for want of a better description (via Dave White, DXLD) ** U S A. Rock album inspired by shortwave Today (Tuesday) on NPR's All Things Considered, Jeff Tweedy of the rock band Wilco talked about his enthusiasm for shortwave listening and how the sounds of shortwave inspired some of the songs on the group's new album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20020423.atc.15.ram And see also http://www.wilcoworld.net (Kim Elliott, DC, April 23, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Posted on Fri, Apr. 19, 2002 PBS STATIONS URGED TO REJECT RUKEYSER Glenn Garvin, Miami Herald Television Critic The controversy over the decision to fire popular Wall Street analyst Louis Rukeyser after 32 years on public television has deepened, with the president of PBS urging public TV stations to reject Rukeyser's new show. In a letter this week to general managers of PBS affiliates across the United States, network President Pat Mitchell denounced what she called Rukeyser's ''campaign of misinformation and misrepresentation'' in offering his new program to public stations. The new half-hour program, Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street, debuts tonight at 8:30 on the cable business-news network CNBC. CNBC is offering the show free to PBS stations for repeat broadcasts over the weekend. More than 10 stations -- including those in New York, Dallas and Orlando, all among the top 25 markets -- had accepted the offer Thursday afternoon. ''That's a huge response, considering the offer just went out yesterday,'' said Susan Soberman, an executive at WLIW, the Long Island public station that is handling distribution of the new show. ``For programmers, it's very difficult to move around their schedules that fast.'' It also appears to be a rebuke to PBS by its affiliates, who weren't consulted before Rukeyser was abruptly fired March 22 after complaining on the air about changes in the format of his Wall $treet Week With Louis Rukeyser show. Rukeyser was fired by Maryland Public Television, which produced the program, rather than PBS. But several public television sources said the change wouldn't have been made without the implicit approval of PBS. Mitchell refused to elaborate on her letter Thursday. ''That was a confidential document, and she isn't interested in saying anything more,'' a network spokesman said. The four-page letter, dated Tuesday, said any PBS affiliate that picked up Rukeyser's new show was engaging in ``short-term thinking rather than long-term viability . . . a response that seems destined to create more problems than it will resolve.'' Mitchell reminded the affiliates that PBS intends to offer a revamped version of Rukeyser's old program called Wall $treet Week with Fortune. 'Surely, to offer Louis' new show . . . can only be counterproductive to building the strength'' of the new one, she wrote. PBS affiliates operate with considerably more freedom than their commercial counterparts, and the network can't stop them from carrying Rukeyser's new show, or force them to carry the PBS replacement. Rukeyser's PBS program was the most successful financial show in television history. Though its audience had declined from a high of five million viewers, it still numbered well over two million, very strong by public broadcasting standards. But Mitchell, a former CNN executive who joined PBS two years ago, has been trying to give the network a sharper edge. That included bringing a younger audience to Rukeyser's program, where the average viewer was 62. When Rukeyser learned that the show would be renamed and his role deëmphasized, he launched a furious on-air attack. 'I want you to rise out of your chair -- not to shout, `I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore' -- but to . . . write or e-mail your local station saying you heard Louis Rukeyser is still going to have a program and you'd like to see it,'' he said. ``I promise you that if enough of you do that, it will do the job.'' The viewers complied -- some PBS affiliates logged hundreds of complaining phone calls -- but Rukeyser was fired anyway. The response nonetheless impressed CNBC, which gave Rukeyser a one-year contract with options for several more. The new program kicks off tonight with an impressive display of Rukeyser's clout: a rare television appearance by Abby Joseph Cohen, chief market strategist at Goldman Sachs. All 22 of the commentators who regularly appeared on Rukeyser's PBS show will join him at CNBC. ''It's the same show, same time, different network,'' said CNBC spokeswoman Alison Rudnick. Miami's WPBT-PBS 2, which carried Rukeyser's old program, is still trying to decide if it will pick up the CNBC show. ''I need to see it first, honestly,'' said Neal Hecker, WPBT's director of broadcasting. ``This is an unusual situation. I've got to see how CNBC is integrated into the program.'' CNBC has promised to remove its ''bug'' -- the little network logo in the corner of the screen -- but Hecker and other programmers want to make sure the show's set is not festooned with CNBC signs before agreeing to carry it (via Chet Copeland, DXLD) Another report said 11 public TV stations [hmmm, that correlates with ``more than 10`` above!!] had already picked up Rukeyser`s new show, but did not enumerate them! Well, OETA is among them, but does that count as 4, since it has our full-power outlets to cover the state, not to mention low-power translators? OETA has it both ways, with the PBS show still Friday nights, with Rukeyser moved into the former W$W repeat slot Sundays 12:30 pm CT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Homepage for the NOAA Weather Radio station list...the complete 670 stations. http://205.156.54.206/nwr/nwrbro.htm (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 21 April 1140 on 27180 kHz of CB band - High Adventure Ministries program in English and from 1145 in Vietnamese. Signal strength was good to fair. An original frequency is 13590 kHz (shared with RUI) - obviously, via Novosibirsk: 13590 1200-1600 32,43,44 NVS 100 110 1234567 310302 271002 D RUS VOR MCB (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, 22 Apr via Olle Alm, DXLD) When NVS was on 7485 there was a strong 2x harmonic on 14970. Another one of the old 100 kW Russians that are notorious for their poor harmonic suppression. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. RADIO YUGOSLAVIA AVAILABLE IN REAL AUDIO AGAIN 22 April 2002 Radio Yugoslavia continues to be unavailable on shortwave. Reports say that the authorities in Bosnia-Hercegovina, where Radio Yugoslavia's main transmitters are located, have withdrawn the station's licence to broadcast. A note on the station's Web site states that 'As of Monday, April 22, Radio Yugoslavia's daily audio news output can also be found at http://www.radioyu.org However, when checked between 1500 and 1515 UTC on 22 April no audio was available. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC missing from both 5975 and 6045 around 2045 UT April 23, unless it was propagation (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR [to Zimbabwe] V of People can be heard regular here starting at 1630, closing at around 1700. Freq is 7215. Weak-to-moderate. QRM free (Turkey overrides it at around 1655-1657, usually starting a bit earlier than scheduled). Today: clear ID by man at start (1630). (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, April 16, BC-DX via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-067, April 22, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1127: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN. COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR MEDIA IN AFGHANISTAN | Excerpt from report by Afghan news agency Bakhtar Kabul, 22 April: An international seminar to help media in Afghanistan held in Copenhagen has decided to hold its next session in Kabul. Esteemed Abdol Hamid Mobarez, deputy minister of information and culture in charge of broadcasting, [words illegible] told the Bakhtar Information Agency that at the seminar the Afghan side asked for a 500-kW mediumwave transmitter and a 109-kW shortwave transmitter to meet requirements for news and broadcasting cover throughout Afghanistan. It also proposed that the best way for the central television to transmit its broadcast to the provinces of the country is by satellite. The session took note of the proposal and pledged cooperation in this regard. [Words illegible] finally everybody agreed that the Press Law in Afghanistan is democratic in accordance with the norms of the modern era. At the seminar, BBC radio pledged to organize training courses for Afghan journalists. Denmark pledged to grant 20,000 euros for the repair of the existing 500-kW transmitter of radio Afghanistan, and also to allocate 500,000 euros to help press in Afghanistan... Source: Bakhtar news agency, Kabul, in Dari 1500 gmt 22 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 15480, Radio Free Afghanistan heard in this new frequency at 1404-1417 on April 21. Programme in dari???. Coran. Announcement by male. Identification by same male. Bulletin news read by OM. At 1410 local music. Then, many IDs by male and female. Announcement and commentary about Afghanistan by OM. QRM from DW from Moscow in Chinese. SINPO: 32432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s R. V. of Afghanistan, not R. Free Afghanistan ** ARGENTINA. RAE, Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior, para su esquema vigente del 24 Abril al 1 Noviembre 2002 incluirá dentro de su programación en español (que va 1200-1400 15345 khz y 2300-2400 6060, 11710 y 15345 Lunes a Viernes), un pequeño microprograma en lenguas aborigenes. También va español de 2200-2300 en 6060, 11710 y 15345 khz. Además, nuevamente comenzará a ser emitido el programa en italiano a 1900-2000 en 9690 y 15345 khz (Lunes a Viernes), el que había dejado de emitirse desde la primer semana de Septiembre del 2001. Inglés continuará ahora a 1800-1900 en 9690 y 15345, además de 0200-0300 en 6060 y 11710. 73's (Gabriel Iván Barrera, RAE, Conexión Digital April 22 via DXLD) [RAE`s new schedule resumes Italian and bumps English an hour earlier to Europe; also has started ``micro-program in aboriginal languages``, whatever that means, at times unspecified within certain Spanish broadcasts] ** ARMENIA. 864, Radio Liberty, 20 Apr, 0216, SINPO 44433, in Turkmen. Contrary to TWR, American IBB (Radio Liberty umbrella organization) isn't much worried about the secrecy; it clearly states Yerevan as the signal source for the following RL programs on 864 kHz: 0100-0200 Uzbek 0200-0300 Turkmen 1530-1600 Turkmen. Moreover, it provides Radio Free Iraq on 1314 kHz, at 0300-0400 and 1400-1600 (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal April 22 via DXLD) It`s not IBB in general but R. Free Asia in particular which insists on site secrecy (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. re: DXLD 2-066 - Voice International does not follow its own language schedule.... Someone previously posted an incorrect schedule for Voice Int'l. The correct schedule, as found on their web site) is as follows: 13635 1100-1700 English India/Indonesia <<-- note 13660 1300-1700 Indonesian Indonesia <<-- note 13685 1000-1100 English China 13775 0900-1400 Mandarin China 15365 0900-1300 Indonesian Indonesia 17560 1400-1700 Mandarin China 17645 0930-1000 English China 21680 0430-0500 Indonesian Indonesia 0530-0600 Indonesian Indonesia 73, (Mark J. Fine, Remington, Virginia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA and COMMONWEALTH Michael Dorner (Catholic Radio Update) queries Christian radio licencing in Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries. In New Zealand, UCB operate 34 transmitters on AM/FM with the Radio Rhema network (broadcasting since 1974), 13 transmitters on AM/FM with the Southern Star Network (including the most powerful AM station in the country with 50 kW) and another 13 FM transmitters with the Life FM network. A large number of additional frequencies are leased by UCB and awaiting funds to come on air. There are no ownership restrictions on local broadcasting in NZ where AM/FM frequencies (except those reserved for state and community stations) are leased to the highest bidder. In Australia, UCB operates a further 18 FM transmitters under the Radio Rhema brand (with 56 kW one is the most powerful community FM station in Australia), with another 9 stations testing, and others awaiting permission to test. Radio Rhema Sydney is currently applying for the 1386 AM narrowcast channel to serve the Sydney LAP. As well, there are over 100 FM transmitters currently on air across rural Australia with their Vision FM brand, and another 80 licenced and awaiting funds and technical installation. UCB has recently announced plans to open a similar network across Canada, and operates four satellite based radio networks across the UK, Ireland and Western Europe with more planned. It also has FM stations on air in the South Pacific states of Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Tonga, Vanuatu and PNG are all in the Commonwealth so there seems no problem with obtaining licences for Christian radio stations in the Commonwealth despite what Michael claims. UCB is non-denominational and broadcasts from a 9 point articles of faith statement. They also have local stations in Russia and Estonia. The format worldwide is based on the original station in Christchurch, New Zealand, adapted for local audiences. UCB are headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. (David Ricquish, Talkback, NZDX Times / http://www.radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA I wonder if UCB`s ecumenism extends to Roman Catholic, or is it entirely Protestant. CRU is interested only in purely Catholic stations, I think (gh, DXLD) ** BAKER ISLAND. By the time you read this, the KH1 team was expected to meet together in Los Angeles on April 20th and depart to Nadi, Fiji Island. Some of the team will fly to Funafuti, Tuvalu (T2), to operate for three days. The whole team will once again meet and depart from Funafuti on April 26th and will arrive on Baker Island on April 29th or 30th and operate until May 10th. They will take a six day voyage back to Fiji and then fly to Los Angeles and finally onto the Dayton Hamvention. The team will have six transceivers, five amplifiers, four generators and a variety of beams, verticals and dipoles. They have plans to operate on 160-6 meters CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK, SSTV, FM and the satellites. The callsign will be announced when the operation starts. QSL all CW, RTTY, PSK and SSTV QSOs via YT1AD and all SSB QSOs via RZ3AA. Donations can be sent to Wil, K6NDV. Their Web page is: http://www.kragujevac.co.yu/kh1 (KB8NW/OPDX April 22/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 18020, Radio São Luiz, São Luiz Gonzaga, RS, heard 1840+ on April 21. Harmonic 1060 kHz. Transmission in Portuguese. Brazilian romantic music. The program is "Descuvendo calor". ID: "A Super Radio São Luiz, a emissora da comunidade regional". 25422. Thanks to my friend, DXer Marcelo Cornachioni for the tip (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be 17th harmonic of 1060! When we get that high, we need to be open to other possible explanations. Have there been any signs of any lower harmonics from this?? (gh, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma approached RNZI last November about using its transmitter when not otherwise needed. Tests were undertaken in Dec and Jan, and DVB arranged for monitoring in Burma. They were satisfied, and so on Fri 15 March, Rangitaiki began regular transmissions at 1430-1530 on 15620. Originates from DVB studios in Oslo. Hiring out time is not unusual. For many years RNZI carried BBCWS 1100-1200 on 9700. And more recently, facility available to NZDF for Forces radio program. (Recording a couple of days ago from Bangkok of DVB 15620). Later in year may have to change to a lower frequency. No editorial control over contents, just leasing the transmitter (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI Mailbox April 22, already at website before 1430 UT, tho not supposed to be until 1802 April 22, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not answered is the question of who has priority when the single transmitter is needed for overnight sports or cyclone warnings (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, To pick up on an item in DXLD 2-066 concerning religious radio in Australia... In 1984, I took a university course in introductory Canadian political science, which was taught by John Meisel. At the time, he had just retired as Chair of the CRTC (in those days, the Canadian Radio Television Commission). I remember one lecture where the very subject of religious radio in Canada was discussed: at the time, the CRTC did not license religious radio stations because most applicants would not make the commitment to promote or provide a diversity of opinion or viewpoint from a variety of faiths. Obviously, most US-based religious stations, which purvey one viewpoint, would not have been licensed in Canada. Nearly 20 years later, the few religious broadcasters in Canada are ecumenical although I think there is a lot more paid religious programming on the air than there used to be. It's been years since I turned on a shortwave radio although much of the stuff is still in the basement if I ever want to start listening again. I came across the WOR page doing a google search for something else, which lead to a link for WOR. 73s, (Michael Bolitho, Rockcliffe Park, Ontario, April 22, DXLD) See also AUSTRALIA ** CHINA [and non]. Clandestine station Voice of China changed morning sked: 2230-2330 7270, SIO 545. And afternoon sked announced remains unchanged at 0800-0900 11940. Complete Chinese frequency list can be found at my website. URL is http://www.x-net.idv.tw/miller/cn-c.htm All times are in Taiwan/China times, that is UT +8. (Miller Liu in Taiwan, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also TAIWAN! ** CONGO DR. UN-SPONSORED RADIO OKAPI OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON RADIO'S OBJECTIVES | Text of report by Radio France Internationale on 19 April Radio Okapi started broadcasting on short-wave and FM two months ago throughout the country with French, Lingala, Swahili, and soon, Tshiluba casts. The objective is to contribute to free statement by all. Philippe Dainden, the director of Radio Okapi comments: [Dainden] What we actually tried to do was to revive ties that had been severed by war - the deterioration of infrastructure, the lack of telecommunications, and their destruction - between people from various parts of the country. The radio was set up to accompany the peace process. This was the objective of the United Nations. Indeed, it wanted to create dialogue among the international organizations, present in the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], and the Congolese. Many Congolese, especially those living in rural areas, do not even know who these aliens driving by with vehicles covered with antennas are. I also heard about the case of a village where two military observers arrived to assess the situation. The villagers fled, closed their schools, and remained hidden in the bush for weeks because they were convinced that war had resumed in the village. So, we hope to create dialogue among the people, the United Nations, and all the others who are here - international organizations - to try and clear such misunderstandings. With three casts per day, five regional stations nationwide, Radio Okapi has called on Congolese journalists from all horizons to handle the casts. Desire Bayiri, the anchorman for the French newscast, has this to say. [Bayiri] I was attracted by the fact that this radio is meant to unite all the Congolese. I come from an occupied province, and therefore I believe that working with Radio Okapi, I will have an opportunity to unify the country through the information that comes from everywhere. We are also giving an opportunity to everyone, whatever their membership, to express themselves; something that has not happened for years now in the DRC. By allowing everyone to speak, we also receive information from everywhere in the country. As a matter of fact, let me brief you on something that was really touching for us. A few weeks ago, we broadcast a reportage on Mbandaka, in the Equateur Province, indicating that students, faced by difficulties, were sharing one pen among five people. This news arrived in Goma, and after hearing about it, students in Goma, Nord-Kivu, decided to collect money to send pens to their fellow students in Mbandaka. I was very touched by this. I should point out that these people had been the victims of a volcano eruption. After two months of existence, Radio Okapi is already known all over the country, because it is sometimes the only neighbourhood radio that is independent from all the various ruling authorities. Source: Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 1230 gmt 19 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Our member Kenneth Olofsson/KO informs me in a mail that he heard an unID on 6039 kHz. Kenneth writes: "on 6039 at c:a 23 GMT I heard tonight a discussion-program about among others "jóvenes". With reference to the time, it might have been Bolivia, I couldn`t hear any TC, they switched off the transmitter in the middle of the program and had no full time announcement on the hour". 6039.42, Radio Amanecer Internacional, Santo Domingo. April 12 2002 - 0240 UT. New frequency. Probably KO´s unID. "Ésta es Radio Amanecer Internaciónal..." etc. Enumerated their FM- and MW-frequencies and their old SW 6025 kHz. "LV de la Esperanza" program where they among others spoke about how dangerous it is for kids to watch TV --- so why isn`t it extremely dangerous to listen to radio, for instance to "Radio Amanecer"? (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 21, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re DXLD 2-066 PERU: 6039.45 R San Antonio, April 19, 2250-0005, Spanish, endless Christian songs, several IDs. SINPO 23322... Maybe that this logging is not correct. As usual in such cases I listened several times to my recording and I believed to hear the ID "Radio San Antonio". After listening to the audio clip, Henrik Klemetz said he cannot hear anything like that. Unfortunately I couldn't receive the station any more on that frequency last night. Only the Brasilian on 6040 came through. Björn Malm from EQA says R. Amanecer is active here. Let's wait and see how the story will end (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Also as UNID in DXLD 2-062 ** ECUADOR. I have had the same old equipment for many years now, the last was my NRD-535 bought 9-10 years ago. This is the rx I have owned for the longest time without changing it. I have now via Internet ordered and paid a MFJ-616 which is a "Speech Intelligibility Enhancer" i.e. a device concentrating on the human speech. If somebody in SWB, (SWB has a high average age), gets trouble with hearing, I think an MFJ-616, according to tests, will be very useful to hear "what the DJ says" when it is time for ID. Also it ought to be useful for us with still decent hearing, by raising weak sounds and equalizing the frequencies when the DJ produces a totally nonunderstandable ``mumble``. It will be very exciting to test this device. I will come back later with test results. The cost is roughly SEK 1850:- plus freight charges from Universal Radio in USA including mains supply 12V/1.5 A. I will later also buy a MFJ-1025 "Noise Canceller" --- about the same cost as a MFJ-616. Are there anybody in SWB who has bought these units? BM [see also DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PERU, UNIDENTIFIED for BM`s other reports this fortnight; and....] 5900.00 USB, Radio Cosmopolita, Quito // Chimborazo 98.1. April 15 0030 UT. A logging experience I have never before seen; yes it feels almost sensational. Radio Cosmopolita is a station here in Quito transmitting on 959.95 kHz. A station transmitting very sporadic and as well often with lousy signal. At evenings no chance against the other transmitters on the frequency. And I live here in Quito! "Chimborazo 98.1" is an FM-station I don`t know of but probably located in Riobamba, capital of the province "Chimborazo" where my wife actually was born. Both of these stations were broadcasting simultaneously on USB at the frequency 5900.00 kHz with good strength and quality --- the frequency seems to be totally free from other stations. The transmission was in "quichua" and contained a lot of talk but also music with telephone greetings from people living in Quito to friends and relatives in Chimborazo and vice versa. "Radio Cosmopolita" is the only station in Quito broadcasting in "quichua" and the province "Chimborazo" is the most densely populated with Indians in all of Ecuador. By the way, Riobamba has its big, annual fiesta week starting April 21 (I think) - --- so watch the frequency of 5900.00 USB very carefully. If this is a one time occasion, I don`t know, but it is really worth to keep a check on this one! The LA-season has just started back home in Sweden and a SSB transmission have greater chance to come through than an AM signal. I listened to this very special broadcast between 0030 UT until close down 0225. The transmitter on 959.95 kHz probably disappeared at the same time. The above info about Radio Cosmopolita was sent as a ``special preview`` to all members in SWB and ARC having access to e-mail. Below continues this exciting story: 5905.00 USB, Radio Cosmopolita, Quito/ Radio Sembrador "Chimborazo 98.1, Riobamba. No, it was no one time occasion. The following day they were there again on 5900.00 kHz, but only for 40 minutes. April 17 they started about 2025 local time but this time on 5905.00 kHz. Note that the frequency is absolutely exact. By now I was very curious and finally got the correct telephone number to Radio Cosmopolita: 228 30 96. I spoke with the DJ who promised that their technical chief Sr. Alejandro Yautibug should contact me later. A few hours later Sr. Alejandro called me and we had a long conversation. Really it was very exciting to hear him tell about the plans of the Indians: The transmitter on SW is not intended for the public but functions as a link between Quito and Riobamba: Radio Cosmopolita in Quito and Radio Sembrador "Chimborazo 98.1", broadcasting from the provinces just south of Riobamba. The result of this SW link can be heard at the same time in Quito on MW 960 kHz and in Riobamba on 98.1 MHz. Alejandro told me that another transmitter within shortly will be incorporated into this "enlace" which by the way started in the beginning of April this year --- the third station will be "Radio Filadelfia" in Guayaquil broadcasting on MW 1170 kHz. This means that the person managing to hear 5900.00 or 5905.00 kHz simultaneously can log 3 completely different stations, fantastic! These 3 radio stations have it in common that they are run/hired by the Indian Evangelic Movement. Both SW-transmitters in Riobamba and Quito have an effect of about 0.2 kW. Notice that radio amateurs can reach very far away with this [PEP] of their transmitters, so please do not give too early! Most exciting is their application to start "real" SW-transmissions in AM with considerably higher, this to reach out to a greater part of the Indian population. The frequency will be somewhere around 4000- 4015 kHz. It is very hard for the Indian population to start new transmitters here in Ecuador. They have "helped" to kick out one and another president. I hope they will succeed. I happen to have a goddaughter/"hijada" in Riobamba and Alejandro promised to greet her via 5905.00 kHz and Radio Sembrador in Riobamba on 98.1 MHz. He was so unbelievably happy with telephone call that he directly promised me to be picked up by car the same evening to get acquainted with the station. Of course I will later visit Radio Cosmopolita. I know that radio amateurs have pile ups on the same frequency but I have never heard of several broadcasting stations do the same. GH (Glenn Hauser) in DXLD, what is your opinion regarding this? [I agree, it is very unusual; surely they should take turns and not transmit at the same time? ---gh] 20/4: Can DX be more exciting? Here is a copy of a mail I just sent to JB [Johan Berglund Cf DXLD 2-066]. In my latest bandscan sent Thursday there was nothing about the excellent logging made by JB and that`s a pity. Hello JB! For some curious reason I can´t open the audio file at my IT-café, I get an error message, so please send me a new one. But it seems pretty clear, especially when HK heard the same as you. It should be really nice to listen as I directly will recognise the program. It is a pity you haven´t read what will come in SWB now on Sunday before it is goes to HCDX --- I have talked with station`s chief technician and got a lot of info "how things are"! I really have to say CONGRATULATIONS to a really good catch. Some special previews have been sent lately: Virgin Islands, El Salvador and now Cosmopolita. There are some in SWB giving up before they even have tried, believe and say to me that it is "probably impossible"! But you have proved that it is possible to log even a 0.2 kW station from Quito. The station in Riobamba, located in the countryside just south of Riobamba, is called Radio Sembrador "Chimborazo 98.1". Look for names of month, day, frequency, TC plus "minutos", name of radio stations with several words said in Spanish. Listen for the names "Roberto" and "Alejandro" who are DJ and technician. The program in quichua has only male DJs --- during daytime when often broadcasting in Spanish - YL- DJ. I think Thomas will be happy now! He likes when our club is first ...... Once again congratulations. 73 /BM (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 21, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lyssnade på klippet igår kväll och visst låter det precis så. Ett audioclip på 175 kB kan hämtas i mp3-format på denna länk: http://homepage.sverige.net/~a-0901/ (Thomas Nilsson, SW Bulletin Apr 21 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA/ERITREA [non]. UN MISSION TO BEGIN BROADCASTING | Excerpt from report in English by pro-Ethiopian government Walta Information Centre web site on 19 April Addis Ababa, 19 April: United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said it would ... launch today a weekly one-hour radio broadcast programme on Tuesdays and Fridays in English, Oromifa, Amharic and Tigrinya on shortwave via transmitters based in the United Arab Emirates. UNMEE spokesman and chief of public information, Jean-Victor Nkolo, said the shortwave broadcasts of Radio UNMEE to both Ethiopia and Eritrea would be conducted through the facilities of Merlin Communications and on the African learning channel of the WorldSpace Foundation. He said listeners of the Africa Learning channel of WorldSpace International, which is broadcast by satellite, can also hear Radio UNMEE. Radio UNMEE can be available at the frequencies 0430-0530 UT on 15215 kHz on Tuesdays and 1900-2000 UT on 13750 kHz on Fridays... Source: Walta Information Centre web site, Addis Ababa, in English 19 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FRANCE [and non]. Radio France International du 31.03 au 27.10.02 Horaires TU BANDES FREQ LANGUES Afrique du Nord ¡V zone 1 04.00¡V05.00 49 m 5925 Francais 05.00¡V06.00 49 m 5925 Arabe / Fr 05.00¡V06.00 41 m 7135 Arabe / Fr 06.00¡V07.00 41 m 7135(1) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 31 m 9790 Francais 06.00¡V07.00 25 m 11700(2) Francais 07.00¡V08.00 25 m 11700 Francais 08.00¡V16.00 25 m 11845 Francais 08.00¡V11.30 19 m 15300 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 19 m 15300 Meteo marine 12.00¡V19.00 19 m 15300 Francais 16.00¡V18.00 15725 9790 Arabe [ou -17.00?] 16.00¡V18.00 25 m 12025 Arabe 17.00¡V18.00 25 m 11700 Francais 18.00¡V20.00 25 m 11615 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 41 m 7315 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 31 m 9790 Francais 21.00¡V22.00 49 m 6175 Francais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Afrique du Nord ¡V zone 2 04.00¡V05.00 49 m 5925 Francais 05.00¡V06.00 49 m 5925 Arabe /Fr 05.00¡V06.00 41 m 7135 Arabe /Fr 06.00¡V07.00 41 m 7135(1) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 31 m 9790 Francais 06.00¡V08.00 25 m 11700 Francais 07.00¡V09.00 19 m 15315 Francais 08.00¡V10.00 19 m 15300 Francais 08.00¡V16.00 25 m 11845 Francais 11.00¡V11.30 19 m 15300 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 19 m 15300 Meteo marine 12.00¡V14.00 19 m 15300 Francais 16.00¡V18.00 31 m 9790 Arabe 16.00¡V18.00 25 m 12025 Arabe 17.00¡V18.00 25 m 11700(1) Francais 18.00¡V20.00 25 m 11615 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 41 m 7315 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 31 m 9790 Francais 21.00¡V22.00 49 m 6175 Francais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Afrique du Nord ¡V zone 3 04.00¡V05.00 49 m 5925 Francais 05.00¡V06.00 49 m 5925 Arabe / Fr 05.00¡V06.00 41 m 7135 Arabe / Fr 06.00¡V07.00 41 m 7135(1) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 31 m 9790 Francais 06.00¡V07.00 25 m 11700(2) Francais 07.00¡V08.00 25 m 11700 Francais 07.00¡V10.00 19 m 15300 Francais 08.00¡V16.00 25 m 11845 Francais 11.00¡V11.30 19 m 15300 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 19 m 15300 Meteo marine 12.00¡V14.00 19 m 15300 Francais 16.00¡V17.00 25 m 11615 Anglais 16.00¡V17.00 19 m 15725 Arabe 16.00¡V18.00 31 m 9790 Arabe 16.00¡V18.00 25 m 12025 Arabe 18.00¡V19.00 25 m 11615 Francais 18.00¡V20.00 25 m 11705 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 41 m 7315 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 31 m 9790 Francais 21.00¡V22.00 49 m 6175 Francais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.0 Afrique Occidentale ¡V Zone 4 06.00¡V07.00 31 m 9790(2)(1) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 25 m 11700(2) Francais 07.00¡V08.00 25 m 11700 Francais 07.00¡V08.00 19 m 15605 Anglais Moy 07.00¡V11.30 19 m 15300 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 19 m 15300 Meteo marine 12.00¡V12.30 19 m 15540 Anglais Moy 12.00¡V12.30 19 m 15300 Francais 12.30¡V13.00 19 m 15540 Francais Moy 17.00¡V18.00 19 m 15530 Portugais 18.00¡V20.00 31m 9790 Francais Moy 20.00¡V22.00 31 m 9790 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 25 m 11955 Francais Moy (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Moy : diffusé a partir de Moyabi (Gabon) Afrique Occidentale - Zone 5 06.00¡V07.00 25 m 11700 Francais 06.00¡V06.30 25 m 11710 Anglais Moy 06.30¡V07.00 25 m 11710 Francais Moy 06.00¡V07.00 19 m 15315(2) Francais 07.00¡V08.00 19 m 15605 Anglais Moy 07.00¡V09.00 19 m 15315 Francais 07.00¡V09.00 16 m 17620 Francais 09.00¡V16.00 13 m 21685 Francais 11.00¡V14.00 16 m 17620 Francais 12.00¡V12.30 19 m 15540 Anglais Moy 12.30¡V13.00 19 m 15540 Francais Moy 16.00¡V17.00 25 m 11995 Anglais Moy 17.00¡V19.00 16 m 17620 Francais 18.00¡V20.00 31 m 9790 Francais Moy 19.00¡V20.00 16 m 17620(2) Francais 19.00¡V20.00 22 m 13820(1) Francais 20.00¡V22.00 25 m 11955 Francais Moy (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Moy : diffusé a partir de Moyabi (Gabon) Afrique Centrale ¡V Zone 6 03.00¡V04.00 49 m 5925 Francais Mey 03.00¡V04.00 41 m 7135 Francais 03.00¡V06.00 31 m 9790 Francais 04.00¡V05.00 60 m 4890 Francais Moy 04.00¡V05.00 41 m 7135 Francais Moy 04.00¡V06.00 25 m 11700 Francais 05.00¡V06.00 49 m 6175 Francais Moy 05.00¡V07.00 19 m 15300 Francais 06.00¡V08.00 31 m 9790 Francais Moy 06.00¡V08.00 16 m 17850 Francais 07.00¡V17.00 13 m 21580 Francais 10.00¡V11.00 16 m 17850 Francais 11.00¡V12.00 13 m 21755 Francais Moy 12.00¡V14.00 31 m 9790 Francais Moy 15.00¡V16.00 16 m 17850 Francais 16.00¡V17.00 25 m 12015 Anglais Moy 16.00¡V17.00 16 m 17850 Anglais 17.00¡V22.00 19 m 15300 Francais 18.00¡V22.00 41 m 7160 Francais Moy 18.00¡V22.00 25 m 11705 Francais 20.00¡V21.00 19 m 15530 Portugais 21.00¡V22.00 31 m 9790 Francais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Mey : diffusé a partir de Meyerton (Afrique du Sud) Moy : diffusé a partir de Moyabi (Gabon) Afrique de l`Est et Ocean Indien --- Zone 7 03.00¡V04.00 49 m 5925 Francais Mey 03.00¡V04.00 31 22 m 13610 Francais [sic - sans 9...] 03.00¡V04.00 25 m 11700 Francais 04.00¡V04.30 31 m 9550(2)Anglais Moy 04.00¡V04.30 25 m 11910(1)Anglais Moy 04.00¡V04.30 19 m 15155 Anglais 04.30¡V05.00 31 m 9550(2)Francais Moy 04.30¡V05.00 25 m 11910(1)Francais Moy 04.30¡V05.00 19 m 15155 Francais 05.00¡V05.30 25 m 11685(2)Anglais Moy 05.00¡V05.30 19 m 15155(1)Anglais Moy 05.00¡V05.30 16 m 17800 Anglais 05.30¡V06.00 25 m 11685(2)Francais Moy 05.30¡V06.00 19 m 15155(1)Francais Moy 05.30¡V06.00 16 m 17800 Francais 06.00¡V06.30 16 m 17800 Anglais 06.00¡V06.30 13 m 21620 Anglais 06.30¡V07.00 16 m 17800 Francais 06.30¡V07.00 13 m 21620 Francais 09.00¡V12.00 11 m 25820 Francais 12.00¡V12.30 11 m 25820 Anglais 12.30¡V13.00 11 m 25820 Francais 15.00¡V16.00 16 m 17605 Francais 15.00¡V16.00 13 m 21620 Francais 16.00¡V17.00 25 m 12015 Anglais Moy 16.00¡V17.30 16 m 17605 Anglais 17.00¡V18.00 25 m 12015 Portugais Moy 17.30¡V18.00 16 m 17605 Francais 18.00¡V19.00 16 m 17620 Francais 19.00¡V20.00 19 m 15300 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 25 m 11995 Francais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 Mey : diffusé a partir de Meyerton (Afrique du Sud) Moy : diffusé a partir de Moyabi (Gabon) Afrique Orientale ¡V Zone 8 03.00¡V04.00 31 m 9825 Francais 03.00¡V05.00 25 m 11995 Francais 04.00¡V06.00 19 m 15135 Francais 05.00¡V07.00 16 m 17620 Francais 09.00¡V12.00 13 m 21620 Francais 15.00¡V16.00 16 m 17620 Francais 16.00¡V17.30 19 m 15605 Anglais 17.30¡V18.00 19 m 15605 Francais 18.00¡V19.00 19 m 15460 Francais 19.00¡V20.00 25 m 11995 Francais 20.00¡V22.00 31 m 9485 Francais Proche et Moyen - Orient --- Zone 9 03.00¡V04.00 41 m 7315(2)(4) Francais 03.00¡V04.00 31 m 9425 Francais 03.00¡V04.00 25 m 11685(1)(3) Francais 04.00¡V05.00 31 m 9550(2)(4) Francais 04.00¡V05.00 19 m 15605(1)(3) Francais 04.00¡V05.00 25 m 11685 Francais 04.00¡V04.30 31 m 9790 Francais Moy 04.30¡V05.00 25 m 11850 Francais Moy 05.00¡V06.00 19 m 15605 Francais Moy 05.00¡V06.00 25 m 11685(2)(4) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 16 m 17650(1)(3) Francais 06.00¡V07.00 19 m 15605(2)(4) Francais 14.00¡V15.00 16 m 17620 Anglais 14.00¡V16.00 16 m 17650 Francais 16.00¡V17.00 19 m 15625 Persan/Fr 16.00¡V17.00 16 m 17625 Persan/Fr 16.00¡V17.30 19 m 15605 Anglais 17.00¡V18.00 22 m 13840 Persan 17.00¡V18.00 19 m 15625 Persan 17.30¡V18.00 19 m 15605 Francais (3) tranche horaire assurée du 31.03.02 au 01.09.02 (4) tranche horaire assurée du 01.09.02 au 27.10.02 Moy : diffusé a partir de Moyabi (Gabon) Europe Centrale et Orientale ¡V Zone 10 03.00¡V03.30 49 m 6045 Russe 03.00¡V03.30 41 m 7280 Russe 03.00¡V03.30 31 m 9745(3) Russe 03.00¡V03.30 49 m 5990(4) Russe 03.30¡V04.00 31 m 9745(3) Francais 03.30¡V04.00 49 m 5990(3) Francais 03.30¡V04.45 49 m 6045 Francais 03.30¡V05.00 41 m 7280 Francais 04.00¡V05.00 31 m 9745 Francais 04.45¡V05.00 49 m 6045 Polonais 05.00¡V05.30 41 m 7280(1) Serbo-Croate 05.00¡V05.30 31 m 9805 Serbo-Croate 05.00¡V05.30 25 m 11975(2) Serbo-Croate 05.30¡V06.00 41 m 7280(1) Albanais 05.30¡V06.00 31 m 9805 Albanais 05.30¡V06.00 25 m 11975(2) Albanais 06.00¡V07.00 31 m 9805 Francais 07.00¡V08.00 31 m 9805(2) [ ? ] 07.00¡V10.30 25 m 11670 Francais 13.00¡V13.30 19 m 15155 Russe 13.00¡V13.30 19 m 15195 Russe 13.00¡V13.30 16 m 17805 Russe 14.00¡V15.00 31 m 9805 Serbo-Croate 14.00¡V15.00 25 m 11670 Serbo-Croate 15.00¡V16.00 25 m 11670 Roumain 15.00¡V16.00 19 m 15605 Roumain 16.00¡V17.00 31 m 9805 Polonais 18.00¡V19.00 31 m 9805 Russe 18.00¡V19.00 25 m 11670 Russe 19.00¡V20.00 41 m 7315 Francais 19.00¡V20.00 41 m 7135 Serbo-Croate 19.00¡V20.00 31 m 9805 Serbo-Croate 20.00¡V21.00 41 m 7135 Roumain 20.00¡V21.00 31 m 9805 Roumain 21.00¡V22.00 49 m 5915 Polonais 21.00¡V22.00 75 m 3965(4) Polonais 21.00¡V22.00 41 m 7135(3) Polonais (1) tranche horaire supprimée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (2) tranche horaire assurée du 05.05.02 au 01.09.02 (3) tranche horaire assurée du 31.03.02 au 01.09.02 (4) tranche horaire assurée du 01.09.02 au 27.10.02 Atlantique Nord ¡V Zone 11 11.00¡V11.30 49 m 6175 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 49 m 6175 Meteo Marine Inde ¡V Zone 12 01.00¡V02.00 16 m 17710 Francais Ch 14.00¡V15.00 25 m 11610 Anglais Ch 14.00¡V15.00 16 m 17620 Anglais 14.00¡V16.00 16 m 17650 Francais 23.00¡V01.00 25 m 11660 Francais Ch :diffusé a partir de Chine Chine et Peninsule Coreenne --- Zone 13 09.30¡V10.30 25 m 12025 Mandarin Rus 09.30¡V10.30 19 m 15195(1)(3) Mandarin Jap 09.30¡V10.30 31 m 9655(2)(4) Mandarin Jap 10.30¡V12.00 25 m 11890(1)(3) Francais Jap 10.30¡V12.00 31 m 9830(2)(4) Francais Jap 12.00¡V13.00 31 m 9805 Mandarin Jap 12.00¡V13.00 25 m 12075 Mandarin Rus 22.00¡V23.00 25 m 12005 Mandarin Rus 22.00¡V23.00 25 m 12045 Mandarin Rus 23.00¡V01.00 19 m 15535(1) Francais Rus Rus : diffusé a partir de Russie Jap : diffusé a partir du Japon (1) (3) tranche horaire assurée du 31.03.02 au 01.09.02 (2) (4) tranche horaire assurée du 01.09.02 au 27.10.02 Asie du Sud-Est --- Zone 14 10.30¡V12.00 19 m 15215 Francais Jap 11.00¡V12.00 25 m 12025 Lao Rus 11.00¡V12.00 25 m 11600 Francais Ch 12.00¡V13.00 25 m 11600 Khmer Ch 12.00¡V13.00 25 m 12025 Khmer Rus 14.00¡V15.00 25 m 11755(2) Vietnamien Jap 16.00¡V17.00 49 m 6090 Francais Ch 23.00¡V24.00 19 m 15595 Francais Rus 23.00¡V00.30 25 m 11660 Francais 23.00¡V00.30 16 m 17710 Francais Jap 23.00¡V01.00 19 m 15535 Francais Rus Jap : diffusé a partir du Japon Rus : diffusé a partir de Russie Ch : diffusé a partir de Chine Amerique du Nord --- Zone 15 11.00¡V11.30 16 m 17570 Francais 11.30¡V12.00 16 m 17570 Meteo Marine Amerique Centrale et Caraibes --- Zone 16 10.00¡V10.30 31 m 9830 Espagnol Guy 11.00¡V12.00 22 m 13640 Fr / Meteo marine Guy 11.00¡V12.00 19 m 15515 Fr / Meteo marine Guy 11.30¡V12.00 13 m 21645 Meteo Marine 12.00¡V12.30 19 m 15515 Espagnol Guy 12.00¡V12.30 16 m 17860 Espagnol Guy 12.30¡V13.00 19 m 15515 Francais Guy 12.30¡V13.30 16 m 17860 Francais Guy 13.00¡V13.30 19 m 15515(3) Francais Guy 13.00¡V13.30 13 m 21645(4) Francais Guy 13.30¡V14.00 19 m 15515(3) Fr/Creole le dim Guy 13.30¡V14.00 16 m 17860 Fr/Creole le dim Guy 13.30¡V14.00 13 m 21645(4) Fr/Creole le dim Guy 18.00¡V18.30 16 m 17630 Espagnol Guy 18.00¡V18.30 13 m 21645 Espagnol Guy 21.00¡V21.30 16 m 17630 Espagnol Guy 21.00¡V21.30 13 m 21645 Espagnol Guy 01.00¡V01.30 31 m 9800 Espagnol Guy 01.00¡V01.30 25 m 11665 Espagnol Guy 01.30¡V02.00 31 m 9800 Francais Guy 01.30¡V02.00 25 m 11665 Francais Guy Guy : diffusé a partir de Montsinéry (Guyane) (3) tranche horaire assurée du 31.03.02 au 01.09.02 (4) tranche horaire assurée du 01.09.02 au 27.10.02 (via Miller Liu, Taiwan, DXLD) ** FRANCE. RFI ACHIEVES RECORD AUDIENCE FOR FIRST QUARTER | Excerpt from press release by Radio France Internationale on 22 April Paris, 22 April 2002: New audience record for RFI for the first quarter of this year from January to March, according to the poll "75,000+ Radio" [see explanatory note in italics at the end of this item] for Ile de France [Paris region] carried out by Mediametrie: 1.7 per cent. First international radio in French speaking Africa, third international radio in the world, RFI increases also its audience in Ile de France and obtains in 2002 its best result for the first quarter of the year, January to March, as it achieved a cumulated audience of 1.7 per cent. Its previous result for this period, which traditionally has a weaker impact, was 1.4 per cent (January to March 2001). After a record level achieved in the period from September to December 2001, 1.9 per cent in comparison to 1.4 per cent the year before that, RFI confirms its dynamic trend with this result of cumulated audience of 1.7 per cent for the quarter January to March 2002, i.e. 150,000 listeners daily. It achieved this new record while the radio medium lost one per cent of its audience in comparison with January to March 2001 and emerged as one of the very few radios which has increased its listening level. RFI mainly is ahead of France Culture (1.6 per cent), BFM (1.5 per cent), France Musiques (1.6 per cent), Radio FG (1.4 per cent), Radio Nova (1.3 per cent) and Africa N\ 1 (1 per cent). As a reminder, some RFI audience scores in the world: Bamako (Mali) : 41 per cent of cumulated audience for the previous day (November 2001 - Immar), second radio (of the French speaking population). \ Kinshasa (RD Congo) : 27 per cent of cumulated audience for the previous day (Dec. 2001 - Immar), first radio (of the French speaking population). \ Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) : 38 per cent of cumulated audience for the previous day (June 2001 - HPCI), third radio (of the French speaking population). \ Yaounde (Cameroon) : 36 per cent of cumulated audience (Dec. 2001 - HPCI), third radio (of the French speaking population). \ Bucharest (Romania) : 2.5 per cent of cumulated audience for the day before (Feb. 2001 - Ifop-Gallup), eighth radio of the city. \ Moscow (Russia) : 97,000 regular listeners (1999 - Mediametrie). \ China : 1,109,000 regular listeners (listening at least once a week), including 80 per cent who listen to programmes in Mandarin. [The "75,000+Radio" is a permanent national poll measuring the audience of the radio medium and stations. It surveys the listening behaviour for the previous 24 hours of 75,250 interviewees, aged over 15, over a 10-month period]. Source: Radio France Internationale press release, Paris, in French 22 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Last year, 2001, DW English dept. received total 65,590 letters from all over the World. It is an increase of 60% than previous year. Does it show any declining interest in SW? (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Seemingly not, but are all these letters from listeners on SW only? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. SPECIAL GERMAN NAVAL AND AMATEUR EVENT. OPDX has been informed that plans for a special event transmission from DHJ61 (German Navy Communications School in Flensburg-Muerwik) will take place May 4th at 1000z and May 5th at 1500z. They will transmit a one- way broadcast (with historic items about the German and International Naval Forces etc..) to celebrate the 25th year jubilee of the MF Runde (German Amateur Radio Club of ex-Naval Radio Operators) and 100 years of Naval Communication School (also, the sad event of the closing of the school in September 2002). Their transmit frequencies are: Main - 12410.5 and 8443.5 kHz Secondary - 5446 and 4576 kHz All transmissions will be CW only. During these transmission, they will be asking some questions where you can win prizes for sending the correct answers to: MF Runde, Box 11 32 48, D-20432 Hamburg. During the DHJ61 operation, there will be two-way amateur radio communications under the amateur radio callsign DL0MFS. Suggested frequencies are: CW - 3565, 7025, 14052, 18095, 21052 and 28052 kHz SSB - 3625, 7060, 14335, 21360 and 28935 kHz QSL cards can be sent via the amateur radio QSL bureau system or direct to the callbook address for DL0MFS: Clubstation, c/o Manfred Behrmann, Kurlandstr. 20, D-24960 Gluecksburg, Germany (KB8NW/OPDX April 22/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 17545, 16 Apr at 0957 two services used the frequency simultaneously: Hebrew and Russian. At 1000, after time pips, Russian changed to French, while Hebrew stayed on. SIO 322 for all services (Alexei Kulinchenko, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** LAOS. 7145, Lao National Radio, 1330-1345 Apr 22, English, sig tune, stn ID by YL, followed by news mainly about Lao by OM, news review by YL, signed off at 1345. 35333, Station is signing off irregularly (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIECHTENSTEIN. Hello Glenn, re DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-060: Is this correct? I found out that Liechtenstein only has FM stations The correct site is http://www.radiol.li Does this mean that Bill Flynn heard Liechtenstein on FM in Oregon? Or perhaps we heard the station on a trip in Europe? Or, even worse, he got the QSL letter listening to their programs over the Internet? I would like to write directly to him and ask him how he got these QSL letters but I was unable to find his email address. I would appreciate if you could tell me what happened. Thanks (Marcelo Toníolo, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Marcelo, Altho it may not have been clear in this item, Bill has made no secret in the past of his ``internet DXing and QSLing``, for kicks, I guess. There is certainly no intent at deception, no claim of actual FM DX in this case. He reported it sometime last year with the same URL error. This time I at least already have it corrected in the html archive. As long as it`s clear that the `reception` was via internet, and stations choose to ``QSL`` such, why not? 73, Glenn (to Marcelo via DXLD) OK Glenn, Thanks for telling me about Bill. I was not aware about this weird form of radio listening. Well, I respect your decision in publishing his log and QSL but I don't agree with this. Your weekly report is called DX Listening Digest and obviously this has nothing to do with DXing. Actually he is not even using a radio receiver. What could be next? DX with cable TV? (Marcelo Toníolo, DXLD) Surprised you had not noticed that DXLD is not confined to `DX by radio` only, but covers all kinds of communications, including internet. Perhaps I should also call it /REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING but that would be a bit cumbersome (gh, DXLD) ** MELLISH REEF. Don, N1DG, VK9ML North American Pilot, states that the activity began with 5 stations coming on the air at 1000z April 15th, after a day of hectic setup. Last report viewed stated their logs have been updated on the Web site April 21st at 0917z. A low band report from Eric, K3NA, states, "We listen for USA every night from 0830z and SA at 0730z. Worked 1 HC8 but keep listening. QRN was a problem first night, but reasonable since. Only have a few east coast in log, many west coast, but no one has been really LOUD yet. We're on continuously from 0800 to 1300z. We work a few JA's if there are no US to work, but call again after a few minutes. Big EU openings on 18th and 20th. 105 EU's in log. Openings as far as F and ON, no G's yet. Openings seem to start with ON's and spread. Today's EU opening (April 20) was from 1810 to 1940z. So tell those top-band dogs to get their butts down there, line up, and work us :-) ". There has been a revised and a progressive shut down (QRT) which will now commence local Wednesday morning with the intention to sail out on high tide Thursday. This is one day earlier than previously advised, but it's still a two day extension on the original QRT date! One HF station will be kept running as long as possible while other equipment is being de-rigged and packed around it. For up-to-date info, watch their Web page at: http:www.qsl.net/vk9ml/2002 (KB8NW/OPDX April 22/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Tho no one has contradicted me, it belatedly occurs to me that the double-azimuths I assumed in the VOM schedule in 2-057, separated by a slant, may actually be kW powers and azimuths, since the first figures in each case are common powers, 50 and 250 kW. Define your terms! Comments now? (gh, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Re DXLD 2-066: Hi Glenn, The sentence "So now you can read over Jonathan Marks shoulder or see what Andy Sennitt is eating at his desk." is quoted in DXLD as if it appears in the Media Network Newsletter. It doesn't. I'd appreciate if you and/or John Norfolk would clearly distinguish between verbatim quotes and personal comments. Jonathan Marks is my boss, and I would not write something so trite in an official publication of Radio Netherlands. As it happens, my office is on the other side of the RNW building, so you'd need to be able to see through several walls to catch a glimpse of me. And I don't eat at my desk in any case. We have a very good staff restaurant. However, I do have a tip - if you point the Webcam at the RNW entrance/exit on most weekdays at around 1630 UTC, you may catch a glimpse of me leaving the premises. Mind you, if anyone is excited by that sort of thing, they probably need to get out more :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, April 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI are keen to start digital; plans to take delivery of a second transmitter capable of digital, in two years time. Two representatives of DRM are about to spend 10 days at RNZI undertaking tests (RNZI Mailbox Apr 22 via gh, DXLD) see also BURMA non! ** PERU. 5544.70, Radio San Lorenzo. April 11, 2002 - 0030 UT. New station on SW. In June last year I reported a harmonic on 3120v kHz: "Radio San Lorenzo". If the material from that time still matches, 5544.70 Radio San Lorenzo is located in: parroquia San Lorenzo, la provincia de Cutervo, el departamento de Cajamarca. Just like the station on 3120v they also announce 5544.70 kHz and MW 1560 kHz --- as well as another SW-frequency I couldn`t get. I have also checked that the station runs the same program as on the harmonic-frequency 3120v kHz (from MW 1560) --- was at this occasion 10-15 kHz higher up in frequency. What makes me feel a little uncertain is the fact that in March last year I logged "Estación Equís" in Bagua, located in departamento "Amazonas", on 5544.72 kHz (see SWB 1454) --- the same station I had as an UNID on 5544.70 kHz already in December 2000 (see SWB 1449). Exactly the same 1/100-part but of course the transmitter equipment could have been sold to any location in Perú. 20/4: Friday evening I got an ID mentioning 1560 and 5545 kHz plus location in "Cajamarca" -- there are both town and departamento with this name. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Cutervo, cuya capital es Cutervo. Sus distritos son: Callayuc, Cujillo, Cutervo, Choros, La Ramada, Pimpingos, Querecotillo, San Andrés de Cutervo, San Juan de Cutervo, San Luis de Lucma, Santa Cruz, Santo Domingo de la Capilla, Santo Tomás, Sócota, Toribio Casanova; con una población total de 144,077 hab. 5940.06, Radio Melodía, Arequipa. April 2002 - 0208 UT. New frequency, earlier on 5995.25 as noted in February last year. I checked the frequency after reading the HCDX mailing list where our member Johan Berglund/JB had an UNID on 5940 kHz. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Arequipa, cuya capital es Arequipa. Sus distritos son: Arequipa, Cayma, Cerro Colorado, Characato, Chiguata, La Joya, Mariano Melgar, Miraflores, Mollebaya, Pocsi, Paucarpata, Polobaya, Quequena, Sabandía, Sachaca, San Juan de Siguas, San Juan de Tarucani, Santa Isabel de Siguas, Santa Rita de Siguas, Socabaya, Tiabaya, Uchumayo, Vitor, Yanahuara, Yarabamba, Yura; con una población total de 677,019 hab. (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 21, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. Re 6137.84 Radio UNAMSIL: Better signal here around on 0130 Apr 21 than our local sunset (George Maroti, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Graham Powell on IRC channel #swl found this press release from yesterday on the UN site that might explain why we're hearing this station now: http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/unamsil/DB/190402.pdf U N I T E D N A T I O N S UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SIERRA LEONE (UNAMSIL) Press Release 19 April 2002 UNAMSIL PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION LAUNCHES EXPANDED ELECTIONS COVERAGE AND OUTREACH Freetown - The Public Information Section of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, on Monday, 22 April, will launch a series of radio programmes and public outreach efforts to sensitize the population about the upcoming elections. Starting on Monday, Radio UNAMSIL, on FM 103 and SW 6140 kHz, will launch "Election Watch," a programme that will air Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 to 10:30 am, and will cover electoral activities around the country, supply public education on the issues and provide all political parties with an equal chance to air their platforms. Programming will also devote core time to electoral issues of concern to vulnerable groups, i.e. handicapped, internally displaced persons, women and children. Two presidential debates will be organized and aired by Radio UNAMSIL in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service and other stakeholders on 29 April and 3 May. Radio UNAMSIL will provide live coverage from around the country on 14 May, Election Day itself, up to the announcement of final results. The Section's Community Liaison Unit will continue ongoing voter education throughout the country in accordance with NEC supplied information. Starting on 23 April, its performing artists will undertake a nation-wide tour in all districts at the chiefdom level to disseminate information on the elections. A Command Performance will be held at the Lagunda Theatre in Freetown on 30 April, the theme of which will be free and fair elections. The performance will be adapted for radio and broadcast nationwide, as well as performed at all UNAMSIL Sector Headquarters. The Video Unit will continue collaborating with SLBS on the popular "Kapu Sens" programme and is producing public service announcements to be aired on the network. UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone Tel: 232-22-273-183/4/5 Fax: 232-22-273-189 (via Brandi, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Subject: RTI transmission sked A02 CBS RADIO TAIPEI INT'L B01 schedule as followed: (eff Mar 16 till Jun 01, 2002) Updated : Apr 21, 2002 NOTICE : CBS IS AUTHORIZED TO SHIFT FREQ WITHIN THE SAME METERBAND TO AVOID CHINA HEAVY JAMMING WITH CNR 1/2 PROGRAMS OR CHINESE TRADITIONAL MUSIC. IT APPLIES TO VARIETY, NEWS, MAINLAND NETWORKS. SEE ALT CH. Voice of Asia QRT since Jan 1, 2002, former freq still in use, but now being heavily jammed !!! [despite comments under CHINA, these seem UT] 1. VARIETY NETWORK ONE (in CH) 2200-0200, 0400-1700 (local Mo-Fr 0600- 1000 stop tx) 603 0400-1600(0400-1000 Sa Su) C CHN C TWN 927 1000-1600 C CHN S TWN 1098 1300-1700 C CHN S TWN 1206 2230-2300 0400-0600(-0900 Sa Su) S CHN S TWN 1422 1600-1800 S TWN S TWN 6085 0800-1500(0800-1000 Sa Su) C&S CHN alt ch 6265 6280 6150 2230-0000 C CHN 7415 0900-1700(0900-1000 Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 7425 11615 1100-1400 N CHN alt ch 11735 11645 0000-0200 0400-1400(0600-1000 Sa Su) C CHN alt ch 11625 11640 1400-1700 N CHN alt ch 11855 11665 1000-1700 N CHN alt ch 11775 11830 15050 11730 0400-0900(Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 11765 11970 11885 2230-0200 N CHN alt ch 11985 11970 11985 0400-0600 N CHN alt ch 11970 15060 0400-0600 N CHN alt ch 15050 15245 2230-0200 N CHN alt ch 15345 15265 1500-1700 SoEaAs 15330 0400-0900(Sa Su) C CHN alt ch 15190 15350 0400-0800(Sa Su) N CHN alt ch 15050 15430 0400-0600 C CHN alt ch 15190 2. VARIETY NETWORK 2: (Former VoAsia freqs : repeat programs of VARIETY NETWORK ONE) 0200-0300 11875 PHL 0400-0600 11795 alt 11775 CHN 0900-1100 9280 CHN 1048-1100 7445 585 (x6) SoEaAs 1300-1500 7445 585 SoEaAs 3. NEWS NETWORK (in CH) 2200-1700 603 2200-0000 N&C CHN C TWN 747 2200-0000 1000-1200 CHN C TWN 1008 2200-0000 0400-0500 0700-1700 CHN C TWN 1422 2300-0500 0700-1600 S CHN S TWN 1521 1200-1700 N CHN S TWN 1557 0300-0800 C&N CHN 7380 0900-1700 C&N CHN alt ch 7105 7310 7365 9610 1100-1200 AUS NZL 9640 0900-1700 C&N CHN alt ch 9630 9650 9685 9640 2230-0100 C CHN alt ch 9630 9650 9685 9670 9680 0700-1700 C&S CHN alt ch 9735 9635 2300-0000 SoEaAs 11635 2200-0000 SoEaAs 11905 0100-0500 N CHN alt ch 11880 11900 15290 0200-0500 SoEaAs 15215 0300-0800 N CHN alt ch 15175 15235 15395 0900-1300 N CHN alt ch 15525 15645 5950 2200-0000 eNAm [WYFR relay –gh] 15440 2200-0000 wNAm [WYFR relay -gh] 4. Mainland NETWORK ("Date with Taipei" features program ) 0600-1000 11795 alt 11775 1400-1800 7395 6050 alt 7515 6145 2300-0300 9660 alt 9680 [includes WYFR relays to Ams:] 5. DIALECT NETWORK (in Amoy Hakka Cantonese Mongolian Tibetan Uighur) 1) Amoy (mainly spoken in Taiwan, Fujian) 0000-0100a 15440 11875 WeNAM SoEaAs 0100-0200b 11875 SoEaAS 0500-0600b 1008 1422 CHN 0600-0700a 15580 1422 1008 S CHN TWN SoEaAs 0700-0800b 585 15580 SoEaAS TWN 0800-0900a 585 11715 TWN PHL 0900-1000b 1206 CHN 1000-1100a 1206 11605 15465 AS CHN 1300-1400b 11635 15465 SEAs 2) Hakka (mainly spoken in Taiwan E.Guangdong S.Fujian) 0000-0100a 5950 EaNAM 0300-0400b 11855 SoEaAS 0600-0700a 585 S TWN 0900-1000b 15465 585 SoEaAS CHN TWN 1000-1100b 6105 6145 CHN TWN 1100-1200a 11635 15465 SoEaAS 1300-1400b 1206 9780 SoEaAs CHN TWN 1400-1500a 11915 6145 6105 1206 SoEaAs CHN TWN 1700-1800a 11875 EaAF 3) Cantonese (spoken in Hong Kong Guangdong) 0100-0200a 5950 15440 NAm 7520 15290 Eu SoEaAS 0200-0300b 11855 SoEaAs 0300-0400a 11740 CeAM SAm 0500-0600b 5950 9680 NAm 15320 15580 SoEaAS 1000-1100a 9610 9780 11635 15525 SoEaAS AUS NZL 1100-1200b 9780 1206 SoEaAS CHN TWN 1200-1300a 11915 6145 6105 1206 SoEaAS CHN 1300-1400b 11915 6145 6105 SoEaAS CHN 4) Mongolian 1000-1100 11985 Mongolia Tibetan 1300-1400 9540 Tibet Nepal Note: a-PROGRAM A b-PROGRAM B 6. EXTERNAL NETWORK: * Skelton-UK, # WYFR Florida, @ Issoudun-FR En 0200-0300a 11740 9680# 5950# NoAm CeAm 15320 15465 SoEaAS 0300-0400b 5950# 9680# NAm 11875 15320 SoEaAS 0700-0800a 5950# WeNAm 1100-1200a 11985 N CHN b 585 7445 SoEaAS 1200-1300a 9610 7130 NoEaAS AUS NZL 1400-1500a 15265 SoEaAS 1600-1700a 11550 INDIA S CHN 1700-1800b 11550 INDIA S CHN 1800-1900b 3955 EUR 2200-2300a 15600# 11565# EUR (11565 QRT on May 01) Fr 0700-0800 9355# EUR 1800-1900 17750# EUR NAm 1900-2000 6145 EUR 2000-2100 9955 15600# EUR NAf NAm new 2200-2300 12060@ WAf Sp 0200-0300 15215# 17845# wSAm 0400-0500 11740# CeAM 0600-0700 5950# wNAm 2000-2100 18930# EUR 2100-2200 9955 EUR 2300-0000 15130# 17805# eSAm Jpn 0100-0200a 15310 JPN 0800-0900b 11605 JPN 1100-1200a 7130 11605 JPN 1300-1400b 7130 11605 JPN German 0600-0700 9355# EUR 1800-1900 9955 EUR 1900-2000 6175 EUR 2100-2200 15600# 11565# EUR Ru 0900-1000 11985 EaCIS 1300-1400 15665 11745 CIS 1700-1800 9955 WeCIS Indo 0800-0900a 15580 INS 1000-1100a 11550 11520 INS 1100-1200b 11550 11520 INS 1200-1300b 585 7445 11635 SoEaAS 1400-1500a 11745 SoEaAS 0400-0600ba 585 SoTWN Korean 0300-0400 15465 Korea 1200-1300 9540 Korea 1400-1500 9540 Korea Thai 0600-0700a 15405 THA 1400-1500a 11635 9485 THA 1500-1600b 7445 585 747 THA 2200-2400ab 585 7445 THA Viet 0900-1000 11635 VNM 1500-1600 11915 VNM 2200-2300 9635 VNM Burmese 0500-0600 15405 MMR 1500-1600 9595 MMR Arabic 1600-1700 11955 NAf ME 1800-1900 11610 NAf ME Chi 0100-0200 17845# SAm 0400-0500 5950# 9680# 15320 11855 SoEaAS AM 0900-1000 9610 11605 9780 11520 15525 SoEaAS AUS NZL 1200-1300 15465 9780 11605 SoEaAS NoEaAS 1900-2000 9955 15600 17750 EUR RUS new 2100-2200 3965@ WEu Note: a-PROGRAM A b-PROGRAM B Relays via CBS : WYFR (Family Radio): A-02 CHINESE 1200-1600 1900-0200 1557 1000-1300 1098 1200-1500 747 2100-0000 1000-1600 6300 9280 CANTONESE 0800-0900 1557 ENGLISH 0200-0300 (M-F), 0900-1200 1600-1900 1557 0900-1200 1521 0100-0200 15060 1302-1500 11550 1500-1600 6280 1500-1700 15525 Hindi(?) 0000-0100 15060 1502-1602 11550 Russian(?) 1502-1702 9955 AWR-KSDA: A-02 Vietnamese 0100-0200 15445 1400-1500 15490 R. AUSTRALIA: B-01 INDONESIAN 0500-0530 11745 0800-0830 11550 2130-2330 11550 (PROPOSED A02 SKED: 0900-0930 11550 INDONESIA 2130-2330 11550 INDONESIA 2330-0030 15110 VIETNAMESE) WSHB-KHBI: A-02 ENGLISH 1000-1100 11780 RADIO FREE ASIA A-02 VIETNAMESE 1400-1500 9930 [NOT KWHR??????? --gh] Clandestine station in Taiwan : VOICE OF CHINA: CHINESE 2230-2330 7270 0830-0930 11940 NEW STAR BROADCASTING STATION: 11430 New Star Channel 1 15388 New Star Channel 2 9725 New Star Channel 3 8300 New Star Channel 4 13750 New Star Channel 5 (Miller Liu, Taiwan, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND (WARC bands). Ray Gerrard, HS0/G3NOM, reports that "Thai WARC allocations now in legal limbo. Unlikely to be assigned for another two years." Ray writes, "The Thai Post and Telegraph Department (PTD) of the Ministry of Transport and Communications responsible for amateur radio administration has already agreed in principle to the assignment of the WARC band to amateur radio services. In recent years they have moved other users out of these bands. However, all significant changes to telecommunications rules, regulations or laws in Thailand are now on hold, pending the establishment of a National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that the 1997 Thai Constitution had mandated to be appointed not later than October 2000. This process was delayed, however, after the Thai Upper House, the Senate, rejected all those nominated to the commission after allegations that there had been irregularities in the selection process. (The Senate had been charged with selecting 7 of 14 nominees to this all-powerful body.) Since then, the process has been derailed and while PTD has been looking after the best interests of radio amateurs in Thailand, it is unable to make changes to frequency assignments. At the time of writing, it is unknown when the commission will be appointed or when it can begin to take decisions, but informed sources in Thailand's telecommunications sector doubt that the body will be established within one year, while a decision by the commission on a relatively low-priority item such as WARC band allocations would take additional time as a backlog of legislation grows. RAST now estimates that it will be at least two years before we can expect WARC bands or any other amateur bands to be authorized in Thailand and the society will release any news of positive developments to the international amateur community." (KB8NW/OPDX April 22/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. CIS, 21650, Voice of Tibet, 1430-1515 Apr 22, Tibetan lang, news mentioning China daily, QRM by Chinese speaking station on same channel, SIO 433, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [no]. RUSSIA, ASIATIC. QSL from "Radio Ezra" (in England) via Petropavlovsk, 17665 (Saturdays 2330-2400 UT). In 14 days by post for E-mail report. Full-data yellow card with religious message (Bill Flynn, OR, Apr 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TUNING INTO THE VOICE OF FREEDOM, By Janine Zacharia (April 21) - Washington is hoping that Radio Sawa, a new US-backed Arabic-language radio station broadcast to the Middle East, will counterbalance the anti-American media prevalent throughout the region. Janine Zacharia reports... http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/21/Features/Features.47323.html (Jerusalem Post via Kim Elliott, DXLD) Good article, background (gh) ** U S A. Re: WJCR --- WJIE. Donald, Thanks for the info. Isn`t it the other way around? The AM had WJIE in 1985, and the -FM started in 1999. Is it really clear which one, if either, would have right to use call on SW? (Glenn to Donald Wilson, April 19 via DXLD) Glenn, The call letter history I sent was for the FM. WJIE-FM had the call letters WJIE (no suffix) from 1985 to 1999. Attached is the call letter history for the AM WJIE, they had other calls until Sept. 1999 when they began using WJIE and the FM switched to WJIE-FM. Unless there is something in a legal agreement between the two stations, the AM would appear to have sole rights to WJIE with no suffix. I guess my point is, AM and SW stations do not use suffixes on their call letters. If a call is held by an AM station it cannot be used by a SW station or vice versa (Donald Wilson, April 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TASTE COMMENTARY THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED --- PUBLIC RADIO SELLS OUT. BY JAMES BOWMAN Friday, April 19, 2002 12:01 a.m. EDT Last week it was revealed that National Public Radio was laying off employees in its cultural programming division and, according to Philip Kennicott in the Washington Post, "gutting" its showcase classical-music program, "Performance Today." And this was all happening at the same time it was expanding its West Coast operations to concentrate on "the business side of entertainment." That would be movies, TV and pop music. Classical music, what most people still associate with public radio, hasn't much of a business side anymore, and little of what it does have is on the West Coast. Looks like Beethoven is rolling over again. These developments are only the latest in a long series of defeats for broadcast high culture at the hands of the corporate suits.... http://opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=105001948 (Wall Street Journal via Chet Copeland, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. ONLINE NEWS SITE EXPLAINS "LESSON VENEZUELAN MEDIA MUST LEARN" | Text of VHeadline.com editorial by news editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue: "The lesson that Venezuela's media must learn!", published in English by Venezuelan pro-government VENews web site on 21 April; capitalization and ellipses as published VHeadline.com, Sunday, 21 April: Although online journalism's contribution to keeping the country and the outside world informed of fast-moving events in Venezuela over the last couple of weeks has been conveniently ignored, and despite the fact that foreign TV channels such as CNN and Telemundo were given high praise during the domestic networks blackout, VHeadline.com Venezuela knows from literally thousands of e-mails received, that people from all over were taking a quick and unacknowledged peek to see which way the wind was blowing ... We know the embassies were checking in ... We also know that foreign correspondents stationed in Caracas were taking a peek ... We certainly know from their angry postings that the mostly anti-Chavist ex-pats in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela were tuning in. The experience opened up new contacts and exchanges with other online alternative publications that relayed news out to other sources. We discovered that Venezuelan English-speaking online news outlets simply don't exist (except at their own convenience) and that Spanish- speaking Union Radio was the only source NOT to join the opposition imposed news blackout, but continued to report events as they happened. The rest of domestic print and broadcast media and their online editions failed miserably to do their job because, even now, they still haven't grasped the basic fact that online journalism means more than just copying print stories onto the Internet. VHeadline.com's coverage exposed the hypocrisy of Venezuela's print and broadcast media in its media war against President Hugo Chavez Frias. In all fairness, we must say that Chavez Frias never knew what hit him and his last-ditch measures against the media were counter- productive and essentially futile. However, the domestic media weren't prepared for what would hit them either... The backlash reaction of people from the Caracas hillsides ... The rage over their exclusion from essential information was directed at the broadcast media for their 3-year long vindictiveness against the country's under-privileged poor through the falsely portrayed image of the democratically-elected president ... The media owners' appearances on TV to explain the blackout and the media war have mostly been pathetic and at worst unrepentant. The role of mainstream TV reporters has also been shameful and boot-licking to the opposition. Reporters, who had carefully (or innocently) spun a "prima donna" image for themselves, appearing as alter egos of their editors, have been taken down more than a just peg or two. The only broadcast media that has come out favourably from the war is Televen ... Thanks to the skill of Carlos Croes, a man mostly remembered as President Jaime Lusinchi's highly successful spin-doctor. Another media war discovery has been the role of the alternative and community radio stations .. Such as those run by Fe y Alegria. They were successful in keeping the local people informed during the blackout ... We'll undoubtedly be seeing more networking on that level and possibly new localized online news sites. In the end the media war has been a pyrrhic victory for RCTV, Venevision, Globovision and Televen. VHeadline.com Venezuela has grown in readership and experience ... We feel we got it right in our editorials highlighting the importance the 1999 Bolivarian Constitution would play in events and "The Great Divide" between the middle classes and the more than 80 per cent majority poorer sectors of society (El Pueblo). . The dialogue now must be all about healing that rift and ensuring the political and economic participation of the people, who have been excluded for much too long from the mainstream of whatever side of the Great Divide they choose to be on. THAT'S THE LESSON THAT VENEZUELA'S MEDIA MUST LEARN! Source: VENews web site in English 21 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re: 5387.72. I continue to listen and below you get some more clues: 5387.72 UNID LA. April 2002. Continues to be heard both mornings and evenings. The station needs more of hard work and has a pretty lousy signal and seldom give any ID as it seems. When not broadcasting purchased religious programs, like "LV de la Salvación" and "Radio Universal de Vida", it is instead mostly nonstop religious music. I know now that the station is located in a "departamento" and in that case both Ecuador and Bolivia are out of the question. The only geographic name I have heard so far is "Costa Rica" said by a female vicar during mass, what it now can be worth (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 21, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5965, Western and Arabic music between 0504 and 0531, SINPO decreased from 25322 to 15311. Both HFCC table and ILGRadio database suggest VoA Arabic Service. But I never heard so much music on its waves (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal April 22 via DXLD) No date of reception; if this was in last few days, it`s now the stealthy Radio Sawa, where music comes first, VOA`s regular Arabic service having been abolished. Hey, what about all the older folks who may have liked it? (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION NOTES A web site for actual "sun" real time pictures (I had problems with this loading, it can be very slow, but give it time and perhaps hit refresh a few times.) http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-update.html Other : http://www.sunspotcycle.com/ http://www.spaceweather.com/ Today's Space Weather: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/today.html Many Links: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/explore/links.html Regards, (Dave Zantow N9EWO, Janesville, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-066, April 20, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1127: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.html NEXT AIRING ON WRN: To North America Sun 1400 UT NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0630, Mon 0000, 0500 on 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sun 0600, 1200, 1830?, Mon 0030?, 0630?, 1230? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AUSTRALIA. Voice International does not follow its own language schedule. On 8 Apr I heard the station in English (should be Hindi) on 13635 kHz (1414-1417), then found it in Indonesian (should be English) on 13660 kHz (1420-1425). (Alexei Kulinchenko, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. SLOW TO ACT ON CATHOLIC RADIO --- Commentary Australia is slow to act on the applications from two Catholic dioceses for community FM stations. Why the delay? I can only speculate. Years of reading the comments of Canadian correspondents to a DX magazine, VHF-UHF Digest, make me recall a comment that would appear on occasion, that the Canadian Radio-Television Council, seeing the endless huckstering and begging of preachers on U.S. airwaves, decided long ago to spare Canadian listeners such misery. (They are said to feel the same way about U.S. public radio stations.) Consequently, the only religious stations authorized in Canada are ecumenical stations, such as Radio Ville-Marie CIRA 91.3 FM Montreal and CJMC-FM 100.3 Sherbrooke. There are only two exceptions, two stations in Newfoundland operated by Churches there. When Labrador and Newfoundland surrendered its independent status as a member of the British Commonwealth and joined the Dominion of Canada in 1949, these stations were grandfathered in: VOAR 1210 AM Mount Pearl, owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and VOWR 800 AM St. John`s, owned by the Wesleyan Methodist Church. England does not license religious stations, although under law it says it could; Premier Radio in London is ecumenical, although skewed to Evangelical Protestantism, and lately it has come under criticism. Australia, from available evidence, is also reluctant to do so. I do not know about New Zealand. Ireland, an independent nation but once a part of the United Kingdom, does not permit proselytizing on the radio. When a group seeking to start a Radio Maria found their chances of getting a license poor, some members reorganized as an ecumenical group and won a license for the yet unbuilt Solas AM in Dublin. If one looks at the totality of British Commonwealth nations, there is a decided reluctance to license stations to individual churches. Perhaps the reason is to spare listeners the constant begging by preachers (``If you don`t support me, the Gospel will not be preached``– as if he were the only preacher on the air); perhaps it is the disgust that cultural and governing elites have for organized religion; perhaps it is to avoid the constant bickering of churches over the airwaves, each asserting its authenticity and the lack of it in other churches; perhaps it is to avoid the nightmare of each competing religion demanding its own station to advance its own proselytizing. Australia is a special point, too; like the United States, it is in an advanced state of secularization. When the Australian Broadcasting Commission sold a surplus shortwave transmitter site to a Protestant evangelical organization that wanted to broadcast to Southeast Asia, there was a national hue and cry, even in Parliament and the media. All of this seems to indicate why the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Eparchy in Sydney have been waiting for two years for a license to come in the mail. But perhaps this is to make too much of typical government bureaucracy turtle speed. Sydney`s first and most important Christian radio association, 2CBA-FM, had to wait for two years to get its license; it had applied in 1976 and did not receive it until 1978. No matter that the Catholic Church once owned legendary station 2SM in Sydney. That was operated as a secular station for revenue with occasional Catholic programming. (See the article on 2SM, above.) It sold the station ten years ago and, as far as I know, there is no real Catholic station on the world`s sixth continent. One wonders why the Australian government is so slow to act on these two community FM applications. Or is it that, in true customary fashion, by not seeming to act on the applications, it is indeed doing so? (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update April 22 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Informo aos colegas que, em 6105 kHz, aparecem duas emissoras brasileiras: a Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista(SP), e a Rádio Cultura Filadélfia, de Foz do Iguaçu(PR). Em 18 de abril, às 0247, a predominância era da Rádio Cultura Filadélfia, com SINPO 42332, com o locutor dizendo: "neste momento a Rádio Cultura Filadélfia, com seus estúdios situados na Avenida Brasil, número 531, no centro de Foz do Iguaçu, encerra sua programação ...". Às 0253, ficou no ar o sinal da Rádio Canção Nova, com rezas e ouvintes por telefone: "Nossa Senhora raínha da paz!" O SINPO era 44333 (Celio Romais, Porto Alegre - Brasil, April 18, Sony ICF SW7600G, fio 10m, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Ao que tudo indica, A Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo(SP), deixou de transmitir a programação da Igreja Pentecostal Deus é Amor. Foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre, em l4 de abril, às 0320, em 5955 e 9685 kHz, com emissão de músicas e identificação por vinhetas. Em 18 de abril, às 2301, o locutor mencionou a identificação: "Gazeta, 890 kHz! Operando em ondas curtas: 5955, 9685 e 15325 kHz! Aqui as músicas mais bonitas do presente e do passado! Então? As orações de David Miranda foram trocadas por músicas atuais de Chitãozinho e Xororó, Daniel, Bruno & Marrone e antigas de Peninha, Kátia, etc. A Rádio Guaíba está transmitindo boletins diários contando a história dos seus 45 anos de existência. Vão ao ar até 30 de abril, de segunda a sábado, às 0500, 1105, 1705 e 0005. Aos domingos, às 0500, 1057, 1610 e 2310. Confira em 720, 6000 e 11785 kHz. As informações são de Ezequiel Cassol e Renato Dutra Filho (Célio Romais, SP, @tividade DX April 20 via DXLD) {suspect these times be local of UT -3} ** CANADA. From Canada's "National Post" CRTC OKS ASTRAL BUY OF STATIONS DECISION GIVES FIRM LEG UP IN FIGHT WITH COMPETITION BUREAU Barbara Shecter, Financial Post The federal broadcast regulator approved Astral Media Inc.'s purchase of 21 radio stations from Telemedia Inc. yesterday, a decision the firm says bolsters its fight against the Competition Bureau, which is trying to block the deal. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission concluded Astral's purchase will "improve the competition situation of private radio in Quebec."... http://www.nationalpost.com/financialpost/story.html?f=/stories/20020420/699276.html (via Dave White, Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [and non]. Chechen web site recommends net addresses for jihad-related subjects | Text of report in English by Azzam Publications' Jihad in Chechnya web site on 20 April Canada (Online): A series of new web sites have sprung up within the last few months, giving an alternative view on the current Crusade against Islam. A list of some of these web sites are given here, some of which are not new, but nevertheless recommended. For the Muslims who are confused as to what to do and where to start, they can start by letting everyone know about the web sites below, taking articles from them and emailing them around to their friends, and printing selected articles and interviews to paste on their mosque and prayer room noticeboards. In this way, the Muslims can easily counteract the American-Zionist controlled media via word of mouth over the internet, which is the most effective means of mass communication. However, it requires a collective effort. One person printing and putting up articles on their noticeboards is not the same as 100 people doing it, which is not the same as 1,000 people doing it, etc. Be sure to put the reference of the web site whenever distributing the articles. 1. Kavkaz.org: An excellent site from the long established Kavkaz Centre, providing news, articles and interviews primarily on Chechnya, but also editorials and comments on Palestine and Afghanistan. 2. Jihadunspun.net: A new site, very nicely put together, by a group of independent experts providing a comprehensive archive on the current "War On Islam". A lot of effort has been put into this site and the articles are well-researched and well-written. 3. Taleban-news.com: Another very good site containing some unique articles and an interesting portfolio of images from Palestine and Afghanistan. There is also a link to a discussion board where interested parties can exchange news and views. 4. Khurasaan.com: A web site named after the region of Persia/Afghanistan/Central Asia mentioned by the Prophet (SAWS) in hadith. Contains a series of postings by various individuals. Non- Muslims certainly will not feel comfortable here! Exercise caution if intending to post threatening or provocative comments here, since authorities can easily trace you via your IP address. 5. The Palestine Information Centre: The English web site of the Palestine Information Centre containing a detailed history on the land and conflict of Palestine, together with news and images. However, there are some humiliating appeals calling for petitions and demonstrations for non-Muslim governments to assist the Palestinians. Arabic Web Sites 6. Alneda.com: The official web site of the Institute for Islamic Studies and Research, source of the latest statements and interviews from the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan. There is also an excellent audio- video section that contains a video featuring the original, unreleased interview with Usamah Bin-Ladin, as well as clips of the recent martyrs in this Crusade thus far. Though the picture quality on the video is poor, the audio is very clear. The site also contains a comprehensive archive of fatawa by contemporary Islamic scholars from the Arabian Peninsula and elsewhere. 7. Jehad.net: Another new site in Arabic containing news and articles relating to Jihad. 8. Qassam.org: The official web-site of the Hamas Izzideen Al-Qassam Brigades, containing photographs, biographies and wills of all the Izzideen Al-Qassam martyrdom operation martyrs since the early 1990s. It also contains an excellent image and video archive showing real- life operations against Israeli targets, including the real-time destruction of an Israeli Merkava tank. 9. Qoqaz.com: The official web site of the Sawt Al-Qoqaz (Voice of the Caucasus) containing news and articles on the Jihad in Chechnya, although it has not been updated very regularly, recently. Source: Jihad in Chechnya web site, London, in English 20 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Depressing, a couple I looked at, calling for the destruction of America... Not hot-linking them here is no accident (gh, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. The lower house of the Russian Parliament is considering a draft parliamentary inquiry to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Radio Liberty`s broadcasting in Chechen to the North Caucasus. The Government and the Parliament's lower house negatively describe the contests of its programs in which the point of view of Chechen rebels is represented. The Deputy Government's Staff Alexey Volin believes this will negatively impact the security of not only Russia, but also the United States. Earlier the Russian Foreign Minister said this would contradict Russian-American partnership (Voice of Russia News in English, April 19, 2002 via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. NEW BODY TO COUNTER BROADCASTS By Sergei Venyavsky. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ROSTOV-ON-DON, Southern Russia - Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov announced last week the formation of a new "counter-propaganda" agency to broadcast into Chechnya, aimed at counteracting U.S.-funded Radio Liberty. Gryzlov said on Friday that the new agency would be based in Rostov- on-Don, according to Alexei Polyansky, spokesperson for the Interior Ministry office there. The action is being taken in direct response to Radio Liberty broadcasts, which officials have accused of misinterpreting the situation in Chechnya. "There is an active propaganda war right now," Polyansky said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty launched its North Caucasus service earlier this month, broadcasting for two hours a day in the regional languages Chechen, Avar and Circassian, as well as Russian. Russian officials have argued the broadcasts could help advance the rebel cause. The State Duma is to debate a resolution seeking the suspension of Radio Liberty's license in Russia this week. Sergei Stepashin, head of the State Audit Chamber, spoke out Friday in support of pulling the license. As Russian authorities have repeatedly done since the Sept. 11 attacks, Stepashin compared the 30-month-old war in Chechnya to the U.S.-led anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan. But the deputy chairperson of the Duma committee debating the motion, Konstantin Kosachyov, said the reports can't be described as interference in Russia's internal affairs. He added that "we must not protect our positions and interests via bans and jamming, but through federal troops' transparent and legal actions in Chechnya." http://www.sptimesrussia.com/archive/times/762/news/n_6226.htm (via St. Petersburg Times April 16 via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. RUSSIA: Alienating an ally Radio Free Europe/Liberty's arrogance would be comical if it weren't so dangerous. When Russia objected to broadcasts that the station recently began beaming into Chechnya, saying they contained propaganda that could complicate efforts to stabilize the war-torn area, a spokeswoman sneered. "If people weren't complaining," she said, sounding a bit like Howard Stern, "we wouldn't be doing our jobs right." But Russia is fighting Islamic terrorists, linked to Osama bin Laden, in Chechnya. The terrorists, funded mostly by Saudi radicals, pulled off numerous hijackings, kidnappings and assassinations. Moscow finally sent troops into the area in 1999 -- after a string of bombs rocked Moscow and two other cities, killing more than 200 civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a good ally in the U.S. war against al-Qaida, and there is supposed to be a commitment in Washington, as well as Moscow, for a joint campaign against terrorism. The broadcasts, Putin says, jeopardize continued support for the U.S. war effort. The Cold War is over. Russia no longer is an enemy. It is an ally, one whose support is needed badly. Putin should be taken more seriously. (editorial, Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, April 15 via Kim Elliott, DXLD) POLITICAL STABILITY AND TRANSPARENT ECONOMIC POLICY CAN IMPROVE RUSSIA'S IMAGE LONDON, APRIL 19, 2002. /FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT SERGEI KUDASOV/. - Transparent economic policy and political stability in Russia are the main factors that contribute to Russia's positive image abroad, Russian presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky announced Friday at the Russian Economic Forum in London. [...] Still, there are so-called double standards, even in the mass media, Yastrzhembsky said. More than 30 foreign mass media companies are registered in Russia, while the US authorities so far have not allowed the Russian radio station Mayak to broadcast in America. (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ?? is Mayak seriously trying to ``broadcast in America`` and is the USG really preventing it? Come on (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Fecha de publicación: Abril 20 de 2002 EL TIEMPO.COM 12:05 p.m. EMISORAS RADIALES NO EMITEN PROPAGANDA DE URIBE VÉLEZ POR MIEDO DE ATENTADOS Así lo denunció hoy, sábado, Francisco Santos, fórmula a la vicepresidencia de Álvaro Uribe, quién dijo que al menos 33 emisoras de radio en catorce departamentos de Colombia no lo están haciendo, por temor a sufrir atentados de la guerrilla. El 8 de abril pasado, Santos denunció que el atentado con un carro cargado de explosivos en Villavicencio, estaba dirigido contra la emisora de radio Súper por "pasar mensajes (propaganda) de Uribe". El hecho, ocurrido el 7 de abril, dejó a 12 personas muertas y a otras 67 heridas. "La ley es clarísima", expresó Santos a los periodistas, y subrayó que las normas obligan a las estaciones de radio a transmitir la publicidad política en igualdad de condiciones. Uribe, enemigo acérrimo de las guerrillas izquierdistas, es favorito en las encuestas de intención de voto para los comicios del próximo 26 de mayo. Santos explicó que esta situación fue denunciada por Uribe Vélez en una carta enviada a la ministra de Comunicaciones, Angela Montoya, y al Consejo Nacional Electoral. Francisco Santos reiteró que el atentado fue obra de las Farc, al afirmar que "blanco es, gallina lo pone y frito se come". El pasado jueves, las autoridades detuvieron a dos presuntos guerrilleros de las milicias urbanas de las Farc como presuntos responsables del atentado, cuyos rasgos coinciden con los retratos que fueron elaborados con ayuda de testigos tras el atentado. Por otro lado, el ex embajador en Venezuela Luis Guillermo Giraldo, quien respalda la candidatura de Uribe, declaró que las Farc ofrecen casi 400.000 dólares por el asesinato de Uribe Vélez. Con EFE (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO OKAPI BULLETINS TO BE AVAILABLE VIA INTERNET I believe they MEANT to say Monday 22 April. This article is from allfrica.com http://allafrica.com/stories/200204190607.html (Dave White, DXLD) UN Integrated Regional Information Networks April 19, 2002 Posted to the web April 19, 2002 Beginning on Monday 19 April [sic], Radio Okapi's morning bulletins from Monday to Friday will be available worldwide over the internet at http://www.radiookapi.net --- the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known by its French acronym, MONUC) has announced. The latest updates will be available every morning within an hour that the news has been broadcast in the DRC, in French, Kiswahili, Lingala, and Tshiluba. A joint initiative of MONUC and the Fondation Hirondelle, a Swiss- based nongovernmental organisation that specialises in using information for peace, Radio Okapi was launched on 25 February to coincide with the convocation of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City, South Africa. It broadcasts simultaneously from three studios in the capital, Kinshasa (103.5 FM), the northeastern city of Kisangani (94.8 FM), and the eastern city of Goma (105.2 FM), 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Broadcasts are [sic] also available via short- wave radio throughout most of the DRC, on 9550 KHz. In the coming months, additional stations will be opened in Kananga (south-central DRC), Mbandaka (in the northwest), Kalemie (southeast), Gbadolite (northwest), Kindu (east-central), Bukavu (east), and Bunia (northeast). Currently, no medium in the DRC has the capacity to broadcast nationwide, although the government has announced its intention to establish one. Few politically independent broadcasters exist, although Radio Amani in Kisangani, and Radio Maendeleo in Bukavu have managed to survive as independent news broadcasters, and have operated intermittently over the past three years. Their reach is very limited, however. The material broadcast by Okapi is made available to other local media free of charge. Radio Okapi will enable Congolese to talk to each other across the country's political divides, the organisers said. The radio's transmitting stations are guaranteed freedom from censorship under agreements with the various authorities in the DRC, and broadcast from UN military mission bases, guarded by UN troops. The main sponsors for the project are the British and Swiss governments. So far, the project has a budget of 2.67 million Swiss francs (about US $1.63 million), according to the organisers (via Dave White and Sergei Sosedkin, April 20, DXLD) The web-site http://radiookapi.net automatically transfers you to http://www.monuc.org/radio/. Here's the English translation (with help of AltaVista.com) of a French announcement on the site: As of Monday April 22, we will distribute on this site once per day our news bulletins in four languages: French, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba. Prepare your enclosures, the voices of our journalists will be soon on the Internet frequency! (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Hi, from Trollhättan, Sweden a logging I never thought would be possible. Three days ago, Short Wave Bulletin posted an extra log to its members, from Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, with quite an interesting item. Björn had heard down there on 5900U Radio Cosmopolita, in Quito with programs in Quichua. That station is the only on in the capital with programs in that language he says, and a lot of people from other parts of the country, and with Quichua as their mother tongue have migrated to the national capital Quito. Many of them come from the Chimborazo province, capital Riobamba. So he had heard them with a connection to a station called Chimborazo 98.1, exchanging greeting and messages. He goes on to tell that in Quito, Radio Cosmopolita is on 959.95 kHz with bad reception. So his listening tip was about 5900U. I heard a station there last night, at 0015-0100, and it was indeed a program where people were given a minute or more to get out their messages, children, women and men were given the mike, and the moderator was a man. Between messages, the moderator did a lot of talk in Quichua, and suddenly the words Radio Cosmopolita sneaked into the text. I have discovered that fact just a few hours ago, after listening to the tape a number of times. It's there for a fact, and I have sent the audio to Björn, also to Henrik Klemetz and a few others. So the log goes like this: 5900U 19 Apr 0015-0100 Radio Cosmopolita, Quito, Ecuador with a greetings program in Quichua. (According to Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador it's a simulcast with Chimborazo 98.1, probably in Riobamba.) Rather poor signal, but ID now confirmed. This can't be any other thing than a feed, or...? Henrik answered my question about the spelling of the language. I have always said and spelt it quechua, but in Ecuador it has been decided that the language has only three vowels a, i, u , so it has to be quichua, unlike in Peru and Bolivia. Good hunting (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, April 19, AOR AR7030, LW & K9AY, hard-core-dx via DXLD) {Much more on this in next issue} ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Undoubted Radio Rainbow (Kestedamena Radio) is on air at present on 15565: R Rainbow (Kestedamena R), Amharic 1900-1959 Fri (x11840) 15565 JULICH (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN/LEBANON. This commentary/editorial/analysis is excerpted from an article The (Jordan) Star http://star.arabia.com/article/0,5596,152_4099,00.html ---------------------- April 13, 2002, 11:36 AM By Dr Marwan Asmar, Star Staff Writer Arab radio and television stations should be commended for interrupting their usual programs and broadcasting ones that are in line with the new disastrous situation the Palestinian brothers are going through in the West Bank and Gaza. Against Israeli bombardment and siege most of the audio and visual media have decided to move away from the usual frivolous schedules and put more subdued music in respect of the Palestinian dead. The JTV and Jordan Radio are obvious cases in point. Of course not all stations are following the same nationalistic tone. Take LBC and the London-based MBC radio station. For them, it is business as usual. One particular popular show struck me, "Ya Lil Ya Ain" on the Lebanese LBC satellite channel for instance. While I don't expect them to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians, the producers could have toned down the "frivolity" and the "sensual" aspects of the show. The music, the women, the dancing of scantily dressed ladies, and the quizzes all suggested nothing was happening across the border. It was shameful, suggesting these Arabs were actually enjoying life amidst the killings and the deteriorating aspects of the region. But of course not all are the same. Their counterpart Al Mustaqbal adopted a more somber mood, one that reflects the general popular feelings in the Arab world (via Dave White, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. VOICE OF KOMALA heard 14th April on 4610 kHz from 0225 with introductory music and male announcer with repeated Kurdish identification "Eira Dengi Komala". At 0230 formal sign on with "Eira dengi Komala, dengi azadi e socializmu" was heard followed by Kurdish talks. Ex 4615. 6810 kHz was noted in parallel as usual (M. Ford, Great Britain, Apr 14, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. PKK changes its strategy (or only its name ?) An outlawed Kurdish group in Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, has formally announced a change of name and strategy, saying it now wants to campaign peacefully for greater Kurdish rights. At a press conference in Brussels, a senior PKK spokesman said the party would be called the Congress for Freedom and Democracy in Kurdistan or Kadek. The group's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called a ceasefire after his arrest in 1999 but the party spokesman reiterated that the armed struggle was over. He said the party no longer advocated a separate Kurdish state. However Turkish government officials insist that the group are still terrorists. The BBC correspondent in Brussels says the name change in mainly to do with image - the movement wants distance itself from its violent past, both in order to enter democratic politics and to try avoid being banned in Europe as a terrorist organisation. The PKK is outlawed in Turkey, Germany, France and the UK and has been termed a terrorist organisation by the Turkish and US governments (BBC World Service news via A. Sennitt, Apr 16, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) {see clarification of following in later issue!} ** NETHERLANDS. So now you can read over Jonathan Marks` shoulder or see what Andy Sennitt is eating at his desk. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/webcam.html Radio Netherlands has installed a Webcam at the top of the telecommunications tower behind our building. The Webcam is user-controllable and can show the view over the Hilversum skyline as well as zoom in to closeups of the Radio Netherlands building. Press 'Start Control' to gain control of the camera for 60 seconds. If the button is greyed out, that means someone else is currently controlling it. Pressing the greyed-out button puts you in the queue. You can either scan and zoom, or select one of the four pre-set views we've selected. More pre-sets will be added in due course. The brightness is also adjustable to take account of the unpredictable Dutch weather! (Media Network Newsletter April 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) {See clarification next issue} ** NIGERIA [non]. I heard Salama Radio (Nigeria - no!) on the new frequency of 15250 kHz at 1950 on April 12th. Very strong with "African English" and a message about "Sing your songs in your own language", followed by nice African religious songs. 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, April 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. This article, complete with misspellings and broken English, from "The Frontier Post" http://frontierpost.com.pk/home.asp?id=9&date1=4/20/2002 RADIO PAKISTAN SKARDO ROLE LAUDED Updated on 4/20/2002 12:55:26 PM Skardo (PPI): During Kargil war radio Pakistan Skardo played a commendable role to encourage the moral of the people and the last 22nd years service of the Radio Pakistan Skardo is highly commendable. The Deputy Chief Executive N.As Haji Fida Mohd Nashad stated this while addressing annuarsary function in the broadcasting house in Skardo. He said this station highlighting the developmental activities, policies of government and providing entertainment and the station is working for the promotion of literature, history, language, costume, calture, Islamic and Pakistan ideology. He said this station is providing the knowledge, education and information to the 99% people of the area and also for the Balti speaking people of occupied areas of Ledakh and Kargil. He expressed full satisfaction over the programs and performances of Radio Pakistan Skardo and expressed his confidence that this station will provide best entertainment to the people of this region. He said that it is need of the hour to install a high power short-wave transmitter at PBC Skardio to facilitate to the listeners (via Dave White, DXLD) ** PALESTINE [and non]. In regard to the current situation in Israel/Palestine, two quotations seem apropos: ``Man is a useless passion``, and (that old favorite of mine) ``Reason is the slave of the passions``: the passion being ``This land is MINE``, all mixed up with that strange concept of a Divine Being (``God``) as an apportioner of real estate --- that sliver of land on the eastern Mediterranean coast --- to one barbaric tribe to the exclusion of any other. I have no emotional investment in either the Izzys or the Pals, tho` in matters of culture and values, I would be closer to the Izzys, but from the standpoint of sympathy for the human suffering that has been brought on both sides, there is no difference. I listen to the arguments from both sides, and understand the ``rightness`` of each from each side`s perspective. I get the Pal view from outlets like Nile TV International, Palestinian TV, Iraqi TV --- there would be others if I were fluent in Arabic. NTV has programming in Arabic, but much is in English, with programming also in French and Hebrew. PAL TV and Iraqi TV have some newscasts in English. The NTV newscasts are fairly balanced, tho` ``self-sacrificers`` is the term used for the young human bombs. But in interview shows the Pal viewpoint is stressed. And certainly it`s interesting to hear what people think. And NTV keeps up with ``breaking news`` very well: if something big is on CNN, chances are it will be there also, often showing the same footage. Unfortunately, Israeli TV is available only by subscription, as is the most watched channel in the Moslem world, Al Jazeera (assume it`s free everywhere but in the U.S.) NTV is the only outlet with reach into the U.S. providing the Pal perspective in English. To listen is not to agree, but not to listen is not to know what a people --- as expressed by diplomats, academics, and the people themselves --- sincerely believe. No solution until both sides can get beyond their emotional hangups; give up what CAN`T be given up (Loren Cox., Jr., Lexington, KY, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. At present the 49m band offers surprises almost every day. Last night I could observe a new station on 6039.45 kHz. I could identify it as Radio San Antonio (audio file available, 91 KB). Maybe a Peruvian from San Antonio de Padua (ex 3375). There is another station with same name on 4940 from Villa Atalaya. The station is mentioned in the Mohrmann list as unidentified. PERÚ 6039.45 R San Antonio, April 19, 2250-0005, Spanish, endless Christian songs, several IDs. SINPO 23322 antenna used: EWE vy 73 (Michael Schnitzer - michael_schnitzer@web.de Receiver: JRC NRD-525 Antennas: 25m longwire DX-One Professional EWE to South America EWE to Asia/Pacific Location: Hassfurt, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) {Seems to be R. Amanecer, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: See next issue} ** PHILIPPINES. Radyo Pilipinas records in HFCC base are marked as IBB. IBB schedule does list PBS, but languages are reversed compared with previous season: 0200-0330 in Pilipino, 11885, 15120, 15270 kHz; 1730-1930 in English, 11720, 15190, 17720 kHz (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. On 13 Feb, people at Samara broadcasting center apparently forgot to switch the transmitter off after the end of the Voice of Tatarstan broadcast (1000 UT). During the two following minutes, with the same strength, local broadcast of GTRK "Tatarstan" went on SW. Then strength sharply decreased (switch to another antenna or else?); nevertheless program continued till 1020, with SINPO 15121. It all was on 11915 kHz (Ildus Ibatullin, Kazan, Russia, via Kvadrat via Signal via DXLD) The most interesting SW frequencies that, in addition to Radio Rossii, carry local broadcasting are: 6100 kHz (Tyvinskoye Radio, Kyzyl) and 11840 kHz (Sakhalinskoye Radio, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk). (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.84, Radio UNAMSIL, 4/20 0635 phone in show in English, deep voiced African-accented announcer IDing as "Radio UNAMSIL" (sounds kind of like "Radio National", but digital processing revealed it to be UNAMSIL) before each phone call, "You're listening to The Hotline on Radio UNAMSIL", African-accented callers on the phone, time check @ 0650 for "ten minutes to seven", which matches the time in Freetown, into possible news @0653, signal starting to fade out by 0656, "welcome back to our listeners", music, another "Radio UNAMSIL" ID, into news read by YL @ 0700 (Ralph Brandi, NJ, SWBC via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. Re: [A-DX] QSL R. Hargheisa = ich habe in der Liste gelesen, Du hast Radio Hargheisa auf 7530 = kHz gehört. Würdest Du [..] mailen, zu welcher Zeit der Empfang = war und in welcher Sprache? der Empfang war um ca. 1845 bis 1932 Sendeschluss. Die Empfangs- qualität war nur schwach so konte ich auch nicht durchgehend die Sprache identifizieren scheint aber eine einheimische Sprache gewesen zu sein. Beim Anhören des Kasettenmitschnittes konnte ich aber auch eine englische ID herauspicken "Welcome to Radio Hargheisa, the voice of the Republic of Somaliland". Ich hörte die Station am 20.03 bei einigen Versuchen in den nachfolgenden Tagen konnte ich auf 7530 kHz nichts hören. Wechselt die station auch auf andere Frequenzen (auf der QSL standen neben der vom Aussteller unterstrichenen 7530 noch folgende Frequenzen: 6390, 6860, 7122 und 11640 kHz. In älteren Ausgaben des WRTH kommen tatsächlich auch Frequenzen im Bereich 11639 bis 11660 kHz mit 5 kHz vor, dieser Sender (wie auch ein 1 kW-Sender) soll es aber laut TDP nicht mehr geben, dafür aber dieser 10 kW Sender schon seit 1960. Dieser ist in älteren WRTH Ausgaben aus den 70iger und 80iger meist auf 7120 kHz aufgelistet. Ich rechne das vorläufig auch zu Somalia (hatte von da bis her noch keine QSL) da Somaliland (de facto laut QSL am 18. Mai 1991 gegründet) noch nicht international anerkannt ist und auch nicht von der EDXC Landliste. Bis 1. Juli 1960 gab es jedenfalls Britisch Somaliland (auch als separates EDXC land geführt) was mit dem heutigen Teritorium laut QSL Karte identisch sein soll. [..] Adresse der Botschaft Somalilands in D : Konsularische Vertre- tung Somaliland, Baldur Drobnica -DJ6SI, Zedernweg 6, 50127 Bergheim (E. Bergmann, Germany, Apr 14, 2002 in A-DX via CRW April 19 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Radio Veritas South Africa, set to begin broadcasting three hours of programming daily on shortwave this May 1st, has developed some handsome new pages at its website, http://za.op.org/veritas/ (Catholic Radio Update Apr 22 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Estimados Amigos: Le retransmito esta información recibida via el OM Arnaldo Slaen. 73's Nicolas ---------- De: Vicente Ribas García Asunto: Nueva emisora de onda corta Fecha: Miércoles 17 de Abril de 2002 20:05 Hola Amigos: Os informo que a partir del domingo 26 de mayo aparecerá una nueva emisora pirata desde la ciudad de Valencia en España. Radio Naranja, que así se denomina saldrá al aire cada domingo desde las 08'00 a 08'30 UTC en la banda de 25615 Khz. en modo USB. Los programas contendrán noticias generales, música, y un mini espacio dedicado al mundo dx. Todos los informes de recepción serán contestados con una correspondiente tarjeta QSL que se enviarán vía correo postal, pero los informes recibidos tendrán que ser vía correo electrónico, que es el siguiente: radionaranja@h... [truncated by yahoogroups; can we guess?] Si queréis más información acerca de esta nueva emisora, no dudéis en escribir a la dirección electrónica mencionada. Un saludo de vuestro amigo Vicente, Ciao!!! (via Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, April 20, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Plenty of notice to the authorities ** TAIWAN. From http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/index.htm English Service (04/18) The Government Information Office (GIO) is holding a bilingual Web site design contest. (link to more: http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/news/2002/news0418.htm [The GIO is the uber-agency for R. Taiwan. Prizes are cash and trips to Taiwan ] (04/17) Our broadcast to Europe from 2200 to 2300 on 11565 kHz will be cancelled starting May 1st. Listeners in Europe will still be able to tune in at that time slot on 15600 kHz. (no link beyond this single news item) (via Daniel Say, BC, Apr 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S S R [and non]. Glenn, I tried a few searches at the CIA's Document search web site at http://www.foia.ucia.gov/records.asp The URL's for the actual documents are the longest I have ever seen. So, I suggest trying a search for "jamming" at that site to find an interesting historical document on the state of shortwave during the cold war as well as jamming. The September 1969 document is titled "JAMMING TRENDS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE USSR (ER IR 69-2"). I'm sure you can think of other words, but, I forgot to add, try "Swan" and you'll find a document with 25 fairly badly duplicated black and white photos of Swan Island (Pete Costello, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Glenn: E-mailed the following report to Radio Ezra, assuming it was them I heard between the geo-noise, thunderstorms, and a interfering signal on 17666 kHz AM ! (Of course, in addition to the following I provided what details I could of what was being said under all the noise.) (Lee Silvi, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) *********************** *** John: I tried to tune in tonight to what I assume was Radio Ezra broadcast to the states. First, Due to interference and geomagnetic disturbances it was hard VERY to hear. Second, there was another signal on 17666 kHz that made it VERY hard to hear you, assuming it was Radio Ezra I heard on 17665. It may be coincidence but the last 3 digits of the interference frequency seemed unusual. I could tell a transmitter came up on 17665 kHz at about 2325 because there was a terrible squeal from the two signals on the air so close to each other. 4/20/2002 from 2330-2359 on 17665 kHz SINPO = 3 3 4 4 2-1 (Lee Silvi, OH, via DXLD) {ooooh, and this is in issue *-066*!!!...} ** U S A. During the NAB in Las Vegas I was able to hear noise from the IBOC FM and AM test transmissions on my rental car radio. On FM the IBOC signal was from KWNR 95.5 MHz, Henderson (Lower Black Mountain site). I heard a "scrich-scrich" sound about once per second on both 95.3 and 95.7. I heard this nowhere else in the band. On AM the IBOC was from KSFN 1140 KHz, North Las Vegas. The IBOC AM signals were much more audible than the FM IBOC signals. On both 1130 and 1150 "white noise" could be heard 20 to 30 dB stronger than background noise on near by channels. At 8:50 PM near Flamingo Road and Spencer on Wednesday April 10, the IBOC signals were still present. On 1130 kHz all trace of other stations was covered by IBOC noise, on 1150 a trace of music could be heard under the noise. The KSFN 1140 AM modulation appeared to be well filtered, with no apparent splatter into the IBOC. There were essentially three signal, one AM, and two IBOC noise on three AM channels. Just before 9 PM I tuned around a little and heard KSL on 1160 kHz, and KVOO Tulsa on 1170, so other noise at my location wasn't too bad. I wonder if any body else noted this nighttime IBOC operation. (Donald Wilson, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 1140 station was apparently involved in mysterious signals around 1137 a sesquiyear? ago, covered in DXLDs of the time (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. ROCKING RADIO'S WORLD Commercial radio may be in its worst shape ever, with listeners tuning out and legislators calling for investigation into corporate control of public airways By Greg Kot, Tribune rock critic. Tribune staff reporter Raoul Mowatt contributed to this report --- Published April 14, 2002 The soundtrack to the hit Coen Brothers movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", with its mixture of vintage bluegrass, country and blues, recently won the most prestigious prize in music -- the Grammy Award for album of the year. It has sold more than 5 million copies, was recently the No. 1 album on the pop charts and has been the top- selling country album for the last half-year. Yet if one listens to commercial radio stations across the nation, the album might as well not exist... http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0204140469apr14.story?coll=chi%2Dnews%2Dhed (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. I checked the WJIE call letters at the FCC Media bureau web site. WJIE-FM is held by a KY NCE-FM, but WJIE (no suffix) is held by a KY AM owned by ABC. Unless the AM will give up their current WJIE call, the WJIE call will not be available to WJCR. See wjiecall.pdf file. WJIE-FM apparently let the AM take over the WJIE (no suffix) call in 1999, see wjiecallhis.pdf file. (Donald Wilson, DXLD) viz.: Mass Media Bureau Call Sign Desk -Query Call Sign WJIE is not available. Fac ID Call Sign Service City State Effective Date Assigned To 56520 WJIE AM NEWBURG KY 09/27/1999 ABC, INC. 19880 WJIE-FM FM OKOLONA KY 09/27/1999 EVANGEL SCHOOLS, INC. Our records contain the following address(es) for above licensee(s): CALL SIGN WJIE LICENSEE ABC, INC. MAILING ADDRESS 77 WEST 66TH STREET, 16TH FL. CONTINUED ADDRESS ATT: JOHN W. ZUCKER CITY NEW YORK STATE NY ZIP 10023-6298 CALL SIGN WJIE-FM LICENSEE EVANGEL SCHOOLS, INC. MAILING ADDRESS 5400 MINORS LANE CONTINUED ADDRESS CITY LOUISVILLE STATE KY ZIP 40219- 1 of 1 04/19/2002 4:05 PM Call Sign - Query http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/callsign/prod/query.hts (via Wilson, DXLD) Interesting question when AM and FM calls are separately owned: which one would have right to use it on SW? Is this really clear cut? Seems to me the fact that SW uses AM mode should be irrelevant (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. International Marconi Day special events: To commemorate International Marconi Day April 27, the Maritime Radio Historical Society will operate special event K6KPH (starting at 1700 UT) using the original transmitters, receivers and antennas of ex-RCA coast station KPH, and Radio Austria International will operate special event station OE1M. K6KPH transmitting frequencies will be 7050, 14,050 and 21050 kHz and occasionally 3545 kHz. K6KPH QSLs and reception reports go to D.A. Stoops, PO Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924- 0381. For OE1M details visit the Radio Austria International Web site http://roi.orf.at/intermedia Current working frequencies will be announced on the Web site. Operators entering their call signs in the "QRZ" field will immediately get a call on the band from OE1M. International Marconi Day http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~straff/ takes place each year on a weekend close to the birthday of radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. (ARRL letter APril 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** USA/SRI LANKA. VOA uses 15 m band for the first time in the current season. Frequency is 19000 kHz, in Uzbek, 1230-1300 via Iranawila. On 9 Apr I found co-channel CNR-1 there. Well, why Chinese jam an Uzbek program? (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) Perhaps there be a significant Uzbek minority in western China, and/or that Turkic language be close enough to some other Turkic language in China to be understood, godforbid (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. UNDSOWEITER / l c / authorways known as limaoscarromeoechonovember I WAS AN interested viewer of the AMERICA`S MOST WANTED segment on erstwhile shortwave broadcaster Steve Anderson. The treatment he received there was such that I guess he can now add Rupert Murdoch along with James Latham, the lady who edits the Somerset, KY, newspaper and yr`s t/ to his hit list. It was, indeed, a disgraceful smearing of America`s foremost patriot; indefatigable enemy of the Jew-Communist New World Order. The program featured a number of his more incendiary utterances --- clearly seditious in nature, when not denouncing Jews or making personal threats toward people. There was a re-enactment of the incident on the Bell County highway, with the law officer involved recounting what had occurred. Also we got a look at Steve`s four acres and house in northern Pulaski County, with some interior views. There was a display of some of his armamentarium and his broadcasting equipment, the view of which was not clear --- appeared to be in disarray. Attached to his house was a beam antenna of some sort (the transmitting antenna?). Steve was a capable radio man. A remnant of one of Steve`s target practice objects was shown; an expert marksman, he knew where to shoot for the kill. From the aerial view of the farm could be seen a couple of satellite dishes with which, for a while, Steve was downlinking for rebroadcast, programming from the Genesis Network with its kindred intellects to his own (the Jones boy, et al.). The producers of the program had obtained a tape of Steve, in the garb of that organization, addressing a KKK rally. (In his broadcasts he claimed to have no enmity toward blacks.) In addition to the Bell County police officer (who confessed a fear for his life during the shootout), also appearing on the program were the Somerset newspaper editor (for whom to have her life threatened during an Anderson broadcast --- that maniacal laugh --- was an unnerving experience), the Pulaski County sheriff, Sam Catron (whom Steve despised), an FTFA agent and someone from the ADL. During the playing of the tapes from Steve`s broadcasts, on the screen could be seen a Panasonic RF-4900 receiver with oscilloscope tracings superimposed. The receiver`s digital readout was shown with frequencies being tuned from 27.450 MHz up to 28.273 MHz, frequencies which, of course, Steve never used (they being either 3.260 or 6.900 MHz). (Did someone with the program think Steve was using CB/``Freeband`` frequencies?) Also puzzling: the RF-4900 has two tuning knobs, one for SW frequencies above 3 MHz, and another to the left of it, for tuning MW and SW from 1.6 to 3 MHz. But it was this latter knob that a hand was seen manipulating. Very strange. Evidently the discrepancies due to the way a tape montage was put together. (The RF-4900, a receiver from the late 70s, despite a lack of critical acclaim, based on myuse of one, isn`t a bad radio: good sensitivity, excellent audio, well constructed; performance improved with a filterectomy; stability somewhat less than is expected today.) In something of a bizarre twist to this story, Sheriff Catron was shot and killed some two hours before the showing of the Anderson segment on AMW. A candidate for re-election, he had been attending a fish fry near a local fire station. As he was preparing to enter his cruiser to leave, he was shot in the head by a sniper in the nearby woods, the sniper then fleeing on a motorcycle, which, as it turned out, belonged to one of Catron`s political opponents. The gunman, a Danny Shelley, wearing camouflage type clothing, was caught shortly after the shooting and has been charged with the murder of a law officer (a death penalty crime in Kentucky). Shelly lives in northern Pulaski County (in the vicinity of Anderson`s farm? Did he know him? Any connection between the two?). Political killings, especially involving the killing of sheriffs, are not unusual occurrences in Kentucky, and that appears to be the situation here, WLEX-TV just now reporting that two others have been indicted for complicity in the crime, one being Jeffrey Morris, owner of the killer`s motorcycle, and Catron`s opponent in the forthcoming election. The whole episode really has Pulaski County in a turmoil. Steve, wherever he is, must be pleased at Catron`s demise. AMW has a pretty good track record in facilitating the bringing of fugitives to justice, but I wouldn`t expect the Republic`s saviour (in the sense that the Brown Shirts intended to be Germany`s saviours in the 1920s) will be flushed out (if not down) anytime soon (Loren Cox, Jr., Lexington, KY, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. REPUBLIC OF YEMEN RADIO, Sanaa offered strong (S9 +10dB) signal and somewhat distorted audio with programme in English until close down 1900 UT on 9779.6 kHz. 19 UT they resumed regular Arabic. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15040, Voice of Lord, 0904-0945, SIO 343, religious broadcast in English. Where does it come from? (Alexei Kulinchenko, Kazan, Russia) (Via Radio For Peace Intl, Costa Rica? - Signal Ed. via DXLD) Certainly not. V. of the Lord, you may recall, was a program originating in Philippines, transmitted via Germany as program sublet via High Adventure V. of Hope schedule: [High Adventure V of Hope, Tagalog?/ME 1700-2000 (ex-9405) 15715 JULICH --- Wolfgang Büschel] But they may have another relay deal now in order to show up on this frequency; Taiwan, maybe? (gh, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-065, April 19, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1127: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.html AIRINGS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500 on 5070, Sun 0630 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. I confirmed Voice of Afghanistan on 15480 today at 1330-1430. Good and stable signal at sign on with the same type of programming they used to have on 9950. Full eight minutes of MCB pips until 1328 (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1127, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, noted also on 15480 kHz a fair signal in Stuttgart, only S=3-4, but undisturbed. 73 wolfgang df5sx (Büschel, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very poor here on April 18. Note the expanded hours and site shown below (gh, OK, DXLD) UNITED KINGDOM 15480 Voice of Afghanistan NF, ex 9950, thanks Bueschel. 1415 with just a fair signal, ID and talk (Hans Johnson, FL, Apr 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Are you implying UK be transmitter site? I don`t think so (gh, DXLD) RUSSIA -Foreign relay via short wave transmitters of the countries of CIS- 31/03/2002-26/10/2002 (ƒq02) kHz - UTC - kW - Transmitter Moldova 7480 1800-1830 500 RPD 9940 1630-1715 500 RIN 11530 1300-1700 500 MSP 15480(ƒq) 1230-1630 500 AFG (A) = alternative frequency 15430 kHz AFG = Voice of Afghanistan MSP = Voice of Mesopotamia, RIN = R. Anternacional, RPD = R. Payam-e Doost, (Rudnev via RUS-DX 105 via Japan Premium via DXLD) See CIS for full schedule. BTW, abbrs are alphabetized as if spelt out, i.e. under COM- ** ALASKA. 5800, HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) test transmission. Full data "48 element phased antenna array" QSL card in 19 days for a English report with 1 IRC. No v/s. Address: HAARP, P. O. Box 271, Gakona, AK99586, U.S.A. (Kazutoshi Ogino, Japan, Cumbre DX April 19 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Information about ``unofficial`` stations in Gran Buenos Aires: 1610 R. Luz del Mundo ex 1310 (Conexión Digital via NN via ARC via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. The Austrian international broadcaster, Radio Austria International http://roi.orf.at/intermedia will operate the special callsign OE1M for the full 24 hours of International Marconi Day, the 27th of April. This operation aims to allow radio amateurs and broadcast listeners to learn more about each other. The OE1M QSL card will be issued for 'cross-mode' OE1M contacts or reception reports, and reception reports of 'Intermedia', Radio Austria International's weekly communications magazine programme broadcast on shortwave, cable, satellite, and the Internet. The current working frequencies of OE1M will be announced on the website, and if you enter your callsign in the 'QRZ' section, OE1M will immediately call you on the band. (Radio Society of Great Britain April 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. Re my previous questioning of UT+5 timezone here; I then checked http://www.worldtimezone.com and indeed during DST it is UT+5. It`s still way ahead of what it should be at UT+4 in winter (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. 7210.2, Radio Benin; Cotonou, April 17, 2255-2303*, fantastic reception. A very regular catch here, but not heard as strong as this recently, with SINPO 44444. Soft song in French, short announcement by female in French. Then a piece of Aerosmith's "Don't wanna miss a thing". At 2259 s/off announcement, with several "Chaîne Nationale" IDs. NA, then open carrier until 2303 (Mark Veldhuis, Netherlands, SWBC via DXLD) ** BERMUDA. BERMUDA RADIO Commercial Radio Stations Broadcasting in Bermuda began in 1946 when the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited came on the air with ZBM (with the Z pronounced the English way) at 1235 kHz on the AM band. In 1953, ZBM-2 was introduced, at 1340 kHz AM. In 1962, a second organization, Capital Broadcasting Company Limited, using the call letters ZFB, began operating at 910 kHz AM. Also in 1962, FM broadcasting was introduced, with ZBM-FM on 89.1 MHz and in 1971, ZFB-FM at 94.9 MHz. In 1981, a third broadcasting organization, St. George's Broadcasting Company Limited (renamed deFontes Broadcasting Company Limited) began operating with an AM facility on 1450 kHz using the call sign VSB-1. Later, the same company introduced further AM facilities at 1160 and 1280 - and the FM facilities heard now. In 1982, there was a merger of the first two broadcasting companies. They continue today under the name of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited. Commercial Bermuda radio stations have a mix of programming. The Bermuda Broadcasting Company is on ZFB AM at 1230 kilohertz; ZBM 2 at 1340 kilohertz; ZBM FM at 89.1 megahertz; and ZFB FM at 94.9 megahertz. DeFontes Broadcasting Company has VSB 1 at 1450 kilohertz; VSB 2 at 1280 kilohertz; VSB 3 at 1160 kilohertz; and VSB FM at 106.1 megahertz. Their news stations often rely heavily on the daily news published very early in the morning in the only Bermuda daily newspaper, The Royal Gazette. It broadcasts about 75 percent of all Bermuda news. In the opinion of this author, by far and away the best radio in Bermuda is the daytime and evening broadcasts of the non-commercial BBC World Service from the United Kingdom. It is broadcast locally from one of the commercial VSB radio stations. Government Emergency Broadcasting Facility This goes on the air at 1610 kHz on the AM band only when all the commercial stations are unable to broadcast. The station provides music, emergency information and announcements. They are handled jointly by public relations officers within the Police Community Relations office and Government Information Services. In recent years, the station has fulfilled a useful role as an information source during island-wide power failures, especially during hurricanes. It is operated around the clock until any one of the commercial radio stations can resume service (from http://www.bermuda- online.org/cabradtv.htm in MV-Eko Information Desk April 2002 via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** CANADA. HARRY BROWN: RADIO WAS 'WHERE I LEARNED TO WALK' The pioneering host of CBC's As It Happens and Take 30 became a household name By J.M. Sullivan, St. John's Harry Brown, whose five-decade career in radio and television took him from "general factotum" to household name, has died in St. John's, two days after undergoing heart surgery. He was 72. Mr. Brown's provincial and national assignments included The Doyle Bulletin, Here and Now, Morningside and being hired as a pioneering host of As It Happens. He had "no training for broadcasting at all -- no degrees -- and that's why the early years were so important," he once said. But he was a natural storyteller, and he enjoyed the attention his work brought. "There are no shrinking violets in this business," he said. In 1949, Mr. Brown, who had attended a two-room school until Grade 7, and then graduated from St. Bonaventure's College in St. John's, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, one of the first Newfoundland recruits to enlist after Confederation. After his discharge, he couldn't find work, so one morning he walked into VOCM radio station and asked for a job. Hired in January, 1951, he earned $35 a week, multitasking as a technician and record librarian, filing news copy, doing "everything but get the mail," he remembered. "You had to be bonded to get the mail." Soon he had the opportunity to fill in for the announcer of a scripted afternoon show. He later joked that while the higher-ups weren't impressed, his mother was. Mr. Brown persevered, and later was "Uncle Harry" on VOCM's very popular and still remembered Jungle Jubilee, which featured child guests and performers. Radio then was 100 per cent live. The first sound recorder Mr. Brown worked with used wire that was edited by snipping and tying it together like pieces of rope. Later, they upgraded to a paper tape recorder that was very delicate; the paper was easily snapped. In St. John's, Mr. Brown moved between rival commercial station VOCM and CJON, and the CBC. These shifts weren't always fueled by promotions. He was once fired from VOCM after a plainspoken exchange between himself and a technician was accidentally broadcast via a microphone Mr. Brown had unknowingly left on. Mr. Brown moved to CJON and in 1953 was rehired at VOCM. In 1957, he joined the CBC. Jobs in CBC Newfoundland radio and television included The Doyle Bulletin, Kitchen Corner, Come All Ye Round, All Around the Circle, and the highly rated supper-hour TV news program Here and Now. Nationally, after moving to Toronto in 1968, he hosted or co-hosted As It Happens with Barbara Frum (1974-1976), Morningside (1976), Marketplace (1978), Take 30 (1978), CBC Toronto's Metro Morning and TVOntario's Speaking Out for more than 10 years. He brought his vitality and good story sense to all, but particularly recalled Take 30 as "an oasis" for viewers; co-host Hana Gartner was a favourite colleague. "Live-to-tape in the studio, it had a real spontaneity," said Ms. Gartner. "It was supposed to be an afternoon ladies' show, but we didn't want to do a ladies' afternoon show -- we wanted to do current affairs." The pair enjoyed "very good chemistry," she said. "He was the genuine article. He had a consistency in his tone and banter that endured." As It Happens, which Mr. Brown originally hosted, was another milestone. "As It Happens began as Radio Free Friday," said current co-host Barbara Budd who first met Mr. Brown in CBC Radio's national newsroom. "It had never been done before," she said. "The show relied on on-air personnel to have stamina and energy and be absolutely capable of handling anything." This didn't faze Mr. Brown. He was, Ms. Gartner said, "a public broadcaster at heart." When Mr. Brown started out, all radio was live. And while he recognized that technological advances could expand the medium's repertoire, it also changed its relationship with its audience. "You can't be as responsive. People listen to the radio for days and days and days and don't hear a mistake," he said. "It's as if we don't make mistakes, any more. Of course, you just have to look around and see that we do." Still, in the end, he preferred radio to television. "Radio is more intimate," he said. "It's where I learned to walk." His work on Metro Morning won him a 1978 ACRA Award for excellence in broadcasting. "He was a superior broadcaster," said Doug Laite, friend and fellow CBC journalist. "He did his homework. He was very bright and always had a fresh approach." After his retirement 10 years ago, Mr. Brown moved back to Newfoundland, to Holyrood, Conception Bay. He was an energetic fundraiser especially with the Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation Telethon. He enjoyed the camaraderie of hunting and fishing, and was a deft, regular bridge player. He read widely, especially books pertaining to Newfoundland, and was very proud of his Newfoundland culture and background. When he lived Toronto, he would host touring Newfoundland acting troupes or musical groups. Mr. Brown was repeatedly described as genuine, witty, brooking no nonsense, honest, warm and generous. "With a face he deserved," said Ms. Budd. "He had so much fun, and so much personality, and it showed in his face." His parents were Harold, a wireless operator from Canso, N.S., who worked for the Commercial Cable Co., and Mary (Skinner). Mr. Brown's father died when he was 12, and his mother later married Murray Sloan. He leaves his wife, Mary (Hatfield), daughter Robin, and sons Harold, Murray, Keith and Chris. Son David predeceased him. Harold Andrew Brown, radio and TV broadcaster; Born St. John's, Jan. 12, 1930; died St. John's, March 30, 2002. Special to The Globe and Mail, April 18, 2002 (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Regarding the Chinese DRM tests, I had a weak signal on 21735 (BBC Thailand) and nothing on the listed Hainan freqs. I tried at various times. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1127, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [You may wonder why WORLD OF RADIO is seldom credited in DXLD, but more some weeks than others. It all depends on timing. If a DXLD has been issued shortly before a WOR produxion, WOR will seldom be mentioned in credit lines, since this is done only after a show be completed and we know for a fact which items have been used; altho most of the info mentioned on air has appeared in previous DXLDs. So WOR normally appears only as a credit here when it`s a late item not published until the next DXLD after a WOR produxion. Clear? –gh] ** COLOMBIA. Henrik Klemetz le ha recomendado este artículo de http://www.UnionRadio.com.ve Colombia Info from Unión Radio website. Arnulfo Sánchez López is a real old-timer. Was on La Voz del Llano before. I met him many years ago (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 18 de Abril, 2002 LIBERADO PERIODISTA TRAS CASI DOS MESES EN PODER DE LAS FARC --- EFE El periodista colombiano Arnulfo Sánchez, quien permaneció casi dos meses en poder de la guerrilla de las FARC, fue liberado hoy, jueves, informó Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN). Sánchez, secuestrado el pasado 23 de febrero, junto a tres comerciantes, en el departamento del Tolima, centro del país, recobró su libertad y regresó a Ibagué, capital de ese territorio. El periodista, director del informativo Econoticias de la emisora Ecos del Combeima, de Ibagué, permaneció secuestrado por la facción Tulio Varón, del frente XXI de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). Los comerciantes que acompañaron en los primeros días como rehén al periodista, fueron liberados gradualmente por los rebeldes. El periodista dijo a un corresponsal de RCN que su secuestro tuvo motivaciones económicas, aunque opinó que los guerrilleros "viven disgustados por la prensa, porque no los trata bien". (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [non]. Olga Marín, pseudonym for Liliana López Palacios, two years ago, verified one or two reception reports for "Voz de la Resistencia". This happened when returning to Mexico at the end of a tour she made through various Western European countries together with a group of FARC guerrilla leaders. Somewhere in Sweden, out of reach for the local press, they were given a short course in international economics. The course was financed by the Swedish Development Authority. " VIAJAN A VENEZUELA REBELDES DE FARC EXPULSADOS DE MÉXICO Bogotá.- Marcos Calarca y Ol`ga Marín, rebeldes de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) que dirigían la oficina internacional del grupo insurgente en México, viajaron a Venezuela, según el diario El Tiempo. Los dos guerrilleros salieron de México el pasado sábado, después que el gobierno de Vicente Fox decidiera no renovarles sus visas de permanencia, subrayó ANSA.... Lee el artículo completo en: http://www.eluniversal.com/2002/04/18/18112BB.shtml Copyright 2001, Reservados todos los derechos (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** C I S. RUSSIA -Foreign relay via short wave transmitters of the countries of CIS- ------------------------------------------------------------ 31/03/2002-26/10/2002 (ƒq02) kHz - UTC - kW - Transmitter Armenia 5855 1610-1740 100 TWR 6240 1200-1215 100 TWR 7550** 2300-2400 500 RFA 9365* 2300-2400 500 RFA 9365 0100-0300 500 RFA 9960 1800-1830 500 RIC 11510 1400-1600 500 RFA 11590 1100-1400 500 RFA 11975 1400-1400 100 VOA 15625 1400-1500 100 RFA 17485 0600-0700 500 RFA Moldova 7480 1800-1830 500 RPD 9940 1630-1715 500 RIN 11530 1300-1700 500 MSP 15480(ƒq)1230-1630 500 AFG (A) = alternative frequency 15430 kHz Kazakhstan 7455** 2230-2330 200 RFA 9355 1530-1600 200 VOO Thu, Fri 9385 1300-1400 500 RFA 11520 1230-1330 200 RFA 11520 1400-1500 200 RFA 11560 2330-0030 500 RFA 11570* 2230-2330 200 RFA 13830 0000-0100 200 RFA 15635 1100-1200 500 RFA 15660 0030-0130 200 RFA 15715(ƒq)1215-1300 100 VOT 17490 1230-1330 500 RFA (A) = alternative frequency 15755 and 17800 kHz Tajikistan 7465 1600-1700 200 RFA 7530** 1800-2100 500 RFA 7540** 2300-2400 500 RFA 7540** 1500-2200 500 RFA 9350 0100-0200 200 RFA 9370 1600-1700 200 RFA 9395** 2300-2400 200 RFA 9975** 2330-0030 200 RFA 11520 0100-0200 200 RFA 11520* 1800-2100 500 RFA 11535** 1400-1500 200 RFA 11540* 2330-0030 200 RFA 11540** 0030-0130 200 RFA 11540** 1300-1400 200 RFA 13830** 1100-1400 200 RFA 13835 1500-1600 200 RFA 15635(ƒq)1215-1300 100 VOT 15580* 2300-2400 500 RFA 15680* 1300-1400 200 RFA 15680* 1500-2200 500 RFA 15695* 2300-2400 200 RFA 15695 0100-0300 200 RFA 15695* 1100-1400 200 RFA 15705* 1400-1500 200 RFA 17495 0300-0700 500 RFA 17510 0600-0700 200 RFA 17525* 0030-0130 200 RFA 17525 0300-0700 500 RFA (A) = alternative frequency 15670 and 15725 kHz Uzbekistan 5945 1430-1530 200 DVB 7430 1330-1445 200 BBC 7430 1500-1530 200 BBC 9430 2300-0030 200 TWR 11530 1100-1300 100 MSP 12065 1330-1425 100 RNW 12065 1450-1610 100 VAT 12075 1430-1625 100 RNW 13745 0100-0130 200 BBC 15235 1400-1430 200 RFV Mon-Fri 15675 0500-1100 100 MSP 17525 1215-1300 100 VOT 17690 1200-1230 100 RVI 21570(ƒq)1415-1300 100 VOT 21780 0800-0830 200 BBC (A) = alternative frequency 21560 and 21585 kHz * = Till 31/08/2002 ** = Since 01/09/2002 AFG = Voice of Afghanistan BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation DVB = Democratic Voice of Burma MSP = Voice of Mesopotamia RFA = Radio Free Asia RFV = R. Free Vietnam RIC = R. Intercontinental RIN = R. Anternacional RNW = Radio Nederland Wereldomroep RPD = R. Payam-e Doost RVI = Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal TWR = Trans World Radio VAT = Radio Vaticana VOA = Voice of America VOO = Voice of Orthodoxy ("Golos Pravoslaviya") VOT = Voice of Tibet (Rudnev via RUS-DX 105 via Japan Premium April 18 via DXLD) ** CROATIA [non]. Croatian Radio's "Voice of Croatia" (Croatian: "Glas Hrvatske") programme for Croats abroad is scheduled: 2300-0100 9925ju to S America 0100-0300 9925ju to E N America 0300-0500 9925ju to W N America 0500-0700 9470ju to New Zealand 0700-0900 13820ju to Australia (ju = via Juelich) The schedule they announce on-air uses local time in the target area (e.g. "8 to 10 pm Argentine time") but their website at http://www.hrt.hr/hr/ also shows UT. The 2 hour programme, although mainly in Croatian, carries 5 minute news in English & Spanish approximately 5 minutes into the programme and again after 1 hr 40 minutes. English news confirmed today (19 April) on 9470 at 0642 and on 13820 at 0706 and 0842. Frequency details and IDs are also made in English. Fair reception of both these fqs here. On the basis that its the same 2 hour programme repeated, English news should therefore be heard on 9925 at 2305, 0040, 0105, 0240, 0305 and 0440. Also on 9470 at 0505 and 0640 and on 13820 at 0705 and 0840. [Croatian R also uses shortwave 6165 (scheduled 0400-2300), 7365 (0400-0900), 9830 (0400-1700) and 13830 (0900-2300) but these only seem to carry the HR1 domestic service (// MW) when I have heard them - can anyone confirm any English news bulletins on these?] (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+/longwire, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Cuban jammers humming away at Radio Martí on 6030 and WRMI on 9955 at 0700 Apr 15 even though neither station was on the air (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) That being during Martí`s Monday morning silent period (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB will resume broadcasting in Japanese, starting Sunday, 5 May, on 9745, 11840, and 21455(ssb), at 0400 UT (1 pm JST). Broadcast will last 30 min. HCJB will be issuing a special QSL card for reception reports for this broadcast (Jason Glavy, rec.radio.shortwave via Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) If that`s the only broadcast, it must not be for Japan: too early; nor for Brazil: too late (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. ENFORCEMENT NEEDED: WORLDWIDE QRM TO 40 METERS The March issue of the Monitoring System Newsletter talked about a rogue broadcast from Eritrea on 7.100 MHz. A transmission that continues to be heard well in eastern North America. According to the IARU, this broadcast can at times also be heard around the world. Also, the report says that its lower sideband can dominate the top few kilohertz of the 7.000 to 7.100 MHz Amateur band. (ANS via Amateur Radio Newsline April 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [and non!]. Actually, you don't *have* to put up with pop- ups. There are numerous programs that will prevent them from appearing. Have a look at http://www.tucows.com/adkiller95.html for a range of Windows programs that will do the trick. Some firewall software also has this option built in. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Pirates heard April 12-14 include: 15795, R. Borderhunter, April 12 2322-2345+, IDs, Sweden address, variety of polka music, US pops, 50s music; fair. 15069.5, Alpha Lima International, April 13 2143-2207+, IDs, E-mail address, techno-pop music, fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. 21520, R. Finland 1000-1045 Apr 13, 34433 English, ID at 1027 as "You are listening to Capital Weekend, Radio Finland -- going on more people talking about Finland. Join us every Saturday from 1 pm ...." (Kazunori Watanabe, Japan, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. The Killing of radio station directors has gone on for over twenty years. Rev. Woods and example from Guatemala's past? GUATEMALA'S LETHAL LEGACY: PAST IMPUNITY AND RENEWED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AMR340012002?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES\GUATEMALA "Radio Novedad broadcasters Juan Carlos Aquino and Marvin Alfredo Herwin González reported death threats, most recently in January 2001, apparently in reprisal for their critical reporting on activities of local Zacapa officials." (via Bob Wilkner, FL, DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291v, G.B.C. seemingly off the air for last two or three weeks, not on 5950v (Bob Wilkner, FL, April 18, R75, longwire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Summer A-02 schedule for VOIROI /IRIB/: ALBANIAN 0630-0727 15235 17680 1830-1927 7295 9545 9570 2030-2127 9535 11660 ARABIC 0000-2357 1224 0230-0427 7155 0230-0527 9790 0230-0627 576 11935 0230-1627 15150 0330-0527 17610 0330-2127 1080 0430-1627 15125 0530-1127 612 0930-1227 17560 21545 1030-1527 13770 1230-1927 9860 1630-1927 6025 11740 11840 1730-1927 6200 1830-1927 9705 2030-2127 6025 9860 11740 11840 2030-0127 6200 9705 2130-0127 11710 0130-0227 9705 ARABIC (VOICE OF ISLAMIC PALESTINIAN REVOLUTION) 0330-0427 9610 11870 1930-2027 6025 6200 9705 9860 11740 11840 ARABIC (VOICE OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION OF IRAQ) 0330-0527 7120 7245 9685 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 11860 0930-0957 9630 11700 15260 1630-1727 6185 7230 9780 ASSYRIAN 1830-1927 936 AZERI 0330-0527 702 13710 1430-1457 6200 1500-1657 702 6200 BENGALI 0030-0127 756 6005 9570 9890 1430-1527 9525 9810 11995 15395 BOSNIAN 0530-0627 15084 15510 17680 1730-1827 7295 9545 9615 2130-2227 9660 9810 11870 CHINESE 1200-1257 17785 17825 21460 21490 <<<<< retimed ex 1330-1427 2330-0027 11750 15490 15570 DARI 0300-0627 720 9580 <<<<< extended ex 0300-0427 0830-1157 11880 1200-1457 7295 1730-1927 3945 <<<<< deleted ENGLISH 0030-0127 9610 11970 1100-1227 15215 15585 15600 21470 21730 1530-1627 7245 9635 11775 1930-2027 9800 11670 11695 11855 2130-2227 9570 13665 GEORGIAN 1700-1727 702 GERMAN 0730-0827 15084 17590 1730-1827 11765 11855 13730 FRENCH 0630-0727 17590 17780 21645 1830-1927 11765 11860 11880 13665 13700 2330-0027 9560 11970 HAUSA 0600-0657 17600 21810 1830-1927 11930 15435 HINDI 0230-0257 15165 17635 1500-1527 9630 9720 11710 15245 ITALIAN 0630-0727 15084 17705 17825 1200-1257 15084 15235 1930-1957 7295 11765 13650 JAPANESE 1300-1327 15235 15555 2100-2127 11885 13635 KAZAKH 0130-0227 11935 13770 1300-1357 11665 13755 15330 KURDISH 0330-0527 612 639 1430-1627 1161 MALAY 1230-1327 15200 17555 17635 PASHTO 0230-0327 756 1098 7130 9605 11765 0900-0927 11675 12025 1230-1327 756 1098 9630 9790 11870 13785 1430-1527 756 1098 7270 1630-1727 3945 6015 7195 9725 PERSIAN 0000-0527 15084 0830-1157 15084 1300-2357 15084 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 702 9875 11830 13665 13770 1400-1457 702 1449 12030 15200 15290 1530-1627 9830 11675 11730 12020 12095 13790 1730-1827 6140 7115 7205 7305 1930-2027 702 6045 7125 7175 9900 SPANISH 0030-0127 9515 9655 13755 0130-0227 9560 9655 9810 13755 0230-0327 13730 0530-0627 17590 17785 2030-2127 9750 11765 SWAHILI 0330-0427 15260 15595 17570 17800 1000-1057 17780 21755 1730-1827 9655 11995 TAJIK 0100-0227 720 7180 1600-1727 720 5955 TURKISH 0430-0557 15260 15365 1600-1727 7165 9550 1830-1927 639 702 TURKMEN 0230-0457 1449 1500-1727 1449 URDU 0130-0227 765 1098 9525 11880 13640 1330-1457 765 1098 9565 9665 11695 13605 13785 15420 1530-1727 765 1098 7270 UZBEK 0230-0257 720 7180 1500-1557 720 5955 (Observer, Bulgaria, April 19 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. ``CLANDESTINE`` --- I see a disturbing trend in some publications that label programs as clandestine when they are clearly not. There are varying degrees of what folks consider to be a clandestine station. But the fact that a program purchases airtime and is directed to a certain region does not make it a clandestine. The most widespread example is Payam-e-Doost (Radio Bahai), but there are others. The Bahai are a religious group with a program directed to Iran. But purchasing airtime + broadcasts in Farsi + non-government program doesn't automatically = clandestine. DXers and publications should take the time to examine programs before labeling them as clandestine. In many cases, we will not understand what a program is saying and it will be difficult. That is where the web comes in handy as much of the information here will be in English. Even simple searches will often lead to background data on whose behind a program and what their objectives are. That certainly is the case with Radio Bahai (Hans Johnson, Apr 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I tend to agree, if the program is scheduled via a known relay it is just another station, to me a clandestine is a station operating illegally with a political reason against the government of that or a neighboring country. Have amended some logs accordingly! (Richard Jary, Australia, ibid.) DXLD largely avoids this issue by filing under ``non`` countries! (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. [FYI - "YES" mentioned in the article is the brand of direct broadcast satellite service which is available in Israel -- not the NY Yankees' TV network!] From the Thurs April 18 2002, Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/18/News/News.47169.html ENGLISH TV NEWS TO EXPAND, By Gil Hoffman A new expanded edition of the Israel Broadcasting Authority's televised nightly English news is set to premiere on Sunday, April 28, on a new English- and Arabic-language satellite network available throughout the Middle East and Europe, IBA spokeswoman Shlomit Golan announced yesterday. Golan said the première of the new network and the expansion of the English news were expedited in order to aide Israel's public relations campaign. IBA English news staff have repeatedly stressed that their broadcasts would remain professional and not propagandized. Doubling the length of the show to half an hour at the new time of 7 p.m. will enable the English news to conduct nightly interviews with news makers, provide more analyses on military and diplomatic issues, and devote more time to business and entertainment news, Golan said. Besides Europe and the Middle East, the IBA is investigating the possibility of making the network available to viewers in North and South America, but the satellite is unlikely to be ready in time for the first broadcasts. The IBA initially intended to combine the network with Channel 33, which televises Knesset plenum sessions, but Golan said the Knesset refused to transfer their broadcasts. Instead, the IBA is negotiating with the Communications Ministry on creating a new channel, possibly Channel 34, which IBA interim director-general Yosef Barel said would be available to local viewers even without cable or satellite systems. Barel met with English news department officials this week to discuss how to initiate the expansion without increasing the IBA budget or hiring more staff. IBA senior editor and producer Steve Leibowitz, who in the past had been skeptical the English news would ever be expanded, said he has been a believer ever since the appointment of Barel, who created the English news department 12 years ago. "I'm not as much of a skeptic anymore," Leibowitz said. "There are a few more hurdles to pass, but I think it's going to happen. Out of all of us [in the English news department] I'm the most optimistic." IBA English news department head Steve Edwards said it remains unclear whether the broadcasts will continue to be shown on Channel 1 for an overlapping period after the new network is launched. The IBA English radio news department called Edwards this week to complain that the 7 p.m. news show will conflict with its 7 p.m. English news broadcast on Reshet Alef. The radio news department said it is considering switching time slots. The English news broadcast will also conflict with Channel 10's nightly news, anchored by Ya'acov Eilon. But unlike the fledgling Channel 10, the new network will be available to the more than 20 percent of people in this country who, according to the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting, do not subscribe to cable or YES (via Daniel Rosenzweig, and Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/18/News/News.47169.html If Reshet Alef does change the time of its English news, that would of course change the time of the shortwave relay [currently 1600-1630 UT]. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. UNIDENTIFIED. 4235 at 0158 UT April 18 - OM in Arabic with music - 0202 prayers followed by music and OM announcer reading news as mentions of Colin Powell, Israel, and Palestine. Audio copied best on USB as there was a commercial RTTY station very close by. Copy was fair - SIO 333. I listened until 0230 UT when a very powerful digital station came right on frequency. I checked my PWBR and the internet and no reference to 4235. Best regards, (Vernon Matheson, Trepassey NF, swl via DXLD) 4235.1 is Voice of Kurdistan Toilers (Sawt al-Ta'ab al Kurdistan), in Arabic and Kurdish. 73 (Salvo Micciché, Italy, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. 9350 R. Medi. (Cumbre DX 394 correction) typo, correct freq of my log was 9575 (Olsson, Sweden, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 11675, New Zealand Forces Radio via RNZI: tried for this on Apr 13, nothing but sport. On Apr 14, news at 1100, brief transmitter break at 1105, and back on. Excellent signal into current American pop hit and start of program. Print for those who served in East Timor offered, news of Queen Mother's death. Feature on NZ hip hop group followed. NZ Forces Radio contact info is P.O. Box 123, Wellington or forcesradio@rnzi.com (Hans Johnson, FL, Apr 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. GREAT BRITAIN, 15475, SALAMA RADIO, no data personal QSL-letter in English, v/s Dr. Jacob Abdalla, Chairman Salama Radio, 3 large stickers and program schedule, in 163 days for a report with 1 USD to Salama Radio, Harvestime Ministries, PO Box 126, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2WJ, Großbritannien (Martin Schoech, Germany, Cumbre DX April 19 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 11580, Radio Pakistan, 0045 Apr 17. Poor in Assami until 0100 then into English to 0115 then into something else? (Ian Cattermole, New Zealand, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Progress: originally, entire half hour was in English (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 6193.53, R. Cusco 17 April 0930-0940 with beautiful rustic Andean music, good signal (Bob Wilkner, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. According to Pavel Mikhailov's report in Russian ExDX conference, The Voice of Russia has a new postal code. It's 115 326 instead of old 113 326 (Sergei Sosedkin, April 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAIPAN. KSAI RADIO BIDS SAIPAN GOODBYE Far East Broadcasting Company yesterday announced the closure of its local station, AM 936 KSAI, at the end of April. The company plans to continue its international broadcast operations by maintaining its short-wave facilities in Marpi. With studios located in Susupe, KSAI Radio/Family Radio has, for more than 24 years, endeavored to serve the CNMI community with public affairs programs, news, and information. The station has worked to foster spiritual growth through sound biblical teaching, family related programs, and uplifting Christian music. The station will be most remembered for its live coverage of significant events in the community such as the annual Flame Tree Arts Festival, elections, inauguration of new officials, and major sporting events. KSAI also pioneered Chamolinian programming with such popular programs as Chamolinian Country and ``Dan Dan Para Isu.`` KSAI was also the first radio station on the island to offer ethnic programming in the Tagalog, Korean, and Chinese languages. KSAI has also worked closely with the Emergency Management Office in implementing the new Emergency Alert System for the CNMI, which was designed to provide timely warnings, not only in terms of news and information, but also through offering engineering assistance. ``It is with a deep sense of regret that due to current economic conditions and other circumstances beyond our control, Far East Broadcasting Company will be closing KSAI on April 30th. We hope you will pray for us in this transitional period,`` David L. Creel, station manager, said in a statement. ``We wish to extend our thanks to our advertising clients, various government offices and officials, church leaders, and many others who have worked with us through the years. A special thank you goes out to all those who selflessly volunteered their time and talents to make it possible for KSAI opportunity to serve you. We encourage you to continue to serve the Lord here on Saipan and seek His will for your lives and personal ministry,`` Creel said (Saipan Tribune April 18, via E. Baxendale, UK, DXLD) http://www.tribune.co.mp/index.cfm?Display=yes&ID=19245 Story includes photo of ID sign on building (gh, DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 3316, SLBS; Goderich, 2311-2325, April 17, Heard with a relay of the FM service. At 2313, there was a canned ID as "...Power FM, 99.9, your radio station". Program consisted of soft pop/R&B music, and announcements by male in what sounded like a local language, with many words 'borrowed' from English. Couldn't make 'all- English' out of it. 34343 (Mark Veldhuis, Netherlands, SWBC via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Dear Glenn, Re- WOR 1127: When I lived in South Africa in 1984 and 1985, it was only Springbok Radio which carried commercials, including cigarette commercials, in both English and Afrikaans. The English and Afrikaans services of "Radio South Africa" were non-commercial. If I can pick up the short wave frequencies you mentioned, I will let you know if they carry cigarette commercials (Tim Hendel, AL, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. The Daily Telegraph's take on the "colonial mentality" story. 'BOOZY WHITE MALES KEEP EMPIRE ALIVE' AT WORLD SERVICE By Thomas Penny (Filed: 17/04/2002) THE BBC World Service is dominated by hard-drinking, white, male journalists with a "colonial mentality", an employment tribunal was told yesterday... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/17/nwserv117.xml 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K. At least this piece takes into account the fuss over ending broadcasts to NAm...and links to savebbc.org. LISTENERS DESERT WORLD SERVICE By Tom Leonard (Filed: 17/04/2002) THE BBC World Service lost three million listeners last year, recording its lowest audience for three years, the corporation said yesterday. It blamed the decline on a 12 million fall in listeners in India - where radio is being threatened by growth of television - which more than cancelled out the doubling of listeners in Australia and the 25 per cent rise in America... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/17/nwserv17.xml 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K. BBC PROMS 2002 LAUNCH: THURSDAY 25 APRIL. Nicholas Kenyon, Director of the Proms, will announce the exciting line-up for this summer's festival on Thursday 25 April at 10.30 am, with the new-look website going live that afternoon. This year's Proms take place between Friday 19 July and Saturday 14 September. http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms (Proms mailing list April 18 via DXLD) ** UK [and non]. Next Saturday is International Marconi Day International Marconi Day, organised by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, takes place on Saturday, the 27th of April. It is a 24-hour event held annually on the Saturday closest to Marconi's birthday, the 25th of April 1874. At least 30 'Participating Stations', located at Marconi's original sites or nearby, will be on the air especially for Marconi Day. A special award can be obtained and full details are on the Internet. One of the stations will be operating from RSGB headquarters. Look for GB2MT on all bands from 80 to 2 metres. The Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/ will be running two HF stations from the Chelmsford Science and Industrial Museum at Sandford Mill for Marconi Day. One of these stations will be set up in the original 2MT hut at the museum. Visitors will be most welcome and the museum is open to the public from 10.00am until 5.00 pm. Morse Assessments will be available at the museum between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm. For further information contact David, M0BQC, on 01 245 602 838, or e-mail cars@g0mwt.org.uk (Radio Society of Great Britain April 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U K. BT LOOKING TO 'REDEVELOP' ITS RUGBY RADIO SITE It has been announced that the 1700-acre Rugby radio station site is to be 'redeveloped' by BT. It was brought into service, originally by the Post Office, as a wireless telegraphy station in 1926. A year later it started carrying Royal Observatory time signals and over the next 70 years the station, using the callsigns GBR on 16 kHz and MSF on 60 kHz, was used for sending radio telegrams to ships. The 16 kHz transmissions can also be received by submarines when submerged. The MSF 60 kHz transmitter now carries time signals from the National Physical Laboratory http://www.npl.co.uk/ Its effective radiated power is estimated at 10 to 15 kilowatts, using a T-shaped antenna 180 metres high and 500 metres across the top. Now, with the arrival of satellite communications, much of the Rugby site is becoming redundant, and BT is searching for a partner to redevelop it. Their property agents have estimated its land value alone at nearly 400 million pounds. The current contract for the MSF 60 kHz service extends until 2007. (Radio Society of Great Britain April 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U K. The two GB3BUX beacons on 50.000 MHz and 70.000 MHz located at Harpur Hill, Buxton, have been closed down temporarily for maintenance (Radio Society of Great Britain April 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. In fact, the `WFLA` STL transmitter on 25,870 kHz ***is*** intended for worldwide listening when propagation allows. Of course, they will not state this in writing as it is indeed not licensed as a SWBC station. However, it has (for many years) broadcast 24/7. There is (or at least was) a dipole on the roof of the Gandy studios that was for this transmitter (Terry L. Krueger, FL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. During the time Steve Anderson was active on shortwave, I was very active in monitoring and furnishing tapes to both James Latham and the people at the Commonwealth Journal newspaper in Somerset, KY. In fact, some of the recordings you heard on America's Most Wanted could have come from me. Anyway, because of these contacts, I felt free to phone a reporter at the Journal on Monday and ask her about the shooting in Somerset on Saturday afternoon. This shooting occurred about two hours before AMW was broadcast. Also, there was no suspicion that the person who did the shooting, and who was then in custody, had anything connection with Anderson, or militias. They believed that it was a case of political rivalry (Tim Hendel, AL, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: COUNTRY FANS LOVE RADIO'S JAMBOREE Jamboree USA, on WWVA—1170 Full article at: http://www.washtimes.com/entertainment/20020417-53527536.htm According to a program schedule on WWVA's site, the program is on 1170 kHz every Sat. 6 pm - 11.30 pm EDT. This broadcast has its own website at http://www.jamboreeusa.com/ (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEIST) ** U S A. CPR FUNDING WOWS NPR [CPR stands for Colorado Public Radio] By Joanne Ostrow, Denver Post Radio/TV Columnist Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - National Public Radio is launching a West Coast studio, restructuring and looking at ways to support itself beyond the inevitable begathons. The network is also firing 52 staffers, many of whom may be rehired under a reorganized cultural programming division with an emphasis on arts and entertainment. "We have a very dynamic future," NPR president and CEO Kevin Klose said last week over soda at the Hotel Boulderado. Klose was in town to speak at the University of Colorado and to meet with Colorado Public Radio's Max Wycisk. Imagine: NPR is finding inspiration in CPR. NPR watched with interest the January issue and sale of $6.33 million in revenue bonds by CPR. The bond funding - "essentially borrowing against future listener support," Wycisk said - gave CPR investment-grade credit ratings. The move allowed CPR to borrow money at a lower rate in order to buy stations in Denver, Boulder and Pueblo. It was a first for all of public radio. For NPR the question is, will it work at the national level? According to Wycisk, NPR wants to refinance its headquarters building in Washington, D.C. The public radio network, long criticized as East Coast-centric, this week will announce the purchase of a property in Los Angeles that will become NPR's West Coast multimedia production center, eventually to have 50 staffers. "We need to engage more than we have up to now with what is happening in this part of the country," Klose said, "to be more fully reflective of the national experience." NPR programming boss Jay Kearnis is in charge of an expansion of news on one hand and culture and music on the other. Think CPR's two- channel approach applied to the national model. On the music side, NPR plans to abandon its limited music programming in favor of a 24-hour stream, possibly teamed with existing stations. Stations don't like the current jazz-and-classical music format and want a "stream" they could plug into at any hour. NPR is talking with Colorado Public Radio about a possible partnership to that end; CPR gets an around-the-clock music feed from the University of Southern California's station. Another of NPR's goals, a midday news magazine to complement "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," is expected later this year. (Two new shows touted by Klose are not carried locally: "The Tavis Smiley Show," aimed at the African-American audience, and "The Motley Fool," a weekly hour about money in the way "Car Talk" is about auto mechanics. CPR currently has no plans to add them.) Thinking ahead to TV/radio/Internet convergence, Klose is anticipating NPR with pictures. He's interested in "the ways listeners are going to segue into using these new platforms in different ways. We need to know at NPR what's the visual component. How can we make the video encounter reflect the values of the radio encounter?" Klose, a 25-year veteran of The Washington Post and former director of U.S. International Broadcasting and president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, notes NPR has grown steadily for 17 years while radio audiences generally are down. Lately, with four correspondents in Jerusalem and seven correspondents in Afghanistan and Pakistan, NPR has been providing some of the most measured and thoughtful news and analysis in the American media. Imagine a full-time NPR news and information channel plus a full-time NPR classical music and jazz channel, resembling Colorado Public Radio's twin-channel service. That would allay fears that the network is going lowbrow in a quest for more listeners. The ideas for content are intriguing; now if they can get the business model working. from http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,122%257E529499,00.html (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Pages 2-13 of this document concern digital HF broadcasting. 73, (Benn Kobb, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Released: 04/17/2002. THE FCC'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2003 WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE APPROVES DRAFT PROPOSAL. (DA No. 02- 885). Comments Due: 05/10/2002. IB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-885A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-885A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-885A1.txt (via Benn Kobb, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC WARC 2003 Advisory Committee FCC public notice released today. FCC WARC 2003 advisory committee approves Draft proposal re Digital HF broadcasting, SSB and frequency band use. Twenty pages, thirteen on HFBC. Proposes to delete DSB to SSB transition, open WARC 92 bands to general use in 2007, and add Digital modes. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-885A1.pdf April 17, 2002 THE FCC'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2003 WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE APPROVES DRAFT PROPOSAL I. Informal Working Group 6: Public Protection and Other Issues DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE Doc. WAC/100(04.04.02) ISSUE: Introduction of digital sound broadcasting below 30 MHz The deadline for comments on the draft proposals and NTIA letters is May 10, 2002 (via Donald Wilson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. American Association of Radio Enthusiasts Formed NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 18, 2002--A new organization, the American Association of Radio Enthusiasts (AARE), has been formed to promote Amateur Radio and emergency communications outside traditional amateur circles. The nonprofit corporation also hopes to serve as a conduit for ham radio equipment dealers and manufacturers to exchange ideas and work together on projects. Its stated goal is to help ham radio grow and to double the number of hams in five years. ``We look forward to encompassing all aspects of the Amateur Radio Industry--retail dealers, manufacturers and distributors,`` said ICOM's Ray Novak, KC7JPA, who was chosen to serve as AARE's first president. ``This umbrella organization will provide an important focal point leading to a great future.`` Members of the Amateur Radio industry [sic] decided to create the trade group for dealers and manufacturers during an informal annual meeting of Amateur Radio manufacturers held April 5 in Milwaukee in conjunction with AES Superfest 2002. The organization says it hopes to serve as ``the voice of the manufacturers and dealers in radio,`` much as ARRL speaks for Amateur Radio operators. AARE members will include the manufacturers and dealers of radio and emergency products. Companies who join in the first six months will be charter members of the group. In addition to Novak, an executive team representing many facets of the ham radio industry was chosen to lead AARE's debut year. Other officers include Vice President Rick Ruhl, W4PC, of Creative Services Software, and Secretary-Treasurer Evelyn Garrison, WS7A, who represents Alinco. Gordon West, WB6NOA, of Gordon West Radio School; Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound; and Randy Gawtry, K0CBH, of Timewave Technology will serve on the Board of Directors. The AARE web site http://www.aaregroup.org now under construction, will provide additional information. Dealers and manufacturers of radio products interested in joining AARE may contact Evelyn Garrison evelyn@aaregroup.org for details (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Two papers presented by Kim Andrew Elliott at the April 2002 Broadcast Education Association convention in Las Vegas are available now at http://www.trsc.com/cw/ The titles are: "A Comparison of the Four Media of International Broadcasting" and "An Overview of International Broadcasting Audience Research." (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, April 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO SAWA IN, VOA ARABIC OUT Glenn: A News Now schedule can be found at http://www.voanews.com/newsnow/ -- look for "Broadcast Schedule" is very fine print on the right side. Radio Sawa (also known, but not on the air, as MERN, for Middle East Radio Network) will replace VOA's "traditional" Arabic this weekend. Radio Sawa will take over the present VOA Arabic shortwave schedule. It will also use 1260 kHz MW via Rhodes. The service is also on FM in Amman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait, and via Arabsat, Nilesat, and Hotbird. URL: http://www.radiosawa.com No audio stream as of today, but they say it's coming. Here's the VOA Arabic schedule from http://voa.his.com : 0400 0600 IRA 15380 315 0400 0600 KAV 11670 172 0400 0600 KAV 9680 095 0400 0600 MOR 7255 075 0400 0600 KAV 5965 105 0400 0600 RHO 1260 134 0730 0830 KAV 15355 112 0730 0830 KAV 15205 095 0730 0830 KAV 11995 240 0730 0830 KAV 11910 095 0730 0830 WOF 11820 158 0730 0830 WOF 9765 160 0730 0830 KAV 9715 240 0730 0830 WOF 9660 182 1700 1800 KAV 7105 105 1700 1800 KAV 6040 120 1700 1800 RHO 1260 134 1800 1900 IRA 15545 299 1800 1900 KAV 11825 080 1800 1900 WOF 9505 170 1800 1900 KAV 7105 105 1800 1900 KAV 6040 120 1800 1900 RHO 1260 134 1900 2000 IRA 15545 299 1900 2000 KAV 11825 080 1900 2000 WOF 9505 170 1900 2000 KAV 7105 105 1900 2000 KAV 6040 120 1900 2000 KWT 1548 323 1900 2000 RHO 1260 134 2000 2100 IRA 15545 299 2000 2100 KAV 11895 208 2000 2100 KAV 11825 080 2000 2100 KAV 9620 240 2000 2100 WOF 9505 170 2000 2100 KAV 7105 105 2000 2100 KAV 6160 240 2000 2100 KAV 6040 120 2000 2100 RHO 1260 134 73 (Kim Elliott, VOA, April 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Making my usual check to confirm WOR repeat broadcast as scheduled on WBCQ, UT Thu at 0500, April 18 a few minutes before during disturbed propagation conditions was hearing only VOA Botswana, but they were, fortunately, signing off, clearing frequency just in time for audible WBCQ with WOR. Fine for us in this case, but IBB and WBCQ continue to imagine this be an acceptable frequency sharing, bad news for the program at 0430; Botswana currently scheduled, per IBB website: 7415 0430 0500 VOA F PORT BOT 04 010 7415 1800 1900 VOA B ENGL BOT 01 350 7415 1900 2200 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 7415 2200 2230 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 12345 [M-F] (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WJCR 7490 is about to be relaunched under new ownership April 28 as WJIE, after the FM station in Louisville KY (Glenn Hauser, April 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WINB on new 9319.91, April 14 *0102-0305+; sign on with ID and into English religious programming. Gospel music; ``Way of Truth``, ``Word of the Spirit`` and others. These guys do not ID very often. Only ID heard was at sign-on and at 0301. Very good. Also heard April 13 at 0150-0230+ (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWRB, April 13 2210-2400* on 12172, English religious programming, ID at sign-off, announced switch to 5085; April 14 *0003 on 5085, ID at sign-on and into English religious programming (Bryan Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. MEDIA'S ROLE IN CRISIS BECOMES THE BIG STORY IN VENEZUELA http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62680- 2002Apr16.html?referer=email (via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELA GOVERNMENT TO PROBE MEDIA By James Anderson, Associated Press Writer Thursday, April 18, 2002; 3:21 AM CARACAS, Venezuela –– Venezuela's news media say fear of attacks by President Hugo Chávez's armed supporters stopped them from covering the protests that led to his dramatic return. Much of the media were roundly criticized for meticulously reporting the events leading to the coup that ousted Chávez Friday – then underreporting or ignoring the popular rebellion that restored him on Sunday. Some commentators admitted an anti-Chávez bias in the media. But media managers, used to years of harassment by Chávez supporters, also said coverage was weak because they did not believe the pro-Chávez demonstrations were safe for reporters. One photographer had already been shot in the face and killed during protests earlier in the week. On Wednesday, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists listed a string of attacks on media between Chávez's ouster early Friday and his return to power on Sunday. Supporters smashed the windows of Radio Caracas Television with stones and surrounded Globovisión and Venevisión, the group said. Radio Caracas Television evacuated most of its workers, as did the El Nacional and El Universal newspapers. They and most other newspapers did not publish on Sunday for fear of attacks. "We remain deeply concerned for the safety of Venezuelan journalists," Ann Cooper, the executive director of the group, said in a written statement. Chávez's leftist government, despite new appeals for reconciliation, announced two investigations into the media's conduct during last week's events. Jesse Chacón, president of Venezuela's telecommunications agency, is heading one of them. Chacón had previously drafted media regulations that were condemned by the Inter-American Press Association as an attack on press freedoms. César Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American States, demanded Wednesday that Chávez find a way "to guarantee that journalists can work without fear, without intimidation." While many media in recent months had appeared to openly side with Chávez's opposition, some insisted Chávez had placed them in an untenable position. They said Chávez had repeatedly abused a law to interrupt regular programming, using it to vent personal attacks against individual reporters and news media owners. He took over the airwaves last Monday and Tuesday, broadcasting dozens of messages urging Venezuelans not to join a general strike against his government. On Tuesday, newspapers joined the general strike that eventually led to Chávez's overthrow. During Thursday's protests, Chávez apparently retaliated by shutting down television stations and keeping live coverage of the bloody opposition demonstrations off the air. During the melee, Jorge Tortoza, a 45-year-old photographer for Caracas' Diario 2001 newspaper, was shot in the face and killed. The president's supporters, known as "Chavistas," have been accused of repeatedly harassing Venezuelan reporters. A bomb damaged the offices of Así Es La Noticia newspaper earlier this year. Two prominent reporters received multiple death threats. Chavistas blockaded El Nacional newspaper about the same time, threatening journalists. At least one publisher in eastern Venezuela reported that Chavistas were threatening to burn newsstands that sold his paper. After Chávez's reinstatement, several journalists went into hiding or left the country, saying they feared for their lives. Antagonism between Venezuelan media and the government had been building for some time. With the disintegration of Venezuela's traditional political parties in the 1990s, a vacuum developed, and the media found themselves the only ones checking government conduct and reporting abuses, said Eleázar Díaz Rangel, editor of the newspaper Últimas Noticias. But some media also hosted meetings of anti-Chávez forces in recent months. Díaz Rangel said the editorial policies of some news outlets "were very corrupt, and with a very heavy anti-government position." Globovisión television director Alberto Ravell apologized to viewers for failing to broadcast Saturday's pro-Chávez protests. But he, along with other media managers, said it wasn't safe for reporters. In a conciliatory news conference on Monday, Chávez urged his supporters to let journalists do their jobs – "It's all over, and anyway they aren't to blame for anything," he said – with the caveat that "they should be conscious of the responsibility they have to their family, to their conscience, to ethics." © 2002 The Associated Press (via Dave White, April 18, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. In spite of their political turmoil, Radio Nacional 9540 and Radio Rumbos 4970/9660 don't seem to be on the air. I only heard Radio Amazonas 4939.4 and Ecos del Torbes 4980 in the 60 mb band, so no crisis reactivations here either (Hans Johnson, FL, Apr 13-15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4813 XERTA? 1113 Apr 13 nothing but music, weak signal but my guess would be the Mexican XERTA (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Varies all over the band (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. The Korean story continues... Thanks to DXLD 2-051 tip (Green and Groppazzi) I did random checks on 6715U on Wednesday 17 April. Tune in at 2031, rather strong signal of this preacher. Still some minor distorted audio problems. They signed off at 2038. Assuming they are on DST now the tentative schedule looks like: Friday 2040-2235 Sunday 1740-1915 Wednesday ?? -2038 Sign on/off. Times are approximate (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Yes, that's correct. They [V. of the People of Kurdistan] are now on 7000. Heard here 17 April at 1844 with Arabic ID. Parallel can be found on 4060v. The 6995 have been off the air for some time. Thanks for the info. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-064, April 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1127 available early UT April 18: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1127.html FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2330, Thu 0500 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15685, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIEST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEW FREQUENCY FOR WWCR It seems like WWCR has been on 15685 forever, but from Monday, April 22, that will be over, with a move around 1700 UT to 15825, and from then on daily 1000-2200 UT. This is due to heavy adjacent channel interference and jamming on the old frequency, which, BTW will be declared officially `in band` as early as next year, with 15800 the boundary. This affects WORLD OF RADIO, Thursdays at 2030, and MUNDO RADIAL, Fridays 2115 and Mondays 2130. As for our Saturday night broadcast, 0230 UT Sunday on 5070: It was replaced by an hour-long infomercial from 0200 last week, and will be again this week, with an option to continue, but whether it will is not yet decided. Goodbye, ``DX block``? COMPREHENSIVE SW SCHEDULES BY TIME FOR A-02: http://www.eibi.de.vu/ (Eike Bierwirth, Russia, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. NORTHERN COMMANDER ORDERS IMPROVEMENT IN BROADCAST STANDARDS | Excerpt from report by Afghan Balkh radio on 15 April Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, special representative of the interim administration, deputy defence minister and general operational commander of the northern zone, has issued the following instructions. 26 Oray 1381 [15 April 2002]. To all the departments and information agencies of Balkh, Jowzjan, Sar-e Pol, Faryab and Samangan Provinces. After the fall of the satanic network of the Taleban and Al-Qa'idah in Afghanistan, our dear country is moving towards complete peace and a broad-based national government. [Passage omitted: Loya Jerga will represent the will of the majority of the people, journalists have historical responsibilities]. 1. In broadcasting news and information the basic aims of the [information] agencies should be to ensure peace, [words indistinct] the rule of law and the maintenance of security. Any news contradicting this should not be allowed to be broadcast. 2. The principles and [words indistinct] known values of journalism should not be ignored for the sake of organizational, personal and group interests. 3. Meaningless and unimportant news, which do not meet modern standards, should be prevented. 4. Serious plans should be made to improve broadcasting standards. 5. Important measures should be taken to avoid technical problems. Relevant departments should take serious actions in cases of these measures being ignored and mistakes being repeated. 6. In order to implement these points a commission has been set up, consisting of scholars from the provinces, Afghanistan Milli Eslami Ghurzang, Jamiat-e Eslami of Afghanistan, the Wahdat-e Eslami party, the Harakat-e Eslami of Afghanistan party; the information and culture department, radio and television and members of the government security department to study and discuss the material for daily broadcasts. This commission is authorized to make proposals to the high authorities to take disciplinary action. [Signed] Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, special representative of the interim administration, deputy defence minister and general operational commander of the northern zone. Source: Balkh Radio, Mazar-e Sharif, in Pashto 1430 gmt 15 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. RNA 4950 kHz observed at 1900-1902 in Portuguese audible underneath VoA's silent carrier between IS+ID and abrupt audio feed for news, at 32441; VoA's carrier acted like some noise filter. On 13 Apr, 1838-1856 RNA at 25341 relaying our RDP Internacional for a football match report. On 14 Apr, 1845 at 33342 (VoA's carrier already on), with another RDPi relay for football. Angola is the sole Portuguese African country where the RDP has no (FM) relays, yet RNA uses to relay at least major football matches reports (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Radio Ecclésia via Meyerton is the Angolan as you presumed, good signal on 6100 here April 15th 1859 hymn, 1900 identification in Portuguese as Radio Ecclésia, Emissora Católica de Angola (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DiGEST) ** ARMENIA. 11665, 0357-0401 April 12, VOICE OF ARMENIA. Unidentified station with EZL music until 0358, then dead air until 0400 when returned with Voice of Armenia IS and ID in Armenian twice, then off. Annoying 800 Hz het on low side necessitated using notch filter. S9 signal. Finding the old ILG database extremely limiting, and the update for A02 not expected out until after mid month. Thanks to Wolfgang Bueschel who reports that AWR via Moosbrunn Austria has Persian listed during this time frame as well (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also AWR Moosbrunn Austria scheduled at 0330-0400 in Persian. 11665 0330-0400 39-41 MOS 500 kW 100 degr 3103-271002 Farsi AUT AWR ... see hfcc file, Maybe the Iranian govt set a jamming stn nearby, 800 Hertz away ??? (wb df5sx Apr 15, BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Quite by accident, I discovered an unusual (from a Canadian perspective), talk radio station via the internet. It is 6PR in Perth, Western Australia. During November`s Australian federal election, I was getting really frustrated trying to get Radio Australia on the internet (it wasn`t coming in on shortwave). I guess a LOT of people were trying to access it at the same time --- I kept losing the connection. In frustration, I did a ``google`` search on Australian radio stations. I found a page devoted to stations in Perth. So I clicked on, and scrolled down until I found a talk radio station. It turned out to be 6PR. I listened that time, and just about every day since for at least part of the day…usually while I do my email or some other internet activity. It is strange to listen sometimes. Since Australia is on the opposite side of the world in the southern hemisphere, summer there is winter here; morning is evening and evening is morning. They don`t call it ``downunder`` for nothing. I especially enjoy 6PR`s midnight to 5 am overnight program, which runs from 11 am-4 pm EST. Jon Lewis is the host and he has a great sense of humour and a very casual laid back style, as befits an overnight show. I get the same enjoyment as I used to get from someone like the late John Otto out of Buffalo, NY. There are some pre-planned segments, but it seems for the most part to be what we would call open line. Recently, he had a WW II vet of the RAAF. This gentleman was a spitfire pilot, and Jon had a lengthy chat with him, about flying Spitfires, experiences during the war, what it was like to lose friends, what it was like to shoot someone else down…he asked insightful questions in a conversational and respectful tone. Difficult questions were always prefaced with ``Do you mind me asking about…?`` If the gentleman didn`t want to go there, that was the end of that line of questions. His questioning had the tone of a Peter Gzowski interview. Paul Murray is the mid-morning host. He is a hoot. I`m reminded of an Australian Rex Murphy. He has regular segments with the Western Australia Premier and has had Prime Minister Howard on the air. He also backs down from no one. He treats the powerful no differently than the listener with a lost dog. Fairly. Decently. They have their say, he has his and so does the listener. And he`s not afraid to ask the tough questions. He can be heard in our evenings. The afternoon show is hosted by Jenny Seaton and Gary Carvolth. When I listen to them, I am reminded of The Motts on CFRB (formerly of CJRN down this way in Niagara Falls). They both have a really cheeky sense of humour…very rarely does a minute or two go by without one or the other saying something really funny. They are on btwn about midnight and 3 am our time. If you go to their website, they have some really outrageously funny jokes, and lots of pics of their on location broadcasts. 6PR has some of the most outrageously funny commercials I have ever heard and some of the things that are said on air would never make it here. I think it must be the Australian culture, but callers on more than one occasion have used some rather unparliamentary language. Such as in the case of child molesters ``They should cut their b---s off.`` Its an earthier environment. Nightline, which can be heard in our local mornings, is hosted by Graham Mabury, who just celebrated his 22nd anniversary, despite what the website says. ``Nightline is Perth`s most successful night time talk radio program. ``Graham Mabury has been its host for a remarkable 19 years. ``Nightline uses the intimacy, immediacy and interaction of the talkback format to create a powerful sense of community with generous amounts of time for listeners to voice their opinions. `Nightliners` can expect to hear a wide range of topics ranging from politics to premieres of big events and sports to suicide prevention. If it happens in Perth at night you`ll hear about it on Nightline. ``The program provides entertainment, information and a forum for the vast number of listeners who prefer radio to television. The Nightliner is a faithful and avid fan. Many of Graham`s listeners can boast more than a decade of continual listening. Some claim to have never missed a show! ``Graham is Senior Pastor of Mt Pleasant Baptist Church. He was the founding chairman of Lifeline WA (The Living Stone Foundation) and has served on numerous government advisory committees including juvenile justice, housing, and family and children`s services. He serves on the Board of Ethics of the St John of God Health Care Group and the South Perth Zoological Gardens. He is patron of a number of community service organisations and in May will be made a fellow of the Edith Cowan University.`` (6PR website) I like Graham`s style --- although he is a man of faith, he neither assaults you with it nor hides it. Graham, and all the hosts for that matter, I`ve noted, have taken the time to help listener`s with pension problems, dealing with government or just giving them sound advice or someone willing to listen. Graham is also active with many issues including the homeless, and has won an impressive number of awards. You can hear 6PR via http://www.6pr.com.au As a side note, 6PR`s sister station in Melbourne, 3AW, has a program from 6 to midnight Sunday, Melbourne time (2 am – 8 am Sunday EST) hosted by Bruce and Philip which is well worth a listen called ``Remember When`` they reminisce with listeners about the Australia and England of yesterday. Australian radio dramas of the thirties and forties are played, and one recent episode dealt with Radio Luxembourg of all things and the Ovalteenies (sp?) program of the thirties and forties. http://www.3aw.com.au (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, April DX Ontario via DXLD) [On the times above: Melbourne must have been on UT + 11 AEST when this was written, as Ont was on EST of UT-5. Now Melb is on UT +10 and EDT of UT-4 is in effect. Therefore 1800-2400 AET would now be 0800- 1400 UT, or 4-10 am EDT. As for Perth, WA does not observe DST, so is UT+8 all the time. Program starting at local midnight would be 1600 UT, or noon EDT, etc. --- gh] ** BOLIVIA. 5927, RD [Radiodifusión? Radio Difusora?] MINERÍA. Oruro. 2313-2331* Abril 11. Música tropical, ID: "...Desde el oasis del Altiplano Boliviano en el centro preciso de su dial, transmite CP 212, RD Minería desde la ciudad de Oruro, República de Bolivia..." Luego con el cierre de emisión donde anuncian horario *0945-2330* (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 5952.4, RADIO PIO XII. Siglo XX. 0027-0038 Abril 12. Anuncios de Reparacion de Máquinas Mamani, RBC Estaño. Luego de las 0030 el programa Reporteros Populares. "...Radio Pio XII es la radio, es la radio popular..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. [Non Myanmar clandestine] Dem V of Burma noted 13 April on 15620, carrier on by 1425 then Burmese music and opening announcement with several mentions of 'Democratic Myanmar athan'. Strong signal here. Although 15620 is registered for DVB via Juelich - Germany at 1455- 1530, I'm informed via sources requesting anonymity that this frequency may really now be coming from the R New Zealand International transmitter at Rangitaiki NZ, 1430-1530. That would probably be consistent with reception here, but I can't rule out Juelich either observations of reception other locations would be welcome! (Alan Davies, Surabaya, Indonesia, DXplorer Apr 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) See also NEW ZEALAND ** CAMEROON. Considering that this is a former French colony, I was surprised that the web site for CRTV is primarily in English! On the downside, there was absolutely no mention of radio broadcast frequencies anywhere that I could find. However, you can listen online if you go to http://www.crtv.cm/ (Dr John Barnard, AB, Signals Unlimited, April CIDX Messenger via DXLD) As we philatelists, if not DXers, know, part of Cameroon next to Nigeria was once a British colony (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REVENGE OF THE BLOGGERS DISGRUNTLED MEDIA EMPLOYEES MAKE VOICES HEARD ON WEB by Andy Riga, Montreal Gazette, April 17 As a TV reporter, Jean-Hugues Roy makes a living telling stories about other people. These days, the people he's writing about are his colleagues and his medium is the Internet. Roy's regular gig on the Radio-Canada evening newscast Montréal Ce Soir has been on hold since the CBC and its French-language sister network locked out 1,400 journalists and production workers in Quebec and Moncton, N.B., more than three weeks ago. But instead of just picking up a picket sign, Roy reached for his mouse and latched on to a growing online phenomenon: he created a Web log, or "blog," for short. Blogs are Web-based, frequently updated online diaries that feature the personal musings of bloggers, plus links to interesting items they find as they wander cyberspace. Since the lock-out began March 23, Roy has been working on his blog six hours a day, interviewing, taking pictures, telling stories. He publishes profiles of co-workers, reports on union events, runs letters from colleagues and writes articles about employees in other sectors who have complaints similar to the CBCers'. He also dabbles in gallows humour: a photo essay shows squalid local tenements locked-out workers may have to move into July 1 after landlords throw them out for not paying the rent.... FULL STORY AT: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=9CD7A147-1077-4DF1-83E9-E8691D971875 (via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) ** CANADA. CINF 940 NEWS MONTREAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Hello everyone. I have some advance news of a maintenance shutdown period for three consecutive nights for CINW 940 kHz. Montreal (940 News). The station will be going off the air from Midnight to about 4:30 AM [EDT = UT -4] each of the following nights: April 23rd Midnight into Wednesday, 4:30 AM April 24th Midnight into Thursday, 4:30 AM April 25th Midnight into Friday, 4:30 AM As of now there is not yet any planned work on the 690 kHz transmitter (their sister station CINF Info 690) but seeing as it is at the same transmitter site, I would consider checking it out as well. Thanks to 940 News for informing DXers of this well in advance (Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. GREECE 11760, 0400- April 11, Radio Liberty. North Caucausus service at 0400 sign-on with ID audible in Russian. Equal to cochannel RHC in Spanish, and well above signal level of Biblis 9850 (fair), and 17710 (very poor). Into news in Russian (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHECHNYA [non]. U S A(non): Freqs changes for Radio Liberty in Russian/Avar/Chechen/Cherkessi: 0400-0500 NF 15355 HOL 100/077, ex 17710 \\ 9850 BIB 100/085 11760 KAV 250/095 1700-1800 NF 9810 KAV 250/051, ex 9865 \\ 11760 BIB 100/105 15350 LAM 100/092 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) Taking care of two interference problems reported immediately here 3 weeks ago (gh, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. The Russian Press Minister Mikhail Lesin said at a meeting in Washington with senior officials of Radio Liberty that Russia is concerned over the contents of the station's programs in Chechen broadcast to the North Caucasus. The Minister made the announcement in an interview with the Russian press on Tuesday. Mr. Lesin said he has informed Radio Liberty officials that the Russian side will have to take measures to prevent the programs from being used to advocate and support terrorism. He said Russia expects Radio Liberty to react (Voice of Russia News, April 17, 2002 via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** CHINA. SPECIAL DRM DEMONSTRATION TRANSMISSIONS EUROCHINA 2002 Some more special transmissions are starting on Sunday [14th], this time beamed to Beijing, China. These are in connection with an event called EuroChina 2002 14-20 April 2002. For details, see http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html Merlin/BBC via Nakhon Sawan, Thailand 0100-1100 21735. Thales AG/ABRS via Hainan, China 0100-1000 15310 17635 21700, all towards Beijing (via Wolfgang Büschel via Olle Alm, DXLD) See last item! Just what I thought - one of the new Chinese sites is located far more to the south than the others and may be co-located with the Dongfang MW transmitter. Dongfang is near the western end of Hainan Island, but so far the SW site appears to be used only for jamming. And adding DRM tests is so to say in line with the regular jamming... (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Voice of the Strait: I have a follow up to the report by Roland Schulze in BC-DX 570. I listened to it yesterday (Sun 14 April 0930-1000 UT on 6115 kHz) and as he said, the English spoken by the presenters was not perfect; it was more a literal reading of the English language and not idiomatic. I feel the name of the program is "Focus on China", not "Folks On China" as he thought; given the quality of the language throughout the program, I can understand why he thought he heard "Folks On China"! Incidentally, reception wasn't bad here, but spoilt by splash from HCJB on 6110 kHz (Barry Hartley, New Zealand, BC-DX Apr 14 via DXLD) From their web site: MW 666 and SW 6115 have news and politics. FM 90.6 and SW 7280 have entertainment and life programs. MW 873 and SW 4940 and SW 11590 have Amoy language programs. Has a list of their program schedule. Because it's a PLA (People's Liberation Army) station, there are numerous programs related to military matters. Logs from April 7th through 11th: 7th and 8th: 6115.0 \\ 7280.0, at 0927 music program. 9th: 6115 \\ 7280 \\ 11590.0, starts to be \\ at 1005, Chinese program. 11590, at 1355 Chinese program about dental health, ads, could not make out the ID, not \\ to 6115 or 7280. 10th: 7280, at 1146 light Chinese music, 6 pips (5 long, 1 short), ID for FM 90.6 ("FM" in English), this was the only positive ID heard this week, not \\ to 6115 or 11590. 6115, at 1356 interview about the economy of Taiwan, pips (two sets of pips, one on top of the other), could not make out ID, traditional Chinese folk music. 11th: 6115 \\ 7280 \\ 11590, become \\ at 1005. It's interesting to note that WRTH and PWBR both list China Huayi B/C for 11590 (Ron Howard, CA, DXplorer Apr 12 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. Frequency changes for China Radio International: 1030-1127 Indonesian NF 11700 KUN, ex 11955 1100-1127 Esperanto NF 9590 KUN, ex 11925 1130-1157 Burmese NF 9590 KUN, ex 11825 1200-1257 Cantonese NF 17680 XIA, ex 11965 1200-1257 English NF 9730 BEI, ex 9715 1200-1357 English NF 11760 KUN, ex 11675 1400-1457 English DEL 11825 XIA 1600-1627 Turkish NF 11740 URU, ex 9570 1600-1657 Arabic NF 15125 BKO, ex 13685 1700-1727 Swahili NF 11640 BKO, ex 13685 1700-1757 English NF 15205 JIN, ex 15265 1700-1757 English DEL 9670 KUN 1730-1827 Hausa NF 11640 BKO, ex 15550 1800-1857 German NF 11650 URU, ex 11900 1800-1857 Farsi DEL 11740 BEI 1830-1857 Farsi DEL 11880 KUN 1830-1927 Arabic NF 15125 BKO, ex 15550 1900-1957 English DEL 11750 BEI 1930-1957 Portuguese NF 11640 BKO, ex 11735 1930-1957 Portuguese NF 15125 BKO, ex 15550 1930-1957 Turkish DEL 9680 BEI 2000-2057 Mandarin DEL 11750 BEI 2000-2127 English NF 11640 BKO, ex 11735 2000-2127 English NF 13630 BKO, ex 13640 2030-2127 French DEL 11760 URU 2100-2157 Arabic DEL 11750 BEI 2130-2227 French NF 12015 URU, ex 11760 2300-2357 English NF 13680 SAC <<< additional [last one has been there since last year, in reality –gh] (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. From an article on AllAfrica.com: Radio Okapi, a UN radio network with a particular focus on peace- making efforts, noted that due to technical difficulties, it has been unable to broadcast on shortwave. Radio Okapi was launched in the DRC 25 February to coincide with the convocation of the inter-Congolese dialogue. It has since been broadcasting news programmes in French, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba, including reports on the ICD, three times per day on FM stations in the cities of Kinshasa, Kisangani and Goma. Within about two months, this situation should have been rectified with broadcasts available on 9550 kHz throughout most of the country --- Full story [but nothing additional about radio] at http://allafrica.com/stories/200204160390.html Best regards, (Dave White, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. 13830: Croatian Radio 2130 UT. Talk by YL in presumed Croatian. ID given then long talk (news?) by YL until (approx 2135) then into pop music. Announcement by YL at 2157 then National Anthem; test tones at 2129:55 then ID by OM and into news with mention of Mideast crisis. All presumed in Croatian. Great Polkas after 2115 and at re-check at 2250. Abrupt off at 2259. VG signal (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA [non]. GERMANY 13820, 0707- April 13, VOICE OF CROATIA. English news at fair to good level with local Croatian news. Haven't seen this station logged in a while. No parallels listed (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Frequency change for Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish to Am: 0000-0500 NF 9600 USB (55444), ex 11705 \\ 11760 (43343) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) `Tis the season for RHC to change frequencies one at a time without issuing a comprehensive new schedule (gh, DXLD) As transmissões da Rádio Havana Cuba, em português, agora estão em 17705 kHz, apesar do site da emissora anunciar 15250 e 15230 kHz. Os horários: das 2200 às 2230 e das 2300 às 2330 UT (Célio Romáis, Porto Alegre - Brasil, April 15, radioescutas via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. GOVERNMENT WANTS TO BUILD NEW PREMISES FOR US- FUNDED RADIO | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 12 April: The Czech government wants to build a new building for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Lidove noviny writes today, referring to the minutes from the April meeting of the National Security Council. "A new building, but rather land is sought for the construction of an entirely new RFE building. The funding of the building is also being discussed," the paper quotes Foreign Minister Jan Kavan as saying according to the minutes. Kavan's team has been negotiating on moving the radio from the centre of the city for a few months. RFE is headquartered in the building of the former Federal Assembly close to Wenceslas Square. Since the terrorist attacks against the USA last September the US-funded building has been faced with a heightened security risk and it has been guarded by soldiers and armoured vehicles. The National Security Council decided already in December to start negotiating with the RFE/RL representatives on the possibility of moving the station from the city centre. The government has offered several buildings all of which have however been rejected by the radio management. They want a fully equipped and ready to use building close to the metro (underground). That is why the management have rejected buildings on the outskirts of Prague, Lidove noviny writes. RFE/RL moved to Prague from Munich in 1995. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0952 gmt 16 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 3279.8, L.V. DEL NAPO. Hago un comentario sobre esta emisora que aún continúa presentado programación regular en Quechua y español a las 0900 hasta las 2255. Ya que desde las 2300 a las 0859 retransmitiendo la señal de Radio María Ecuador, y en ocasiones Radio María Colombia en paralelo con los 1220 khz acá en Bogotá (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Some new frequencies of Radio Cairo for A-02: 7315 1800-1900 Russian ex 6120 11540 1000-2300 Arabic General Sce ex 9850 11635 1530-1630 Uzbek ex 9620 15425 1900-2030 Fulani ex 9720 15620 1600-1815 Zulu/Shona/Ndebele ex 15475 17675 1200-1700 Arabic General Sce ex 17670 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 9900: Radio Cairo in English April 12. Open carrier from 2300 to 2315 time pips then talk in EE with usual poor modulation. Not sure what happened from 2240 to 2300 with the modulation. 9990: Radio Cairo in English through s/off announcement, National Anthem at 22:40, April 12. Excellent signal and even good modulation of voice (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. While this long feature touches only briefly on broadcasting, how often do we hear anything at all about this country? U.S. OIL POLITICS IN THE 'KUWAIT OF AFRICA' by Ken Silverstein http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020422&c=1&s=silverstein (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Finally, a website with useful broadcast information! Too bad you need to put up with those annoying Angelfire pop-ups. Anyhow, there is an English section in which to gete broadcast times and frequencies: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/radioethiopia/ (Dr John Barnard, AB, Signals Unlimited, April CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. R Georgia in A-02 in English to: NEu 0630 11805. 1930 11760 SEu 0730 6080 Tue, Thu 1830 6080 Sat, Sun WEu 0830 11910 1830 11910 ME 0930 11910 1630 6180 Reported: 0600 Ru, 0630 En, 0700 Ge on 11805, 0800 Fr, 0830 En on 11910 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April 6, BC-DX Apr 17 via DXLD) ** HAWAII. One of the oldest callsigns, KMVI has partially disappeared, as KMVI-FM in Wailuku changes format to Jawaiian and becomes KJMD-FM or Da Jam. KMVI-AM remains with this callsign. Jawaiian is the hot new format sweeping Hawaii for over 12 months now, with more and more stations switching to the local part Hawaiian part Japanese music format (April NZ DX Times via DXLD) ** INDIA. 4850: AIR Kohima 1231 UT April 14. EE News until 1235 then into local language. VG 4970: AIR Shillong 1307 UT April 14. EE pop music program to 1315 with full ID "This is the North Eastern Service of All India Radio broadcasting from Shillong on 65 meters short-wave transponding to 4970 kHz", then into local language. VG (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Friends, As I had pointed out earlier in this reflector, the printed schedule and web site of AIR listed 13685 kHz for Tamil and Telegu broadcast to SE Asia at 1115-1245 for A-2002 period, but actually it was monitored on the old frequency of 13700 kHz itself. I informed the "concerned officals" about this and it has been since been changed to 13685 kHz from yesterday. "It was due to an oversight at the transmitting centre" !!! 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad 500082, India, April 16, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 15150.03 - Voice of Indonesia, 15 April, 1902 UT, SINPO 54444! Farewell announcement in German, then announcement in English that French service is to follow at "19.00", but then only a long silence. A bit later they started playing the next tape - but at half speed!! Stopped it soon, then silence (open carrier) till 1911+ (this was the moment I declared it necessary to sleep, after DX weekend ;-) (Eike Bierwirth, Rx=JRC-NRD525, 10m wire, Stary Petergof, RUS-78, St. Petersburg metropolitan oblast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. Schedule summer 2001, and additional 15084 kHz too. ARABIC 0230-0427 7155 11935 0230-0627 9790 0230-1627 15150 0330-0527 17610 0430-1627 15125 0930-1227 21520 21545 21655 1030-1527 13675 1330-1927 9860 1630-1927 6025 11740 11840 1730-1927 6200 1830-1927 9705 2030-2127 6025 9860 11740 11840 2030-0127 6200 9705 2130-0127 11710 0130-0227 9705 IRIB's Arabic schedule summer 2002, and additional 15084 kHz too. 6025 1630-2130 38,39 KAM 500 238 145 6200 1730-0130 39,40 AHW 250 0 935 7155 0230-0430 39,40 ZAH 500 0 935 9705 1830-0230 39,48,53 MAS 500 210 146 9790 0230-0530 39S KAM 500 178 146 9860 1245-2130 38,39 KAM 500 250 145 11710 2130-0130 4,7-10 SIR 500 340 218 11740 1630-2130 37-39 MAS 500 270 146 11840 1630-2130 27,28 KAM 500 304 215 11935 0230-0630 38,39,47,48 KAM 500 238 145 13675 1030-1530 39S,40S KAM 500 178 146 15125 0430-1630 39 MAS 500 210 146 15150 0230-1630 38,39 MAS 500 270 146 17580 0930-1230 39,47,48 SIR 500 245 156 21545 0930-1230 41,49,54,55,59 SIR 500 120 218 (hfcc via BC-DX April 17 via DXLD) Isn`t 15084 mostly in Farsi? (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. LITHUANIA: Good reception in Bulgaria for new Radio Avaye Ashena in Farsi on April 14, 1000-1100 Sun only on 9710 (55444) via SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to Eu (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. After tuning in to the attached file 9155 I can say that: this language is NOT Arabic; it's sort of a dialect called the ASSYRIAN, mainly for people living in Iraq. So the ID was like HUNA SOUT DEMOKRATIY ASHURIA. It's really close to Arabic so I can understand it. In English it's ``Here's Voice of the Democratic Assyrian) More info when I try them as you said in Arabic around 1830. It'd be much easier for me to understand and give a 100% ID. So wait for the REAL news tomorrow :-) Yours, (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, April 16, via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Following items in BC-DX were filed under AZERBAIJAN upon assumption that be transmitter location of 9155; we should probably make it KURDISTAN [non] instead... (gh, DXLD) 9155 kHz observed in Kurdish and Arabic: Feb 24 0800-0900; Mar 16 0757-1110; Mar 30 0820-1206 close down; Mar 31 1720-1905; Apr 1 1655- 1720. At 1820 ID in Arabic 'Idaatu Ashui, Sowto Demokratia (Tashelia or Falestinia) ...' (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX, Apr 5, via DXLD) Monday Apr 8th, at 1600 UT on 9155. Non Stop-music of IRQ/AFG type. Muesste eigentlich Baku Azerbaidjan sein ... (Herbert Meixner, Austria, A-DX Apr 9 via BC-DX via DXLD) This is really a strange transmission! S-on at 1655 and s-off 1901. Starting and ending in a language which could be Kurdish. In between speaking mostly in Arabic and probably a third lang, maybe and Azeri dialect. No positive ID heard, but mentioned "Kurdistan al-Iraq" in the Arabic news. Is this an Azeri "clandestine" towards northern Iraq? (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX Apr 11 via BC-DX via DXLD) I did some web searching as Bernd suggested and "Qolo" seems to be "Kala" in North Assyrian, which is spoken in Iraq. Only one word not understood at all: "Qolo ... Demokratiya Aturaya". So this is the Voice of Democratic Assyria. But is this via Azerbaijan? Nineveh web page webmaster replied after listening to my file: "It said: Voice of Ashor, then VOICE OF ZOWAA, Assyrian Democratic party. Apparently the language was kind of Western Dialect which is also known as Suryoyo. There is a big community in Sweden and Europe. I also felt that the speaker had Russian accent So ! if it could be broadcasting from Armenia or Georgia." So it can be called Voice of The Assyrian Democratic Party (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX Apr 15 via DXLD) A further websearch revealed that the program is called "Qala D Ashur", and it has a website: http://www.zowaa.com/ashur A realaudio version is available. Email: ashur@zowaa.com ZOWAA is the abbreviation for the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Apr 15 via DXLD) With all due respect, I'm not sure I would make that connection that this site represents the program Mauno heard. Yes, there is a program with this name, but the file is almost two years old. Indeed, much of the site hasn't been updated in two or three years. The program is only 22 minutes long and doesn't sound much like what Mauno had. What I heard was mostly music. This site also lists a R Ashur from Detroit, but this is an hour long on a commercial station there. We have a lot of this stuff in the USA, programs for local ethnic communities that have similar names to programs on SW. There also seem to be a number of Zowaa sites out there. Out of the ones I found the http://zowaa.org seemed to be the most up to date. While all these sites seem to tell us about Zowaa, I don't think we have found the site yet connected specifically to the SW radio program. There may not even be one (Hans Johnson-USA, Apr 16, BC-DX via DXLD) 9155 clandestine - two clips of August 2001 in CRW ! Today heard at *0743-1059* on 9154.93 an UNID (most likely clandestine) in a language which I called "bad Arabic". 8 clips with IDs, Poor-to-Fair, are available from me. Just one word "dimokratiya" was positively recognised. In general ID sounded to my ears as something like "saul'at' dow'ha'dimokratiya'ashuraya" (very tentative). I'm ready to send clips to any of us, who'd like to try it. Summary of what been heard: Location: AZE or near (mostly on my guess, no direction findings been applied) Broadcaster: likely clandestine ("demokratiya" mentioned in stn's name), no IS, ID at the very start and before s.off Transmitter: possibly Azerbaijan's government. Modulation: good (we had many reports about 9155 CLA/AZE/even TKM during recent year (or two) Language: bad Arabic (not native for announcers), possibly mixed with Kurdish. Not Azeri. Announcers: two (W+M) IDs: full schedule given by W voice. By M - short IDs only. Both looks like pre-recorded. Program: Azeri-Arab songs/music mix (also other Turk type). All IDs/freq announcements were given during songs. It looks like unattended (prerecorded). Nothing of real-time nature was observed. IDs/freq announcements - the only verbal pieces, the major rest - song/music (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, Aug 14, 2001 for Clandestine Radio Watch via BC-DX April 17, 2002 via DXLD) Looks like another "regular clandestine" service started on 9155v (slight off down). The same broadcaster signed on today quite abruptly at 0744. Music/sx. Nothing personal, but mx resembling Arab/Azer, even Fr chanson at times (accordion) First ID (M,W, both in Arabic) after 0800 (no TS, etc, at Top of hour). News in ARABIC at 0830-0845'30". Short ID as "Izaatu' ash-shariya". News read by M in good Arabic. Surely - 'real-time'. My conclusion: yesterday broadcasting was of 'test' nature, probably the last test- day. "Ash'shuriya Dimokratiya" mentioned few times. Mobilizing all my scanty Arabic I could suppose that this unID is broadcasting in Arabic lang into/for Kurdistan (Kurd people)(?). Did not do any record today. But IDs are the same as yesterday. Today's signal is definitely stronger: with Sangean 909 in car F/G overall (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, Aug 15, 2001 in DX-plorer-ML via BC-DX April 17 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A TIME FOR SELF-CRITICISM, BY DAVID NEWMAN (April 10) - Reading the usually critical Israeli newspapers and listening to the television and radio broadcasts during the past 10 days, was a bit like listening to a watered-down version of George Orwell's newspeak - a government-sponsored version of events which paints everything in simple black and white... http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/10/Opinion/Opinion.46636.html (Jerusalem Post via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 6972.99 - Galei Zahal, 14 April, 2105 UT, in Hebrew with pop music, interesting to hear that it seemed to be pro-peace songs. Had they also played Jackson Browne's "Lives in the balance", I would have guessed it to be an anti-government station! SINPO 42332 due to a het with something unmodulated on 6974.6, with notch filter and "narrow" turned SINPO to 43333. (LSB also but then poor audio). (Eike Bierwirth, Rx=JRC-NRD525, 10m wire, Stary Petergof, RUS-78, St. Petersburg metropolitan oblast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. R Kashmir, Srinagar, India. Approximately six months ago I sent a RR with an enclosed cassette tape addressed to Sri L. Rehman, Station Director, R Kashmir, using registered mail. It was part of my ongoing (and as yet unsuccessful) pursuit of several years to obtain a QSL from this station. I had obtained Sri Rehman's name from a "QSL veri signer" listing on an internet site. Several days ago the mailing containing the report and cassette tape were returned to me intact by the postal system, with the handwritten notation on the back that Sri L. Rahmen (note spelling difference) has been retired for 18 years!! So folks, I guess this is one hot tip that can be crossed off the list (Ed Tilbury, Alaska to WWDXC TopNews, Apr 13, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. VOICE OF FREE JAMMU AND KASHMIR / AZAD KASHMIR RADIO I expected the daylight saving time of +6 UTC in PAK to change the sked time. But VOFJ&K remains on the old sked. 1300 s-on on 5101. English at 1400. As I type this I am listening to it at 1416. At 1430 5101 went off and the transmitter is now on 4791. It also appears that Azad Kashmir R is sticking to the old sked. However on 12/4 when I check 4791 at 1730 it was not there. So maybe they have curtailed transmissions and s-off time is keeping with the new times (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. U K/SOUTH KOREA: Freq change for RKI in French via SKN 250 kW / 150 deg to Eu: 1900-2000 NF 6045 (54554), ex 3955 (106 deg), but station announced 3955 \\ 15600 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. See IRAQ [non] ** LAOS. The new A02 frequency season cleared the co-channel interference to the Lao National R on 7145. Very listenable signals 1330-1400 English. They have some nice programs featuring Lao traditional life. Their English news is at 1345. S-off varies between 1355-1400 with the National Anthem (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Apr 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Defence station on 6570 appears to be back on regular power, fair signals on the 2m mobile antenna!!! at 1425 April 13 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 4725: Radio Myanmar 1250 UT April 12. Local music and possible News at 1300 read by YL. VG but got clobbered by the US Military Global High Frequency Service (GHFS) at 1303 UT. 5985.8: Radio Myanmar 1255 Aril 12 Local song and language & 1220 UT April 13 English language lessons. VG. April 13 EX. (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also below NEW ZEALAND ** NEW ZEALAND. Hi Paul, I have had several requests for information as to whether RNZI has any connection with the DVB, and all I can say to people is that the DVB and speculation about a second transmitter will feature in RNZI Mailbox next week. Cheers, (Adrian Sainsbury, RNZI, via Paul Ormandy, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BURMA [non] ** NEW ZEALAND. Glenn, I just checked the NZ National Radio website, The Graduate is a ten-part series, going to Fri April 19. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont,. April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0930-0945 on 11675 ** NIGER. 9705.74, La Voix du Sahel, 2222 Apr 13, Cuban music, male announcer in French saying hello to Cotonou and Dakar, possible ID, more songs, phone calls between songs, saying goodbye at 2255, into Arabic Qu'ran?, then National Anthem, at 2258 (matches NA at http://www.countryreports.org/sounds/niger.mid --- brief test tone, then off at 2300; wobbly carrier ranging from .74 to .78; tnx David Ross (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NORWAY. UKEsenderen. Odd Erling aus Trondheim bat mich um die Weiterleitung seiner Mail, in der er bekanntgibt, dass nun die 38 QSL Briefe fuer die Sendungen im Herbst 2001 verschickt wurden. QSL Student sender in Trondheim, autumn 2001. Hello, as you have proven that your English skills are way better than my German skills, I hope that you will be so kind as to inform the A- DX mailing list that our QSL-manager finished his work last Friday. A total of 38 (Hm, funny, I thought it was closer to 50!) verifications were mailed to recipients in 12 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK). The QSL-letters (Unfortunately, the small number of verifications we get don't justify a custom run of QSL-cards!) were air-mailed Friday, and ought to arrive within the week. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude towards those who listened for UKEsenderen and sent us a listener report. Their response is vital to our continued operation as one of Europe's smallest special event stations. Now, back to work on the 3CX1500-powered PA which will (hopefully) be finished before UKEsenderen 2003 hits the airwaves in September 2003. It has been "almost finished" since UKEsenderen '97... :-) LC8MAT, Odd Erling, ARK. Actual newspaper headline: "Kids Make Nutritious Snacks". (via Uwe Volk, Germany, A-DX Apr 15, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY [and non]. 9737.47 - Radio Nacional del Paraguay, in Spanish. 12 April, first at 2150 UT with SINPO 33333 already, and again at 2339 with 44333. Many promotions, program previews, and some news at midnight UT (2000 horas locales), and a piano concert after more promotion. The Egyptians must have had a strange inspiration to chose 9740 for their Spanish transmission to Latin America starting at 0045! Also strong here, Paraguay listening of course no more pleasant. Who does win the fight in South America? Maybe someone happens to know? (Will be a horrible het, at least). Recording at: http://poolins.phychem.uni-leipzig.de/~pge98crf/paraguay (Eike Bierwirth, Rx=JRC-NRD525, 10m wire, Stary Petergof, RUS-78, St. Petersburg metropolitan oblast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5005.4, RADIO LTC. Juliaca. 0000-0030 Abril 10. Gracias a los reportes de varios colegas pude escuchar esta emisora con el espacio noticioso; LTC Noticias Edición Nocturna (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 5557.6, RADIO COMERCIAL LAJAS, Lajas. 0010-0022 Abril 12. Escuchada esta emisora con su habitual programación musical anunciando los 1070 khz del AM, por lo que no concuerda con un posible armónico reseñado por Malm en SWB via DXLD (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 5637.3, RADIO PERU. San Ignacio. 0050-0130 Abril 12. Esta emisora desde hace algunas semanas presenta una programación regular únicamente por la noches desde las 0000v a 0200, con música presentada por el gerente Óscar Vásquez Chacón. Singular la reseña del saludo de la emisora a TIN en Japón que figura en DXLD 2-059; será que este colega ha reportado la escucha a la emisora y de ahí el saludo, lamentablemente para él no creo que lo haya podido escuchar (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 5940.2, RADIO MELODÍA. Arequipa. 0635- 0730 Abril 12. Ex 5995?? Escuchada esta emisora con el cubrimiento de los acontecimientos en Venezuela en cadena con el canal Globovisión. "... Melodía con la noticia, la caída del dictador Chávez en Venezuela..." En la lista HCDX reportan ya la escuha de esta emisora en Europa, mas no la habían logrado identificar. "...1,44 de la mañana, informando Melodía en la noticia con Globovisión de Venezuela..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) [another log below] 6537.6, UNID. ???. Perú. 1010-1035 Abril 11. Capté una señal con música vernacular peruana y comentarios en lengua vernacular, con corte abrupto a las 1035; luego el día 12 también en el mismo horario. Considero que se puede tratar de Radio Paucartambo, pero no logré mayores datos para confirmar esto. Los dias 13 y 14 no se escuchó nada (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, April 15, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Estimado Rafael: La emisora no identificada que mencionas, es Radiodifusora Huancabamba, escuchada recientemente el pasado DX Camp en Chascomus. Aqui va el detalle de mi escucha: 6536.05, Rdif. Huancabamba, 2324-2332, 13 Abril 2002, programa con música andina, principalmente sanjuanitos, e identificándose como "Huancabamba"; emitían en ese momento el programa llamado "Por la senda de la Salud". Escuchada con SINPO: 35333. Espero el dato sea de utilidad (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 5940.06, 14 April, 0015, Radio Melodía, Arequipa. Weak signal getting better, with Peruvian folklore, non-stop, then at 0030 shifting to phone program, male DJ live and time checks and at 0045 a lovely ID "...con cuarenta y cincos minutos en Radio Melodía, .. en compañía... [en romaría.?] ... la emisora de mayor sintonía. " Just QSA 1-2, splashes from 5935 and 5945 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 13565.4, Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca. 2345+ April 13. Spanish transmission. Tropical music. Time check. Greetings for Tarapoto. 24442. In the official frequency (6782.2), the SINPO is 22322 (Arnaldo Slaen, Chascomus DX Camp, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Here's the current RDPi schedule with the usual notes in English I prepared. It was not until yesterday that the RDP finally sent me the full schedule, which contains more data than what's found in their website. I suspect the currently inactive broadcasts are due to the installation work for the new antenna and transmitter, not to mention that from the seven 100 kW units, 1-2 are out of service, meaning all that the São Gabriel HF site can count on are 5 x 100 kW (sometimes even less than that) + 1 x 300 kW. The long awaited [Thales] 300 kW transmitter is to be put into service in June, along with new Europe and S America aerials, and that's when I'll ask to visit and photograph the site again too! (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, April 11, BC-DX via DXLD) RDP Portugal current A-02 schedule Portuguese Mon-Fri: EUR 0500-0755 9815 LPV 30 degr / 11 dB 0500-0755 11960 RHOS 52 / 20 0645-0800 11850# HRS 55 / 18 0800-1200 12020 LPV 30 / 11 0800-1200 11960 RHOS 52 / 20 1600-1900+ 15445 RHOS 52 / 19 1600-1900 15525 LPV 30 / 11 [15525 kHz to EUR 1600-1900 M-F has been observed lately on new 15530 to avoid co-ch QRM, but only a single day; now back on 15525.] 1600-1900 17650 RHOS 66 / 20 1900-2300* 13720 LPV 30 / 11 ME 1300-1500 21810 RHOS 81.5 / 19 AF 1000-1200 21830 HR 142 / 18 1600-1900 17680% HR 144 / 20 1900-2300* 11945% HR 144 / 20 USA/CAN 0500-0700 15585 RHOS 310 / 19 1200-2300* 17575 RHOS 294 / 20 2300-0200 9715 RHOS 294 / 19 2300-0200 11655 RHOS 310 / 20 VEN 1900-2300* 21540 RHOS 261 / 19 2300-0200 13700 RHOS 261 / 19 Brazil/Capo Verde/Guinea 1000-1200 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1000-1200$ 21725 RHOS 215 / 20 1600-1900 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1600-1900+$ 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 1900-2300* 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 Brazil 2300-0200 13660 RHOS 215 / 18 2300-0200 15295 RHOS 215 / 18 Sat and Sun: EUR 0700-1345 12020 LVP 30 / 11 0700-1345 13640 RHOS 52 / 20 0830-1000 11995# HRS 55 / 18 1400-2000 13770 RHOS 66 / 20 [RDP outlet on 13770 kHz spread out a very wide 'unclean' signal, some distortion was wide of about 50 kHz from 13745 to 13795 kHz (wb df5sx, Apr 14)] 1400-2000+ 15555 LPV 30 / 11 1900-2300* 13720 RHOS 52 / 20 AF 0700-1655 21830 RHOS 142 / 18 1700-2000 17680% RHOS 144 / 22 1900-2300+* 11945% RHOS 144 / 18 USA/CAN 1200-2000+ 17575 RHOS 294 / 20 VEN 1200-2000 17615 RHOS 261 / 19 1900-2300* 21540 RHOS 261 / 19 Brazil/Capo Verde/Guinea 0700-2000 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1200-2000$ 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 2000-2300+* 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 All 100 kW from Centro Emissor de Onda Curta São Gabriel, except marked % = 300 kW. # marked which is via Pro-Funk [Deutsche Welle] Sines relay 250 kW. + may be extended up to 2300. * reserved for extended schedule ONLY. $ temporarily suspended. URL: http://www.rdp.pt (C. R. de Assunção Gonçalves, Portugal, via BC-DX, Apr 11 via DXLD) I observed the RDPi 13 Apr 2145 whilst airing the evening's 2nd major football match report on the Suns/Sats frequencies used for extended/special broadcasts via just 6 transmitters: 15555 kHz 30 degr N Europe, 13720 52 degr C Europe, 11945 144 degr Af, 17575 294 degr N Am, 21540 261 degr N/S Am and 21800 215 degr B-CV-Guiné axis, all of which may confirm that is the maximal number of transmitter units able to be put into service out of a total of 8, including the 1989 AEG unit of 300 kW. The special bc ended 2200 immediately after a super fast HF+sat. QRGs announcement by a rather hoarse-sounding voiced announcer (who even mis-read 2 QRGs) as if his dinner was pressing him into the bathroom... In case of need, no average person would have been able to write down the QRGs... This is only a typical example of how certain public services can be rendered to the public in a flagrant disrespect towards both the audience and the taxpayers, mainly the former as the latter don't listen to RDPi or are simply ignorant about its existence, which happens anywhere re an overseas service, regardless which country. As to the announced new equipment, I phoned the RDPi HF site late this afternoon for another matter, and the technician on duty confirmed the new 300 kW THALES unit is on its place, yet not fully installed, and no new aerials (for Eu and SAm) were erected so far. As a matter of fact, my call was to ascertain whether 2 QRGs had been changed as they weren't audible, but what happened was that the 300 kW AEG transmitter (currently used for Africa only) had a major break down and at 1745 they were still endeavouring to use an old 100 kW unit for 17680, a process which was causing power supply disruptions for the N/S Am and Venezuela QRG 17615 kHz transmitter. On the technical side, this is just another of the typical and perhaps not rare problems experienced by the RDPi HF site, given the conditions imposed on it. The HF site became the "black sheep" of the RDP for too long, and, as we say, it seems the technicians there "do the possible and the impossible" to keep it running (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, April 14, BC-DX via DXLD) RDP 13770 kHz war 50 kHz breit bis hinunter 13745 kHz zugange, stoerte auch meine Empfangsversuche von Cuba Esperanto 13750 1930 bzw. 2000 UT, nach Abschalten Lissabon 2001 UT war Cuba mit S=2 in Franzoesisch zu hoeren (wb, Apr 14, BC-DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. 9355 - Golos Pravoslavia (Voice of Orthodoxy) via Kazakhstan, 12 April, 1530-1600 UT, SINPO 54444, in Russian. In the background the Iranian bubble jammer, the Mullahs apparently thought it to be V of Mojahed. Lecture of a book telling how to live. At the end a switching error provided me with a new "relay" - after the VoO chimes the Voice of Russia IS was heard, and they switched off only after the "Govorit Moskva". Recording at: http://poolins.phychem.uni-leipzig.de/~pge98crf/pravoslavia (Eike Bierwirth, Rx=JRC-NRD525, 10m wire, Stary Petergof, RUS-78, St. Petersburg metropolitan oblast, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. Hier ein paar Links zu Somaliland und R Hargeysa: http://www.dm.unipi.it/~jama/mypage/idaacadda.html http://members.rogers.com/anisa4742/ecran.htm http://www.somalilandforum.com/External%20Links.htm http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Electronic/Shortwave_Radio_15511.html (Juergen Greunig, Germany, A-DX Apr 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In `HeartBeat`, biotechnology and raising plants for health Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In our arts magazine `Spectrum`, we meet an Iraqi poet in exile and a Romanian painter, Nordic jazz, and a British dance group Sunday: Moe and kiddy band Peaches in `Sounds Nordic` (SCDX/MediaScan April 17 via DXLD) ** SYRIA. 12085: Radio Damascus, 2040 UT April 13. The end of "Welcome to Syria" program. VG with usual transmitter hum (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. FRANCE/TAIWAN: New transmission for RTI in French via Issoudun 500 kW / 190 deg to WAf: 2200-2300 on 12060 (55444), but station announced 12160!!! New transmission for RTI in Chinese via Issoudun 500 kW / 345 deg to WEu: 2200-2300 on 3965 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 16 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Verification letter via email received from R Tajikistan after an email report. Quote: "Dear Sir your reception report was found correct. Thank you for your listening. Sincerely, Nasrullo Ramazonov Radio Tajikistan, World Service" 73s (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. VOICE OF TIBET introduced a repeat of its 1215-1300 transmission at 1430-1515 on the 4th of April. By the 8th, China found it and started jamming it on 21650. Today April 13 the station has changed to 21570 and has China co-channeling it. The 1215-1300 transmission continues to dodge the jammers, but the Chinese jammer follows them like the plague! Some freqs used for the 1215-1300 have been 15645, 15670, 15680, 15225, 15330 etc. China is using more transmitters for deliberate interference of VOA, BBC, RFA, VOT, etc. than ever before in history (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** TIMOR EAST. Glenn: Are you going to update the radio outlook in East Timor now that it is on the verge on becoming a new country??? Thanks, (Artie Bigley, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don`t expect any international SW service; nothing much about radio in this: (gh) XANANA GUSMAO: FROM POET TO GUERRILLA COMMANDER TO NEW PRESIDENT Tue Apr 16, 1:19 PM ET By JOANNA JOLLY, Associated Press Writer DILI, East Timor - Xanana Gusmao has won East Timor's first presidential elections, completing his transformation from a poet to a gun-toting guerrilla commander to a respected statesman... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020416/ap_wo_en_po/east_timor_elections_35 (NY Times via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** UGANDA. I've been trying R Uganda 5026 kHz for some time, and end up tuning to their typically clean, strong 4976 outlet, but today April 15, at 1816-1833, Kampala was audible on 5026, 43432 in English with African songs, under adjacent QRM de Benin 5025. Both stations are mutually interfering themselves and causing a het around 5025 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. WORLD SERVICE LOSES 3M LISTENERS Julia Day, Tuesday April 16, 2002, The Guardian The BBC World Service lost 3 million listeners last year, its lowest listening figure since 1998, and haemorrhaged 12 million listeners in India alone, according to figures released by the corporation. The massive drop in India, where the World Service has been held in high regard for decades - has, however, been masked by growth in listenership in Africa, the US and in Europe. The latest listening figure, of 150m a week, is released as the World Service waits to hear from the Foreign Office about the new level of its annual grant, worth £183m in 2001. But the number of listeners does not take account of the effect of September 11, which the BBC says will have significantly boosted the number of people tuning in. The "overwhelming majority" of the survey measuring how many people listen to the service was completed before September 11 and audiences in areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia cannot be measured. But the World Service has suffered badly in India where people are switching off the radio and turning on the TV. Radio listening in India has fallen dramatically with only 25% the population tuning in compared with 53% 10 years ago. And with news and current affairs banned from FM radio in the country, people are favouring TV over short wave radio transmissions. The BBC has also lost 2 million listeners in Indonesia. But it has increased its audience across Africa and Europe, in Australia, Bangladesh, the US and the Ukraine. "It's been an extraordinary year for the BBC World Service editorially, and challenging in the context of highly competitive marketplace," said Mark Byford, the director of the World Service. "Media markets have become increasingly volatile across the world. But we have been nimble in adapting to the rapid pace of change. "Audiences are changing their habits dramatically in the face of the increased competition, deregulation of markets, seismic changes in technology and even greater listener choice," he added. But campaigners who have vehemently protested about the cuts to the World Service's short wave broadcasts might not be totally reassured with Mr Byford's commitment to the medium. Short wave transmissions to the US, Australia and New Zealand ended on July 1 2001 Mr Byford said the BBC is to upgrade transmitters "for those areas where short wave listening will continue to be the only viable means listeners will have to receive BBC services for years to come." The figures reveal that FM audiences for the service have trebled over the past five years and now account for almost a third of listeners, and justifies the service's commitment to further FM expansion. The World Service surveys people in 130 countries over a three year period and looks at a third of that sample over one year to work out an annual listening figure. The results published today are the listening figures collected during 2001. The figure for 2000 was 153 million, with 151 million listeners recorded during 1999 and 143m in 1998. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, and Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Andy Sennitt comments: The details released by the BBC are bound to renew the debate over whether it was right to drop shortwave to North America and Australia. Clearly, on the basis of the published figures, the decision appears justified. The problem is that the figures alone don't tell the whole story. In its measurements, the BBC appears to make no distinction between someone who listens once a week to a nine minute BBC news bulletin relayed by a local public broadcaster, and someone who is committed to listening to a wide range of BBC output for several hours a day. The Coalition to Save the BBC World Service has repeatedly made this point over the last nine months. The other factor which is not covered by naked statistics is the quality of the listening experience. Analogue shortwave is not a perfect medium, but it is inherently more reliable than temperamental Web servers that can't cope with demand every time there's a big story. Broadcasters can boast about how many people were connected - but what they don't mention is the frustration experienced by the many more who tried and failed to listen online. Many people were glad to have shortwave as a backup when they were unable to listen via the Web. That option having been removed, a lot of potential listening hours have been lost. It remains the policy of Radio Netherlands to offer our listeners a choice of programme delivery methods within the constraints of our resources. Our decision to take over some of the shortwave airtime relinquished by the BBC last July has enabled us to offer our North American audience a choice of listening in the morning or evening, and provides improved news and current affairs coverage to an audience hungry for a European perspective on the day's events (© Radio Netherlands Media Network April 16 via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) BBC WORLD SERVICE REPORTS GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF 150 MILLION LISTENERS | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 16 April; subheadings as published London, 16 April: At least 150 million people around the world listen to BBC World Service every week, according to new audience figures released today. It remains the world's best known and most listened to international radio broadcaster. BBC World Service is the clear global leader, significantly ahead of its nearest international broadcasting competitor, Voice of America, who declare 91 million weekly listeners*. Overall, the 2002 global audience figure represents a fall of three million (2 per cent) on last year's record audience figure of 153 million, largely due a 12 million fall in listening in India. Overall radio listening in India has fallen dramatically in recent years. Only one in four Indians now listen to radio regularly - half the number of a decade ago. The BBC World Service attracted increases in audiences in Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Europe, the USA and Ukraine - particularly in areas where the BBC World Service has been able to deliver improved audibility of its 43 language services to listeners by FM broadcasts. New surveys in Iran, Syria, Rwanda, Algeria, Burma and Guinea Republic, also showed significant audiences. The overwhelming majority of surveys in 2001 were conducted before the events of 11 September. The BBC World Service expects to have attracted significant new audiences and high listenership in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia following expanded coverage in Pashto, Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Somali. However, at present, it is not possible to survey those countries. Indirect broadcasts Nearly 30 per cent of BBC international radio audiences (44 million) now listen through rebroadcasting partners. This is a jump of seven million on last year's figure and reflects the World Service's success in developing rebroadcasting partnerships over the last few years. Nearly 2000 stations around the world now broadcast BBC World Service programming. Audiences in the USA via FM rebroadcasters are at their highest level ever - up 25 per cent from 2.3 million to 2.9 million. The surveys also show that 24 per cent of opinion formers in Boston, New York and Washington listen to the World Service each week, up from 20 per cent last year. Audiences in Australia nearly doubled to two million. In both cases nearly all measured listening is through rebroadcasting partners. Both were areas where direct short wave transmissions were discontinued or reduced last year in response to changing audience listening habits. Listeners can tune into an increasing number of FM rebroadcasters, as well as listen by digital satellite and cable. Direct broadcasts Short and medium wave listenership is now 115 million - down nine million from 124 million last year. The drop is largely due to the dramatic fall in overall radio listening in India - where news and current affairs are not yet permitted on the newly developing commercial FM stations, shortwave listening is quickly declining and television growth has been rapid. BBC World Service Director Mark Byford said: "It's been an extraordinary year for the BBC World Service editorially, and challenging in the context of highly competitive marketplaces. "Our strong editorial response to the events of 11 September and its aftermath have been a magnificent testament to the firmness of our public service values of accurate, impartial, editorially independent journalism. We know our services have a great impact. Even in those areas where we are not attracting mass listening we remain important to key decision makers and opinion formers. We know we are highly valued. Nowhere more so than in Afghanistan where we are unable to carry out detailed audience research but we know listenership is high. Hamid Karzai, the leader of the interim government of Afghanistan, has highlighted the impact of the World Service across the country: "The BBC World Service has been the main media outlet for the Afghan people for many, many years. It's a radio service that almost all Afghans - who want to have news - listen to, especially in Afghanistan. It has credibility. When I have been in the villages of central Afghanistan, people are listening to it. When I've been in Kandahar, people are listening to it ... and in Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. It is the main source of information for Afghanistan." Mark Byford continues: "Media markets have become increasingly volatile across the world. But we have been nimble in adapting to the rapid pace of change. Audiences are changing their habits dramatically in the face of increased competition, deregulation of markets, seismic changes in technology and even greater listener choice. "We are continuing to make significant investment in upgrading transmitters for those areas where shortwave listening will continue to be the only viable means listeners will have to receive BBC services for years to come. However the dramatic changes in India and Indonesia, where shortwave listening is rapidly declining, emphasises the need for us to continue to be agile and invest more time and effort in further FM expansion around the rest of the world." He says: "We are now reaping huge dividends in audience numbers where we have expanded in FM offering greater audibility to listeners, particularly in the capital cities and large conurbations, and developed rebroadcasting partnerships. BBC World Service programmes are on nearly 2000 stations worldwide. We are now in 129 capital cities, beating our target of 128. We hope to be in 135 - 70 per cent of all capital cities by 2003/4. The growth in this audience is a clear vindication of that strategy. The potential for growth remains strong.." Online In the year the BBC World Service won the prestigious Webby Award for the world's best radio web site; online usage - both text and audio - also went up to record levels. Usage more than doubled year-on-year from 33.6 million online page views to 76.9 million in December 2001 - an increase of 43.3 million in 12 months. The service, which includes both text and audio streaming of radio services in all languages, increased well above comparable internet growth rates. Year on year, the English language site has increased page views by 84 per cent, usage of BBCMundo.com - the Spanish language site - nearly quadrupled, the Somali language site nearly tripled, BBCRussian.com nearly doubled while BBCArabic.com - the Arabic language site - has gone up by nearly 40 per cent. Mark Byford said: "We have broken all our targets in online, achieving growth rates well above industry norms. We were delighted to have the quality of our site acknowledged by receiving the most prestigious global online award - the Webby - for best radio site in the world. "We have exciting plans to continue to develop websites in all 43 languages we broadcast. Sites in Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Portuguese for South America are now fully updated around the clock, to join those in English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. We will use them to increase our role as the world's reference point and global interactive hub for news and information to millions of people around the globe," he says. UK listening There are now 1.3 million listeners in the UK, despite only being available in daytime hours on mediumwave in the south east of England and overnight on Radio 4, Radio Ulster and Radio Wales. It is not possible to measure UK listening via channel 865 of Sky Digital satellite or cable systems and digital radio. "Communities around the UK can now access BBC news about their region of origin in 43 languages via the internet whether in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Greek, Chinese, Turkish, Somali, Persian, Arabic, the Balkan languages and news from the Caribbean. We also produce a new radio service for digital satellite television systems - BBC World Service Extra - for those in the UK who speak the key languages of Afghanistan and the surrounding region," he says. Highlights of the audience figures BBC World Service attracted the largest increases in Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia. There were gains in Tanzania (+3.6m), Bangladesh and Germany (+1.5m), Ukraine (+1.1m), Australia (+0.9m), Nigeria (+0.7m), France (+0.5) and Mozambique (+0.4m). New surveys were carried out in Iran (+1.1m), Rwanda (+1.0m), Syria (+0.8m), Algeria (+0.4m), Burma and Guinea Republic (+0.3m). But there was a big fall in India (-12.1m) where dramatic market changes and the regulatory framework had a huge impact on overall radio listening habits. There were also falls in Indonesia (-2.1m), Poland (-1.8m) and Russia (-1.0m). Surveys The new World Service global audience estimate is derived from a comprehensive programme of independent audience research - the largest ever commissioned by the World Service - and incorporates new data from 36 countries. It includes data on people listening to World Service directly via short wave, MW and FM or via local broadcasting partners on MW and FM. The surveys are carried out by independent market research groups and comply with international standards of audience research. It does not include estimates for countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia where market research cannot be carried out. The vast majority of surveys were conducted before the international crisis sparked by the attacks on the US on 11 September. Any variations in figures that can be attributed to 'crisis listening' are not added to the global estimate. Issued by: BBC World Service Press Office Telephone: 020 7557 2941 * Source: Voice of America website Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 16 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Well, if it isn't just their cup of tea if they are losing SW listeners, but gaining in FM. Please remind yourselves that the BBC surveys itself. You might also know there is no independent agency for international listenership measurements. The conspiracy theorist inside me says the BBC wants to slowly but surely prove that shortwave is useless -- so it can leave it. And isn't it presumptuous to say that because listeners have left the BBC WS on shortwave, they've therefore *left shortwave* and that medium is now useless? Please, spare me from the folly (Ricky Leong, QC, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 'COLONIAL MENTALITY' AT BBC WORLD SERVICE Dan Milmo, Tuesday April 16, 2002, The Guardian White male journalists ruled over the BBC's World Service with a "colonial mentality" that embarrassed and demeaned ethnic minority colleagues, an investigative tribunal was told today. Asian journalist, Sharan Sandhu, 51, claimed that she was repeatedly passed over for promotion between 1994 and 1999 because of her race and sex. The BBC denies discrimination. The Woburn industrial tribunal in central London was told that Sandhu suffered depression and stress through having to endure a "boys' club" culture in which ethnic minority staff were deliberately kept in junior posts. Sandhu, who joined the BBC as a subeditor in 1990, said she soon noticed a clear divide between the senior "Oxbridge" middle-class and "boozy tabloid journalists" and the more junior hard-working black colleagues. Sandhu, who is alleging direct and indirect discrimination, told the hearing that her workplace was dominated by white male journalists. "There was a senior layer of white male journalists who were very powerful. They made lots of negative comments which could damage your career. "There were two types - there were the Oxbridge types who were very arrogant. There were also the tabloid types. They were generally drinking people and it was very middle-class. They had a colonial mentality," she said. This left ethnic minority staff with the impression that "they were seen as OK as long as they stayed in their place". Sandhu said other staff made derogatory comments about Hindus after telephone conversations with them, suggesting they did not understand what was going on or would make mistakes. She said these comments were made in front of BBC colleagues from other departments to no objections. "No one would pick them up on that and it was embarrassing. They used to go for long liquid lunches at the club bar. A lot of these negative comments that they would make would be said to other journalists. "It was a perception that would be picked up by other people and colour their view of these people. It was a very comfortable group of people that was very comfortable with each other... I was never invited to these bars," she said. Rigorous 11-and-a-half hour shifts that were introduced in August 1997 discriminated against working mothers, alleged Sandhu, who is a mother of three. These women were placed next to each other in the newsroom in a section with what was dubbed as the "mums' ghetto". Being there was widely seen as being a block to promotion chances, she added. They were told to work the new hours or to go part-time, said Sandhu. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA 17665, 2328- Apr 13, Radio Ezra. Test tones at 2328, with first IDs at 2329:15 without IS. Signal a little weaker than last week at S9 to S9+5. Some choral music to liven things up. Had to go out, so I'll check the MD later (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Needs livening up (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I should have known better than to rely on the ``24 hour audio archive`` of VOA Talk to America. Monday`s topic was (supposed to be, anyway) Role of Grassroots Radio in National Development, Africa. But the next day, April 16 at 1345 UT check, the single show on file was evidently from April 10, about siblings, judging from the opening teaser. Looking again at the talksked page, while individual entries cover April 15-19, the heading is for the previous week, April 8-12. Sure wish they`d get their act together. Why isn`t it a daily routine to upload the latest show? For that matter, why only the `latest`? Is server space that scarce at VOA? The next day, the same old program was still the only one audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NOT-SO-PUBLIC RADIO By Norman Solomon ...NPR has plenty of time for news on the air. Yet, as public radio's dominant network, NPR has largely reneged on the promise of public broadcasting that stirred hopes 35 years ago with release of the Carnegie Commission Report -- which declared that public broadcasting should "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise be unheard." In 2002, for the most part, "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" provide a voice for the same political, economic and military interests that are heard, ad nauseam, via other major media. A key factor is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- where everyone on the board of directors has been nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The nonprofit agency doles out federal funds to public radio and TV stations. "With its hand on the till," notes David Barsamian, a longtime independent radio producer, CPB "wields considerable power and influence over public broadcasting."... http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=13139 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. IS THERE A FUTURE FOR PACIFICA? by SUSAN J. DOUGLAS The prospect of writing about the ongoing Pacifica crisis is about as enticing as walking past a recently dislodged beehive without the beekeeper's net: No matter what you say, you'll end up with welts. Since 1999 there has been a vitriolic battle over programming and personnel between the Pacifica Board and two of the network's stations in particular, first KPFA in Berkeley and then WBAI in New York. The other three stations in the network, KPFK in Los Angeles, KPFT in Houston and WPFW in Washington, have not been without strife either, and there have been major tensions between stations, especially KPFK and KPFA, and within stations as well... http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020415&s=douglas (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. THEY'VE GOT THE POWER WRUW radio has upped its signal strength. Can the student-run station's share in the Cleveland market follow suit? http://clevescene.com/issues/2002-04-11/soundbites.html/1/index.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. MARSHAL ARRESTS PIRATE BROADCASTER On March 5 Paul Dorleans was arrested for refusing to shut down an unlicensed FM station he'd been operating at 87.9 MHz in Bronx, NY for about four years, according to an FCC source. The Marshal's office worked with the FCC Enforcement Bureau on tracking down Dorleans, who the FCC says was warned "repeatedly" to shut down the unlicensed station. "Now he's paying the price," an FCC insider says, adding Dorleans had "every opportunity" to shut down the station - including appearing before a judge from the U.S. Attorney's office. The FCC and the U.S. Attorney's office had even seized Dorleans' equipment in an earlier raid. Enforcement Bureau investigations have led to the shutdown of more than 20 pirate stations this year. Number Of Illegal Stations On The Rise "It's a problem of unbelievable magnitude," an FCC source tells R&R ONLINE, adding that most of the pirate broadcasting is taking place in Southern Florida. According to the source, many groups are taking to the airwaves illegally, including Zionists, Bosnians, Haitians, various Arabic-speaking groups and "every right-wing separatist group." While the number of pirate stations is growing, the total operating is believed by the FCC to be less than 100. However, the source points out some of the stations are mobile, so their locations can change (From Radio and Records: via David Alpert, April 17, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Subject : TEXAS TORNADOS Interesting stuff rebroadcast in the UK by BBC Radio 5 Live. Hopefully nobody on this list was affected. At 2 am local time on 17 April during the programme Up All Night, we heard a recording of the activation of the Emergency Broadcast System at the request of the National Weather Service by station WBAP, which is I think located at Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth. This was followed by local news at 6:02 pm CDT on 16 April, including some reports from reporters in the field, one of whom was almost drowned out by a very loud crack of thunder. After the newscast we heard a live interview with somebody from the WBAP Newsroom who mentioned that this was the first wave of tornados and that more were expected. According to him, it was very dark (I don't know what time it normally gets dark in Dallas in April) and one of his reporters suggested that the sky had turned green (not a good sign). At 2:30 am British time NPR reported the Texas tornados, including a report from KERA Dallas, though this subject was quite well down the pecking order behind stories from the Middle East and the US Supreme Court etc. At 3 am AP radio, via AFN, made no mention of the storms at all in their 5-minute newscast. I have heard no more about them since, and it is now 1:15 pm BST (Paul Balster, UK, April 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WW2MAN TO PARTICIPATE IN ``SUBMARINES ON THE AIR`` SPECIAL EVENT NEWINGTON CT., April 16, 2002 --- The SEEHUND U-5075 Amateur Radio Association, WW2MAN http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=WW2MAN will participate in its first ``Submarines On The Air`` special event April 27-28. WW2MAN is the club's new vanity call sign. The club will run two stations on HF and will have some activity on Boston area 2-meter repeaters. QSL cards will be available to stateside hams in exchange for an SASE. DX contacts should QSL via the W2 Bureau. SEEHUND U-5075 is located at the US Naval Shipbuilding Museum, Quincy, Massachusetts. USS Lionfish, W2SUB http://personal.tmlp.com/k1vv/w2sub/w2sub2001.htm berthed in Fall River, Massachusetts will also participate. More than 30 museum submarines worldwide will participate in this Submarine Veterans Amateur Radio Association [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SVARA/ special event. Stations will transmit on 80, 40, 15, 10 and 6 meters--CW and SSB. A list of Museum Submarines with call signs can be found at http://www.marinefunker.de/eng/shiplist.html Submariners wishing to find past shipmates can start their search on Directory of Submariners On-Line http://www.rontini.com/dos.htm Contact Jim Flanders, w0oog@arrl.net for more information on SOTA. (ARRL April 16 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 15365, 2147-2200* Apr 13, WORLD BEACON. Last few days of broadcasting, decided to listen in. Usual American accented preacher. Fair reception. Sign-off announcements at 2157:45. Mentions of World Beacon. REE IS audible underneath. Off by 2159:30. I checked again this afternoon [April 15], supposedly their last day on, but nothing at all different occurred. Continued with canned program announcements for various preachers, and when they were on the World Beacon. Off in mid-sentence around 2159:30. So if they are gone, it was without any fanfare at all (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD BEACON. The canned program format that very often we hear in Asia from US preachers, probably goes above the heads of a lot of people. The US accent is one; add to that the characteristics of SW reception, the American idiom and all that makes canned programs hard to be understood by an audience for whom English is a second language at best. Then take the programs which are made for an audience with a background of Christian culture, being literally forced on an audience which has a totally different culture. I sometimes feel that preachers like Gene Scott's world wide ministry is basically aiming at a personality cult than really taking the gospel to the world. I do listen to a lot of the gospel broadcasts and every now and then I find a very fine program, (unfortunately they are few and far between ... is that the way you say it?) about Christian marriage, home life, bringing up children, values and such. But the moment I hear someone screaming at the top of his voice I just tune off. It reminds me of R Station Peace and Progress or R Peking during the great cultural revolution. I am not against gospel broadcasts but I would like good programming which is meaningful. Propaganda in any form, be it religion on the Gospel broadcasts, politics of any ism, be it on Beijing or even VOA has to be very carefully and intelligently put across. I find Q&A on CNN one of the finest programs coming out of the West, but the majority of people outside the West have great skepticism about all broadcasts, be they BBC or VOA (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Apr 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) Victor has made it no secret that he is a Catholic ** URUGUAY. 6125, SODRE, Montevideo. 1400+ April 14. Spanish transmission. Communications program "Radioactividades" (Excellent!!!) Ann.: "A partir de este momento, voces, historias y sonidos son los protagonistas... en la 26 comienza un programa de radio... Radioactividades"; "la historia y la actualidad de un medio de comunicación para escuchar... ajuste su sintonía... estos son los temas de hoy"; "en onda corta, Internet y por la 26... Radioactividades". ID: "En SODRE, haciendo radio...". 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Chascomus DX Camp, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On 6155, Radio Sarandí del Yí, Sarandí del Yí. 1112+ April 14. In // medium wave frequency. Horses competition. Local ads read in Spanish by female: "Pizzerìa y confitería Nueva Colón, frente a la plaza..." - Abrupt s/off at 1138. Afterwards, we heard the station at 1140 with local folk music. 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Chascomus DX Camp, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent is back to usual summer schedule: 1200-1500 5975 7285 9715 15295, and 17775. 1330-1500 additional 5040 and 5060. At 2030-2100 and 2130-2200 English night service heard as usual on 5025, 9545, and 11905. 0100-0330 5025 7190 9375[0230-] 9530 9715 (hfcc via BC-DX via DXLD) Includes more English at 1200-1230, 1330-1400, 0100-0130 (gh, DXLD) ** VANUATU. 7260: Radio Vanuatu 0730 UT April 12. Local language newscast with mentions of (what else) the Mideast crisis. Noted some ads for soap. Great signal (Mickey Delmage, at Don Moman`s antenna farm, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Nosotros los venezolanos tenemos tres años aguantando las arremetidas de un presidente, al cual las palabras diálogo y tolerancia no existen en su vocabulario. Es cierto que mas del 80% de los venezolanos votamos por él para que solucionara los problemas más graves de nuestra sociedad, como lo son: el desempleo, la inseguridad y la economía. Se le dió más de tres años, y lo único que hemos recibido de él es su odio, su división de clases donde para él la oposición la llama "Escualidos y Oligarcas" y el resto que esté con él, "Compatriotas bolivarianos", olvidando que él es el presidente de todos los venezolanos y no una fracción que le es a favor. Todo este tiempo se ha dedicado a insultar a los medios de comunicación que difunde la información que a él no le parece, a la iglesia de estar con los ricos, cuando todo el mundo sabe aquí que no es verdad, a los sindicatos de trabajadores por no estar alineado a su partido, a la sociedad civil por no compartir su modo de orientar al país y por último a los empresarios porque tienen dinero producto de su trabajo diario y no de la corrupción que el ha incrementado a todos sus familiares y partidarios del régimen. Chávez no recuperó el poder gracias a la gente como creen, sino a un grupo de generales que se pusieron a espaldas del pueblo. Que tenemos ahora, un país seriamente fracturado en dos bandos, el cual nunca podrá seguir adelante el uno sin el otro. Chávez se puso al margen de la ley cuando ordenó a sus bandas armadas llamadas "Círculos Bolivarianos" a disparar contra una marcha pacífica el día jueves cuando se sintió caído. Chávez se colocó al margen de la ley cuando ordenó a las mismas bandas armadas destruir el pasado domingo todos los establecimientos comerciales del oeste de la capital, dejando a la población pobre de esa zona sin donde adquirir alimentos. Venezuela se encuentra en el peor momento de su historia republicana; solamente pedimos a dios poder salir de esta pesadilla sin más derramamiento de sangre, pero de una cosa estoy seguro. Venezuela ya no es la misma después de esta semana que pasó, ni Chávez podrá gobernar sin pagar por el enorme daño que le ha hecho al país (Jorge García Rangel, Venezuela, April 16, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR 7310, 0330- Apr 10, VOICE OF PEOPLE. Relatively decent signal tonight. Carrier on at 0328. No interval signal or anthem, only a short musical sign-on at 0330, and into English. Only following the odd word, including program, and possibly the schedule (?0330). Terrible splatter from above and below, with USB providing marginally better reception than LSB. Anywhere else, and this would be a totally readable signal. Was hoping that WHRI was off UT Monday, but no such luck last night. The same sandwiched signal (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Yesterday evening April 16 I heard an UNID station on 7000 kHz around 1930 UT with moderate co-channel CW-QRM. Could it be Voice of the Kurdish People moved up from 6995 kHz? 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO RELATED MUSIC Wilco are releasing their latest CD, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, April 23rd on Nonesuch Records. The album has had an extremely favourable critical reaction, the respected UK music magazine Mojo describing it this month as "Truly a remarkable record". The album title refers to the shortwave numbers station which band leader Jeff Tweedy became aware of by listening to the four CD Conet numbers station recordings. The albums theme is communication and the mix includes static, beeps and fades as you would hear on shortwave. It was album of the month of Virgin Radio's Captain America show Sundays 2100-2300 UT and one track I heard was called Poor Places where, at the end of the track, the familiar, to shortwave listeners, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot voice begins to fade in and dominates the mix by the end of the song. The album was originally rejected by the bands label Reprise as uncommercial and streamed on the Internet by the band who bought back the rights. Long article on the albums history and its shortwave connections at: http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/w/wilco-yankee.html On the Conet number stations CD Tweedy was so enthusiastic about fellow band member Jay Bennett comments: "I remember that car ride to Chicago where you played it. For the first 20 minutes it was like 'Oh, that's interesting'. And then after two hours...." (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This thread appeared previously in DXLD 2-020, 2-022, 2-023, 2-024, 2-025 (gh) RECEIVER NEWS The good Radio Shack in my area (as opposed to the evil Radio Shack that is out of stock on everything and exists to push cell phones to anything that moves) just received a new shipment of shortwave radios. Sitting on the shelf next to a DX-398 and their full line of Radio Shack brand is a Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE. The salesman said that US Radio Shacks would now carry Grundig radios along with their own brands. Interestingly it seems the tide has turned for shortwave sales. Leave it to world crisis. Can the BBC be far off from restoring some frequencies to North America? (Homer9600, OT, DX-398 user`s group via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-063, April 15, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1126: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB MUNDO RADIAL, INFORME DX DE GLENN HAUSER para ABRIL-MAYO 2002: (CORRIENTE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0204.ram (BAJABLE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0204.rm (GUIÓN) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0204.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. AFGANISTAN/RUSIA: 9950, Radio Free Afghanistan [sic] via Samara. 1350+. 28 de marzo. Transmisión en pushtu. Comentario por OM. ID por YL a las 1400. Con el cambio de idioma (pasa al dari) se ID claramente en varias oportunidades como "Radio Saday e Afghanistan". Recitado de versos del Corán y boletín de noticias. Llega con 34343. Es la primera vez que puedo captar esta emisora no obstante haberla rastreado sin éxito desde su aparición, hacia noviembre del año pasado. Incluso traté de escucharla en varios DX Camps anteriores sin resultados positivos. Volví a reportar la emisora el dia 29 de marzo, con señal algo más debil y ya no la escuché ni el sábado ni el domingo (dias 30 y 31 de marzo) por lo que supongo que tal vez la estación emita sólo de lunes a viernes (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, en DX Camp-Guamini, Conexión Digital April 15 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Hi all DXers, Starting today Monday 15 April. A new service called Radio Ecclésia. Freq. 6100 328 from 19 to 20 UT, 250 kW. This is from Meyerton Radio Station in South Africa. Best wishes from South Africa, (André du Toit http://home.mweb.co.za/an/andre46 P.O. box 125, Meyerton. 1960, Rep. of South Africa, hard-core-dx via DXLD) He didn`t mention Angola, but I assume it is that R. Ecclésia; will they stay via Germany too? And what about their own SW transmitter supposedly being installed? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. SPECIAL PREFIXES. Starting April 20th through the end of the year, amateurs in Argentina whose prefixes begin with LU/LW/AZ will be using new prefixes. This is to celebrate the program "The Radio Amateur a safe way for our children" supported by the Radio Club USHUAIA (LU8XW). Details are available at the Web site: http://geocities.com/rcushu Look for stations to use the following prefixes: LUs can use AY, LWs can use L5 and AZs can use L6 (KB8NW/OPDX April 15/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15820 LSB, Broadcast Feeder, Buenos Aires, Feb 23, 1030. This 1 kW Collins transmitter uses a rhombic antenna beamed South. The station has callsign LTA and is operated by the Army. It carries radiotelephone traffic on one sideband and broadcast-relays on the other. It is primarily beamed to the three Army bases in Antarctica, viz. LTS Base Esperanza, LTS2 Base General San Martín and LTS4 Base Belgrano. A nice QSL letter was received Mar 14 from Army station LTA. Address: Batallón de Comunicaciones 602, Ejército Argentino, Azopardo 250, piso 18, 1328 Buenos Aires (Maarten van Delft, DSWCI DX Mirror April via DXLD, slightly expanding a previous item) ** ASIA [non]. Slightly updated RFA schedule in A-02, three changes/typos indicated by #; valid till Oct 26, 2002. RFA currently broadcasts 1100-0700; there are no transmissions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming includes Mandarin for 12 hrs, Cantonese for two hrs, Uighur for two hrs, and Tibetan for eight hrs. RFA uses IBB txs in BIB=Biblis Germany, HOL=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA=Iranawila Sri Lanka, SAI=Saipan and TIN=Tinian N Mariana Isls. And Merlin relays TWN=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE. Additional tx sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications? Thus American taxpayers paying for this enterprise are also denied the most basic info about it -[gh] RFA A-02 updated schedule of Apr 15. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 13680T 15660 17525 17835S 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11975H 11695UAE 15225T 15695 17730 0100-0200 UIGHUR #9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405S 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1300 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855B-(from 1200) 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 11520 13765I 15525T 1300-1400 BURMESE 9385 11765T 11540# 13745T 1300-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855B 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9445S 11955S 13625T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 11790T 13625 13720T 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 9905P 11765T 11945S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7460 9370 9555UAE 9675UAE 13625T 1600-1700 MANDARIN 9455S-(fr 1630) 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1700-1800 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1800-1900 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 11520 11740T 11945S 11955T 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945S 11955T 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680 2100-2200 CANTONESE 9355S 11785T 13675T 2100-2200 MANDARIN 9455S 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455T 11670S 11935S 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9930P 11570 15175I 15485T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 9910P 11785T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 9365# 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 13720S 15560P (various sources, updated on Apr 15, 2002 by Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA for QRM to WWCR 15685 ** AUSTRALIA. Good News: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/austback/ Australia Talks backs is now available "On Demand.' This is broadcast on RA a little after 0905 UT is very early in the morning local time in North America. Now it will be will possible to listen regularly. Thank you, ABC (Larry Nebron, PDT, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Northern Territory daytime frequencies 4835 and 5025 were missing around 2130 April 15, as was 2310 at night (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Observations from Belarus tonight: At 1835 7210 was running open carrier, 7105 still off. At 1855 recheck 7210 had program audio, 7105 was also already on // 7210, but I failed to check what both frequencies carried (BR1?). From 1900 usual foreign service, also on 1170 which had scheduled Voice of Russia until then. No any sign of a signal on 6115, prior to 1900 as well as now at 2055 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4796.43, Radio Mallku, Uyuni 13/4 2355 "Hemos presentado Imágenes" ID: "Desde el salar más grande del mundo, Radio Mallku trabaja en la frecuencia de 4795 Kilociclos, onda corta banda de 60 metros", "A continuación el servicio a la comunidad, convocatoria..." SINFO=44333 (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Rx: Kenwood R- 5000/Sony ICF 2010, Ant: T2FD Dipolo plegada (27 metros), DX LISTENING DIGEST) Salar = saltfield ** BURMA [non]. CLANDESTINE from NEW ZEALAND? to BURMA. As at Apr-14, the IBB public-access Remote Monitoring System Web site shows a new entry in its dataBase for the Voice of Democratic Burma on 15620, 1430-1530, originating from "RNZI". Several reception logs are shown. DVB is currently listed "officially" for 17805 and 15620, via Juelich, and on 9490 2330-0030, also via Juelich. RNZI is commissioning a second 100 kW transmitter, and this may be it. However, it would appear strange for the NZ Government to be hiring air-time to an organisation such as DVB, or hiring air-time to anyone at all! (Bob Padula, Victoria, Apr 15, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) Glenn-DXLD and Wolfgang-BCDX first heard this one in early April. (Cumbre Ed. via DXLD) ** CANADA. IFJ CALLS FOR END TO RADIO CANADA LOCK-OUT | Text of report in English by International Federation of Journalists press release on 9 April Brussels, 9 April: The International Federation of Journalists [IFJ] today called for peace in the bitter dispute at Radio Canada where journalists and media staff have been locked out since March 22nd. "The time for talking and for a renewal of public service values in broadcasting is now," said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ. "The inequalities at the heart of this dispute need to be resolved as a matter of urgency." The IFJ says that the complaints of the workforce, represented by the IFJ affiliate the Federation nationale des Communications, have an echo across the globe in many other broadcasting houses. "Many broadcasting people are shocked at the situation in Radio Canada. Canada should be a world leader in setting model standards for decent working conditions and sound industrial relations," says the IFJ. The IFJ says that the key demands of the workforce should be met. They are: 1. To end the appalling inequality - almost 18 per cent - between what men and women are paid; 2. To provide justice for the half of the almost 1,300-strong workforce who are in precarious jobs without security of employment; and 3. To obtain a pay settlement of at least 5.5 per cent that will make up some of the ground lost in recent years. "The workforce is seeking justice, pure and simple," said Aidan White, "Management should seize the opportunity to negotiate a settlement that reinforces confidence in Canadian broadcasting values and re- establishes sound industrial relations at the network." The IFJ is calling for both sides to reach a settlement that re- affirms the principle of collective negotiations. "Free bargaining and good co-operation between unions and management are essential to the future of professional, pluralist and viable broadcasting. Radio Canada should seize the opportunity to bring this lock-out to an end and allow the staff to work," says the IFJ. Further Information: 0032 2 235 2200 The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in 103 countries Source: International Federation of journalists press release, Brussels, in English 9 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SPEAK UP Sue Montgomery, Montreal Gazette, Monday, April 15, 2002 I admit it. My name is Sue, and I'm a CBCaholic. After four weeks without my morning, noon and afternoon hits of CBC radio, not to mention hourly newscasts, I'm a mess. It's like going without my coffee. My day's just not complete. In solidarity with my locked-out colleagues on René Lévesque Blvd. E., I stopped listening, feeling that by tuning in, I'd be crossing the picket line. But in the last couple of days, when no one was looking and like a junkie going through withdrawal, I sneaked a quick listen and heard some of the worst elevator music imaginable, as well as fill-in managers clearing fur balls from their throats and stumbling over words as if just learning to speak. Silence is preferable.... http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/columnists/story.asp?id=8235740D-B7D4-489E-9D21-5C01682B1919 (via Ricky Leong, April 15, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. RCI Montreal English via strange locations, 2000-2057 on 15470 Krasnodar, Russia; 12015 Al Dhabbaya, UAE (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CFRX off? Haven`t heard CFRX 6070 for quite some time. Could those in the know please advise whether it is on the air; if not, how long has it been off; and does it plan to return, when? Thanks, (Glenn Hauser, ODXA April 14 via DXLD) CFRX is temporarily off the air with transmitter problems. CFRB has been installing new antenna towers for their 50 kW mediumwave transmitter. I don't know off-hand if they're finished this project yet. No doubt this is a much higher priority for the station than the shortwave transmitter as one would expect. Basically the shortwave transmitter is an "engineer's toy" and if something goes wrong with it they fix it whenever they get a chance and have the budget. 73 de (Bob VE3SRE Chandler, April 14, ODXA via DXLD) ** CHINA. The April 19th edition of Wavelength will be live on location at Comdex China and will be looking at how the IT and computer industry has changed the world of radio. Wavelength airs at 0040 UT [Fridays] on CRI's domestic service at http://www.cri.com.cn and on KRLA 870am at 9:30pm PST at http://www.krla870.com For more information contact Keith Perron or Lu Feng. ===== Wave-Length China Radio International Beijing, China Attention: Lu Feng & Keith Perron e-mail: wavelengthcri@yahoo.com website: http://www.cri.com.cn/english Tel: 86-13661322248 (Perron, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Supposed to be available ondemand until the next program appears on Monday (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI Frequency Schedule: 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (USB): 0200 - 0800 (Offline for antenna repairs) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (USB): 0200 - 1200 (Offline for antenna repairs) 19 meters: 15.040 MHz (AM): 1800 - 0600 13 meters: 21.815 MHz (USB): 1200 - 0200 And streaming live on the Internet in MP3 here (Operates 2200 - 1400 UTC / 5pm - 9am Eastern, 24 hours on the weekend) (RFPI Weekly Update for April 14 via DXLD) But 7445-USB is back at 0330 UT check April 16 (gh, DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. To avoid All India Radio at 2200-2255 UT on 11620 we have now changed to 11645 kHz. This transmission is intended for the Far East. In Australia there is slight side-splat from China on 11650 until 2227. After that time both sides are clear. Kind Regards, (Erik Køie, DR Radio, April 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Curiosidad: Radio El Cairo en español no se escucha habitualmente en Sudamérica, sea por sus fallas técnica (audio distorcionado) como por su muy pobre area de influencia. Es, sin dudas, una emisora internacional que podemos considerar DX para los hispanos de estas latitudes. El pasado 6 de abril, sin embargo, la emisora egipcia terminaba su emisión diaria en árabe en la frecuencia de 15590 kHz a las 0045 UTC y oh! sorpresa... se olvidaron de apagar el transmisor!. Entonces salió al aire el comienzo del programa en español con el tradicional saludo de Verónica Banderas diciendo: "Hola amigos, muy buenas noches, les saluda una servidora Verónica Banderas desde El Cairo a la distancia; les mando un fuerte abrazo y les recuerdo que estamos emitiendo completamente en vivo a través de nuestras bandas radiofónicas en onda corta de 25 metros, en los 11715 Khz, 31 metros, 9740 y 9475 Khz..." (0045-0200 UT) hasta que el técnico de planta se dio cuenta y desconectó. Fueron los diez mejores minutos en que yo haya podido escuchar alguna vez a Radio El Cairo. Rareza ¿No? (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Rx: Kenwood R- 5000/Sony ICF 2010; Ant: T2FD Dipolo plegada (27 metros), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. R Rainbow (Kestedamena R), Amharic 1900-1959 Fri (ex-11840) 15565 Juelich, i.e. 15565 1900-2000 38,47,48 JUL 100 kW 145 degrees 6=Fri D DTK DTK 73 (Wolfgang df5sx Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked Friday 15565 1900; nada here (Hans Johnson, FL, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. 25926 NBFM, Comité Departemental du tourisme de la Charente-Maritime (the museum or whatever TIS), 1835-1855 April 14, extremely weak with occasional traces of French and brief music fill, in a loop. There's a slight het, seemingly a few Hz above, so presumably several are trying to make it. Sometimes getting a little better audio by switching to LSB (Terry L. Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. ERT on new 12105 kHz noted in Greek language, phone-in program covering Cypriot Greece-Turkey peace negotiations... transmitter Kavalla powerhouse 55555 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {oops, time missing} ** IRAN [non]. LITHUANIA. 9710, Radyo Avaye Ashena = R Familiar Voice, 1000-1100 Sun via Sitkunai, heard on April 7th. New program (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Apr 7, 14, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Listening to the audio file Mauno sent, I found their website at http://www.avayeashena.com/ Audio files dating back to March 21st. Text lists 9710 kHz but seems to give schedule as 1200-1300 Tehran time [I don't know Farsi, but they do use Arabic script, so I stumble through that way.] which doesn't seem to be right. Website has pictures of who I guess are famous Iranian musicians. Also seemed to have mostly music when I sampled the audio files. Of course, we will need a Farsi speaker to take a good look and listen to see what these guys are all about (Ed. Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX Apr 15 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Concerning the new station on 9155 kHz recently noted by DXers: Very possible the strange language is Assyrian, rather than Kurdish. There's an ID which sounds as ".... demokrataya Aturaya". Aturaya is the native name of Assyria, the historical land in the Middle East. Remember "Kala Aturaya" with its MW/SW broadcasts from Russia? Can't recognize what stands before the word "demokrataya" yet. Probably it's Voice of Democratic Assyria or something similar. Has it any relation to songs that sounded on 5775 kHz some time ago, I wonder? 73, (Dmitri Mezin, Russia, April 12, hard-core-dx via DXLD) CLANDESTINE from ? to IRAQ? 9155 Voice of Zowaa (Kala Zowa) new station belonging to the Assyrian Democratic Movement. Heard Saturday 1655-1900, mostly in Arabic, but in Assyrian as well. They really avoid IDing, no "Huna"'s or "al-ithaa"'s heard in the Arabic transmission at any time. Mostly they talk about Syria and Iraq. Last time no one commented anything on this, I may have missed something? Thanks to Nineveh webmaster for listening to cut, whom comments that the language was kind of Western Dialect which is also known as Suryoyo. There is a big community in Sweden and Europe. I also felt that the speaker had Russian accent (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Apr 13-15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) These guys are an opposition party based in Northern Iraq. Zowaa is the party's acronym, and they have a website at http://www.zowaa.org - -- Check out the new version which has an under construction spot for a radio station. From at least 1993 till early 1999, there was a program via the CIS known as Voice of the Assyrians (Kala Atuaya). This one was reportedly backed by Saudi Arabia. No idea if there is any relationship between these two Assyrian programs, but the announcer giving the ID's sure sounds alot like the guy on a cut of Voice of the Assyrians at http://www.intervalsignals.net (Cumbre DX Ed. via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. They posted the Israel Independence day schedule -- but it's the TV schedule... I just email Reshet Bet for the radio schedule. Anyhow, reading the schedule at: http://www.iba.org.il/independence/program.html I can see that there on Reshet Bet there will at least be the ceremony which finishes Memorial Day and starts Independence day. That will take place on Tuesday night at 7:50 PM Israel Time [1650 UT]. Someone questioned the date of the Eurovision -- the Eurovision website, says the date which I posted - the 25th of May at 9 PM CET [1900 UT]. http://www.eurovision.tv/en/event/index.php (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel in Arabic, phone-in program and modern Arabic music heard at 2020 UT on v12150.06 kHz. Registered at 0255-2110 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Ed, P5/4L4FN continues to be active almost daily on 15 meters SSB (21225 kHz after 2230z, sometime after 0900z). No real new news to report on this one, accept that a picture of the QSL card that is going out can be found on the KK5DO's Web site at: http://www.amsatnet.com/p5.html Also, a reminder that if you send your QSL card to Bruce, KK5DO, after May 15th (stateside only), you must include 37 cents postage. Bruce states he will have all cards up-to-date and mailed out before the postage goes up (KB8NW/OPDX April 15/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 15675, Denge Mesopotamia, *0400-0420+ 14 Abril 2002, programa en kurdo, muchas ID's como "Denge Mesopotamia" "Radio Denge Mesopotamia" con música kurda de fondo: SINPO: 25442. 1150-1200* 14 Abril 2002, música kurda e ID's como "Denge Mesopotamia". Señal mucho mejor. SINPO: 45444 (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MELLISH REEF. VK9ML MELLISH REEF DXPEDITION. As this was being prepared Sunday morning April 14th, N.A. Pilot Station Don, N1DG, reported the VK8ML team has landed on the Reef and will begin camp setup at daybreak. Activity should begin by the time you read this. Up-to-date news can be found on: http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml/2002 (KB8NW/OPDX April 15/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 9704.87, Radio Mexico International, 0344-0349 Apr 13, Spanish, Musical Program "Original Music from Rios Verdes" ID "en la sintonía de Radio México Internacional" SIO 242 (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, DX-camp, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. Re a recent report about Medi 1 on 9350: I found no signal on this frequency but can confirm that Medi 1 is still on 9575, of course // 171 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also WESTERN SAHARA [non] ** NEW ZEALAND. Glenn, The BBC-produced serialized reading of "The Graduate" continues on RNZI 0930 on 11675, Part 7 on Tuesday April 16. Perhaps you would consider including this in MONITORING REMINDERS? I heard Part 6 this morning, featuring Ben and Elaine's date at the strip club. RNZI on 11675 suffers considerable interference from HCJB on 11680 0700-0800. But only until May 5th, when RNZI moves off 11675. RNZI is in the clear after 0800. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I normally avoid serials, especially if one has no choice but to join them in progress, but if you really want me to... (gh, DXLD) Glenn, I understand your position on serials, and normally I would agree, but I found myself spell-bound by William Hurt's reading. Since the story-line is so well-known, I pretty much knew what had happened before, so joining it in progress wasn't a issue for me. And I understand how the broadcast time can be inconvenient for most in North America. So it's OK if you don't put it in MR. And I wouldn't be surprised if it was booted off the schedule by some silly ball game, probably for the final installment, i.e. the wedding scene (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. See BURMA non ** PALESTINE [non]. ISRAEL. 6200 kHz, LV de Palestina, 1930-2029*, 13 Abril 2002, programa en árabe con menciones a los combatientes musulmanes, Palestina, Israel, noticias sobre Israel, Bahrein, Libia. Música patriótica, c/t [cierre de trasmisión] a 2030 con marcha, y luego del cierre, fragmento de la INT-SIG de LV de la República Islámica de Irán y comienzo de sus programas propios. SINPO: 24432. (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 4421.33, Radio Bambabarca, Bambabarca, 2344-2359 Apr 13, Spanish, Musical program (Peruvian folklore), tc, Comunicados ID "en Bambabarca en Radio Líder... Estás escuchando Radio Bambamarca, Sociedad Limitada, frecuencia líder... onda corta 4418... Desde Bambamarca, capital de Cajamarca, frecuencia líder Radio Bambamarca,`` SIO 242 (Nicolás Éramo, DX Camp, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Monday, 15 April at 2031 on 3923 Radio Samorodinka, Serpuhov, Russia was heard with English political comments. Rather nice signal but audio is not too good. ID "Samorodinka Radio". (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPRATLY ISLANDS. Reports indicate that the April XV9TH DXpedition to the Spratly Islands has been postponed to a later date to be decided (KB8NW/OPDX April 15/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Just to let you know that last Sat. eve (13), on "Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070" you were pre-empted (?) by what sounded like an infomercial for some sort of A/C refrigerant. It was already on prior to the half-hour (so maybe at began at 0200) and was still on when I gave up at 0245. Regards (Carlos Coimbra, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I noticed too. Inquiry is in whether this was one-off, we hope ** U S A. The newspaper which has brought us most of the news about Steve Anderson has this and three other stories about the slaying of Sheriff Sam Catron Saturday night: By CAROL COFFEY, SOMERSET A stream of blue lights accompanied the body of slain Pulaski County Sheriff Sam Catron at 11:40 last night — flowing on Ky. 80 like the tears that had been shed to mourn the fallen law enforcement officer. The Pulaski County community was stunned last night at the news that Catron had been murdered at a political function at the Shopville-Stab Volunteer Fire Department. ... Somerset Kentucky - Commonwealth Journal news article http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/news/index.cfm#1426 (via Pete Costello, April 14, DXLD) ** U S A. I haven't had anything to contribute to DXLD in ages, but I did find the current VOA News Now Schedule. To reach it, visit http://www.voanews.com and then click on the red and blue "NEWS NOW" logo, which is located on the left side of the page, above the "Webcasts" one. Then, click on the phrase "Broadcast Schedule" which is on the right side of the page. This leads to the VOA News Now schedule, effective as of April 8, 2002: http://www.voanews.com/NewsNow/PrintArticle.cfm?objectID=AF5087B3-D0ED-4CFB-8A1ADC14026AF335&title=Schedule You may need to copy and paste this link for it to work properly, since it is long enough to wrap to the next line. (Note that my link is to the "printable" version, which omits much of the navigation and menus - I thought it looked better plain.) -- (Johnathan Grant, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: For comments, suggestions, or questions to VOA News Now, please send an e-mail to newsnow@voanews.com To receive our printed schedule publication VOA Guide, send an e-mail with your postal address to letters@voanews.com The main VOA Web site is http://www.voanews.com To meet our staff, listen to News Now and see more of our material, click on News Now on the left column of the main VOA site, or go to http://www.voanews.com/newsnow You can also write to us at: VOA News Now, Washington, DC, 20237, USA. This document contains the program and transmission (frequency) schedules of VOA News Now. All times and days are Universal Time (UTC, also known as GMT). VOA News Now is available 24 hours a day as a RealAudio stream at http://www.voanews.com Talk to America's website is http://www.voanews.com/talk VOA Music Mix is available at http://www.voanews.com/musicmix For a schedule of VOA Special English broadcasts, send an e-mail to special@voanews.com or visit http://www.voaspecialenglish.com For a schedule for VOA transmissions in languages other than English, visit http://www.voa.gov/allsked.cfm VOA NEWS NOW PROGRAM SCHEDULE VOA News Now is your source for news 24 hours a day, including LIVE coverage of major events. We broadcast a full news summary at one minute past every hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also broadcast news headlines at half past every hour. Most hours have expanded news and in-depth coverage and analysis of the events and issues of the day. Our new format, launched April 8, 2002, also expands our coverage of business and economic news, sports and American subjects. MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS look like this: Sportscasts are at 23 minutes past most hours. Business and economic news can be found throughout our programs, but particularly after the news headlines at half past 01, 03, 05, 07, 11, 15, 20 and 23 UTC. Our Dateline documentary will expand and move to 45 minutes past those same hours. And we'll introduce a new segment, Focus, to put one of the day's top stories in perspective, at 15 minutes past 00, 02, 06, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 22 UTC. Our new program for American coverage, Coast To Coast with Dave Arlington, is on Mondays through Fridays after the headlines at half past 00, 12, 14, 16 and 18 UTC. (Plus 00 Saturdays for Latin America.) This will be home for all kinds of American topics, including our popular science coverage. Later this year, watch for the premier of another new program! Listen for our new Opinion Roundup at 55 minutes past 00, 07, 12, 15 and 17 UTC. Add YOUR opinion to the mix by sending it to opinion@voanews.com Talk to America will continue LIVE, Mondays through Fridays, at 17 UTC, on radio, television and the Internet, and we welcome your participation. Talk to America will now also be repeated on radio and Internet at 08 UTC. More information is at http://www.voanews.com/talk And we'll have music for you from the VOA Music Mix Network at 09, 13, 19 and 21 UTC. At 19 UTC it's Border Crossings. The other hours` Music programs rotate as follows: Mondays - American Gold with Ray Freeman Tuesdays - Roots & Branches with Katherine Cole Wednesdays - Classic Rock with Ed Kowalski Thursdays - Top 20 with Ray McDonald Fridays - Country Hits with Mary Morningstar (site as above via DXLD) Why do they make it so difficult to find??? There`s more at the site, which Kevin Kelly and Mike Cooper also found, including a grid (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, On 4/15/02 15680 at 1939 there was a `Chinese traditional music station` which was jamming Radio Free Asia in Mandarin on the same frequency and time. When I attempted to tune to WWCR #1 on 15685, I discovered it was effectively jamming it also. SINPO 12332 for WWCR! (I sent them a report also.) 73 (Mark Taylor, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IBB is being obstinate about the collateral damage it knows it causes to private US broadcasters on adjacent frequencies (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. JAMBOREE USA: IT'S W. VA. VERSION OF GRAND OLE OPRY By VICKI SMITH Associated Press WHEELING -- On a clear evening, an AM radio signal carries the music of Jamboree USA as far as Australia and Japan. But it's the little things about one of the nation's oldest live radio shows that keep devoted country music fans listening 69 years after its first broadcast.... http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2002/04/02/bq/ (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Nice article, but the lead is nonsense. Clear? You mean no clouds in the sky which would otherwise block the signal? Evening? You mean before 0500 UT? That`s 1400 local in Japan. I think not. 1500 local in eastern Australia. Possibly in the dead of winter, but not likely. Furthermore, WWVA`s pattern doesn`t favor the west, and I`m sure KVOO is usually in the way (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The death of Me and Mario was announced Sunday April 14, 2002 maybe before that. Very sad indeed. The website had also been cutoff. Last week Me and Mario was encore presentation and it ended with Mario saying it would be Me and Me (Larry Nebron, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, they could at least have left the archive for a while (gh, DXLD) Could be a number of reasons. I would posit these: 1. Normal end of a cycle. This show has been on for about 10 years, if memory serves. 2. Mario's son, Andrew, is running for the Democratic nomination for NY governor against Pataki, the current incumbent who turned out Cuomo senior. The two may have decided that continuing the program would be awkward. 3. Alan and Mario had a falling out. (Not likely--although Chartock is a McCall supporter I believe. NB: McCall is the the state Comptroller and, in the eyes of some, has earned the right to the nomination, while Andrew is seen by some as an upstart.) To be honest, while I thought the program had some interesting conversations, I'm surprised it went on as long as it did (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Glen[n], I caught the "America's Most Wanted" story about Steve Anderson on Sat. night - and noted that the frequency display on the radio was not 3260 nor 6900 kHz. Now in another twist - although apparently unrelated - it was reported in yesterday's newspaper and also on local TV news this morning that Pulaski county (KY) Sheriff Sam Catron was killed by a sniper as he was leaving a political rally. The implication is that the assassination was the work of a rival candidate for the position of sheriff. Keep up the great work. Thanks and 73, (Paul Spurlock, Old Hickory, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TRANSCRIPT OF ANDERSON SEGMENT ON AMERICA'S MOST WANTED Glenn, here's a transcription of the segment on America's Most Wanted featuring Steve Anderson. IIRC his broadcasts were on 6900 and, earlier, on 3260. Strange there was no explicit mention that the broadcasts were illegal -- I suppose it was assumed with all of the other nastiness that AMW detailed in typical dramatic fashion. Best regards, (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) --- America's Most Wanted, Fox Television, Sun 4/14/02 0100 UT Note: The fragments from Anderson's shortwave broadcasts were accompanied by on-screen captions. This transcript uses the captions as displayed. [John Walsh] Now I'm calling for a red alert on this next fugitive. He's an angry, hate-filled domestic terrorist. This supremacist nut is the target of a federal manhunt. Our John Turchin enjoined the search, and has this report on a raving bigot who used the airwaves to broadcast his vicious rants. [Cut to closeup of operator tuning a radio] [Anderson broadcast fragments] "This country is at war. "The socialists have infiltrated our government and have made you an enemy of the state. "This is not going to solved until they're dead. "We're going to have to kill them." [Turchin] The shortwave broadcasts came from deep within Kentucky's beautiful countryside, but the words are ugly. [Anderson broadcast fragments, with visual of a radio rig slowly scanning 27.546, 27.547, 27.548, and so on.] "...and if you don't want to believe me and you say I'm a hate monger and all that, then just die. "Good riddance to you, you know, I'm sick of you. "I'm sick of Judeo-Christian, pabulum-preaching pukes out there." [Cut to a zoom in on Anderson's mug shot.] [Turchin] The voice belongs to Steve Anderson; his nightly broadcasts full of raw hatred. [Anderson] "Well, you know what color the color of law is gonna be? "Blood red. "It's a crime in my eyes that some people are still breathing... "...but I may get a chance to take care of that shortly. (Laughs)" [Sheriff Sam Catron, Pulaski County Sheriff's Department] Mr Anderson moved here from Ohio, approximately ten years ago, and he was very active in the Ku Klux Klan and held a very high position there. [Home video of Klan demonstration, Anderson in full garb yelling] "We stand next to you at work, We're right next to you in (unintelligible). We're right next to you in Wal-Mart. Ku Klux Klan is everywhere! [Catron] He got involved in the Kentucky militia. He was very anti- government, very anti-law enforcement, anti-Negro, anti-Jew. [Anderson] "The international Jew bankers that own everything and have got you virtually as a wage slave. 'Oh, you can't say that. That's anti-Semitic.' "Get a life. Better still, get an AK-47 and then take your life back. "We're gonna have to kill them." [Turchin] Anderson turned his venom on anyone who disagreed with him. Organizations that monitor hate groups feared he was becoming more than just a loud mouthed hate monger. He was becoming a threat. [Mark Potok, Southern Poverty Law Center] When Anderson started to become a real concern is when he started to talk about gunning down federal agents, along with who knows how many others of his enemies. [Turchin] Newspaper editor Carol Coffey became one of Anderson's targets when she published a series of stories about hate groups, focusing on Anderson and his broadcasts. He threatened to kill her. [Anderson] "The local newspaper is continuing to try to get me raided. "Basically because the newspaper what's-her-name, Coffey, she's a Jew... "If we're raided and they don't kill me and I get out of here... "...guess who I'm going to go see first? Ha ha ha. "Yeah. 'Hi Honey, I'm home.'" [Carol Coffey, News Editor, Commonwealth Journal] I'd never been threatened in that way before. If anything shocked me, it was, it was, the threat was made like it was, on his shortwave radio program, and the maniacal laugh that's in the middle of it is sort of unnerving. [Turchin] Carol had no choice but to take the threat seriously. The newspaper office went on high alert. [Coffey] We compared Anderson to a ticking time bomb. He was going to go off at some point. [Turchin] That point came on October 14th, 2001. Anderson was cruising along a back country road in his pickup truck when a young deputy pulled him over for having broken tail lights. [Scott Elder, Bell County Sheriff's Department] I said, "I need to take a quick look at your driver's license and make sure they're valid." He said, "I don't have to show you my driver's license." That's when I noticed the pistol magazine next to his leg, and I said, "Sir, is there any weapons in there for that magazine?" He said "Son, there's all kinds of guns in here." [Turchin] When Deputy Elder asked Anderson to step out of his truck, the militia man took off. [Elder] We're cuttin' through the median. He's cutting in the median behind me and he's chasing me, and we're doin' in circles. We do that four or five times. He kept tryin' to ram the cruiser. [Turchin] But suddenly Anderson stopped his truck and pulled out a rifle. [Elder] I ran around the back of the car when he opened fire on the car. It seemed like it went on for days. I think it was just a couple of minutes. Thirty rounds hit the car. [Turchin] After emptying his assault rifle at the deputy, Anderson jumped in his truck and took off. [Showing damage to the police car] Miraculously, Deputy Elder was not injured. [Turchin, to Elder] This thing's all over. You've got to feel like a fairly lucky guy. [Elder] Pretty lucky, pretty lucky. [Turchin, picture of camouflage painted pickup truck] Anderson's abandoned pickup was quickly found. Inside of it was an unbelievable arsenal. [Karl Stankovic, ATF] Near the vehicle, a rifle was found. Over nine thousand rounds of ammunition. Survival gear was found in the vehicle, [Images of huge stash recovered from truck] and the six pipe bombs. That's an awful volatile mixture of items and equipment for somebody to have, and be driving around at night. [Cut to helicopter view of Anderson's property. Two large satellite dishes are seen.] [Turchin] Federal agents moved in on Anderson's home and sealed it off. There was no sign of him, but there was plenty of evidence about what he was up to. [Chopper pilot] That's his place that we're coming up on directly here. [Turchin] Anderson's? That's his property right there? [Pilot] That's right there. [Turchin] How big of a piece of property is that? [Chopper pilot] He's got approximately four acres. [The chopper lands.] [Chopper pilot] Y'all let me show you around a little bit. [Antennas are seen bolted to the side of the house, with cable running down to a room on the first floor/basement of the split level home.] [Chopper pilot] This is the house where he was livin' at. [Turchin] This is the room where he actually did the radio broadcasts from. [Chopper pilot] That's correct, yes sir. He had his radio station set up in this room. [Turchin] That cabinet over there seems to have, what, ammo? [Chopper pilot] That's got several boxes of shell casings where he reloaded his own shell casings. Also on the door there he's even got what caliber and grain. [They move around to another side of the house.] He done a lot of target practice off here to the left. This is a target frame, John. [He pulls up a target frame. There are large holes in plywood where head and body of the target would be located.] [Turchin] He shot here quite a bit. [Chopper pilot] Yes sir, you can tell he's had several targets along here. And this is the head area and upper body area, and you can tell he was concentrating a lot of fire on the head and upper body area. [Turchin] Pretty good shot, too. [Chopper pilot] Yes sir, he was. [Cut to Turchin, at ATF. Huge display of weapons and ammunition on tables.] That was just the tip of the iceberg. This is some of the stuff that agents found at Anderson's home. Thousands of rounds of ammo. Bullets for just about any caliber of weapon you can think of. Pipe bombs. Hand grenades. Guns. This is a sawed off rifle with a silencer. This one packs more of a punch. A twelve gauge shotgun, machine guns, assault rifles, and this one, the ultimate sniper. He was ready for war. [Anderson] "I don't understand what's wrong with the Feds. "If they don't stop what they're doing they'll be sticking to the walls... "...ceilings, floors, sides of cars and buildings, the inside of cars,... "...they'll be sticking to a lot of stuff if they don't stick by the Constitution." [Turchin] Agents don't know where Steve Anderson is now hiding or what he may be planning. But they fear he will join the ranks of such home grown terrorists as Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, and Eric Rudolph, who's wanted for a series of bombings at abortion clinics and the Atlanta Olympics. Deputies say Anderson is capable of anything. He has who knows how many weapons and fears no one. [Anderson] "You're not free. And I've got news for you. "Do you want to know what the sound of freedom is? [gun clacking sound] That's the sound of freedom. [gun clacking sound] "That's freedom. [gun clacking sound] "Freedom." [Sheriff Catron] He's crossed the line. He's shot at law enforcement this time, and I don't feel that he'll go down easy. [Turchin] Agents say Steve Anderson could be getting help from sympathizers in the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups. He's trained in survival skills, so he could be hiding out somewhere in the woods. [Caption text: Anderson claims to be an electrician.] But he's also been known to hang out at gun shows. [Caption: He has bad knees and may walk with a limp.] If you know where Steve Anderson is tonight [Caption: Stephen Anderson Age 54 6'2" 235 lbs.] please be careful, but call our hot line at 1-800-CRIME-TV. [Walsh] We've gotta scrape that slime off our streets. The ATF is offering a twenty thousand dollar reward for his capture, and nothing would make me happier than if one of our viewers got that money. So if you know where Steve Anderson is please call 1-800-CRIME-TV right now. Now do the right thing and remember you can remain anonymous. Stick around and we'll be right back. [end] (via Larry Will, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At first I assumed the transcript came from AMW website, but evidently Larry did it himself. Many thanks for your trouble. It`s important to have this on record (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Re DXLD 2-061, Michigan Law: An attorney was quoted in DXLD 2-061 saying, "Note the 'built in' exception for Hams, and the fact that this covers frequencies as actually used, not 'shortwave'." I am not a lawyer but I can read pretty good. The "clarification" by the attorney seems to me to be misleading. The law says "on frequencies assigned by the FCC..." It turns out that a search of assigned frequencies reveals several between 2.0 and 3.5 MHz which at one time were used for intercity RTTY networks and back in the 1930-1950's were used for voice communications from the police HQ's to their cars. The frequencies are still assigned to the State of Michigan but are not actively used any more. The wording of Sec. 508 makes equipping a vehicle or using a radio in a vehicle that CAN receive these frequencies illegal. The attorney is wrong in my opinion in his interpretation that the frequencies actually have to be used by the police. The operative words in Sec 508 are "equip", "will receive", "assigned", and "or use". ``Sec. 508. (1) Any person who shall equip a vehicle with a radio receiving set that will receive signals sent on frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America for police purposes, or use the same in this state...`` Somebody with a YB-400 or Sony 2010 in the car is violating this law in Michigan unless they have a ham ticket or have applied for and received a permit from the state police. While the law may not be strictly enforced regarding the HF coverage, it is a badly worded law because it restricts things beyond its original intent. Just like laws that attempt to restrict what kind of sex consenting adults can engage in, these kinds of unenforceable laws diminish respect for the law in general and are therefore counterproductive. But I believe SWL's passing through Michigan would be well advised to hide their radios unless they have a ham ticket. 73, ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ ** U S A. Excellent new unofficial website on WTVT Tampa history: http://www.big13.net/ (Paul K. Smith, W4KNX, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. AMG London World Beacon on new 15365 (ex-17850) via Al Dhabbaya, UAE heard with English sermon at 2010 UT, to be ceased on April 15th, scheduled 1800-2200 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Still strong on all three channels also in A-02: Radio Tashkent in English at 2030-2100 and 2130-2200 UT on 5025, 9545 (ahead of DW), and 11905 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. MARRUECOS. 7460 khz, Radio Nacional de la República Árabe Saharahui Democrática, 2055-2103+, 13 Abril 2002, programa en árabe, música local e ID a las 2100 "Idaat-il Jumuhiriyah al-Arabia al-Saharauiah"; luego noticiass por locutor. SINPO: 35343. (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. CLANDESTINE RADIO SAID OPERATING IN BULAWAYO | Text of report by Zimbabwean radio audio web site on 15 April It has been established that a broadcasting station is in operation in the city of Bulawayo and that it is operating without a broadcasting license. Our reporter filed this report: [Makosini Hlongwane] The radio station, known as Radio Dialogue, is broadcasting and auditing some of its programmes here in Bulawayo. Some of the broadcasts are distributed to a number of organizations illegally. The station is said to be operating in the suburb of Hillside here in Bulawayo. Reliable sources say a total of four people have so far been sent to Italy for training in broadcasting. The equipment used are reported to have been used by the now defunct Capital Radio. Capital Radio was closed due to its illegal operations in Harare. One of the officials of a Roman Catholic priest, Father Nigel Johnson, is reported to be at the forefront of the illegal station. Father Johnson is reported to be responsible for the recruitment of workers at the radio station. There are strong rumours that this radio station is in close working relationship with a clandestine radio station in Britain whose broadcast is heard here in Zimbabwe the SW Radio. Source: ZBC Radio Zimbabwe audio web site, Harare, in Ndebele 1610 gmt 15 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Not much luck on Sunday, 14 April. Nothing (except LSB Greeks) on 6715U from 1730 till 1846. Then the preacher started to fade up. Very, very weak signal. I checked this frequency every couple of minutes and by 1916 audio was gone. Can't say if it was sign-off or fade out. So, this needs further monitoring to see if they are on DST schedule. The Sunday schedule was earlier slightly variable 1840-2015 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED, but most probably La Voix du Sahel [NIGER] in Arabic heard on 9705.78 kHz from 1930 UT onwards. And due to DEAD zone: poor underneath VoA Serbian from Biblis at 1930 UT on 9705 kHz (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. This weekend, some Argentine DXers made a DXcamp in Chascomus, near the lake with same name, to 120 km to south west to Buenos Aires city. The participants were: Gabriel Iván Barrera, Nicolás Éramo, Enrique Wembagher, Marcelo Cornachioni, Norberto Pugliese, Gerardo Choren and Arnaldo Slaen. Today, on Sunday 14, we listened to an unID on 13430 khz!!!!! on AM mode, in Pashtu or Dari or other regional language, at 1408 UT time, with a anthem and commentary. At the few seconds, we heard a terrible jamming in same frequency. Then the unID stepped to 13420, then to 13430, step again to 13440, 13450 and 13430 at 1431 UT. The jamming "persecutes" the station (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [Another version:] I just returned from a DX Camp in Chascomus 120 km SE from Buenos Aires, in front of lake of same name (Laguna Chascomus); the conditions of propagation were good to fair. Today in the morning thanks to Marcelo Cornachioni, I had the possibility to listen to an unID /Clandestine on 13430 in Farsi or Arabic. Here`s the log. UNID/CLANDESTINE??? 13430 unID Station 1358-1435, Apr 14, Farsi or Arabic at 1400* s/on again with National Anthem, ID in Farsi or Arabic by man and strong jamming, in previous edition comments about Afghanistan and Far East, at 1409 approx. the station still in silence for some seconds, at 1412 return again and at 1413 continues jamming, at 1414 silence, the station back at 1420 and 1421 strong jamming; afterwards the station drifting frequency between 13440 and 13455 etc. (in adjacents channels). (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Isn`t Iranian clandestine Sedaye Mojahed heard around these frequencies? Typical jamming/evasion pattern (gh, DXLD) Last November I logged Voice of the Mojahedin on 13430 jumping from 13420 to 13470 (Roberto Scaglione, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-062, April 14, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1126: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Mon 0000, 0500 3210, Wed 0930 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sun 1830?, Mon 0030?, 0630?, 1230? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB DX PROGRAMS, April 14 revision by John Norfolk: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AUSTRALIA. 1611 kHz, 3XX Melbourne is back on air this evening and apparently full time. Heard at 1430 UT with Retro and modern pop. Gives the odd jingle "Melbourne's brand new radio station is finally here 1611 3XX". Gives web address as: http://www.1611.cjb.net/ They are calling for announcers, and yes they are unpaid positions until selection of paid staff in May June. hehehe. Address given is: P. O. Box 173, Caulfield East, 3145 or email to RADIO1611@HOTMAIL.COM Official station launch is: at MONSOONS nightclub, April 26th (Friday) at Grand Hyatt. It says on the web that 3 Double XX presents the best new music, chart hits, dance, and retro dance and chart classics from the 80's and 90's - 24 hours every day 365 days per year. Simply, you wanted a full time station - here it is ! - Simply switch to 1611 AM and STAY WITH US!. Well, interesting concept. Let's see if it's still around at the end of the year. Seems it is cash strapped already (Dave Onley, Australia, April 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Some listening results from the past few days: BLR 0100- 0300 heard on 5970 and 7210. Nothing on 1170. At 1900-2100 on 7105, 7210, 1170. Saturday I heard some of the regional transmitters (6010, 6040, 6070) sign on around or at 1500. Nothing on 6115 and 7210 at this time. 7210 has had some carrier buzz and at time low modulation level. 5970 had a wobbling carrier on Saturday, not on Friday or Sunday (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 4732.24, La Palabra, Santa Ana del Yacuma. Apr 13, 1007-. I first noted that the station made an unexpected early morning transmission. ID was simply announced as "La Palabra", but according TIN's observation during his stay in Bolivia in '93, the station seems to officially identify itself as "Radio La Palabra" (Shoji YAMADA, Tokyo, Japan, RNM, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I have not been able to tune in CFRX on 6.07 MHz. I was listening on UT Sunday at about 0030 UTC, and it sounded like there was another station on in its place. Is CFRX off the air again? (Kenneth S. Armstrong, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RADIO-CANADA STRIKE DRAWS PARALLELS TO 1958 by Graham Fraser A STRIKE OR a lockout can be like a marital dispute. Conflicts about particulars spread and end up poisoning relationships, creating unforeseen consequences that can have incalculable effects. Three weeks ago yesterday, CBC-Radio-Canada locked out its Quebec-based employees. Since then, there have been no CBC or Radio-Canada productions from Montreal, Quebec, or Moncton, N.B. French-language radio is now mostly music; hockey games are being broadcast without commentary; television news is read by managers; ratings are diving as viewers and listeners (except for those who prefer hockey without commentary) turn the dial.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1018735315968&call_page=TS_News_Columnists&call_pageid=970599109774&call_pagepath=Columnists 73, (Toronto Star April 14 via Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) ** CHECHNYA. A Russian Interior Ministry-coordinated counter- propaganda service is due to be set up in Chechnya to counterbalance broadcasts to the North Caucasus republic that Radio Liberty launched on the 3d of this month. The Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said on Friday that the basic objective of the counter-propaganda service would be to provide the Chechen population with trustworthy information, not to make them draw conclusions about the situation in the republic from Radio Liberty programmes or Chechen criminal gang chiefs' idle talks coming through foreign radio channels. The Chechen Administration head Akhmad Kadyrov believes Radio Liberty plays into the hands of those propagating the ideas of separatism in the republic (The Voice of Russia News, April 13, 2002, via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) RUSSIAN MP SAYS RADIO LIBERTY'S LICENSE SHOULD BE REVIEWED NOT REVOKED Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 14 April: Chairman of the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee Dmitri Rogozin believes that the Russian government must respond to all the deputies' questions concerning Radio Liberty's broadcasting in the North Caucasus in four local languages, including the Chechen language. "We have no intention of categorically demanding that this radio station be suspended or that its license be recalled," Rogozin told Interfax on Sunday [14 April] in remarks about an inquiry which the deputies plan to send to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. "The parliament must not make decisions that are not within its competence. We think, however, that the government is too passive. Meanwhile, we have many queries about this radio station's Chechen project. On what grounds has Radio Liberty received a license? Was any agreement reached with Russian officials on broadcasting programmes in the Chechen language? And does the government think that these programmes help to resolve the Chechen conflict? If it doesn't, what is the government doing to curb this activity?" Rogozin said. The Committee plans to discuss a draft parliamentary inquiry at its next meeting, presumably on Thursday [18 April] and will subsequently submit the draft to the lower house. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0621 gmt 14 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY SHAKES UP DAGESTAN From http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/cau/cau_200204_124_3_eng.txt The launch of the US-funded radio station's new service for the North Caucasus is already creating waves in the region's largest republic. By Nabi Abdullayev in Moscow (CRS No. 124, 12-Apr-02) Just as ordinary listeners in Dagestan responded with excitement to the first-ever foreign broadcasts in the indigenous languages of the North Caucasus, officials warned that they may seek to shut them down. Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, based in Prague, began transmitting in the Dagestani language[s] Avar, Chechen and Circassian on April 3 for two hours a day. The authorities in Makhachkala have already condemned the broadcasts as a potential source of extremism and separatism. "Half of the broadcasts are devoted to Chechnya and repeat the content of Udugov's web site," Zagir Arukhov, Dagestan's deputy minister of nationalities, information and external relations told IWPR. He was referring to http://www.kavkaz.org, the Chechen rebels' site, run by their outspoken ideologist Movladi Udugov. "We are surprised to see America, which proclaimed war on terrorism, taking Udugov's stuff, wrapping it in American covers and selling it to us." The launch of the new service was delayed after Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Moscow's chief spokesman on Chechnya, warned that if Radio Liberty pressed ahead with it, the broadcaster, which is funded by the US government, might lose its license to broadcast to Russia. But although Moscow's chief concern is the effect of Chechen-language broadcasts on the war-ravaged republic, Dagestani officials are also talking tough. "If we find anything against our interests in the broadcasts, we'll complain to the foreign ministry in Moscow and demand that Radio Liberty be stripped of its license and its Moscow office be closed," said Arukhov. "And no correspondent of Radio Liberty will ever set foot on Dagestani soil after that." Meanwhile, many Avar acquaintances in Dagestan, when asked about the Radio Liberty initiative, were unanimously positive - even though most of them had not listened to the first broadcasts. Just over a quarter of Dagestan's two million people are ethnic Avars. "It is always interesting to get a new angle on what is going on," said Akhmed Magdiev, a schoolteacher in Makhachkala. "Whatever local journalists produce just looks like one big Dagestanskaya Pravda." Most independent journalists and analysts consider Dagestanskaya Pravda, the major government-owned newspaper in Dagestan, unprofessional and overly servile to local mandarins. The Makhachkala government also controls television and radio broadcasts in local languages, which are filled mostly with ethnic music and news that sounds very similar to the content of Dagestanskaya Pravda. Other Avars interviewed praised the news broadcasts for provoking more interest in a language that is gradually being edged out by Russian, especially amongst young people. However, many complained they were unable to get a good signal. Short and medium wave bands, on which Radio Liberty broadcasts, have the best reception in mountainous areas. "My relatives living in the mountains listen to Radio Liberty every day, and I will have to buy a more powerful wireless set to listen to it in Makhachkala," lamented Ibragim Ibragimov, a taxi-driver. The Dagestani sociologist Enver Kisriev believes that the interest in the new broadcasts can largely be explained by the failings of the national media. "In comparison with Yeltsin's time, the Russian media has stopped producing alternative reports, and it more and more resembles the Soviet media," he said. "In these circumstances anything critical of the ruling authorities, which can't ever be heard from the local media, will reach common people's hearts." Arukhov, who also teaches journalism at the local university, criticised the professional standards of the producers of the Avar broadcasts. "This American initiative will inevitably fail because of a dramatic lack of creative staff capable of producing good broadcasts," he said. The issues chosen so far by the Avar producers were not of great urgency for ordinary Dagestanis: the station made its debut with a report about the lack of proper Avar-language textbooks in Dagestan's schools. Interviewed recently from Prague, Sonia Winter, a spokeswoman for Radio Liberty, said that journalists for the Northern Caucasus broadcasts were picked in an open competition. Kisriev said he expects the Avar service to become more confrontational over time. He thought it likely that the current crop of Avar journalists, who are constrained by Soviet-style self- censorship, will gradually be replaced by staff willing to criticize the local authorities, such as, for example, the exiled Avar poet Adallo Aliev, who was at one time a contender for a post at Radio Liberty. An award-winning poet in Soviet times, Aliev turned into a hard line Islamist in the 1990s and a leading supporter of Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev. After Basayev's failed incursion into Dagestan in 1999, he was placed on Interpol's wanted persons list by the Russian authorities and is now thought to be hiding in Turkey. Dagestan has already been the stage for a high-profile conflict between the Russian state machine and Radio Liberty. In 2000, the station's correspondent in Chechnya Andrei Babitsky, whose war reports irritated the Russian authorities, disappeared for several weeks. When he reappeared, he was fined by a Makhachkala court for carrying forged passports in Dagestan. The five-day trial attracted national and international attention. Nabi Abdullayev, a Dagestani journalist, works for the Moscow Times in Moscow (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** CHINA. "Female pictograms," the only form of feminine script in the world, written by women for women, is in danger of disappearing. The April 14 [UT] "In the Spotlight" will tell you more about this ancient form of writing, and the efforts to preserve it. (—Jim CRI Shortwave http://pw2.netcom.com/~jleq/cri1.htm swprograms via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. US MISSION CHIEF: NOTHING WRONG IN DISTRIBUTING RADIOS IN CUBA --- By Vivian Sequera. Associated Press Writer. The Miami Herald, April 8, 2002. HAVANA - (AP) -- The chief of the U.S. mission here Monday rejected charges by Fidel Castro's government that American officials had violated diplomatic norms when they distributed hundreds of small radios to Cubans. ''We reject that this was in any way a violation of the Vienna Convention,'' Vicky Huddleston told The Associated Press in the lobby of the oceanfront U.S. Interests Section, where security by Cuban police guards has been increased since the weekend. "Everything done by the mission here is correct.'' Huddleston declined to comment on reasons for the increased police presence outside the mission since the weekend. The Cuban government generally stations only two or three police guards outside each of the foreign embassies in Havana, but more than a dozen were guarding the American mission starting on the weekend. Last week, Havana protested to Washington that U.S. diplomats -- including Huddleston -- had distributed 500 radios to Cuban activists. Cuban officials characterized the action as ''subversive'' and Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque in a speech on Saturday accused the American mission of violating the Vienna Convention through that and other actions. Cuban authorities said that the radios evidently were provided to allow Cubans to listen to the Miami-based Radio Martí, a U.S. government station whose signals Havana has jammed in the past. Huddleston said Cubans could use the radios to listen to any station they liked. ''How could any government in the world be worried about people having a radio?'' asked Huddleston, who said American officials have distributed similar radios in countries around the world, including Africa. Huddleston characterized Pérez Roque's warnings Saturday to American diplomats as "an attempt at intimidation.'' ''Our patience has limits,'' the foreign minister said during his Saturday morning speech before tens of thousands of people gathered just east of Havana. ''We are warning the American diplomats ... that they not believe that we don't know'' of their activities. ''I don't think we should be intimidated,'' Huddleston said. "And if there are consequences because I won't be intimidated then I suppose I'll have to accept the consequences.'' (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, April 14, DXLD) See also VENEZUELA ** CZECH REPUBLIC. This year, Radio Prague is organising another listener's competition. The topic is the Czech capital Prague, our station's hometown and also the hometown of the main sponsor of the competition - Prague Breweries Staropramen. The task is simple - to answer the question WHO OR WHAT COMES TO MY MIND WHEN I HEAR THE WORD 'PRAGUE'? The author of the most original answer will win a week in the Czech Republic for two including free return flights. The first prize is sponsored by Staropramen - Prague's favourite beer. The winner will be invited to visit both Radio Prague and the Staropramen brewery. The first 12 runners-up will receive a portable radio, and there are 50 other prizes waiting as well, including T-shirts, travel bags, etc. All entrants will receive a small souvenir from Radio Prague. Send your answers by June 16, 2002 to: Radio Prague, Vinohradská 12, 12099 Prague 2, the Czech Republic or by e-mail to cr@radio.cz. The winners will be announced on Radio Prague on June 30, 2002 (From radio.cz/en via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4815, R. el Buen Pastor, Saraguro. April 13, at 1000. Sign on with the national anthem of Ecuador. The program consisted of nice collection of sanjuanito and cumbia music. As OM talk ran throughout in Quichua (NOT Spanish), I confirmed ID as 'Radio Alli Michic'. I remember that HK's DATELINE BOGOTA Jan 15/'96 via RNM showed nice, nice pennant which was issued as 'Recuerdo de Inauguración' (dated Julio 15/1995) and was indicated as 'Radio Alli Michic 4830 kHz 60mb' (Shoji YAMADA, Tokyo, Japan, RNM, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Glenn! Got this mail from BM and I think there are something of interest for the DX-community. Regards (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very nice and exciting with Salvador on 17833.72 kHz! A "preview" sent out and received almost like a bomb. Radio Imperial announced MW 810 kHz but no SW frequency and I took it for granted that it was a harmonic. But even a 22nd order harmonic also sounded A bit too `great` for my ears. I think you shall visit DXLD`s web site http://www.worldofradio.com and the issue from April 7 read the Exciting communication between our member Henrik Klemetz/HK and Humberto Molina in San Salvador. Also read the following issues. You can clearly see that Radio Imperial in fact has a transmitter on SW 17835 kHz and that it in fact was no harmonic-logging I got but a "real" SW-logging of highest calibre. There are for sure a lot of transmitters around in Latin America who every 5th year or so are dusted off and started just because the owner wants to keep his licence. Thanks goes to HK for excellent digging journalism! (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17833.9, UNIDENTIFIED just an open carrier here in the 1900-2200 range, seemingly AM mode, and gone at 2320 recheck. Heard a World Of Radio (#1126) report of a valid low power Salvadorian (per Henrik Klemetz, I believe) operating irregularly on 17835. I missed the name, I think Radio Imperial or similar? Wonder if this could have been them? (Terry Krueger, FL, April 14, so heard April 13? Hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA. Perhaps the following will have some impact on all the clandestine broadcasting to these countries, more or less? (gh) ETHIOPIANS CELEBRATE RULING BY INTERNATIONAL PANEL ON BORDER WITH ERITREA By ABEBE ANDUALEM, The Associated Press, 4/14/02 9:42 AM ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Ethiopian state radio interrupted regular programming Sunday morning to broadcast patriotic music and messages of congratulations following a ruling by an international panel on delimiting the border with Eritrea. The ruling by the Eritrea Ethiopia Border Commission on Saturday reportedly granted all of the land contested by the two countries in a two-year war to Ethiopia. But turnout at a government rally in Addis Ababa to celebrate the ruling only brought out a few thousand people. Ali Abdo, the capital's chief administrator, called the commission's ruling on the border was a decisive victory for Ethiopians in a court of law. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia promised to accept the binding decision by the commission announced in The Hague, Netherlands. Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said Ethiopia had been given all the land it occupied prior to the war with Eritrea, including the contested towns of Badme, Zalambessa, Irob, Bada and Bure, where the heaviest battles of the war were fought. But the decision will not be released to the public until Monday and Eritrean state-run media have said the Ethiopian celebrations are meant to pacify the public. Eritrean officials have not commented on the ruling. In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement welcoming the decision as "an important milestone in the peace process" and lauded the parties for their "continued and consistent reaffirmation" that the ruling was final and binding. If successful, the ruling will allow the departure of 4,200 U.N. peacekeepers monitoring a 15-mile buffer zone incorporating the most disputed areas. The United Nations will assist in implementing the commission's proposed division. Fighting erupted between the two nations on May 6, 1998, when Eritrea -- which won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 -- invaded territory Ethiopia considered within its national borders. After months of heavy fighting in which up to 300,000 Eritreans fled their homes, Ethiopian troops captured much of the smaller country's prime agricultural land in a last offensive in May 2000. More than 80,000 troops died in the fighting and 70,000 refugees still live in makeshift camps. Humiliated by the Ethiopian offensive, Eritrea, which has a population of just 3.5 million compared to Ethiopia's 65 million, agreed to a cessation of hostilities in June 2000 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Glenn, Received the April-May-June 2002 issue of "Budapest International" in the postal mail on Friday April 12, 2002. English broadcasts of R. Budapest are as follows. To Europe 1900-1930 6025, 7130; 2100-2130 3975, 6025. To North America 0100-0130 9560; 0230-0300 9570. I checked the 0230 UT broadcast on April 13, 2002. SINPO 43543 with QRM from R. Korea (I believe via RCI relay) on 9560 and an unidentified station on 9575 kHz. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. Subject: Go catch a submarine From http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ Offshore radio of a different kind!! This year the German Seehund U-5075 submarine is for the first time taking part in the "Submarines on the Air" special radio event. The event goes on the air for 24 hours, starting 27 April 0000 and ending on 28 April 2002 at 2359 UT. CW transmissions are planned for 3.5043, 3743, 7043, 7143, 14043, 21043, 21143, 28043, 28143 and 50.043 kHz. SSB transmissions are planned for 3843, 3943, 7243, 14243, 21343, 28443 and 50.143 kHz (all +/- 20 kHz, except 10 and 6 meters +/-40 kHz) DXers may get a special QSL for WW2MAN transmissions from the Seehund Amateur Radio Association, PO Box 1193, Lakeville, MA 02347, USA -- provided a SASE is included. Bob Doherty, USA, 7 April 2002 More info on the Marinefunker - International List of Museumships http://www.marinefunker.de/eng/shiplist.html (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. Israel's entry for the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest is called, "Light A Candle." The singer is Sarit Hadad. You can listen to the song, read the lyrics and read some background at: http://www.eurovision.tv/en/contestants/israel/artist/index.php The 2002 Eurovison Song Contest is going to take place in Estonia at 9 PM CET on May 25th. Besides being on TV in much of the world, they will again include an Internet broadcast. The Eurovision's website is: http://www.eurovision.tv/ The IBA site will soon have the schedule of events for Israel Independence Day posted on their website (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Isn`t it May 29? (Maryanne Kehoe, swprograms via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI English to NAm via Canada is still at 1130, since I tuned in time to hear transmission closing at 1229 on 9650. Heavy QRM in Chinese, seemed non-Mandarin, from station as strong or stronger. At least there was no jamming this date. But when will RKI ever wake up to the problem they have here? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Hola Sr. Glenn, ¿Cómo se encuentra? Pues sigo participando en el programa Encuentro DX, junto con el Dr. Julián Santiago Diez de Bonilla y recientemente nos ayuda en la locución nuestra amiga locutora Norma Angélica Ortiz Oliva. El horario que se transmite es el siguiente: En onda media por los 1000 kHz y en OC, 6010 los sábados a las 0:00 hora del centro de Mexico. (05 UT) cada 15 dias. Y hay varias repeticiones todos los fines de semana y es el siguiente: los viernes a las 17:30 HCM (hora del Centro de Mexico), los sabados a las 8:30, 18:00 HCM, y los domingos a las 9:00, 18:00 y 23:00 HCM. [UT: Repeats are Fri 2230, Sat 1330, 2300, Sun 1400, 2300, Mon 0400, but original broadcast is fortnightly at 0500 UT Sat; I seem to recall that the repeats were on SW 6010 only, but he doesn`t specify now -gh] Espero pueda seguir sintonizando el programa. Recibe saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. Trans World Radio broadcast for the night a musical program, on the frequency of 702 kHz. Around 0000-0430 UT. But at this time the frequency of 702 kHz is not from Col de la Madone, but from ROUMOULES [FRANCE]! It's the same frequency [sic – you mean site, or transmitter?] which is use on the evening on 1467 kHz. I don't know the purpose of this transmission (Christian Ghibaudo, April DSWCI SW News via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Going on air right now on 21900 am. Try to catch us. Info about our station below Greetings, Alfred, Alfa Lima International. Download Info's and new photos in high resolution http://www.alfalima.net/foto-paket.zip Huge webpage with just everything related to short-wave http://www.alfalima.net (ALI, Ace Pirate Radio yahoogroup, April 14 1452 UT via DXLD) Nothing here at 1606 UT check, despite improved antenna (gh, OK, DXLD) ** PERU. 5005.49, R. LTC, Juliaca. April 13, 0923-. Observed on this new frequency thanks to a tip from Rogildo Fontenelle via HCDX List dated Apr 4/2002. Heard religious pop music and OM talk. Simple IDs were given (Shoji YAMADA, Tokyo, Japan, RNM, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Yoshkar-Ola 7200 not heard on Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning, so appears to be off. Used to be rather strong here (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CHECHNYA [non] ** SRI LANKA. 15425 kHz - 0034 April 13, Sri Lanka BC Corp, Colombo- Ekala - From 0034 to 0052 UT programming consisted of piano solos such as "English Country Garden" - at 0052 OM gave station ID and then played several older country songs such as Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, From a Jack to a King, and Marie - great music!! - good copy with signal steady between S9 to S10 on the meter - SIO 444 (Vern Matheson, NF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA English has a new program schedule since April 7, including more music (Chris Hambly, Victoria, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As Dir. Reilly had called for. Trouble is, can`t find any program schedule, old or new, on VOA websites; can anyone? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Fox TV`s ``America`s Most Wanted`` featured Steve Anderson of United Patriot Radio this week, as predicted, about 10 minutes during the second quarter of the show. As usual, the piece was long on drama and short of facts; there were several shots of a SW radio scanning frequencies in the 27, 28 MHz range, which had nothing to do with this; but there were several clips recorded off SW {6900}, no doubt, of Anderson`s most inflammatory remarks. The trooper who stopped him and was fired upon, was interviewed, but nothing was said about his girlfriend being in the car, luckily not hurt. Several shots from ground and helicopter of Anderson`s property showed satellite dishes, and the basement room where his radio studio was. But they were more interested in all the firepower he had in the house and in the abandoned vehicle. Query: if he is `most wanted`, why did it take several weeks for Fox to get this story on the air? We had previous reports of the newspaper editor being interviewed in early March. The AMW website features a mugshot link to this story via http://www.americasmostwanted.com/amw2.html Perhaps someone can pull the exact URL, which may change after this week. Besides his description: (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional Quirks: Skilled at radio operation (shortwave) Active in the Ku Klux Klan Survivalist Claims to have worked as an electrician Stocks up on food and supplies often Has bad knees, may walk with limp May have lost weight since on the run On October 14, 2001, Bell County Sheriff's Deputy (Kentucky) Scott Elder pulled over Steve Anderson for broken tail lights on his pickup truck. Anderson told the deputy that he was a Lieutenant with the anti-government group, Kentucky State Militia, and was on duty. He also said he didn't have a license with him and was permitted to have a weapon. When Deputy Elder was about to place him under arrest, Anderson drove off. A chase pursued. Deputy Elder chased Anderson for a short distance until Anderson switched directions and he began chasing the deputy. Anderson suddenly stopped and pulled out an assault rifle and fired 30 rounds at the deputy. The deputy took cover behind the patrol car and was not injured. Anderson fled into a mountainous area and abandoned his vehicle. He fled on foot and hasn't been seen since. Inside his truck, ATF found 9,000 rounds of ammunition, a rifle and six pipe bombs. Agents searched Anderson's home and found weapons, explosives and hate material. ATF charged Anderson with weapons violations and the Kentucky State Police have filed charges of Attempted Murder of a police officer. Investigators say Steve Anderson had a shortwave radio show in which he aired his hate information. He was also a member of the Kentucky State Militia and the KKK (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Furthermore... From: http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=743170&nav=4CAK8QT1 GUNMAN ASSASSINATES PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF An unnamed gunman shot and killed Pulaski County Sheriff Sam Catron Saturday night. Kentucky State Police reported in a news conference late Saturday night that Catron was shot during a political rally at an annual fish fry at the Shopville-Stab Volunteer Fire Department. Sources tell 27 NEWSFIRST that Sheriff Catron was returning to his car when the gunman fired from an ambush position in the woods nearby. Kentucky State Police report a suspect was being questioned late Saturday night but had not been charged at the time of the police news conference. Police will not release the name of the person being questioned or talk about what possible connection the suspect was with the sheriff. A Pulaski county sheriff's deputy and a member of the Shopville Fire Department stopped the suspect about five miles from the shooting scene before state police arrived. Sources tell 27 NEWSFIRST the gunman escaped from the shooting scene on a motorcycle. the same sources say the people who stopped the suspect heard the police call of the incident, saw a suspect ride by them on a motorcycle, and gave chase. The suspect crashed his motorcycle and the men captured him. Kentucky State Police trooper Craig Sutton says an autopsy will be performed within the next 24 hours. Catron was running for re-election this year. He had won election four years ago in one of the closest races in Kentucky history. After tying with Kay Stringer, he won a coin flip to win. Catron was one of several sources interviewed on a special report on former Kentucky Militia fugitive Steve Anderson tonight on Fox TV's "America's Most Wanted." (WKYT site, tnx to tip from John Norfolk, DXLD) Wish they`d hurry up and ID the shooter (gh, DXLD) No link with Col. Steve From http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat- gen/2002/apr/14/041408562.html Today: April 14, 2002 at 5:29:15 PDT SUSPECT HELD IN KY. SHERIFF'S DEATH SOMERSET, Ky.- Police Chief Harold Catron was gunned down in the line of duty in 1964. Decades later, Catron's son, who followed his father's footsteps into law enforcement, suffered the same fate. Pulaski County Sheriff Sam Catron was hit in the back by a single bullet from a high-powered rifle and killed Saturday as he was leaving a political rally. Catron, running for a fifth-term as sheriff, had just given a speech and bought a cake at the rally in Shopville, a tiny community east of Somerset and about 70 miles south of Lexington. Police were interviewing a suspect early Sunday. State police said he had fled the scene on a motorcycle, but he was captured later when he crashed the vehicle. No charges had been filed, and the man being interviewed hadn't been named. Catron, 48, who ran a Web site for the county sheriff's office that encouraged e-mails and tips, was a popular figure in the community. He had appeared on a segment of "America's Most Wanted" that aired Saturday about a former militia member who is wanted by police in eastern Kentucky. The community was shocked by Catron's death. "It was just like a nightmare. It was an assassination in my opinion," said Judge-Executive Darrell Beshears, who attended the rally. Late Saturday night, Beshears appointed Chief Deputy Jim McWhorter as sheriff. McWhorter, a 25-year state police retiree, has been chief deputy for the last two years. Catron had given a campaign speech before the shooting, said County Attorney Bill Thompson. "Everybody there I would say heard the shots. It was basically panic for quite a few minutes," Thompson said. Beshears said people in the crowd then began pointing to someone leaving the area on a motorcycle. A Pulaski County sheriff's deputy and member of the Shopville Fire Department apprehended the suspect within half an hour of the shooting about five miles from the rally. Former sheriff John Adams, who hired Catron as a deputy in 1974, said Catron's death was "probably the most devastating thing to happen in my life." Catron was first elected sheriff in 1986. Adams said Catron easily won his first election due to his hard work and determination as a deputy. "He's the best deputy I ever had." Catron did have a close election in 1998. He and his challenger in the Republican primary tied after three vote counts, and Catron won by a coin toss, as prescribed by state law. His opponent filed a lawsuit that voided the election because of irregularities, but GOP election officials finally nominated Catron. On the "America's Most Wanted" segment from Saturday, Catron spoke about Steve Anderson, who shot at a police officer and fled into the mountains of eastern Kentucky in October. Anderson, a former Kentucky State Militia member, once hosted a shortwave radio show on which he made inflammatory comments about the government, blacks, Jews and immigrants. But state police don't believe Anderson is linked to Catron's death. "We have no reason to believe it's connected" to the militia incident, Lt. Lisa Rudzinski, a state police spokeswoman, said Saturday night (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Another story about this: http://daily.webshots.com/content/ap/current/h29309382.html (via Ryan Ellegood, Northwest Tennessee, USA, DXLD) ** U S A. The Talkline Communications Network (which I believe used to be on WWCR) rents time on various stations and then resells it. On Saturday night-Sunday morning they rent time from Salem's WMCA. (The late lamented "Home of the Good Guys" for us greying boomers.) But they don't keep DST. Why? Well, they are Jewish and the Sabbath ends after sunset and sunset has yet to go on DST. So the sort-of-late (they are rented out to Disney's ESPN) WEVD's The Forward Show (a many decades old secular Yiddish cultural program) which was on WMCA at 8 P.M. EST is now on at 9 P.M. EDT (Joel Rubin, NY, April 14, swprograms via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. ATACADA RADIO CARACAS TELEVISIÓN Saludos colegas diexistas. La situación en Venezuela continúa algo confusa con los nuevos acontecimientos que se están presentando. Las diferentes fuerzas de la nación garantizan que tienen todo controlado. En estos momentos aliados del gobierno saliente de Hugo "cadenas" Chavez, están atacando a piedras la sede de Radio Caracas Television. Traten de sintonizar: http://www.unionradio.com.ve Estamos viendo imágenes verdaderamente lamentables contra este medio de comunicación social. Atte. (José Elías Diaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 6:01 pm [=UT -4?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) Subject: EXIGENCIAS DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS AL NUEVO GOBIERNO.... 1.. Restituir la Asamblea Nacional 2.. Ratificación del ejército al gobierno transitorio 3.. Ratificación de seguridad de Chávez y su familia 4.. Dejarán salir a Chávez del país de inmediato 5.. Reconstituir todos los poderes públicos legalmente establecidos y respeto a la institucionalidad 6.. La Fuerza Armada respalda al nuevo gobierno, Siempre que respete la Constitución, las Leyes y los derechos humanos. Deben corregirse los errores cometidos ayer en el decreto del nuevo gobierno y, constituirse con apoyo la representación real de las fuerzas vivas... (via José Elías Diaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 6:05 pm [=UT -4?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) Saludos queridos colegas diexistas. Simpatizantes del gobierno caido de Hugo "cadenas" Chávez están ahora amenazando a los canales Venevisión y Globovisión (José Elías Diaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 6:33 pm [=UT -4?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) Saludos colegas diexistas. De acuerdo a lo que estamos viendo en la televisión venezolana, la señal del canal oficial de Venezuela VTV volvió al aire con mucha dificultad. Lo que nos causó extrañeza fue ver a gente partidaria de Hugo Chávez Frías en la pantalla. Luego de varias salidas del aire por fallas técnicas la señal reapareció por la frecuencia de RCTV. Esto significa que las fuerzas del presidente Hugo Chávez tienen controlado al país. Acabo de oir por Radio Habana Cuba un comunicado que supuestamente escribió Hugo Chávez Frías, el cual dice: ``Yo Hugo Chávez Frías no he renunciado al poder que el pueblo de Venezuela me dió para siempre.`` Carmona Estanga acaba de renunciar al cargo de presidente transitorio en Venezuela. En pocas palabras: Vuelve Hugo Chavez a la presidencia de Venezuela (José Elías Diaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 9:57 pm [=UT -4?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) En Globovisión. Al igual que ocurrió en Radio Caracas Televisión, representantes del denominado Batallón Caracas llegaron a Globovisión. Exigieron la transmisión de un mensaje. Una vez reproducido, en los estudios del canal fueron entrevistados la ministra María Cristina Iglesias, el presidente de Conatel, Jesse Chacón y el diputado Juan Barreto. Momentos antes la señal del canal 33 había sido empalmada con la de Venezolana de Televisión. Un grupo de periodistas y camarógrafos de distintos canales de televisión transmitió un mensaje "desde la clandestinidad". Hacen un llamado a la cordura para que se respete su integridad. Horas antes grupos motorizados protestaron a las afueras de Globovisión, Venevisión y Radio Caracas. En este último canal aún se concentra el mayor número de manifestantes. La sede del diario El Universal fue evacuada. Por mediación de la Defensoría del Pueblo, miembros de los círculos bolivarianos, apostados a las puertas de RCTV exigieron una cámara para grabar un mensaje y condicionaron su retirada a que su verdad también fuera transmitida. A pesar de esto, según informa la página web de El Universal, entraron por la puerta trasera del canal de forma violenta creando un caos dentro de las instalaciones. Entretanto la señal de la televisora estatal, Venezolana de Televisión, volvió al aire dirigida por diputados oficialistas quienes hicieron un llamado a la Asamblea Nacional para sesionar de manera extraordinaria en la sede del canal 8. Globovisión/ 13/04/2002 (via José Elías Diaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 11:07 pm [=UT -4?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) Radio Havana has been extensively covering the situation in Venezuela with lots of special bulletins on the English service. Latest development is that the coup leaders have been ousted, the constitutionally-elected vice-president has taken temporary control of the government until Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez returns (expected shortly). So --- looks like this story isn't over yet and the shortwave bands are a good place to be to try to figure out what's going on. 73 de (Bob VE3SRE Chandler, April 14, 12:33 am [=UT -4?], ODXA via DXLD) Re Cuba - BBC R4 (14/04) is saying there is "turmoil" in Venezuela this morning and it isn`t (currently) known who is in charge. Chávez, though, is said to be re-elected after demonstrations. RHC is broadcasting discussion - and what could be direct commentary - about this and well heard here on 6000 9505 9550 and 15230 - also under Ukraine on 11705. RHC ID was given at 0744. Time now here is 0810 UT and it is still on air. I haven`t traced anything direct from Venezuela though. 73's (Noel Green, England, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola, chao or aló I cannot wait to see tomorrow`s top headline on Caracas evening paper Tal Cual. That is if it hits the streets at all. On April 12, their top story was labeled "Chao Hugo", while the header of their first issue, two years ago, was "Hola Hugo". And, apparently, Radio Habana Cuba will not have to cancel their shortwave relays of the Venezuelan presidential talkshow "Aló Presidente" (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, perhaps this was too short notice, as no signal on 9820 in 1400- 1500+ UT check April 14. Not until 1605 did I bother to check some of the other previous frequencies, and they were on! 11705-USB and 9505, but poor reception here. Discussion about Venezuela, but I`m not sure if ex-ex-President Chávez was there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5387.72, New Latin American radio station with unknown QTH. April 8 2002 - 0050 UT. This new station started April 8 (April 9 UT as it seems) and carries a religious program format with long blocks of unannounced religious music without any talk and short and small "sermons" by the male DJ. During the premiere day they repeated it was a new station. ID sounds like: "Están en sintonía de su Radio "Marancay" and I write the name "Marancay" as it sounds phonetically. Announces the frequency 5910 kHz and starts about 1100 UT and closes around 0200. I have not even managed to get a single geographic word and therefore have no idea which location they have. Very frequency stable. Can be heard with rather lousy signal here in Quito. After trying to identify the station during a few days we, that is TN and i, sent a "preview" to all email SWB`ers. There are some more days up to next stopdate so please work hard to find an ID and QTH for this new and unknown station and I will do the same here in my little "cabina" on Avenida La Prensa 4408. Good Hunting and 73 from BM in Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es PS. Wednesday morning the station was there for the third day in a row. The transmitter was switched on at 1045 UT with a carrier until 1101 when a program with nonstop religious music started. Think a little of CA and Guatemala but it is only a rough guess. DS (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6039.41, 1025-1136 April 14, at first thought this was R Clube Paranaense, but turned out to be in SP and not PT. Also, signal improved by around 1100, though by 1130 was on the outs. Still a weak carrier there at 1230 check. Format of modern Christian SP vocals, seemingly live M SP announcer occasionally. Not parallel Voz Cristiana on 15375. Any ideas? (Terry L. Krueger, FL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Does anyone know what is the broadcast on 9155 between 1655-1900? It is mostly in Arabic, but also other languages are used. They speak about Syria and Iraq but they seem to avoid identifying themselves. Has Azerbaidjan sold airtime to some other organisation? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, April 14, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS I went to RadioShack at Crossroads today (Saturday April 13) to get a scanner and I saw that they had a Grundig YB-400PE on display. When I asked about it, they had just received it, and didn't even know what the price was! I wonder if this means that RadioShack is starting to sell Grundigs here in the US as they do in Canada (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-061, April 13, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1126: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000, 0500 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830?, 2430? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRING ON WORLD OF RADIO NETWORK: Sun 1400 to NAm [we hope!] ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Noel Green (DX-Window 191, UNID) has heard 8700- USB as late as past 2310 - so maybe 24 hours? My calculations of sunrise/sunset now and during reception late October on possible signal paths indicate that the Feeder transmitter is located in Saudi Arabia or in the Persian Gulf. 24343. The AP report implies that the production of the programs has moved from Washington to Afghanistan, but not where the SW transmitter, we can hear, is located (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window April 10 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. US Military Continuing Broadcasts to Afghanistan Since the end of the psychological warfare broadcasts in mid-March, shortwave listeners have continued to report transmissions on 8700 kHz. There has been speculation as to the location and purpose of these transmissions, but research by Media Network has now confirmed that they are part of the ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom. The current transmissions are described by military sources as humanitarian and informative in nature, and are provided by a mobile transmission system known as Special Operation Media System B (SOMS- B). For security reasons the exact location of the transmitters is not disclosed. In addition to 8700 kHz, broadcasts are also heard on mediumwave 980 kHz. [note previous AP report said 864 kHz -- gh] According to official US military documents on the Internet, SOMS-B is a tactically deployable ground radio and television broadcasting system for use by Army Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) forces. SOMS- B provides self-contained ground tactical capabilities that can be rapidly moved to any place in the world by military or commercial means and can operate for extended periods of time with limited support. The $4.2 million system is operated by the Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group http://www.psywarrior.com/4thpog.html That unit was responsible for preparing the programmes that were broadcast from the Commando Solo aircraft of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the USAF. Like the equipment on board the Commando Solo, SOMS-B "allows soldiers to produce high-quality television and AM-FM and shortwave radio products". In its report of 10 April 2002, the The United States Agency for International Development said that "Through the International Organization for Migration, we're distributing over 30,000 radios that allow Afghans to hear special broadcast bulletins concerning food distribution, security, health care and other information relevant to displaced people." Daily reports on Operation Enduring Freedom indicate that broadcasts have been continuous during the past couple of weeks (© Radio Netherlands Media Network April 12 via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36, Radio Arcangel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 15475.54 on 4/11 weak before 2100 UT, ID at TOH, continued with quiet vocal ballads. Dramatic improvement in signal with local sunset after 2130, until 2150 abruptly left the air in mid-song (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Icom R75, 80-foot Windom w/tuner, 16/10 meter dual dipole w/amp., April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 15820, AYP, Cadena Tres verified with e-mail // 99.1 FM. E-mail: audiencia@cadena3.com.ar (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Niigata- ken, Japan, DSWCI DX Window April 10 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 2540 kHz, 04/04 0413. Radio Província de Buenos Aires, La Plata, (1270 x 2), identificação: "transmite Radio Província de Buenos Aires ...", 45343 (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX April 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA REGIONAL FREQUENCY GUIDE (English service) April 2002 ASIA 0000-0130 17775 0030-0400 17750 0000-0900 15415 0000-0900 21725 0430-0500 17750 0530-0800 17750* 0800-1130 15240, 11880 0830-0900 17750 0930-1100 17750 0900-1400 21820* 0900-1330 11880 1100-1400 9475 1330-1700 11660* 1530-1900 9475* 1900-2130 9500* 2200-0000 15230 2200-0000 13620 2330-0000 11695, 15415 * sometimes heard weakly in Europe PACIFIC PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, MICRONESIA, GUAM and JAPAN 1700-2100 9815 1800-2000 6080, 7240 2100-2200 7240, 9660 2100-0000 17715 0000-0800 17580 2300-0800 9660 0000-0800 15240 0000-0900 21725 0800-0900 5995, 9710 0800-1100 9580 1100-1400 6020, 5995 1100-1700 11650 VANUATU, NEW CALEDONIA, FIJI, TONGA, SAMOA, NORTH AMERICA 2000-2200 12080 2100-0000 17715 2100-0000 21740 2100-2200 7240 2200-0200 17795 2300-0900 12080 0200-0700 15515 0700-0900 15240 0800-1100 9580 1100-2130 9580 1100-1200 12080 1100-1700 11650 1400-1800 5995 1700-2200 11880 1800-2000 7240 GRANDSTAND Radio Australia's weekend sports program, Grandstand, is broadcast on English frequencies from 0210-0700 UT on Saturday and Sunday according to the schedule below: Southeast Asia 21725 Southwest Pacific 12080, 17580 Papua New Guinea, West Pacific, Japan 9660, 17580, 21725 (via John Figliozzi, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 1386 Sydney - 1476 Emu Plains - New Community service This is a news release from the ABA - April 4 http://www.aba.gov.au/abanews/news_releases/2002/29nr02.htm The Australian Broadcasting Authority has decided to make an additional community radio service available in Sydney. The high power service, to operate on 1386 kHz on the AM band, is to serve the wider Sydney region. The ABA has made the new service available by varying the Sydney radio licence area plan to change the category of service of the AM frequency 1386 kHz from open narrowcasting to community. "The ABA received a number of submissions both for and against the variation to the Sydney licence area plan," said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "Having considered the information and opinions expressed, the ABA believes that making the frequency available for a community radio service is the best decision in the public interest as the need for another community radio service was considered by the ABA to be greater than the need for another open narrowcasting service. Unfortunately, this does mean that there will be one less open narrowcasting service available in Sydney." The ABA also determined that three additional open narrowcasting radio services be made available in the Sydney region. These services are to operate on 1386 kHz from Homebush with a maximum CMF of 1.015 kV (5 kW), 1539 kHz from Bicentennial Park, Concord West with a maximum CMF of 385 V (1 kW) and 1476 kHz from Emu Plains 5 km NW of Penrith with a maximum CMF of 220 V (500 W). In December 2001, The ABA identified two potentially suitable alternative sites that could accommodate an additional AM service in Sydney. The two options were: Option 1: The proposed new service operating from Bicentennial Park, Homebush, on 1386 kHz (maximum CMF of 955 V [5 kW]) with an OD pattern; and Option 2: The proposed new service operating from Prospect, on 1386 kHz (maximum CMF of 1.015 kV [5 kW]) with a DA pattern. (via David Onley, Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia, April 11, DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE [and non]. RADIO STORIES FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA Latest article posted at radiodx.com "...As luck would have it, Jim was in Kieta for his annual inspection of the station when one of the young hopefuls came in for interview. Jim told me he'd sit in on the session to see how I went. The applicant was a handsome 18-year old Bougainvillean woman from a nearby village. When she walked into my office, Jim was immediately infatuated. He simpered: "What's your name, dear." "Perpetua Tanaku, came the reply, "but my friends call me Pepi." "Pepi," Jim sighed. And the delightful Miss Tanaku added: 'Pepi is short for Perpetua and comes from the word perpetual which means everlasting." The preliminaries over, I was just about to jump in and ask my first objective question which I hoped would put her under pressure when Jim leapt to his feet and said, "You're hired".... Read more at http://radiodx.com/spdxr/png_radio.htm Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. ZYE960, Rádio Cultura, São Paulo, 9615 fair to good nightly from around midnight UT with good Brazilian music but buried in splatter, audible on LSB only. Listed \\ 17815 occupied by Romania and not heard there for a long time; is it active? (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Icom R75, 80-foot Windom w/tuner, 16/10 meter dual dipole w/amp., April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. AIR FARCE CAST SIGNS UP FOR THREE MORE YEARS From Canadian Press May the farce be with them, and vice versa. Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson and Luba Goy have signed up for three more seasons of the Royal Canadian Air Farce, CBC-TV's hit comedy sketch show. That means a dozen years on TV by 2005, plus 20 years on radio before that, for a grand total of 32 years.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1018562524998&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News (Toronto Star April 11 via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) CBC AND AIR FARCE RENEW THROUGH 2005 http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2266 They were better on the radio (Ricky Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2270 WHEN THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE, WHO WILL BE SINGING THE PRAISES OF LIVE RADIO? Once, the only way to create radio was 'live.' Today, radio is made from pre-recorded material. Live broadcasts are an exception, noted for the excitement of their immediacy and impact. Even more exciting are cross-country, live-to-air competitions - where anything might happen. Now, CBC Radio Two is set to challenge Canadian choirs - live! Over the past several months, amateur Canadian choirs have been performing in a unique competition that builds to a thrilling round of live-to-air finals on CBC Radio Two at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), April 16 and 17. In September 2001, amateur choirs from across the country entered the 14th CBC National Competition for Amateur Choirs. Semi-finalists were selected in March, and now, 22 finalists will perform, live-to-air, before audiences in CBC broadcasting centres across the country. A five-member jury, chaired by the renowned English choral conductor, Sir David Willcocks, will adjudicate these performances from the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto during the live broadcasts and announce the winners immediately. Winners will share $57,000 in prize money. "The CBC National Competition for Amateur Choirs has been a beacon in the life of choral singing in our country for more than 20 years," says Douglas Dunsmore, past president of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors. "The competition is especially engaging as audience and judges hear the finalists perform live, recreating the excitement of old-time radio, where performers faced the true test of their mettle; on air with no retakes, it's do or die!" The CBC National Competition for Amateur Choirs is one more example of the role CBC plays in enlightening, reflecting and connecting Canadians through an exciting and novel program that showcases the breadth of talent across the country (via Ricky Leong, QU, DXLD) Not that it matters here with only one webcast from Toronto in the EDT zone, but if it`s really ``live`` it must be simultaneous in all timezones instead of the usual hour-by-hour delays. Webcast time would be 0100 UT Wednesday and Thursday. But if it`s at 8:30 NT, it must originally start at 0000 UT! Since CBC is making a point of this being ``live``, they ought to be straight with us (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I was going through the weblog being kept up by one of the SCRC strikers, and discovered that he'd posted the text of Dennis Trudeau's piece about the SCRC strike. That's the piece which was published in the Globe and Mail on Tuesday 9 April, but which is not available on the Globe's website. Here's the link to the weblog archive; you might possibly have to scroll through to find the posting: http://radcan.blogspot.com/?/2002_04_07_radcan_archive.html 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting that the CBC's reply to Dennis Trudeau's piece appeared on the website, but the original piece didn't! 73- Bill Westenhaver From globeandmail.com, Thursday, April 11, 2002 Radio-Canada replies MARC SÉVIGNY Montreal -- Re: AND NOW, HERE'S NO ONE, WITH THE NEWS by Canada Now anchor Dennis Trudeau (April 9): Radio-Canada management believes Mr. Trudeau's open letter expressing his opinion about the labour dispute at Radio-Canada contains opinions based on exaggerations in some cases and factual errors in others. According to Mr. Trudeau, the locked-out employees are underpaid and should be given a wage increase to catch up with their colleagues working for other broadcasters. This does not correspond to the reality of the electronic media market in Quebec. Comparisons with employees of competing networks show that the salary conditions of Radio-Canada employees compare very favourably with those of their colleagues. Furthermore, the offer made to the union by Radio-Canada before the dispute contains a provision to harmonize, as required, the salary scales within the agreements at Radio-Canada and the CBC. The author also claims that men enjoy better salary conditions than women. Here again, reality differs. An examination of the salaries of men and women occupying the same jobs shows that where qualifications, responsibilities, experience, air time, prime-viewing period and other criteria are comparable, remuneration is also comparable. The author also implies that Radio- Canada employees should not have been locked out since federal public servants recently went on 24-hour strikes without their employer locking them out. First, it is impossible to manage a radio and television production and broadcasting undertaking with employees who are at work one day and who decide to go on strike another day. The situation would have been quite simply unmanageable. Furthermore, the comparison is not valid because the federal public service is subject to a legal system with its own laws, to which Radio-Canada is not subject. The corporation wishes to reaffirm its willingness to reach a negotiated agreement as promptly as possible. general manager of communications (French television), Radio-Canada... (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CHILE. 6010, R. Parinacota, Apr 9, checked the frequency around 0500 and no trace from this station, so probably inactive now? (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** CHINA. Re 5960-? That's indeed Xinjiang PBS. They have been on 5960 in Chinese since they returned after the major transmitter upgrade a few months ago. The four 49 mb channels, 5960 Chinese, 6015 Kazakh, 6120 Uighur, 6190 Mongolian, have quite clean audio and may be the new 100 kW rigs listed for a long time by TDP. Several Xinjiang PBS transmitters are currently off the air, a.o. 4330, 4500, 4980, 5060 (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Atentado terrorista contra el Canal RCN La sede del Canal RCN de televisión en Bogotá acaba de ser víctima de un atentado terrorista con dos bombas, al parecer una del tipo rocket y otra preparada en un cilindro de gas doméstico, que por fortuna no causaron víctimas pero sí algunos daños materiales, informó la Policía. La acción terrorista se produjo hacia las 20:45 horas de esta noche (0145 GMT) y fue cometida por una organización rebelde que las autoridades no han identificado, informó un vocero de la Policía Metropolitana de la capital colombiana. La sede del canal privado de televisión está situada sobre la congestionada Avenida de las Américas, en una zona industrial y comercial del occidente de la capital de la República. A cerca de un kilómetro del edificio de "Nuestre Tele" está acantonado un batallón de la Policía Militar. Source: RCN Radio Website Apr 13 (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. CARACOL Y CADENA SER DE ESPAÑA CREAN RED PANAMERICANA DE RADIO BOGOTA. --- La Primera Cadena Radial Colombiana (Caracol) y la Cadena SER de España, firmaron un acuerdo para liderar la consolidación de la más grande organización radial del mundo. El convenio fue firmado por el Presidente de Valores Bavaria, Javier Aguirre, y el Presidente Internacional de PRISA, Jaime Polanco. En la actualidad, Caracol Radio y la Cadena Ser operan con una red de 300 emisoras en Europa y América Latina y la meta es llegar, mediante la constitución de una holding en la que Prisa tendrá el 60 por ciento de participación y Valores Bavaria el 40 por ciento, a mil emisoras con activos que podrían llegar a 500 millones de dólares en el año 2003. Caracol, con una red de 172 emisoras, entre propias y afiliadas, y con una audiencia que supera los ocho millones 500 mil oyentes, es la empresa líder en la Radio en América Latina. Prisa, es el Grupo Líder en comunicaciones, cultura y entretenimiento en España y es propietaria de la Cadena Ser, que con más de cuatro millones y medio de oyentes lidera la audiencia entre las cadenas convencionales españolas, en todos sus tramos y horarios (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 13, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. La Voz del Napo, 3279.6, sent a nice QSL card with a handwritten message and pennant after 4 weeks. V/s Ramiro Cabrera (Max van Arnhem, Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window April 10 via DXLD) So R. Maria has not taken over completely ! (DSWCI Ed) While listening to their program I heard an ID for Radio María. The handwritten text at the back of the QSL doesn't say anything about R María. So, I also suppose it was a program or relay or hired airtime on La Voz del Napo (van Arnhem, ibid.) ** FALKLAND ISLANDS. NAMES IN THE NEWS: GM3ITN INVITED TO FALKLAND ISLANDS Les Hamilton, GM3ITN, has been invited by the Falkland Islands government to visit the islands for the 20th anniversary of their emancipation. Hamilton played an important role in making the liberation happen. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has more. It was Les Hamilton who first informed the UK government that the islands had been invaded. On the 2nd of April 1982, he received first- hand reports that the Argentine flag was flying over the islands. Les was therefore the first person outside the islands and Argentina to know that an invasion had taken place. He phoned the Ministry of Defense, who informed then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. GM3ITN remained in contact with VP8 stations even during the period of occupation, passing vital information on to the MoD. Les and his wife Pilar also intercepted Argentinean radio communications, which Pilar - a university lecturer in the Spanish language - translated for the MoD. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH. The Hamiltons will be flying to Port Stanley for the 20th anniversary celebrations which take place on June 14th. Until recently, Les Hamilton's role had been a closely-guarded secret, known only by senior British politicians, military intelligence officers and a select group of radio amateurs (GB2RS via Amateur Radio Newsline April 12 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Sat April 6 I heard Scandinavian Weekend Radio with fair to good reception on 11690 at 0940-1720 up to 45434, except when R Jordan covered the frequency *1300- 1630*. SWR was also heard on 11720 at 0740 with 34434. The only audible 49 mb channel was 5980 which had 23333 at 0305 with side-QRM (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. April 12, 2002 2232 UT: Tuned in to the IRRS frequency of 7120 at 2202 April 12. Nice signal SINPO 34443. Announcement with IRRS address, promo for one of the stations they relay and a bit of music. Then just open carrier from 2205 past 2230 UT. No Radio Rasant or anything else being heard (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ITALY ** HUNGARY. Budapest's DX Corner runs only five minutes, beginning around 21 minutes past the start of the transmission, with same theme music used by them for their various DX programs over the years (John Norfolk, OKCOK, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s the `new` one, Fridays + UT Saturdays (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. The latest A-2002 schedules of AIR External Services in Target Area order has been updated in the official site of AIR. For this information please click: http://allindiaradio.com/schedule/fqsch1.html (Beware of slight errors! E.g. 13685 listed instead of 13700 1115-1245 in Tamil and Telegu, etc.) The latest schedule information of AIR External Services is also available from the files section of this dx_india reflector. (with special thanks to Mr. Sharad of USA, dialup@asia.com for the technicalities) (Jose Jacob, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Voice of Indonesia with English to EU tuned at 2010 with news, followed by music, frequency schedule, and talks; tuned out 2045. Signal fair with some flutter. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Icom R75, 80-foot Windom w/tuner, 16/10 meter dual dipole w/amp., April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {15150?} ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. JOHN PIERCE John Robinson Pierce, satellite communications pioneer, died on April 2nd, aged 92 ONLY the technically minded are likely to have read John Pierce's "Theory and Design of Electron Beams", but many thousands, perhaps millions, will have devoured his stories in magazines such as ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, written under the pseudonym J.J. Coupling. Mr Pierce did not try to keep his fiction writing a secret, but nor did he publicise it. In reference books he lists his leisure interests as "writing, science fiction", with the comma separating the two pursuits. Scientists have enough trouble getting backing for their projects without giving ammunition to their opponents. "Another fantasy idea of yours, eh Mr Pierce?" He could do without that. John Pierce appreciated that most of the great leaps forward in technology were anticipated by writers and others before the means became available to turn them into reality. Leonardo designed a flying machine; Hero of Alexandria, a Greek, experimented with steam power 2,000 years ago. In 1962 Mr Pierce designed and launched TELSTAR 1, the first communications satellite to be used commercially. But years earlier Arthur C. Clarke, a British science-fiction writer who had trained as an engineer, had proposed such a system of communications. Mr Pierce, he said, had made real what "I and others thought only to write and dream about." Towards the end of his long life, Mr Pierce noted that science fiction was at last being taken seriously by those who saw it as an aid to making a calculated guess about the problems of the future. An American academic writing on the Internet says that he uses "hard science fiction" to acquaint his students with, for example, what it will be like for humans to make their first expedition to Mars. Fiction could show the creative thought that leads to a solution. Good writers, he says, try not to break scientific laws. What about space epics in movies and television? Steady there. This is academe. A WORD FOR IT John Pierce published his first fiction in 1930 in SCIENCE WONDER STORIES. It helped to pay his expenses while studying at the California Institute of Technology. In the mid-1930s, when he left the institute with a doctorate in electronics, he was taken on by Bell Telephone Laboratories, founded by the inventor of the telephone and in its day the most famous scientific research and development organisation in the world. He was to stay there for 35 years. When Bell workers invented a small electronic switch they were wondering what to call it. Mr Pierce the wordsmith suggested "transistor", and that stuck, to be applied to many now indispensable things from radios to computers. He would often have to explain that he did not invent the transistor; but he did give it its name. In the second world war Mr Pierce worked on radar, in which signals directed at an object are bounced back to the transmitter. In the 1950s, when the first artificial satellites were being launched, first by the Russians then by the United States, Mr Pierce calculated that 25 of them, suitably placed, could provide almost continuous communication around the world by bouncing signals from continent to continent. In 1960 a metal-coated plastic balloon 100ft across sent up by America's space agency was used by Bell to bounce telephone calls to distant destinations in the United States. Mr Pierce's TELSTAR, launched two years later, carried television pictures between America and Europe as well as phone calls. Meanwhile, the reputation of J.J. Coupling was growing apace. His editors asked what the initials stood for. In physics, the author explained, J.J. Coupling is a process for determining the wave function of an atom that has a large number of electrons. Well, of course. Now, J.J., what are you up to at the moment? Mr Pierce was up to many things. His technical writing took up a lot of his time. In the course of his career he wrote or contributed to 20 books, and more than 300 papers. He liked to invent things and was granted some 90 patents. He was fond of gliding and of music composed by computer; at Stanford University he was for 12 years a professor of music and never asked for a salary. He won many prizes and received dozens of honorary degrees. Science fiction? Yes, it remained an interest. But one problem for writers, Mr Pierce found, was the timing of the future. In "2001: A Space Odyssey", a film made in 1968, his friend Arthur Clarke had assumed that space travel would soon become commonplace. In 2002 that prospect still remains a distant improbability. Mr Pierce may have better luck with his stories about cyborgs, mechanical people, an idea that has intrigued inventors since Carlo Collodi wrote "Pinocchio" in 1881. Mr Pierce's story "Period Piece" was written in 1948 but wisely set well ahead sometime in the 21st century. It concerns a cyborg called Smith who in most respects looks human. But he begins to suspect that he is only "a charming mechanical toy". Smith discovers he has not been provided with sexual feelings like a real human, and understandably feels rebellious. J.J. Coupling/John Pierce may have done science yet another service by identifying a tricky future problem here. Should cyborgs have sex? It would surely be an almost- human right. See related content at http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=1077288 (Economist, via Bill Westenhaver, April 12, DXLD) [In case anybody care, let me point out that the placement of dates in DXLD is significant. This story did not have a clear date of publication. If it had, April 12 would have been after ``Economist``, but since it`s after ``Westenhaver``, that`s the date he sent it] ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. This has a link to a webpage concerning a special events station this coming weekend for the 90th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. 73- Bill Westenhaver Bonjour, Cela fait 90 ans que ce navire sombra... Afin de rendre hommage aux courageux opérateurs "radio", les radio-amateurs britanniques commémoreront l'évènement du 13 au 15 avril 2002. Rendez vous sur le site, http://www.gdrs.net/titanic (Philippe Marsan, UNION DES ECOUTEURS FRANÇAIS, Radiodiffusions, utilitaires, radio-écouteurs, radioamateurs, techniques... Courriel: uef@nerim.fr uef@u-e-f.net Web: http://www.u-e-f.net La radio des radios : http://www.radio-uef.org U.E.F.: B.P.31, 92242 MALAKOFF Cedex, FRANCE, via Westenhaver, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. R. Voice of Iran: This station was heard on 17525 on Apr 5, on 15740 on Apr 8 and 15770 on Apr 9 - all heavily jammed, and the super-wide jammer some days first stopped one hour later at 1835*! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) Freq change for Voice of Iran in Farsi via Issoudun effective April 10: 1530-1630 on 17510 (55555) 1630-1730 NF 15770 (55555), ex 15740, re-ex 15690 \\ 17510 (55555) (Ivo and Angel!!! Observer, Bulgaria, April 12 via DXLD) Yes, but where will they be tomorrow? (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. Hi Glenn, you have probably already received the info about the IRRS test on 13840 kHz, but I have included the info that Ron Norton sent me below. Regarding the 2200 UT broadcast, Ron stated in an earlier e mail that he heard a carrier interfering with the weak signal he could hear 40 km from the station. I could hear no signal under the carrier, then at 2254 UT the Radio Rasant program popped up S8-9 on my meter, SINPO 43433, more QRM than before from adjacent frequencies. During the 2259 IRRS sign off announcement RFE signed on, but the IRRS signal was still very understandable under their signal. Did any listeners in Europe hear this broadcast from the start? (Wade Smith, NB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY non From: Ron Norton ron@nexus.org Subject: IRRS Shortwave tests on 13840 on 13/4/2002 Sorry for the last minute info. If you are around can you please check the following frequencies on Sat, especially compared to signal on 7120 : Saturday 13th April 2002 07.15 UTC - 09.30 13840 KHz Saturday 13th April 2002 11.45 UTC - 13.00 13840 KHz As usual in parallel on 7120 kHz, and via streaming audio at : http://mp3.nexus.org. We will appreciate receiving comparative reports (7120 vs 13840, send email to reports@nexus.org Please pass the word around. Thanks. -- Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy e-mail : ron@nexus.org (via Wade Smith, NB, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The *station* is IRRS/Nexus, in that it has the transmitters. ``Radio Rasant`` is a program. Or could this be a one-time test purchase via DTK or some big SW timeseller? In that case, IRRS would become the program too (gh, DXLD) Coming in quite good at the moment on 13840, on until 0930 then again later this evening 1145-1300 (Richard (Gosford near Sydney) Jary, April 13, ARDXC via DXLD) ** JAPAN. From a grid in NHK`s slick program booklet, we extract R. Japan English programs by title, strictly UT days. First three account for all the weekend 50-minute broadcasts after news on the hour: WEEKEND SQUARE: Sat 0310, 1410, 2110, Sun 0610, 1010, Mon 0010 HELLO FROM TOKYO: Sat 0510, 1010, 1710, Sun 0010, 0310, 1110, 1510, Mon 0110 [it seems I recall a `DX segment` within, but not mentioned] POP JOINS THE WORLD (new): Sat 0610, 1110, 1510, Sun 0110, 0510, 1410, 1710, 2110 JAPAN AND THE WORLD 44 MINUTES: M-F 0515, 1015, 1415, 1715, Tue-Sat 0015, 0115 ASIAN TOP NEWS: M-F 0315, 0615, 1115, 1515, 2115. I haven`t monitored for some time; are they still basing it on output of other stations? The remaining weekly features take up the last 35 (34?) minutes of the above 5 broadcasts, at 0325, 0625, 1125, 1525, 2125: Mon: JAPAN MUSIC LOG Tue: LET`S LEARN JAPANESE Wed: JAPAN MUSICAL TREASURE BOX (new) Thu: BRUSH UP YOUR JAPANESE Fri: MUSIC BEAT Complete English transmission schedules have already appeared, so here are just the best ones for North America/Hawaii/Central America: 0000 6145 Canada; 0300 17825; 0500 6110 Canada, 13630; 0600 13630; 1100 6120 Canada; 1400 9505; 1700 9505; 2100 21670, 17825. The last frequency only is a ``Regional`` service unlike the others which are ``General``, a distinxion of diminishing significance, unless it carry different unspecified programming (Glenn Hauser, from schedule via Richard Lemke, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. 5010.0, R TV Malagasy, Antananarivo, Mar 27 and 28, 1625-1903*, non-stop pop music, 1714 Malagasy announcement, choral hymns and oldies like "Fernando" by ABBA, but here sung by another group. Back to normal broadcasting hours since Mar 26, but not normal programming. 3287 also heard in Finland (Penaud, Petersen and Pijpers, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Voice of Mongolia is much better here on 12015 at 1000 UT with English than they were on 12085. Signal about S6 with flutter on 4/12, but having equipment problems; carrier was off for about five minutes, also audio interruptions and tape speed variances. At this time of year gray line propagation comes into play for eastern NAm. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 9350, R Mediterranée Int. with program in French and Arabic. Pop and commercials 1350 April 8. Very good (Claes Olsson, Sweden, Cumbre DX via DXLD) New frequency; never known them to be down in this out-of-band area before (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Freq schedule for RNZI in English from May 5 to September 1, 2002: 1650-1850 M-F 6095 035 deg to NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1851-1950 M-F 11725 035 deg to NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 1951-2215 Dly 15160 000 deg to All Pacific, also audible in Europe 2216-0458 Dly 17675 000 deg to All Pacific, also audible in WNAm 0459-0658 Dly 11820 000 deg to All Pacific, also audible in Europe 0659-1105 Dly 9885 000 deg to All Pacific 1106-1310 Dly 11675 325 deg to NW Pacific, Bougainville, ETimor, Asia 1311-1650 Occasional 6095 000 deg to All Pacific (Ivo and Angel!!! Observer, Bulgaria, April 12 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Glenn, I heard Part 4 of "The Graduate", read by William Hurt, on RNZI 0930-0945 April 11 on 11675. I think it is on Mon-Fri. at this time. It is very good and quite topical, since the play, staring Kathleen Turner as Mrs. Robinson, just opened on Broadway last week. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN: Summer A-02 schedule for Radio Pakistan: ENGLISH(ASSAMI) 2345-0015 NF 11580, ex 11650 \\ 15455 URDU 2345-0115 NF 17500, ex 17895 \\ 15485 BANGLA 0015-0100 NF 11580, ex 11650 \\ 15455 HINDI 0100-0145 NF 11580, ex 11650 \\ 15455 TAMIL 0145-0215 NF 11580, ex 11650 \\ 15455 GUJARATI 0230-0300 on 15325 17825 URDU 0400-0600 NF 15100, ex 15160 and NF 17485, ex 17865 \\ 21460 URDU/ENGLISH 0700-1005 on 17520 21465 INDONESIAN 0800-0830 on 15430 17660 TAMIL 0900-0930 NF 17500, ex 17655 \\ 15625 HINDI 0930-1015 NF 17500, ex 17655 \\ 15625 BANGLA 1015-1045 NF 17500, ex 17655 \\ 15625 SINHALA 1045-1115 NF 17500, ex 17655 \\ 15625 CHINESE 1100-1130 NF 17485, ex 17895 \\ 15100 NEPALI 1115-1145 NF 17500, ex 17655 \\ 15625 URDU 1230-1430 on 11570 15100 TURKI 1245-1315 NF 7355, ex 7375 and NF 9425, ex 9395 RUSSIAN 1315-1400 NF 7355, ex 7375 and NF 9425, ex 9395 DARI 1415-1445 NF 6105, ex 9395 \\ 7375 ENGLISH 1500-1515 on 11570 15100 15725 TURKISH 1530-1600 NF 15725, ex 9330 \\ 11545 FARSI 1600-1645 NF 15725, ex 9330 \\ 11545 URDU 1600-1800 NF 15100, ex 9390 \\ 11570 ARABIC 1645-1730 NF 15725, ex 9330 \\ 11545 URDU(ISLAMABAD) 1700-1800 NF 9390, ex 7385 (Ivo and Angel!!! Observer, Bulgaria, April 12 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Last Thursday, April 11, Radio Veritas Asia, the international shortwave service of the Bishops of the Philippines, and endorsed by the Bishops Conference of Asia, celebrated its 33rd anniversary. The only Catholic shortwave service in Asia, and one of the handful of Catholic stations there at all, it broadcasts over three 250,000-watt shortwave transmitters in 17 languages. Transmissions of half-hour and hour programs are often produced in the local dioceses of the target area and sent to RVA on tape and discs. RVA has an interesting website at http://www.rveritas-asia.org Unlike many other stations, they do not just put up a website and forget about it. Rather, they constantly update it with photos and news of the station, letters from listeners, photographs of the installation, pronouncements of the Philippines bishop, and details on their program services, including hours of transmission and how these are broken down into educational, cultural, and religious topics. An interesting page details those languages that RVA once broadcast, but for some reason, stopped. These include English (March 1976– December 1989), Japanese (1976–1992), Korean (1980–1991), and Thai (1969-1982). For a sesquiyear, it broadcast in Ukrainian (1992-1993), until the Ukrainian bishops set up their own programming, Radio Voskresiniya. Thailand has one station, Fatima FM in Bangkok, but this cannot begin to cover the country. Korean Bishops, of course, are extending their PBC network across the country. The station director, Monsignor Pietro Nguyen Van Tai, in an interesting letter, details the growth of RVA and its plans. These include webcasting for urban listeners and the hiring of professionals to study the audience and thus improve its programming. Who listens to RVA? No one really knows, but the station has received 1.6 million letters in its 33 years. Most of the letters come from non-Catholics — 62%— not surprising for a continent on which only 6% of the population is Christian. Excerpts from listener letters can also be found at RVA`s fine website, http://www.rveritas-asia.org completely in English (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update April 15 via DXLD) TELUGU PROGRAMMING ON RVA CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY Copyright 2002 Medien Aktuell– Kirche im Rundfunk, by Dr. Hansjoerg Biener. Translated and reprinted with permission from the April issue. Manila, Feb 20 (Medien Aktuell)— The broadcasts in Telugu of Radio Veritas Asia, the international broadcasting station of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, celebrated their 25th anniversary with a great celebration on February 20th in the Media Center of the Diocese of Kurnool in India. Almost 1,000 participants joined Bishop John Gorantla, Father Franz-Josef Eilers SVD of the Asian Bishops Conference, and Carlos Lariosa, General Director of Radio Veritas Asia. Telugu is spoken by 73 million people in Andhra Pradesh and its neighboring states in southern India, but also by guest workers in the Persian Gulf area. The homepage of Radio Veritas Asia shows two different dates for the beginning of Telugu transmissions, August 1, 1976 and April 1977. Radio Veritas Asia broadcasts for 25 minutes in Telugu twice daily. According to its website, 64% of the weekly programs are on religious subjects in the widest sense, 25% are cultural subjects, and 10% political subjects. In addition to Radio Veritas Asia and All India Radio [the state-run national radio and television networks and the international shortwave service of India — editor], there are numerous Protestant programs, mostly over Trans World Radio. Radio Veritas Asia was first conceived in 1958 at a meeting of the South Asian bishops. With German help, the station was finally built. Today it broadcasts in 17 languages, with the majority of programming the responsibility of the Catholic dioceses in the target service area (via Catholic Radio Update April 15 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Some freq changes for Voice of Russia (A-02 vs A-01) 0500-0900 English WS NF 17795 <<<<< additional 0700-0900 English WS NF 17675 <<<<< additional (unregistered!!!) 1000-1100 Korean NF 15185 <<<<< additional 1000-1200 Chinese NF 15605, ex 15490 1200-1300 Russian WS NF 13720 <<<<< additional 1200-1300 Mongolian NF 15605, ex 15490 1200-1300 Vietnamese NF 17645, ex 17570 1200-1400 Russian WS NF 11640 <<<<< additional 1300-1400 Chinese NF 15605, ex 15490 1300-1400 Russian WS NF 17645, ex 15550 and NF 15560, ex 15460 1400-1500 English WS NF 17645, ex 15550 1400-1600 Farsi NF 9875, ex 9975 1400-1700 Ru Commonwealth NF 11830, ex 11695 1400-1900 Ru Commonwealth NF 9820, ex 9450 1500-1530 Albanian NF 17685, ex 17725 1530-1700 Serbian NF 17685, ex 17725 1600-1800 Ru Commonwealth NF 9875 <<<<< additional 1700-1800 Bulgarian NF 17685, ex 17725 1800-1900 Greek NF 17685, ex 17725 1900-2000 Russian WS NF 9820, ex 9450 1900-2000 Russian WS NF 17685, ex 17725 2100-2130 French NF 9450, ex 9495 via SMG/VAT 73 from (Ivo and Angel!!! Observer, Bulgaria, April 12 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. As transmissões da Rádio Riyadh, em francês, entre 1400 e 1600, na freqüência de 21600 kHz, em 13 metros, são interessantíssimas. Nas sextas-feiras, a emissora responde as cartas dos ouvintes. Os locutores falam um "francês pausado"! Na primeira meia-hora de transmissão, o destaque é o Corão. Nos finais de semana, tem muita música francesa antiga. Confira! (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX April 13 via DXLD) Closest thing to English on SW (gh, DXLD) ** SOMALIA SOUTHWEST. Re: ``6750.25 There's some new Somali activity here in the Rahanwein language (Greenway, Mar 28 in DXLD)`` On Mar 31, the Rahaweins declared South West Somalia an independent state! (Danish Press via Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window April 10 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. RADIO VERITAS ANNOUNCES TIMES, FREQUENCIES FOR NEW CATHOLIC RADIO SERVICE ON SHORTWAVE Troyeville, Apr 13 (special)— Radio Veritas Productions of South Africa will begin a program service over leased South African transmitters on May 1st and has announced times and frequencies. The first program, 1200-1300 hrs local time [1000-1200 UT], will be on 7240 kHz in the 41-meter band and from 1900 to 2100 hrs [1700-1900 UT] on 3280 kHz in the 90 meter band. The first broadcast each day will be devoted to Mass and services; the evening hours will present a magazine program. During the first week on the air, the station will run short, 30-second messages from South African bishops, reports Olinda Orlando, program director. Radio Veritas has been attempting to secure an FM license for several years now, and earlier this year announced that it was looking seriously at shortwave radio as a way to expedite getting on the air. The firm Sentech, which operates South Africa's shortwave transmitters primarily for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, as do other international shortwave services, leases idle transmitter time to various groups. In this case, the transmitters are located at Meyerton, just outside of Pretoria, the national capital (Catholic Radio Update April 15 via DXLD) ** TIBET [and non]. Noted V. of Tibet only on a single 15 MHz frequency on Apr 11 and 12: 11: 15670 TJK, 21520 UZB 12: 15660 TJK, 21585 UZB The missing Almaty-KAZ V of Tibet outlet suffers always here in Stuttgart, no trace on either 15715 or 15635 in past days. All outlets accompanied by usual Chinese mainland jamming [CNR program]. But surprisingly also AIR Delhi outlet on 15795 is subject of Chinese jamming at 1130-1315 UT. In past decade only AIR Tibetan service was usually subject of CHN jamming. At 1100-1200 RFA Almaty on 15635 kHz carried Tibetan program instead of registered Laotian. \\ Tibetan on 15695 via Dushanbe-TJK. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AT NPR, A SUDDEN SHIFT IN CULTURE NETWORK ANNOUNCES STAFF CUTS, 'REFOCUSING' OF ARTS PROGRAMMING By Philip Kennicott, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, April 12, 2002; Page C01 National Public Radio is cutting jobs in its cultural programming division, gutting its classical music program "Performance Today" and shifting some of its emphasis to the West Coast entertainment industry. Once a bastion of the traditional high arts, NPR is working to reshape itself to appeal to an audience it perceives as more interested in news and talk shows than in classical music and jazz... To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34569-2002Apr11.html (via Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, April 12, DXLD) ** U S A. Re: DXLD 2-047 item -MSP SW permits FW: PERMIT TO LISTEN TO SHORTWAVE IN MICHIGAN? ... The STATUTE doesn't mention shortwave at all. What the stoopid State Police put in their application is irrelevant as far as the law is concerned. Your contributor makes the mistake of taking everything on the Internet at face value. As I regularly tell clients -- it helps to READ THE LAW and have some background in legal interpretation before jumping to conclusions. Here's the law verbatim: THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 328 of 1931 750.508 Equipping vehicle with radio able to receive signals on frequencies assigned for police purposes; permit required; exceptions; misdemeanor; penalty; radar detectors not restricted. [M.S.A. 28.776 ] Sec. 508. (1) Any person who shall equip a vehicle with a radio receiving set that will receive signals sent on frequencies assigned by the federal communications commission of the United States of America for police purposes, or use the same in this state unless such vehicle is used or owned by a peace officer, or a bona fide amateur radio operator holding a technician class, general, advanced, or extra class amateur license issued by the federal communications commission, without first securing a permit so to do from the director of the department of state police upon application as he or she may prescribe, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 1 year, or by a fine of not more than $500.00, or by both fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. (2) This section shall not be construed as restricting the use of radar detectors. History: 1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;--Am. 1939, Act 295, Eff. Sept. 29, 1939;--CL 1948, 750.508 ;--Am. 1957, Act 242, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957 ;--Am. 1990, Act 77, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1990 . and an annotation concerning a case interpreting the law: Constitutionality: This section, which prohibits equipping or using a vehicle with a radio receiving set capable of receiving frequencies assigned for police purposes, was enacted to facilitate law enforcement activity. This section's restriction of persons permitted to monitor those frequencies involves classifications which are rationally related to the statute's objective, consistent with equal protection and due process guarantees. People v. Gilbert, 414 Mich. 191, 324 N.W.2d 834 (1982). Note the 'built in' exception for Hams, and the fact that this covers frequencies as actually used, not 'shortwave'. Practically, the only way you are going to get a summons for this is if you are either arrested for something else and the cop happens to notice a scanner in the car, or you are being an obnoxious lookie lou and showing up at accident scenes etc. (see the facts of the Gilbert case for example). I'm not real wild about this law; however, it certainly is not as Draconian as your reporter implies. KV Zichi kvzichi@hotmail.com Zichi & Brauer, P.C. Attorneys-at-Law (517) 548-1998 515 E. Grand River Ave. Howell, Michigan 48843 (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MI, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for the clarification; however, it was not ``my reporter``, but a typically exaggerated rec.radio.shortwave posting we picked up (gh) ** U S A. Mr. Hauser: I catch you Saturday nights on WWCR. Regarding the crashing tower of Fort Dodge, and, more importantly, Clear Channel— I know almost nothing about the actual crash, but I understand the displeasure with the Clear Channel Corporation. It regards the promotion of rock concerts, usually, I believe in Midwestern cities. I do not see much of a rock concert market in Fort Dodge, though KKEZ is a rock station. As a follower of KWMT (the Z`s sister),w as shocked to hear that both siblings have been adopted by CC, and that any kind of music is permitted to be programmed on one of its AM outlets. Traditional country and western music was very much prized by my father, whose tastes in music and need to travel caused him to eschew FM country stations: his two major choices were KWMT-540 and Iowa`s first 9and for many decades) only country station, KXEL-1540 of Waterloo, both of which could be received from eastern South Dakota to western Wisconsin. (KXEL changed format in the early 90s.) In addition to traditional C&W, KWMT sponsors a yearly concert, free for its listeners, and provides an advertising medium long since abandoned by all but a few FMers --- garages, ag firms, mom-and—dad hardware stores, lumber yards. I now live in Charles City, some 120 miles east of Fort Dodge, and I still receive KWMT, which is still on the air, and divide my listening between KWMT and WOI. I now wonder for how long, though (Bill Vaughn, Charles City, Iowa, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Joe Frank LIVES On-Line Even though our good friend Joe Frank is off the air, at the moment, we're still adding previously un-released classic programs from the past to KCRW.com. Visit http://KCRW.com/show/jf to listen. New in the Archives Check out the latest additions to the KCRW Archives: - Changing Lanes; Time Out; Huma on FILM REVIEWS 4/12 - Powell's Power of Persuasion on TO THE POINT, 4/12 - Alameda Corridor Opens on Budget and on Time on WHICH WAY, LA? - The Architect and the Emperor of Assyria on THEATRE TALK, 4/11 - Yiddish Radio Project Explored on THE POLITICS OF CULTURE, 4/10 - David Brock on LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER 4/9 - The Lonely Museum on ART TALK 4/9 For links to these and all recent additions to "New in the Archives" go to: http://www.kcrw.org/archive.html (KCRW Newsletter April 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. This puff piece is in stark contrast to recent items appearing here from those in the know (gh) RADIO CLOSE TO INCREASED DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS By David Lieberman, USA TODAY LAS VEGAS [Nevada] — AM and FM radio are finally ready for the digital revolution, according to broadcasters who've been waiting a decade to jump in. Toward the end of this year, big-city stations reaching about half of all listeners are expected to supplement their current analog signals with digital transmissions. For consumers who buy digital radios, available early next year, AM programming should sound as sharp as FM — and FM will approach CD clarity. "Static, hiss and pops all go away," says iBiquity Digital CEO Bob Struble, whose company just unveiled its technology to lead the radio industry's digital charge. "You're talking about a diametrical upgrade in audio quality." IBiquity's digital radio was the most talked about new offering shown at the National Association of Broadcasters convention here this week. "This could revitalize AM radio," says Radio World news editor Leslie Stimson. "A lot of AM stations have been forced into adopting talk formats" because of audio quality inferior to FM. Broadcasters are intrigued with iBiquity's promise to help station owners go digital in less than a year using the airwaves they already control. "It will be an orderly transition," says NAB chief Edward Fritts. "We know the world is going digital. For radio to sit back and not have an avenue to step forward would be a tragedy." The plan won a key, but qualified, endorsement this week from the National Radio Systems Committee, the broadcast and consumer electronics industries' standards group. It blessed iBiquity's technology for FM stations to use beginning in November. It said AM stations should use it only during daytime until more tests determine whether it would create night interference. IBiquity has spent $100 million on the business, Struble says, and expects clear reception among station owners. Financial backers include top station owners Viacom, Radio One and Clear Channel, as well as Lucent and Gannett (publisher of USA TODAY). "The radio industry set us up," he says. New signal equipment will cost a station from $27,000 to $215,000, depending on its size and signal strength, plus a license fee for iBiquity's software. The company will begin by going after stations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami. Consumers who want to receive the clearer signals will initially pay about $300 for a high-end radio that receives existing analog and digital signals. Other, less costly, digital-only radios are expected to run about $100 more than comparable analog units. And some will include new features. For example, motorists will be able to push a button on the radio to instantly retrieve the latest information about traffic conditions, weather, sports and stocks. When music's playing, the radio will display the song title and artist. Kenwood, Alpine, Harman/Kardon and JVC have said that they'll make the radios. Retailers such as Crutchfield, Good Guys, Tweeter and Ultimate Electronics have said they'd sell them. From: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2002/04/11/digital-radio.htm (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) SPECIAL SECTION ON DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING FOR RADIO ******************************************************* BACKGROUND Systems have been proposed by iBiquity Digital Corporation to allow all AM & FM stations in the United States to add digital sidebands to their transmissions. The new carriers will allow listeners equipped with new and specially designed receivers to enjoy much better fidelity (in the case of AM) and much less multipath fading (in the case of FM) - positive steps forward for the broadcast industry. However, certain engineering tradeoffs are involved. The systems, as conceived many years ago, would "bury" the digital data beneath the primary analog signals. Specially equipped receivers would then recover the digital data using sophisticated signal processing techniques. This approach was called in-band on-channel ("IBOC") digital audio broadcasting ("DAB") and it was hoped that full compatibility would be provided with existing analog-only receivers. Unfortunately, IBOC was not sufficiently robust to do the job. Today's approach to DAB involves in-band adjacent-channel ("IBAC") techniques where the digital data are transmitted almost exclusively on the first adjacent channels to the analog stations. For example, a station assigned to 1050 kHz will transmit DAB carriers in the spectrum ordinarily assigned to 1040 and 1060 kHz stations. An FM station on 104.3 MHz will transmit its DAB data in the 104.1 and 104.5 MHz channel spectrum. While some may argue that the DAB carriers continue to represent an "IBOC" (on-channel) approach because the new carriers will fit within the "emissions mask" of the primary stations, the new digital data will in fact largely reside in the first adjacent channels for both the AM & FM DAB systems. The understanding that we are now dealing with IBAC (adjacent channel) DAB systems is crucial to understanding why - under certain circumstances - the AM & FM DAB systems will cause interference to neighboring stations (CGC Communicator via Dennis Gibson, IRCA, via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent, 15295 from 1331 to 1357 UT in English, SINPO 34323. Interview with US Diplomat over the importance of the Uzbekistan's role in assisting the US and other countries with the crisis in Afghanistan. New frequency schedule given at 1347. 73's (Bruce [name and location unknown], DX-398 with 60 ft sloper antenna, swl April 13 via DXLD) So what is new schedule? Back on 17775 too for summer? 1200-1230 English broadcast is always on same set of frequencies but with different features (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Hi, another revolution (live). Ecos del Torbes with a lot of comentarios, and link-ups to Radio Caracas and phone reports. So the "golpe" did take place. Fuera Hugo Chávez, and the military did march. Allowing snipers to fire from the presidential palace into demonstrating crowds, he did sign his own order of self-replacement. Right now 0350 UT (12 Apr) 4980 kHz Ecos del Torbes is broadcasting history. 73 (Johan Berglund, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) PRE-EMPTION PROMPTED PRESIDENTIAL RESIGNATION Having had to retransmit official communiqués more than 30 times in only 2 days, the Venezuelan private TV networks decided not to interrupt their regular programming, splitting instead the TV screen in two, with the Presidential reports in one corner and the regular programming in the other. See http://www2.el-nacional.com/ediciones/2002/04/10/f-en.asp Subsequently, the President ordered the private networks to close down. As reported in DXLD 2-017, Jan 28 2002, one of the long-term objectives of the Chávez government has been to nationalize media in the country. On his talkshow, President Chávez used to promise that he would not step down from this post before 2021, the centenary of the battle of Carabobo. According to some observers, by then "la Gran Colombia", i.e. Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, supposedly would have merged into one big "Bolivarian republic", with the "Cadena Radial Bolivariana" of the Colombian FARC guerrilla as one of its media pillars (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess that`s the end of ``Aló Presidente``. I meant to check it one more time last Sunday but never got around to it, i.e. via Cuba 9820 et al. from 1400 or so. Or, maybe Hugo will wind up in Cuba and continue his show from there? The question is now, whether Venezuela be better off under temporary military rule, the usual default when democracy fail (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There may not be too much to be heard on SW. For 1A coverage, don't miss the audio stream on http://www.caracol.com.co Caracol has a proven ability to be on the spot in situations of turmoil. During the Panama intervention, more than a decade ago, they were reporting faster than the BBC, and they stayed reporting continuously for at least 12 hours. Their anchor man at the time, Yamit Amat, later went to Caracol TV. He recently had to step down from his post, possibly due to pressure excercised precisely by the Venezuelan authorities as a result of which Caracol TV had to apologize for broadcasting a story affecting the good neighbor relationship between Colombia and Venezuela (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 12, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Saludos amigos diexistas. Desde La República de Venezuela, como de nuevo se llama nuestra querida patria, les hago llegar el editorial de el diario El Nacional. Aunque no tiene nada que ver con diexismo, lo considero interesante para todos los que quieran saber un poco mas de como estaba la situación en Venezuela. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, April 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) LOS MUERTOS DE HUGO Ya sabíamos de sus problemas mentales, también conocíamos que no era un hombre precisamente valiente y tendía a acobardarse en los momentos de combate, pero lo que en verdad ignorábamos, aunque lo presentíamos, era su falta de escrúpulos a la hora de ordenar a sus partidarios disparar contra gente indefensa, que marchaba en forma tranquila y pacífica por las calles de Caracas, y acribillarla sin compasión desde las azoteas cercanas a Miraflores, a manos de sus francotiradores bolivarianos muy bien entrenados en tierras extranjeras... http://www.el-nacional.com/Articulos/articulo.asp?idseccion=96&plantilla=2&f=12/04/2002 (via Díaz, DXLD) Lots more editorials and straight news coverage via http://www.el-nacional.com (gh, DXLD) CAÍDA DE CHÁVEZ GRACIAS A LA TV El derrumbamiento del pasado gobierno de Hugo Chávez Frías, se debió gracias a dos factores: a la gran marcha del pueblo caraqueño empeñado en no dejarse quitar los derechos democráticos inscritos en nuestra constitución, pero también al excelente papel hecho por la la televisión venezolana, la cual a pesar del corte de señal ordenada por el asesino Chávez, olvidó impedir las transmisiones vía satélite, las cuales permitieron que gran parte de los venezolanos, pudieramos observar estupefactos como las bandas armadas del Alcahalde chavista Freddy Bernal disparaban sin piedad, hacia la multitud indefensa. Por cierto, al momento del presente mensaje todavía Bernal sigue siendo buscado por la policia para responder por sus actos del pasado jueves. Quien lo diría que gracias a un periodista y a un camarógrafo de la planta Venevisión, lograron ubicarse estratégicamente en uno de los edificios cercanos al Palacio Presidencial de Miraflores, tomando de manera oculta las imágenes que permitieron delatar como un gobierno agonizante e irracional, permitiera que se asesinara a gente inocente en una marcha pacífica. Una vez más los medios de comunicación, tuvieron una enorme capacidad de respuesta a la hora de defender los principios democráticos frente a la imposición y a la dictadura. Gracias amigos por su solidaridad; en verdad no tengo palabras para agradecerles a todos su gran sencibilidad humana. En nombre de todos los venezolanos libres reciban un fuerte abrazo. (Jorge García Rangel, Editor DX, Club Diexistas de la Amistad, April 13, Barinas, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Con motivo de los sucesos ocurridos en Venezuela, la señal del canal de televisión VTV había salido del aire. Hoy ya tenemos en pantalla la imagen y la marcha oficial del Canal de todos los Venezolanos VTV. Venezolana de Televisión tiene más o menos 1 hora con la marcha sonando y una identificación en pantalla que dice: ``VTV el canal de todos los venezolanos. Cuando salga al aire con su programación regular, lo estaremos informando a todos ustedes.`` Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, April 13 ``11:23 am``, Conexión Digital via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Friday, April 12 on 6715U again this Korean language religious. But today I guess they signed on around 2040 and sign-off was sometime near 2235. They had bad audio problems most of the time. I recall they used to be an hour later on Fridays. Does this mean they are transmitting from the country that adopted DST (maybe in Europe)?. Or is this just a change in broadcast time for some other reason. Will check on Sunday if they sign on around 1840 as usual or maybe one hour earlier (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DISCUSSION FORUM FOR DXERS Welcome to DXing.info Forum, which has been opened at http://www.dxing.info/community/ The purpose is to provide an interactive forum for sharing DX tips, opinions on DXing, QSL news etc, anything related to DXing. All this in real time, through a user-friendly interface with many interesting features to facilitate communication among the community. The discussion board consists of 21 different forums covering different aspects of DXing, which makes it possible for you to concentrate only on the issues which you are most interested in - without clogging your email box. The Forum has been tested for the past week, and is now ready for everyone to join. Many of your DX friends are already members - now you can join us and make new friends in this growing worldwide DXing community. The discussion takes place in English so that as many as possible, from all around the globe, can participate. You can browse the Forum without registering, but registering (by your name) gives you the possibility to take part in the discussion and polls, as well as access to the additional features of private messages, profile information and ranks. And there is more to come. Take a look at the forums, check out the FAQ to learn more and register today. For improved security, I will manually approve all registrations. After your registration has been confirmed, you can start posting messages. And the more you participate and post yourself, the more you are likely to benefit from this exchange of information and DXperience. You will also find a forum for comments and questions about the Forum itself. See you soon on DXing.info! (Mika Makelainen, April 12, http://www.dxing.info/community via DXLD) PROPAGATION NOTES [non?] EARTH'S MAGNETIC POLES ARE ABOUT TO DO A FLIP http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?f=/stories/20020411/606816.html This is an interesting article, but I haven`t a clue if it pertains to radio (Ricky Leong, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-060, April 11, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1126 available April 12: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500 on 5070, Sun 0230 on 5070, 0630 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 8700usb and MW 980 AM US propaganda station. I doubt 8700 is from Diego Garcia. Anker Petersen's suggestion of Saudi Arabia seems much more likely - or perhaps one of the US bases in Central Asia... (Dave Kenny-UK, BDXC Apr 5 via BCDX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 13685, Voice Int`l, Darwin. Hrd *1000-1100* April 2 in English, came on right at 1000; professionally done, upbeat programming, nx, sports, wx for various Asian locations, prgm preview, sked, fqys, promos, mostly pop and Christian mx, day in history, birthdays of famous people. Good (if not huge) signal, and improves over the hour. Gives detailed contact info (postal, E-mail, phone/FAX), which also appears on their URL http://www.vil.com.au Regular ID/promo is "Voice International, all about real life." No mention of Darwin, either on air or on their website, anncs as being "from Queensland," and gives address as P. O. Box 1104, Buderim 4556, Queensland, Australia. Switches to 13635 at 1100, but signal not as good there (and some problems with audio beaking up). English sked per URL is 0900-1000 on 17645, 1000-1100 on 13685, and 1100-1700 on 13635; ancd sked is a little less precise. A nice sound, and good to finally hear this one at listenable level (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. Schedule of External R Service as from March 31, 2002. Please see the information about Azerbaijan State TV and Radio Company's medium wave stn: International Radio Nr Transmit. Freq. Location 1 RV - 48 6110 kHz Gence 2 RV - 608 1296 kHz Pirsaat Proqram details by local time: 0715-0800 - Guney Azerbaijan 1500-1600 - By Iran lang. 1600-1700 - By Turkish lang. 1700-1730 - By German lang. 1730-1800 - By France lang. 1800-2000 - Guney Azerbaijan 2000-2100 - Proqram of radio liberty. 2100-2200 - By Arabic lang. 2200-2230 - By English lang. 2230-2300 - By Russian lang. "Voice of Azerbaijan". Here are the times in UT: 0215-0300 Azerbaijani 1000-1100 Persian (Farsi) 1100-1200 Turkish 1200-1230 German 1230-1300 French 1300-1500 Azerbaijani 1500-1600 Program of R Liberty 1600-1700 Arabic 1700-1730 English 1730-1800 Russian "Voice of Azerbaijan". With best wishes, Arzu Abdullayev (Arzu Abdullayev-AZE, root@aztv.baku.az via Mike Bethge, Germany, WWDXC, Apr 6 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. Since the change to summer schedule on Mar 31 the low power regionals on 6010, 6040, 6070, 6080, 6115, 7110, 7145 and 7210 have been off the air during daytime. Other freqs are covered by BCQRM. On Apr 9, 1730-2100 6010, 6040, 6070, 6080, 6115, 7145 and 7210 were heard with the same program. 1800 ID: "Belaruskaje Radiyo, Minsk". 7210 was the weakest of all, - so no longer 75 kW - until the Foreign Service started (Noel R. Green-UK and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX Window Apr 9 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. The strike is still going. The union's webpage, at http://www.scrc.qc.ca has updated press stories, and the union's newsletter to members. (The latter finally has some editions translated into EE; many of them are only in FF.) The union sent many of the strikers to Ottawa yesterday, where they picketed on Parliament Hill. The CBC was incensed, since they thought the union had agreed not to do any public statements/lobbying, so the corporation has broken off negotiations for the time being. Ricky Leong came up with a hypothesis for the lack of the specials in the "strike zone": Montréal-based foreign correspondents are members of the striking SCRC union, so maybe they'd be scabs if the programmes were broadcast here. Apparently they were supposed to be broadcast on RCI, though I wasn't listening. (Don't know if RCI's people at the bureaus across Canada are SCRC members or not. I would tend to think not, since I heard the CBC's business magazine, which is run on many of the local morning drive shows, running a feature produced by Frank Rackow, RCI's guy in Calgary. Of course, it might have been produced before the strike, or possibly not.) (Bill Westenhaver, QC, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Refers to the Afghanistan special, Thursday morning, which was not broadcast or webcast from Quebec or Moncton, and most of the other CBC servers were busy (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. HOT SHEET FOR FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2002 -- RADIO ONE THIS MORNING: ***pre-empted by Lone Superpower*** THE LONE SUPERPOWER: This morning, CBC Radio One presents a documentary special, The Lone Superpower. Whether it's the tense and bloody struggle in the Middle East or the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, it as never been more apparent that The United States is one remaining superpower. But with that status have come questions about the weight, the role and the influence America has in world affairs. Michael Enright anchors from New York, with Mary Lou Finlay in Paris, Rick MacInnes-Rae in Cairo, Anthony Germain in Toronto and Mike Hornbrook in Jerusalem. That's The Lone Superpower, 9:06 to noon, (9:36 to 12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. C'EST LA VIE: ***pre-empted by Lone Superpower*** HOT SHEET FOR WEEKEND OF APRIL 13 & 14, 2002 -- SATURDAY APRIL 13, 2001 -- THE HOUSE: This week, a special edition of The House, part of this week's special programming on Afghanistan and the U-S. Are we all Americans now? Christopher Grosskurth and Jennifer Fry get the view from border communities in British Columbia and New Brunswick. Tom Parry reports on how the Canadian military finds working with the United States a lot easier, and host Anthony Germain in conversation with the man who asked Canadians to take the "leap of faith" on Free Trade with the US. All of this on a special edition of The House, Saturday after World Report at 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. THREADS OF HOPE: Saturday night on CBC Radio One, listen for Threads of Hope. It's a special documentary look at how Afghan culture has been preserved and carried onward by musicians and artists in spite of its turbulent history. These are the stories of music returning to Afghanistan, a sign of hope and healing for the country. That's Threads of Hope, Saturday evening at 7 (6 AT; 6:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY APRIL 14, 2001 --- THE SUNDAY EDITION: ***PRE-EMPTED BY SPECIAL*** AMERICANS, CLOSE UP: Tune in to CBC Radio One this Sunday morning for a documentary special called Americans, Close Up. It's a collection of stories of individuals confronting change and conflict in their lives, each highlighting a facet of the American character - and the complicated and often contradictory nature of American society. That's Americans, Close Up, Sunday morning at 9:00 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. TAPESTRY: This week on Tapestry...Stoned Straight. Sacred rituals of the Native American Church involve "entheogens," or "god-containing" plant and animal extracts that produce hallucinations. In this one- hour special, Tapestry host Don Hill explores how these otherwise illicit drugs, when used in religious rites, can actually help prevent substance abuse. That's Tapestry, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (2:30 NT; 4:00 p.m. MT; 3:00 pm. PT) on CBC Radio One. WRITERS AND COMPANY: This week on Writers and Company, the beginning of a new series, Writing in the World of Islam: from Iraq to Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon and the Sudan, remarkable authors with a sensibility, perspective, and quality you don't often hear about. This week, Tayeb Salih, the great Sudanese author. Culturally as well as geographically, Salih embraces the East and the West: his fiction draws on both European and classical Arabic literary traditions as well as the rich literature of Islam and Sufism. That's Writers & Company, Sunday at 3:05 (3:35 NT, 5:05 CT/MT/PT) on CBC Radio One. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: This Sunday, Rex Murphy hosts Cross Country Checkup live from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. The topic: the U-S transformed. September 11th changed the way Americans view the world, and how the whole world views the world's only superpower. Some want more U.S. involvement; others, less. Nowhere is that more obvious today than in the Middle East. As a neighbour and smaller power, where does Canada fit into the picture? How has Canada's relationship with the U.S. changed? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday, for Checkup live from Kingston, Ontario, from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend, Killing Hope: Colombians were shaken by the murder of Archbishop Isaias Duarte last month. Rhoda Metcalfe looks at the legacy of one of the country's moral leaders, who spoke out on issues others dared not address. Also, moving the Junos. Stephen Puddicombe looks at the debate over the location of the Canadian music awards. Should they have a permanent home, say in Toronto, or be in a different city each year? That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. --- TELEVISION --- RICK MERCER'S TALKING TO AMERICANS: ***replaces previously scheduled Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come*** Tune in for laughs Sunday night as CBC Television presents an encore broadcast of Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans. Goofy questions and hilarious answers reveal just how much our neighbours to the south don't know about Canada and Canadians. Rick Mercer's Talking to Americans, Sunday night at 9 p.m. on CBC Television (CBC Hotsheets via DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. Russia/USA: CONCERN OVER RADIO LIBERTY'S CHECHEN BROADCASTS | Text of report by Russian news agency RIA Washington, 11 April: Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe [RFE/RL] should not become an information channel for Chechen terrorists, Russian Minister of Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications Mikhail Lesin told RIA in an interview. Lesin said that the decision by the US authorities to start RFE/RL broadcasts in North Caucasian languages, including the Chechen language, had been the subject of an "impartial exchange of views" during his meetings with US administration officials linked to broadcasting and with managers of RFE/RL in Washington on Wednesday [10 April]. Lesin said that the American side had again been informed about Russia's stance that "radio airtime cannot be given to terrorists" and that Russia will monitor the station's broadcasts. The Russian government is making "major efforts to restore peace and the economic and social infrastructure in Chechnya", Lesin said. He stressed that Russia would not like the US radio station's broadcasts to have a "propagandist effect" capable of "stirring up or detonating the situation in the Chechen Republic". This first of all relates to "region-oriented" programmes and programmes which could be prepared in the Chechen language specially for Chechnya and additionally with the "involvement of Chechen terrorists," the Russian media minister said. Lesin added that Russia would have no objections to RFE/RL broadcasting to Chechnya the "ordinary news" for other regions but translated into the Chechen language. The US broadcast officials and Voice of America and RFE/RL are facing the task of organizing broadcasts to such important regions as Afghanistan and the Middle East and therefore "they have things to deal with", Lesin said, stressing that "the USA was well aware of the number of Taleban and Al-Qa'idah fighters trained in the bases in Chechnya". Therefore "it would be illogical and unwise" to give airtime to the Chechen terrorists, Lesin said. Russia would regard that as an "unfriendly step" by the USA which could do harm to Russian-US relations and to the countries' successful cooperation in the joint struggle against international terrorism, the minister stressed. According to Lesin, RFE/RL broadcasts in the Chechen language have evoked "diametrically opposed views" in Russia and it cannot be ruled out that the Russian parliament "might take an emotional decision about Radio Liberty's activity", just like the US Congress took its "emotional decision". On Wednesday [10 April] Lesin had meetings at the US Congress, Department of State and also with US Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Charlotte Beers. A source in the Russian delegation said that a range of issues related to information exchanges between the two countries and their common information approaches to the current global problems were discussed at the meetings. Source: RIA news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0207 gmt 11 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA (?). 5960, 1 Apr, 1322-1400, broadcast in Chinese, jolly enough, with dialogs and interviews. SINPO 34333. Time pips at 1400, the last signal in higher tone. ID sounded as "Sinjan anin quampo dentai". I recall a similar channel on 6100 kHz a couple of years ago, surely it was local broadcast from Urumchi, Xinjang Authonomus Region. Is that its new frequency? (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) 6015, 2 Apr, 1600-1700 and later, very muffled and unclear audio. Language sounded like Kazakh, songs were similar to aired by Kazakh Radio, while Kazakhstan was active on SW. Another frequency of Urumchi, Xinjiang, China??? (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** CHINA. Voice of Strait (Haixia zhi Sheng). 6115 \\ MW 666 Voice of Strait (Haixia zhi Sheng), English segment on Friday and Sunday at 0930-1000* UT [not 0900-]. Only the mediumwave freq of 666 kHz was given. English program is taped. Pronunciation isn't so good in English!, too fast, much talk. Best 44544, S=9+20 dB. Chinese language program on 6115 fade-in at about 0200 UT in Philippines. At 1200 UT also in Chinese on 666 and 6115 kHz. RR report address given like in WRTH 2002: Folks on China The Voice of Strait (Haixia zhi Sheng) Fuzhou, Fujian, 350012, P.R. of China. e-mail: China.Radio@ratiohx.com ?? (Roland Schulze, Philippines, Mar 22/24, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Cuban relay of CRI English to NAm had been on 9580, moved to 9570 for one day, a test? Sat back on 9580 \\ 9790 from elsewhere [Canada, at 0100]. Sigh! Back on 9580 0100 UT Mon April 8 \\ 9790. SO check 9570; if not, then check 9580 (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably forgot to change from the morning frequency 9570 (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. CONGO (Brazzaville) [sic – really Kinshasa -gh]. 9550, Radio Okapi, no data but confirmation of reception, French e-QSL via Dominique Jaccard with the Hirondelle Foundation Dominique_Jaccard@hirondelle.org in 4 days for a French report (Klaus-Peter Hilger, Germany, April 3, BC-DX via DXLD) Sorry to say when I received the e-mail last night I assumed it was a confirmation but at lunchtime today did a quick check with a French dictionary at the library and find she did NOT confirm my report. Will have to get a full translation to see what happened. Will post more when I find out. This response was to a French e-mail that I sent her. I am waiting, along with everyone else for a response to my airmail letters, one to the Foundation and one via registered mail to Kinshasa, both in French. Hope I have better luck when they get my mailed reports (Ron Howard, CA, DXplorer Apr 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** EGYPT [AND NON]. ARABS SHOULD "BOYCOTT" RADIO SAWA - EGYPTIAN PAPER | Text of report by Egyptian newspaper Al-Sha'b web site on 29 March The first phase of operations of Middle East Radio was launched last Monday [25 March]. The radio is financed by the US government and is beamed to the Arab World. The radio will transmit its programmes via satellite. The new radio station was called Radio Sawa. Norman Pattiz, member of the Board of Governors of the US International Broadcasting Bureau, has said that the "aim of this radio is to promote democracy and freedom by providing credible and reliable information and news about the United States." Pattiz noted that "Arabic and Western music are in harmony. Therefore, Radio Sawa will integrate Arabic and Western music and broadcast the new blend. For example, integrating songs by singers Hakim and Khalid with Britney Spears and New Kids in the Block will be a harmonious process." Clearly, the launching of the new radio station is part of the plans of the US defence department to infiltrate the Arab World. It is noteworthy that the new radio was launched after the Pentagon established a strategic bureau to undertake the promotion of US propaganda across the world, particularly the Arab and Islamic worlds. A rightwing American Jew, Douglas Fate, was appointed as head of the office. This can give us an idea about the nature of the mission designated to him in the upcoming phase. The new US onslaught is evident. The CNN has launched its Arabic website on the Internet sometime ago. There are also arrangements to launch an Arabic-speaking space channel. This will complement the Israeli efforts in the same field; namely, the Israeli arrangements to launch an Arabic satellite channel. Moreover, the Israeli newspapers Ha'aretz and Yediot Aharanot have established Arabic websites on the Internet. The US-Israeli media onslaught on the Arab and Islamic worlds is fierce. However, this onslaught should not scare us. Arab and Muslim animosity of the United States and the Zionist entity has become deeply rooted and it is difficult to remove this animosity that easily. Moreover, the experience of the government media in the Arab countries can give us a good example. For many years, the United States and Israel have been promoting the cause of peace and speaking about the advantages of peace. But peace was an illusion. This has created further Arab animosity of the United States and Israel. Needless to say, we should boycott these new radio stations. We should neither participate nor listen to them. It should become part of our battle of boycotting everything that is American or Israeli. Source: Al-Sha'b web site, Cairo, in Arabic 29 Mar 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. DW weak in English on 15385 and 15640, covered by co- channel English (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Believe he was referring to 0100 in absence of Spain, q.v. (gh) At 0300, DW English to NAm I`ve just found on 15600 and 15645, both fair (Bob Thomas, CT, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA. 3366 kHz - 2207 UT April 10 - Ghana BC Corp. - (Accra) Ghana - // with 3447 - OM reading news in EE - gave Radio Ghana ID at 2211 UTC - fair copy - SIO 343 (Vern Matheson, Trepassey NF, Kenwood TS450S/AT, Gap Titan Vertical and 500' longwire, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** INDIA. The following schedule information on All India Radio's External Services for A-2002 is available from the files section of dx_india reflector. In Language order: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india/files/AIR%20Frequencies%20Edition%20A%202002.xls In UT Order: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india/files/AIR%20Frequencies%20%28UTC%20Order%29%20Edition%20A%202002.xls 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4753v, RRI Makassar inactive March 21-24. 4925 RRI Jambi inactive. 9741.2 RRI Sorong suffers tx problems, breaks in transmission (Roland Schulze, Philippines, Mar 21/24, BC-DX via DXLD) RRI Makassar (ex-Ujung Pandang) was back on 4753 kHz until s-off around 2355 on 9 April after an absence of several weeks, but with distorted audio. The stn has remained active on the daytime freq of 9552v throughout (Alan Davies, Indonesia, April 10, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL [non]. 5955, station REQA, 28 Mar, 1855, SIO 222, in Russian, with "Diaspora" feature. Heavy QRM by the Voice of Turkey. Frequency isn't listed in schedule. Both official channels came better: 9435 kHz with SIO 444, 11605 kHz with SIO 343 (Alexei Kulinchenko, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) (Voice of Vietnam was relayed via Austria on 5955 kHz in winter. It was audible here, but Voice of Turkey always came stronger, and it was impossible to recognize anything but only the broadcast language. Alexei says he didn't hear Vietnam during his observation. Probably it was nothing but a satellite commutation error. - (Ed. of Signal via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. This morning I observed Azad Kashmir R 4790 continuing past 0115, so I guess that Radio Sada-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir, intended for Indian Kashmir and sharing the main transmitter of AKR, stays on standard time (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. V. of the People of Kurdistan silenced since around Mar 10 on 6995, heard only on 4062. UnID in Kurdish, Arabic at 1638-1702 on new 4300 kHz (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Mar 31, BC-DX via DXLD) ** LIECHTENSTEIN. Radio L, Triesen Web: http://www.radiol.li 1837-1851 11 Nov. 2001 Allemanian language + rock music with English lyrics. 2 QSL letters - 1 from Tech dept signed "Radio L Team"; 1 from Programming signed Judith Frommelt. "We were quite surprised to get one (my report) from the U.S.A." Also 2 stickers - in 6 months for English report by post with U.S. $1 & S.A.E. (used). E-mail report was not answered (Bill Flynn, OR, Apr 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. Bamako's morning signals on 5995 and 4785v cannot compare to 4835, which is almost as strong and clear as that of Nouackchott's 4845; this applies to observation between 7 and 8 UT. 9635 at 0800 is good as usual, but 7285 is often nothing but a whisper, if any (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, April 5, BC-DX via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Schedule below received direct from V of the Mediterranean in Malta (having found the schedule on their website, http://www.vomradio.com somewhat ambiguous): VOM FREQUENCY TABLE MARCH 2002 TO OCTOBER 2002, time in UT Mon to Sat: 6110 kHz 0530 - 0600 Arabic 9605 kHz 1700 - 1730 Italian 9605 kHz 1730 - 1800 English 12060 kHz 1900 - 2000 English (except Fri -see below) 12060 kHz 2000 - 2100 Arabic Friday: 12060 kHz 1900 - 2100 Arabic Sunday: 17570 kHz 0500 - 0600 Japanese 9605 kHz 0700 - 0800 Italian 9605 kHz 0800 - 0900 English 9605 kHz 0900 - 1000 Maltese 9605 kHz 1000 - 1100 French 9605 kHz 1100 - 1200 German 12060 kHz 1900 - 2000 English 12060 kHz 2000 - 2030 French 12060 kHz 2030 - 2100 German Transmitting site: Rome. Transmission power: 100 KW. Frequency: 9605 kHz (6110 also via Rome) Transmitting site: Moscow. Transmission power: 250 KW Frequency: 12060 kHz Transmitting site: Komsomolski [sic]. Transmission power: 250 KW Frequency: 17570 kHz (VOM via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham UK via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Desde Ayer, 9 de abril, sintonicé nuevamente a la XERTA Radio Transcontinental a las 0500 UT( 10/abril/2002 UT) con música cristiana en la frecuencia de 4768 kHz, con bastante distorción en su modulación, y no ha dejado de transmitir, repitiendo su repertorio musical; también he sintonizado dos armónicos en 4813, donde la señal es más débil y donde se escucha con mayor claridad y en 4723 se sintoniza con mucho menor fuerza y mas distorcionado (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital April 10 via DXLD) ** NORWAY. Yesterday I made a trip to the town Stavanger. And since I am living on an island (Karmøy) - I have to travel by ferry to this town. Earlier the ferry I use sailed directly to the town, but last year they decided to change the route a bit and make a stop at Kvitsøy as well. (name of places ending in -øy (or -oey, -oy in your character set) - are islands in the Norwegian language. Ingøy on longwave for instance...) OK, - this short stop on Kvitsøy gave me an opportunity to take some pictures I would like to share with you. I can see that many of you are familiar with this 1200kW powerhouse. You can see the shortwave curtain antennas, the shortwave log- periodic, and the 115 meter high MW tower. And in the background some houses :-) Take care folks & good DX. http://home.online.no/~tjabauge/radio/pictures/kvitsoy/ Regards (T. S. Bauge - Norway, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Hi Glenn, wanted to send this info earlier. WWLS 104.9 is now k-bull 104.9. They have their stereo signal back. THEY ARE A COPY OF THE TWISTER HERE IN OKLA CITY, AND 105.3 IS STILL MONO AND HAVE HEARD THAT THEY ARE STILL TWEAKING THE SIGNAL; 104.9 IS OKLAHOMA CITY`S FRESH NEW COUNTRY WITH 20 IN A ROW AND LINERS RUN IN BETWEEN SONGS. Have already heard songs repeated in less than 6 hours. When it comes to radio, not just in this market, but most of the major radio groups spend millions on stations but have jocks reading liners, just barely, and during the morning drive with a 3 or 4 people on air chuckling at just about anything someone says. I will have more to say about the state of radio later, but for now Oklahoma City radio station owners have made another mistake that they have stepped in and it smells. Don`t think that it will come out either. Thanks (Bill Eckart, OK, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 15455.66, Radio Pakistan, 0006 11 April. In English, commentary read by woman regarding their relationship with India, followed by music at 0010. Positive ID by woman at 0016: "You are listening to our English program Good Morning Pakistan." Fair but clear signal with little fading. Thanks to BrentW for tip in #swl (Mark Finem VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be the so-called ``Assamese`` service at its new DST-shifted time 2345-2415 (gh, DXLD) 15455 KHz - 2347 UT April 11 - Radio Pakistan - (Islamabad) Pakistan - MX and then OM in EE said a few words and then OM gave speech to crowd in vernacular - audio slightly over modulated during speech - numerous mentions of Pakistan in speech - crowd cheering - MX at 2357 UTC - finally got the Radio Pakistan ID at 0002 UTC when OM started to read news in EE with and was also over modulated - good signal but poor quality - SIO 422 - (Vern Matheson, Trepassey NF, Kenwood TS450S/AT, Gap Titan Vertical and 500' longwire, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. API-8 is one of the 100 kW units at the main Rawat transmitting centre south-east of Islamabad. According to Adrian Peterson`s recent article, it is located in the later built second building at the site which houses two Russian 100 kW units and two BBC 250 kW units - API-8 being installed in 1979 - and a different site to where the Rawalpindi 10 kW tx is located. Rawalpindi III is just the listed "program" or transmission carried. Of course, we know it better as Azad Kashmir, but that name is never printed on the schedule. And Olle and Hans Johnson "discovered" that API-8 is the likely tx used to bc the clandestine Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Movement on either 5985, 7230 or 5100 (all slightly off actual freq), but there is no printed confirmation of that - which is no surprise! Today, I received a copy of the complete Pakistan freq schedule for A- 02, and can confirm the following from Islamabad 100 kW: [note: the following was just before the time change, but details should still apply if moved one UT hour earlier --- gh] Turki and Russian 1345-1500 on API-1 7355 and API-3 9425 - both at 313 deg Dari 1515-1545 on API-1 7375 and API-3 6105 - both at 270 deg. Home Service via Islamabad 100 kW are ... via API-2: 0045-0215 on 6165, 0600-1115 on 9645, 1350-1400 (Balti nx) and 1420-1428 (Sheena nx) on 7115, 1615-1700 on 6105 (this one is now listed as Islamabad program with no mention of Aaina) - all using Quadrant I antenna via API-4: "Current Affairs" 0200-0400 and 1300-1800 both on 7095 using Quadrant II antenna via API-8: Rawalpindi III 0045-0215 and 1445-1810 on 4790 and 0900-1215 on 7265 via 68 deg Balti 0430-0515 and Sheena 0530-0615 on 7225 via 68 deg. Quetta (10 kW) continues as before on 5025 at 0045-0404 (Fris 0345) and 1200-1805 on 7155 at 0600-1145 (Fris only at 0400-0820 and 1000- 1145). via a 'dipole' Peshawar on 7320 (10 kW) 1100-1400 via a 'dipole' Rawalpindi on 4790 (10 kW) via 68 deg at 0230-0430, 1230-1330 and 1345-1430. Radio Pakistan External Sces in A-02 are: 0045-0315 South Asian Sces in En (Assami), Bangla 0115, Hindi 0200 and Tamil 0245 on API-1 11580 147 deg and API-3 15455 118 deg 0045-0215 World Sce for SE Asia on API-5 17500 118 deg and API-6 15485 118 deg 0330-0400 Gujrati Sce on API-1 17825 233 deg and API-3 15325 233 deg 0500-0700 World Sce for Gulf and ME on API-1 17485 282 deg API-5 15100 282 deg and API-6 21460 252 deg 0800-1104 World Sce for We EUR (incl En nx 1100) on API-5 17520 313 deg and API-6 21465 313 deg 1000-1245 South Asian Sces in Tamil, Hindi 1030, Bangla 1115, Sinhala 1145 and Nepali 1245 on API-1 17500 147 deg and API-3 15625 118 deg 1200-1230 Ch Sce on API-5 15100 70 deg and API-6 17485 70 deg 1330-1530 World Sce for Gulf and ME and 1600-1615 En nx and Commentary to Gulf and ME on API-5 15100 252 deg and API-6 11570 282 deg 1345-1500 Turki and Russian (1415) Sces on API-1 7355 313 deg and API- 3 9425 313 deg 1515-1545 Dari Sce on API-1 7375 270 deg and API-3 6105 270 deg 1600-1615 En Nx and Commentary to E Africa on API-1 17725 233 deg and 15725 233 deg 1630-1830 Middle East Sce in Turkish, Irani 1700 and Arabic 1745 on API-1 11545 260 deg and API-3 15725 282 deg 1700-1900 World Sce to We EUR on API-5 15100 313 deg and API-6 11570 313 deg 1800-1900 Islamabad Pgm for Gulf and Iran on API-2 9390 260 degrees (Noel R. Green, UK, April 4, BC-DX via DXLD) Updated in DXLD 2-057 ADVISORY: in case you didn`t see it above. All times in the preceding should be changed one UT hour earlier (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Today the postman brought the latest QSL card to my eagerly waiting mailbox. It is a full data card in Spanish for Radio Santa Rosa, Lima, 6045 kHz, heard 20 March 2002. They signed the card 3 April 2002. That means this card arrived about 3 weeks after the date of reception! Now, that is what I call QSLing! Received via airmail. Reception report sent was in Spanish and included 2 greenstamps. QSL signer is P. Juan Sokolich A., Director. They also included a webpage address on the bottom of the QSL as: http://peru.op.org/Radio-Santa- Rosa/default.htm I just checked and the page is there complete with audio. 73 de (Phil KO6BB Atchley, swl via DXLD) ** POLAND. Radio Polonia also has a fourth German program, at 1930 on 6030, confirmed last Sunday. Actually it is a good idea to offer German broadcasts also later in the evening, but the frequency choice is ridiculous, since 6030 is already occupied by the Südwestrundfunk transmitter at Mühlacker. The only result is a mess of SWR 3 and Radio Polonia program audio alongside with the usual transmitter growl, rounded off by subaudible heterodyne of a few Hertz. I really wonder how long Radio Polonia will continue to wast it's money for such useless transmissions? What about 1323 shown for Polish 0205-0255? Have we missed the sensation that Radio Polonia uses Wachenbrunn now or is this just an error, perhaps caused by the circumstance that they had broadcasts on 819 and 1305 when these frequencies were still on air? Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Tatarstan, summer schedule, in Tatar and Russian: 0400-0500 11665 Far East 0600-0700 9690 Urals, West Siberia 0800-0900 11925 North Europe The latter broadcast is relayed every day except Monday for Tatarstan itself, on LW 252 kHz and via local FM network. (Ildus Ibatullin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Foreign relay via short wave transmitters of Russia 31/03/2002~26/10/2002 (A02) ----------------------------------------------------- kHz - UT - kW - Transmitter ---------------------------------------------------------- CRR-1 (Moscow) 7175** 2200-2300 250 CRI 9880* 2200-2300 250 CRI 9920 1500-1530 250 RCI 12035 1830-1930 200 CRI 12060 1900-2100 250 VOM 12065 1700-1800 250 BBC 15650 1200-1600 500 DWL CRR-2 (S.Petersburg) 7130**** 1600-1700 400 CRI 7130**** 1800-1830 400 CRI 15595*** 1800-1830 400 CRI 17580*** 1600-1700 400 CRI CRR-2 (Kaliningrad) 5835 2030-2125 160 RNW CRR-3 (Samara) 5925 0000-0100 200 DWL 5935** 2000-2115 200 IBR 6210 1610-1640 100 VAT 7380 1830-2200 250 MAR 9835* 2000-2115 200 IBR 9835 1700-1800 200 DWL 9900 1830-1900 250 DWL 9925 2000-2100 250 RVI 12010 2030-2130 250 CRI 12010** 1500-1700 250 MAR 12110 1700-1800 250 NER Wed, Sun 12110 1700-1800 250 DER Sat 12110 1730-1800 250 VOL Mon, Thu, Fri 15525 0800-0830 250 DWL 17545 1230-1300 250 DWL TCR-4 (Krasnodar) 6225 2000-2130 500 DWL 7380** 1700-1830 250 MAR 7590** 2000-2030 100 TNT M-F 7590** 2000-2100 100 ESR Sat 9925 1630-2000 100 RVI 12010* 1300-1830 250 MAR 12125 1900-2000 200 VBI Sat 15195 1100-1130 200 RVI 15455 0500-0715 250 MAR Mon-Sat 15455 0600-0800 250 MAR Sun 15465 1300-1600 200 RVI Sun 15465* 2000-2030 100 TNT M-F 15465* 2000-2100 100 ESR Sat 15470 2000-2100 100 RCI 17675 0900-0930 200 DWL CRR-8 (Khabarovsk) 13695 1330-1425 100 RNW 13820 1030-1125 100 RNW 17590 2330-0025 100 RNW CRR-8 (Komsomolsk-na-Amure) 9585 1200-1300 250 HBS 17560 2300-2345 250 DWL 17570 0500-0600 250 VOM Sun 17715 0900-0945 250 DWL CRR-10 (Irkutsk) 7150 2200-2300 250 VOA 7305 2200-2245 250 VAT 9435 1115-1630 250 TWR 9460 1300-1350 500 DWL 9800 1400-1800 100 DWL 9900 1000-1400 250 DWL 9940 1300-1400 250 HBS 11795 2200-2400 500 DWL 11870 2300-2350 500 DWL 12025 0930-1030 500 RFI 12025 1100-1300 500 RFI 12045 1030-1055 500 DWL 12070 2200-2400 250 DWL 13710 0930-1125 250 RNW 15470 0900-0945 250 DWL 15580 0030-0200 250 TWR 15605 2300-2350 250 DWL 17655 0230-0300 250 BBC 17655 0800-0830 250 BBC CRR-11 (Novosibirsk) 7260 1800-1900 500 DWL 11570 0000-0100 200 IBC 11990 1300-1500 200 VOA 12025** 2300-0100 500 RFI 12045 2200-2300 200 RFI 12075 1200-1300 500 RFI 13590 1200-1600 200 HAM 15490 1000-1400 500 DWL 15525 1000-1200 200 ? 15535* 2300-0100 500 RFI 15605 0200-0400 500 DWL TCR-12 (Chita) 12055 1315-1400 500 VAT Vladivostok Radio Centre 9875 1200-1300 500 HBS 11685(A) 1400-1500 250 VKK Fri 12005 2200-2300 500 RFI 12105 1100-1530 500 BBC 12110 0900-0930 100 EZR Sun 13690 0000-0100 200 DWL 15595 2300-2400 500 RFI (A) = alternative frequency 11850 kHz Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy Radio Centre 5895** 1200-1330 200 CHR 7420 1000-1400 250 DWL 9450* 1200-1330 200 CHR 9760 1030-1055 200 DWL 9865 1130-1230 250 RVI 9890 1330-1425 250 RNW 12045 0000-0100 250 DWL 12065** 2130-2200 250 VOA 12065 0930-1125 250 RNW 15470* 2130-2200 250 VOA 21790 2300-2345 250 DWL * = Till 31/08/2002 ** = Since 01/09/2002 *** = Till 28/09/2002 **** = Since 29/09/2002 BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation, CHR = China Radio, CRI = China Radio International, DER = Dejan Radio, DWL = Deutsche Welle, ESR = Eurosonor Radio, EZR = Radio Ezra, HAM = High Adventure Ministries, HBS = Herald Broadcasting Syndicate, IBC = International Broadcasting Corporation, IBR = IBRA Radio, MAR = Radio Maryja, NER = Netsanet Radio, RCI = Radio Canada International, RFI = Radio France Internationale, RNW = Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, RVI = Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, TNT = Tomorrow's News Today, TWR = Trans World Radio, VAT = Radio Vaticana, VBI = Voice of Biafra International, VKK = Voice of Khmer Krom, VOA = Voice of America, VOL = Voice of Oromo Liberation, VOM = Voice of Mediterranean, (Nikolai Rudnev via RUS-DX 105-B via Japan Premium via DXLD) LAST VERSION... ================================ RADIO "THE VOICE OF RUSSIA" - RUSSIAN WORLD SERVICE (OVERSEAS BROADCASTING) TIME/FREQUENCY SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER '2002 (Times = UT/GMT, Frequencies = kHz) ===================================================== To EUROPE: 01.00-02.00 = 1215; 12.00-13.00 = 603, 999, 1143, 1215, 1323; 13.00-14.00 = 603, 1215, 1323; 17.00-18.00 = 11630*, 9480**, 7300, 5950, 1323; 19.00-20.00 = 17685*, 15350, 12040**, 12020**, 11630*, 9820*, 9450**, 9480*, 7370, 5950, 603, 612, 1143, 1215; 20.00-21.00 = 12000*, 9890*, 9470**, 9450*, 7390, 7370, 7310**, 603, 999, 1215. NOTES: 603 and 1323 kHz - for Germany via local transmitters; 612 kHz - for Moscow Region; 1143 kHz - for Baltic countries; To UKRAINE AND MOLDAVIA: 12.00-13.00 = 999; 19.00-20.00 = 17685*, 15350, 12040**, 11745, 7370; 20.00-21.00 = 12000*, 11745**, 7370. To The CAUCASIAN AREA: 15.00-16.00 = 12005, 1170 (on Mo., Tu., Th., Su.); 19.00-20.00 = 12055, 1089; 20.00-21.00 = 12055. To The CENTRAL ASIA: 01.00-02.00 = 648; 12.00-13.00 = 9470*, 9495, 9920, 9735**, 1143; 13.00-14.00 = 1251. To AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and PACIFIC AREA: 12.00-13.00 = 11640; 13.00-14.00 = 11640, 7330. To ASIA and FAR EAST: 12.00-13.00 = 15560, 15470, 13720, 9920, 9745, 7390, 1143; 13.00-14.00 = 17645, 15560, 15470, 9745, 7330, 1251; 15.00-16.00 = 15560, 12055, 7350; 612 - For Moscow Region on Mo., Tu., Th., Su.). To NEAR and MIDDLE EAST: 01.00-03.00 = 648; 12.00-13.00 = 9495, 9470*, 9735**, 1143; 15.00-16.00 = 17580a), 12055, 12005, 7350, 7130b), 1314, 1170 (on Mo., Tu., Th., Su.); 16.00-17.00 = 12030, 9875**, 7315*, 1314, 1170; 19.00-21.00 = 12055, 1089. NOTES: a) - till September 28th; b) - since September 29th. To The WESTERN HEMISPHERE: 01.00-02.00 = 21755**, 17690, 17620*, 17565*, 17660, 17620*, 15455**, 12070*, 12060, 11750, 11720, 9480, 7300**; 02.00-03.00 = 17690, 17650, 17660, 17620*, 15455**, 11750, 11720, 12070*, 12060, 9480, 7300**, 7330. To BYELORUSSIA: 01.00-02.00, 12.00-13.00, 19.00-21.00 = relays on VHF Range /65,5...74,0MHz/ via local transmitters, and on the 3rd Channel of Wire /Cable/ Networks. ------------------------------------------------ NOTES: *) - Till August, 31st ; **) - Since September, 1st . ------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT: 1. HIGH QUALITY RECEPTION IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF YOU LISTEN TO US AT TIMES AND ON FREQUENCIES AIMED AT YOUR REGION! 2. FREQUENCIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ------------------------------------------------ ADDRESS: Russian World Service, "The Voice of Russia", Moscow-Radio, 113326 Russia. VOICE: (+7 095) 950-6868, FAX: (+7 095) 950-6116. E-MAIL: letters@vor.ru ACTUAL INFORMATION, WEB and "REAL AUDIO" http://www.vor.ru/Russian.htm (Mikhaylov via RUS-DX 105-B, via Japan Premium via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Hi Glenn, On Monday evening April 8 I was able to hear a Russian pirate station R SAMORODINKA on 3923.6 kHz. S/OFF-time was 2054 UT. This station is operated by Lev Shishkin, who´s a ham. Transmitting power is only 10 watts and QTH is Moscow, I suppose. Has anybody heard this station outside Europe? 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not to my knowledge (gh) ** SAINT HELENA. Though a search with Google.SH (Yes, they registered in Saint Helena's domain (and Norfolk Island)) finds such interesting things as: You too can belong to the secret fraternity from the quiet island (shhhhh) of Saint Helena for your web site. Www.hauser.sh ? Welcome to NIC.SH - Providing the .SH Top Level Domain Name ... ... Welcome to the Saint Helena (.SH) Network Information Centre. We provide the Registry services to the ".SH" Top Level Domain Name and provide this exclusive ... Description: NIC for .sh CCTLD. Category: Computers < Internet < Domain Names < Official Registrars < Country Domains < S www.nic.sh/ - 13k - Cached - Similar pages the link below offers a photo tour as well Saint Helena, South Atlantic Ocean Saint Helena is one of the world's best kept secrets. Located in the South Atlantic Ocean (15.95 S, 5.70 W; map), St. Helena is a small (122 sq. km; 47 sq. mi ... Description: Saint Helena - information on the history and natural history with literature sources and a photo... Category: Regional < Africa < Saint Helena http://geowww.gcn.ou.edu/~bweaver/Ascension/sh.htm - 7k The Government site St. Helena Government - http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/ The Official government web site. Information about tourism and investing. St. Helena Home Page - http://www.chelt.ac.uk/ess/st-helena/index.htm Small and beautiful, the island of St Helena is set in the tropical South Atlantic 1,500 miles north-west of Cape Town. It is an island of contrasts, from multi-coloured ridges of wind swept desert to emerald hillsides, soft pasture and lush vegetation filled valleys. A coastline of bronze coloured cliffs 1,000 feet high has been carved over the centuries by pounding Atlantic rollers. with many pictures. and generally find more, ranked in "popularity" by Google here. http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/Africa/Saint_Helena/ (via Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. This is sheer madness! Sheer madness, I tell you! There`s enough confusion with seasonal changes. UT Sun April 7 at 0000, REE was not on 15385 in English to North America. They had been March 31. But not for repeat at 0100. Carrier went off. Not on 6055. It`s them but Spanish. And 0500 repeat 6055 is in Spanish instead! I checked 6055 Sat and they were in English. At 0100 gone!! And not on 15385. Ha! ha! ha! UT Mon April 8 English was on 15385 at 0000, gone at 0100, and 6055 in Spanish (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. FAQ for CBS - RTI; It's more on CBS China Broadcasting than the RTI http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/faq/faq_index1.htm (Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Dear Glenn, no, unfortunately they do not know enough to understand anything. What a pity! Anyhow here is another letter from a gem of a listener. He won the Voice of Turkey essay writing contest in 1999 and came to Turkey along with Darrell Baker. Both very intellectual gentlemen who are keen DX listeners. They have unique ways of describing situations and really hit the nail on the head. Thanks very much for your letter. Warmest regards, (Reshide Morali, Turkey, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Reshide, Sorry that you and Kizilgul have left the Voice of Turkey. Hope that you find something fulfilling and lucrative to do in the future! I listened to the DX Corner tonight which, frankly, was like listening to a garbled shopping list read by a sullen conscript who didn't understand a word of what he was mumbling. After reciting a list of out-dated DX tips, as though he was intoning the telephone directory, he paused after two minutes to say it was time to break for music before he "bored everyone stiff". Many a true word spoken in jest! (it was the British-accented announcer who I met when I came over who reminded me of a hippy). He has a good voice but obviously is lacking in the enthusiasm department. By the way, they're still using your signature tune and programme identification for the DX Corner. The rest of the programme was announced by Ismahan, who also has a nice voice but clearly doesn't know the meaning of the word "cadence". Actually she sounded quite tired or depressed, and the script for "Outlook" sounded, as it always does, like it was written by a bureaucrat rather than a communicator. Anyway, you are both missed and I wish that you could somehow return to the airwaves (Roger Tidy, UK, April 6, via Reshide Morali, DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. 5015, Turkmen R, verified in 50 days for US$1.00 return postage with a partial data letter indicating that I heard "the voice of Neutral Independent Turkmenistan" and a full data card indicating 20 kilowatts and a program schedule from v/s Kakali Garaev, The Chief of the Technical Department (Rich D'Angelo, PA, DXplorer Apr 6 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. BBC On-line schedules I was wondering if you can tell me why the on-line Europe schedule grid contents do not agree with what is actually being broadcast on the air? Some parts of it are correct; for example, the frequencies of 9410 kHz and 12095 kHz appear to continue and discontinue at the times shown, such as at 0300 GMT. But the programming around that time is actually shifted an hour or two from what the schedule shows. Also, how can I find an on-line schedule grid that shows the actual programming that is being carried by my local FM relay (KWMU-FM, St. Louis, 90.7 MHz, from 11 PM local (0400 GMT) to 5 AM (1000 GMT) weekdays)? The Americas grid that says it is the "shortwave and XM radio" programming is somehat different during the early parts of that period each day. I am aware that the BBC provides a special "public-radio" version of its feed for US public-radio stations, but I cannot find that specified on the website "schedules" section. Could you add it as an option to the Americas pages? By the way, why have a different feed for the XM and FM-relay rebroadcasters? If one is better than the other, give them the same. How is the difference in the public-radio version of the feed justified? It just seems inferior to those of us who were used to the full "rich mix" on the shortwave transmissions. Since you wanted North Americans to switch over to listening via FM and Internet, why provide a poorer version to the FM rebroadcasters? Thank you. William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA PS - Thank you for reading and responding to my submissions on past "Write On"s. I appreciate it! - WM (Will Martin, MO, to BBC writeon, cc to DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBCWS in English heard on 11835, fair signal with hash, some fade, minor splash from 11825 VOR English [via Vatican]. Near hourtop BBC announced it`s a relay from WYFR Okeechobee, FL. I had them at 0000; maybe on earlier. Active at 0100 too. Some co-channel in Spanish weaved in and out. At 0200 poor to fair with two co-channel hash, and fade (Bob Thomas, CT, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. R. Ezra: Taped the first broadcast to WCNA from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy on 17665 at 2330 on 6 April. A somewhat rambling monologue with his infant daughter every now and then. Admits to being a bare-bones operation with a Karaoke microphone worth 5 GBP. Transmission break at end, but came back to say "God Bless you wherever you may be in the world", and off. Excellent reception (Walt Salmaniw, BC, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. DRM test schedule for NAB Las Vegas, besides Bonaire previously given, ending April 12 shows: WEWN, Birmingham, AL, 1600-2400 on 13615 Sackville, Canada, 2200-2350 on 15365 (Media Network April 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. Rather than digital AM, we should speak of "hybrid AM IBOC" (digital overlaid onto analog AM), since that is the system that would be deployed now, and for many years to come (until such time as digital-ready receivers became cheap and ubiquitous). Hybrid AM IBOC is a disaster looking for a place to happen. Even its most ardent proponents have had to admit that it could not be used at night without making a complete hash of the AM band. There are many flaws in the system, but the major one is that when the digital signal is added, the hybrid signal now occupies a bandwidth that extends to nearly 15 kHz on either side of the carrier frequency, completely overlapping the first adjacent channels. Unlike analog slop, the digital signal will always be there, so you won't get a break from it when the audio goes quiet. Even if used only during daytime as is now being recommended (and how many broadcasters will be willing to settle for that, particularly when they have to pay licence fees to iBiquity for the privilege?), there will be problems in service areas where there are first and second-adjacent groundwave signals, not to mention degradation of audio quality in many AM receivers from the digital carriers on the host signal. And you AM stereo fans can kiss your favorite mode goodbye, since it is incompatible with IBOC. From a DXer's point of view, even daytime-only operation of IBOC would be a disaster, as it would make a mess of the band during those prime sunrise/sunset opportunities. Let's hope that this creature is aborted and never sees the light of day (Barry McLarnon, Canada, NRC- AM via DXLD) Actually, when a station is running IBOC, you shouldn't be able to hear the digital noise in AM mode. It remains to be seen what digital reception will sound like with more than one station on a frequency at night. Digital AM DXing might be interesting (Bruce Conti, NH, ibid.) Where did you get the idea that you won't hear digital signals in AM mode? You'll definitely hear a buzz, just as you do when you tune in data signals that you can find in the HF bands. Perhaps you're thinking of the IBOC digital signal as a constant-envelope signal like FM, but it's actually a multi-carrier signal with plenty of envelope variation that your AM detector will respond to. As for DXing IBOC, the system was designed for groundwave service only. Unlike the DRM system proposed for replacing AM shortwave broadcasting, it is not intended to be used on skywave paths, so it probably won't work very well over them. So even if you shell out the bucks to get an IBOC receiver when they become available, you probably won't get much DX with it. Believe me, there is no upside for DXers in AM IBOC. Rather than worrying about converting to digital, broadcasters (both AM and FM) should be concentrating on doing something that XM and Sirius can't do: providing *local* service to the communities that they cover (Barry McClarnon, ibid.) Here is the observation of Mark Howell as posted on rec.radio broadcasting: I attended the RTNDA convention held in conjunction with NAB this year, and I got to hear the Ibiquity demonstration at their booth. Note first of all that presumably, the demo was set up under ideal conditions. Ibiquity had an AM and an FM station in Las Vegas broadcasting IBOC digital. At the booth one was able to A/B the FM signals, but only the AM IBOC signal was available for listening. Why that was, will be obvious in a moment. Listening impressions: Both AM and FM digital signals are noticeably degraded from analog. The first thing I noticed in A-B'ing the analog and digial FM signals was that the digital signal had _no bass_. Other than that, at first listen (on Sony MDR-7506 headphones) the two were pretty close, but paying closer attention I noticed that something just seemed to be missing from the digital signal. As it should be--the compression is much heavier than the typical MP3 file. The AM is just a joke. The digital AM signal sounded like streaming audio on a dialup internet connection. Just horrible. Any decently-engineered analog AM signal sounds better, even on a narrowband receiver. The Ibiquity rep swore the AM digital signal was in stereo, but I'll be damned if I could hear any separation--and this is on headphones, mind you! The gross digital artifacts were _immediately_ noticeable. When I pointed out to the Ibiquity rep that this truly sounded wretched, he could only mumble something about "they're constantly working on improving the compression algorithm and the codec." The engineers are, of course, impressed with themselves that they got a compression algorithm that drastic to sound as good as it does. To be fair, it is quite a technical achievement. Never mind that it sounds like crap, the fact that it works is pretty amazing. But it reminds me of the Samuel Johnson saying about a dog walking on its hind legs. The marvel is not that it is done well, but that it is done at all. Looking at it from the point of view of Joe Sixpack, there is no point to it whatsoever. Many of the arguments made in favor of IBOC are marketing arguments, on the lines of "we have to be digital, because everything else is, and consumers expect it." But remember, the average listener thinks radio already IS digital. Their car radio dials show digits, don't they? How supposedly intelligent business people can think this is the salvation of radio is utterly beyond me. The AM IBOC system would be a horrible step backwards in audio fidelity. The FM digital signal is just a little worse than analog , but make no mistake, _it is worse_. The Clear Channel guy is absolutely right that this system would be the death knell for AM broadcasting in the U.S. The FM system is merely pointless. (Mark Howell, rec.radio.broadcsting via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. To see old call letter changes: go to http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/amq.html enter current call click "station info" click "click for details" click "view call sign history" e.g. KMAC changed to KSIR on 11/30/83 (Phil Greenspan, Marshfield, MA, NRC via DXLD) ** U S A. WPHT-1210 Philadelphia has a new website with info on the station, program schedule, photos and more... http://www.thebigtalker1210.com (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Estimados Colegas Diexistas, Quien les escribe es Jorge García Rangel, miembro del Club Diexistas de la Amistad en la Ciudad de Barinas, Venezuela. El motivo de la presente, es para notificarles a todos ustedes que nuestro país está pasando por una situación bastante difícil en materia política. Venezuela se encuentra totalmente paralizada en función de poner fin a un régimen que se bien tomó el poder gracias al poder de los votos; desafortunadamente pretende encaminarnos hacia un módelo político semejante a un Estado totalitario socialista. Por supuesto, esto jamás será permitido por la gran mayoría de los venezolanos que nacimos, crecimos y vivimos en democracia. Siempre hemos vivido en libertad y nunca permiteremos que se nos quiten este valioso derecho que nosotros tenemos. En tal sentido, y por lo dramático que serán estas próximas horas para el futuro de Venezuela, invitamos a todos los colegas diexistas a estar atentos a los acontecimientos que desde ya se están sucediendo a lo largo y ancho de nuestro país. Para ello exortamos a sintonizar las pocas emisoras que por onda corta se pueden escuchar por la radio, a saber: Radio Táchira, Ecos del Torbes y Radio Amazonas. A su vez pueden conectarse por Internet a las siguientes direcciones: Radios: http://www.envalera.com/angelfm/ http://www.avilradioweb.com/ http://www.buenasnuevasfm.com/ http://www.gotocaribe.com/clientes/laromanticafm/ http://www.cnb.com.ve/ http://www.jazz955.com/ http://www.hot94fm.com/ Televisoras: Radio Caracas Televisión: http://www.rctv.net/ Televén: http://www.televen.com/ Venevisión: http://www.venevision Globovisión: http://www.globovision.com Sin más, amigos y colegas, gracias por su atención y estamos seguros que con la ayuda de dios saldremos adelante en paz, democracia y en libertad para nuestro pueblo. Atentamente, (Jorge García Rangel, Club Diexistas de la Amistad, Barinas, Venezuela, April 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Olá amigos, Por acaso assiti agora na CNN em espanhol um discurso do Hugo Chaves, presidente da Venezuela. A situação está muito grave, existe confronto nas ruas da capital que está passando pelo terceiro dia de greve geral. Já não bastasse os abusos contra os jornalistas na Palestina, a CNN confirmou que alguns órgãos de comunicação foram fechados hoje a tarde na Venezuela: GLOBOVISION CMT RADIO CARACAS TELEVISION TELEVEN VENEVIZION [sic] Uma delas ainda emitia via satélite ao exterior, era a origem do sinal que a CNN estava reproduzindo. Entre o discurso de Chaves esta emissora passava um "clipe institucional" produzido em estúdio onde um jornalista estava amarrado nas mãos pelo cabo do microfone, dizendo mais ou menos que um país que tem seus meios de comunicação censurados, perde muito mais do que a liberdade de experessão. Depois de uns dois minutos o sinal desta emissora também caiu no satélite. O âncora da CNN não soube informar se foi devido a censura ou alguma política interna da emissora. Fte 73 e boa sorte (Flávio Archangelo, Brazil, April 11, radioescutas via DXLD) If you can understand Spanish, Ecos del Torbes appears to be carrying extensive coverage of the coup this evening in Venezuela. 4980 kHz. Talk of "pistoleros en Caracas" and other such fun. I wish I understood the language better (Ralph Brandi, NJ, 0256 UT April 12, swprograms via DXLD) Wish had less static, with thunderstorms bearing down on us. Pretty calm-sounding by 0326 UT check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION OUTLOOK [which was not on WOR 1126]: Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 10 April - 06 May 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. Isolated, low-level M-class flares are likely during the period. There will also be a chance for an isolated major flare during the period. There will be a slight chance for a proton event through 15 April. No proton events are expected for the rest of the period. Greater than 2 MeV fluxes may reach high levels around 30 April – 02 May. Normal to moderate flux levels are expected during the rest of the period. Active geomagnetic field conditions are possible during 25 – 27 April due to recurrent coronal hole effects. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected during the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Apr 09 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Apr 09 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Apr 10 195 5 2 2002 Apr 11 185 5 2 2002 Apr 12 180 8 3 2002 Apr 13 180 8 3 2002 Apr 14 180 5 2 2002 Apr 15 180 5 2 2002 Apr 16 175 5 2 2002 Apr 17 175 8 3 2002 Apr 18 175 8 3 2002 Apr 19 170 8 3 2002 Apr 20 170 8 3 2002 Apr 21 170 8 3 2002 Apr 22 170 8 3 2002 Apr 23 170 8 3 2002 Apr 24 170 5 2 2002 Apr 25 175 5 2 2002 Apr 26 180 7 2 2002 Apr 27 190 15 3 2002 Apr 28 200 15 3 2002 Apr 29 205 15 3 2002 Apr 30 205 15 3 2002 May 01 210 12 3 2002 May 02 215 8 3 2002 May 03 215 5 2 2002 May 04 210 5 2 2002 May 05 205 5 2 2002 May 06 200 5 2 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-059, April 10, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1126 available early UT April 11: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1126.html FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: NOTE UT TIME CHANGES NOW IN EFFECT! Wed 2330, UT Thu 0500 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15685, Sat 0500 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Hi Glenn, My name is Flávio "AL" Archangelo, ham and SWLer in Jundiaí, Brazil. I`m just sending this e-mail to express my congratulations for your great job with DX Listening Digest. I`m journalist, post graduate student at Saint Paul University. Last year my job was about FCC, but we radically changed to new subject: the external broadcasting radio emissions. So I read each bulletin that you wrote and I`m learning a lot. My bibliographical references are Nunes Mayo, Sydney Head and Donald Browne. So congratulations again for your great job !!!! (Flávio, py2zx, Brazil, April 8) ** AFGHANISTAN. Re: DXLD 2058: Mark Tell, VK4KMT, is now in Pakistan. He will fly to Afghanistan on Monday, April 8th, and be in Mazar-e- Sharif in Northern Afghanistan for a while.... Is there any way to get in contact with him? (I don't have either amateur license or transmitter!) It would be great if he could check the current MW situation both in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul. 73, Mauno Ritola, Finland, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Received the same no-data attachment. It does seem to imply the transmissions came from the aircraft (which was my experience early in the campaign as I noting the change in signal strengths with periods of 17-20 minute intervals, as though they were flying a track in the sky). After December, I never noted any such changes. The military appear to refer to all six airframes as Commando Solo II: For example: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2001/n10292001_200110292.html http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/a103001a.html http://www.af.mil/news/Oct2001/n20011029_1541.shtml I'll be curious to see if real QSL cards are issued - I had a long email dialog about this with Lt Shank last fall, and they did pro- vide full data cards for Haiti. We can hope. Or we can provide Lt Shank with some cards (!) (D. Nelson, OR, Apr 6, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) Kam heute noch ein zweites mal, anbei war noch folgende Bemerkung: "Dear Sir: If you sent your report via U.S. Postal Service, you will be receiving a hard-copy acknowledgement of your reception, but it may take a few weeks. We've received nearly 1000 reception reports and must mail each QSL separately." Also keine allzu rare QSL. ;-) (M. Elbe, Germany, Apr 8, 2002 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. from http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2260 WHAT DO CANADIANS REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT NATIONS IN THE WORLD? CBC Radio One has produced a series of special programs that will present a view of Afghanistan, the Middle East and the United States unlike any other; one that challenges perceived notions of those places and makes clear the effect they have had on Canada. For 10 hours over four days - April 11th to 14th - listeners can go behind the headlines to meet the people of Afghanistan and the U.S. who are rarely heard from in media coverage. From their own words, you'll learn about their experiences, hopes and fears. As well, the role of the U.S., the world's last remaining superpower, is analyzed in light of the explosive situation in the Middle East. The schedule: AFGHANISTAN: THE SKY CRIES BLOOD Thursday, April 11th - 9 a.m. to noon (9:30 NT) The stories of people who live in Afghanistan and those in exile - their struggles to emerge from three decades of war, as well as to break free of history, tribalism, religion and other countries who benefit from a country in tatters. THE LONE SUPERPOWER Friday, April 12th - 9 a.m. to noon (9:30 NT) Recorded in New York, a case study on the uses and limits of America's power as it applies to the Middle East, with perspectives from correspondents in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Can the U.S. find a way of living in the world, and the world find a way of living with the U.S.? How does Canada fit into this picture? AFGHANISTAN: THREADS OF HOPE Saturday, April 13th - 7 to 8 p.m. (6 AT; 6:30 NT) Afghan culture has been preserved and carried onward by musicians and artists in spite of its turbulent history. These are the stories of music returning to Afghanistan, a sign of hope and healing for the country. AMERICANS, CLOSE UP Sunday, April 14th - 9 a.m. to noon (9:30 NT) The stories of individuals confronting change and conflict in their lives, each highlighting a facet of the American character - and the complicated and often contradictory nature of American society. Further programming on CBC Radio One connected to these specials includes: BETWEEN THE COVERS Tuesday - Friday, April 9th to 12th at 2:30 and 10:40 p.m. (3 and 11:10 NT) Stories and poetry from Afghanistan's past and present that reflect the changing face of a troubled land, from writers at home and in exile. DISPATCHES Wednesday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. (8 NT) A reporter's file by Connie Watson - A Culture of Giving: Afghan people who share what little they have with strangers. THE HOUSE Saturday, April 13th at 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) A special edition devoted to Canada's changing relationship with the U.S. that examines border crossing points and the integration of Canadian - American defence policies. WRITERS AND COMPANY Sunday, April 14th at 3 p.m. (3:30 NT, 5 CT/MT/PT) Writing in the World of Islam: a five-week series that introduces the culturally curious to new ways of thinking about the world through conversations with and readings by six best-selling writers from Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey. CROSS COUNTRY CHECKUP Sunday, April 14th at 4 p.m. (5:30 p.m. NT; 5 p.m. AT; 3 p.m. CT; 2 p.m. MT; 1 p.m. PT) A live remote from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, as host Rex Murphy asks listeners, "Has September 11th changed Canada's relationship with the U.S.?" WEB ONE http://www.cbc.ca/one The online project of CBC Radio News and Current Affairs has produced an in-depth, interactive feature with photos by the reporters and additional information. The CBC mandate is to enlighten, reflect and connect Canadians. It is a meeting place to tell stories and engage debate. This series of specials is an example of a fresh approach to programming that is at the core of CBC's mandate to reflect the changing face of Canada and the world we live in (via Ricky Leong, swprograms via DXLD) ** AFRICA EAST [non]. Dear Friends, I listened to Millennium Voice on 21550 kHz at 13.50-14.30. During the transmission they had English identifications twice, including a message about broadcasting to Marocco, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda. At 14.15-14.20 they even had a news bulletin in ENGLISH! 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmm, that poses a problem for our ``non`` tactic. Wonder which be its primary non country, if any? (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RAE comes in here quite well at 0200 on 11710. The announcer spends the first 9 minutes of the broadcast giving their street and postal addresses followed by a fax number and no less than 3 email addresses. They give the times and frequencies of their broadcasts in English - and get the 0200 details wrong! They announce 11705 but they have been on 11710 for years if my memory is correct (Morrison Hoyle, Victoria, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 2305-2320 UT Fri. April 12: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. "Why Do Animals Sing?". Part One of a two-part BBC feature recorded at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, New York State, home to the world's largest collection of animal sounds and the site of leading research programs on birdsong and whale and elephant communication. [Transcript available, FWIW] (RA previews via John Figliozzi, ODXA via DXLD) Repeats 0530 UT Sat ** AUSTRIA. RAI English to NAm at 0130 on 9870 is good, some splash from 9865 Arabic (Bob Thomas, CT, APril 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Concerning Belorussia - 6115 and 7210 are still silent during the period c0600 to c1800. All attempts to hear the low power regional stations same time, plus Minsk 6080, have proved fruitless - until today (March 10), when I think they have come on air at 1600. Reception is very poor due weak signals and QRM (and there's no shortage of local noise!) but I believe I hear 7145 7140 and 6080 - and there appears to be stations on 7110 and 6010, though unusable - but 6040 has RFE Biblis in Serbo Croatian. All sound to be in // with an equally weak 279. I could not trace them prior to 1600. However, the domestic relays via Kalodziscy were heard today on 11960 at 0900 (I think sched until 1100) under RDP Lisbon co-ch - reception should be better Sat/Sun when RDP operates elsewhere. Also, I heard what appeared to be this station fading in c1520 (I think sched 1500- 1700) today and Monday April 8th on 7105 (registered 250 kW at 070 deg), but co-channel with Chinese jamming. There should be another HS relay on 11960 (which is registered 100 kW via 075 deg) at 0300-0500, all according to HFCC registrations. I note that the external services are registered with the HFCC as usual at: 5970 0100-0300 250 kW 250 deg 7105 1900-2100 250 kW 255 deg These services may also be carried on 7210 which is registered at 270 deg at 0100-0300 and 1900-2100 and at 000 deg at 0300-1900, using 100 kW (Noel R. Green, England, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3205, Rádio Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto. 2357-0002 March 31. Portuguese transmission. Music programme. Ads.: "Sorbeteria...."; ann.: "a nossa Rádio Ribeirao". 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [non]. Subject : [HCDX] Radio Mar, Bogotá, 1580 kHz A tape recording from Odd Påg and a query from Björn Malm made me ask Rafael Rodríguez if Radio Pare de Sufrir, 1580 kHz, in Bogotá, Colombia, has changed its name. Yes, it has, says Rafael, it is now Radio Mar (which is what Malm says he has been hearing). The name shift is incomprehensible, says Rafael. This means that there are at least two religious broadcasters from Colombia on 1580, the other one being the Barranquilla relay of Radio María. Radio María is run by the Catholic Church, while Radio Mar is one of the outlets of the Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios (IURD), which is run by self-proclaimed Brazilian Bishop Edir Macedo. This church owns radio and TV stations in many parts of the world, including the UK. In Brazil, Rede Record is their flagship. This church has several places of worship in Bogotá, where they organize healing campaigns under the motto "Oración fuerte al Espíritu Santo". The address for their main church in Bogotá was given on Odd Påg´s tape as Av. Caracas 19A-90 Sur. This church has a regular program on Colombian TV (Canal 1) called "Pare de Sufrir". A website with worldwide addresses for IURD is at http://www.universalchurch.org The Iglesia Pentecostal Dios es Amor (IPDA), is another church founded in Brazil and missioning in many parts of the world. In Bogotá their programs are aired on 1160 kHz, and their "La Voz de la Liberación" program can be heard in many different releases from various Peruvian tropical bands stations. This ministry is unrelated to that of the IURD. More info, including two streaming audio links to the Brazilian "Voz da Libertacão" program at http://www.ipda.org.br (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 9, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. I woke up this morning about an hour into the funeral service for The Queen Mum. I tuned in the BBC WS on 17840 and was pleasantly surprised to hear a very well done program. The announcer was painting a word picture of what was going on just like radio announcers did in the days before TV. It reminded me of Arthur Godfrey's description of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt funeral procession in Washington as the announcer, speaking in low tones, described in detail what was going on. Then he would actually shut up until there was something new to say so I could hear the words and music of the actual ceremony. Very nicely done. Then I remembered that CBC had gone to almost no expense to send Michael Enright to London to cover the ceremony. The RCI transmitters were not yet on the air so I thought I would check out CBC North Quebec on 9625 kHz. Sure enough they were carrying the CBC Radio One special program. There in all his glory babbling over the solemn music was Michael Enright observing that "you British really know how to put on a show" or words to that effect. Some expert with a British accent dutifully agreed with him. Enough. I cranked the bandswitch and spun the tuning knob back to 17840 where I continued to listen to the BBCWS. After a while I began to feel guilty that I had not given Michael Enright a fair shake. As the band played God Save The Queen, I decided to give him another chance. There he was again still babbling. This time he was apologizing to the audience for having described the work now playing as the "National Anthem". Having caught his faux pas he explained that it was the "Royal Anthem" as the music played under him. Enough. I decided the BBC WS coverage was so good that I would check out the BBC America service on the satellite. Sure enough there it was in glorious color with what sounded like the same announcer the BBC WS was using for its audio. His detailed word pictures were not really needed with the TV image but added a touch of class to the presentation. Not that additional class was needed. As Michael Enright would say when he really should be quiet, "You British really know how to put on a show." Too bad CBC Radio One can't spring for Peter Mansbridge. The BBC TV coverage of the procession was a travelogue of London including Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, a couple of royal residences where the Queen Mum hung out, and the crowd-lined route between them. The Beeb must have had 40 or 50 camera venues along the route. The Royal Rolls were never out of sight until they reached the outskirts of London. The logistic effort required to cover this route must have been enormous. To the Beeb, I say well done. To the CBC, I say better luck next time. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, swprograms April 9 via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ see also AFGHANISTAN [non] above for CBC special series ** CHECHNYA [non]. USA(non): R. Liberty to N. Caucasus in Russian/Avari/Chechen/Cherkessi (each 15'): 0400-0500 9850 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg 11760 KAV 250 kW / 095 deg co-ch Radio Havana Cuba Spanish 17710 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg 1700-1800 9865 KAV 250 kW / 051 deg co-ch Voice of Russia in French 11760 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg 15350 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg co-ch Voice of Russia Hung/Czech (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) LOYALIST CHECHEN LEADERS VIEW RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS WITH SUSPICION | Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 9 April, ITAR-TASS correspondent Aleksey Rubtsov: Radio Liberty, which has begun broadcasting in the Chechen language, could promote views opposing those of Moscow, head of the Chechen Republic administration Akhmad Kadyrov told journalists today. "This will be the mouthpiece of [rebel media spokesman Movladi] Udugov," he said. He did add, however, that if Chechen-language broadcasts contain accurate information "this will be something that we can only welcome". "Serious politics can be seen" in Radio Liberty's Chechen-language broadcasting, the Russian minister for Chechnya affairs, Vladimir Yelagin said. The station should have its reports prepared by people who "know and are involved in the situation in the republic", he believes. "Careless talk could have serious consequences in Chechnya," he warned. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1037 gmt 9 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Glenn, Here are links to Washington Post and Moscow Times articles about the latest RFE/RL target that I thought you might find interesting. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53425-2002Apr2.html http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/04/05/014.html Enjoy! (Dave White, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Dear listener, CRI's English Service is broadcasting basing on a summer schedule. You can click into http://www.cri.com.cn/english/aboutus/ab_freq.htm to get the latest information. Or you can write to us and we'll mail you the printed broadcast log. We're looking forward to your monitoring on the summer schedule. Best wishes, English Service, China Radio International (via Vern Matheson, GRDXC via DXLD) Viz: *Testing Frequencies North America ( East Coast ) 2300-2400 13680 0100-0200 9580, 9790 0300-0400 9690 0400-0600 9730, 9560 [SEE NOTE BELOW] 1300-1400 9570 1300-1400 ( Washington D.C. ) 1120 AM# # One-hour program is relayed by WUST or New World Radio North America ( West Coast ) 2300-2400 13680 0100-0200 9790 0300-0400 9690, 9790 [SEE NOTE BELOW] 0400-0500 9730, 9560 1300-1400 7405 [SEE NOTE BELOW] 1400-1600 17720 Caribbean Sea 2300-2400 5990 Europe 2000-2100 11790, 15110 2100-2200 11790, 15110, 1440 AM 2200-2300 9880 2200-2300 558 AM East and South Africa 1400-1600 13685, 15125 1600-1700 9565, 9870 1700-1800 9570, 11920, 15205, 9695 2000-2100 11640, 13630 2100-2130 11640, 13630 West and North Africa 1900-2000 9440, 13790 2000-2100 9440 South Asia 1200-1300 1188* 1400-1500 15110 9700, 11675 1500-1600 7160,9785 * Testing Frequencies Southeast Asia 1200-1300 1341, 9730, 11980 1300-1400 1341, 15180, 11980 * Testing Frequencies The South Pacific 0900-1000 15210, 11730 1000-1100 15210, 11730 1200-1300 11760, 15415, 9760 1300-1400 11760, 11900 (gh edited out all the extraneous Beijing and local times, hopefully correctly, colon clutter and mbs, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOTE: as usual there are some anomalies which need to be checked out. The East Coast schedule has 9730 [French Guiana] and 9560 [Canada] running two hours at 0400 instead of one which has always been the case in previous summers (but still only one hour for the west coast – -- how do they manage that??). The West Coast schedule has 9790 not only at 0100 [Canada] but at 0300 [also Canada?]. The morning direct broadcast on 7405 has always been two hours, 1300-1500 in summer, 1400-1500 in winter, but now is shown as only one hour --- just as well, if true, with the Cuban relay 17720 also available after 1400. BTW, we resent CRI among so many other stations ignoring the Great Center of North America, referring only to ``Coasts``!! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CRI apparently has dropped 9580, the Cuba relay, but moved it down to 9570 for 0100 English to NAm. Parallel 9790 [Canada] is still best for me (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. V. of China, and New Star: see ROMANIA [non] ** COLOMBIA. See BRAZIL [non] ** COLOMBIA. Body of radio journalist found in river Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 11:10 AM NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS For more information, contact Marylene Smeets at 212-465-9344 x 120 **************************************************** Bogotá, April 9, 2002 - The body of Juan Carlos Gómez, an intern at a radio station in northern Colombia, was found floating in the Magdalena River on April 3, CPJ has learned. Authorities said he had been beaten to death. Gómez, 23, began working as an intern at La Voz de Aguachica (The Voice of Aguachica) six weeks before he was killed. He helped operate equipment on an evening music program called "Romantic Nights," said station director Freddy Alfonso Carvajalino. Two unidentified men abducted Gómez and a friend, Óscar Guerrero, from Guerrero's home on the night of April 1. They were then forced into a car, said Aguachica police captain Freddy Piñeros. The following day, Gómez's father, Luis Alejandro Gómez, received an anonymous call saying that his son had been killed and thrown into a nearby river. Luis Alejandro Gómez, who helped secure the internship for his son, has worked as a journalist and announcer at the station for about 25 years. Juan Carlos Gómez's body was found the following day less than 30 minutes from Aguachica, about 248 miles (400 kilometers) north of the capital, Bogotá. He had been stripped and his hands were tied. Guerrero's body, which had also been badly beaten, was found in the river nearby on April 5, said Piñeros. "We are shocked by these senseless murders," said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper. "CPJ calls on Colombian authorities to investigate fully and bring the perpetrators to justice." Paramilitary group suspected On April 6, Colombia's leading newspaper, El Tiempo, reported that Juan Carlos Gómez might have been killed for reading a message on the air from Liberal Party presidential candidate and former interior minister Horacio Serpa. According to the article, a right-wing paramilitary group in Cesar Department has threatened to kill anyone who campaigns for candidates other than independent front-runner Álvaro Uribe Vélez. (The first round of voting for presidential elections is scheduled for May 26.) However, both Carvajalino and Luis Alejandro Gómez rejected the El Tiempo article and denied that Juan Carlos Gómez-who rarely if ever spoke on air-read a note from Serpa. "He was neither a journalist nor an announcer," said Carvajalino. "His death had nothing to do with journalism." Luis Alejandro Gómez said he was not sure why his son was killed, but he blamed the paramilitaries, who are said to control much of the region. Authorities are still investigating the murder, according to Piñeros, who said that four other young men have been killed in Aguachica in the previous three months, apparently by the paramilitaries. The outlawed paramilitary armies, known collectively as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), are currently waging a vicious war against leftist rebels and those suspected of sympathizing with them. For more information about press freedom conditions in Colombia, visit http://www.cpj.org CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world. (Marylene Smeets, CPJ, via Deborah Jones, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. [HCDX] RE: [HCDX] FWD: DESTRUÍDA LA VOZ DE LA RESISTENCIA This posting, dated Mar 25, 2002, does not contain any indication of frequency. In a subsequent report on DSWCI DX Window, Mar 27, this cable is being related to "6233/6260v". I believe this is inaccurate. The only report - and there were many at the time - specifying a frequency of operation was the one posted on the Caracol website where mention was made of "transmission equipment for 660 AM". This item can be seen at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2046.txt No report has said that the MW channel actually was in operation, and Rafael Rodríguez says he did not hear them on this channel or any other one on MW. However, in regard to their SW operation, he recalls reports saying that the Voz de la Resistencia SW transmitter was seized, together with other equipment, firearms and dynamite, in a private house located in the area of San Juanito, Meta. He believes this happened late Nov 2001. In the former 42,000 sq km free zone Voz de la Resistencia (N.B. the correct slogan, without the article "la") operated on 95.9. From an independent news report quoted in http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2053.txt one is led to believe that their 1000-2400 had other relays in the area. The main studio referred to in the Caracol report was in a place called Vistahermosa. A color picture showing the entrance to the rustic studio building was published the El Espectador newspaper on Jan 7, 2001. For collateral info, see Venezuela at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2054.txt (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, hard-core-dx April 10 via DXLD) ** CUBA. I looked for RHC on 9655 usb 0500-0700 April 9th as recently advised but found them on 9625 usb instead. The transmission was distorted and that wasn't the fault of my Kenwood TS2000 (Morrison Hoyle, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, Arnie must be confused; here is transcript of his April 6 show from http://www.radiohc.org/Distributions/Dxers/scripts/02-0406.html and how could they be getting many reports on 9655 if it is on 9625?: ``QSL, QSL, QSL on the air to the many Dxer Unlimited's fans who are reporting our new 9655 kiloHertz SSB frequency on the air from 05 to 07 UTC with our English language broadcast -- you can tune our programs from 05 to 07 UTC on three frequencies, two using A3 AM modulation, on 9550 kiloHertz and 9820 kiloHertz, and now this new frequency 9655 kiloHertz on the 31 meter band using upper side band suppressed carrier modulation...`` (via gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RADIECITOS USA-MAFIA QUEDARON AL CAMPO (MESA REDONDA) La Mesa Redonda de ayer denunció la multiplicación de provocaciones y acciones subversivas de la Oficina de Intereses de Estados Unidos (SINA) en La Habana como parte del rediseño de la política contra la Revolución tras el nombramiento por la Casa Blanca del connotado mafioso y terrorista Otto Reich como subsecretario de Estado. Entre esas acciones se encuentran el recorrido por diversas provincias del país para organizar, financiar e instruir a grupúsculos contrarrevolucionarios, repartir publicaciones clandestinas y artículos de contrabando, la entrega de cientos de radio-receptores previamente sintonizados con las frecuencia de la emisoras anticubanas para incitar que sean escuchadas [¿en qué País es delito escuchar emisoras de onda corta? (Oscar)] El periodista Lázaro Barredo recordó cómo desde 1960 Estados Unidos, en su guerra contra Cuba, usa la radio como una de sus armas de subversión hasta llegar a las mal llamadas Radio y Televisión Martí, engendros que años atrás fueron calificados como la Enmienda Platt electrónica. La mafia anticubana, dijo, sale en defensa de ambas emisoras, cuando existe una creciente preocupación en diversos sectores de la sociedad norteamericana que ve dilapidar 400 millones de dólares del contribuyente estadounidense por estaciones que apenas tienen un cinco por ciento de audiencia y que otros catalogan su existencia como vergüenza para Estados Unidos. [Claro está, el periodista Barredo no pregunta al pueblo cubano si están de acuerdo con el gasto de $600 millones de dólares en la Base de Espionaje de Bejucal y los costos de interferencia de Radio y TV Martí que asciende a varios millones anualmente] (Oscar).] El panelista indicó que la repartición de los "radiecitos" de marras, no es más que una maniobra de la SINA para dar la impresión de que sí se escucha la citada planta radial. Tomado del periodico Granma refiriéndose a la mal llamada Mesa Redonda Informativa [programa en RHC -gh]. (73'S OSCAR via DXLD) ** CUBA: PROTEST OVER US DISTRIBUTION OF RADIO, PAMPHLET PROPAGANDA | Text of report by Mexican news agency Notimex Havana, 8 April: The United States today rejected Cuban government protests against the distribution of radios and pamphlets on the island and attributed the protests to an attempt to divert attention from issues such as the lack of freedoms and the economic crisis. An official from the US Interests Section in Havana said that the distribution of the radios and pamphlets was "a very modest effort to give the Cuban people a small opportunity to become aware of what is going on in the rest of the world...[ellipsis as published] so that they can prepare themselves for the future." Speaking with Notimex over the telephone, the official described the action as "a routine cultural activity" and said that the United States is "seeking a positive future for the Cuban people and believes that this could be one way to achieve this; one of the roads to take to attain this goal." The official added: "We are taking all of this quite seriously because we are witnessing the lack of freedoms. This is a very serious thing here in Cuba." The official noted that the Cuban people have "to acquire more knowledge regarding the world that we all live in." The official, who asked not to be identified, referred to recent accusations by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque against the US Interests Section due to the distribution of 500 AM-FM-short wave radios to opposition groups and individuals on the Caribbean island. The radios were accompanied by an 11-page booklet containing fifty quotes from Cuban national hero José Martí. Pérez Roque said that this action is part of the "manoeuvres to conspire against the revolution." The source said: "We view all of this (the Cuban accusations) as an attempt to divert attention from the challenges that Cuba is facing today, such as the human rights situation and the vote that will soon be cast in Geneva." The official added that this is also due to the existence of "an even more difficult economic situation and the Varela Project, to mention a few of the problems." The Varela Project is a campaign by opposition groups to collect more than 10,000 signatures in support of a proposal for a referendum to bring about political changes on this island that is under a socialist government. The US source refused to comment on whether the statement by the Cuban foreign minister is being viewed as a warning about the possible disavowal of a 1977 agreement that allowed the opening of Interests Sections in Washington and Havana. The official said: "There's really nothing more that I can say at this time," and added that US embassies all over the world distribute books and magazines as "a routine cultural activity." At a public rally on Saturday [6 April] Pérez Roque said that the US Interests Section "is violating" the agreement that permitted the opening of the interests sections by "directing and providing logistical supplies to the illegal groups that it has formed in Cuba." In front of President Fidel Castro, who attended the rally, the foreign minister said: "The people are not going to allow them to conspire or attempt to subvert the order that was achieved following the defeat of the bloody dictatorship (of Fulgencio Batista), which the United States supported up to the very last moment." Source: Notimex news agency, Mexico City, in Spanish 0028 gmt 9 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Radio Martí security concerns From: http://www.cubapolidata.com Monday, April 8, 2002 IS THERE A SECURITY CONCERN AT THE MARTÍS? A review of policy toward Cuba by the US Department of State and the National Security Council (NSC), that began a few months ago and is now being finalized to be released later this month, might be taking into consideration in its examination the security concern at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). Since the discovery and prosecution of Cuba's WASP network as well as the arrest and confession of Ana Belen Montes who was Cuba's agent in place at the heart of the Pentagon, alarm bells have been ringing at a deafening tone within the US intelligence community. Penetration of Cuban Intelligence? When Radio Martí began its operations, according to sources, there was always the persistent fear by administrators and supervisors that Cuba's intelligence apparatus or that of another foreign intelligence service might penetrate and compromise the security of the station. This lingering fear by many veterans at OCB was exacerbated during the tenure of Herminio San Román and Roberto Rodríguez-Tejera. These sources allege that during the San Román/Rodríguez-Tejera regime, a certain of number of individuals who were hired during this period either never received a background check and/or one was initiated but never completed (at the beginning of the Clinton administration, many White House staffers never received security checks which contributed to this culture of laxity). These checks are necessary in order to receive a clearance to work at OCB and the US federal government. This laxity in security checks seriously compromises the operation and facilitates Cuba's capabilities to spy on the Martís' operation as it has successfully done in the Pentagon. Necessity of an Audit The policy review, when it is released, may or may not address this security concern at OCB but it is imperative for the administrative agencies overseeing OCB in Washington to conduct an audit of its operations under San Román's and Rodríguez-Tejera's tenure and the present tenure of Salvador Lew to assess the problem and strengthen security, however such an audit sources believe may never take place since its findings may possibly implicate bureaucrats in the alleged tolerance of such a lax culture of security. (via Mike Terry, UK, April 10, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Posted on Sun, Apr. 07, 2002 POR QUÉ ATACAN A RADIO MARTÍ [por] Salvador Lew La historia de Radio Martí, en la lucha por la democracia y la libertad de Cuba, no puede ser empañada por factores que coinciden, por diversos motivos, en ese propósito. Desde su fundación en l985, el gobierno de Fidel Castro ha tratado de desprestigiar y destruir esta emisora que le dice al pueblo cubano la verdad de lo que está ocurriendo. En muchas ocasiones Radio Martí ha puesto al descubierto crímenes del régimen castrista y constantemente denuncia sus violaciones de los derechos humanos. Los ejemplos abundan y no es necesario mencionarlos en esta oportunidad. Se ha dicho que la historia contemporánea de Cuba se divide en dos partes: antes y después de Radio Martí. Antes, la censura total; después, una ventana abierta a la verdad. Radio Martí se hizo para informar, entretener, dar ideas y ''promover la causa de la libertad de Cuba'' (ley del Congreso de EU 98-111 del 4 de octubre de 1983). En el orden informativo, la emisora transmite las noticias tal y como son, es decir, los hechos con todos los elementos básicos de la información: veraz, objetiva y completa. No existe la tergiversación o manipulación, porque así lo determinan las regulaciones federales y por la ética de los profesionales del periodismo que escriben las noticias. Mucho menos hacemos un ''periodismo de barricada'', como alguien equivocado afirmó. Eso es falso u ofensivo. En el orden del entretenimiento: programas musicales, culturales, humorísticos y variedades. En el aspecto de las ideas: los fundamentos de la democracia y la libertad; opiniones diversas; debates balanceados para que nuestra audiencia reciba y analice todas las corrientes del pensamiento universal, y todos los sistemas o doctrinas de gobierno. Las cátedras sobre esta materia, que se impartían en los centros de la enseñanza secundaria y universitaria antes de implantarse el sistema marxista- leninista en Cuba, se presentan en Radio Martí. Esto abre otras fronteras distintas a la educación oficial que establece una ideología monolítica. Comentaristas, analistas, periodistas, dirigentes políticos, activistas de derechos humanos y pensadores de las distintas vertientes ideológicas comparecen en programas de oponiones de Radio Martí. Los debates son abiertos a favor o en contra de las ideas. Sus archivos hablan e ilustran a quienes busquen la verdad. En el amplio capítulo de ''promover la libertad de Cuba'', se discuten las opciones conducentes a esa finalidad primordial e irrenunciable. El personal de la emisora: periodistas, locutores, productores, técnicos, ingenieros, programadores, oficinistas, son un ejemplo de dedicación al trabajo y a cumplir con la misión de Radio Martí, que es muy hermosa, porque se trabaja no sólo para vivir honestamente, sino también para llevar un mensaje de democracia, libertad, derechos humanos, igualdad y justicia a toda la humanidad. En esta emisora, como en toda empresa, hay problemas de conducta humana o administrativos, pero no son tan exagerados como se ha querido presentar. Las normas federales facilitan la vía para dirimir los conflictos laborales. Eso es defendible y correcto. Lo que no es correcto es que el apasionamiento de algunos descontentos los lleve, irracionalmente, a hacerles el juego a los enemigos de Radio Martí. ¿Por qué y quiénes atacan a Radio Martí? Hay varios factores y por distintos motivos: el gobierno de Cuba; sus voceros y simpatizantes; los instrumentos inconscientes; los críticos que cuando actúan de buena fe son bienvenidos. Hay otra categoría en esta situación que confronta Radio Martí: un pequeño grupo de descontentos, mencionado en El Nuevo Herald como ''una docena''. Una docena de un total de 158 empleados que --ése es su derecho--, están descontentos. Por suerte, ''una docena'' no hace un ciento. El descontento tiene varios motivos: porque fueron relevados de las posiciones que ocupaban, no perdieron sus respectivos trabajos --con lo cual nunca estaría de acuerdo--, y otros por quejas que consideran legítimas, y que también respeto. En cuanto a los relevos, son lógicos y a veces necesarios. Se hacen en toda empresa para mejorar el producto. Ideas nuevas son seguidas de jefes nuevos. El permanente renuevo es el motor del progreso. Yo entiendo que quien está descontento, por los motivos que sea, utilice los cauces legales del sistema de gobierno federal y apele las decisiones de los jefes. Lo que no entiendo es que quienes estén descontentos o frustrados en su empresa se presten a una campaña de difamación interna y pública que dañe a la institución, suministrándoles municiones a los enemigos de Radio Martí. Eso lo desapruebo. Utilizar el anonimato para dar versiones falsas y tergiversar la realidad, prestándose a difamar y destruir su propia casa, es hacerse daño uno mismo. Pueden sentir venganza creyendo que las calumnias nunca se borran y que las rectificaciones casi siempre llegan tarde. Yo pudiera rebatir y poner en evidencia todas y cada una de las calumnias que están lanzando contra Radio Martí y mi persona, en esta oportunidad, como antes ocurrió con otros que ocuparon este cargo. La consigna parece ser: ''¡Abajo el que suba!'' Pura miseria humana. Lo importante es que el balance de Radio Martí en sus 17 años de existencia es positivo. Lleva el mensaje de democracia y libertad de Estados Unidos al pueblo cubano y a todo el mundo donde se escucha. Es un ejemplo de la radiodifusión moderna, gracias al trabajo de los profesionales que la integran; tiene un récord de audiencia a pesar de la interferencia electrónica del gobierno; de un 70 por ciento de audiencia bajó, circunstancialmente, a un 7 por ciento, antes de que yo ocupara la nueva dirección, pero, tras una nueva programación noticiosa, a partir del mes de octubre pasado, recuperó su tradicional audiencia. Y esto ha molestado a Fidel Castro, sus voceros y simpatizantes. Los enemigos se han alborotado. El trabajo del Departamento de Noticias ha sido un éxito y se debe a jefes, supervisores, editores, redactores, reporteros, coordinadores de los informativos, locutores, presentadores, productores, técnicos y todos los que confeccionan el producto periodístico. Este departamento ha recibido un aporte valioso: los contratistas, que son periodistas con capacidad reconocida y que complementan el trabajo de los empleados fijos, que no podían cubrir todos los turnos de las 24 horas. Cuando ocupé el cargo de director de la Oficina de Transmisiones a Cuba, OCB, en agosto del año pasado, pedí aumentar el volumen de noticias, que es lo que principalmente quiere el pueblo cubano. Se incrementó de cinco a siete días, la semana completa, la programación noticiosa con cuatro noticieros largos por la mañana, el mediodía, la tarde y la noche, además de boletines informativos de cinco y siete minutos cada media hora. Se restableció el servicio de los corresponsales en todas partes del mundo. Más espacio a la oposición interna y a los periodistas independientes. Con los nuevos y dinámicos noticieros, los micrófonos de Radio Martí recorren la isla de Cuba y el mundo las 24 horas del día y la noche. El Departamento de Programas también ha hecho cambios. Y está en camino de hacer más. Con un personal que trabaja a plena capacidad es muy injusto e irreal, afirmar que Radio Martí es una ''embotelladora''..., ``un refugio de amistades''..., que ``se ha instalado un ambiente de suspicacia interna''..., que hay ``sublevación en el personal'' y otras inexactitudes. El reportaje inicial de la serie - que se inició el domingo 31 de marzo - considero que no es objetivo ni tampoco imparcial; ya que está basado en fuentes anónimas mayormente. No creo que esté a la altura del periodismo que se hace en El Nuevo Herald en esta nueva etapa y dirección. Por eso, estas historias que afectan la imagen de Radio Martí han sido cuestionadas o rechazadas por todos los que conocen el balance positivo de esta emisora. Cuando el presidente de Estados Unidos, George W. Bush, me nombró en el cargo de director de la Oficina de Transmisiones a Cuba, me pidió que ejerciera ''una nueva dirección y un liderazgo fuerte''. También pidió apoyo en Radio y TV Martí a la oposición interna y a los periodistas independientes. Eso es, precisamente, lo que estamos haciendo. Y como esta política le duele a la tiranía de Fidel Castro, ha ordenado a sus instrumentos que desaten una campaña de difamación contra Radio Martí. Lo cierto es que Radio Martí se oye y tiene credibilidad y, por eso, Fidel Castro lo está sintiendo. El Dr. Salvador Lew es director de Radio y TV Martí. © El Nuevo Herald (via Oscar, DXLD) CUBA TEST ONLINE WATERS --- BBC News Colaboración: Armando F. Mastrapa E.U. La Nueva Cuba Abril 4, 2002 Cuba has been gripped by internet fever. But going online is tightly controlled by the communist government, as Thembi Mutch writes in the first of three reports from Havana. Jorge is a blackmarket trader, with good contacts. For $20 to $30 a month, he has procured an e-mail address and access to the web. For ordinary Cubans, this is the only way to get online as the government controls access to the internet. Jorge brought his online account from a friend of a friend who works in a government department and uses it after hours, using a special telephone number. The internet, he says, is vital to him. Without his international contacts, he would go out of business. Restricted access He is one of hundreds, perhaps thousands of Cubans hungry for the web, who have found a way to go online. Cuba's Deputy Minster for Information Technology, Melchor Gill, is dismissive of the blackmarket trade in internet access. "I think it is given more relevance than it deserves," he says. While Cuba's communist government has sought to teach its citizens computer skills, it restricts full access to the internet. Millions of Cubans have been taught how to use computers and send e- mail. But the computers are linked to an island-wide network that works on the same protocols as the internet, but is not connected to it. So far 300,000 people have taken advantage of government-run computer clubs. There are more than 300 of these across Cuba. In practice, a club means three or four computers in a side room attached to the large post offices. They are open most of the time, and for the equivalent of just under a week's wages, Cubans can buy a state-issued card that gives them an e- mail address. There are also plans to introduce internal e-mail in banks, the post office and all government departments. No politics "Cuba is extremely confident of the future, we can manage any kind of technology," says Carlos Mas Zabala, director of Cuba's Centre for Informatics and Applied Systems of Culture. "Our culture, our opinions, our identity are all easy to have on the internet." His comments reflect how Cuba sees the web - as a means of showcasing the country's achievements in art, music and film. Human rights activists are despondent about the chances of using the internet for anything remotely political. "There is absolutely no chance of me setting up a page to tell the world of our political situation or human rights abuses," says Raul Rivero of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights. "Where would I access a computer? How would I buy a modem? I'm not allowed to even write on paper here. "The government would shut down a web page immediately." The Cuban media is tightly controlled by the government and journalists must operate within the confines of laws. Private ownership of electronic media is prohibited by the constitution. On Friday, we will be looking at how Cuba is seeking to create a computer-literate generation to rival software programmers in the West. Copyright © 1997-2002 - LA NUEVA CUBA, NOSTROMO PUBLISHING CORP. All Rights Reserved. (via Oscar, DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBA'S PC DILEMMA -- BBC News London U.K. Abril 6, 2002 Cuba is keen to promote the use of computers. But few Cubans have computers and the government controls their sale, as Thembi Mutch reports in her third article from Havana. Grethel is one of the lucky ones. As a translator working in a government department, she enjoys access to the internet via a computer at work. She is one of the few in Cuba who are wired. In terms of computer ownership, only a negligible percentage has a PC at home. The US estimates only 60,000 of the island's 11 million people have internet accounts. There are a few computers in evidence in Havana. Outside the capital, in the rural areas, the problem is even worse. "There is no chance of me owning a computer," said Grethel, though she adds that she does not mind. "I love the revolution and I love my job." Politics vs economics In any case, buying a computer has to be authorised by the Ministry of Internal Commerce. Since 1959, Cuba has been a one-party state led by Fidel Castro, who exercises control over virtually all aspects of life through the Communist Party and its affiliated organisations. The authorities have seized computers from government opponents, preventing the internet from posing a serious political threat. Cuba blames the shortage of computers and internet connections on economic, rather than political, constraints. The average national monthly wage is $12 a month. "We are an underdeveloped country which fights everyday just to feed and clothe itself, the internet means nothing to the majority of people," said Albelardo Mena, curator of the National Museum of Havana. Few phones Foreign investment has gone into modernising the island's antiquated telephone network. But in 2000 it still only had 4.4 phones per 100 people. And even for those with phone lines, logging onto the internet is painfully slow. Ironically Cuba has one of the highest literacy levels in the world, taking education very seriously. WIRED CUBA 60,000 internet users Four internet service providers 473,031 telephones 2,994 mobiles (1997 figures) Source: CIA World Factbook It is now aiming to train young people on computer skills to create its own software industry. In the long term, Cuba, along with Argentina, Chile and Mexico, aims to create its own operating system in Spanish to replace Windows from the US software giant Microsoft. At the moment, all the software in government departments is from Microsoft and many of the computers are American-made. The state buys them in bulk from Canada, Italy and Nordic countries as, due to the US economic embargo, Cuba cannot directly purchase American goods. Officials deny the software they use is pirated. "I like [Microsoft chairman] Bill Gates, but his company is made of people," explained Carlos Mas Zabala, the director of the Centre for Information and Applied Systems of Culture. ``We are people too, and we are sharing what they are creating as part of humanity, because we are part of humanity too." Copyright © 1997-2002 - LA NUEVA CUBA NOSTROMO PUBLISHING CORP. All Rights Reserved. (via Oscar, DXLD) CUBANET INDEPENDIENTE 10 de abril, 2002 DONDE SE VIOLA EL DERECHO A INTERNET Tania Díaz Castro LA HABANA, abril http://www.cubanet.org - Hace sólo un mes que poseo una computadora por primera vez en mi vida. A los 62 años de edad no me ha sido fácil escribir y guardar en una carpeta el texto que redacto. Han sido muchos los años de retraso que sufre el país. Los primeros días estuve buscando un profesor de computación y no lo encontraba. Hace una semana cayó casi del cielo un joven de alrededor de 30 años, profesor de esa especialidad en una dependencia estatal. Me pidió que no hablara con nadie sobre el trabajo que realiza de forma particular con el fin de obtener unos dólares, algo que su salario no le proporciona. Yo también le advertí que no dijera a nadie sobre su amistad conmigo. No sé qué le pasaría si la policía política sabe que un profesor de computación del gobierno le imparte clases a una periodista independiente. Así son las cosas... Lo que más me agrada de esta tecnología es que me permite escribir en total silencio, lo que conviene a mi trabajo, casi clandestino. Todo lo contrario a lo que ocurría con mi antiquísima y entrañable máquina portátil Olympia, con la que he escrito a todo ruido, lo mismo de día que de noche, hace más de cuarenta años. Pero hasta hoy mi computadora sólo me sirve para escribir y guardar carpetas. No tengo, claro está, derecho a navegar por las autopistas informáticas. Mucho menos pienso en lograrlo. El acceso al ciberespacio es privilegio de unos pocos en Cuba. Indagando sobre esto he podido saber que ni siquiera pueden obtener acceso a Internet los escritores cubanos nombrados Premio Nacional de Literatura (21 en total), que reciben por el Estado una ayuda económica de cien dólares mensuales. Sólo gozan de este privilegio algunos funcionarios del departamento ideológico del Comité Central del gobernante Partido Comunista, los ministros y menos de dos docenas de periodistas autorizados por el mandatario Fidel Castro. Pero a pesar de esta extraña y arbitraria realidad, la población cubana sabe lo que es una computadora, sabe que no tiene ningún derecho a la libertad de información, a disfrutar en este sentido de las ventajas del siglo XXI. Lo sabe María, la que vive en la esquina de mi casa; Juan, el plomero. Lo sabe Antonio, pese a sus largos años de jubilado y también Juanito, quien cursa el sexto grado escolar. Todos lo saben. Incluso un vecino que es médico me dice que hasta en Haití varios amigos y colegas suyos tienen acceso libre a Internet. Tal vez por eso se comenta en los medios oficialistas que pronto será libre el acceso a Internet mediante el pago en divisas (o sea dólares estadounidenses), moneda que no recibe el trabajador cubano. Pero me pregunto si realmente podrá ser libre ese acceso, si el Ministerio de Informática y Comunicaciones no se encargará de controlar las conexiones de esos probables clientes. Vivimos bajo un régimen totalitario que controla todos los medios de difusión masiva, que viola sistemáticamente el artículo 19 de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos, donde se dice que todo individuo tiene derecho a investigar y recibir informaciones y opiniones y el de difundirlas, sin limitación de fronteras, por cualquier medio de expresión. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. (via Oscar, DXLD) CUBANET INDEPENDIENTE 10 de abril, 2002 Internautas noctámbulos Lucas Garve, CPILA HABANA, abril (http://www.cubanet.org) - Hay un reciente entretenimiento para noctámbulos en desocupación obligada en la capital cubana. Ni más ni menos que el "chateo" en Internet en horas de las tibias madrugadas habaneras. En las zonas postales capitalinas, ahora abiertas las 24 horas, se oferta servicio de correo electrónico y se puede "chatear" a través del servidor islagrande.Un matrimonio amigo hizo tal prueba en la sala de navegación de la Net en la Zona Postal #3, ubicada en Belascoaín y Carlos III. Según me relataron, cuando un bostezo les sonó como un campanazo de retirarse a dormir ya eran las seis de la mañana. Junto a tres noctámbulos internautas les había sorprendido el amanecer conversando con españoles, italianos, un mexicano y otros cubanos insomnes como ellos.Intercambiaron expresiones y propósitos de todo tipo, géneros y matices en esa madrugada de luna llena, pero sin alcohol ni cigarrillos. Ejercitación divertida y novísima para cubanos tan sorprendid... [cortado] Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, DXLD) ** CYPRUS GREEK. Dear Glenn, last night there was a report that the Cypriot government has granted the VOA a licence to operate on Cyprus at Cape Greco. But the bill was under fire yesterday between two deputy representatives, one green party member. Under fire because of environmental fears. So this will delay the final start up date. A TV report was aired on the 8.10 pm news over CyBC Channel one. Dated 9/4/2002. So the Voice of America is still silent. Broadcasts will be in English, Farsi, Arabic and French. ``Now with the present Middle East conflict delays are possible as security concerns were raised by Cypriot authorities`` report dated 8/3/2002 in Cyprus Weekly newspaper. 73.s (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague, English to NAm 2230-2300, good on 11600, fair on 15545 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. TISJD, Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy: See a screenshot of this QSL-letter in the CRW Clandestine Radio QSL Card Gallery at http//www.schoechi.de/bild-cla.html (CRW via DXLD) So headed in CRW, but see next: ** ETHIOPIA [non]. I am sorry if I caused you trouble with my copy of Radio TISJD. I copied it in my scanner and then didn't check if it was done correctly, which it evidently wasn't. Now I resend it just as a Word file and hope that it is OK. My apologizes! 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ...Should you seek any information in regards to the radio or the organization, please do not hesitate to let me know. Here is my e- mail address: TISforJD@aol.com Herewith I certify that your reception report is correct. Yours truly, Dade Desta, Host and Producer. (via Fransson, DXLD) ** FINLAND. YLE/R. Finland, English to NAm Mon-Sat 1230-1300: JBA on 15400, hit by 15405 and sometimes 15395. \\ 17670 very good! (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Re Scandinavian Weekend Radio test April 6: Several of us heard them out here, Joe Talbot (Red Deer) was the fella who called them while I was listening. Walter Salmaniw heard them out in Victoria, so they where heard, and I would say the signal was quite good for only 50 watts. I also caught them at 2353 to 0000 on 11690 before being blocked by Lithuania in English at 0000 hours. 11720 Scandinavian Weekend Radio 0438-0515 Apr 6. Heard with pop music, interspersed with comments in Finnish from 0438 to 0447. Managed to catch an ID in English as 'This is Scandinavian Weekend Radio' Signal had polar flutter with strong interference from 11725 with best results in LSB ECSS Detection. 0457 Telephone call from a listener in Canada (not me but it was Joe Talbot up in Red Deer), mentioned he was running a HF-2050 and 300 feet of wire. 0509 NICE ID in English with address for reports in Finland by DJ Esa. Followed with more music. Signal improved after 0510 to fairly good levels. After months of trying finally was able to nail this one (since missing the opportunity last September) Will be sending a Tape recording to the station on this one (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, ODXA via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. Roland Schulze, Pangasinan, Philippines, confirmed three programs: Re: 0235-0245 Deutsche Welle DW RADIO WORLD DX MEETING Sunday after last Saturday SAs 11965 13720 15370 [unreconfirmed] Sat ENGLISH 2100 2145 9670 TRINCOMALE 250 120 SEAS/OC ENGLISH 2100 2145 9765 WERTACHTAL 500 090 SEAS/OC ENGLISH 2100 2145 9875 KIGALI 250 295 WAF ENGLISH 2100 2145 11865 WERTACHTAL 500 195 WAF ENGLISH 2100 2145 11915 TRINCOMALE 250 105 SEAS/OC ENGLISH 2100 2145 15135 KIGALI 250 295 WAF/AM Sat ENGLISH 2300 2345 9815 WERTACHTAL 500 075 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300 2345 12000 TRINCOMALE 250 090 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300 2345 17560 KOMSOMOLSK 250 213 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300 2345 21790 PETROPAVL. 250 247 SAS/SEAS Sun ENGLISH 0200 0245 1548 TRINCOMALE 400 035 SAS ENGLISH 0200 0245 11965 TRINCOMALE 250 345 SAS ENGLISH 0200 0245 13720 WERTACHTAL 500 090 SAS ENGLISH 0200 0245 15370 TRINCOMALE 250 025 SAS 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Frequency change for Voice of Greece in Greek: 0700-1000 and 1100-1300 NF 17900 (55444), ex 17905 (English 0930-1000) (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, AIR Mumbai is noted sign on 20 minutes early on 4840 for the last couple of days. Now they start at 2355 UT (ex 0015.) ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India, April 9, dx_india via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIRI Tehran: they announce 6065 to C, N and S America, and 6035 to NAm for 0030 English. Ba-loney!! They`re on 11970 and 9610. I confirm these two active frequencies (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. FRANCE: New schedule for Voice of Iran in Farsi eff. April 8: 1530-1730 NF 17510 (55555) ex 1630-1730 17525 to avoid R. Denmark till 1655; 1630-1730 NF 15740 (55555) ex 1630-1830 15690 to avoid VOA Dari/Urdu (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) The 15690 operation and jamming were really bothering WWCR 15685 (gh, DXLD) R. Sedaye Iran is lately, including today April 10, heard on 15770 kHz with a very wide Iranian jamming at 1630-1730. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. ANALYSIS: ISRAEL CRACKS DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE | Text of editorial analysis by Morand Fachot of BBC Monitoring on 10 April International protests are mounting following the imposition of severe restrictions by the Israeli authorities on foreign media reporting of their conflict with the Palestinians and a number of attacks against foreign reporters. Israel has always allowed the international media to report freely on the conflicts in which it is involved, albeit very reluctantly in recent times. This crackdown marks a significant departure from past practice. A number of international media NGOs, including the Jerusalem-based Foreign Press Association, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, Reporters sans Frontières and the World Association of Newspapers, have called on the Israeli government "to allow the foreign media access to the cities of the West Bank," adding: "The prolonged attempt to seal off entire cities, where hundreds of thousands of people live, has been excessive, unjustifiable and utterly counterproductive." They also called on "the Palestinian factions to cease efforts to confiscate materials or intimidate journalists. Attempts to suppress unflattering visuals are utterly unacceptable. We call on the Palestinian authorities to reject such tactics unequivocally." Last summer, these same organizations also condemned attacks against journalists from both sides. The death of Raffaele Ciriello, an Italian freelance photographer killed by Israeli gunfire in Ramallah on 13 March, and the serious injuries sustained by a French public TV cameraman hit, apparently, by Palestinian gunfire on 9 April are grim reminders of the dangers faced by journalists covering the conflict. At least six journalists have been wounded since 29 March and more than 20 others came under fire. Recent incidents include: - Israeli troops throwing stun grenades at a group of 40 journalists in front of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's headquarters just as he was about to meet US peace envoy Anthony Zinni. - The shooting of a Washington-based reporter and a Palestinian cameraman working for the Egyptian Nile-TV company, both of whom were seriously wounded. - Three unrelated incidents in which a BBC TV crew, a French public TV team and two Swedish public TV journalists - all clearly identifiable as members of the media - came under Israeli gunfire. - The detention by Israeli forces of four Turkish journalists in Ramallah. - The withdrawal of the press accreditation of two Abu Dhabi TV journalists by the Israeli authorities. - Threats of legal actions against the US CNN and NBC TV networks for ignoring military orders and broadcasting from Ramallah. TV channels throughout the world have also aired footage of Israeli soldiers manhandling journalists and of reporters coming under fire. The absence of foreign reporters is viewed with great concern by local residents too, who fear that Israeli army abuses will go largely unreported in the absence of the international media. An Israeli military spokesman, summing up the likely objective of the restrictions imposed on international media coverage, was reported by a French public TV correspondent in Bethlehem as saying: "No pictures, no witnesses, no story." However, as RSF Secretary-General Robert Menard said: "Allowing the Israeli occupation of Ramallah to take place without media witnesses is to foment rumours and disinformation." In the long run, the restrictions imposed by the Israelis on the international media covering the conflict, as well as Israeli army attacks on foreign journalists, are bound to harm Israel's international standing. Source: BBC Monitoring research 10 Apr 02 (via DXLD) See also PALESTINE... ** JAPAN [non]. NHK in Japanese to ME/Afghanistan ceased the following freqs via Merlin Communications: 6180 0100-0200 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg 6180 0200-0400 DHA 500 kW / 300 deg 15480 0400-0700 DHA 500 kW / 300 deg 15165 0700-1300 DHA 500 kW / 300 deg 15400 1300-1500 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg 15265 1500-1700 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg 9530 1700-1900 DHA 500 kW / 285 deg 9590 1900-2100 DHA 500 kW / 300 deg 6140 2100-0100 DHA 500 kW / 300 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. UZBEKISTAN/MOLDOVA: New schedule for Voice of Mesopotamiya in Kurdish eff. April 6: 0400-1200 15675*TAC 100 kW / 256 deg (ex 0500-1100) 1100-1300 11530 TAC 100 kW / 256 deg DELETED 1200-1600 11530 KCH 500 kW / 116 deg (ex 1300-1700) * strong co-ch Radio Prague in Russian 1130-1157 73 from (Ivo and Angel, Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Voice of Komala in Kurdish and Farsi heard with a new summer time schedule *0225-0333* (sometimes 10-15 min longer) and *1555-1733* on 4610, 6810v kHz. First noted on March 24th. Often heard a spoken ID "Radio Payam" in the Farsi service (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Apr 3, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** LIBYA. Have been waiting for someone to blow the whistle on the "Voice of Africa" on 15.435 (17.75 heard poorly here in Oak Ridge TN). It offers an incredibly propagandistic message. I have heard it from 0130 as Monitoring Times lists it, but have caught no English. It continues stronger from 02, again mostly Arabic (or something), but a brief word of English news and a V. of Africa ID will often appear c. 0212 after more Arabic (sometimes seeming to be simultaneously translated, voice over into something else). Good US male and female voices may then read a "manifesto" (I have a tape) on the Revolutionary Committee Movement according to the "3rd universal theory in the Green Book" (???). At 02 on the 10th an hour long speech replaced the usual fare and then at 0312 or so the English news, and the manifesto at c. 0320. At times I have heard it in French, and there are also seeming Spanish periods. The manifesto calls for the end of all "representative" governments and direct rule by the people thru the committees: "annul rule by individuals, parties, classes... etc". By that time the signal was even coming in on my Sharp portable sitting on the piano. Is this being intended for US listeners? As a scheme it could well sell in Africa with its present chaos and dictatorial governments. I wonder if I am hearing the opening of yet another kind of terrorism, aimed who knows where! (Howard Box, TN, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) One can only hope it`s all blowhard rhetoric (gh, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. Radio Baltic Waves International is going to start test transmissions on 1386 kHz with 850 kW omnidirectional from 2 June during the darkness hours (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 10, MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. I haven`t had time to monitor KXOK-TV 32 much, or `KXOK` radio 104.7, but I did notice on the Good Morning Enid show simulcast on TV April 10 that Scott Clark is now calling it, even pausing for a legal ID, KUAL, which were its original LPFM calls. Evidently it doesn`t quite work out for there to be a direct relation between the commercial TV operation and LPFM station, tho I haven`t listened enough to the latter to tell if they let the commercials run anyway. The TV operation is still incredibly ragged, with the 10 pm news often missing; the AM show has expanded to a full hour M-F at 7 am CDT on 32/cable 18, and after all this time, the weekly program listings in the newspaper are *still* in Eastern time UT-4, here where UT-5 is currently observed in a place where UT-6 is standard, and according to longitude really ought to e UT-7!! (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency and times change for Radio Pakistan: 0900-0930 Tamil, 0930-1015 Hindi, 1015-1045 Bangla, 1045-1115 Sinhala, 1115-1145 Nepali: NF 17500 under Radio Bulgaria German/English till 1145, ex 17655 1000-1245 \\ 15625 (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9, via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Last night I noted Azad Kashmir 4790.4 on summer time, i.e. interfering with AIR via Madras throughout the Tamil transmission from 0000. R Pakistan Quetta on 5027 was also on summer time. Best wishes (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: PALESTINIAN RADIO AND TV STATIONS STILL ON AIR Radio Voice of Palestine second programme, an FM station broadcasting from Gaza, was observed on 8 April on 102 MHz. The station broadcast Palestinian nationalist songs. Voice of Palestine, the main Palestinian radio station from Ramallah, remained off the air. Bethlehem 2000, an FM station broadcasting from Bayt Jala, a town very close to Bethlehem, was heard back on the air on 89.6 MHz. Apart from music, the radio was observed to carry news about developments in Bethlehem under Israeli occupation. It also carried interviews with Palestinians on the current situation and news of clashes with Israeli troops in other West Bank towns. The only other FM station heard from the West Bank on 8 April was Hebron-based Marah radio on 100.6 MHz. It carried brief reports on developments in the current fighting. Marah radio was also observed to carry some of Al-Jazeera Television's news programmes related to Palestinian events. Other FM stations in and around Ramallah - Radio Amwaj, Radio Ajyal and Voice of Love and Peace - remained unheard. Television Two television stations based in Hebron are currently heard as follows: 1. Al-Majd Television on UHF channel 43. 2. Al-Nawras Television on UHF channel 41. Al-Mahd Television from Bethlehem continued to be observed on UHF channel 21. Al-Majd, al-Nawras and al-Mahd Television stations continued to join major Arab satellite channels such as Al-Jazeera, the London-based Arab News Network ANN, the Middle East Broadcasting Centre MBC, and the Lebanese Hezbollah station Al-Manar Television to relay news about events in the Palestinian territories. Their own programming consisted of patriotic songs, brief news on breaking events, and documentaries and films on Arab history. Amwaj Television and Watan Television, both based in Ramallah, remained untraced on 8 April. Source: BBC Monitoring research 8-9 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PALESTINE/ISRAEL. I have pondered the question of how equitably to put an end to this conflict, and offer the solution for the benefit of all concerned, including the rest of the world. This major problem calls for innovative solution. The entire area presently consumed by Palestine and Israel must be evacuated of all permanent inhabitants. There is plenty of room for Arabs in countless other countries, and there is plenty of room for Jews in Europe, America, and many other places where they would be welcome. Then that East Mediterranean territory shall be converted entirely into a religious\archaeological park, under UN administration, with NO permanent residents, but visitors of all faiths welcomed without restriction, to all significant historical sites each for a few days each year. You`re welcome (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5557.8, Radio Comercial, Lajas. 0127+ March 31. Peruvian music. Ads. 14321. Listened at 2340+, on same March 31, with very good conditions from Andean region, with 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5637.2, Radio Perú, San Ignacio. 0051-0203 March 31. Music program.- Ann.: "Arriba Perú, arriba San Ignacio......que rica música!". ID and incredible announcement: "En las ondas de Radio Perú, para todos los que nos sintonizan... saludos para Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, que también nos sintoniza... nosotros nos sentimos orgullosos de llevarles nuestro folklor". 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, he certainly couldn`t be listening at that time of day from Japan (gh, DXLD) 5678, Radio Ilucán, Cutervo. 2342-2346. March 31. Music program. Ann. and ID as: "estamos llegando a los pueblos más alejados a través de nuestra frecuencia internacional de onda corta. Nos escuchan en todo el Perú, bien clarito, a esta hora de la tarde....". Time check. 34332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6114.8, Radio Unión, Lima. 0320-0330 March 31. Romantic music program. Ann.: "marca el... ...(phone number) y programa tus canciones favoritas por Unión". 23432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Radio Polonia's Multimedia programme April 9th gave details of the English schedule with a reduced number of transmitters being used due to poor quality of the transmitters and financial difficulties. Poland`s representative at the HFCC conference will be on next weeks programme talking about the stations shortwave frequency assignments. The website has now been updated with the A02 schedule which is: POLISH 0205-0255 225 1323 1030-1059 5965 1100-1125 7270 1530-1629 6035 7285 2100-2159 6040 7165 ENGLISH 1200-1259 6095 9525 11820 1700-1759 5995 1930-2029 7165 7265 LITHUANIAN 1300-1325 6095 7275 1500-1529 5985 7180 RUSSIAN 1100-1129 6095 9540 1300-1329 9540 1430-1455 7180 1800-1829 5995 7180 1900-1925 6095 7165 7180 UKRAINIAN 1430-1459 6000 7130 1500-1525 6010 1530-1555 6010 1630-1655 6010 7270 1830-1859 5995 6095 7180 2030-2055 7180 CZECH 1000-1029 5965 1600-1625 6095 except Sunday 2100-2125 6010 except Sunday 2130-2155 6010 except Sunday SLOVAK 1000-1029 5965 1600-1625 6095 Sunday only 2100-2125 6010 Sunday only 2130-2155 6010 Sunday only BELARUSSIAN 1130-1155 5995 1330-1429 5995 7180 1630-1659 5995 1700-1755 6175 7180 2030-2055 6000 6040 ESPERANTO 1330-1355 7275 1800-1825 7130 GERMAN 1130-1159 6095 9525 1400-1425 6095 2000-2025 6030 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. RRI English to NAm 2300-2400 on 11740 not heard well! Co- channel WYFR in English. Parallel 15105 is very good! (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA [non]. Re: Bob Thomas: Maybe the Chinese set the jamming unit for 24 hour service on air, like on 11940 and 15260 too. But jamming has nothing to do with RRI Romania authorities (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clandestine station in Taiwan : VOICE OF CHINA: CHINESE 2200-2300 15280, 0830-0930 11940 NEW STAR BROADCASTING STATION: 11430 New Star Channel 1 15388 New Star Channel 2 9725 New Star Channel 3 8300 New Star Channel 4 13750 New Star Channel 5 (BC-DX Dec 19, 2001 via WB, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOR English to NAm as monitored: 0100: 9665 9725 11825[Vatican] all good; 12000 only hear RHC [2 x 6000]; 17595 JBA 0200: 9665 9725 12000 17595 same 0300: 7180 has QRM from 7175 and 40m hams 9665 good; some background and splash by 9660 Chinese 11750 good, slight co-channel 12000 RHC, and 11995 in French 17565 fair; co-channel and two stations on 17560 17650 unheard 17660 fair 17690 good, splash from 17685 0400: 7180 other 9665 good, splash from 9660 Spanish 11750 good, slight co-channel 12000 RHC, and 11995 in French 17565 fair, co-channel and 17570 17650, 17660 unheard 17690 poor, co-channel (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN TV STATION BROADCASTS OVER THE INTERNET | Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 9 April, ITAR-TASS correspondent Tamara Ivanova: The television company NTV today began broadcasting its programmes live on its homepage at http://www.ntv-tv.ru Since it opened a month ago the site has expanded to offer additional features, many of them at public request. In particular, programmes have become interactive and viewers of Hero of the Day can vote and put questions to those appearing on the programme. But the biggest innovation is the NTV webcast. Now anyone anywhere in the world can watch NTV without a television - all you need is a PC and an Internet connection. According to the NTV press service, the site's news content will be beefed up in the coming month. The news section will have up-to-date reports from NTV's own broadcast-only correspondents and news agencies. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1147 gmt 9 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. On Apr 2, I telephoned Tony Leo, the station manager at Radio St. Helena regarding the QSL cards for the last special transmission on 23. October 1999. Tony regrets the huge delays in the processing of the reception reports and promised to verify the reports as quickly as possible. The reports have arrived and are all piled in his office. It is now just a matter of finding the people and the time to reply to all the letters. There is no need for SWLs to write again or call or send a FAX or email. The situation is under control, but the QSL cards will still take some time (a few months) to be written and sent out to SWLs. The best Internet pages for information about St. Helena are: http://www.news.co.sh and http://www.sthelena.se The information about Radio St. Helena on the web-site http://www.sthelena.se is interesting, but rather old, and this web server can not be reached a lot of the time. A notice about the delay in processing the reception reports cannot be found on either web page (Kipp, DSWCI DX Window 192 via Samuel Cassio, radioescutas April 9 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Sephardic show on REE confirmed on new 9650, UT Tue only, April 9 at *0415-0445, but the announcer doesn`t know it, still claims 9690 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No REE at 0100, which is supposed to be English to NAm, following same at 0000 on 15385. They announce it! And at 0500 the repeat on 6055 is in Spanish! (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAN ISLAND. Hello Glenn, Would you please ask your listeners if any of them still have a verification letter from Radio Swan of the famed Gibraltar Steam Ship Co. I no longer have mine and would really like to have a copy of one for my nostalgia archives. Thank you (Duane Fischer, W8DBF w8dbf@arrl.net April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. Dubai, English at 0330-0347 on 13675, 15400 (sometimes 15395), and 12005 has co-channel Arabic which makes it just useless (Bob Thomas, CT, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Three-minute clip of R. Ezra sent to me by Walt Salmaniw includes John Hill talking about his karaoke-grade microphone, but power may be up to 250 kW instead of planned 100 kW. Sounded like 250 to me, Sat 2330 on 17665 via DVR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Made a quick check of WEWN`s digital tests now in progress for NAB-goers, 1738 UT April 9: 17595 in English, 15745 and 11530 in Spanish were on the air as usual with analog programs; only 13615 was running digital, with a `deeper` sound on 13620 and 13610 than on 13615 itself. To the ear, it sounds like there is less signal on the center frequency, but the meter belies this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Looking thru the posted WBCQ program schedule for anything new or unusual, we find: Saturday 1600 UT, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT, 17495 Allan Weiner Worldwide (until time slot is sold) (Glenn Hauser, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ----------------------------------------------------------- TUNING IN ON A BROADCAST WEAPON Donald Lambro, THE WASHINGTON TIMES ----------------------------------------------------------- Killing or capturing the murderers who are plotting the next attack on the U.S. is America's first line of defense in the war against terrorism. But there is another nonlethal offensive being waged by the administration that may be far more effective in the long term. This offensive — the first of its kind ever undertaken by the United States — is aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the Arab world's huge youth population. And it will do it through an old technology known as radio, broadcasting what young people like to listen to most, pop music, but also news, features and information that will expose them to local moderate religious leaders and entertainment icons. The Middle East Radio Network is a creative and promising new venture that has just been launched by the Voice of America in a handful of Arab countries from Amman, Jordan, to Kuwait City. When it is fully up and running, it will be beamed to all the Arab countries in the region and in North Africa, operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The programming will emphasize Arab and American pop music aimed at listeners under the age of 30 who, surprisingly, comprise most of the overwhelmingly youthful Arab population. Nearly 75 percent of the Arab world is under 35. The network will be called Radio Sawa, which means "together" in Arabic. Spliced in between the music will be news reports, sports, analysis of world events, special interviews with important leaders, round-table forums, weather and a variety of features on social, political and cultural subjects, all delivered in regional Arabic dialects. Of critical importance, the broadcasts will be beamed over AM and FM radio, a first for the VOA and through digital radio satellite channels that will be able to reach millions of listeners. "Until now we have only been on shortwave in Arab countries which very few people listen to and on a very inferior signal," VOA Director Robert Reilly told me in a recent interview. "For the first time, VOA will have the capability to reach large audiences in the Middle East." The underlying communications strategy in this new effort is to effectively reach out and influence today's younger generation --- the next leadership generation --- who might otherwise be drawn to the poisonous, anti-American hatred preached by radical and terrorist Islamic groups. "This is a very tough audience to reach, and this is a very imaginative way to attempt to reach it," Mr. Reilly said. He stressed that the broadcasts will expose young Arabs to the views of tolerant, mainstream Islamic religious leaders to counter the militant, hateful Islamic sects that vie for their allegiance. "That will be part of it. That is why there will be a strong local component in our bureaus there that will be engaging people who are significant in that region, and who can reach the leaders of the region and get them on the air," he said. "This particular approach has not been done before. It is bringing to VOA some of the lessons of commercial radio. It is asking the question: If you were a commercial radio, what would you have to do to succeed in the Middle East?" The project is the brainchild of Norman Pattiz, a successful radio mogul who created the Westwood One radio network, before he became a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that oversees all of the government's broadcasting services. Mr. Reilly calls Mr. Pattiz "one of the principal inspirations" who championed the idea and pushed it into development faster than most ideas ever get developed in this town. Congress put up $35 million for the project last year, including $16 million for one-time capital costs to purchase the transmitters. At a time when many Americans are justifiably questioning the way Washington spends our taxes, Congress could not have put this money — a pittance in a $2.1 trillion federal budget — to better use. We can kill and capture hundreds more terrorists in the weeks, months and years to come, but the ultimate outcome of this long-term struggle will be for the young minds of the next generation and those who come after them. The Middle East Radio Network is a smart and innovative weapon in the war against terrorism that kills no one. It is a friendly, entertaining, non-lethal and pre-emptive strike aimed at the Islamic world, delivering America's message of freedom and religious tolerance in an irresistible, youth-oriented, pop music format that may be the only unifying cultural force we have going for us right now. ----------------------------------------------------------- This article was mailed from The Washington Times [Moony] http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20020408-68182164.htm For more great articles, visit us at http://www.washtimes.com Copyright (c) 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved (via Gayle Van Horn, NC, DXLD) Fox News Channel had a segment on this station a few minutes ago, something they'll probably repeat again (Gayle Van Horn, 1436 UT April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. The former employee of the VoA's Russian Branch Dr. Nadar Djin (Djinjikhashvili) who sued the station for breaching the First Amendment is dead. This news was reported by BBC Russian Service on April 9. Nadar Djin grew up in Soviet Georgia, in the family of a local state persecutor. From his grandfather, a famed Jewish rabbi, Nadar acquired a profound thirst for learning. He studied philology, cinematography, sociology and philosophy at the best Soviet universities and eventually went on to become the youngest person to complete the postdoctoral work in philosophy at Moscow State University. Dr. Djin left the Soviet Union in 1980 when he recognized the inherent deceit of the Soviet system. In 1982, after teaching philosophy at Queens College of CUNY, he began his work at the Voice of America as a Program Advisor. However, soon Djin grew disappointed with the Soviet-like editorial policy of the VoA's Russian Department. Djin was stunned by the veiled propaganda of inter-ethnic hatred and anti- Semitism that played an important role in the VoA's broadcasts to the Soviet Union at that time. He also publicly accused the station of breaking its charter by transmitting the coded messages supplied by CIA. As a result of his active whistle-blowing, Djin was fired from VoA in 1985. Despite numerous threats he decided to sue the station. The US magazine New Republic reported his story where he was called a "citizen Djin", in analogy with a masterpiece movie Citizen Kane (1941). Monitoring Times also ran a report. In 1997, in an interview with a Russian magazine Druzhba, Narodov Djin narrated that in the end of the 80s a bag containing a large amount of drug substance was planted in his car. However, he noticed the bag and discarded it just a few minutes before a surprise police search. In 1991, following the advice of his lawyers, Djin left USA and went to work as a Russian commentator at BBC in London. He worked there for six years and is still warmly remembered by his former colleagues and listeners throughout the former USSR. A prolific writer, Djin left behind numerous articles and several books. Some of his works were translated into English and French. His last years Djin spent working mostly in Russia (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, April 10, DXLD) ** U S A. A reminder that stories concerning R. Martí, even tho they often concern what is going on in the US, are generally filed in DXLD under CUBA [non], as in this and previous issue (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. RUKEYSER REBOUNDS BY STARTING BUSINESS SHOW ON CNBC http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=entertainmentnews&StoryID=790930&fromEmail=true (Reuters via Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veteran financial broadcaster Louis Rukeyser, who hosted a PBS show for 32 years until he was pushed out last month, said on Tuesday he would air a new business program on CNBC from April 19. Rukeyser announced his move to cable television on NBC's "Today" show and said the new program would differ very little from "Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser," which was produced by Maryland Public Television (MPT). "We'll touch up the cosmetics a bit but it will be a very familiar session," said Rukeyser. The new program, called "Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street" will air at 8:30 p.m. EDT each Friday and Rukeyser said it would be offered to public television stations after it had aired on CNBC, which is owned by General Electric Co. The panelists who appeared on his popular PBS show, which was watched by Wall Street giants as well as regular investors, would participate in the new program, Rukeyser said. "It will have all 22 of my previous panelists, all of whom have rejected appearing on any other program and said they will come with me wherever I go," he said. Maryland Public Television announced last month it had found a new partner, Fortune Magazine, to form a "strategic alliance" that "raises the bar for financial television". The weekly Wall Street show would be updated with two new co-hosts and the station said it had offered Rukeyser a new role "appropriate to the new format." Rukeyser rejected the offer. In a letter to the Washington Post published on Tuesday, MPT vice president Jeff Hankin hailed Rukeyser as "an icon in the world of television as well as in the investment world" and said the network regretted his decision not to stay. (via Grishin, DXLD) ** U S A. ABC, KOPPEL KISS AND MAKE UP ABCs owners and Nightline host Ted Koppel have reached a detente of sorts, with the network agreeing to keep the late-night news show in its time slot for at least two more years.... http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/735976.asp (via Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) ** U S A. GAYLORD CUTS INCLUDE WSM NEWS STAFFERS By CRAIG HAVIGHURST and KEITH RUSSELL, Staff Writers http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/02/04/15907053.shtml?Element_ID=15907053 Gaylord Entertainment Co. last night announced a series of restructuring moves that will result in more than 75 layoffs, including the termination of roughly 70 supervisors at the company's flagship Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. In addition, Gaylord is paring back its news and online staff at WSM- AM 650 and WWTN-FM 99.7 and letting go or transferring 10 Nashville employees working for its Corporate Magic meetings entertainment business. Nashville-based Gaylord's continued corporatewide restructuring has already seen the company unload a number of business units deemed unprofitable or not essential to its core hospitality group. ''This isn't about performance,'' said Gaylord spokeswoman Karen Spacek. ''These are good people. These are hard decisions. But they are necessary for us to get where we want to be.'' Spacek said the affected hotel employees, all of them supervisors or management personnel in various capacities, were notified yesterday. The hotel also will look to find new roles for about another 50 supervisors. Spacek added that additional layoffs could occur if those efforts are unsuccessful. Those who are let go will receive severance packages and be offered job placement services. The hotel employs approximately 3,000. Spacek said the reductions were not a result of slowing business at the hotel, but part of a comprehensive overhaul of its operations by Jay Sevigny, Gaylord's vice president of marketing and attractions. Sevigny was put in charge of the hotel's operations in February. ''We've just created too many layers of management and supervisor levels,'' Spacek said. ''If we were at 100% capacity, we would be making these changes.'' At WSM, veteran newsmen Buddy Sadler, Jerry Dahmen and Jim Ellis and weekend part-timer Kevin Batts were let go, as the news staff of the 76-year-old AM signal was pared from seven to three, according to John Padgett, Gaylord's vice president and station general manager. One employee from WSM's ''new media'' department also was let go. The move coincides with a change of network for WSM-AM. ABC notified Gaylord several weeks ago that it was pulling out of its longtime affiliation to go with WLAC-AM 1510, a station owned by Clear Channel Entertainment. CBS called soon thereafter, and WSM struck a deal, which launched April 1. The move changed the station's national newscast, and effectively traded popular ABC commentator Paul Harvey for CBS's Charles Osgood, who also anchors CBS television's Sunday Morning newscast. ''These were great people. This was not a performance-based issue,'' Padgett said. ''Really in today's world, it's more an exception to have a large news staff than the rule. We're unfortunately in the position where we're there, too.'' Remaining on the Gaylord radio group will be Ron Jordan on WSM-AM, Beville Darden on WSM-FM 95.5 and Rhett Harris on WWTN-FM 99.7. Padgett said the stations will receive more local news content, including live reports, from Metro Networks, a news syndicator with local reporters. The WSM-AM news department has been an innovative force in broadcast journalism since the 1930s. The station's Web site notes that in 1995, the station earned the George Peabody Award, the Scripps-Howard Foundation National Journalism Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award. The station, it said, has earned more than 100 news awards since 1984. ''To the listener, there's not going to be any difference, from the content side,'' Padgett said. Finally, Spacek said four Nashville employees at Corporate Magic, a Dallas-based company acquired by Gaylord in 2000, would be let go. Another six Corporate Magic staffers who worked directly with Gaylord attractions, such as the General Jackson showboat, have been made employees of the attractions themselves (via Artie Bigley, OH, and Mike Cooper, GA, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW YORK CITY'S EVERYMAN ON THE AIR --- April 7, 2002 By WARREN ST. JOHN It's a sunny Wednesday morning outside Yankee Stadium, and John Montone, the peripatetic morning reporter for 1010 WINS radio, microphone in hand, is stalking his favorite prey: man-on-the- street.... http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/fashion/07MONT.html?ex=1019456181&ei=1&en=e993e9d8424ce84b (via Bill Westenhaver, QC, DXLD) ** U S A. Originally published by New Times L.A. Apr 04, 2002 ©2002 New Times, Inc. All rights reserved. SNOOZE ALARM --- HAS SUCCESS SPOILED KCRW'S VAUNTED ECLECTICISM? By GADI DECHTER I can't believe that you've been taken off the air/Think I'll sell my radio now that you're not there. "Around the Dial" -- The Kinks You wouldn't know it from the somnolent blend of smooth, creamy, drum-machiney grooves currently dominating their airwaves, but Santa Monica College public radio station KCRW has a rich legacy as a supporter of independent rock music. For most of the last decade, it was a reliable source of adventurous programming from all points on the musical spectrum; you were as likely to hear Malkmus and Pollard as, say, Kruder & Dorfmeister. But in the past few years, as listener contributions have skyrocketed and the station's influence in the mainstream music industry has soared, KCRW seems to have lost its nerve for nervy music. These days, 89.9-FM often sounds like an upscale KOST/103.5-FM -- an easy-listening alternative for the cappuccino crowd.... http://www.newtimesla.com/issues/2002-04-04/music.html/print.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) KCRW, one of my favorite public radio webcasters (in part because they stream VOA and the BBC in higher quality than the VOA and BBC themselves), has a decent page regarding the current copyright controversy at http://www.kcrw.org/about/frame_internetradio.html Regards, (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA. April 10, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. JUST A WHISPER ON THE FM DIAL --- April 9, 2002 KPFZ takes to the airwaves as if its broadcasts reached beyond a few miles. By SUSAN CARPENTER, TIMES STAFF WRITER LUCERNE, Calif. -- The transmitter is on a shelf in Andy Weiss' laundry room. The antenna is attached to the branch of an oak tree behind his house. His personal telephone line? It's the same one he uses to take calls for KPFZ-LP, the 100-watt radio station broadcasting from his home in Northern California. It's just a few minutes after 6 p.m. Saturday, the one day each week the station is live, and DJs Lonnie "Elmo" Moultry, 51, and Tee Watts, 51, are on the air spinning vinyl. During their two-hour show, "In the Free Zone," they mix it up with everything from the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd to the Supremes and Temptations--not unusual music, just an unusual format, which is whatever they want to play. Their music show, one of several the station hosts, follows a string of public affairs programs: "The Environment Hour," "I'm Not a Lawyer, but I Play One on the Radio" and "Artwatch." No one knows how many people are listening. Anyone who is, though, is within 15 miles of Weiss' house. KPFZ is a low-power FM radio station, or LPFM. It is one of only two stations to get up and running in California since the FCC approved this new class of license two years ago. The other is KEFC, operated by the Evangelical Free Church of Turlock, which airs Christian music and religious services. The new licenses were created to bring localized radio programming to small communities and to diversify the content of what's broadcast. Last year, the FCC began issuing the first of about 240 construction permits for LPFMs to schools, churches, Indian reservations, community organizations and other noncommercial special-interest groups across the nation--21 of them in California. Run by the nonprofit Lake County Community Radio group, KPFZ has been on the air since September. It's among a few to be operated out of a house. Nationally, only about a dozen LPFMs have managed to get on the air since the FCC made the licenses available. Duct-taped to the chain-link gate on Weiss' driveway is a ragged piece of cardboard with magic marker lettering that reads, "KPFZ 104.5." There's no gargantuan radio tower, no flashy sign to give the station away. Just a humble three-bedroom house on a hill overlooking Lucerne, the "Switzerland of America," according to its welcome sign. A lazy lake community supported by agriculture and tourism, Lucerne, population 2,000, is one of several small towns that ring Clear Lake, the state's largest natural inland body of water. On any given day, boats dot its surface, and motorcycles cruise its 100 miles of shoreline. On-Air Legal Advice On Saturdays, beginning at 7 a.m., a steady stream of DJs travel the dirt road to Weiss' home. They will host talk shows on topics ranging from the environment to local politics and music programs featuring folk and jazz, and they are carting records, interview materials, food and friends. Catherine and Steve Elias, a husband-and-wife team, are at the station to host a legal talk show called "Both Sides Now." It runs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Neither Catherine, 62, nor Steve, 60, had been at the controls of a radio station before a friend told them about KPFZ, but, united in their belief that radio should be used as a tool to inform and educate, they got involved last summer. Catherine, a former paralegal trainer, is now KPFZ's president; her co-host husband is a retired attorney. KPFZ's left leanings are evidenced in the DJ studio, a room Weiss once used as his office, where local maps and stickers supporting the Green Party and Ralph Nader give the small space a cozy, crunchy-granola feel. The DJ console is a hodgepodge of turntables, tape decks, CD players and other studio gear. Weiss decided to get involved in the grass-roots business of creating an LPFM station because he believes that it is important to have local voices on the airwaves and that those airwaves be accessible to voices outside the "mono-culture" of mainstream media. KPFZ broadcasts live only one day of the week to limit the disturbance to Weiss' personal life--his regular job is as a community college computer instructor. "It's great most of the time, but sometimes it's not," said Weiss, 55, who re-broadcasts Saturday's shows and prerecorded programs from other sources during the rest of the week. "When you're in the mood to make radio, which is most of the time, it's terrific. But if you're not, then ... it's like having a party when you don't want one." Of Local Interest Like many people who live in small communities far removed from major metropolitan areas, the people of Lucerne are too far away to be able to tune in to most of the radio stations broadcasting from the Bay Area (three hours south) or Sacramento (two hours southeast). Even so, only a portion of what is broadcast on those stations is directly relevant to their lives. Much of it is not. "People need to know what the [local] board of supervisors is doing," Catherine Elias said. "They need a traffic report. They need to know if there's a five-car pileup on Todd Road so they can drive down Main Street. A lot of community groups are offering services, but no one knows they're around.... There's all kinds of levels of needs that could be broadcast." Except for KPFZ, Lake County does not have a noncommercial station to broadcast in-depth or detailed community news. A commercial station in Lakeport, the county seat, airs headline news once an hour. In what is becoming standard industry practice, programming that originates on a single station is simulcast over a number of channels in different markets for cost efficiency. Local news is a casualty, as is esoteric programming, which is bumped off the air in favor of more profitable and proven formats, such as rock and hip-hop. Until the Telecommunications Act of 1996, broadcasters were allowed to own no more than four stations in a single market and 40 nationwide. Today they are allowed to own up to eight in a single market with no overall cap. Infinity Broadcasting Corp., based in New York, and Clear Channel Communications, in Texas, are the country's largest radio broadcasters. Today, Infinity owns 186 stations, most of them in major markets. Clear Channel owns 1,165 stations in 45 of the top 50 markets. Though the economies-of-scale simulcast strategy "makes sense as a business model, it doesn't make sense as a medium," said Hub Brown, who teaches broadcast journalism and ethics at Syracuse University in New York. And though Brown wants to see that diverse voices have access to the airways, he is not a fan of low-power radio --- not because of its content, but because he thinks it has a quality of tokenism. "It puts a lot of legitimate community interest into this sort of ghetto on the radio dial. The stations don't have very much reach and therefore can't command large sections of a community to get them to focus on issues." Fostering local ownership and diversity is part of the reason the FCC approved LPFM licenses. "There was a real grass-roots movement for people to be able to create their own small radio stations ... and the administration at the time was interested in providing them an avenue that really wasn't available to them,'' said an FCC spokesman. A similar type of license called a Class D used to be available, but the FCC stopped issuing them in 1978, and only a few still exist. The FCC began considering LPFM in 1998, but it wasn't until January, 2000, that it was approved, after one of the most contentious FCC battles of the last decade. The National Assn. of Broadcasters, a Washington, D.C., trade group that "promotes and protects the interests of radio and TV broadcasters," according to its Web site, lobbied against low-power radio saying it would interfere with existing stations. While the NAB was not successful in keeping LPFMs off the air entirely, it did succeed in lowering the number that could be licensed. When the FCC first approved LPFM, it estimated that more than 1,000 licenses would be approved. More than 3,000 LPFM applications were submitted, but the FCC granted a little more than 200. That doesn't sit well with people such as Pete Tridish, 32, founder of the Prometheus Radio Project, a Philadelphia group working to "incite people to radio" and to help low-power stations get on air. "There are so many more that should have gotten licenses," he said. "So many more people in the more urban areas." There are no LPFM stations in cities. The licenses are only available in places where there are so-called "third adjacencies" on the FM dial. Which means stations that are 800 megahertz [sic] away from each other. A station can operate at 91.1, for example, only if there are no stations closer than either 91.9 or 89.3. Though that situation exists in less populous places, it does not in metropolitan areas. "There's most definitely more room for these things out there," the FCC spokesman said, though the agency has no plans to expand its LPFM program at this time. "The question is, 'Is there room at the same location where there's interest?' As with a lot of these things, the more interest is where the more population is, and where there's more population there's a higher likelihood of there being more full- service stations in existence that would prevent the creation of low- power stations." A Limited Reach At KPFZ, even with a transmitter that puts out 100 watts and a well- placed antenna, the signal does not travel far enough to reach all of the Lake County area's 55,000 residents. The station has applied for a full-power [sic], 500-watt license but is waiting to hear from the FCC. The LPFM licenses are either 10- or 100-watt, enough power to reach between 1 and 3.5 miles, according to FCC estimates, though signals may travel farther. By comparison, many full-service FM stations have licenses allowing them to operate at 50,000 to 100,000 watts --- enough power to reach, in some cases, up to or beyond 100 miles. California was one of the first states in the country to receive LPFM construction permits --- all of them granted between April and June 2001. The groups that received them were given 18 months to get on air from the time they received notice they were approved. Nearly a year has passed, but KPFZ is the only California LPFM to get up and running. Most of the rest are experiencing difficulties, from insufficient funding and staff to a lack of broadcast know-how. "We're a small church. We don't have a lot of money. We're looking for the best deals we can get," said Calvin Palmer, pastor of Calvary Chapel of North Edwards--one of five branches of the same church in California that were granted LPFMs. "We're doing the best we can with what little we have." Palmer, who intends to use the radio station to broadcast Sunday services and community news, estimates it will cost $15,000 just to buy the basic equipment to run the station. The FCC does not charge a fee for LPFM licenses, as it does with other classes of radio license. The greatest cost for LPFMs is the infrastructure --- transmitter, antenna, studio gear. Depending on the equipment, it can cost thousands of dollars. Operating the station is significantly less expensive--in many cases, just the cost of electricity to run the studio. For KPFZ, that's about $100 a month. Run more on enthusiasm than cash, KPFZ is a registered nonprofit with about 36 active members. It does not accept money from businesses --- the board of directors does not want the station's programming to be influenced --- only individuals, whom they solicit on air, via word of mouth and through fliers placed at coffee shops and book stores. In late May, KPFZ will move to a more centralized space in the nearby town of Lakeport so the station can expand its programming and "serve the community better," Weiss said. It's "the 'happening' part of the county," he added. "At least as 'happening' as it gets up here." Until then, Charlie Kittleson, 50, will remain the last DJ of the night. A San Francisco transplant, Kittleson DJs a stellar jazz and blues program from 8 to 10 p.m. His entire show is planned in advance, each song listed in the order he intends to play it, with the artist name, song title and length. He's even choreographed in his microphone breaks. This night's show began with San Francisco jazz musician Greg Cooper and ends with Wes Montgomery At 9:58 p.m., as the last song is winding down, he leans into the mike. "You've been listening to 'Jazz by the Lake,'" he coos in a mellow voice modulated for radio. "Thanks again, and God bless." He lets the song run out and pulls down the mixing board faders. Meanwhile, Weiss is waiting in the laundry room to turn off the transmitter for the night. He'll be back in the room tomorrow morning to start it up again at 7 (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) I suspect the calls KPFZ were chosen to associate it with Pacifica`s KPFA, KPFB, even if there be no real connexion. More LPFM news: see OKLAHOMA (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RUSSIA: A-02 schedule for Dr. Gene Scott in English via Samara 100 kW / 130 deg to As: 0300-1600 NF 17765 (55444), ex 17645 for A-01 (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. A-02 schedule for AWR's Wavescan on Sunday: 0030-0100 6035 DHA to SoAs 6055 DHA to SoAs 0200-0230 9820 MOS to ME 0330-0400 11775 DHA to CeAs 0730-0800 7230 MOS to Eu not active!!! 0830-0900 17885 MOS to WeAf 1000-1030 11560 SDA to NoWeAs 11930 SDA to SoAs 1300-1330 15385 SDA to SoEaAs 17740 DHA to CeAs 1330-1400 11705 SDA to NoEaAs 11980 SDA to NoEaAs 15320 DHA to SoAs 1630-1700 9385 SDA to ME 9600 DHA to SoAs 11850 DHA to SoAs 15450 SDA to ME 1930-2000 7130 RSO to Eu 2130-2200 11850 SDA to NoEaAs 11980 SDA to NoEaAs 15355 MOS to WeAf (Observer, Bulgaria, April 9 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Re: Alo Presidente. 09 de Abril, 2002 LA RELATORÍA PARA LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESIÓN DE LA OEA MANIFIESTA SU PREOCUPACIÓN POR LA UTILIZACIÓN DE CADENAS NACIONALES UNIÓN RADIO La Relatoría para la Libertad de Expresión de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) expresa su preocupación por la utilización abusiva de las cadenas nacionales en las programaciones televisivas y radiales por parte del gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. El pronunciamiento se produjo en menos de 24 horas de la solicitud de Cofavic. Según la información recibida, desde el lunes 08 de abril los medios de comunicación se han visto obligados a suspender su programación habitual en varias ocasiones para transmitir en cadena nacional. En los últimos dos días el gobierno ha hecho uso de las cadenas nacionales en más de 30 oportunidades con una duración de 15 a 20 minutos cada una. La Relatoría considera que el uso abusivo de las cadenas nacionales viola el artículo 13 de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos, referido al ejercicio de la libertad de expresión y contradice lo establecido por la Declaración de Principios sobre Libertad de Expresión de la CIDH. Durante una reciente visita a Venezuela la Relatoría manifestó su preocupación por el uso arbitrario de las cadenas nacionales en los medios de comunicación como vía indirecta de restricción al derecho de recibir información. La Relatoría recomienda al Estado venezolano que cese con dichas intervenciones, permitiendo un libre flujo de ideas y opiniones garantizando el ejercicio pleno de la libertad de expresión, pilar fundamental de una sociedad democrática. Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de Expresión de la CIDH 9 de abril de 2002 Washington D.C Source: Union Radio website (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 10, DXLD) This relates to the previous remarks by Elías; Pres. Chávez is accused of human rights violations for requiring networks to broadcast him ever more frequently, threatening them with reprisals if they don`t (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. I noted presumed Khmer Krom today Tuesday as scheduled on 15690 from 1400. From 1355 to 1358.30 I heard the Vladivostok tune-up tone. The programme started immediately after the hour, but just before that co-channel VOA also started as scheduled in Pushto. VOA was stronger but not much stronger. Maybe Cambodia is in the silent zone of Iranawila? (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Iranawila blasts away on 340 degrees, and Cambodia is situated at least in a dead angle of 90 degrees eastwards. But what happened with the 230 degree signal from Vladivostok??? Is that lobe so NARROW??? 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. Like you, I kept listening to 9580 at 0000 April 9, but no sign of Yugoslavia (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC SUSPENDED FROM COMMONWEALTH BROADCAST BODY | Text of press release by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association dated 10 April The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has been suspended from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association for a year. This follows criticism of ZBC's conduct during the recent presidential election. The Commonwealth Observer Group commented: " We found the ZBC news and current affairs programmes to be very biased in favour of the ruling ZANU-PF party. News stories were editorialized in favour of the government while the little coverage given to the opposition was negative." ZBC, the government broadcasting organization, has been a member of the CBA since 1980. The CBA is based in London and its secretary- general is a former Controller of English Programmes at the BBC World Service, Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth Smith, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, 17 Fleet Street, London EC41Y 1AA Tel +44 207 583 5550; Fax +44 207 583 5549 e-mail: elizabeth@cba.org.uk Web site: http://www.cba.org.uk Source: Commonwealth Broadcasting Association press release, London, in English 10 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 7120, Voice of the People (via RN-Madagascar), BBC- Meyerton has replaced RFE-RL here at 0330; however, VoP, which was there daily, generally a little behind RFE-RL, had been absent for a few days. I checked the RN schedule and found that they are now listed on 7310 at this hour. I have now checked it a couple of nights and they are there signing on at 0330, but strength is below 7120 and they are almost useless due to being badly squeezed between Vatican-7305 and WHRI-7315 (J. Berg, MA, Apr 7, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4787.9, 0217+ March 31. Spanish transmission. Religious program conduced by female. Perhaps Radio Emisora Ballivián, San Borja, Bolivia, On 4788 acc. to WRTH 2002 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5580.3, in Spanish, with Catholic program 2328-2340 March 31. 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-058, April 8, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1125: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1125.html NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 MONITORING REMINDERS has now been completedly updated for DST season: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** AFGHANISTAN. Mark Tell, VK4KMT, is now in Pakistan. He will fly to Afghanistan on Monday, April 8th, and be in Mazar-e-Sharif in Northern Afghanistan for a while. Mark does have a Icom 706 with him. Mark will be there for 3 weeks, then head to Kabul to meet up with the other guys as they return from taking their out of country break (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. PLANNING APPROVAL FOR NEW CHRISTIAN SW STATION Text of report in English by HCJB World Radio web site on 5 April HCJB World Radio-Australia is preparing to build one of the country's first private international transmitting facilities after obtaining the necessary local government approvals to move forward on the site in Kununurra. "God has done it!" says HCJB World Radio-Australia Director David Maindonald. "He has opened even wider the great door of opportunity that was opened previously by Australia's changing communications laws and the granting of licences a year ago to broadcast to four areas of the region. This will greatly expand the influence of Christian radio among millions of people across Asia and the South Pacific." The Western Australia Town Planning Appeal Tribunal ruled Wednesday, 3 April, in favour of the ministry's planning proposals for the Kununurra site, a rich mining area near the northern tip of the state. "The shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley has been ordered to work with HCJB World Radio to formalize the planning approvals for the first stage of the project," Maindonald explains. "We can now press ahead with development plans for broadcasting to commence, Lord willing, on 22 December 2002." Peter Penford, HCJB World Radio-Australia's studio manager in Melbourne, said in an interview in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wednesday that construction will forge ahead soon on the donated 200- acre property to take advantage of the eight-month dry season that starts this month. "We want to erect a building to house the 100,000-watt shortwave transmitter that is being built at the HCJB World Radio Engineering Centre in Elkhart, Indiana.," Penford says. "We also plan to put up the 37m (121 foot) towers already delivered on site to hold the large curtain antennas." From the strategic location in northwestern Australia, Christian programmes will air across much of the South Pacific and Asia, a vast area with more than 3bn people. Initially, two five-hour blocks of English programs will air to the South Pacific and India. Once these broadcasts are established, additional languages will be added as resources become available. The ministry is also applying to use 2,000 acres of Crown land adjoining the existing site to erect additional towers and antennas. Gaining local approval will conclude a nearly five-year application process dating back to 11 August 1997, when papers were first submitted to federal communications authorities. Largely as a result of HCJB World Radio-Australia's input, the government amended the 1992 Broadcasting Services Act in December 2000, paving the way for privately owned international stations to go on the air. HCJB World Radio-Australia initially encountered opposition to the plans from the local council, "but every objection has been dealt with or dismissed," Penford explains. "Getting the permission to move ahead on the site is a significant step toward our beginning Christian shortwave broadcasting from Australia." Source: HCJB World Radio web site, Quito, in English 5 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. SPECIAL EVENT STATION. Radio Austria International (the external broadcasting service) operates, as in previous years, special event station OE1M (a special prefix for this day only), on International Marconi Day, April 27th. This operation aims at inviting radio amateurs and broadcast listeners to learn more about each other. The QSL, accordingly, will be issued "cross.-mode" for OE1M-QSOs/RRs and/or reception reports for "Intermedia", Radio Austria International's weekly communications magazine (broadcast via AM, SW, cable, satellite, and internet). For details check: http://roi.orf.at/intermedia Current working frequencies will be announced on the website, and if you enter your callsign in the "QRZ" section, OE1M will immediately call you on the band (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** BAKER AND HOWLAND ISLANDS. Nenad, VE3EXY, reports the KH1 DXpedition is still on track. According to the latest press release, activity should take place between April 29th and May 9th using a special 1x1 callsign. All standard DX frequencies will be used according to band plans. Operating modes will be: CW, SSB, SSTV, PSK, RTTY, FM and SATELLITE. Here are the suggested frequencies that will be used mostly, unless bad propagation or too big pile-up occurs: CW - 1825, 3505, 7005, 10005 14025, 18075, 21025, 24895, 28025 SSB - 1825, 3795, 7045, 14195, 18150, 21295, 24950, 28495 28.900 - FM only 50.105 - 6 meters All QSL cards for CW, RTTY, SSTV, PSK, FM, SATELLITE, will go to YT1AD: Dr. Hrane Miloshevich, 36206 Vitanovach, Yugoslavia [sic], Europe. QSL cards for SSB will go to RZ3AA: Roman Thomas (Address will be published later). The KH1 web page is now available at: http://www.kragujevac.co.yu/kh1 (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** BELARUS`. Hi Glenn, I can confirm the observation by Noel Green: all domestic SW relays of Belarusian Radio in the 49 and 41 meterbands are currently off the air. The only exception is 6080 kHz which is beamed towards Ukraine. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. GLENN, Re B. Thomas report 2-057: According to an earlier schedule, posted by you, only 1 X 500 kW Transmitter in use (again!!) until July 1st 2002. I don`t know whether its the same one that was 'down' last Autumn with problems, or whether 'as a result of the first one' they are now fixing similar problems 'with the second one'. I would be interested to know, what is happening, if anybody can find out. THANK YOU (Ken Fletcher 1834UTC=1934UTC+1 8th April 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some comments on items in DXLD 2-057: Radio Bulgaria schedule shows ENGLISH / e-mail:english@nationalradio.bg 0200-0300 -daily- North America 9400 P500/306, 11700*P500/306 1100-1200 -daily- West Europe 15700*P500/306, 17500 P250/292 1900-2000 -daily- West Europe 9400 P500/306, 11900*P500/306 2100-2200 -daily- West Europe 9400 P500/306, 11900*P500/306 2300-2400 -daily- North America 9400 P500/306, 11700*P500/306 (*) effective July 1, 2002 It was reported a while ago that Radio Bulgaria is unable to operate one of the 500 kW transmitters at Plovdiv-Padarsko at present. Now they obviously plan to fire up this transmitter again, but not earlier than July 1st. Until then also German and French are on a single frequency only (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Version I got showed an asterisk only for 1100 broadcast (gh, DXLD) ** BURMA. CORNERSTONE LAID FOR NEW TV, RADIO COMPLEX | Text of report in English by Burmese newspaper The New Light of Myanmar web site on 4 April Yangon [Rangoon], 3 April: A ceremony to lay cornerstone for construction of Myanma [Burma] Radio and Television New Studio Complex was held at the chosen site of the project on Kyundaw Street, Sangyoung [Sanchaung] Township, this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. The first session of the ceremony commenced with three-time recitation of Namo Tassa. Then, adviser to the State Calendar Committee U Kyaw read out the stone plaque of the complex. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 laid the golden casket with nine different gems at the centre of the foundation. The Secretary-1 and party placed the cornerstones at the designated places. Then, the Secretary-1 laid the stone plaque at the centre of the foundation and sprinkled scented water on it. After the first session, the Secretary-1 performed rituals of golden and silver showers to mark the success of the cornerstone-laying ceremony. Later, the second session followed at the briefing hall at the same venue. Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung and Director-General of MRTV [Mynamar Radio and TV] U Khin Maung Htay reported on matters related to construction of the complex and Chairman of the Olympic Construction Co Ltd U Aik Tun and an official on plans to be implemented for construction of the complex. Then, the Secretary-1 gave instructions on implementing the project phase by phase. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 inspected the equipment to be installed at MRTV. Source: The New Light of Myanmar web site, Rangoon, in English 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. CRTC GIVES NEW ONTARIO TV LICENCES TO CRAIG, ROGERS WebPosted Mon Apr 8 13:52:42 2002 OTTAWA --- Canada's broadcasting regulator has awarded Craig Broadcast Systems and Rogers Communications two new television licences in the already crowded southern Ontario market. The CRTC granted Craig, a privately-owned western company, a licence to operate a Toronto station with a transmitter in Hamilton. The commission said the new station will feature programming "targeted to second and third generation ethnic viewers who prefer to watch programming about their communities that is in English." The Craig station will also carry a weekly half-hour aboriginal newsmagazine program, plus over 14 hours of weekly local programming between 6 p.m. and midnight. Craig will devote $15.4 million to independent production for the Toronto station. Craig already has its A-channel stations in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. In its decision, the CRTC said a majority of the commission considers that the licensing of Craig will bring "a new western-based broadcasting voice to the Toronto/Hamilton market, thus providing the market with a fresh perspective and approach to television." Meanwhile, the CRTC also gave the go-ahead, in part, for Rogers to launch a new multilingual ethnic channel, similar to one the company already operates in Toronto. In its decision, the commission said Rogers can launch the channel when space on the analog dial is found. The channel Rogers originally asked for has been designated for the new Craig licence. The new Rogers channel will feature weekday South Asian and Mandarin news programs, along with shows in Tamil, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic and Tagalog. It will also provide new, regularly scheduled programming in Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Hebrew, and French. The CRTC decision denied applications by Torstar, CanWest Global Communications and Alliance Atlantis. Considered the front-runner for the race for space on the dial, Torstar had applied for a licence to operate stations in Toronto, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo as part of its media convergence strategy. The company already owns newspapers in the three cities. CanWest applied for a similar licence as Torstar – seeking stations in Toronto, Hamilton and K-W. The company said the new stations would offer entirely Canadian programming. CanWest already owns two southern Ontario stations in Paris and Hamilton. Alliance Atlantis applied for a television licence as part of an expansion from production into broadcasting. Copyright © 2000 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) WTFK?? ** COLOMBIA. Two car bombs killing 12 people and wounding about one hundred, was apparently targeted at the Cadena Súper network. Per the Caracol website, Apr 8, 2002, the Cadena Súper network in Villavicencio had been receiving threatening messages from the Farc guerilla after retransmitting electoral messages by presidential candidate Álvaro Uribe Vélez. The five-storey building where the Súper stations are located was badly hurt. To be sure, the most recent news items on the Notillano website dates from April 6. ``Notillano`` is the main news program on La Voz del Llano, a Cadena Súper affiliate widely heard on 6115 kHz. A picture showing the news reporters at La Voz del Llano can be downloaded at http://www.notillano.com/nosotros.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Apr 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Amigos, reënvio mail recibido de Idea Radio. Saludos (Horacio Collace...) -----Mensaje original----- De: ftb produzioni empresa idearadio@hotmail.com Enviado el: Lunes 8 de Abril de 2002 12:21 AM ESTIMADO SEÑOR, LE COMUNICAMOS NUESTRA NUEVA ACTIVACCION DE BOGOTARADIO IN INTERNET LIVE LAS 24 HORAS DEL GRUPO WWW.LIVE365.COM DESDE BOGOTA CAPITAL DE COLOMBIA. ESPERAMOS SU REPORTE DE SINTONIA Y COMENTARIOS SOBRE NUESTRA PROGRAMACION E-MAIL: BOGOTARADIO@HOTMAIL.COM GRACIAS, GERENCIA (via Horacio Colacce, Uruguay, April 8, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Idea Radio was testing on 7380, 7415 and other 7 MHz frequencies several months ago. Apparently thought better of going the SW route (gh, DXLD) BOGOTA RADIO, the project started last year by Andrea Laudicina with IDEA RADIO on SHORT WAVE operating on 7380 kHz (actually in standby for the difficult political situation in Colombia) is at the second step, BOGOTA RADIO is yet operating in internet from the facilities of WEB: http://www.live365.com 24 hours of good selected tropical music audio via internet. Soon they will start "MUSIC ON DEMAND". If you wish to contact them please utilize the e-mail: bogotaradio@hotmail.com Requests and opinions are welcomed from all the listeners. They need the support of all world wide listeners so please write to our e-mail address asking how you wish the radio should me managed on the web. Andrea Laudicina has also started last year the transmission of the television channel called TELEVISTA on ch 38 UHF with 1 kW power, with repeater from SERRO DE GUADALUPE (3365 meters higher), the live program is at present 4 hours, covering the area of Bogotà. For contacts with TELEVISTA the e-mail is : televista@hotmail.com postal address is: TELEVISTA CARRERA 16 N. 54A-22, CHAPINERO, BOGOTA. Further informations will follow; the short wave project is only temporarily blocked. They are searching for international organisations who may be interested for some airing time of their programmes. Your inquiries are welcomed to the e-mail bogotaradio@hotmail.com (Dario Monferini, Italy, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COMORO ISLANDS. COMORANS OF DIASPORA CREATE NEW WEB SITE ON HOMELAND | Text of report by Comoran newspaper La Gazette des Comores on 5 April Comorans of the diaspora are taking advantage of the Internet more and more to create web sites both for general and special purposes. Close on ten have been created in the last three years. The latest is http://perso.club-internet.fr/elbadano. Its creator does not lack for words to praise their product, which essentially aims at "citizen- focused information" among Comorans. The site is updated fortnightly. The web site has a news analyses page, updated regularly according to the hottest Comoran news events at any one given time. If you wish to subscribe to the updates, do not hesitate to write to komornet@yahoo.fr If you wish to subscribe to the updates, just indicate it is a "subscription to updates". This will save you the trouble of rereading the same things [items] and will give you the added benefits enjoyed to subscribers. Besides, it is a free service. Congratulations to our friend and colleague Souef El-Badawi [presumably creator of web site]. Source: La Gazette des Comores, Moroni, in French 5 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) INTERNET-BASED NEWS ORGANIZATION CHANGES WEB SITE | Text of report by Comoran newspaper La Gazette des Comores on 5 April http://www.komedit.com - At this site, you will find among others news and, under the heading "politics" [French: politique], the results of the recent elections, as well as biographical information on and the electoral documents of certain candidates in various elections. Yours cordially, MasiwaNet team MasiwaNet is a web site devoted to the Comoros archipelago (Maore [Moheli], Ndzuani [Anjouan], Ngazidja [Grande Comore]). At this site, you will find cultural, political and economic information [as well as] news... [ellipsis as published] from these Indian Ocean islands. http://www.komedit.com Source: La Gazette des Comores, Moroni, in French 5 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Sunday, March 31, 2002 From: http://www.cubapolidata.com/rmo/ A PERFECT SCAPEGOAT The recent wave of news articles about Radio Martí (RM), which were practically non-existent during the Clinton administration, has cast a glaring spotlight on the operations of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). Salvador Lew, OCB's director, has become a perfect scapegoat for all that ails the moribund radio station. Lew has been unsuccessful through his own indecisiveness as an administrator and the obstacles placed by the Washington bureaucracy to carry out President Bush's mandate for "strong leadership and direction" at the Martís, however. He merits recognition for increasing the number of hours dedicated to news that was drastically curtailed by his predecessor and targeting the Cuban armed forces, which as a political actor will play an integral part in the succession/transition process in Cuba. PREDECESSOR'S LEGACY The Miami New Times published on Thursday Kathy Glasgow's article about the current crisis facing Radio Martí. While generally accurate, the article raised several issues placing sole culpability on Lew. For instance, the issue that under Lew the editorial review committee (which scrutinized news stories) was disbanded is inaccurate, in fact Crisis at Radio Martí reported that it was Herminio San Román (Lew's predecessor) who abolished the editorial mechanism to insure a balanced perspective of stories aired on RM. Lew, according to sources, was advised to resurrect the board and there was discussion about acting upon it but it was never realized. The article also addresses the swelling numbers of contractors at the station. This practice is not new and certainly did not start with Lew, in fact it was San Román and Roberto Rodríguez-Tejera whom excessively used outsourcing as a reason for hiring their cronies as contractors to settle debts of political support. It is unfortunate, that under the advisement to halt this practice, Lew continues to follow the same pattern established by his predecessor. Granted, there is a need for contractors to fulfill special jobs required by the station but it is indefensible when they meet the same numbers of full-time employees or even surpass them. And as a result of the gender discrimination complaints against Lew -- which took by surprise many veteran employees because of the swift intervention of Washington (EEOC and the IBB's Office of Civil Rights) in these cases while their own complaints of abuse and harassment at the hands of San Román and Rodríguez-Tejera took years to be even at all addressed -- numerous critical administrative decisions were never taken because of his vacillation for fear of further complaints of harassment would be filed against him, thus leading to a total paralysis of leadership. ZERO-AUDIT When Lew began his tenure at OCB, he was advised to consult with knowledgeable managers and supervisors whom have an institutional memory of how OCB was operated but according to sources at Radio Martí, Lew feared that by meeting with them their sole intention for offering such advice would be jockeying for administrative power and as a result he never sought their counsel which would have steered him. Early on, Lew was advised to conduct an audit of OCB operations that would have unveiled the corruption and systematic demolition of Radio Martí as an institution by his predecessor Herminio San Román and former Radio Martí director Roberto Rodríguez-Tejera. In the fall of last year, Lew requested in a letter -- that by the way took several weeks to be faxed -- to Brian Coniff, director of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) and executive director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (is there a conflict of interest here?), for him to send Oscar Barceló from the Voice of America's (VOA) Spanish Service to Miami for advisement in dealing with the bureaucratic labyrinth of Washington and OCB. Sources say Barceló made it clear that if he were to go to Miami, he would request an audit and investigation of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting under San Román and Rodríguez-Tejera. Coniff vehemently rejected Lew's request on the grounds that Barceló was too important an asset and would remain in Washington but sources offer a different reason for the rejection. They believe that Coniff was afraid that an audit would expose his and Carol Booker's alleged complicity and protection in covering up the corruption at the Martís perpetrated by San Román and Rodríguez-Tejera regime. PARTY CHOICE In hindsight, the Bush Administration may now wish to have picked another candidate to lead the Martís out of the abyss of corruption and institutional disintegration. The Republican Party advised President Bush during the selection process of other candidates, whom are feared at OCB because of their strong and decisive administrative hand, but he decided on the advice of Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, who recommended to pick Lew for the directorship of OCB, and Congressman Lincoln-Díaz Balart (who later jumped on the bandwagon of support). CLEANSE THY HANDS The San Román/Rodríguez-Tejera regime can be categorized as one of implementing policies corrupting and demolishing the institutional mechanisms of Radio Martí at the alleged behest of the Clinton Administration and their politically appointed acolytes (Marc Nathansan, Brian Coniff, and Carol Booker) at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and the IBB, while Lew's tenure so far is marked by ineffectiveness, hesitancy, and a paralysis of leadership that has further eroded Radio Martí and given ample grounds for the liberal Democratic hold-overs to broadly paint Lew as the root cause of Radio Martí's ills all the while cleansing their tainted hands for allowing San Román and Rodríguez-Tejera to decimate a station that at one time was the crown jewel of U.S. international broadcasting. Lew, through his vacillation in taking a firm and tough management decisions to clean up the Martís, has allowed himself to become the sacrificial lamb being lead to political slaughter. The legacy leading to the present crisis may or may not propel policy makers -- whom are currently evaluating U.S. policy toward Cuba -- to create an alternative public diplomacy voice for the Cuban people. If such a policy shift occurs, then what is the justification for Radio Martí to exist? (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Good idea to bookmark Radio Marti Observer site http://www.cubapolidata.com/rmo/ as well as Crisis at Radio Marti http://www.cubapolidata.com/carm/ (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Oops: En 810 kHz escucho Radio Lorenzana de San Vicente, no Radio Emaús, Sorry (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Tentative El Salvador. I had just finished watching the movie "Titanic" on Saturday evening and got the idea to switch on the radio and check this frequency - there was indeed a station with music and talk. I intended to await the 2300 ID but at 2253 an enormous local noise generator emerged covering all bands down to MW. This one is sometimes coming, probably from SSAB (=Swedish Steel Company) - also my friend Lennart Hane had it. I tried again at 0230 but the noise was still there. 1-2 in signal strength and sometimes more the short time it was heard. Is it possible that the 22nd harmonic can be heard here in our country from El Salvador? It couldn´t be wrong to end my DX timeout with a Salvadorian station in the phones. Maybe the kick I need to come back again. Give it one more try! BE (Borge Eriksson, Sweden, SW Bulletin April 7, translated by Editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD; original version in 2-057) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. I received a very nice, personal reply from TISJD, Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy and their "Host and Producer" Dade Desta. Address: P O Box 60040, Washington, DC 20039, USA. They transmit on 15700 kHz at 1600-1630 UT every Wednesday and Saturday. They also call themselves RADIO FITHI (=justice). E-mail address: TISforJD@aol.com I enclose the letter in a Wordfile. Best wishes from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz. [sic, evidently some conversion problems, mostly fixed where we could figure them out; optically scanned?]: Tigrean International Solidarill for Justice and Democracy P.O. Box 60040, Washington. DC 20039, USA. Bjorn Fransson, Lunds V.5, SE-621 48 VISBY, Sweden Dear Sir / Madam: I the producer and host of the radio Fithi (fit-hi), would like to thank you on behalf of the Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice & Democracy (TISJD) for your detailed reception report. Certainly, your report will help us to determine the quality of its reception in different parts of the world. Even though our focus is around the horn of Africa, our listeners also reside around the world. With your permission, I would like to take this opportunity to put a word or two about the TISJD, a civic organization that sponsors the airtime of the radio. TISJD has been formed with a very focused purpose of promoting peace, democracy, justice, and respect for civil and human rights in Ethiopia. It has also a purpose of facilitating dialogue among Ethiopians of diverse backgrounds to work together for a common cause. Initially the broadcast has been launched to reach Tigrigna speaking Ethiopians, but in the near future we are also planning to air in Amharic, the Ethiopian official language, to serve the purposes as stated above. As you have confirmed we are on air every Wednesday and Saturday at 16OO GMT each time for 30 minutes on 1570O MHz, 19 meter band, Short wave. RADIO FITHI, fithi standing for justice, is the name of the radio. Contents wise the radio focuses on issues of high political agenda: constitution, human rights, governance, Democracy, justice flaws and others. I would be more than glad to correspond with you on this or other related matters in the future, if you deem it necessary. It is also my pleasure to tell you, that your name has entered a special book of records, named "friends of radio Fithi'. Should you seek any infomation in regards to the radio or the organization, please do not hesitate to let me know. Here is my e- mail address: TISforJD@aol.com Herewith I certify that your reception report is correct. Yours t 0 Wly, Dad sta, Host and Producer. [sic as received] (via Fransson, DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW English at 0100: 12080 -- site? Included neither in HFCC nor in DW operational schedule but instead all other frequencies (6040 Sackville, 9640 Wertachtal, 11810 Antigua, 13720 Sines). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12080 must then be the second harmonic of Sackville 6040. It better be `JBA`! (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. On April 5th, I noted that the Voice of Greece has moved from 17905 to 17900 so it no longer blocks aeronautical traffic on 17904usb. How foolish they were to use 17905 in the first place! (Morrison Hoyle, Victoria, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Should not be on 17900 either: sideband extends into aero band, and you may note broadcasters normally avoid this too (gh, DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Cabe señalar que durante la primera semana de transmisión del programa en idioma español, los locutores anunciaban la existencia de una emisión de fin de semana (Domingos), entre las 2345 y 2400 UT, por 6025 kHz, con destino a España, y en 11885 kHz para Sudamérica, la cual NO está indicada en su esquema de emisiones. (Claudio Morales, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 8 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Will Wi-Fi push satellite radio off the air? From: http://zdnet.com By Ben Charny, Special to ZDNet News, April 8, 2002, 4:00 AM PT Satellite radio stations aren't too happy rubbing bandwidth shoulders with Wi-Fi wireless networks. The two wireless industries broadcast their signals on radio waves separated by only a small buffer. So far, that buffer has kept the millions of Wi-Fi networks from interfering with radio broadcasts by Sirius Satellite Radio or XM Satellite Radio. But the radio companies don't think the relative calm will last, so they are asking the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to step in. Within a few years, they say, interference from the huge number of people using Wi-Fi's signal will bleed through that buffer and snarl their signals, blasting listeners with the kind of hissing, pops and humming that overwhelms a radio receiver placed too close to a cell phone. "The objective is to get it so people can use (Wi-Fi) and listen to satellite radio at the same time. What we're trying to do is head off a future problem," said Sirius Satellite Radio co-founder Robert Briskman. It's a fact of life that radio signals can't be as tightly controlled as a signal traveling through a wire. Bits of signals are always straying, and as more people hook up Wi-Fi networks, there will be more of these "spurious" signals, enough to breach the buffer between the two, Briskman said. To keep that from happening, Sirius and XM have asked the FCC to consider imposing more regulations on Wi-Fi makers, including forcing them to put some controls on these spurious signals. The FCC is not required to act upon their request. "There is no problem right now. As (Wi-Fi) proliferates, there could be one --- and a serious one --- and we're trying to head that off," said Briskman, adding that the companies have developed a filter that Wi-Fi makers could use to control their signals. But Wi-Fi proponents, including gear makers and network operators, don't believe there will ever be an interference problem, so they shouldn't have to face more regulations or add something to their equipment that could increase the cost. "There are surveys that show you can pick up (Wi-Fi) access points continuously through some major urban areas, and we're not causing any problems," said Jim Zyren, director of strategic marketing for Intersil, which makes most of the world's Wi-Fi chips. "There's no basis for their request." People who are setting up the networks are even more vehement. "It's just absurd," said David Sifry, chief technology officer for Sputnik, a Wi-Fi network now in the building stages. He says the request is equivalent to asking them to "break the laws of physics" since it would require them to keep the stray emissions at a level equal to the amount of radiation emitted when water evaporates in sunlight. "It's that level of insanity you can't legislate." The number of Wi-Fi networks, an inexpensive and increasingly popular form of wireless networking, is expected to double in the next 18 months. Short for "wireless fidelity," Wi-Fi is predicated on the technical standard 802.11, which requires the installation of a small radio tower connected to the Internet via a high-speed phone line or digital subscriber line connection. The radio, about the size of a can of beer, extends the wire line and connects with any mobile devices equipped with mini-radios in PC cards. Setting up a network is relatively inexpensive, costing $500 to $1,000 to set up a system that allows wireless access in a 300-foot radius. It's already in about 1.4 million U.S. homes and is catching on in restaurants, hotels, airports, workplaces and conference centers. By 2005, analysts believe, Wi-Fi will exist in about 27 million homes and 28 million offices with these networks. In the airwaves, the upper end of satellite radio transmissions travel at 2,345 MHz, while the lower range of the 802.11b Wi-Fi standard operates at 2,400 MHz. A blank buffer sits in between the transmissions. The satellite radio stations insist they are not trying to end the Wi- Fi industry; they're just trying to reach a peaceful coexistence. But the makers of Wi-Fi chips and equipment would likely have to bear the brunt of the cost if federal regulations were imposed. Adding new equipment and materials into the manufacturing process could add about 30 percent to the cost, according to Intersil's Zyren. Added Andrew Weinreich, chairman of Joltage, which also sells Wi-Fi Internet access: "The fix is just as easy on their side --- their antennas can better distinguish their signal." In a few years, just when satellite radio stations are anticipating an interference problem, the issue might be moot, because Wi-Fi has been evolving--and moving into a different radio spectrum. The majority of Wi-Fi networks use the 802.11b standard. But there is another kind of Wi-Fi network that uses the 802.11a standard, which operates in a different radio spectrum and, thus, wouldn't be an issue for the satellite radio stations. If 802.11a becomes the more popular standard, which is likely since it is considered safer and faster than 802.11b, the problem simply goes away. The first generations of 802.11a chips, from companies such as Proxim, are just now hitting store shelves. And there is a chance the FCC may choose to act even if it doesn't have to. The commission has a history of treating the satellite radio companies kindly, said Robert A. Saunders, an analyst with consulting firm Eastern Management Group. In a dead heat, Wi-Fi might lose out, he said. "The FCC has taken a very protective approach --- make sure they have enough room to breathe," Saunders said. "It treats XM and Sirius like babies, hatched this industry, carved out spectrum, made sure there were two companies so there was competition. They will act to make sure their spectrum remains pretty clean." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Sedaye Iran is also missing from 17525 kHz today, Monday, at 1630 UT. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Payem-e Doost I wrote to you for some weeks ago, asking for an address and information about Radio Payem-e Doost broadcasting on 7480 kHz. At that point I had nothing on this station, but listened a few days later and then heard a women announcing a www-site also full address and phone number and fax-number. So this is what I found. "Radio Payem-e Doost are broadcasting on 7480 kHz between 1800 and 1830 UT Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays in Farsi. At the moment I was listening the signal was really loud and clear. At 1825 a women was announcing http://www.bahairadio.org followed by the e-mail aderess which was Payem@B... [truncated by yahoogroups]. She also mentioned the regular address which is as follows, Payem-e Doost, P. O. Box 765, Great Falls, Virginia 22066, USA" When visiting the Bahai website, it tells you that Payem-e Doost started its program on March the 21st, 1994 via WUST in Washington DC on 1120 AM. The shortwave service started April 21st, 2001 in the 41 meter band on 7480 kHz at 2130-2200 Tehran time, which means 1800 to 1830 UT [now in summer there is a 4.5 hour difference, so did the UT shift or the local time?? --- gh]. The purpose by this program is to tell the world about the Bahái Faith, which was founded in Iran in 1844. "Bahái Faith teaches every individual to think freely and independently, which is a major step forward in mankind's quest for knowledge and development" Visit the http://www.bahairadio.org for more information. Audio files are available. [..] Well that was all from me, will let you now when/if I get a verification (G. Hardenmark, Sweden, Mar 11, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch April 8 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Holocaust Rememberence Day is Monday night\Tuesday. Israel's Memorial Day is next Monday night\Tuesday. Israel's Independence day is next Tuesday night\Wednesday. Expect special programming. Reshet Bet broadcasts the national ceremonies live. Longer English broadcasts should have specially programming too. The national ceremony for Holocaust Rememberence day is 8 PM Monday night Israel Summer Time - that's 1 PM EDT, 1700 UT (Hopefully I calculated things correctly this time!). This will be broadcast on Reshet Bet. Sometimes there are some English speakers. It takes place at Yad Vashem with the attendance of President Moshe Katsav, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the chief rabbis, and other public figures. At 10 AM Israel Time a siren will be sounded. More details about the ceremonies (I don't know which ones will be broadcast on Reshet Bet) is available in this Jerusalem Post article: http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/08/News/News.46510.html (Daniel Rosenzweig, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Radio Studio X (Momigno, Italy; region Tuscany) is testing on 1566 kHz (\\ to usual 1584 kHz) with 400 watt *stereo* into a 50 meters wire antenna. Weak but readable here in my location in northern Italy. On 1584 kHz they're using 10 kW in stereo but in an e-mail QSL they say they'll soon be testing with 50 kW. E-mail address for Studio X is studio.x@l... [truncated by yahoogroups; website is http://www.radiostudiox.it --- gh] 73 (Fabrizio Magrone, April 7, MW- DX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. Re V. of Jammu Kashmir freedom QSL: The address I used was: Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom, P. O. Box 102, Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir Pakistan (Kazunori Watanabe - Japan, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. With the good news of the P5/4L4FN being accepted for DXCC, Ed was once again active over the past weekend on 21225 kHz during his usual time. There was good news reported this week on Bruce's, KK5DO, Web site stating Ed will be in North Korea until June 2003. Also, the Web page reports that Ed has been active on RTTY on 21080 kHz. However, these contacts are not yet being accepted for DXCC credit. Watch the following Web page for updates: http://www.amsatnet.com/p5.html QSL via KK5DO (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Radio Kurdistan, Voice of Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party heard in Kurdish and Arabic with irregular late evening transmissions *1945-2057* on 4130 kHz; March 10-18 (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Mar 19, 2002 for CRW April 8 via DXLD) ** LAOS. Ray, HS0/G3NOM, informs OPDX that the plans for the HSDXA/RAST DXpedition to Laos is now finalized. Activity will be between April 10-20th, using the group callsign XW1HS. QSL Manager will be E21EIC: P.O. Box 1090, Kasetsart, Bangkok 10903, Thailand. Operators' individual callsigns are as follows: XW1CW (E20HHK), XW1IC (E21EIC), XW1OM (HS0/G3NOM), XW1CKC (HS1CKC), XW1EQY (HS9EQY) and XW1GBI (HS0GBI). QSL to their home callsign or the Thailand QSL Bureau. Ray states all amateur bands and modes are authorized and will be attempted. Please request any special modes or contacts before April 10th. Ray's E-mail address is: g3nom@rast.or.th It is hoped they will have internet access in Vientiane (to be announced). Suggested main operating frequencies: CW (MHz) 50.115, 28.006, 28.023, 24.895, 21.006, 21.023, 18.073, 14.006, 14.023, 10.102, 10.108, 7.006, 7.023, 3.506, 3.523 and 1.8265 (QSX JA segments also) SSB (MHz) 50.115, 24.945, 21.295, 18.140, 14.195, 7.052 (QSX NA 7.2 up), 3.795-3.802 (QSX 3.800 for VK) and 1.835-1.840 RTTY (MHz) 28.080, 24.920, 18.102, 14.080, 10.140, 7.037 FM (MHz) 50.115, 29.260 SSTV MHz 28.540, 21.340, 14.230 Satellite operation should start on April 11th, and continue until April 20th. A concerted effort will be made. HS2JFW has prepared equipment for operations on AO-10, AO-40, FO-20, FO-29, RS12/13, RS15, AO-27, UO-14. Frequencies bands to be used are 21MHz, 28MHz, 144MHz, 430MHz, 2.4GHz. Modes: CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV. The uplink signal may be weak on 70cm, so listen carefully. See further details of equipment, antennas, operations and updates on the following Web site: http://www.rast.or.th/xw1hs (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. STATION 9685, 0300-20.00, 07 April: this station is also being heard on 9540 USB. If not all night long it should be on the air until 2200 or so. Later: Most probably the actual president is not giving any chance to the self appointed president Ravalomanana to be on the air, and around 1900 station 9540 \\ 9685 has been covered by RTM with more powerful signal and right now RTM is on 3287 \\ 4991 \\ 5010 \\ 9540 and 9685 (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, April 7, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MOUNT ATHOS. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, was heard this past week on 20 meters and 12 meters. Watch around 14212 kHz after 0400z and 24943 kHz after 1530z. QSL direct to: Monk Apollo, Monastery Dochiariou, GR- 63037 Mt. Athos, Greece. Check out the interesting Web site on Mount Athos at: http://www.medialab.ntua.gr/athos/uk/general/top.htm (KB8NW/OPDX April 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** PALESTINE. ISRAEL: SOLDIERS SEIZE PRIVATE RADIO AND TV STATIONS, DESTROY EQUIPMENT | Text of report entitled: "Occupation forces seize three private radio and television stations and destroy their equipment"; carried by Palestinian news agency Wafa web site Ramallah, 6 April: The Wafa correspondent in Ramallah and Al-Birah says Israeli occupation forces seized three private Palestinian radio and television stations in Ramallah this afternoon. Several local correspondents said the occupation forces stormed the radio stations of Al-Manar and Ajyal, as well as Al-Nasr television station in Al-Bakri buildings in the city centre. Ammar Ammar, the director of Al-Manar radio, said in a telephone call to Wafa that the occupation forces stoned the radio station premises and that the Israeli soldiers - who were armed to the teeth - searched the building and messed with the furniture before destroying the computers, transmission and reception and editing equipment using heavy hammers and the butts of their guns. Ammar said that what the Israeli soldiers did to Al-Manar radio station they repeated at Al-Nasr and Ajyal stations. He added that what happened proves that the occupation forces are targeting Palestinian media and any voice or means that shows the crimes of the occupation. He said that the losses of private stations from these treacherous attacks are estimated at millions of shekels. Source: Palestinian news agency Wafa web site, Gaza, in Arabic 6 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Russia / Vatican: The HFCC file shows for Voice of Russia via Santa Maria di Galeria now 9450 2100-2130 (210 deg.) and 11825 0100-0200 (310 deg.). 9665 is the usual Grigoriopol`, and I strongly assume that 11750, the evident summer counterpart to 7125, originates from there, too, no matter what MCCBN put into the HFCC file. Only 9725 should indeed be Tbilisskaya (Krasnodar/Armavir). The 16 metres channels undoubtedly originate from the Far Eastern sites of course. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. Re: Somalia in [crwatch] CRW 099 Sam Voron had nothing to do with Radio Banadiir. I'm not sure where that info came from, but it is incorrect. 6822 is not the station of the TNG, it is the station of Aideed (H. Johnson-USA, Mar 13, 2002 for CRW) Thanks for the correction. CRW pulled the item directly from Glenn Hauser's DXLD, which cites the DSWCI's DX Window as the original source. DSWCI used a perhaps 'unlucky' combination of old and new information from different sources (referenced at the end (incl. CRW). [CRW team, Clandestine Radio Watch April 8 via DXLD] ** SPAIN. Glenn, Adding to the REE confusion, the web page at http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/LExt.htm lists EE to NAm at 00-01. The second hour at 01-02 as well as the usual West Coast 05-06 transmission is missing. This would seem to track what we've all been experiencing. However, they show their weekend transmissions to Eu and Afr at 22-23, instead of at 21-22 (which it really is). There are other minor inconsistencies here, but why bother. The bottom line is that it seems that REE has indeed removed two hours/day from NAm. 73, (Mark J. Fine / mark.fine@fineware-swl.com Remington, Virginia, USA, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, Here is the link to a complete transcript of April 4th Larry King Live, with Louis Rukeyser: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0204/04/lkl.00.html Louis is scheduled to appear tonight as a guest on CNBC's Market Week, between 7-8 PM ET. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Repeats at 0600 UT ** U S A. Harry Shearer`s LE SHOW changes, since I missed it on Sunday: Monday evening, missing on WCBE at 2300 UT, tho it is still on their web grid. However, another page shows it Sunday at 1700 (live time), and that was confirmed by a courtesy announcement from Tavis after Nationall Native News at 2306 --- as he called it `Lay Show`, has moved there to accommodate Tavis. It is on WFPK UT Tue 0000, as at 2319 UT, I heard a promo from Harry for Le Show ``Monday night at 8`` on WFPK and the live announcer agreed. There is KAMU, still, I hope, at same time. Later: I listened on WFPK; C. Crane, purveyor of long-distance radios, is a new underwriter credited at the closing! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1430, WPLN TN Nashville - 4/7 1300 [EDT] - silent period didn't last long! "Stunting" with soft guitar music and promos for various NPR programs. Legal ID as WPLN, apparently call changed from WQDQ (Doug Smith, TN, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WINB is overlapping WWCR on 12160 by one hour. WWCR is authorized 12160 currently until 2300 UT, and you would think there is no problem from this: ``Mar 31-Apr 6: 9320 1100-1300, 13570 1300-2300, 12160 2300-0200, 9320 0200-0600. Apr 6-30 and Sep 1 to Oct 26: 9320 1000-1200, 13570 1200- 2300, 12160 2300-0100, 9320 0100-0500; May 1-Aug 31 13570 1000-0000, 12160 0000-0500 (via Hans Johnson, Mar 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD`` 2-043 via DXLD 2-058) But at least on April 8 at 2245 check, and probably 7, there was a second station audible underneath WWCR here causing considerable interference, including a het indicating one of them is off frequency. I`ll bet we know which! Evidently WINB has a hard time comprehending how EDT relates to UT. How can one be `America`s Oldest Private SW Broadcaster`` and not at least know this?? WWCR closed leaving WINB in the clear including 2300 ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** USA/MIDDLE EAST. US MIDDLE EAST RADIO NETWORK ADDS NEWS PROGRAMMING | Text of press release from US government's International Broadcasting Bureau on 5 April Washington, DC, 5 April: The Middle East Radio Network (MERN), known as Radio Sawa in the region, has added news to its programming mix in the first stages of its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service. The Arabic-language network, which went on the air 22 March 2002, is currently heard on FM radio stations in Amman, Jordan (FM 98.1), and Kuwait City, Kuwait (FM 95.7). It is also available on Nilesat, Arabsat and Eutelsat HotBird. Besides regular news headlines and five-minute news summaries, Radio Sawa does special programmes such as broadcasting, in Arabic, President Bush's 18-minute speech on the Middle East. Bush announced Thursday that Secretary of State Colin Powell would go to the region next week. "We're committed to news that is accurate, objective and comprehensive," said Norman J. Pattiz, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) which oversees all US, non-military, international broadcasting. Pattiz and the BBG spearheaded the creation of MERN, a pilot project of the Voice of America. When MERN is fully operational in late summer 2002, it will broadcast news, analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, roundtables, sports, weather, music and features on a variety of political and social issues in five regional Arabic dialects targeted to Jordan and the Palestinian areas, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan and the Gulf states. The BBG received from Congress approximately 35m dollars for MERN in fiscal year 2002, including 16.4m dollars for one-time capital costs for transmitters. For more information, contact: Joan Mower [+1] 202 260 0167; jmower@ibb.gov; Joe O'Connell; [+1] 202 619 2538; jdoconne@ibb.gov Source: International Broadcasting Bureau press release, Washington, in English 5 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. I see that Media Network has a story on World Beacon closing, propagating the station`s absurd claim that it was a great success. If so, then why quit? In reality, its clients found that it simply didn`t work; they were getting virtually no response. The thing was being subsidized from AMG`s income as exclusive(?) broker for religious time on the BET cable network, perhaps as a bonus to time bought there (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. GUERRA DE MEDIOS EN VENEZUELA. Saludos, colegas diexistas. Espero que todos estén muy bién. Así lo estoy viendo yo. Actualmente en nuestra querida República de Venezuela (noten que no pongo Bolivariana) se está librando una guerra de medios motivado al conflicto de la empresa petrolera venezolana PDVSA con el gobierno nacional. Esto, debido a que los diferentes medios de comunicación social, están informando sobre todo lo que está sucediendo en nuestro país y al parecer al gobierno del Señor Hugo Chávez esto no le conviene. Cabe destacar, que el día de ayer domingo el Presidente de La República dijo en su acostumbrado programa (que por cierto lo transmitió en cadena) que le importaba un comino encadenar a los medios durante horas y que de ahora en adelante (con risa burlona) lo podrían llamar Hugo "cadena" Chavez. Hoy, cada vez que la radio y televisión de La República de Venezuela comienzan a transmitir algo relacionado con los innumerables problemas que se presentan en nuestro país el gobierno del Presidente Hugo "cadena" Chávez las saca del aire encadenando a la radio y televisión. Esto lo están haciendo cada 5 minutos aproximadamente cuando se quiere informar algo que vaya en contra del Presidente Chavez. Los medios de comunicación en Venezuela fueron amenazados el dia de ayer por el Presidente Chávez, quien en forma grosera les dijo tajantemente que si informaban algo en contra de su gobierno procedería con represalias. Desde mi querida República de Venezuela, les invito a seguir los acontecimientos que se puedan presentar en nuestro país a través de la Radio, Televisión, Internet y de cualquier medio posible. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, y Sintonía DX, April 8, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. Nothing from Radio Yugoslavia so far, neither 6100 (1530-1600) nor 9620 (1600-1700) came up. So it is evident now that the Bijeljina-Jabanusa site is still without mainpower (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) from http://www.radioyu.org: "We regret to inform you that we are unable to broadcast our short wave programme. The management of Radio Yugoslavia is investing efforts in resolving the problem as soon as possible. Our listeners will be informed about the re-start of Radio Yugoslavia's programming on short waves in due time." (Roberto Scaglione, http://www.bclnews.it April 8 Conexión Digital via DXLD) Told you so. Nothing there UT Tue April 9 at 0010 check on 9580 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Voice of the People QSLs: I don't know how good the info is, but I have just come across a note I've made several weeks ago of the latest reported address (can't remember the source): The Producer, R. VOP, P.O.Box 5750, Harare e-mail: voxpop@z... [truncated by yahoogroups] I've e-mailed them this morning, no reply so far, but the mail did not bounce back either. Still no contact details given on air. The programme is now only in Shona and Ndebele but I'm sure I would catch an address or e-mail (V. Korinek, RSA, in DXplorer-ML - March 2002 via Clandestine Radio Watch April 8 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-057, April 7, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1125: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1124.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Mon 0000, 0500 3210; Wed 0930 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Mon 0030, 0630, 1230 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB MUNDO RADIAL, in addition to FRI 2115 on 15685 has a new time on MONDAYS, 2130 on 15685 from WWCR OUR SCHEDULES HAVE NOW BEEN UPDATED FOR DST: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ WOR/COM/MR RADIO SCHEDULE: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html MASTER TIME SCHEDULE: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html JOHN NORFOLK`S SCHEDULES HAVE ALSO JUST BEEN UPDATED: NETS TO YOU: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html SW DX and MEDIA PROGRAMS: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. That Afghanistan special on CBC Radio One is on THURSDAY [April 11], not Wednesday as I reported earlier (Ricky Leong, QC, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana, English to NAm at 0145 and 0230: 6115 is fair to good; 7160 good but may have 40m ham splash at times (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. RAE, weekdays only, English to NAm at 0200 on 11710: varies; heard way, way below 11705-USB RHC splashover (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 24239.76 harmonic, Radio Nacional, Buenos Aires. March 2002 - 0200 UT. Harmonic from 6060 kHz (4 x 6059.94). The fundamental with a more lousy signal (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 7, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. RAI, English to NAm at 0130 is very good on 9870 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. RVi, English to NAm on 15565: 2230 fair to very good; 0400 varies good to very good, 15560 splash (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5580v, 0030 5 April, R. San José, San José de Chiquitos, Bolivia mass, 0057 music Carimbo boliviano, 0200*, 24332 73 (Rogildo F. Aragão Cochabamba - Bolivia Rx LOWE HF-225E Ant LW 25m hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria, English to NAm at 2300 and 0200, very good on 9400 but RTTY from 9405; 11700 not active? I don`t hear it and they don`t announce it; only 9400 heard at 2300 and 0200 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I just noticed this: The traditional 9755 kHz for RCI is completely off the sked (Ricky Leong, QU, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC previews starting Monday April 8: IDEAS: All this week on Ideas, Enlightened by Love: the Thought of Simone Weil. T.S. Eliot said she had "a genius akin to sainthood." But Simone Weil died in obscurity in London in 1943 at the age of 34. Now, scholars and readers are paying attention to the enduring significance of her political and religious thought. Ideas producer David Cayley explores Weil's fusion of politics and mysticism as a philosophy for our time. That's tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. BETWEEN THE COVERS: This week, Between The Covers presents Visions of Afghanistan, stories and poetry from Afghanistan's past and present. You'll hear traditional tales and modern stories that reflect the changing face of a troubled land, from writers at home and in exile. That's on Between the Covers, in Hour One of Richardson's Roundup, which begins at 2:06 (2:36 NT) [tho nominally 2:30 pm, we usually hear it starting as late as 2:42 –gh] and later tonight at 10:40 (11:10 NT) on CBC Radio One. FUNERAL OF HM THE QUEEN MOTHER: (EARLY TUESDAY MORNING) Join host Michael Enright early Tuesday morning for live coverage of the funeral for Her Majesty The Queen Mother. Michael will be reporting from a balcony at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster overlooking Westminster Abbey and the funeral procession route. Royal historian and biographer Douglas Keay will be with Michael to provide expert analysis and commentary. The program will include the full funeral service. And reporter Derek Stoffel will mingle with the crowds capturing the atmosphere on the street. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday morning on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6090, Radio Esperanza, Casilla 830, Temuco, electronic QSL, for cassette report and u$s 1, partial data, v/s Pedro Durán S. in 3 years after follow up to: esperanza@telsur.cl (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CRI, English to NAm at 0100: 9580 via Cuba is of variable quality, very good one day, barely audible the next; 9790 [Canada] usually consistently very good. At 0300, 9690 [Spain] is very good. At 0400, 9560 [Canada] very good with slight flutter (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. DOCE MUERTOS Y SETENTA HERIDOS DEJA CARROBOMBA EN VILLAVICENCIO Fuente : CARACOL. Fecha: 4/7/02 Por Ever Rincón VILLAVICENCIO. --- Doce muertos y setenta heridos dejó un atentado terrorista registrado esta madrugada en la ciudad de Villavicencio, en una zona de discotecas y bares, donde se encontraban centenares de personas departiendo. Las autoridades informaron que centenares de personas que departían en el barrio "la grama", a la una y veinte de la madrugada, fueron sorprendidas por dos fuertes explosiones que han causado una de las mayores tragedias de esa ciudad a lo largo de la historia. El atentado dinamitero dejó fuera del aire a tres emisoras de la "cadena Super" que funcionan en un edificio de cinco plantas ubicado frente a un parqueadero donde según las autoridades explotó el carro bomba. Así mismo varios negocios nocturnos, locales de otros establecimientos comerciales, viviendas y por lo menos 15 vehículos fueron destruidos por la onda explosiva que mantiene sin los servicios de energía y telecomunicaciones en el área donde se presentaron los hechos. A esta hora en medio de la consternación general y de un cordón de seguridad por parte de la fuerza pública, unidades de la Fiscalía adelantan las diligencias de inspección de los cadáveres entre los cuales figuran varios menores de edad. Los heridos, 67 civiles y tres policías, son atendidos en el hospital, de Villavicencio, clínicas particulares, y puestos de salud, habiendo sido decretada la alerta amarilla por parte de las autoridades municipales. El Alcalde de Villavicencio, Omar López Robayo calificó el atentado como una de las acciones más atroces que han sucedido en la capital del Meta, lo condenó enérgicamente y ofreció 15 millones de pesos como recompensa para quien suministre información que permita identificar y capturar a los autores intelectuales y materiales de esta acción al tiempo que reclamó la solidaridad ciudadana para defender a la ciudad de los violentos. De otra parte la policía frustró otro atentado que se iba a cometer cerca a la estación central de policía, al detectar y desactivar una poderosa carga explosiva que había sido colocada en el baúl de un taxi. Este hecho violento sucedió en Villavicencio mientras en la ciudad se celebraban 162 años de su fundación, convirtiendose la alegría de sus gentes en tragedia, tristeza y dolor (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) see also VENEZUELA ** COSTA RICA. Extraneous TIFC 21 MHz frequency: see EL SALVADOR ** CUBA. From the AP: A Package of News Briefs From the Caribbean The Associated Press Published: Apr 6, 2002 FOREIGN MINISTER ACCUSES AMERICAN OFFICIALS OF VIOLATING DIPLOMATIC NORMS BY DISTRIBUTING RADIOS HAVANA (AP) - Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque on Saturday accused U.S. officials based here of violating diplomatic norms by distributing radios and printed materials designed to spread what he characterized as "subversive" messages across the communist-ruled island. Cuba complained to the United States earlier this week about distribution of more than 500 shortwave radios tuned to the U.S. government's Radio Martí station, which is run by Cuban exiles opposed to Fidel Castro's government. Before a crowd of tens of thousands of people gathered in a neighborhood just east of Havana, Pérez Roque also charged that the U.S. Interests Section on Havana's coastal highway is used for "electronic espionage." Castro, who stood in the front row of the crowd, did not address the gathering... ------- Any idea how this distribution of radios was accomplished? [dc`s tagline:] "I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed... The U.S. government will lead the American people and the West in general into an unbearable hell and a choking life." -- Osama Bin Laden, Oct 2001 Memo to Washington: Try not to prove him correct, please. (David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RHC, English to NAm at 0100: 6000 good; 11705-USB usually blowtorch, but variable signal quality; 9820 fair to good; at 0200 co- channel QRM and splash from 9825. At 0500, 9550 and 9820 are both good here on the east coast tho they are for west coast (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually, I recall that 9550 is for E coast on the way to Europe. BTW, I tuned across Arnie Coro just when he was saying that they have new 9655 on USB for Europe at 0500-0700 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague, English to NAm at 0000 is very good on 7345, 11615; 0100, good on both 6200 and 7345 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. Dear Joe, Thanks for your letter. I've been away on an Easter vacation until now, but I can tell you that my letterbox show, 'Tune In', does continue. It is now heard every second Saturday in the uneven weeks at approx. 11.48 UT, and then repeated 5 times until 16.48 UT. You may read all the details at http://www1.dr.dk/pubs/nyheder/html/programmer/kortboelge/kontakt.jhtml --- go down to ENGLISH. All the best, (Erik Køie, R. Denmark April 6 via Joe Hanlon, PA, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Thanks for info re loops, etc. MFJ-1026 might be ordered from Universal Radio with help of my MasterCard. Phasing away electrical noise seems very promising. Now I understand why my Lowe HF-150 is so damned good. It is constructed by the same John Thorpe who also constructed the AOR-7030! 6 times of 10 I prefer HF-150 in favour of my NRD- 535a and I have no problem to use both on the same antenna at the same time. In some cases the noise will be attenuated more than the wanted signal and that is merely favourable (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 7, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) BM`s DX items this issue are under ARGENTINA, HONDURAS, PERU ** EGYPT. R. Cairo, English at 2300 on 9900 is poor, hindered by 9895, and poor-fair modulation. At 0200, 9475, sigh! Usual shamefully low modulation. Should pull switch and save the oil (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Something very strange is going on here, with certain religious programs claiming otherwise unknown SW frequencies, but one actually DXed recently, seemingly a high-order harmonic (gh, DXLD) Hola Humberto: Me permito escribirte para hacerte una consulta que se que podrás resolver perfectamente. Ya que mi paisano Malm dice haber escuchado, desde el Ecuador, Radio Imperial en 17833.83 kHz, y ya que en el listado de Luís Palau se dice que YSDA y también YSKO (La V de la Amistad, de San Miguel) retransmiten sus programas Cruzada y Luís Palau responde, te rogaría el favor de averiguar de cuál de las dos emisoras se trata. Si es que la señal es intencional es, desde luego, una buenísima noticia y convendría darla a conocer públicamente. Si consigues saber algo sobre el tema, me avisas por favor a mí y directamente también a Glenn Hauser. Gracias. Un abrazo, Henrik Klemetz El vínculo es este: http://www.gospelcom.net/lpea/spanish/radio/elsalvador.html Viz.: YSKO AM-1370; OC-17835 San Miguel – Cruzada: Lu-Do 6:45, 17:45, 21:45; Responde: Lu-Do 8:35, 9:20, 14:30 [horas locales?] YSDA - Radio Imperial 17.835 mhz SW Sonsonate – Cruzada: Lu-Do 6:45, 17:45, 21:45; Responde: Lu-Do 8:35, 9:20, 14:30 Escudriñando las escrituras, Scrutinizing the Scriptures Aqui te paso otro vínculo, de otro programa, que también indica que Radio Imperial opera en onda corta: http://www.cristo.org/radio.html Sería importante tener también este programa en cuenta, y antes quizás de hacer cualquier averiguación, Humberto, primero le echas una ojeada a los lugares en el dial, y en las horas señaladas, a ver si de pronto también anuncian el uso de la onda corta. Finalmente, el programa La Hora de la Reforma también es transmitido por R Imperial, y en su listado oficial también se indica la onda corta. El vínculo no funciona en lo que a América Central se refiere, pero he conseguido grabar su contenido. Incluyo TIFC, de Costa Rica, en la lista pues ahi aparece una frecuencia de ellos, 21470, que no la había visto antes. [COSTA RICA TIFC Faro del Caribe: 21470 (14m) domingos 1815, viernes 1115 -- local time?] EL SALVADOR YSDA Imperial 17.835mHz (16m) Martes 1700 Sonsonante [sic] (Henrik Klemetz to Humberto Molina, El Salvador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ONDA CORTA DESDE EL SALVADOR Sí, efectivamente el año pasado encontré la página de Luís Palau, en la cual se anotaba la frecuencia de 17835 kHz, creyendo que era un error; además Glenn me sugirió la posibilidad de que fuera alguna frecuencia de WYFR. Yo no le di más importancia y olvidé el asunto. Debido a que me guía teléfonica sólo tiene los números de San Salvador y municipios aledaños, llamé a la operadora y me proporcionó un número de Radio Imperial, Sonsonate, el tel. 451-3377. Después de insistir mucho (hoy es domingo) me contestó el Sr. José Erneto Arévalo, quien me dijo es administrador de la estación y que efectivamemente transmiten en la frecuencia de 17835 kHz con un transmisor de aproximadamente 1.5 kW. No teniendo más detalles técnicos, sólo me comentó que habían tardado 5 años para que la SIGET (intendencia de telecomunicaciones en El Salvador) le otorgara el permiso y que han transmitido irregularmente debido a que "varias veces se ha quemado el tubo de salida del transmisor" así que ahora sólo emiten esporádicamente para no perder el derecho de la frecuencia. También el señor Arévalo me comentó que ha tenido noticias de recepción de la emisora en California y Brasil. Es de notar que en mi localidad nunca he escuchado su frecuencia de onda media 810 kHz, ya que en ella sintonizo a Radio Emaús de San Vicente que está más cercana. De todas manera es una noticia sorprendente. No les parece. Si mi trabajo lo permite durante horas hábiles de la próxima semana, trataré de encontrar más información, especialmente sobre la estación de San Miguel (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [So this is a deliberate SW transmission, but sporadic! Thanks for the research and we hope to hear more details. --gh] Excelente tu gestión, Humberto. Muchas gracias. Creo que la comunidad DXista te la sabrá agradecer. Un abrazo, (Henrik to Humberto via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17834, 6.4 at 2240: Tentativt El Salvador. Hade just avslutat Titanicfilmen på lördagskvällen och fick för mig att slå på radion och kolla och här låg då en station med musik varvat med prat. Tänkte invänta 23.00-ID men 22.53 gick en enorm lokalstörning igång som täcker alla band ned till MV. Den kommer ibland, troligen från SSAB då även polare Lennart har den. Försökte igen 02.30 men störningen låg kvar. 1-2 i signalstyrka kanske litet mer ibland den lilla stund den hördes. Är det möjligt att den 22:a övertonen är hörbar här i vårt land från El Salvador? Vore inte helt fel att avsluta min timeout med en Salvadorstation i lurarna. Kanske den kick jag behöver för att komma igång igen. På´n igen! BE (Börge Eriksson, Sweden, SW Bulletin, April 7, translation pending, via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Still checking RFI`s English broadcasts, none of them toward us: 1200, 15540 is just barely audible; 1600, 15605 JBA, 17605 good (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW, English to NAm is quite good on all these frequencies, confirmed, except 12080 at 0100 which is JBA, varying quality. 0100 on 6040 9640 11810 12080 13720 0300 on 6020 9640 11935 15105 0500 on 9670 9785 11985 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 4819.21, La Voz Evangélica, Teguicigalpa. April 2, 2002 - 0200 UT. Reactivated on SW after being gone for a long time. ID: "HRVC LV Evangélica de Honduras". A really "profane" program with ads and popular music. Promo for a concert with "La Hormiga"(the ant). (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 7, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** HONG KONG [and non]. China Coast Race Week - Saturday 12th October to Saturday 19th October 2002 --- Weather Broadcasts RTHK will be broadcast a special weather forecast for boats in the Hong Kong to Sanya Race. This will be broadcasted on 3940 kHz at the times stated in the skipper packs (anyone have more details?). Radio Checks All boats entered into the Hong Kong to Sanya Race will be required to do an SSB Radio Check. Skippers can contact Kellet VI on 4060 kHz from 0900 hrs to 1000 hrs Sunday 21st. Full details and up to the minute information is also available from http://www.chinacoastraceweek.com (via Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note dates, next October! So what bearing, if any does this have on the current non-heard 3940 operation? Ha! It`s still called the *Royal* HK Yacht Club; calendar of events for April does not mention any race except on the 19th ``China Sea Race Prizegiving`` http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/events.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. R. Budapest, English to NAm: at 0100, 9560 is fair, hit by 9555; also at 0230 on 9570 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. VOIRI, English to NAm at 0030: 11970 good; 9835 taken out by 9830; 9610 fair, hit by 9605 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 17525 CLANDESTINE, Radio Sedaye Iran (Radio Voice of Iran), *1630-1730 Mar 31, caught station opening ID and news in Farsi. Some brief musical breaks but mainly talks about Middle Eastern events. Good signal with jamming noted faintly in the background after 1700 (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet April 6 via DXLD) Seda-ye Iran: Wasn't heard today Sunday either. And no jamming today. Maybe they are Mon-Fri? Shall listen tomorrow... 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. RTE has the following announcement on their website. Listeners tuned to Middle East should note that as from Sunday, March 31st the frequency will change from 9895 kHz to 15315 kHz for the 1800-1830 UT broadcast. The remainder of the schedule is unchanged (Daniel Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, http://www.triwest.net/~dsampson/shortwave/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Rai, R. Roma, English to NAm 0050: 6010 announced but not active; 9675 hit by 9665; 11800 co-channel VOR Spanish, or 11795 Madrid (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. RADIO STUDIO X MOMIGNO is testing 350 WATTS ON 1566 kHz in // with 1584 kHz, RECEPTION IS GOOD IN WHOLE ITALY, PLEASE SEND e-MAIL REPORTS TO LUCA BETTI e-mail: studio.x@lycos.com SNAIL MAIL REPORTS SHOULD BE SENT WITH 1 IRC or 1 $ TO : QSL MANAGER, DARIO MONFERINI - VIA DAVANZATI 8, IT-20158 MILANO, ITALY. The reply is with a QSL CARD (no more the stencil letter). (Monferini, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another frequency for WORLD OF RADIO too; website confirms our times are now Fri 2230 UT, Sun 1630 (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. R. Japan, [Sackville] 6120 at 1100 and 6145 at 0000 both excellent! (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR. Friends, Radio Kashmir, Srinagar has shifted their sign on timings to summer schedule. They now sign on at 0025 UT (replacing winter 0120). This will continue till December (Jose Jacob, dx_india April 6 via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. CLANDESTINE (Pakistan), Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom, 5101.1, No data letter in 36 days by Registered mail for EG report sent by Air mail with $1.00 postage. V/S: Islam ud Din But. Enclosed a pamphlet titled "SOS from Indian Occupied Kashmir". (Kazunori Watanabe - Japan, hard-core-dx via DXLD) So what address did you use? ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Glenn, I tuned out the RKI Korean rock music program during the 1145-1200 period on 9650 as it was more than I could bear! (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Still needing the updated A-02 schedule, found it at http://rki.kbs.co.kr/ENGLISH/aboutrki/time.asp All are designated English 1, except the 2100-2130 via Skelton 3955 English 2, i.e. the only remaining half-hour broadcast (gh, DXLD) Welcome to Radio Korea International Mar. 31, 2002 RKI broadcasts in 10 different languages on a total of 24 frequencies targeting 8 directions : Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa, China, Japan and Non Direction. Europe English 1 0800-0900 7550 136709 1900-2000 7275 2100-2200 15575 English 2 2100-2130 3955 (Skelton) North America English 1 0200-0300 9560(Sackville), 15575 1130-1230 9650(Sackville) Southeast Asia English 1 1300-1400 9570 Middle East and Africa English 1 1600-1700 9515, 9870 Non-direction [sic] English 1 0800-0900 9570 1300-1400 13670 1600-1700 5975 1900-2000 5975 Copyright 2000 Radio Korea International All rights reserved (via Glenn Hauser, also via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Double-take department: per this, RKI has an Indonesian broadcast to Europe, 2200-2300 on 7275, which would be direct. Double double-take department: brought up webcast at 2140 UT Sunday April 7 for MWF, and heard instead From Us to You, the ``Saturday Mailbag Show``! Wake up, over there. Perhaps inspired by, or trying to outdo, RUI, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9650 at 1130 is excellent, 9560 at 0200 very good (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. RK, English at 1800, very good on 11990 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wish I could say the same in OK (gh) ** LIBERIA. I decided to check 6100 some more. On Mar 30 I found DW there in force until 0600 s/off, when there was revealed a not-very- strong station on 6099.94 in what sounded like Italian. I assume this was R. Tirana, which is listed at 0300-0800 on 6100 and is often off- fqy. Liberia's carrier came on 6100 at 0625. There was a minute of music at 0627, then the Liberian NA with good audio, then an ID with very low audio. The man IDed as R. Liberia International, gave the SW frequency as 6100, and then went into a long program preview; however, the audio was so low that the talking was mostly unreadable. There was also heavy QRN this night. At 0632 they went into upbeat music, and the audio came back up. This problem of good music audio-bad voice audio is apparently intermittent, as I have heard them a few times before with steady audio (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet April 6 via DXLD) ** LITHUANIA. R. Vilnius, English at 2330 on 9875 is very good, with slight co-channel. 0030 on 11690 fair, splash from 11695 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. UNIDENTIFIED: Some A-02 observations. 9710 Persian. Just another Persian language station observed on [the Sitkunai freq of] 9710 kHz around 1030-1115, but has gone, when further check after 1030 UTC, when much stronger signal of German language religious program of Universal Life Wuerzburg on air there. Or is that Sitkunai in Persian on back lobe of the North America curtain antenna towards Iran ??? (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Attached please find a small MP3 file recorded today on 9710 at 1000. Most probably via Sitkunai. What is the name of the station/programme, "Radio Awaye-Ashena" it sounds to me? Also announced web page, but I did not try to find it. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, yes, I listened only "with one ear" but I think there was no carrier break after the English programme of Radio Vilnius; instead Sitkunai went straight into this broadcast after 30 seconds or so of open carrier. So evidently the same antenna configuration is in use for both programmes, usual suspect would be the 259 azimuth but the signal appears to be a bit weak for this beam to me. Transmission still in progress now, at 1045. 7300: Nothing heard here (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 1100 Sitkunai the Persian programme ended and was replaced by Fundamental Broadcasting Network (Mauno Ritola, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONGOLIA. A-02 Schedule for Voice of Mongolia. The following has been taken from the VOM website: Summer Broadcast Schedule of the Voice of Mongolia Greenwich time Frequency Power/Azimut Chinese 0930-1000 12015 250/500 0930-1000 990 126/120 1100-1130 9615 100/500 1100-1130 990 178/120 English 1000-1030 12015 250/178 1500-1530 12015 50/315 2000-2030 12015 50/315 Japanese 0830-0900 12015 250/126 1200-1230 9615 100/126 Mongolian 0900-0930 12015 250/500 0900-0930 990 126 120 1030-1100 9615 100/500 1030-1100 990 178/120 Russian 1330-1400 12015 50/315 sa/su (via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DXLD) Those azimuths are interesting; 50 degrees from UB crosses the Aleutians, and west of the California coast, i.e. hardly any land area beyond Asia; 315 cuts right across Europe around Brussels (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Have been hearing Radio Pakistan on 7090-95 a ham frequency, regularly at night and in the mornings (0100 UT). the transmissions are quite strong (SIO 444) in south-central India with news from Islamabad. Earlier we used to have Afghanistan under the Taliban on 7085 and now its the turn of Pakistan to use the amateur bands. Radio: Kenwood 570d Transceiver; Antenna: Dipole (Manikant Lodaya, VU2JRO, Vijayawada, India, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. PAKISTAN SETS CLOCK AHEAD BY ONE HOUR Pakistan has introduced daylight saving [sic] time for the first time this weekend, becoming the only country in South Asia to change its clocks for the summer. Clocks were moved forward an hour, to GMT plus six hours, at midnight, the government said. Pakistan said the move would be adopted annually only if liked by the people. Benefits include more time for leisure after work and lower power consumption, it said. Pakistan's time change means it will be 30 minutes ahead of India. Radio Pakistan was noted today with programs 1 hour earlier than before on MW and SW. E.g.: Home Service 4790, 5027, 7094.4 External Services: *0015-0100 Bengali, 0100-0145 Hindi, 0145-0215 Tamil all on 11580, 15455. Urdu was noted sign off at 0115 on 15485 and 17500. 0230-0300 15325 Gujarati. According to the Urdu news I heard it is valid upto October 5. (I have to confirm it) 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India dx_india April 7 via DXLD) I've been monitoring Radio Pakistan (External Services) today and it seems that they have shifted transmissions one hour earlier - maybe due to the adoption of summertime (UT +6). World Service to Gulf and ME was not heard at 0630 today, so now assumed to be at 0400-0600 on 15100 17485 21460. World Service to West Europe was heard at 0700-1005 (x 0800-1105) on 17520 (now co-channel Greece for the first hour) and 21465. English news at 0700 and 1000. I could not hear the South Asian Service which now uses 17500 and 15625 - sched says 1000-1245, but assume now 0900- 1145. 17500 blocked by BUL from 1000. Chinese sched 1200-1230 (assume now 1100-1130) on 17485 15100 - inaudible due co-ch D. Welle on 17485 and no signal on 15100 at 1100 or 1200. World Service to Gulf and ME heard at 1230-1430 (ex 1330-1530) and English news and Commentary at 1500-1515 (ex 1600-1615) on 11570 15100 and to East Africa on 15725 - listed 17725 inaudible. Turki and Russian which was sched 1345-1500 on 9425 and 7355 (now probably 1245-1400) was not propagating. Neither was Dari sched 1515- 1545 (now probably 1445-1515) on 6105 7375. ME Service heard opening at 1530 (formerly 1630-1830) so until 1730 now on 15725 11545 in Turkish, Irani and Arabic - all intro in English. World Service to West Europe heard sign on at 1600-1800 (ex 1700-1900) on 15100 & 11570. I assume the Islamabad Program to Gulf and Iran sched at 1800-1900 on 9390 will appear at 1700-1800. Early day programmes are listed on their schedule: 0045-0215 World Service to East Asia on 17500 15485 0045-0245 South Asian Services on 11580 15455 0330-0400 Gujrati service to East Africa on 15325 17825 I assume all one hour earlier now. Home Services are not audible to me - sched are : via Islamabad 0045-0215 on 6165; 0600-0907 and 1000-1115 on 9645; 1350-1400 and 1420-1428 on 7115, 1615-1700 on 6105. Current Affairs 0200-0400 and 1300-1800 on 7095 Regional Services via Quetta - Peshawar - Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi III (Azad Kashmir - via Islamabad) are all unchanged. Balti and Sheena via Islamabad 0430-0515 and 0530-0615 now use 7225. I assume these will also be ONE hour earlier too. Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio LTC is operating on new frequency 5005.3 kHz. The station can be heard in central Europe, too. Here is the logging: 5005.3, Radio LTC, Juliaca, April 5th, 2315-0005, Spanish, latino pop songs, several clear IDs; relatively good signal at 2315 with SINPO 33333, then decreasing. Good DX (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** PERU. 5005.32, Radio L.T.C., Juliaca, La provincia de San Román, el departamento de Puno. April 4 2002 - 2355 UT. New frequency after a short period on 5032.04 kHz, a frequency which suffers from heavy splash from Dr. Gene Scott! Earlier noted on 6011.32. Until 0000 UT music nonstop --- then a long block of ads, a.o. ad for "Universidad Andina". Decent and free signal. ID: "Radio L.T.C. con tecnología digital". Info from "Ventanaperu": Provincia de San Román, cuya capital es Juliaca. Sus distritos son: Cabana, Cabanillas, Caracoto, Juliaca; con una población total de 164,450 hab. 6642.72 harmonic // 5535.61 harmonic: Radio Comercial, Lajas, la provincia de Chota, el departamento de Cajamarca. Only a short explanation why I and Rafael Rodríguez have reported Radio Comercial on different frequencies. Some months before Radio Lajas, Lajas was reactivated on SW with the new name "Radio Comercial" I logged the station on 6642.72 kHz. This is certainly a harmonic from MW 1107.12 kHz. Later I have logged Radio Comercial on 5535.61 kHz, a harmonic from the same MW-frequency (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 7, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RRI, English to NAm at 0200, 11940 is of variable quality, good or hashy; jammed? At 0400, 11940 is good at times or completely buried in heavy hash. Both transmissions are hit or miss. I`ve heard them quite good. Next time, heavy hash. I wonder if there`s a jammer, or their transmitter is pitiful. Sounds like a welder with acy torch! Later: I suspect a jammer on 11940. Now I`ve heard 11940 clean. And buried in noise, heavy hash during English to NAm. After that closes, 11940 comes back on with minor hash, in a foreign language and beamed elsewhere!! Would they jam themselves? I think this was a past controversy just a few years ago (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. VOR English to NAm confirmed active: 0100 on 9665, 9725 [Vatican?] 0200 on 9665, 9725 0300 best on 9665; also 11750 good, 12000-?, 17565 poor, 17650 poor, 17660-?, 17690 poor. 0400-0500 on 9665, 11750; 12000-? Has splash from Arabic 12005; 17565, 17650, 17690 poor, 17660-? (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. RSI, English to NAm at 0100: 5930 has splash from 5935; 6190 and 9440 both very good (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Channel Africa schedule March 31-October 26, 2002. 0300-0330 E, C Africa 6035 0400-0430 S Africa 5955 0500-0530 W Africa 11710 0600-0630 W Africa 15215 1300-1455 Sa-Su, S. Africa 11720, E, C Africa 17780, W. Africa 21725 1500-1530 E, C Africa 17770 1600-1630 S Africa 9525 1700-1730 W Africa 17860 1800-1830 W Africa 17870 Channel Africa doesn't make it obvious where to find the frequency schedule as it once did. You have to click the Ondemand broadcast link to find it (Channel Africa website, http://www.channelafrica.org/ via Daniel Sampson, Arcadia, WI, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or go to André du Toit`s site as recently linked (gh, DXLD) A-02 Schedule for Channel Africa HF TRANSMISSIONS FROM MEYERTON TRANSMITTING STATION Effective from 31 March 2002 to 26 October 2002. All times quoted are UTC. All transmissions are Monday to Sunday, unless otherwise indicated. CHANNEL AFRICA Time-UTC Freq-kHz Tx-kW Target-Area Swahili 0300-0325 6095 250 East, Central Africa 1500-1525 17780 250 East, Central Africa 1600-1630 17860 250 East, Central Africa English 0300-0330 6035 500 East, Central Africa 0400-0430 5955 500 Southern Africa 0500-0530 11710 500 West Africa 0600-0630 15215 500 West Africa 1300-1455 21725 250 West Africa (sa/su only) 1300-1455 17780 250 East, Central Africa (sa/su only) 1300-1455 11720 100 Southern Africa (sa/su only) 1500-1530 17770 500 East, Central Africa 1600-1630 9525 500 Southern Africa 1700-1730 17860 500 West Africa 1800-1830 17870 500 West Africa French 0330-0355 6035 500 Madagascar 0430-0455 9525 250 Central Africa 1530-1555 17770 500 Madagascar 1630-1655 17860 250 East, Central Africa 1830-1855 17870 500 West Africa Portuguese 0430-0455 5955 500 Northern Mozambique 0430-0455 3345 100 Southern Mozambique 0530-0555 11710 500 Angola 0630-0655 15215 500 Angola, West Africa 1630-1655 9525 500 Northern Mozambique 1630-1655 3345 100 Southern Mozambique 1730-1755 17860 500 Angola, West Africa HF TRANSMISSIONS FROM MEYERTON TRANSMITTING STATION Effective from 31 March 2002 to 26 October 2002 RADIO SONDER GRENSE 0530-0800 7185 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans 0800-1620 9650 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans 1620-0530 3320 100 Northern Cape, RSA Afrikaans SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE 0800-0900 Sunday 9750 100 Southern Africa English 0800-0900 Sunday 21560 250 Central Africa English 1800-1900 Monday 3215 100 Southern Africa English (From Sentech website via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. REE really can`t make up its mind which of the two English schedules recently published here to follow! While UT Sat they were on 15385 until 0100*, there was no sign of it UT Sun April 7 at 0050 check, but instead English was on 6055 with Justin Coe announcing some music, ``Heartbreak Radio` as the week`s radio song on Radio Waves. Tagline: ``Keep your radio on, and your TV off``. 0057 to IS, and 0100 into Spanish on 6055, still no signal on 15385. Then I checked all the listed Spanish frequencies in DXLD 2-047 in case English had been misplaced somewhere. Nothing but Spanish, including 0106 Amigos de la Onda Corta, a DX program I quit listening to months ago, but decided to give another chance this time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I noticed the same thing you did on Friday night. There was no second hour of English on 15385. Hour of French ran before the hour of English. Glad to see 'em back on 15385 instead of trying to serve NAm on 6055 in summer (Mike Cooper, GA, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REE, English at 0000 is good to very good on 15385. But no show at 0100. They announce it as used again at 0100, but at 0059 carrier goes off, checked Sunday and Monday! Not on 6055 in English, so where? Also announce 6055 for 0500 repeat. Strange stuff at REE (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. RTI, English to NAm at 0200: 5950 is good but with some NHK 5960 [Canada] splash; 9680 fair to poor with co-channel or 9685 QRM. At 0300, 5950 good with some 5960 NHK splash; 9680 good with slight co-channel (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand, English to NAm on 15395: 0030 is fair; 0300, UAE Dubai 15400 hits it (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOT, English to NAm at 0300 is very good on 11655 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. RUI`s DX program is up to its old tricks: the one UT Sun April 7 at 0020 was a repeat of a previous one, unforgettable, since it included the item about someone hearing RUI`s megawatt on a crystal set in North America. Hello from Kiev which followed was also a repeat, with George Glotzbach of Santa Fe called toward the outset. And what`s going on with the webcast? Checked Sunday April 7 at 2122 UT for English hour including Music from Ukraine, instead had talk in Ukrainian! But following Ivan`s tip below I tried at 2253 and indeed English was on an hour ``late`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK? None! Glenn, RUI online is in Ukrainian 2100 on April 7, when English is scheduled. Later: RUI online is in English 2200 April 7th. Will that mean they will be on at 0100 and 0400? Stay tuned! One more thing about RUI online. The Saturday DX and mailbag programs were broadcast on Sunday April 7, 2200. No Music From Ukraine (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12040 is very good at 0000; at 0300 fair, with 12045 splash (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. UAE Radio, Dubai, English to NAm at 0330: 13675 good, 15400 fair, 12005 covered by another Arabic [Tunisia?] (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. I had to be out during the initial broadcast of R. Ezra to WNAm, Sat April 6 at 2330 on 17665 via DV Russia. Just caught his last five words (literally) at 2359, tho, on the portable YB-400, and also judging from the open carrier which followed, signals were good this far inland (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RUSSIA, ASIATIC 17665 "Radio Ezra" program via Petro. K. 2330-2358 6 April English - John Hill's views on religion - "Any good at all?" SIO 544 here, very strong (Bill Flynn, Cave Junxion OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Those considering buying SW airtime would be well advised to digest the following info just posted at the WWCR site added to the FAQ section: BUYING SHORTWAVE AIRTIME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS http://www.wwcr.com/sw_airtime_q_and_a.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, From the WSM web site http://www.wsmonline.com ``We are proud to announce some great improvements in our internet streaming audio!! We changed our internet audio stream provider effective April 1, 2002. Previously, if you listened to us over the internet you had to have a "Real Audio" player installed on your computer to hear us. Now, all you will need is a Windows Media Player.`` Great improvements? Where? The jury is still out on that issue. All of the Yahoo Broadcast Archives are gone from the past several months, and in addition, if you want to listen to WSM live on the Internet, you must register with your E-Mail address and other personal information (Dave Kirby, N1DK, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A SWORD OVER WEB RADIO From RAIN http://www.kurthanson.com/ Radio stations sound the same from San Diego to Schenectady. The homogenization began in 1996 when Congress lifted the cap on the number of stations a single network could own. About the only break from the three or four cookie-cut Ashanti/N'Sync/Clint Black playlist variations comes from a growing number of independent ''Webcasters'' who stream colorful and original programming on the Internet. Congress may wind up shutting them down, though, if it allows the U.S. Copyright Office to levy draconian "sound recording performance royalties" on enterprises transmitting over the Internet. The proposed fee --- a bit more than 1/10th of a cent per song per listener--may not sound like much, but when you realize that most Webcasters have zippo revenues and that they would have to pay the fee retroactively since 1998, the truly crippling cost becomes clear. Take a mid-size independent Webcaster --- say, two or three people working out of a home office or dorm room. Their average audience may have been 1,000 listeners over the past three years. Their bill for retroactive royalties would be $525,600. Currently, over-the-air broadcasters have to hand over about 4% of their revenues as "artist performance royalties" that go to songwriters and music publishers. American broadcasters, however, have never been required to pay a sound recording fee because more than half a century ago they persuaded Congress that record labels are already well compensated through the promotional benefit of having their music played. The same logic should apply to Webcasters. They already have to pay 4% of their revenue in artist royalties. It's not fair to stick them with a second fee because, if anything, they provide better promotion than traditional broadcasters by showing the album they are playing so listeners can purchase it with the click of a mouse. The Recording Industry Assn. of America has argued that the additional fee would help compensate for any damage that computer geeks might cause by pirating music broadcast over the Internet. The truth is that in order to stream music, Webcasters have to degrade its sound quality to the point that it is unattractive to thieves. So, the only way to explain the fee is as an unwarranted windfall for the recording industry --- but that doesn't fly either, because the fee would promptly drive the entrepreneurs who are supposed to pay it out of business. A misguided 1998 law created the problem by requiring the Copyright Office to impose a new fee. Now federal legislators need to revise the dictate, making clear that they never intended it to demolish diversity (via Mike Terry, DXLD) While no doubt this is a serious threat, and I agree with the injustice of it all, as one who listens primarily to classical music, and has more available than can possibly be consumed, I fail to comprehend how this will have any major effect on my listening if implemented. Furthermore, what about all the webcasters originating outside the USA? Surely they will not be subject to this, and can go on as usual (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Hello y'all, Just a short note to let you know that I have received a large number of reception reports from the Washington offices of VOA. I will get your reports verified as time permits. Keeping the transmitters running is my main job. I am very pleased to be able to help out with the QSLing for VOA. Please be patient, I know some of the reports are from last fall. 73, (John @ Delano Vodenik, swl via DXLD) I'm searching for someone interested in doing the RFE/RL QSLs now that Walcutt is gone. Will probably check at the German sites (Dan Ferguson, IBB, ibid.) ** VENEZUELA. SURPRISING UPLOAD OF A SOUND FILE: Resistencia Caribe FM Estéreo, operated by the Colombian FARC guerilla, but apparently broadcasting from Venezuelan soil, was mentioned in DXLD 2-054 (see also information under Colombia, in DXLD 2-053). A sound file from their Dec 10, 2001 broadcast has been uploaded by the Caracas newspaper El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com/2002/04/04/colo.ram The recording, almost 5 minutes long, contains a commentary in a regular feature called ``Revista informativa Notifarc`` praising the virtues of an agrarian law to be promulgated the same day in Barinas state, at the same time as a good deal of the 6-million population of Caracas was hitting the streets in two separate rallies, one in favor of, and another one in opposition to the ruling President Hugo Chávez Frías. To the tune of ``Colombia, tierra querida``, as interpreted by Matilde Díaz with Lucho Bermúdez and his Orchestra, the station calling itself Resistencia Caribe FM Estéreo claims to be part of the ``Cadena Radial Bolivariana Voz de la Resistencia`` and announces 95.7 and 106.7 as their frequencies (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Apr 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. VOV, English to NAm at 0100, 0230 and 0330, very good on 6175 [via Canada] (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-056, April 6, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1125: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1124.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sun 0330 5070; Sun 0730, Mon 0000, 0500 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB NEXT AIRING ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: 1400 UT Sun [NEW] to North America MONITORING REMINDERS: Updates for DST timeshifts are being made continually, and at the moment they are completed through Sunday April 7, soon for the rest of the week; and with an ever-growing listing of interesting things to hear day by day in April-May: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** AFGHANISTAN. I just received a non detailed confirmation - gif via email from Lt. Edward E. Shank Chief of Public Affairs, 193rd Special Operations Wing, edward.shank@paharr.ang.af.mil Text of the document: This card acknowledges the receipt of a broadcast delivered by Commando Solo II during Operation Enduring Freedom. Thank you for your support of the 193rd Special Operations Wing. The report was from Oct. 24, 2001, a zipped wav file was attached to it. The signature of the email reads: "I believe that forgiving [terrorists] is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - General Norman Schwartzkopf --- No comment on that... vy 73, (Willi Passmann, hard- core-dx via DXLD) Since then many others report duplicates (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. That much touted special programming on the Afghanistan's 30-year war will air this Wednesday, April 10, 9 a.m. to noon, according to an advertisement in the Globe and Mail. Ricky Leong, QC, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe this refer to CBC Radio One (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. A MAJOR UPDATE OF THE LISTING OF ARGENTINE CATHOLIC RADIO COMES FROM A NEW READER THERE Editor`s Note: Señor Luciano Gentile of Argentina, having seen my Directory of Catholic Radio in Latin America on the pages of ACI Prensa, the Catholic news agency in Lima, Perú, wrote me about his website and his interest in radio in South America, and particularly in Catholic radio. I sent him the directory, and he replied almost the following day with this extraordinary list of additions and corrections for the directory. In doing these newsletters for over three years, I have never received a letter like his, as long as his, and as detailed and helpful as his. I am very grateful to Señor Gentile for sharing his information with us; I have put it in the directory, which I hope to finish revising and distribute within the next two months or so. I encourage everyone to visit his excellent website at http://www.geocities.com/luciano139/ (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update April 8 via DXLD) Quick scan indicates almost all are on FM, with a few AM; I doubt any SW be involved (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. From: http://www.rferl.org Yerevan, 5 April 2002 (RFE/RL) -- More than 10,000 people rallied today in Yerevan to condemn the closure of Armenia's main independent television station, which has often been critical of authorities. Leaders from the 14 opposition parties that organized the demonstration warned President Robert Kocharian that there will be a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience" unless he ensures that the A1 Plus channel can resume broadcasts within a week. The opposition party leaders said Kocharian ordered a state commission on broadcasting to strip A1 Plus of its frequency on 2 April. The commission granted a tender for the frequency to an entertainment company with reported links to the presidential administration. The regulatory body appointed by Kocharian said the Sharm company submitted a stronger bid. The Armenian leader has denied any involvement in the bidding. But opposition leaders addressing today's rally accused Kocharian of stifling dissent ahead of presidential elections due next year. Kocharian is scheduled to meet tomorrow with a group of A1 Plus reporters (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Here we go again: Why is Asia Pacific running at 2305 UT Friday instead of Lingua Franca, contrary to the usual scheduling, as in latest previews? No, I`m not confused about DST, which has not yet started here, and ended there last week (Glenn Hauser, OK, swprograms via DXLD) Dunno. There have been a lot of anomalies lately. This weekend's Feedback details problems they've been having with their automation system. Maybe the answer lies there. I'll e-mail Broadbent for an explanation, but that won't be coming until late Sunday night (our time) at the earliest (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Yes, I was half expecting Feedback also to be missing at 0005 UT Sat, but it was on, starting with an interview about their JOSS (? Some such acronym) automation system being down for a week because of a hard-drive crash. Poor people there were actually having to re-learn how to play programming manually! Thought they were about to get the hang of it, but admitted to a lot of errors the past week, and hoped to have the auto back in service this weekend. Later they were moaning about losing rights to stupid ballgames which had been carried on Grandstand (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Right now I hear on 7210 only the local noise floor, on 6115 Voice of Turkey in Uzbek but nothing else. But this certainly not says that Kalodiscy is really off so far. Early evening I had nothing from BLR on 6115, 7210, while 6010, 6040, 6070, 6080, 7145 were parallel with 279. Apparently the 6115, 7210 transmitters are off for technical work (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 5 2115, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The weather today really not entices to do extensive outdoor listening, but I went out for some brief monitoring of the Belorussian frequencies around 1315: I could not trace any outlet from Belarus`. The matter certainly needs more observations but it surely is remarkable that even 7110 (Hrodna/Grodno) and 7210 were not audible although they used to be hardly to miss in the absence of local noise here (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6 1348, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non]. Glenn, Canadian media coverage of Tuesday's funeral. http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1017961298435&call_page=TS_Entertainment&call_pageid=968867495754&call_pagepath=Entertainment/News (via Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2247 LIVE FUNERAL COVERAGE FOR ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER BEGINS APRIL 5 ON CBC-TV, CBC NEWSWORLD, CBC RADIO amd CBC.CA [Radio-related paragraph excerpted] CBC Radio One will carry live coverage of the Queen Mother's funeral beginning at 6 a.m. ET with host Michael Enright in London. Joining Enright for the broadcast will be Douglas Keay, royal historian, biographer (via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) *1000 UT FUNERAL OF HM THE QUEEN MOTHER: (EARLY TUESDAY MORNING) Join host Michael Enright early Tuesday morning for live coverage of the funeral for Her Majesty The Queen Mother. Michael will be reporting from a balcony at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster overlooking Westminster Abbey and the funeral procession route. Royal historian and biographer Douglas Keay will be with Michael to provide expert analysis and commentary. The program will include the full funeral service. And reporter Derek Stoffel will mingle with the crowds capturing the atmosphere on the street. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday morning on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) According to a brief by Canadian Press in the Gazette's Arts section today, CBC Radio is considering axing Saturday Night Blues. (I can't summarize it any more... That's how short the brief was!) (Ricky Leong, QB, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also AFGHANISTAN non ** CANADA. Canadian Catholic Radio. Miguel.. I am John Renaud, El President.. of Canadian Catholic Radio whose Board is located in Windsor Ontario, across from Detroit. The CCR website/ radio internet station http://www.canadiancatholicradio.ca/ has a triple A rating form Peter's Net,. but the number of hits since its inception I think is slow, but when looking at some others (not comparable to EWTN), I am frustrated with the numbers and the promotion I do with small results. I don't plan to pay companies to promote it because of my concern with the garbage that may appear. With a Translator Program and links to:.... the Vatican, ...Catholic History of Canada in Quebec and the Jesuit Missions,.. the Catholic Resources and Bishops Conferences ,..international Catholic Media,. Bulletin Board,...Catholic News,....Catholic Family,...Apologetics....Messenger Board for Catholic secondary/university students,...and the radio internet station,. Days in the Diocese & World Youth Day........I think we have a variety of great Catholic resources overall. The radio internet station will be linked to a future radio station to transmit programming across Canada and internationally.,. a real challenge with Canadian government control. [sic] (John Renaud, Canadian Catholic Radio jr.ccr@sympatico.ca Catholic Radio Update April 8 via DXLD) This is a good time to rail against filling one`s writing with dots.............. They are an atrocity, an editor`s nightmare, and totally unnecessary. Give your fourth finger (?) a rest! The proper use of only 3 dots is to indicate that something has been omitted (by the editor, not the original writer). In almost all other cases, they should be replaced by one comma, one semicolon; or a dash --- Also, please avoid using the & instead of the word and, as it gets converted into extraneous symbols. Thanks (Glenn Hauser, Editor, DXLD) ** CHINA. Horario de emisiones en español de R. Internacional de China vigente desde el 31 de marzo del 2002: 2100-2200 9640, 11775 2200-2300 9640, 11690, 11775 2300-0000 11880, 11650 0000-0100 5990, 11880, 15120, 17720 0100-0200 9665, 17720 0200-0300 17720, 13685 0300-0400 9560, 9665 (Ramón Vázquez Dourado, España, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Earthspan is a new(?) show which shows up at unexpected times on RFPI, such as substituting for Mailbag, Sat Apr 6 at 1830. If you think you know what happened on 9\11, this will shake you up. Conspiracy theorists, arise! Close connexions between the Bush and Bin-Laden families, etc. Current RFPI listing says: EARTHSPAN (30 minutes) This weekly program of news and commentary is drawn from articles in the War & Peace daily online World Updates features and articles and reviews in the War and Peace Digest. Earthspan is presented by War and Peace Director of Special Projects Kevin Sanders, Fox news commentator and former CNN Science Editor and ABC TV critic. Tue: 2030 (new time)/Fri: 2100- Topics: For details please see the War and Peace website: http://www.warpeace.org/WPmn.html (RFPI website) This site bills Saunders as United Nations bureau chief for RFPI, so this could be classified as an RFPI production. Also, if you are wondering whether WOR will appear this week Sunday at 1830 plus repeats, look for a note under One World, One Family in the RFPI Weekly Update http://www.rfpi.org/update.html as that Baha`í program is usually missing (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. CUBA PROTESTS 'SUBVERSIVE' U.S. RADIO HANDOUTS From: http://www.reuters.com April 05, 2002 10:08 PM ET By Andrew Cawthorne HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba complained Friday of an escalation of "subversive" activities by U.S. diplomats stationed in Havana including the distribution of hundreds of short-wave radios to anti- Castro "counter-revolutionaries." Randy Alonso, moderator of a nightly state TV program which is a mouthpiece for President Fidel Castro's government, announced on the show that Cuba's Foreign Ministry had formally complained about the radio handouts and other propaganda acts. Alonso said that Wednesday "our country's Foreign Ministry presented its most energetic protests at the continual provocations and efforts by the U.S. Interests Section to subvert the constitutional order and carry out activities against the Cuban revolution." Alonso and other state commentators on the "Round Table" program said American diplomats had for several months been carrying out a more aggressive policy toward Cuba at the behest of President Bush's government. The diplomats, Alonso said, had been "going around various provinces to organize, finance and instruct little counter-revolutionary groups, and hand out clandestine publications and contraband items." The more than 500 radios distributed by U.S. diplomats across Cuba were programmed to pick up U.S. government-funded anti-Castro station Radio Martí from Miami, they said. Vicki Huddleston, head of the U.S. diplomatic mission or Interests Section in Havana, said that in fact American diplomats had distributed "more, quite a bit more" than the 500 radios mentioned by Cuba Friday. Her staff have also in recent months been handing out books to Cubans, including to home-based libraries being set up by anti-Castro dissidents. Havana accuses Radio Martí of stimulating illegal migration from Cuba and inciting violence like February's break-in at the Mexican Embassy by young Cubans seeking to leave the island. "ISN'T IT WEIRD?" "The idea that it's subversive to distribute radios, and then to have six or seven adult men sitting round a table complaining about it seems almost ludicrous. Isn't it weird?" Huddleston told Reuters. "I couldn't see there was anything there that anyone would have any objection to in a normal society." Huddleston has been more outspoken in recent months in her public criticism of Castro's political system and her support for local dissidents whom Havana condemns as pawns of the U.S. government or Cuban American exile groups in Florida. Friday's program appeared to be the start of a militant Cuban response to heightened U.S. activism. A state-run rally was scheduled for Saturday morning in Havana where, according to a statement in the ruling Communist Party's daily newspaper Granma, "130,000 of the capital's residents ... will raise their voice to condemn the provocative, subversive and meddling activity of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana." Washington and Havana broke formal diplomatic ties since soon after Castro's 1959 revolution, but set up Interests Sections under President Jimmy Carter's 1977-1981 presidency. Alonso said the U.S. Interests Section's heightened activism in recent months was being master-minded by the "furious terrorist" Otto Reich, an anti-Castro Cuban American recently appointed by Bush as his Latin American policy chief. Another state commentator, Reinaldo Taladrid, said leading local dissidents Raul Rivero, Oswaldo Paya and Elizardo Sánchez were receiving thousands of dollars from the United States as "employees" of Washington. "I'm going Monday to ask Vicki for my money because I never received it," quipped Sánchez in a telephone interview after the program. He was accused of receiving nearly $5,500 in the last few months. "We're used to this sort of attack against which we have no right of defense," he said, calling the "Round Table" show a form of "Caribbean Taliban-ism" in which fundamentalist official views were aired with no right of reply (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Geez, how can anyone take Arnie Coro, pretending to promote SW, or even R. Havana Cuba in its entirety as a SW broadcaster, seriously, when their government comes down hard on the mere possession of SW radios in that benighted country? Would be interesting to know brand and model of radios distributed. Evidently with some memories set on Martí frequencies, but surely not limited to that. Now, if the radios were fix-tuned so they could *only* get RM frequencies, like Christian missionary broadcasters have had the gall to do in many even more unfortunate countries, that would be a different matter (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. RADIO MARIA ECUADOR REPORTED ON TROPICAL BAND; MARKS ARRIVAL OF NEW CATHOLIC SHORTWAVE RADIO Quito, Apr 1 (CRU) Radio María Ecuador, a rather recent addition to the World Family of Radio Maria, which began with an FM station in Quito, the capital and is expanding across Ecuador through its own FM network, is now reported on shortwave, too. According to the Italian radio club website and newsletter BCL News, Radio María Ecuador can now be heard over station HCVN7, the former La Voz del Napo in Tena, which had been off the air. HCVN7 operates on 3280 kHz with 2,500 watts and belonged to the Josefina Mission. It is not listed on the Ecuadorian telecommunications agency website, Supertel, whose listings carry a date of February of this year. So, the use of HCVN7 by Radio María Ecuador is fairly recent. Indeed, the website of BCL reports the station heard on March 3rd and March 23rd, and both captures heard clear identifications. This marks the third sortie by a Radio Maria World Family station onto the shortwave bands. The first occurred in RMWF's native Italy, when it took over the operation of Radio Spoleto International (now closed). Radio Maryja Poland leases a good many hours daily over Russian shortwave transmitters. HCVN7 La Voz del Napo, HCRP1 Radio Nacional Católica in Quito, Radio Nacional Católica in Santo Domingo, and HCFF1 Radio Jesús de Gran Poder in Quito are four of the approximately 30 shortwave transmitters that have closed in the last 20 years in Perú [sic]. Tena is in eastern foothills of the Cordillera Oriental, in the jungles of Ecuador. Database: Tena: HCVN7, La Voz del Napo, 3280 kHz (2,500 watts). This station has been closed/Esta radio está cerrada. Misión Josefina, Tena. Señor Ramiro Cabrera, director. Quito: Radio María Ecuador 100.1 FM. Fundación Radio María. Calles Baquerizo Moreno 281 y Leonidas Plaza. Tels.: (593-2) 564714, 564719, and 558702. Fax (593-2) 237630. Control room: 239800. Fr. Francisco Palacios, director. E-mail: radiomaria@andina.net. Website: http://www.radiomariaecuador.org Repetidoras: Olon 105.3 FM, Ibarra 101.5 FM, Macas 98.9 FM, Nueva Loja 104.1 FM (Catholic Radio Update April 8 via DXLD) This is not really news to DXLD readers... (gh) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. I stumbled on 6180 over a "Clandestine-like" programme which turned out to be a Jülich transmission, on air Saturdays only 0800-0900 and indeed not included in the publicly distributed schedule. This transmission is of course meant for expatriates in Europe, but I cannot make out who this is, so I have to leave this task to you (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) GERMANY to ETHIOPIA 6180 Rainbow Radio 0800-0900 Sat via Julich, not listed on published schedule. Heard today (Kai Ludwig, Apr 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Well, as said above, in this case *not* to Ethiopia, right? (gh, DXLD) Hi Kai, I remember a similar weekend broadcast has been noted in previous years, depending on their funds. See DXLD 1-085. In the HFCC list, there is a Saturday outlet on 6180 kHz already mentioned. 6180 0800-0900 27,28 JUL 100 0 123456 3103-271002 DTK 6180 0800-0900 27,28 JUL 100 0 7 3103-271002 DTK (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. The old frequency was 17520 but it wasn't used as late as 17905. Yes they are on 17905 but what I meant was that they are blocking out 17904 (Morrison Hoyle, Foster, Victoria, Australia, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 4819.1, HRVC, has reactivated after being off several months. Nice signal at 1115 April 6 with multiple IDs in Spanish. Also announcing website of http://www.hrvc.org which has streaming audio [wasn't working when I tried] and an email address (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONÉSIA. Há alguns dias foi anunciado que a Voz da Turquia estaria transmitindo, em espanhol, às 1730, em 15150 kHz. Alexandre Dória, que reside em Dublin, na Irlanda, tentou captar a emissora e teve uma surpresa: a emissora turca não estava lá. Ele acabou sintonizando a Voz da Indonésia, também em espanhol. Conforme Alexandre, o espanhol dos indonésios era muito engraçado: as palavras eram lidas com os acentos de forma errada, como se fossem estrangeiros que nunca estudaram aquele idioma. Diz ele: "aquele serviço em espanhol da Voz da Indonésia, que ninguém comenta, existe mesmo!" (@tividade DX April 5 via DXLD) Hora certa para Turquia em espanhol pelos 15150: 1630-1700 TU (DXLD 2- 047 via gh, DXLD 2-056) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. From RSGB: A new amateur radio satellite has been launched. According to the AMSAT News Service, RS-21 was launched on the 20th of March from a Russian Progress M-1-7 launcher that had taken supplies to the International Space Station. Alex Zaitzev, RW3DZ, the director of the Microsat Office of the Russian Space Research Institute, described RS- 21 as a non-governmental, non-commercial project, built with the co- operation of students in Russia and Australia. It is in a circular orbit just over 200 miles above the earth and operating on 145.825 and 435.335 MHz. RS-21 uses both CW and FSK for telemetry transmissions - but it won't be on the air for long. RW3DZ said the satellite was designed with a limited lifespan and it will fall back into the atmosphere within a few months. Until then RS-21 will send down data and digitally-recorded voice messages (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. From The RSGB: Special event station GB90MGY will be on the air from the 13th to 15th of April to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Titanic disaster. The callsign suffix recalls the MGY callsign the Titanic used on her fateful maiden voyage in 1912. The station will be active on all HF bands from 80 to 10 metres on CW only, from 1030 UT on the 13th of April until 0647 UT on the 15th. This is the precise time that the Titanic sank after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic, with the loss of more than 1500 lives. Members of the Titanic Wireless Commemorative Group will operate GB90MGY from a replica of the Titanic`s wireless room. For more information, contact Michael Shortland, G0EFO. The station will be on the air from Godalming in Surrey, the birthplace of the Titanic's radio operator Jack Phillips, who stayed at his post sending out distress calls to alert other ships and helping to save more than 700 lives. An exhibition called 'Jack Phillips and the Titanic' has already opened at Godalming Museum and will remain open until the 25th of May. Ralph Barrett, G2FQS, is giving a presentation called 'Titanic and the Radio SOS' at the Borough Hall in Godalming, on Friday the 12th of April. Ralph's presentation includes rare recordings made by survivors of the disaster. The venue is about 10 minutes walk from Godalming Station. Tickets for the event are available from Godalming Museum on 01 483 426 510 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Sedaye Iran has popped up on top of Radio Denmark at 1630 UT on 17525 kHz. http://www.krsi.net Anybody having an idea about the tx location? (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thought to be TDF, Issoudun, France. Weren`t they on 17520 before? Good luck! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Yes, in Clandestine Watch, Anker Petersen reported them in November on 17520. Today they were NOT on the air. Only the Iranian jammer was heard - and it is still on. Others days in this week the signal here was S9+++++++. And Yes, the site is believed to be Issoudun, but the French frequency manager "does not know anything" about this transmission. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, later April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. I received a very nice large calendar measuring 16 inches wide by 22 inches high from Radio Roma in Rome, Italy last week. The envelope was barely covering the calendar. The postal services had mutilated it well beyond the point of being useful. It was very easy to take the calendar from the envelope! Amazingly, other than a few bends and wrinkles from people trying to fold something that was not supposed to be folded, (can't the postal people read?), it survived the journey in good condition. I kept the one they sent me last year, as they are beautifully done and worth saving. Nice photography and very nice pictorial images of Italian culture and landmarks (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, Flint MI, swl@qth.net April 6 via DXLD) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. 1098, V7AD, Radio Majuro, Majuro, Mar 19 1230 - Noted here throughout the DXpedition at fair to good carrier level, but with quite low level modulation. The transmitter is being left on the air after sign-off (1000 scheduled) and heard as an Open Carrier as late as 1400 [John Bryant, Grayland WA, NRC IDXD via DXLD] ** MEXICO. 830, XEITE Mexico DF, MAR 24 1158 - choral Mexican Anthem in progress at recording start, 1159 "Esta es XEITE AM, Estadio W, ocho trienta", ex-XELA. Internet research shows this to be sports programming now, ex-classical music. Reviewed my notes from MAR 02 recordings on 830 and noted the "Estadio W" slogan around 0600 and 0700. Steve Francis reported this still XELA with classical music on FEB 13. Appears the call/format change occurred sometime between FEB 13 and MAR 2 (Bruce Winkelman, Tulsa OK, NRC IDXD via DXLD) Oh, no! (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. México City will go on DST the same time as Alto México, early Sunday April 7, according to a government Energy Department PSA I happened to hear on XEOI 6010, April 6 at 0712. So XERMX and R. Educación programming should all shift one UT hour earlier. Then on the Cadena Continental de Noticias via KZUE-1460 El Reno, OK, news at 2000 UT April 6, an item said that all states of the Republic, except for Sonora, would go on DST from April 7 until October 27 (same dates as EUA). Don`t recall Sonora being an exception before; wasn`t it Chihua2? That means BCN would be on UT-7, BCS on UT-6, Sonora to the east of it on UT-7! Sinaloa and Nayarit on UT-6, and the rest of the country on UT-5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. R. Educación, 6185, has a DX show I happened across quite by chance, UT Fri April 5 at 0611. Believe it was called ``Cápsula DX`` and this one gave a propagation primer starting with longwave, and on up as I fell asleep. Much of the time this station really has some great music, including classical through the night, but it is no longer original SW programming. Next night at 0700, ID only for MW 1060, then into a very strange show including a horoscope for someone in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. Can anyone refer us to a detailed program schedule, including SW-only which presumably is still the case before local midnight? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Paraguay cambia su hora el próximo domingo 7 de abril de -3 UTC (hora de verano) a -4 UTC (hora normal). En cuanto a Radio América, ayer aparentemente utilizaron la nueva planta para la AM, ya que la señal era mucho mejor de lo común en mi QTH donde casi nunca la puedo sintonizar. En el nuevo QTH que está en Villeta, utilizarán una antena de 5/8 de onda a diferencia de la actual que es de 1/4 de onda (50m de alto más o menos). Procuré comunicarme con el Sr. Mur pero no lo logré. 73 de (Levi Iversen, Paraguay, April 4, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. Observed Radio Nacional del Perú on 1320 kHz, 5 April at 0920 UT with promo for a Salsa music show and programs for "los campesinos". Is this a new outlet, someone relaying them or a freq swap between 850 and 1320 (R La Crónica)???? Would appreciate some help on this one (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have found the WEB of Radio Nacional de Perú, and SURPRISE, they have bought Radio La Crónica, so Radio La Crónica doesn't exist any more and this may explain why you have listened on 1320 kHz Radio Nacional del Peru. WEB: http://www.radionacional.com.pe/cobertura.htm not seen their e-mail, but they have a place where to post messages, in Spanish naturally. Hope to have been useful to you. Ggood dxs (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5005.28, Radio LTC, fair signal on this new freq with "LTC Noticias" at 1003 April 5. Many IDs and station promos (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Hello DXers, I have just posted the A02 sched from Meyerton on my home page. 73, Best wishes from South Africa, (André du Toit adutoit@mweb.co.za http://home.mweb.co.za/an/andre46 P. O. Box 125, Meyerton 1960, Rep. of South Africa, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SPAIN. It`s almost a week after the time change in Europe, but REE still appears to be confused. We had not checked it prior to UT Sat April 6, but 15385 was on the air at 0055 UT tune in, playing only the REE IS, so don`t know for sure if English preceded. But it went off about 0100 instead of resuming with the English hour repeat. A few minutes later we checked 6055, which had been carrying English at 0000 and 0100, and found it instead in Spanish! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. For those who would like to listen to Sephardic language this is the transmission schedule of Radio Exterior de España from the 31st of March: To the Middle East: 1825-1855 17770 on Monday To America: 0115-0145 11795 on Tuesday 0415-0445 9650 on Tuesday [had been on 9690 forever -- gh] (Ramón Vázquez Dourado, España, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [and non]. Sir Evan Nepean, Bt Amateur radio enthusiast and Army officer who went to Tibet as part of the British Mission Evan Nepean was one of the most respected amateur radio enthusiasts in the country. He had a long Army career as an officer in the Royal Corps of Signals, during which he was a vital member of the British Political Mission to Tibet in 1938 -- one of the more eccentric episodes in British diplomacy. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving member of the Radio Society of Great Britain, having been a member for 75 years. Nepean was famous in amateur radio circles throughout the world for his call sign, G5YN... http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,60-258219,00.html (via Gerald T. Pollard, DXLD) What`s `Bt` ? Should be `SK` (gh) ** U K [non]. Remember that today the first broadcast in a new series from Radio Ezra takes place at 2330-0000 UT [Sats] on 17665 towards Western North America. For more details, check the Radio Ezra web site at http://www.radioezra.com The program and frequency schedule of broadcasts through TDP is now available at http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html (TDP Mailing List, Belgium, April 6, 2002, via DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, combining the two items quoted below, does this mean, that WEWN is preëmpting all of its regular short wave broadcasting in favour of the digital presentation? Kind regards, (Dr. (Hansjoerg Biener, Nuernberg, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGST) [first item was already published in DXLD] Glen Tapley gtapley@ewtn.com April 6 03:57 Out of Office AutoReply: An: Dr. Hansjoerg Biener Thanks for writing! If your email is concerning not being able to listen to WEWN, please be advised that we are conducting digital tests through April 10th. We will resume normal operations April 11th. Thanks for your patience. If your email was of another nature, I will get back with you ASAP (via Biener, DXLD) I really don`t know, but that would seem excessive. Surely only one transmitter doing this, even part time, would be sufficient for demo. I was also wondering if this would be IBOC, i.e. analog and digital at same time, or alternating as RN tests used to be, or strictly digital only. Guess we`ll have to monitor and find out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The new VOA schedule was finally posted. http://www.voa.gov/allsked.cfm (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, April 5; John Norfolk, OKCOK, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WNYC has posted their new grids, effective April 8 when AM and FM re-separate (well, most of the time). We`re glad to see some of our favorites back. Besides numerous national shows which already have multiple webcasts, we expect to add the following to MONITORING REMINDERS, times here strictly UT, based on then extant EDT listings: WNYC-AM Sun 0000-0200 BIG BAND SOUNDS Sun 0200-0300 FOLKSONG FESTIVAL with OSCAR BRAND Sun 0300-0330 PACIFIC TIME Sun 1930-2000 THE TREATMENT with ELVIS MITCHELL Mon 0000-0300 DOCUMENTARIES AND SPECIALS Mon 0300-0400 JOE FRANK WNYC-FM Sat 0100-0300 SPINNING ON AIR (or is it 0100-0200?) Dly 0300-0400 NEW SOUNDS [as at present] Sun 1500-1600 THE NEXT BIG THING Also there is a monthly program easy to overlook since it doesn`t show on grids! MAD ABOUT MUSIC, sort of a Desert Island Discs with different notable guests. The last one under the old AM/FM schedule is UT Sun April 7 0100-0200 with Jeremy R, Knowles, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University. Then from May it moves to WNYC-FM, the first Sunday at 9 pm EDT, i.e. UT Mon 0100-0200 May 6, with Helmut Schmidt, former German Chancellor. Natch, all this is in MONITORING REMINDERS (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR`s website schedules and links have just been updated for the upcoming DST season: http://www.wwcr.com (gh, 2100 UT April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re WSM/WLAC network swap: Just to set the record straight, the Life and Casualty Insurance Company was purchased by American General Insurance of Houston in 1968 --- and as far as I know was still a subsidiary of that company when it was recently taken over by a British conglomerate. Interestingly enough, it was also American General that later bought National Life and Accident Insurance Company (founder and owner of WSM AM-FM and TV) and almost immediately disposed of those properties in two separate deals, TV going to the George Gillett group, and radio --- a couple of years later --- to Gaylord of Oklahoma City. Earlier, WLAC-TV had been sold to the KPRC group in Houston. If I'm not mistaken, WLAC Radio was never fully owned by the insurance company and in the wake of all the buyouts, wound up back under the control of the families of the Life and Casualty founder. Don't you just love corporate wheeling and dealing? There was never a connection between L&C, WLAC and/or American Family Life, KFVS. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I queried a WSM staffer as to what had happened, speculating that perhaps WSM was feathering its nest for a possible sale to CBS/Viacom; or that they had simply become disenchanted with ABC. Neither of those guesses proved to be correct. Here's the inside word: The rest of the story ... We went with CBS because there's really nothing else out there. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The remainder of Eric's synopsis of the net switch is correct. Personally, aside from the potential loss of both audience and revenue generated by Paul Harvey, I don't really see much difference between ABC and CBS. In many ways, the CBS pace and approach are better suited to WSM. If people are rolling in graves, they're probably the NBC and WSM oldtimers who had a solid partnership for almost 70 years. (I guess the old WLAC execs are probably grave rolling, too; but the long departed honchos at CBS are probably celebrating the arrival in their camp of the best AM signal in the region.) (Tom Bryant / Nashville, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Found this on 100000watts.com: Regional Mexican WQDQ 1430 Madison TN/Nashville has signed off. It will return next Friday with news/talk and NPR under new owner Nashville Public Radio. The regional Mexican format has moved to WKDA 1200 Nashville. 1430 was WKDA until it and 1200 swapped calls 2 weeks ago. 1200 signed on the air a couple of months ago and had been rotating simulcasts of other Nashville AMs (Bruce Winkelman AA5CO Tulsa, OK, NRC-AM via DXLD) Meanwhile the frequency is DXable around Nashville STATION NOTES: 1430 WQDQ TN Madison - OFF the air as of 5 April. Reports are it will return on the 12th with NPR news/talk. Several sources are calling the station "WPLN-AM" (which would make sense as Nashville's NPR FM station is WPLN-FM) but I've not seen anything official clear the FCC. 650 WSM TN Nashville - has dropped ABC news for CBS. The bottom-of- the-hour newscast (both network and local) is also gone (Doug Smith, TN, NRC-AM April 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. Just a reminder to those on the list, since many stations have understaffed engineering staffs and generally run sloppy operations... look for some DX at +/- one hour sunrise and sunset due to automatic remote controls not being set to the correct time. Tonight would the first chance as at least one station in my area (940) readjusts their remote control before the actual time shift happens! What happens is that the station changes pattern or power either early or later, and that gives us a chance to hear a station that might normally be covered up under normal circumstances. Case in point was when I logged a station when a local went to night facilities early. I could null their night signal, but not the day signal. Also, one time I caught a station on that was blowing in here after what would have been their normal pattern change. And, one hour later they dropped out. These events tell me that someone did not program the remote control for Daylight "shifting" Time. I've heard some go for more than a month before discovering that their remote control's clock is off (Fred Vobbe, Lima OH, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. BTW, I loved your comments about your visit to NDXE. I recall that from RIB! 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) Hi Glenn, I was amused to read the items on NDXE, and to see Harry Helms refer to their ad in WRTH referred to as an "investment". In fact WRTH got ripped off - NDXE never paid a dime for that ad! I do believe the entire operation was a scam. Unfortunately Dickson Norman was not the brightest person I have ever come across. At one point he mentioned the name of a transmitter company - I think it was Continental - that he claimed to have ordered a transmitter from. He was even blaming them for the delay in delivering the transmitter. Media Network called the company to check, and surprise, surprise, nobody there had ever heard of him! I do agree with Harry that there's no money to be made in shortwave broadcasting, having been involved in two 1980's projects (World Music Radio and Radio Earth) that tried and failed to become commercially viable. 73, (Andy (speaking for myself and not my current employer) Sennitt, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Dr. Gene Scott is back on the air on 17765 for the enjoyment of all his followers (however incredible it may seem, he must have some of them to finance the transmissions). Heard around 0600 and still going strong past 1400 with DW via ATG in the background. Best wishes (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be some Russian site, right, Samara? (gh, DXLD) ** VATICAN. Radio Vaticana now uses NF of 585 kHz instead of 527 from Vatican City. (tnx Saverio De Cian) (Roberto Scaglione (BCLNEWS.IT editor) Palermo - Italy http://www.bclnews.it April 6 via GRDXC via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINES: The program and frequency schedule of broadcasts through TDP is now available at http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html (Ludo Maes, Belgium, via Cumbre DX Apr 6 via DXLD) Some changes worth noting: 15690 Voice of Kampuchea Krom is now Tuesdays, ex Fridays. 1400-1500. 9930 Que Huong is now 1300-1400 Mon-Sat via KWHR (Hans Johnson, FL, Apr 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-055, April 5, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1125: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1125.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0330 5070; Sun 0730, Mon 0000, 0500 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400, Sun 0600, 1200, 1830?, 2430?, Mon 0630?, 1230? on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Rest of world 0800 Sat; NAm 1400 Sun ** AFGHANISTAN. U.S.-RUN RADIO STATION USES MUSIC, INFORMATION AND HIGH-POWERED PR TO PROMOTE AFGHAN CAMPAIGN Fri Apr 5, 4:39 AM ET By MICHELLE BOORSTEIN, Associated Press Writer http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020405/ap_wo_en_ge/afghan_broadcast_battle_2 BAGRAM, Afghanistan - In a classified area of this sprawling, dusty military base, behind rolls of barbed wire, a different sort of battle is under way. Four Humvees and a canvas tent have been transformed into a radio station run by the U.S. Army Psychological Operations unit, broadcasting Afghan folk music, Dari language techno and informational items crafted by Army marketing experts. Luring listeners with a program that is heavy on music -- banned under the Taliban -- Information Radio weaves in announcements that carry a clear message across Afghanistan: Support the allies and the interim government of Hamid Karzai. A recent item on the station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day and can be heard nationwide, told of two Afghan bicyclists training for the 2004 Olympics. They will win, "God willing," the announcer said. "However, it can only happen when peace is truly achieved in Afghanistan and all Afghans unite to support the interim government and the new way of life." The announcements are mostly informational, dealing with things like school openings and roadwork, and delivered in a peace-oriented, positive, pro-Karzai package. The Army specialists who write them call them pieces on "legitimacy" of Karzai's government and "nostalgia" for times when Afghanistan was more peaceful and prosperous, but emphasize that the information is all factual. Sometimes the messages work, sometimes they don't. After six years under the Taliban, Afghans are making up for lost time: radios playing music can be heard everywhere, from markets and buses to the pocket radios people carry on bicycles. But some Afghans are less enthusiastic about the messages interspersed with the music on the Army station. "It's anti-religious talk," said Najibullah, a 17-year-old who sells carpets in the southern city of Kandahar. He said he switches the radio off when he hears programs urging women to seek jobs and education. "Freedom of women is not in our religion and education for women is anti-Islam." The station broadcasts on 864 AM, which can be heard around the two allied bases — Kandahar and Bagram — with regular radios. Short-waves pick up the station around the country. It is hardly surprising that the allied messages would find a less- than-receptive audience in Kandahar: The city was the birthplace of the Taliban, the conservative Islamic militia that was ousted last year after sheltering al-Qaida. Bagram, on the other hand, was on the front line of fighting between the Taliban and the U.S.-backed northern alliance. "People trust it because they believe that the things Hamid Karzai promised he will do," Mustafa, a 21-year-old from Kabul, who is working for the allies on the Bagram Air Base, said of the station. "I trust everything that he says." The psychological operations specialists make the music and write the scripts with the help of civilian and military Afghan-Americans, linguists and marketing experts, says Capt. Bob of the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 8th Battalion. The Army prohibits identifying members of the unit by their full names. "We've put nothing false out there because we want people to use the station," he says at the broadcasting center, which is powered by four massive generators. "I hope that we're providing information that people want to know." Saifullah, a 35-year-old carpet salesman in a gritty shopping center in Kandahar, appreciates the announcements. "They help people find out what the government is doing and what its policies are. It's also good for women and the new generation. It encourages parents to educate their girls," he says. ___ Associated Press reporter Christopher Torchia in Kandahar contributed to this report. (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ``Short-waves pick up the station around the country??`` What the hell does that mean? Is the 8700-USB, still being heard, now land-based here, as 864 MW has become, the first confirmation we have had of that? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, Today I received a reply to my report submitted in October. The "verie" is a gif file but doesn't give any details or actually even confirm my reception. Has anyone else received a verie with details of any sort? So the location of the transmission on 8700 kHz is still a mystery... (David Hochfelder, New Brunswick, NJ, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Dear Lt. Shank, Following is a reception report from your broadcast to Afghanistan on 8700 kHz USB on 18 Oct. As I'm not certain that I had the correct address and recipient, I'm emailing you to let you know that I also sent in a tape of my reception. I appreciate your time and assistance. Thanks very much, David Hochfelder October 18, 2001 Commando Solo Reception Reports Pennsylvania Air National Guard Headquarters, 193 Special Operations Wing 81 Constellation Court Middletown, PA 17057-5086 Hello, I'm writing to inform you of my reception of your Commando Solo airborne broadcast to the Afghan people on 18 October between 0030 and about 0130 UTC on 8700 kHZ upper sideband. I realize that I am not the target audience of your broadcasts, but I hope that you will be pleased that your signal could be heard literally on the other side of the globe. I also hope that you will find this reception report to be useful in your ongoing operations. For the hour or so that I listened, your broadcast followed a pattern: three to five minutes of a male announcer speaking, followed by an Afghani song featuring one or two instruments with male vocal accompaniment. The male announcer made frequent references to "Taliban," "bin Laden," "Afghanistan," "America," and "Pakistan." I found the audio to be muddy at times, but that may have been a product of the extreme distance that the signal travelled to reach me here in New Jersey. Your signal was quite strong at times but faded deeply every ten minutes or so. There was some interference from a Morse-code utility station on a nearby frequency that was troublesome at times. Atmospheric noise increased during the hour I listened, probably because your signal was fading due to more of the propagation path entering daylight. I am enclosing a tape of my reception (with due apology for the poor quality of the recording). I would very much appreciate it if you could verify my reception of your broadcast by confirming the date, time, and approximate location of your transmission. Thanks for your time and attention, and I look forward to your reply. David Hochfelder, New Brunswick, NJ Reply: From: "Shank, Edward" edward.shank@paharr.ang.af.mil -- Lt. Edward E. Shank, Chief of Public Affairs, 193rd Special Operations Wing "I believe that forgiving [terrorists] is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting." - General Norman Schwartzkopf (via Hochfelder, DXLD) ....the tagline is all you forwarded, not the gif... (gh, DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED 7000 at bottom ** BELARUS`. I have been tuning around 0600 UT+ and noticed that BLR 7210 and 6115 were missing on Monday - I assumed maybe it was maintenance day - but found them missing again today Friday. The lower power regionals are not reliable here, but I could not trace any of them either. The time is now 0930 UT and 7210 is still not on. Kai - I think you might be the nearest to BLR. Can you check the low power ones when you have the opportunity (Noel R. Green, England, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I will check it out tomorrow or Sunday outdoors if time permits. Right now I hear on 7210 only the local noise floor, on 6115 Voice of Turkey in Uzbek but nothing else. But this certainly not says that Kalodiscy is really off so far (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 5 1753 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC previews for Friday, April 5: C'EST LA VIE: This morning on C'est la Vie...the dilemma over using "vous" or "tu" in French. Whether to be formal or informal. Even Francophones have a hard time deciding which is appropriate. Broadcaster David Gutnick talks with teachers and students at two Montreal schools about using "tu" and "vous," and experts weight in with their thoughts. That's all on C'est La Vie, with host Bernard St- Laurent, this morning at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One. IN PERFORMANCE: This evening on In Performance...from Trinity St. Paul's Centre in Toronto, the Toronto Consort presents Mariners and Milkmaids, a program of 16th century English songs about Lovers and Madmen, Traders and Fishwives, Falconers and Hunters, and Soldiers and Volunteers. That's In Performance, with guest host Robert Harris, starting at 8:00 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. IDEAS: Tonight on Ideas...Libeskind's Lines. He's a musical prodigy, a gifted mathematician and now one of the most influential architectural thinkers of our time. His buildings turn perspectives inside out and make space an entirely new experience. Carolyn Warren visits the buildings, the architectural daring and the ideas of Daniel Libeskind, tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. CBC Previews for Saturday-Sunday April 6-7: THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: ***the feature docs were postponed last weekend to accommodate specials on the death of the Queen Mother*** Saturday on The World This Weekend...Cuba's two-wheeled revolution. Sandra Bartlett reports on a Canadian-sponsored bicycle program that's designed to ease Havana's chronic traffic congestion, and offer Cuban women a livelihood as bike mechanics. Also, Ice Woes. Richard Martyn reports on growing complaints about the quality of ice in N-H-L facilities. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Saturday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. [note: Sunday entries are in DST, Saturday in ST] TAPESTRY: This week on Tapestry...Military Spirituality. The horrors Canadian peacekeepers witnessed in the Rwandan civil war still haunt many soldiers. Tapestry host Don Hill recently attended a conference of military chaplains, psychiatrists and physicians in Ottawa that wrestled with how religion and spirituality can mitigate the effects of chronic depression, anger, and despair. That's on Tapestry, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (2:30 NT; 4:00 p.m. MT; 3:00 pm. PT) on CBC Radio One. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: Sunday on Cross Country Checkup ...Religion and Conflict. The Middle East, cradle of three great religions, is being wracked by a conflict many people would identify as religious. Around the world, religion is used to justify acts of aggression and violence. Has theology been hijacked or is it keeping the lid on something worse? What is the role of religion in conflict? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend...Radical Change: Reese Erlich reports on how a radical environmentalist became the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada. Also, beyond masks and rattles. Paul Grant reports on a new generation of native artists who don't want their art to be stereotyped by mainstream Canadians. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. ON STAGE: This week, On Stage presents the Kronos Quartet and the percussion ensemble Nexus sharing the stage at Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. They'll play works by everyone from Charles Mingus and Steve Reich to Rahul Dev Burman and Aleksandra Vrebalov. That's On Stage, with host Eric Friesen, Sunday afternoon at 2:05 (2:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two. And Sunday night at 8:05 (9:05 AT, 9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. JAZZBEAT: This week on Jazz Beat...in Hour One...seven sizzling saxophonists. No, it's not a tongue-twister, it's the Saxophone Summit, recorded in concert at Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto! Phil Dwyer is the musical director for this loving tribute to the sax tradition. In Hour Two...tenorman Michael Brecker welcomes pianist Danilo Perez and bassist Charlie Haden for an outstanding Montreal concert. That's Jazz Beat, with host Katie Malloch, Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (9:00 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. And Sunday night at 11:05 (12:05 AT, 12:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...Fred Ebb. A salute to one of Broadway's master lyricists, the man who's been writing great songs for nearly forty years. From "Cabaret" to "Chicago," from "Zorba" to "New York, New York," his mixture of wit and compassion have made him a favorite of Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Robert Goulet and many more. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. ROOTS and WINGS: This week on Roots and Wings...hear the Indian singer who inspired Cornershop's massive hit "Brimful of Asha" (remember it from the Gap ad?). Also, a Mozambiquan band whose co-lead singers are 73- and 20-years old, respectively. Plus guitar wizardry from many continents. That's on Roots and Wings, with host Philly Markowitz, Sunday evening at 5:05 (5:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two. PEARLS OF WISDOM: This week on Pearls of Wisdom, host David Wisdom has Part Two of his salute to all things lunar, including tunes from Ethel Merman, Bill Monroe and other moonstruck melody-makers. That's Pearls of Wisdom, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. AT, 8:00 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio Two. (CBC Hotsheets via DXLD; also entered in MONITORING REMINDERS) ** CANADA. Am I missing something or is the CBC Radio Two stream not working again? Does this have something to do with the French SRC techie strike? For the past several days I can't get Radio Two on my computer via any of the three methods (RA, WM, or QT). Then they hit me with that CBC survey. I told them to increase the bandwidth of the audio streams because I've been getting turned back recently from listening to R1 Winnipeg because there were too many users, or the link was dead, or....I could go on and on and on. The CBC needs to keep the same link files and directory names and keep as one of their utmost priorities the stability and reliability of its audio and video streams. None of this it doesn't work crap because the links or there are too many people listening and that is overloading their servers. Please fix it! Geez, all I wanted to do was to listen to After Hours on my computer. That was it, yet none of the streams would work (Jim Jaworski, Winnipeg MB Canada...) I hope you don't mind that I make this point --- why would you listen to an internet stream, when you've got the ACTUAL, old-fashioned method at your disposal? CBC, at last account (and that was a while ago), only has 600 Real streams available (RealPlayer is a VERY expensive application, and Real licenses the server by the number of streams, whereas Apple's license has no limit except the machine's own resources). You also really should bear the responsibility if you (as I do as well) insist on using the direct URL to the server. Things change, machines break or are upgraded, and every once in a while a network will undergo a complete reconfiuration (as has happened with the CBC streaming media servers in the last several months). The same thing goes for running your own hosts file (as I do), which will break whenever IP numbers are reassigned, as has happened, again, in the last few months. The Montreal streams are working, by the way --- but this outage has nothing to do with the SRC strike. It's probably just one machine (notice that your player fails on both streams that come from media.cbc.ca?) that's gone goofy, and it'll be back in the morning --- maybe. I can assure you, from my own experience, that there is a diligent effort by the CBC to maintain the audio streams in just the manner you ask --- but it's still an imperfect technology. In your case, AM radio is by far a more mature, "perfected" medium. 990 AM (Bob Haberkost, alt.radio.networks.cbc April 5 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) He said it was Radio *Two* he could not get, and AFAIK, there is only ONE stream from that, out of Toronto, tho available in real, wm, and Q, not all the provincial centres like for Radio One, as on 990 in Winnipeg. The single Two source, whatever its capacity, has to serve everyone in the world. BTW, I have found most of the Atlantic/Newfie zone streams of CBC R1 the last few days always at Server Alert -- reached capacity (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. GZOWSKI'S ANTI-SMOKING SHOW AIRS APRIL 28 From Canadian Press Before he died on Jan. 24, Peter Gzowski committed himself to making a TV program about smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the illness that killed the popular broadcaster at 67. With Every Breath, a half-hour educational program, will air commercial-free April 28 on Global and Prime. A French-language version will air the day before on TVA. (Check local listings for regional air times.) The program, presented by the Canadian Lung Association and the Canadian COPD Alliance, outlines what chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is, who gets it and how, its symptoms, treatment and control. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Gzowski smoked three packs of cigarettes a day until he quit in 1999. By then it was too late. Still, he became an anti-smoking advocate in the time he had left. He wrote about his experiences in an essay called How to Quit Smoking in 50 Years or Less and, at the end of last year, recorded the half-hour program. Some of the footage will also be used in shorter ads. "The late Peter Gzowski was quite ill while hosting this program, but it was extremely important to him that awareness of COPD be raised," said Randy Brown, who directed With Every Breath. "Peter wanted everyone to watch this program and learn what chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is and how to manage it (Toronto Star April 3 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. I just had the opportunity to check the Chechen broadcasts of RL: Indeed I could hear Kavala on 9865 underneath "Moscow" (Lesnoy or whatever site), also Biblis 11760 was detectable but the signal just sufficient to note that it was // 11760. No luck with Lampertheim 15350 at all, of course I am in the dead zone here. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 5, 1753 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In case anyone did not notice, buried within DXLD 2-053 info was the schedule for the morning repeat: 0400-0500 9850, 11760 and 17710 (gh, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. A brief analysis of R. Liberty A brief analysis of the first few programs beamed by Radio Liberty's Chechen-language service which took to the air on Wednesday leaves no doubt about its lopsided nature. President Putin's top Chechnya spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said on Thursday that he was little surprised by this anti-Russian slant because Radio Liberty has always been beaming the opinion of the Chechen rebel separatists. Meanwhile, the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament is putting together an official request to the government to withdraw RL's broadcasting license in Russia (Voice of Russia News in English, April 4, 2002 via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) 2002-04-04 16:15 * RUSSIA * CHECHNYA * RADIO * YASTRZHEMBSKY * MOSCOW BELIEVES RADIO LIBERTY PROGRAMS BROADCAST FOR NORTH CAUCASUS ARE ONE-SIDED MOSCOW, April 4, 2002. /from a RIA Novosti correspondent./ -- Moscow officials emphasize that first programmes of radio Liberty broadcast in the North Caucasus were "one-sided and one-legged." According to Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Aide to the Russian President, "it seems that the worst forecasts concerning the preferences of the North Caucasian department of radio Liberty are coming true." In the late hours of Wednesday, radio Liberty started broadcasting in the Northern Caucasus in Russian, Chechen, Avarian and Circassian. According to the high-ranking Russian official, "the analysis of the first programs shows that they were, at least, one-sided and one- legged." Yastrzhembsky also said that Russians would continue to closely follow the North Caucasian programmes of radio Liberty. The Russian Presidential Aide made it clear that Moscow considered the radio's first experience in the region unsuccessful (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) RUSSIA CRITICAL OF RADIO LIBERTY'S NORTH CAUCASIAN PROGRAMMES | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 4 April: Presidential aide Sergey Yastzhembskiy said, "the analysis of the first broadcasts for the North Caucasus by Radio Liberty that went on the air Wednesday shows their one-sidedness at the least." "It seems the pessimistic prognoses as regards the purposefulness of the North Caucasian service of this radio are beginning to come true," Yastrzhembskiy told ITAR-TASS in his comments Thursday on the beginning of Radio Liberty broadcasts for the North Caucasus in the Russian, Chechen, Avar and Circassian languages. It would be logical to expect Radio Liberty to draw the listeners' attention to the pivotal order by the commander of federal troops in the North Caucasus Vladimir Moltenskiy, which verily become a high- profile event in the republic, he noted. Unfortunately, just one view of the problem was presented, according to the aide. "The problem - servicemen' s actions -- was shown one- sidedly, through the prism of the notorious attitude by journalist Anna Politkovskaya from the newspaper Novaya Gazeta (The North Caucasian service broadcast the journalist's article about an operation by federal forces in the village of Starye Atagi in January.) "We will continue to monitor the broadcasts by Radio Liberty's North Caucasian service," Yastzhembskiy said making it clear that Moscow believes "it was exactly the thing that was spoiled before good spinning could begin." Meanwhile, Radio Liberty spokeswoman Sonia Vinterova said the North Caucasian service had debuted well and that the administration is considering the possibility to increase the broadcasting time from one to two hours. The North Caucasian service will broadcast daily, boosting the volume of information. Radio Liberty is interested in the normalization of life in the region and regards its programmes an additional source of information, which is also useful for executive bodies, she said. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Radio Liberty/Free Europe broadcasts in Chechen are not meant to harm Russia. Back in February, the US State Department asked the station to hold off broadcasting in the North Caucasus pending consultations with the Congress. The department then referred to potential counter- productivity of broadcasts in the Chechen language. However, Powell made it clear that the State Department has withdrawn its objections. "It was not in the spirit of doing anything that would hurt Russia or damage Russia, or hurt our relationship," Powell told journalists commenting on the decision to begin the broadcasting. "We looked at it very carefully and were considerate of Russian concerns and have discussed it with our Russian colleagues but felt it was appropriate for us to move forward," Powell said. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1330 gmt 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS IN RUSSIA'S NORTH CAUCASUS "TACTLESS" - LIBERAL MP | Text of report by Russian news agency Ekho Moskvy [No dateline as received] Radio Liberty's decision to start its broadcasts to the North Caucasus "is not very tactful with regard to Russia, taking into account the current relationship between Russia and the USA as well as the acute situation in the North Caucasus", said Grigoriy Yavlinskiy, the Russian State Duma Yabloko faction leader, speaking live to Ekho Moskvy radio. "This tactlessness is often part of the US policy of late", said Yavlinskiy. Meanwhile, Yavlinskiy does not support the idea of withdrawing Radio Liberty's licence, allowing it to broadcast in Russia: "We enjoy the freedom of speech (at least our laws say we do), this is why the decision to ban something just cannot be taken. Moreover, freedom of speech in any languages exists in this country", he added. If the contents of Radio Liberty's programmes broadcast in Chechen does not violate Russian laws, there is "no special ground for prosecution", he said. However, if the contents of programmes is outside the framework of Russian law, "the issue can be considered in court", Yavlinskiy added. Source: Ekho Moskvy news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1320 gmt 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHECHEN REFUGEES IN GEORGIA HAIL BROADCASTS FROM CZECH CAPITAL | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Tbilisi, 4 April: Chechen refugees living in Georgia today welcomed the broadcasting by the Prague-based US-sponsored Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in the Chechen language which was launched in the Czech Republic on Wednesday [3 April]. "We had the feeling that we have our own state," said Chamid Gumaiev [name untraced], one of the several thousand Chechen refugees who live in Pankisi on the Georgian-Chechen border. "I would not say the contents differ from what they say in the Russian broadcasting but we were impressed at listening to Radio Liberty in our language," he said. Russia has condemned RFE/RL's broadcasting to the unstable area of the northern Caucasus in several local languages, including Chechen, as a step supporting separatist moods and endangering Russia's efforts to pacify the region... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1441 gmt 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. RVi Radio World: Sunday April 7, 2002 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty this week launched a new service. It's called North Caucasus service, broadcasting for two hours a day in the regional languages Chechen, Avar and Circassian, as well as Russian. SOUND Radio Liberty Radio Liberty at the launch of its new North Caucasus service. You heard the beginning of an address by Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe president Thomas Dine. I got the following information from their website: RFE/RL is set to broadcast one hour per day of original programming from 1900-2000 CEST on shortwave frequencies 9865, 11760 and 15350, with a repeat hour of broadcasts from 0600-0700 CEST on shortwave frequencies 9850, 11760 and 17710. These same programs will also be available on the Internet at http://www.rferl.org [times: = UT+2] Many of the North Caucasus peoples, Dine said, are already familiar with RFE/RL because of its broadcasts in the Russian language. But like those of other nations to whom the station broadcasts, many clearly prefer to receive news and information in their own languages. According to RFE/RL Director of Broadcasting Jeffrey Trimble, each hour will feature 15 minutes of programming in each of the three North Caucasus languages, with an additional 15-minute news program in Russian focusing on events affecting the North Caucasus region. The programs will be produced by a staff of nine, all based at RFE/RL's Prague operations center. The broadcasts will focus on current news, world events, culture, history, language, religion, local politics and democratic institution building. Congress mandated RFE/RL in late 2000 to commence North Caucasus broadcasting. Funding for the project was appropriated many months later. Well, I must admit I had never heard of Avar or Circassian. We've all heard about Chechen for obvious reasons, but I , for one, will have to look for more information in my encyclopaedia or on the internet to find out where and by how many people Avar and Circassian are spoken. Anyway, the Russians are not amused. The Russian government on Thursday lashed out at Radio Liberty, saying its first broadcasts to the North Caucasus region were biased in favour of the rebels in Chechnya. A spokesman for the Kremlin told Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency that an analysis of the first broadcasts that went on the air Wednesday showed they were one-sided. And Grigory Yavlinsky, the head of Russia's liberal party Yabloko, also criticised Radio Liberty, saying its decision to broadcast in the Chechen language showed "the tactlessness that is typical of American politicians". Russia has severely limited media access to Chechnya and banned the broadcast or publication of interviews with rebel representatives. RFE/RL says the Russian government's accusations are unfounded. The station says it was judged ahead of time, and that one couldn't make conclusions based on one broadcast. Radio Free Europe urges the Russians to continue listening before they make up their mind. The North Caucasus service had been scheduled to start in late February but was delayed after the Kremlin denounced the idea. The U.S. State department then asked for a delay to consult with Congress, but later allowed the project to go forward. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were established during the Cold War to spread American ideas and values behind the Iron Curtain. They were merged in 1975 and are now based at Prague, a former target area, ironically enough. That was in the days when Prague was the capital of Czechoslovakia. Now, as you know, the former Czechoslovak Republic is split up into the Czech and Slovak Republics. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava, and that's where we go next week. Or, rather, that's where our former colleague Dominique Wittevrongel just came back from. While she was in Bratislava she visited friends at Radio Slovakia International, and also the English-language section, of course. More about this next week (FRANS VOSSEN, RVi Radio World Apr 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) The new service appears to have had an immediate impact. Reuters reports that Chechens in Georgia have hailed the start of broadcasts in Chechen as a boost for their separatist cause, and have promised a ritual lamb slaughter to celebrate. One Chechen refugee is quoted as saying "we waited for those broadcasts like children wait for the lights on the Christmas tree to go on." He said his entire family and many friends had gathered around an old battered shortwave radio to listen to the first broadcast on Wednesday. "The reception was bad - we think it was jammed - but it felt like an unexpected holiday, he said (© Radio Netherlands Media Network April 5 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 6185 kHz - China Huayi Broadcasting Station. Full data QSL card with Chinese verification text in two weeks for Chinese report, $1, SWL card and local stamps. The envelope has the Voice of the Straits text and logo blocked out. Considering the exchange of frequencies between the two stations recently, wonder what further connection is there between the two (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX Apr 4 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Some fresh listening results: Falun Gong 2100-2200 still on 5925 and 9945. 5925 now listed as Samara 297 deg, but so far remains at Sitkunai with no changes. Only fair signal and much jamming here in the north. Samara would have boomed in. 9945 also listed as Samara 297 deg, but for VOR, not TDP. Actual site is Krasnodar (typical local on/off tones), and this has reportedly been confirmed by TDP. The Samara transmitting center is still on a reduced schedule (low on money to pay bills). It is interesting to note that both frequencies are listed as being beamed to NW Europe (UK). 5925 did seem a bit low for transmissions to China when they need to fight jamming... (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI, March 22, 0427-0513 on 15040, clear ID at 0500. I could not use SSB to measure the frequency. There seems to be some strange interference plus noise. Used my very reliable on SSB, AOR AR7030 with outdoor antenna. Program was Democracy Today, at least 0430-0500. Strange that SSB does not work in this case (David Crystal, Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. Posted on Sun, Mar. 31, 2002 FUERTE DENUNCIA DE FAVORITISMOS EN RADIO MARTÍ RUI FERREIRA, El Nuevo Herald EL DIRECTOR Salvador Lew. Algunos de sus empleados le llaman hoy día ``la embotelladora Martí''. En parte, porque la operación de Radio y TV Martí, programa federal para trasmitir información a Cuba, se ha transformado, según algunos empleados, en un acopio de amistades y conocidos de sus directivos cuyos sueldos han comprometido ya los $25 millones del presupuesto de este año. Además, se ha instalado un ambiente de suspicacia interna que ha provocado un virtual estado de sublevación en el personal que condujo a una docena de empleados a mostrar a El Nuevo Herald documentación que certifica las quejas. Hace dos semanas, miembros de la Junta de Gobernadores de Trasmisiones (BBG por sus siglas en inglés) --que supervisa la Oficina de Trasmisiones a Cuba (OCB), de la cual dependen Radio y TV Martí--, se reunieron con los empleados después de una visita a las oficinas de las emisoras en Miami y contribuyeron a crear ese ambiente. En el encuentro, uno de los técnicos de TV Martí preguntó a un miembro de la BBG cómo se implementaría la promesa del presidente George W. Bush de incrementar la potencia de TV Martí para hacerla llegar a la isla, y el funcionario le contestó que no podía decirlo, ya que ``Fidel Castro se enteraría a los cinco minutos''. ''O sea, que nos están diciendo a todos que tenemos un espía al lado y que no se puede hablar con nadie'', dijo un empleado que presenció el incidente, el cual fue confirmado por otros tres. Es esta situación de sospechas que ha llevado también a casi todas las fuentes a pedir el anonimato. En el argot cubano, una ''botella'' --de ahí lo de ``embotelladora''-- es un empleo que se consigue por influencias, amistad o parentesco, y del cual frecuentemente se devenga un salario completo con poco trabajo o sin trabajar. Según ha podido constatar El Nuevo Herald al cabo de dos meses de investigaciones, desde que el actual director de la OCB, el experimentado periodista Salvador Lew, de 73 años y amplios contactos en Miami, Washington y Nueva York, asumió el mando de la operación el 26 de julio del año pasado, ha aprobado el ingreso a las estaciones de por lo menos 40 personas en calidad de colaboradores --casi todas para Radio Martí-- las cuales están devengando sueldos que nunca se habían pagado. Además, no sólo esos colaboradores son conocidos como viejos amigos de Lew desde hace tiempo, sino que también ha tolerado que otros supervisores traigan a trabajar a sus amigos y conocidos, incluso gente que en otras oportunidades fue rechazada por Radio o TV Martí o abandonaron las emisoras al cabo de investigaciones por irregularidades. Lew, quien gana $132,000 anuales, no niega las aseveraciones. ''Conozco la gente que se preocupa con Cuba. ¡Eso me basta!'', dijo. Entre las contrataciones polémicas se encuentra la de Antonio Rivera, un ex empleado que se apartó de Radio Martí hace años, después que fue fuertemente cuestionado por sus colegas. En una conversación la semana pasada con El Nuevo Herald, Lew admitió que el regreso de Rivera a la emisora es controversial, pero añadió que éste volvió por iniciativa de Agustín Alles, quien fue director de noticias de Radio Martí en la primera mitad de la década de 1990. Al asumir la dirección de OCB, Lew nombró como director de noticias a Lázaro Asencio, de 75 años, viejo amigo de infancia en su natal provincia de Las Villas, quien cobra $80,000 anuales y ha colocado a Alles como su más estrecho colaborador. Los tres, conforman ahora la troika que define la orientación noticiosa de Radio Martí, aunque Lew sostuvo: ''Yo no sé lo que hacen'', porque ``creo en la libertad de expresión''. El director de la OCB hizo cuestión en subrayar que la contratación de nuevo personal no implicó ningún despido o la disminución de los salarios de los empleados fijos. Según las reglas definidas por el gobierno federal en relación a las contrataciones de personal, las escalas salariales varian acorde al contenido de trabajo. En el caso de emisoras de radio o televisión --y el gobierno federal posee seis-- las regulaciones establecen un pago mínimo de $100 por cada media hora de programación y un máximo de $220. Lew sostuvo que se limita a seguir las reglas y que no está a cargo de las contrataciones, las cuales son responsabilidad de su colaborador, Orlando Rodriguez, cuya firma aparece al pie de todos los contratos a los cuales El Nuevo Herald tuvo acceso. Pero la aseveraciones del director de OCB han sido interpretadas de varias formas, porque algunos colaboradores que Lew heredó de anteriores administraciones no piensan lo mismo. ''Mi queja es que ellos no pagan a todos lo mismo o equitativamente...'', dijo el profesor universitario afrocubano Enrique Patterson, quien sostuvo que, pese a que su programa de costumbrismo cubano y enaltecimiento del teatro bufo isleño estaba recibiendo buenas reacciones de Cuba, su pago se redujo de $100 a $85 mensuales. Y para implementar sus ideas, Lew agotó el presupuesto de año fiscal 2002 y está trabajando con partidas de emergencia, dijeron empleados. ''Los números son rojos. Estamos operando contra el presupuesto del año venidero'', dijo una empleada de contabilidad. Lew lo negó enfáticamente, pero no quiso ampliar. ''El Congreso no ha aprobado aún el presupuesto del año próximo. De momento, tenemos dinero'', dijo. Es más, continuó Patterson, ''bajo su administración [de Lew] no se ha preocupado en saber cómo estoy preparado en la vida ni que proyección tengo en la cultura cubana. Y me preocupa que a unos se les paga $100 y a otros $400 sin tener en cuenta su preparación'', dijo Patterson. Por esa falta de atención administrativa, Patterson cree que hay otro problema en Radio y TV Martí: ''Que no quede la más mínima duda, allí hay un racismo imperante'', subrayó. Lew también lo niega enfáticamente. (via Oscar, FL, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Esquema de Radio Martí, 31 Marzo-26 Octubre 2002 HORARIOS FRECUENCIAS [en formato duplicativo extraño --- gh] =============================================== 0000-0300 15330 0000-0200 11775 0000-0100 7365 0000-0200 6030 0100-0200 7365 0200-0300 11775 0200-0300 7365 0200-0300 6030 0300-0400 11775 0300-0400 7405 0300-0400 7365 0300-0400 6030 0400-0600 11775 0400-0600 9805 0400-0500 7405 0400-0600 6030 0500-0600 7405 0600-0700 11775 0600-0700 9805 0600-0900 7405 0600-0900 6030 0700-0900 9805 0700-0900 5980 0900-1000 9805 0900-1000 9565 0900-1000 6030 0900-1000 5980 1000-1200 9805 1000-1200 9565 1000-1200 6030 1000-1200 5980 1100-1200 9805 1200-1400 13820 1200-1300 9805 1200-1300 9565 1300-1400 7405 1300-1400 13630 1300-1400 11845 1400-1700 13820 1400-1700 13630 1400-1700 11930 1400-1700 11845 1700-1800 13820 1700-1800 13630 1700-1800 11930 1700-1800 9565 1800-2000 13820 1800-2100 13630 1800-2100 11930 1800-2100 9565 2000-2300 13820 2100-2200 21500 2100-2300 11930 2100-2200 9565 2200-2400 15330 2200-2300 6030 2300-0000 13820 2300-0000 7365 2300-0000 6030 ============================================================= 73's- (via Oscar, FL, DXLD) ** EASTER ISLAND. THIS WEEK IN RADIO HISTORY - EASTER ISLAND The primary date for the broadcast of this edition of Wavescan is Sunday March 31 which is designated in many parts of the world as Easter Sunday. It was on Easter Sunday in the year 1722 that the Dutch navigator, Admiral Jacob Roggeveen, discovered and named Easter Island. Easter Island lies in the South Pacific half way between South America and Pitcairn Island, and Pitcairn is located about half way between South America and Australia. This dot in the broad ocean with its 63 square miles is the top of a dormant volcano. The local inhabitants call their island, ``Rapu Nui`` (RAH-pooh Noo-ee) Over the past many centuries, there have been four different societies living on Easter Island. The original settlers arrived more a sesquimillennium ago, followed by a wave of immigrants who destroyed this first settlement. Then came the Polynesians in the 1600`s who also massacred all of the inhabitants. In the year 1868, missionary settlers came from South America, and since that time, the island has been administered by Chile. There is just one small town on the island with a total population of 2800 people. In addition, both the Chilean navy and the Chilean airforce maintain small bases on Easter Island. There are two main mysteries on Easter Island. One is the tall statue, 600 of them actually, with some standing 50 ft tall and weighing up to 50 tons each. These were probably carved out by the early Polynesians as memorials to their dead. The other mystery is the strange writing on wooden tablets which is as yet undeciphered. Some 20 of these wooden tablets are now deposited in different museums. The first local radio station on Easter Island was a volunteer project operated by personnel in the Chilean airforce. The existence of this station was revealed to the world in a publication from Denmark, ``The World Radio TV Handbook Newsletter``. This original mediumwave station was on the air daily with a 250 watt transmitter operating at reduced power on 690 kHz. These days there are two radio broadcasting stations located on Easter Island, both volunteer projects. The original station is now designated as Radio Manukena and it is heard on both mediumwave and FM, 580 kHz and 101.8 MHz. The Chilean navy is on the air also, on 98.5 MHz FM. In addition, there is an airways beacon with the callsign H2Q on 280 kHz, and a communication station CA17E which was noted some years ago on 13,200 kHz. At least one listener has received a letter QSL, in Spanish, from Easter Island, and one of the AWR personnel, Darryl Gungadoo in Forli Italy, made a visit to the island during a world tour last year (Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan 379 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB on the Move. Ecuador-based international missionary broadcaster HCJB is preparing to relocate its current shortwave site from Pifo to the Santa Elena peninsula. The station has just released details of the move, what's planned, and the projected timetable. People with relevant skills are being invited to apply as working visitors to help speed the project. If you're looking to get involved in radio, this could be just the opportunity you've been waiting for! Find out more, and how to contact the station, at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/hcjb020404.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter April 5 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17833.83 Harmonic, YSDA Radio Imperial, Sonsonate. March 2002 - 0100 UT. I personally think this is a great harmonic- logging. I remember once I asked GH (Glenn Hauser) in DXLD if it is common with 6 order harmonics --- this due to a logging of Radio Rebelde (Cuba) on 3600.02 (6 x 600.003 kHz). "Not unusual" was the answer. So now I ask the same question again from a person not having too long experiences from harmonic-DXing: Is it common with 22-order harmonics? In fact Radio Imperial transmits on MW 810 kHz. Then it is 22 x 810.63 kHz = 17833.83 kHz. I can only find up to 8-order harmonics in Mark Mohrmann`s list. The carrier seems to be there most evenings but with very weak almost inaudible audio. You have to wait for the occasion when the strength is improved --- then you can hear both DJ and music with quite good quality. Up to 0100 UT a music program with cumbia and Salvadorian accordion music. 0100 and some hour forwards a talk program with religious tone and then a music program. ID as "YSDA Radio Imperial". Ought to have a chance to be heard also in Sweden, when the conditions are favourable for high frequencies. Varies some 10-parts in frequency --- note that a variation of 1/100 on the fundamental is 22/100 on the 22nd harmonic! I have been ill now and then for a while and was finally in such a bad shape I had to visit the HCJB hospital "Voz Andes". Pneumonia and visiting the bed without any DX-ing omitted my bandscan for last SWB. But it is no harm turning of the radio sometimes doing other stuff. This "special preview" is perhaps not so important but I hope our members appreciate to get some at times cream on the cake". 73 from Björn Malm in Quito!, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) Yes, that`s a terrific catch. Once in a great while such very high order harmonics show up. Hope you are better now. Say, wasn`t this the station listed on a 17 MHz SW frequency in some syndicated religious program list, Luis Palau? Search last year`s DXLDs for this country, which surely will have few entries (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio will have a DX-test towards NORTH-AMERICA from 21 hours UT this evening until 8 tomorrow morning!! Our technicians have worked hardly all evening and they have repaired our 25 mb beam-antenna. It seems to be ready before our transmission began. And because of good radio conditions we have planned to turn this antenna towards North-America! So now you might have quite good possibilities to "catch" our signal once again. If so please let us know it directly. Call or send SMS- message or leave message to our questbook. (SWR April 5 via DXLD) WTFK?? Per original schedule in DXLD 2-053, 11690 2100-2400, 11720 0000-0800 (gh, DXLD) ** GOA. INDIA (GOA). 9700, All India Radio Panaji. Full Data 'Quin- Minar' Tower card for a direct Postal report to Delhi. Total time of 16 months, 10 months after postal follow-up. Several reports and follow-ups to Panji (direct) have never been replied to. Verified Country #246. v/s A. K. Bhatnagar Director, Freq. Assignments (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Cumbre DX Apr 4 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya at almost armchair S4 level at 1341 Mar 31 w/ Indo pop song by woman. At 1343 into what seemed like conversation between woman and man anns w/ man reading a long list of names. This was the best signal on either 90 or 60 meters this morning, somewhat unusual. Clear channel but heavy QSB. On the same day, RRI Makassar on 4753, a former regular and strong signal here was not heard - this station has virtually disappeared over the past few weeks (Bruce Churchill, CA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. I can confirm Radio International (or was the proper spelling Internationale?), reportedly via Grigoriopol`, from 1630 on 9940. The broadcast was preceded by run-up tones of 783...785 Hz, a quite unusual pitch it seems to me? Barabari on 7480 via Lithuania: the pitch on 7480 varied between about 764.3 and 765.7 Hz only while the 9940 tones varied between 783 and 785 Hz. So this was not the same test tone generator (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7480, Radio Barabari is unchanged 1700-1730 via Sitkunai. This transmission is unlisted by HFCC, obviously because it was launched too late for inclusion (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. 909, Radio of Iraqi Republic, 25 Mar, 0300, program schedule, into Quran then, parallel to 603 kHz. It was Monday, and Russian stations, which also use this frequency, were obviously on a weekly maintenance (Dmitri Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal via DXLD) Not to be confused with Yemen testing new transmitter on same frequency, recently reported here (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. Tuned in for English news on RAI at 0100 UT Thu Apr 4 only to hear opening announcement immediately followed by closing announcement, an announcer speaking in Italian for 30 or 40 seconds, and then fill music for the rest of the time period (Mike Cooper, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Chris Hambly, Victoria, let me know that Taiwan(?) was being heard at 0330 on 9660, obliterating any trace of Brandon. I started listening soon afterwards, to music, but announcements were in Japanese. At 0400, into R. Japón in Spanish, announcing this frequency as via French Guiana; and then mixing with Vatican IS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. 7590 TNT via Sitkunai also stays at 2000-2030. Here HFCC lists Armavir 100 kW 285 deg for VOR (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TNT == US religious show Tomorrow`s News Today. It seems TDP is still in the business of disinformation, just as they were when beaming from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (gh, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. I've got a verification from Khekh Tenger, the 2nd program of Mongolian Radio. Report sent to: Ulaanbaatar-II, Khuvsgalchdyn zam-3, Central Radio and TV, radiostation Khekh Tenger. Sender's address on the reply was the same as Voice of Mongolia: Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar-13, P. O. Box 365, Russian section. A quote from their QSL letter (written in Russian, translated by Signal editor): "...Radio station Khekh Tenger broadcasts a news bulletin in Russian daily at 10 and 19 hours Ulaanbaatar time. We're planning to add Soviet and Russian songs before and after that newscast..." (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal April 5 via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA: re DXLD 2-054: Hi Glenn, For clarity, I had not seen "Voice of the Nation" mentioned before, and checked with my RN colleague Jim Dempsey, who previously worked in Namibia. Jim says that "Voice of the Nation" is actually a programme title (it's a phone-in show), not a station slogan. Maybe this is what Mahendra meant, but the wording of the item suggests otherwise. 73, (Andy Sennitt, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Temporary Change to RNW Schedule During a period of essential maintenance to one of the antennas at our Bonaire relay station, the transmission in Dutch to West Africa at 2030-2125 UTC on 15315 kHz will be broadcast from Juelich, Germany. This takes effect on Monday 8 April, and the work is expected to last 5-6 weeks. [Later:] Hello again from Hilversum, Just a few minutes after sending out this week's Newsletter, I learned from my technical colleagues that we will be using Wertachtal, and not Juelich, for the transmission in Dutch on 15315 kHz at 2030- 2125 UT as from 8th April, during antenna maintenance at Bonaire. This is expected to provide a stronger signal in the target area. The transmitter will use 125 kW power with a Curtain Array beamed 210 degrees. Have a good weekend, (Andy Sennitt, Media Network via Norfolk, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Re 7093.6 report: According to latest schedule, this is Pakistan`s domestic service "Current Affairs" programme via one of the Islamabad 100 kW transmitters, and listed at 0200-0400 and 1300-1800 on 7095. 73 (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, England, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Hi Noel, and thanks for this information. So it is a scheduled Radio Pakistan broadcast on a (almost) listed frequency. Nothing special. I'll bet the hams love to listen to current affairs on this frequency. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. POSSIBLE NEW SHORTWAVE BROADCASTER IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 4 APRIL 2002 A new Christian radio station that recently opened in Papua New Guinea has permission to broadcast on shortwave with a power of 100 kW. A team of engineers led by Sam Rowley from the HCJB World Radio Engineering Center in the USA recently travelled to Port Moresby to complete installation of Wantok Radio Light, the city's first Christian FM station. It will become the hub for the Papua New Guinea Christian Broadcasting Network, a satellite radio network being established through a cooperative effort involving HCJB World Radio and three partner organizations. The shortwave broadcasts will reach not only remote, rugged areas of Papua New Guinea, but the entire region. Other stations are being planned for Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. You can read an account and see photos of the project on this page: http://www.missionaryradio.info/png.htm (© Radio Netherlands Media Network April 5 via DXLD) ** PERU. New Freq. 5005, 0012 April 4, RADIO LTC, Juliaca, "Noticias LTC", ID YL "Radio LTC desde Juliaca...LTC, tres frecuencias, una sola señal" 45444. Ex 5032, Ex 6011. 73 (Rogildo F. Aragão, Cochabamba - Bolivia, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SPAIN. REE website gives this schedule for English broadcasts which is different from that in DXLD 2-047: North America 0000-0200 15385, 0500-0556 6055 Europe 2000-2100 15290 Monday to Friday 2105-2200 Saturday and 2100-2200 Sunday 9840 Africa 2000-2100 Monday to Friday, 2105-2200 Saturday, 2100-2200 Sunday 9570 9570 and 15290 both good here 2000 to past 2020 April 4th (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, that certainly makes more sense for midyear. The previous schedule was specified as effective from 31 March to 27 October 2002, but maybe REE were a bit late in getting caught up (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Will we now lose RUI on SW? Following is from Alexander Yegorov of RUI. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for monitoring. In the meanwhile I think all is good. But future is misty. RUI's schedule must be changed soon after: it is planned to revivE Lviv's transmitter for RUI's programmes for Au, SAm and NAm. From another hand, some hot heads are planning to abandon SW for Satellites and Internet only. That's interesting how many of our listeners are now in the Internet? With the best regards, (Alexander Yegorov, April 4, via Krist, DXLD) ** U K. Hi, Glenn! I was a mite confused by your having just an "extract" of the BBC WS SW A02 frequency sked in DXLD 2-048, with that note about unusual time and freqs. Is there any chance of including the complete schedule in an upcoming DXLD? There wasn't a reference to a web location for it and the stuff I can find at the BBC site is so broken up and formatted into pretty pages that I'd sure rather find a simple text listing of freqs and times, hopefully noting what streams are on. Does such a thing exist? (I did check later DXLDs and couldn't find anything like that under "UK".) The info in Monitoring Times approaches this, but I'm not sure how accurate it is, given their publishing leadtime. Is there any SW frequency carrying the Americas stream after 0500 UT now? 5975 kHz goes off then and there no longer is a 6135 kHz to take over. I can (most days) get the BBC then on my local KWMU FM relay but what is on that feed doesn't quite agree with the Americas stream schedule on the BBC website, especially for the first couple hours (0500-0700 UT right now). Is that schedule accessible using some sort of code or identification? Is it the same as the web feed? The BBC says that the XM-radio feed and the SW contents are the same, but doesn't seem to mention the differences in the US-public-radio feed anywhere. This whole situation seems odd to me. Why would they have different program content on the XM satellite broadcast than they have on the FM relays? What good does that do anyone? Well, 73 and good DX! (Will Martin, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I can`t answer most of your specific questions, but a complete BBCWS A-02 frequency schedule is at http://dxa.be/schedules/BBC_A02.txt While there, I remembered to check out this item from DXLD 2-048: ``BBC World Service - A02 - English Service March 31 - October 27, 2002 [gh excerpts from a complete schedule, some strange new transmissions] 0200-0230 m-f 9510 eu 9820 am 1100-1530 12105 sa 1115-2130 m-f 11675 eu, am`` It appears there have been some major errors since the DXA version does not show any BBC on 9820 [where Habana is to be heard all evening], and the other frequencies only carry other services than the ones mentioned: 9510 0200 0230 smtwtfs Rampisham 500 76 RUSS CASIA C AS 9510 0230 0330 .mtwtfs Rampisham 500 76 RUSSIAN RUSS 9510 0330 0400 .mtwtf. Rampisham 500 76 RUSSIAN RUSS 11675 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 235 ENGLISH CARIB 11675 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH [for the above, now obviously a typo adding 10 hours to the 15 minute broadcast] 12105 1100 1530 smtwtfs Vladivostok 500 228 MANDARIN (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. EDITORIAL: THE WAR OF PETER SISSONS' TIE In Britain, the mood of quiet reflection following the death of HM the Queen Mother has been overshadowed by a ridiculous row over a black tie. This particular tie remained in a locked cupboard in the BBC television newsroom on the day of the Queen Mother's death, while duty newsreader Peter Sissons appeared on screen wearing a burgundy coloured tie - the same colour as the new BBC1 logo that had been launched a day earlier. It's a pity that the level of debate has become so childish, as there are real issues at stake, which extend far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. Read my thoughts on the issue at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/editorial.html and tell me what you think by E-mailing me at media@rnw.nl (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter April 5 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. BBC MOUNTS BIGGEST BROADCAST EVENT EVER FOR ROYAL FUNERAL | Text of BBC press release on 4 April The BBC will mount one of the most ambitious broadcasting operations in its history to cover the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Extensive coverage on television, radio and new media, both in the UK and internationally, will capture this historic event for people across the globe. A team of more than 350 people, 100 cameras, 15 television mobile control vehicles plus 100 trucks, ten large mobile radio studios and approximately 1,000 miles of cable will be used to ensure the successful live broadcast of the procession to Lying-in-State on Friday and the funeral service on Tuesday. The massive television outside broadcast operation will pull together more staff and equipment than the combined studios of the BBC's Television Centre. At Westminster Abbey alone the team has installed 480 lights, 70 microphones and 4.3 miles of cable which have been carefully rigged to be visually unobtrusive. To achieve the high level of technical expertise required for the radio broadcast staff have been drawn from far afield, with one returning from New Zealand and another from Miami to work on the event. Sue MacGregor returns to Radio 4 following her retirement from Today in February to commentate on Friday's event. David Dimbleby will lead the coverage of events on BBC Television from a custom built studio, 90 feet up on a flat area of the Methodist Central Hall roof. He will be joined for Friday's coverage and Tuesday's funeral by Professor Simon Schama, presenter of the acclaimed BBC series A History of Britain, who will put the unfolding events into their historical context. Acclaimed Royal commentator Tom Fleming will cover Friday's procession and Tuesday's service at Westminster Abbey. Fiona Bruce will be with the crowds waiting to pay their respects at Westminster Hall on Friday and Brian Hanrahan will be reporting from Windsor for the funeral service. Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond will be reporting for BBC Television news. On BBC Radio James Naughtie will lead the joint coverage with Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell in the studio for Friday's coverage and outside Westminster Abbey for Tuesday's funeral service. The ceremonials on both days will be covered by a BBC Radio commentary team made up of Chris Stuart, Alex Kirby, Nick Clarke, Fergal Keane, Sue MacGregor, Jane Garvey, Robin Lustig, Eleanor Oldroyd, Jane Peel, Mark Coles and Julian Worricker. BBC News 24 will join BBC ONE and BBC TWO for the big events and will offer supplementary live coverage around the clock. The funeral will be streamed live at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news in audio and video and coverage will also be broadcast on BBC World Service and BBC World. The entire BBC local radio network in England will also broadcast the funeral live. The funeral will also be broadcast live on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle, Radio Scotland and Radio nan Gaidheal. Mark Byford, who is leading the coordination of the BBC's coverage across all media, said: "The BBC's coverage of the ceremonial events over the coming days will capture a significant moment in modern British history. As the country's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC will be there to ensure people right across the country can participate in and be witness to events as they unfold." Director of Radio, Jenny Abramsky, said: "BBC Radio's coverage will mark this historic and solemn event with the best broadcasters, reporters and commentators ensuring that our listeners across the country are able to experience the ceremonies and services as they take place to mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother." Nick Vaughan Barratt, BBC Creative Director of Events who will lead production on television, said: "We have been quietly working on plans for this event for many years, along with other broadcasters, Buckingham Palace, the Parliament of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, the police and the City of Westminster. While we all express our sympathy to Her Majesty The Queen, I've been really impressed to see how, in the week since the announcement of the death of The Queen Mother, the preparations have now come into action to provide an extraordinarily fitting tribute to The Queen Mother's life." Peter Griffiths, BBC Broadcast Editor, Events, BBC Radio who will lead production on radio, said: "There is no production challenge quite so dramatic as that brought on by a major ceremonial event of this scale. I'm incredibly proud to work with the team of people who've been assembled around me - their skill and energy is fantastic, and I'm filled with admiration for the way they've taken a grip of what needs to be done." The procession to Lying-in-State on Friday and the funeral service will also be broadcast globally by the BBC's international news channel BBC World. BBC World has a potential audience of 200m households and 800,000 hotel rooms. The channel will also provide selected news carriage to 20 airlines and trains and is providing the main feed of the Queen Mother's funeral free of charge to any broadcasters who wish to take it. BBC World Service will also broadcast live coverage of the funeral next Tuesday [9 April] from 10am - 12noon gmt (11am - 1pm BST). World Service coverage will also be carried by other broadcasters around the world. Issued by BBC Press Office tel: 020 8576 1865; e-mail press.office@bbc.co.uk web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice Source: BBC press release, London, in English 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) As noted in MONITORING REMINDERS, BBC Five Live was supposed to carry the Friday events 1200-1500, according to the whatson schedule posted Thursday, but by Friday, that had vanished to be replaced by a sporting programme, which was not even allowed to webcast. The Tuesday funeral occurs in the local morning, inconveniently early for Canadians and Baja Canadians (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. "In Dixie," if I recall correctly, got into WRTH, but never got on the air. Did it ever have a real FCC permit, and was the call letter allocation legit? I wasn't paying too much attention to SWBC during the time NDXE was "pending," spending hobby time on the air as KA9SPA (John Callarman, Krum TX, NRC-AM via DXLD) Apparently "NDXE" was something of a scam, with the backers using the WRTH ad in an attempt to get backers for the project --- I think that ad was probably the biggest "investment" the founders made in the station! I suspect the idea was inspired by WRNO, which the NDXE people seemed to think was one helluva cash machine for Joe Costello. As far as I know, there was never any FCC application, engineering studies, or anything else undertaken toward making the station a reality. I'll never understand why some people (like Al Weiner) think there is money to be made in SW broadcasting! (Harry Helms AK6C Ridgecrest, CA DM15, April 4, NRC-AM via DXLD) Ah, yes. I was able to visit Dickson Norman of NDXE at his office in downtown Opelika, full of antique radios. I also visited the proposed transmitter site he gave me direxions to, basically a clearing in the forest a few miles away with absolutely nothing built in it. I am still not certain whether he ever really intended to build the station (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. As many of you may already know, WUOT is currently in the news because of the impact of the state budget issue. What many people may be unaware of is that WUOT's state appropriation comes through UT's Institute of Public Service (IPS). Both versions of the DOGS (Downsizing of Government Services) budget currently under discussion in the General Assembly call for the elimination of state appropriations for IPS. If a DOGS budget is passed effective July 1, 2002, WUOT would lose all of its state funding. WUOT's other funding sources listener/business contributions, endowments, Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants) could not offset such a significant loss of revenue in such a short period of time. Given a DOGS budget scenario beginning July 1, 2002, UT's 53-year-old public radio station would cease operations, leaving a significant portion of East Tennessee without National Public Radio service. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for your continued support (Management WUOT, Knoxville, April 4, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ! (GH) UT administrators told the trustees that if the General Assembly approves a proposed budget that does not include new revenues, it will mean a $77 million cut for the system. They said such a budget would force the Institute of Public Service to eliminate about 66 jobs and would shut down Knoxville's public radio station, WUOT-FM (By Bill Poovey, Associated Press, April 5, 2002, Copyright © 2002, The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. All Rights Reserved via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. First came the rumors of a format change. Now, WSM 650 is about to ditch ABC. The longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry will become an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network soon. CBS was the only network available to WSM; the affiliation might also include their News/Talk FM sister, WWTN 99.7 in Manchester, TN. The station had been a longtime NBC affiliate, but switched to ABC when Westwood One acquired the NBC Radio Network from General Electric. The old ABC deal also included Paul Harvey's news and commentary. Clear Channel Communications and ABC cut a shady deal, which means that ABC affiliation will switch in Nashville to longtime CBS affiliate WLAC 1510. The founders of WLAC are definitely rolling over in their graves. WLAC's original owners, Life and Casualty Insurance, is, as far as I know, now part of American Family Life and Casualty (AFLAC). AFLAC still ran a television station in the 1990s; CBS affiliate KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO (Eric Bueneman, Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, Hazelwood, MO, IRCA April 5 via DXLD) ** U S A. Here's the link to a piece from today's (4 April) Atlanta Journal-Constitution concerning voicetracking of FM stations, particularly by Clear Channel Communications: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/news_c3babfdcf2d5d114002a.html 73- (Bill Westenhaver) As customary with this paper, URL already expired 5 April; must search in archives and pay? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI Radio Miami International Programming/Programación [gospel huxters deleted by gh, excerpts only] WRMI Schedule/Horario Effective April/Abril 7, 2002. Days are local days in the Americas; times are UT. Días son días locales en las Américas; horas son UT. To North America on 7385 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: MONDAY-FRIDAY/LUNES-VIERNES; The following are Tuesday-Saturday UT 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SATURDAY/SABADO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) The following are Sunday UT. Los siguientes son domingo UT. 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) To North America on 7385 kHz/Para Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Drive-in Double Feature (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Viva Miami (English or español) SUNDAY/DOMINGO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamerérica en 9955 kHz: 0900-1000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 2100-2300 Viva Miami (English/español) [2 hours!] To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) The following are UT Monday. Los siguientes son UT lunes. 0030-0130 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) To North America on 7385 kHz/Para Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Wavescan (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. For the record, the Daily Telegraph in London even did an obit on Carl McIntire. http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/02/db0202.xml 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Read this one! Paints quite a picture of the guy (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. PARAMILITARY LEADER TURNS SELF IN Posted on Thu, Apr. 04, 2002 Charlie Puckett, the fugitive commander of the Kentucky State Militia, turned himself in today to federal authorities after a three-week disappearance from house arrest. The U.S. Attorney's office in Lexington said Puckett was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate James B. Todd this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Lexington. Puckett disappeared late March 13 after he managed to slip out of an electronic monitoring device and fled his northern Garrard County home. He had been under house arrest since his March 4 release from jail. A federal grand jury indicted Puckett in late February on various weapons charges and in March on a charge of obstruction of justice for allegedly intimidating a witness (Lexington Herald Leader April 4 via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Militia Leader Turns Himself In April 4 The missing leader of the Kentucky State Militia has turned himself in to federal authorities. 27 NEWSFIRST WYMT has learned that Charlie Pucket gave himself up about 10:30 Thursday morning at the Fayette County Detention Center. His attorney, Gatewood Galbraith, says Puckett was accompanied by the Jessamine County Sheriff, a deputy, a federal probation officer, and a friend. Puckett was under house arrest on March 13th when he disappeared. At the time he was being held on federal weapons charges after investigators found weapons and explosives in his Garrard County home. Galbraith says Puckett was taken into custody without incident and says he's glad his ordeal is over (via Walt Williams, MI, Apr 4, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Appeared on CLANDESTINE KSMR/UPR (Johnson Apr 5, ibid.) Does he know where Steve Anderson is??? (gh, DXLD) ** VANUATU. You folks in the eastern USA may want to give Vanuatu a shot in the 0900-1000 window. I've received it several mornings recently on 7260. Sunday they ran a church service to s\off at 1000 (Craig, rec.radio.shortwave via Johnson Mar 31, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE from MADAGASCAR to ZIMBABWE. 7120, V of the People (presumed) 0331-0400+ Mar 26. Missed sign-on, tuned in at 0331 with M and W talking, perhaps an interview. Many mentions of Mugabe; ment. of assistance to indigenous peoples and land programs; Zimbabwe suspended from ?? Organization. Break for a reggae tune at 0351, then back to talks. Reception conditions fair at best, i.e. co- channel QRM from VOA until their 0359 s/off, then one whole minute of QRM-free reception, then sandwiched in the 7115/7125 QRM. Did not check again until UTC 29 and 30 March; very poor both nights and basically unreadable (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Possible Takhar Radio, Afghanistan heard this evening on 7000 kHz, 4/5 from 0210 UT with a twangy string instrument and 0214 with what I'd describe as marching music. At 0219, there was an announcement by a male in an unknown language, a few bars of Beethoven's 5th, then a few minutes of chanting. By 0227 they were either under all the ham QRM or just gone. Signal started out as poor, but there was quite good audio on the signal with lots of compression. USB much better than LSB to get around the QRM (Daniel L. Srebnick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I wrote you a week or so ago regarding a mysterious broadcast from Africa, which I thought came from Burundi based on the word "Bujumbura" being mentioned several times. At the time I had misplaced the log entry I had so I didn't know the freq. I found the notes again. The freq was 11.866 MHz and was variously stronger and weaker on 11.867 and 11.868. The broadcast took place on Saturday March 23 from approx 0230 to 0300 or 0300 to 0330 UT (lost that note again...long story) and cut out at the end. It was definitely in an African language, interspersed with what sounded like children or women singing. One phrase in English was the words "my town is a beautiful village" which appeared to be the name of a song that followed. I've wondered if maybe it an African language service of BBC or Deutsche Welle or something like that because the signal was so strong from Eastern Long Island, I doubt it could have been a domestic broadcast (Arik Hesseldahl, New York, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Arik, I`ve researched this now that you gave me some details. First of all, while possible, it`s unlikely to be on a split frequency, not ending in 5 or 0. So let`s say 11865. If you receiver has SSB or CW position, you need to learn how to determine whether a station is exactly on frequency by the tone you hear if mistuned. I first checked BBC WS transmissions in the Kirundi language, which they do have, but not at this hour. They do, however, have a Swahili broadcast at 0300-0330 UT, on 11865! When you heard it the A-01 schedule was still in effect, and according to the extensive skeds at http://www.hfcc.org which I suggest you also check when you have something to identify, it was from Meyerton, South Africa, 500 kW beamed 20 degrees, i.e. toward East Africa, but certainly with enough left over to reach you. Since March 31, however, the A-02 schedule is in effect, showing a change in site, but still on the same frequency, 11865 from Rampisham, UK, 500 kW on a 140 degree beam, which is approximately in the opposite direction from you, and a considerable fraction of the power may actually be going toward you (as opposed to 90 degrees off the beam). However, the BBC site shows a slightly different frequency, 11860, which may or may not be correct. You might familiarize yourself with some of the key words of Swahili, such as habari for news, sauti for Voice, and so forth. I have no idea what such words would be in Kirundi or Kinyarwanda. Quite a number of SW stations have Swahili broadcasts, and it is rather interesting to listen to, and note similarities and differences with Arabic, for instance. So I believe that is your answer. No doubt nearby Burundi would be mentioned in Swahili broadcasts (Glenn Hauser, to Arik, via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-054, April 4, 2002 Note: this is actually part 2 of DXLD 2-053, split due to size ** IRELAND [NON]. BROADCASTING TO THE WORLD FROM BALLYFERMOT IN IRELAND-YEAR 6! For Immediate Release POC: Adam Lock For the sixth year in a row, WWCR is working with Ballyfermot College in Ireland, to broadcast their programs on International Shortwave Radio. Students from Ballyfermot College of Further Education http://www.scb.ie/ will broadcast Live to the world from their own radio studio, Emerald Radio, between Monday, April 22nd and Friday, April 26th, 2002. Programs will be relayed from Dublin live via phone lines to WWCR, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The live broadcasts will be at 11:00AM-Irish Time, 1000 UT. At the same time, programs will be broadcast on the student's own web site: http://www.emeraldradio.com. Bernard Evans and Imelda Deegan originally set up Emerald Radio back in 1995. The objective of the project is to broadcast on four different mediums: the Internet, Short Wave radio, Satellite and on a number of local stations throughout the world. It promises to bring you programs with an Irish cultural theme. Emerald Radio is now presenting programs in Real Video from their studios in Dublin Emerald Radio is a project undertaken by second year radio and journalism students at Senior College, Ballyfermot. All production, presentation and research are handled by students as are the financing and the management of the station. Emerald Radio programs will be broadcast on the following schedule: Date UT Central Time Frequency Notes 4/22-4/26 1000-1100 5:00-6:00AM 5.070 MHz Live 1000-1100 5:00-6:00AM 15.685 MHz Live 4/27 1100-1300 6:00-8:00AM 5.070/12.160 Recorded broadcast 4/28 1100-1200 6:00-7:00AM 5.070 Reairing of recorded broadcast Again this year, the weekday timeframes are being graciously yielded by their current occupant, "The Overcomer Ministry" and Brother R.G. Stair... Contact: Emerald Radio - Bernard Evans: bernardevans1@hotmail.com (WWCR website April 3 via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Radio Japan "NHK World" A-02 [gh excerpted English only] To SE Asia English 0100-0200 17810* 11860 SNG 0500-0600 17810* 0600-0700 11740 SNG 1000-1200 9695* 1400-1600 7200 0000-0030 13650* 17810 To Asian Continent English 0100-0200 17845* 0500-0700 15195* 1000-1200 15590* 1500-1600 9750* To FE Russia English 0600-0600 11715* 11760* To SW Asia English 0100-0200 15325* 1400-1600 11730* To Oceania English 0100-0200 17685* 0300-0400 21610 0500-0700, 1000-1100 21755 2100-2200 6035 SNG 17860 To N America English 0000-0100 6145 CAN 0500-0600 6110 CAN (West) 0500-0700 13630* 1100-1200 6120 CAN (East) 1400-1500, 1700-1800 9505 2100-2200 17825* To Hawaii English 0600-0700 17870 2100-2200 21670 To C America English 0300-0400 17825* To S America English 0100-0200 17835 To Europe English 0500-0600 5975 UK 0500-0700 7230 UK 1700-1800 11970* 2100-2200 11830 UK 6180 UK 6055 UK To ME and N Africa English 0100-0200 17560* 11880 SRI 1400-1500 17755 GAB To Africa English 1700-1800 15355 GAB (South) 2100-2200 11855 ASC (Central) Relays: ASC = Ascension CAN = Sackville GAB = Gabon GUF = Fr.Guiana SNG = Singapore SRI - Sri Lanka UK = United Kingdom. * via Yamata 300 kW - others 100 kW NHK has been broadcasting the emergency news programs of "US attack the terrorist group in Afghanistan." Frequency schedule for Middle East and North Africa area is following. Japanese service 1500-1700 15265 (Skelton, UK) 1700-1900 9530 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 1900-2100 9590 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 2100-0100 6140 (Dhabbaya, UAE) (21-22 En??) 0100-0400 6180 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 0400-0700 15480 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 0700-1300 15165 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 1300-1500 15400 (Dhabbaya, UAE) English service 0100-0200 17560 (Yamata, Japan) 11880 (Ekala, Sri Lanka) 1400-1500 17755 (Gabon) Persian service 0230-0300 11930 (Gabon) 0830-0900 17820 (Ekala, Sri Lanka) Arabic service 0400-0430 11930 (Gabon) 0700-0730 15220 (Ascension Island) Please be advised that the schedule is subject to change. Radio Japan info@intl.nhk.or.jp (NHK A-02 booklet, Mar 30, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** JORDAN. R Jordan, 11690 at 1505 in English with "Friends abroad DX show" listeners letters read by a very pleasant lady. Each Sat afternoon at 1505 UT, music, commentary program. 444. Address given as R Jordan "Friends abroad," Box 909. Amman. Jordan. Requests for reception reports to above address (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, BC- DX Mar 31 via DXLD) ** JORDAN. JORDANIAN RADIO PROGRAMMES CHANGED TO REFLECT "NATIONAL MOOD" | Excerpt from report in English by Jordan Times web site on 3 April Amman: Radio Jordan has suspended most of its regular Arabic and foreign service programmes and replaced them with more sedate musical presentations to reflect Jordan's sombre mood over widening Israeli aggression in the Palestinian territories, a station official said on Tuesday [2 April]. Radio Jordan's Foreign Service, transmitted on 96.3 FM, halted its regular shows as of late Thursday [28 March] night, and has been broadcasting classical and tranquil music, said Foreign Services Director Haytham Atum... Although Radio Jordan's Arabic Service programmes have also been adapted, some of their regular cultural and religious programmes continue to air, said the service's director Muhammad Sarayrah. "These political and religious shows are practical at times like these, since they allow people to discuss their opinions and feelings," he said. Radio Jordan's Arabic Services, transmitted on 99 FM, were altered late Friday evening. "The radio is reflecting the reality of the situation that people are upset and unhappy. It would be incredibly disrespectful and inconsiderate to our staff and listeners alike if we didn't change the radio's tempo," said Atum. Listener comments about the programme alterations vary. A 45-year-old dentist said she felt most people are so absorbed with watching and listening for news of the events in Palestine, that most are not in the mood for light entertainment. Speaking of herself, she said, "I understand that programmes might be changed, but I also sometimes would like to watch a movie to get my mind off the situation." One media professional described Radio Jordan's programme changes by saying "It's a noble idea, but unfortunately it will not stop those who want to listen to lively music from switching stations." He said interesting programmes attract listeners and that way a station can intersperse its programmes with the messages it wants to convey. "What they are doing now is saying 'guys, we have nothing to say. Please go somewhere else.'" But another listener said he was in no mood to listen to upbeat music. "I feel that the classical music on 96.3 FM is a perfect indication of how I am feeling right now," he said. A young lawyer told The Jordan Times that although she would find it inappropriate to have rave and pop music aired at such a time, "there should be much more news coverage of the events in Palestine, not just three-minute bulletins." The halt of regular programming will continue indefinitely, until the situation in the West Bank calms down and it is appropriate for regular programming to resume, the officials said. Source: Jordan Times web site, Amman, in English 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Guess what? Jordan also broadcasts on SW, which must surely be a ``foreign service`` but not worth mentioning in the above article. I also object to classical music being associated per se with negative events such as those going on in Palestine! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. MOLDOVA: Voice of Mesopotamiya in Kurdish via KCH 500 kW / 115 deg: 1300-1700 on 11530 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. FRANCE(non): Updated A-02 schedule for LJB in Arabic: 1000-1100 21695 1100-1130 17695 21675 21695 21810 1130-1400 21675 21695 1400-1500 21695 1500-1600 17695 21810 1600-1700 15660 17695 1700-1800 15660 17635 17695 17880 1800-1900 15205 15660 17635 17695 1900-2000 15205 2000-2130 11635 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. 3287 // 5010 RTM abruptly went off at 1639 April 3, also nothing on MW when checked; while the station of the self proclaimed president Ravalomanana is still on 9685 (Mahendra Vaghjee, MAURITIUS, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XERMX not heard past several days Mar 28-30 on either 9 or 11 MHz. Perhaps off the air to repair their faulty transmitter (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Back on by UT April 4 at 0552 UT check: 9705 had live announcer with CST timechecks, postal address, about to close down for night, played Malagueña, nice and good modulation, slight QRM splash from 9715. Nothing found around 9300, former spur area; barely detectable \\ 11770 with splash from something on 11775 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. 3290, NBC, National Radio "Voice of the Nation" is being heard only on this frequency and some times with prog in English replayed from an FM station with pop music and BBC News and reports at 1830 April 3, while 3270 is off the air for quite a month now (Mahendra Vaghjee, MAURITIUS, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Sports Animal takes over KLGH http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=843340&pic=none&TP=getarticle 2002-04-03 By Mel Bracht, Staff Writer Contemporary Christian radio station KLGH- FM 105.3 has been sold to Citadel Communications, which has made the station the FM flagship of the Sports Animal radio network. Tom McCoy, who with former KNTL-FM 104.9 ("K-Light") business partners Hal Smith and Chet Taylor launched KLGH in October 2000, said Kingfisher County Broadcasting sold the station for $3.1 million. The station switched formats to the Sports Animal on Monday. Citadel Communications will reprogram the Sports Animal's WWLS-FM 104.9 in about two weeks, said operations manager Chris Baker, who would not reveal the new format. McCoy cited strong competition from the noncommercial K-Love contemporary Christian network as one reason KLGH ("The Light of the City") failed financially. K-Love's Oklahoma City affiliate is KLYV-FM 88.9. "We were not aware before getting into this deal the amount of money that is taken out of the Christian community, which I mean churches and concerts, by K-Love," McCoy said. "Plus, we didn't get the support of the advertising community -- Christian businesses and churches -- that we had expected." Hank Cary, morning personality and music director, said the station was hindered by the lack of a promotional campaign after its debut. McCoy said money wasn't available for promotion because of cost overruns in building the station. KLGH's 900-watt signal is nearly as strong as WWLS-FM 104.9's 6,000 watts, because the station broadcasts from a 900-foot tower between Okarche and Piedmont, McCoy said. "I could almost drive with the signal to Weatherford," he said. Besides carrying contemporary Christian music, the station also aired Kingfisher High School football and basketball games and Oklahoma City University and Southern Nazarene University sporting events. McCoy said the station received strong support from Kingfisher businesses. "Unfortunately, it (Kingfisher) does not have the merchant base to support a station attempting to compete in the metro," he said. (via Bill Eckart, OK, April 3, DXLD) ** OMAN. New BBC mainland site is now registered A-02 [but probably not yet in full operation]: 5965 0000-0100 41N SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 5975 1900-2000 40 SLA 250 335 15 206 56 G BBC MER 6030 1300-1345 39SE SLA 250 290 0 146 G BBC MER 6030 1630-2200 38E,39S,39NE SLA 250 295 0 206 G BBC MER 6065 0030-0200 41NW SLA 250 85 0 216 G BBC MER 6090 1615-1900 40 SLA 250 335 15 206 G BBC MER 6095 1500-1545 41NW SLA 250 50 15 211 G BBC MER 6140 1400-1445 41 SLA 250 110 0 216 G BBC MER 6140 1515-1615 41S SLA 250 110 0 216 G BBC MER 7235 1700-1800 41NW SLA 250 50 15 211 G BBC MER 9605 0000-0030 49 SLA 250 85 0 216 G BBC MER 11685 0200-0230 30S SLA 250 10 -25 211 23456 G BBC MER 11685 0230-0300 41 SLA 250 100 0 156 G BBC MER 11750 0100-0200 41NW SLA 250 60 25 211 G BBC MER 11750 0200-0300 40 SLA 250 335 15 206 G BBC MER 11760 0500-0600 39NE,40 SLA 250 320 0 146 G BBC MER 11760 0700-1400 39NE,40 SLA 250 320 0 146 G BBC MER 11920 1400-1500 41 SLA 250 60 25 211 G BBC MER 11955 0100-0300 41N SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 15175 0700-1300 40 SLA 250 350 0 156 G BBC MER 15185 0330-0600 38E,39S,39NE SLA 250 290 0 156 G BBC MER 15310 0300-0600 41N SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 15575 0300-0500 30S,39E,40 SLA 250 10 -25 211 G BBC MER 17615 2200-2330 42,43 SLA 250 50 15 211 G BBC MER 17700 1100-1700 41N SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 17790 0700-0830 41NW SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 17790 0900-1100 41N SLA 250 63 13 151 G BBC MER 5965 1500-1600 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 050 URDU S AS 5970 0000-0100 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS 5975 1900-2000 ....tf. A'Seela 250 335 PERSIAN ME 6030 1300-1345 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 290 INDONESIAN ME 6030 1630-2200 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 295 ARABIC ME 6065 0030-0100 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 085 BENGALI S AS 6065 0100-0130 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 085 HINDI S AS 6065 0130-0200 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 085 URDU S AS 6090 1615-1900 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 335 PERSIAN ME 6140 1400-1445 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 110 HINDI S AS 6140 1515-1545 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 110 SINHALA S AS 6140 1545-1615 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 110 TAMIL S AS 7235 1700-1730 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 060 HINDI S AS 7235 1730-1800 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 050 URDU S AS 9605 0000-0030 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 085 BURMESE SE AS 11685 0200-0230 .mtwtf. A'Seela 250 010 UZBEK C AS 11685 0230-0300 .mtwtf. A'Seela 250 100 HINDI S AS 11685 0230-0300 s.....s A'Seela 250 100 HINDI S AS 11750 0100-0130 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 060 HINDI S AS 11750 0130-0200 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 060 URDU S AS 11750 0200-0300 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 335 PERSIAN ME 11760 0500-0600 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 320 ENGLISH ME 11760 0700-1400 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 320 ENGLISH ME 11920 1400-1500 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 060 HINDI S AS 11955 0100-0300 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS 15185 0330-0600 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 290 ARABIC ME 15310 0300-0600 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS 15420 0700-0900 .....f. A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 0700-0800 ....t.. A'Seela 250 350 PERS/PASH ME 15420 0730-0800 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 0800-1100 ....t.. A'Seela 250 350 PERSIAN ME 15420 0800-0845 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PERS/PASH ME 15420 0900-1100 .....f. A'Seela 250 350 PERSIAN ME 15420 1000-1100 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PERSIAN ME 15420 1100-1200 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 1100-1200 ....tf. A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 1200-1230 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 1200-1230 ....tf. A'Seela 250 350 PASHTO SW AS 15420 1230-1300 smtw..s A'Seela 250 350 PERS/PASH ME 15420 1230-1300 ....tf. A'Seela 250 350 PERS/PASH ME 15575 0300-0500 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 010 ENGLISH ME 17615 2200-2330 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 050 MANDARIN CHN 17700 1100-1700 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS 17790 0700-0805 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS 17790 0810-0820 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 HINDI S AS 17790 0820-0830 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 URDU S AS 17790 0900-1100 smtwtfs A'Seela 250 063 ENGLISH S AS (Merlin via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX March 12, 2002; BC-DX via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. R Pakistan in Dari 6105.7. I heard them ~week ago, co- chanmel RL/Russ after 16 UT. Just for ONE day. Seemingly in Dari. Not sure yet about lang (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC-DX Mar 29 via DXLD) An interesting station was heard today s-off at 1546 on 6105.7. Later I found an ID in the recording, R Pakistan. They broadcast in Dari at that time (1515-1545) acc. to WRTH. I wonder if this is a new fq via Islamabad or from another location (Mauno Ritola-FIN, BC-DX Mar 29) Re Pakistan on 6105 - you are probably correct in assuming it to be the Dari service which, as you write, is bc at 1515-1545. I received a tentative frequency schedule from them in late February, and on that, 6100 was listed for this service in A02. If I understood what they said correctly, 6100 was already in use in February instead of listed 9395 - I could not hear it. I suggested that 6105 might be a better choice for A-02, so they may have accepted this. The tx should be API-3 Islamabad 100 kW 313 deg. The tentative schedule lists a \\ channel of API-1 7355. I was checking around this part of the band Sunday to see if I could hear them, but found TWR via ALB using 7355 for Polish 1500-1530 (Sun 1545). It might be worth trying to get a \\ on other days - but check also 7365 & 7375 which may be used instead. Incidentally, 7355 is also proposed for Turki and Russian 1345-1500 and a new \\ of 9425 (x9395). I noticed Vlad's logging of 6105 at 1600 - it is possible that this is the program called Aaina - Islamabad Pgm - via API-2, which actually is sched 1615-1700, but has been heard in the past to start earlier than that. In B-01 it was listed on 7100. The only other service on air via Islamabad at that time is their Current Affairs program 1300- 1800 which was on either 7265 or moved to 6140 - both are impossible here due co-channel (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Apr 1 via DXLD) Yes, I heard RP in Turki at 1345-1415 and Russian 1415-1500 on 9425.7 kHz. The announcement said either 7355 or 7255 kHz. I didn't hear them on 7355 kHz, but there was an interfering station. At 1515 they signed on again on 6105.7 kHz. 7355 was blocked again by TWR in Polish, but there was a weak het on 7354.95 kHz (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX Apr 1 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. April 3 at 1725 station with occasionally distorted signal on 7093.6 with AM mode. Couple of IDs as "Radio Pakistan". Language I presume was Urdu. Not in parallel with 5027 nor 4790.4. Program style was like Pakistani regional. At 1758 Islamic chant. At 1802 National Anthem and then off. I seem to recall there has been a Pakistani station around this freq a while ago. Short memory. How about the ID's of these regional sw outlets Quetta/Islamabad/ Peshawar? Do they ID "Radio Pakistan Quetta" etc. or is there some region ID? 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALESTINE. ISRAEL/WEST BANK: FORCES OCCUPY PALESTINIAN MEDIA IN RAMALLAH | Text of report by Palestinian news agency Wafa web site Ramallah, 30 March: A Wafa correspondent has said that the occupation forces occupied the Palestinian Radio-TV building and the local Al- Sharq Television building in Ramallah today. He added that Ribhi al- Kubri, photographer at Al-Sharq Television, was hit in his hand by a bullet fired by the occupation forces while he was doing his duty near the Presidential Office. The occupation forces also occupied the seven-story Al-Isra building, which rooms media and civilian institutions, including the Law Society and Al-Damir Human Rights Society. The correspondent said that three Apache helicopters are flying over Ramallah. The occupation forces have also sent more reinforcements to Baytunya. Source: Palestinian news agency Wafa web site, Gaza, in Arabic 30 Mar 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PALESTINE. WEST BANK AND GAZA: OBSERVATIONS ON PALESTINIAN RADIO, TV STATIONS Following the Israeli occupation of Ramallah, none of the radio and television stations broadcasting from the city could be heard on 2 April, including Radio Amwaj, Radio Ajal, Voice of Love and Peace, Watan Television and Amwaj Television. Television stations based in Hebron were heard as follows: Marah FM radio station on 100.6 MHz. The radio has been observed to carry announcements by the local authorities to help people overcome difficulties resulting from the current situation. The radio has also been observed to carry audio from the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV news programmes. Majd Television on UHF channel 43. When not broadcasting patriotic songs, the television has been observed to join the news programmes of Al-Jazeera and Abu Dhabi satellite channels to relay live news about current events in the West Bank. Al-Nawras Television on UHF channel 41. Audio and video reception fair/poor. Al-Nawras has also been observed to relay news programmes of Al-Jazeera and Abu Dhabi. Al-Mahd Television from Bethlehem is observed on UHF channel 21. In addition to relaying Al-Jazeera and Abu Dhabi news programmes, it also relays programmes from the Lebanese pro-Hezbollah station Al-Manar Television and the pan-Arab ANN television. When not relaying news from other stations, Al-Mahd Television carries captions on the screen related to the current condition, the names of those killed in the fighting in Bethlehem and the nearby town of Bayt Jala. It also gives important telephone numbers, including doctors and hospitals. Bethlehem Television and Radio 2000 were unheard. Marah FM radio announced at 1509 gmt on 2 April that Al-Amal [hope] Television apologizes for the current interruption in transmission due to a "technical failure" and would be back soon. When checked on 3 April, BBC Monitoring confirmed that the Gaza-based Palestinian Satellite TV Channel, was broadcasting on the Nilesat 101/102 satellite. The channel is also reportedly carried on the Arabsat 2A, NSS-K and Telstar-5 satellites. Source: BBC monitoring research 2-3 Apr 02 (via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Acabo de bajar el nuevo esquema de transmisiones desde la página http://www.hfcc.org y Radio América aparece registrada en la frecuencia de los 7300 KHz con una potencia de transmisión de 5 Kw y un horario de emisión desde las 0000 UT hasta las 2400 transmitiendo para la Zona 14 y 16. 73's (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOICE OF RUSSIA PROGRAM SCHEDULE MARCH 31-OCTOBER 26, 2002 News every hour on the hour (11 mins) News in Brief on the half hour (1 sesquiminute) TBA - nothing listed in box Daily Reflections of the Year-Round Scripture Readings - a daily supplement to the Christian Message From Moscow 1400 Sun: Sunday Panorama, Russia People and Events; Mon-Sat: News and Views. 1430 Sun: Kaleidoscope; Mon: Folk Box; Tue, Thu: Yours For the Asking, Music At Your Request; Wed: Jazz Show; Fri: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Sat: Timelines. 1500 Sun: Moscow Mailbag; Mon-Fri: Focus on Asia and the Pacific; Sat: Newmarket. 1530 Sun: Russian By Radio; Mon: This Is Russia; Tue: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Wed: Audio Book Club; Thu: Folk Box; Fri: Songs From Russia, You Write To Moscow; Sat: Kaleidoscope. 1600 Sun, Tue: Science and Engineering; Mon, Thu: Newmarket; Wed, Fri: Moscow Mailbag; Fri: Music and Musicians. 1630 Sun: Timelines; Mon, Wed, Fri: XX Century; Tue, Thu: Alternative Programs [Bless the Lord, O My Soul every 2nd and 4th week]; Sat: TBA. 1700 Sun: Music and Musicians; Mon, Thu, Sat: Moscow Mailbag; Tue, Fri: Newmarket; Wed: Science and Engineering. 1730 Sun: TBA; Mon: Kaleidoscope; Tue: Yours For the Asking, Music At Your Request; Wed: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Thu: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Russia People and Events; Fri: Folk Box, Sat: Songs From Russia, You Write To Moscow. 1800 Sun: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Mon-Fri: Commonwealth Update; Sat: Science and Engineering. 1830 Sun: Christian Message From Moscow; Mon, Wed, Fri: XX Century; Tue, Thu: Alternative Programs [Bless the Lord, O My Soul every 2nd and 4th week]; Sat: This Is Russia. 1900 Sun: Sunday Panorama, Russia People and Events; Mon-Sat: News and Views. 1930 Suna: Moscow Mailbag; Daily Reflections. Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat: Russia People and Events, Daily Relections; Wed: Destined by Fate, Daily Relections; Wed: Russia and the World, Daily Reflections. 2000 Sun: Music and Musicians; Mon, Thu: Science and Engineering; Tue, Fri: Moscow Mailbag; Wed, Sat: Newmarket. 2030 Sun: TBA; Mon: Songs From Russia, You Write To Moscow; Tue: Yours For the Asking; Music At Your Request; Wed: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Russia People and Events; Thu: Folk Box; Fri: Jazz Show; Sat: Russian By Radio. 0100 Sun: News and Views; Mon: Sunday Panorama, Russia People and Events; Tue-Sat: Commonwealth Update. 0130 Sun: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Mon: Timelines; Tue: Folk Box; Wed: Jazz Show; Thu: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Russia People and Events; Fri: Yours For the Asking, Music At Your Request; Sat: Christian Message From Moscow. 0200 Sun, Mon, Thu: Moscow Mailbag; Tue, Fri: Science and Engineering; Wed, Sat: Newmarket. 0230 Sun: Songs From Russia, You Write to Moscow; Mon: This Is Russia; Tue: Kaleidoscope; Wed: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Russia People and Events; Thu: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Fri: Russian By Radio; Sat: Audio Book Club. 0300 Sun, Tue-Sat: News and Views; Mon: Sunday Panorama, Russia People and Events. 0330 Sun: Kaleidoscope; Mon: Audio Book Club, Tue, Thu, Sat: XX Century; Wed, Fri: Alternative Programs [Bless the Lord, O My Soul every 2nd and 4th week]. 0400 Sun: RHM; Mon: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century; Tue, Fri: Moscow Mailbag; Wed, Sat: Science and Engineering; Thu: Newmarket. 0430 Sun: Timelines; Mon: Jazz Show; Tue: Yours For the Asking, Music At Your Request; Wed: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Thu: Folk Box; Fri: Audio Book Club; Sat: Timelines. 0500 Sun: Science and Engineering; Mon: Moscow Mailbag; Tue-Sat: Focus on Asia and the Pacific. 0530 Sun: Audio Book Club; Mon, Wed: Russian By Radio; Tue: Kaleidoscope; Thu: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Fri: This Is Russia; Sat: Christian Message From Moscow. 0600 Sun, Tue, Thu: Moscow Mailbag; Mon, Fri: Science and Engineering; Wed, Sat: Newmarket. 0630 Sun: Musical Portraits of the 20th Century, Daily Reflections; Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat: Russia: People and Events, Daily Relections; Thu: Destined by Fate, Daily Relections; Fri: Russia and the World, Daily Relfections. 0700 Sun: Newmarket; Mon: Music and Musicians; Tue, Thu, Sat: Update; Wed: Science and Engineering; Fri: Moscow Mailbag. 0730 Sun: Songs From Russia, You Write To Moscow; Mon: TBA; Tue: Folk Box, Wed: Audio Book Club; Thu: This Is Russia; Fri: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Sat: Kaleidoscope. 0800 Sun: Music and Musicians; Mon: Science and Engineering; Tue: Focus on Asia; Wed, Fri: Update; Thu: Newmarket; Sat: Moscow Mailbag. 0830 Sun: TBA; Mon: Moscow Yesterday and Today; Tue: XX Century, Musical Portraits of the 20th Century; Wed: This Is Russia; Thu: Folk Box; Fri: Jazz Show; Sat: Christian Message From Moscow. (VOR web site via John Norfolk, OKCOK) ** RUSSIA. RADIO ROSSII. SW. 31/03/2002-26/10/2002 (A02). kHz UT kW Transmitter 5905 1530-2100 100 Moscow 5910 0100-0400 100 Moscow 5935 0100-0500 100 Moscow 5940 1430-2100 100 Moscow 5965** 1530-2100 100 Krasnodar 7220 2100-1700 200 Ekaterinburg 7305** 0100-0500 100 Samara 7355 1730-2100 100 Samara 7360 1330-1700 100 Samara 7365* 0100-0500 100 Samara 7365** 0100-0400 100 Krasnodar 7370** 0100-0400 250 Moscow 7440 0430-1500 100 Moscow 9490* 1530-2100 100 Krasnodar 9655 1030-1500 100 Irkutsk 9720 0530-1400 100 Moscow 9805 1900-2200 100 Irkutsk 9845* 1830-2100 250 Moscow 9845** 1630-2100 250 Moscow 9885 1300-2000 200 S.Petersburg 9895 0200-0400 160 Kaliningrad 11655 0830-1500 100 Krasnodar 11735 1730-2100 250 Moscow 11980 0100-0400 250 Moscow 12005 0930-1400 100 Samara 12020* 0100-0500 250 Moscow 12025* 0100-0800 100 Krasnodar 12025** 0430-0800 100 Krasnodar 12065 0530-0900 100 Samara 12070** 0430-0700 250 Moscow 13705** 0730-1600 250 Moscow 13705* 0530-1800 250 Moscow 15225 0430-0700 250 Moscow 15305 0430-1300 160 Kaliningrad 15475 2230-1000 100 Irkutsk 17660 0730-1700 250 Moscow * = Till 31/08/2002 ** = Since 01/09/2002 (Nikolay Rudnev, Belgorodskaya obl. via RUS-DX Apr.1 via Japan Premium via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. All stories concerning R. Liberty`s new Chechen broadcasts and the extremely negative reaxion to them from Russia, are filed in this and other issues under: CHECHNYA [non] ** SLOVAKIA. Glenn, Received the R. Slovakia International Summer 2002 (from March 31 to October 27, 2002) sked in the postal mail on Tuesday April 2, 2002. Here are the English times and frequencies. 0100-0130 5930 (N. America), 6190 (C. America), 9440 (S. America) 0700-0730 9440, 15460 and 17550 all to Australia, Oceania 1630-1700 5920, 6055 and 7345 all to Western Europe 1830-1900 5920, 6055 and 7345 all to Western Europe. 73, -.. . Kraig, KG4LAC ** SPAIN [non]. COSTA RICA (presumed) 3350, REE relay 0400 April 2, News in Spanish, ID. Very good signal. 3215 was not active for some time (Piet Pijpers, Netherlands, Apr 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Used to be 3210, not 3215. Must have just started. Per http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/OndaCorta/America.htm 3350 is on the air 0200-0600. BTW, Nuestro Sello, the classical music show M-F is still at 1610- 1655, no time shift, on 21700, 17850, 9765 to Am. And Amigos de la Onda Corta is still UT Sun after 0100 on Norte 6055 y 9540 kHz Centro 9540 y 15160 kHz Sur 6020, 9620, 11680 y 15160 kHz (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. Interesting entries for Sudan in the new HFCC A-02 listing. Under the Al Aitahab transmitter site the following appear (excerpts): kHz Times/UTC ITU zones kW Az. 4995 0000 1330 38S,47,48 20 0 6150 1200 2400 38S,47,48 20 0 7200 0300 0830 38S,46E,47,48 100 0 7200 1100 2200 38S,46E,47,48 100 0 9505 0300 0830 38S,39,48 100 90 9505 1100 1700 38S,39,48 100 90 9505 1700 1800 27,37NE,38W 100 320 9505 1800 1900 27,37NE,38W 100 270 9505 1900 2300 38,39,48 100 90 11835 0500 2400 38,47,48,52N,53N 120 180 15170 0500 2400 38E,39SE 300 90 At present I believe only 7200 is being heard from Sudan. The entries for 11835 and 15170 have ``under repa`` alongside, which presumably means ``under repair``. Of course, what actually gets registered doesn`t always get on air, but is this perhaps an indication that some attention is being given to the shortwave transmitters in Sudan? There was nothing registered for Sudan in HFCC B-01, although some of the frequencies and times do look familiar for Sudan in the past (Tony Rogers, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "Nordic Report" Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: We join up with other International broadcasters in "Network Europe" Sunday: More questions from listeners "In Touch with Stockholm" (SCDX/MediaScan April 2 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Re: media being unable to focus on more than one story at a time is also a terrible malady in the US... (gh, DXLD) And add Swedish Radio to the list. The newstalk first channel has plenty of actualities space where background stories can be inserted at basically no notice at all - and still "big" stories can be allowed to take up 90 to 95% of the main newscasts (15 to 25 minutes in length). It gets me absolutely mad when they do so (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. Syrian R first (main) program in Arabic observed on March 29th on the new freq 936 kHz in \\ to 783 and 918. Bcing time 0325- 0035, during summer 0225-2335 UT. Here in Lithuania audible about 3 hours before the end of transmission, also at the time of s-on. Heard ID "Idha'atu-l-jumhuriya ti-l'arabiya as-suriya min dimashq" (Robertas Petraitis, Lithuania, BC-DX Apr 3 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 21725/ harmonic of 7245 ?? I heard a very nice tip after tuning on Saturday afternoon to Channel Africa on 21725. R Dushanbe, 21725 at 1458 UT. Signing on in Persian with ID by male announcer followed by the news. 444. After Channel Africa signs off this weekend frequency (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, BC-DX Mar 30 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. Does this mean an end to the enjoyable listening in NAm to Typhanie et al. from WYFR en francais? from web page http://www.cbs.org.tw/French/index.htm À compter du 31 mars 2002, nous diffusons également sur 12060 kHz entre UT 22h00-23h00 par le relai de RFI ` Allouis et Issoudun dans le centre de la France. Cette diffusion effectué dans la direction d`Abidjan devrait couvrir le sud de l`Europe ainsi que le Nord et l`Ouest de l`Afrique. Notre boîte postale en Allemagne est renouvelié. Dèsormais, veuillez vous servir de la nouvelle: Section Francaise Radio Taipei Internationale, Postfach 309243, D-10760 Berlin, Allemagne (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. TAJIKISTAN/KAZAKHSTAN/UZBEKISTAN: V of Tibet in Tibetan and Chinese noted on April 1 1215-1300 on 15635 DB 15655 A-A 21585 TAC (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Hello Rehisidin: I hope I didn't mess up the spelling of your name too much. This is just a short note to say that I've missed you from the Voice of Turkey's English broadcasts. It's possible that you retired, but I hope you're on sabbatical as you had an enthusiastic tone whether you were reading listeners letters or reporting on the Turkish press. Those who are filling your shoes today are no where near as warm, comforting, and enthusiastic as you were. I MISS YOU THIS MUCH!!!!! (Mark Coady, Bridgenorth, Ontario Canada, vi Reshide) Dear Glenn, the disappearance of the voices of the two Morali sisters from the Voice of Turkey has caused reaction worldwide from our fans. However, the directors of the VOT are ignorant as to what a good broadcast sounds like and so they believe everyone with a smattering of English who drifts in off the streets is adequate to entertain a worldwide audience, many of whom speak English as a native language. You would not believe it but the directors here do not speak a word of any foreign language. I think that they should at least take some lessons but perhaps at this late stage in their lives, this would not be a solution. We are still interested in DX-ing and do continue to send your emails to our address: ankayra@yahoo.com we hope that one day we will be able to use our talents in computer broadcasting because we have a lot to say and we must remember that Turkey which has been qualified by experts in the field is the cradle of civilizations and provides and inexhaustible wealth of topics to culturally enrich listeners. Warmest regards (Reshide and Kizilgul Morali, April 3, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. RUI, reactivated 7375, Mar 30 0100 IS, English news, program about local culture, local folk music. Very good; tnx WOR tip (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Promptly moved to 12040 ** U K. PRINCE CHARLES REBUKES 'DISRESPECTFUL' BBC London, April 2 (AFP) -- Britain's Prince Charles rebuked the BBC over the "disrespectful" way it covered the death of the Queen Mother by choosing a rival network to film an emotional tribute, newspapers reported. The royal family is unhappy that BBC presenters failed to wear black ties when announcing the death of the 101-year-old royal on Saturday, the right-leaning Times daily reported. Charles, in consultation with his mother Queen Elizabeth, used the private commercial channel ITN to deliver an emotional address to the nation Monday in which he spoke of his "magical grandmother". His choice of broadcaster was in protest at the failure of the BBC to rise to the historic occasion of his grandmother's death, The Times said. All BBC presenters and reporters have been instructed by the corporation's management not to wear black until next Tuesday, the day of the funeral, the newspaper added. Meanwhile, ITN and other national broadcasters told reporters to wear traditional mourning clothes straight away. A senior royal official told The Times: "The fact Prince Charles, who discussed this with the queen, went to ITN for his tribute speaks for itself. "The whole family is disappointed and hurt at the disrespectful tone and length of the coverage." The right-wing Daily Mail said the royal family was dismayed at the way that veteran BBC newsreader Peter Sissons questioned Margaret Rhodes, the Queen Mother's niece who was with her when she died, about the royal's final minutes. Meanwhile, the right-wing Daily Telegraph broadsheet said in an editorial: "The BBC, by common consent, made a mess of things ... it misjudged the mood of the nation, speculating about the future of the monarchy within hours of the announcement of the Queen Mother's death." (via David Alpert, DXLD) and same here: http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/printArticle.pl?path=/articles/2002/04/02/1017206197346.html (Sydney Morning Herald via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) ** U K. Tuesday, 2 April, 2002, 12:12 GMT 13:12 UK BBC DEFENDS ROYAL COVERAGE The BBC's coverage of the death of the Queen Mother has been defended as "excellent" after coming in for press criticism for being insensitive. The BBC's deputy director of news, Mark Damazer, said he was "absolutely proud" of the BBC's television, radio and online services that went on air after the news broke on Saturday. Some sections of the press have rounded on the BBC for the lines of questioning taken in interviews, with television news presenter Peter Sissons coming in for particular criticism. Viewing figures have shown that BBC One's programmes on the Queen Mother on Saturday evening attracted about five million viewers, compared with about 3.5 million who watched on ITV1. Mr Damazer said BBC programmes "rose to the occasion and found a tone and historical sweep". "In the round, I think the coverage both on television and on radio was excellent and absolutely commensurate with the BBC's standards," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I feel absolutely proud of the coverage, and support the extraordinary professional contribution from all the people involved." The BBC has received more than 1,000 calls concerning its coverage of the royal death. "The vast majority of calls received were from people angry about changes to the schedule to accommodate the coverage," a BBC spokesman told BBC News Online. There was an equal amount of calls about the coverage being not reverential enough or there having been too much coverage, he said. Mr Damazer said that he would be happy for news teams to do the same again, although small things could be improved. "Getting the tone right is extremely difficult," he said. "What I heard on the radio and saw and listened to on the television was a huge amount of affection." He also refuted stories that Prince Charles snubbed the BBC when he invited ITN to film his personal tribute to the Queen Mother. The BBC had spoken to senior officials at Buckingham Palace, who denied that the prince was unhappy with the BBC's the coverage, Mr Damazer said. "We've asked specifically about that and they categorically repudiate the notion that that was some kind of a snub," he said. "The way these things go is that sometimes these pooled facilities go to ITN and sometimes the BBC." An average of five million people tuned in for a special news bulletin and a tribute to the Queen Mother on BBC One between 1745 and 2100 GMT on Saturday, with 5.5 million people watching another news programme at 2100 GMT. The BBC announced that veteran anchorman David Dimbleby will head coverage leading up to the Queen Mother's funeral on Tuesday, 9 April. Coverage of events over the next week would "not disappoint the licence payer" and would live up to the BBC's "extremely high professional standards", Mr Damazer said. Historian Simon Schama will be on hand to provide a historical context and royal commentator Tom Fleming will also be involved. On the radio side, BBC Radio 4's James Naughtie will be reunited with his former Today colleague Sue MacGregor. Royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell will be in the studio to cover Friday's procession and will be at the entrance to Westminster Abbey for the funeral. ITV is due to announce its plans in the next few days, a spokesperson said. ©2002 BBC News Online http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1906000/1906495.stm (via Ivan Grishin, Canada, DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. Strange article from Tom Utley in DXLD 2-052. Though the Telegraph is read by the section of the UK population likely to have the greatest identification with the House of Windsor, the reason for Nick Witchell`s embarrassment was that the crowds the Windsors expected to congregate did not materialise. He claimed later that there were hundreds which was clearly incorrect. For a more balanced view of the debate about the BBC's coverage go to http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-254788,00.html which points out that the BBC received 700 complaints about the coverage being excessive compared with less than 100 who expected better. Coverage is being co-ordinated daily by a committee chaired by Mark Byford of BBC World Service (Mike Barraclough, UK, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. I thought people might be interested in the following article from today's Daily Telegraph Newspaper. While it is dealing with the BBC's coverage of the death of the Queen Mother, what it has to say about attitudes at the Beeb is very interesting and confirms what many of us experienced last July. (Sandy Finlayson, Canada, swprograms vi DXLD) WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE BBC IS EVERYONE'S PROBLEM By Janet Daley (Filed: 03/04/2002) I WAS determined not to do this. I was really, really not going to write about the BBC making a mess of its coverage of the Queen Mother's death. After all, everybody else had given it such a good kicking and I seem to have done so much BBC-baiting recently. Besides, as many an exasperated Daily Telegraph reader will be aware, I am something of a half-hearted republican myself and so scarcely the best person to do the business. But then I listened to Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail being interviewed on the Today programme by Ed Stourton yesterday morning. Well, I say "interviewed". Even when Mr Letts was allowed to complete the occasional sentence in defence of his paper's criticism of the BBC - in between bouts of jeering and snobbish taunts about tabloid journalism from Mr Stourton, to the accompaniment of comradely sniggering from his colleagues in the Today studio - he received not a glimmering of understanding from his interlocutors. Mr Stourton pointed out that, while the Mail criticised the BBC's anchorman, Peter Sissons, for asking tastelessly intrusive questions about the Queen Mother's last moments, it had itself published an account of the deathbed scene. Doesn't the word "hypocritical" come to mind? he asked, laughing audibly to underline the point. So Mr Letts tried to point out that his newspaper was only one among many that readers were free to purchase (and, hence, subsidise) or not. It was not the state broadcasting service. This provoked a veritable paroxysm of muffled guffaws from the studio. "So you're happy to be in the gutter," crowed Mr Stourton, "you just don't want us to join you there." To which the obvious answer is: yes. We do not want the BBC to behave like a newspaper (or a broadcasting company) that has to compete in the most crass and morally compromising way for audience share. Indeed, to adapt Mr Stourton's useful locution: don't the words "smug", "arrogant" and "complacent" come to mind? Corporation executives, scrambling to defend themselves after this latest PR disaster, keep giving the game away. We got it right, they say, because, with our minimal, vaguely disrespectful coverage, we are in tune with the times. We are giving people what they want. That is tantamount to saying that those who run the BBC have no understanding of the enormous privilege that they have in being state-funded, and thus free of commercial pressures. The BBC does not, at any and every given moment, have to offer people what it thinks they want - or, more accurately, what the BBC thinks that they think they want - under threat of financial extinction. A publicly funded broadcasting service is free to do what it believes to be right: to indulge the ultimate creative luxury of making editorial decisions based on principle. Ah, yes. But which principle? The BBC has screwed up again. What's new? Lack of judgment, loss of nerve, even expensively equipped amateurish incompetence have almost ceased to be newsworthy. What is worth examining here is why this quintessentially British organisation cannot accept the responsibility that comes with its hugely well endowed prerogative: why it cannot make decisions on the basis of principle. Why, in fact, its management seems not even to understand the issue. The trouble with the BBC is the trouble with the country at large. The BBC no longer knows how to relate to our own national institutions because most of us (or, at least those educated after about 1965) no longer do. It no longer comprehends what role it should play in public discourse, or in mediating between constitutional forces, because the nation no longer has any clear idea of what its attitude should be to those fixtures of national life. This disorientation is not only a historical quirk: it has been quite deliberately and systematically fostered by the New Politics. The end of communism and the discrediting of Marxist ideology meant that Left-liberal reformers had to find a different way to be radical: the economic argument had been lost. Not only had the Soviet experiment collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions, but even the weaker forms of command economy were coming into disrepute. Class war turned out to be a road to political corruption and economic impoverishment. So what was a whole generation, reared on the idealism of vaguely understood revolutionary jargon, to do? Why, forget economics and concentrate on society and its "moribund" institutions. Instead of pinning their idealism on the state ownership of the means of production, and the forcible seizure of wealth from the plutocratic class, they would transform social relations. So all that had once been respected, all that was traditionally revered, all the historical baggage that inhibited people's "natural" freedom would be tested to destruction. Teachers would no longer be seen as founts of authoritative knowledge. Policemen would no longer act as enforcers of order. All members of the governing class would be assumed to be self- serving liars. This last aspect of the cultural revolution now appears to be unstoppable, to Labour's startled discomfiture. You can hear the hurt surprise in the voices of ministers when they discover that the antagonism that they happily encouraged as part of their Maoist cleansing in opposition cannot (like Hal the computer in 2001 - A Space Odyssey) be stood down. In a way that I doubt that its executives intend, the BBC is truly reflecting the national mood: one of confusion, an almost pathological disrespect for all established authority, and a corrosive cynicism not only about the governing class, but also about all democratic endeavour. This is more than a historical identity crisis: it is a breakdown of belief in the values of public life and the possibility of civic solutions (via S. Finlayson, Canada, swprograms Apr 3 via DXLD) ** U K. I noticed that the "World Showcase", "World Insight", "World Living" categorizations of the BBCWS output were not used in the April "On Air". Wonder if they've been retired for good? The website never used those groupings of programs (Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K [non]. New BBC relay in OMAN: q.v. ** U K [non]. NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL AND BBC WORLD SERVICE ANNOUNCE AUDIO CONTENT AGREEMENT; NYTIMES.COM TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BBC'S GLOBAL NEWS PROGRAMS Business Editors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2002--New York Times Digital, the digital business unit of The New York Times Company, and BBC World Service, the world's leading international radio broadcaster, announced today that the NYTimes.com Web site will incorporate links to BBC World Service English audio content. In the first agreement of its kind between the BBC World Service and a U.S. newspaper Web site, links to global news programs and hourly news bulletins from the BBC will be showcased on the international section of NYTimes.com (www.nytimes.com/international). Users will be able to access three BBC programs: -- "World Update," a daily news program for U.S. listeners who want an in-depth briefing on world affairs, and draws on the range and expertise of the BBC's global network of correspondents. -- PRI's "The World," a co-production of BBC World Service, Public Radio International and WGBH Boston. Also daily, the program is specifically designed for a U.S. audience to bring international stories to listeners. -- "World Service Bulletins," which provide up-to-the-minute news in a short, five-minute format. Both "World Update" and "The World" are one hour long and are syndicated to U.S. public radio stations by Public Radio International. "This is the first significant agreement with a U.S. newspaper Web site for the provision of BBC content. It furthers an ongoing strategy of BBC World Service to build our reputation and profile by providing content to leading online news sites in significant territories around the world. We are already in discussions with New York Times Digital to widen the scope of the content provided," said Miles Palmer, head of business development, BBC World Service. "This announcement represents a natural partnership between two of the highest quality news brands in the world," said Catherine Levene, vice president of strategy and business development for New York Times Digital. "Providing our users with in-depth global audio content from the BBC World Service will complement the high-quality journalism provided by The New York Times. We look forward to expanding our relationship with the BBC in coming months." The BBC World Service site http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice which contains text and audio in 43 languages, won the prestigious Webby Award in 2001 for the world's best radio Web site. NYTimes.com has been the largest newspaper site for 23 months in a row and continues to lead the news category for time spent per visitor, according to Media Metrix. In February NYTimes.com recorded nearly 9.8 million worldwide visitors, and over 277 million page views. About BBC World Service BBC World Service is the world's leading international radio broadcaster. It aims to be the world's reference point, a global hub for high quality information, education and entertainment. Audiences are currently at record levels, with 153 million people listening regularly in 43 languages including English. BBC World Service is funded through Grant-in-Aid from the Foreign Office. This year's grant was (pound)183 million. The BBC World Service Web site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice - contains extensive, interactive news services available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish, with audiostreaming available in 43 languages. It also contains detailed information about World Service broadcasts, schedules and frequencies in all languages. BBC World Service is also available on short wave; on FM in 129 capital cities; and selected programs are carried on almost 2,000 FM and MW radio stations around the world. High quality reception of World Service programs is available via satellite in Europe and North America. BBC World Service online has been available through Yahoo US since 1999 in both English and Spanish. About New York Times Digital New York Times Digital is the digital business unit of The New York Times Company and includes market leaders NYTimes.com and Boston.com, and an archive distribution business. NYTD's mission is to provide a high-quality, worldwide online audience with trusted editorial content from The New York Times and The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2001 revenues of $3.0 billion, publishes The New York Times, The Boston Globe and 16 other newspapers; owns eight network-affiliated television stations and two New York radio stations; and has more than 40 Web sites. In 2002 the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's list of America's Most Admired Companies. Among all 530 companies on the list, the Company ranked No. 1 in quality of products/services and No. 1 in social responsibility. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment. This press release may be found at http://www.nytdigital.com and http://www.nytco.com --30--ad/ny* CONTACT: The New York Times Company Christine Mohan, 212-556-7078 mohan@nytimes.com or BBC World Service Press Office David Mortimer, +44-207-5572951 david.mortimer@bbc.co.uk (via David Alpert, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC Web site, electronic filing to be interrupted (Apr 3, 2002) -- The FCC has announced that its Web site functions, databases and telephone service will be interrupted this weekend. From 9 PM Eastern Standard Time Friday, April 5, through 1 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, April 7, access to the FCC's electronic filing systems--including the Commission Registration System (CORES) and Universal Licensing System (ULS)--will be temporarily interrupted during preventative maintenance. In addition, access to the entire FCC Web site, electronic databases and other information and telephone services will be interrupted. E-mail sent to the FCC during the down time will be queued for delivery when the system is restored on April 7. The FCC asks that all electronic documents be filed before 9 PM EST on April 5 or after 1 PM EDT on April 7. In addition to CORES and ULS, systems affected include the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), the Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS), and the OET Experimental Licensing Branch Electronic Filing Site. For more information, see the Public Notice at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/Public_Notices/2002/pnmc0202.html (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Shortwave station WINB in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, USA, is marking its 40th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, WINB plans to run a few contests. Here is the second- From April 8th until April 26th only, A WINB pennant will be sent to: The five DXers providing the best recordings of WINB. By best, I mean those who have heard WINB with the strongest reception. The five Dxers providing the most recordings of WINB. By most, I am looking for a combination of extensive recordings with the best reception possible. You may enter as many times as you like. In short, we will only be giving away 10 pennants, five for the best recordings and five for the most recordings. All the winners will also receive the new WINB QSL. Your recordings can be made at the following times: UT Monday through Friday 1145-1200 on 9320 kHz. UT Monday through Friday 1615-1630 on 13570 kHz. UT Monday through Friday 1815-1830 on 13570 kHz. UT Tuesday through Saturday 0030-0045 on 12160 kHz. Recording can be on standard cassettes or CDs and mailed to: WINB, P.O. Box 88, Red Lion, PA 17356 USA. Alternatively, you may send a real audio or MP3 files to winb40th@yahoo.com [No WAV files please.] While CDs and cassette recordings may be of any length, please keep audio files between one to two minutes long. WINB has never had a pennant in its 40 years. The pennants will only be sent to those participating in this and other contests scheduled for this year. 73's, (Hans Johnson, Frequency Manager, WINB, http://www.winb.com April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Invitation to DRM Presentation. Please visit IDT Continental Electronics Booth L2763 at NAB2002 for live DRM demonstration! IDT Continental Electronics of Dallas, Texas, in cooperation with TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin, The Fraunhofer Institute of Germany, and R Station WEWN in Birmingham, Alabama, will demonstrate live bcs of the Digital R Mondiale (DRM) digital bc system at its booth at the NAB2002 Convention in Las Vegas. DRM is an ITU recognized digital radio broadcast system for all radio broadcasting below 30 MHz. The transmission will be from the WEWN SW radio station in Birmingham, Alabama, using an IDT Continental Electronics manufactured model 420C 500 kW transmitter and a TELEFUNKEN designed and built DRM exciter. The purpose of the live demonstration will be to show excellent quality improvement of this digital system over the conventional AM modulation system in the international SW bc bands. The frequencies used for this test during NAB2002 will be licensed WEWN freqs of 5825, 7520, 9975, 11875, and 13615 kilohertz. The special receiver for these tests will be provided by TELEFUNKEN using digital decoding techniques developed by Fraunhofer. The demonstration will take place at the Continental Electronics Booth L2763 in the R Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the NAB2002 Conference and Exhibition. The exhibits will be open from 9 AM until 6 PM [PDT] on April 8, 9 and 10 and from 9 AM until 4 PM on April 11. The DRM demonstration should be running during most of the show (Dan Elyea, NASB Secretary-Treasurer, Mar 30 via BC-DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DXLD) ** U S A. ADIOS, INTERNET RADIO -- By Chris Gonsalves -- I'm a fan of Stardog, personally. Maybe you like CelticGrove or BlueCityJazz. Doesn't matter. In a few weeks, listening to music on Internet radio will be dead as a mackerel. Shame really. The Internet radio business has been growing at something like 100 percent annually and is thriving in genres underrepresented on FM stations, such as classical, blues, jazz and gospel. Doesn't matter. The government, acting once again in the special interest of the music industry, is about to crush the idea. In the latest example of groundless regulation and greed interfering with free commerce, the U.S. Copyright Office is considering a proposal that would force Internet radio stations to pay exorbitant royalties to record companies and performers, something their over- the-air counterparts are not required to do. Where AM and FM radio stations pay a small fee to music composers, Internet radio stations are facing fees of up to 14 cents [sic, off by two orders of magnitude –gh] per listener per song. That fee would bankrupt nearly all of the Web broadcasters operating today, according to the group saveinternetradio.org. Copyright officials have until May 21 to make the call, but considering that the recommended shakedown came from the advisory group they created--the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP for short)--it's clear the rubber stamp is warmed up and waiting. How did we get to this point? Even if you thought Napster and others of their ilk were the bad guys, how did Internet radio become to the target of the Harry Fox crowd? It began in October 1998, when Congress passed the "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" (DMCA), which gave record companies the green light to collect royalties when music was played via "digital media" such as Internet radio. It's an interesting departure from a music industry standpoint. Record companies and performers don't get royalties from AM and FM radio play because the copyright folks consider the promotional value of the airplay payment enough. So why the switch for the Internet? The theory bought by Congress is that Internet listeners can make "perfect copies" of the songs being streamed, and those copies could hurt CD sales. That would be a good argument, except that, as anyone who listens to Internet Radio knows, you can't make "perfect copies." You can't easily make copies at all. And if you can, they are of too low a sound quality to be useful in creating your own CDs. What you get sounds pretty much like those cassette tapes you used to make off the FM radio. Not great. Never ones to let facts stand in their way, the solons assigned to the CARP published their recommended royalty schedule in late February. As the basis for the outrageous fee schedule, the CARP report cites a $5 billion deal between Yahoo! and Broadcast.com. The result was a figure that would leave most Internet broadcasters, who have attracted precious little advertising, liable for between 200 and 300 percent of their gross revenues. And, oh, by the way, the fees are retroactive to October 1998. According to Internet radio industry figures, a midsize independent Webcaster with an average audience of 1,000 would owe $525,600. See you later Stardog. It was nice knowing you (Eweek news via Tom McNiff, DXLD) ** U S A. US PREPARES TO INVADE YOUR HARD DRIVE http://salon.com/tech/feature/2002/03/29/hollings_bill/ *** Via RRE home page: http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/rre.html [Excerpt] March 29, 2002 | If you think techies hate Microsoft, try asking them about Hollings -- Sen. Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings, that is, the South Carolina Democrat who finally introduced his long-dreaded copy protection bill into Congress last week. If there's an axis of evil for technology, Hollings has made the list. Hollings' bill, formerly referred to as the SSSCA (Security Systems Standards and Certification Act) but now dubbed the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA), would require any device that can "retrieve or access copyrighted works in digital form" to include a federally mandated copy protection system. That covers not just your next iPod or Windows Media Player, but just about every digital device with a screen, a printer, an audio jack, a disk drive, a memory stick, or several input/output devices yet to be invented. Your computer, your camera, your car stereo. CBDTPA's goal is to force a powerful sector of U.S. industry -- makers and sellers of digital hardware and software -- to submit to the needs of the smaller but more established entertainment lobby. This legislative approach to copy protection has already riled consumers of digital entertainment who fear that hardware copy protection will make their lives more difficult. But it's also raising concern among standards experts who already support what is known as "digital rights management" -- strategies for protecting copyrighted intellectual property (mediamentor list via Georges Lessard, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U S A. 1710 kHz, Pirate NY, 3/30 1955 [EST] – first noted at this time after Sabbath ended (not audible when I had checked earlier at 1930) with Hebrew/Yiddish music and sermons in English. Programming did not sound like it was ``left-wing`` or communist to me. Audible all evening often with decent signals (NJW-BR) ....Perhaps rather than a ``pirate`` this can be called a HAR (``Hebrew Advisory Radio``) or TIS (``Torah/Talmud Information Station``)? ;-) (Neil Wolfish, Burnt River, Ont., DX-pedition, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATE RADIO STATION SILENCED IN ASHEVILLE [NC] By Tonya Maxwell POSTED: March 26, 2002 10:52 p.m. ASHEVILLE - Free Radio Asheville, the city's low-power, unlicensed radio station, was shut down Monday evening after a disc jockey was arrested during a broadcast, but a station co-founder says the silence is only temporary... [107.5 FM] http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/front/9860 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. ECLECTIC, FREE AND ILLEGAL FM PIRATE RADIO STATION POPS UP ON SANTA ROSA [CALIFORNIA] AIRWAVES http://64.42.5.135/local/news/30radio_a1.html March 30, 2002 By JOHN BECK. THE PRESS DEMOCRAT When a local radio station kicks off the day with a heady dose of house music and a Kid Rock remix in the morning, Miles Davis and trance music in the afternoon and skate rock, Hendrix and nerd pop in the evening, there can be only one culprit: pirate radio. Commandeering the FM radio dial at 88.7, Free Radio Santa Rosa is thumbing its nose at corporate radio and the Federal Communications Commission with the motto, "We will be running a station that will give you what you want to hear." It isn't the first time a pirate station has dared to broadcast in the North Bay, but it may be the best time since the late 1970s, when the FCC stopped licensing low-wattage renegade stations under 100 watts. In January 2000, then-FCC Director William Kennard, a former college radio DJ, led an FCC vote to loosen regulations and allow the licensing of low-power microradio stations that broadcast 10- to 100- watt signals in rural regions outside metropolitan areas such as the Bay Area. More than 3,000 applications poured in, representing everyone from religious fundamentalists and environmentalists to bluegrass aficionados and gospel musicians. Pirates banned for a time So far, only a handful of licensed low-power stations are up and running. That's because the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio responded by lobbying Congress to pass a law requiring that FM frequencies be separated by at least three bandwidths to prevent interference. Furthermore, the law banned former pirate radio operators from being licensed under the FCC. But in February, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington ruled 2-1 that banning former radio pirates was an unjustified restriction of free speech. More importantly, a federal court case involving a gospel station in Hartford, Conn., is testing the FCC regulation restricting microradio in metropolitan areas. The voice behind Free Radio Santa Rosa, who identified himself only as "Muddy Udders," declined an interview request, writing in an e-mail: "What I am doing is illegal and to draw unneeded attention would be like slitting my own throat. I would like to stay on the air for quite awhile and believe my listeners would like it also." His Web site, which features skull-and-crossbones wallpaper at www.geocities.com/radio_887, proclaims, "Don't let (corporate radio) fool you into thinking you picked the song that you requested. It was on the list and would have been played whether or not you called in. So check out my site. Tune me in and relax knowing you truly have a voice in what you hear." Marred by spotty reception, Free Radio Santa Rosa rarely broadcasts outside the city limits. Most pirate radio stations operate on low- tech radio "kits," using small transmitters that can be placed on a roof or in a tall tree. FCC standing firm Despite recent deregulation and court appeals, the FCC says it's not backing down in its enforcement. "The policy is the same as it's been since 1934. You have to have a license to broadcast on the airwaves," said FCC spokesman David Fiske in Washington. "For every one hypothetical situation you can describe that might say restricting pirate radio is absurd, I can also point to three or four cases where pirate radios with inferior equipment veered into the upper end of the FM band and interfered with air traffic control operations." An FCC enforcement bureau official, who agreed to speak on condition his name be withheld, said the bureau is constantly on the watch for unlicensed stations. Enforcement officers work off tips from the public and commercial broadcasters. Using "electronic means" to track down pirate radio stations, FCC officials first issue a warning and give operators a chance to comply by voluntarily shutting down. A first offense can bring a fine of up to $11,000 and repeated offenses can bring fines of up to $100,000, confiscation of equipment and even imprisonment. Over the past decade, corporation-owned radio stations have dominated the airwaves. The top 25 radio groups control 2,710 stations, nearly 25 percent of the commercial radio market. After recent acquisitions of rivals Jacor and AMFM, Clear Channel is the largest group, with 1,202 stations. In comparison, there are an estimated several hundred pirate stations nationwide. Over the past several years in Sonoma County, two companies have taken over seven radio stations. Maverick Media owns KXFX rock station, KSRO news/talk radio, KMGG oldies station and KFGY country. Virginia-based Sinclair recently bought KRSH, a folk/blues station, KSXY pop radio and Exitos Latin radio. 'Free-speech activist' Free Radio Berkeley pioneer Stephen Dunifer, who was forced to quit broadcasting in 1989 because of an FCC court injunction, prefers the term "free-speech activist" over "radio pirate." "The real pirates are the corporations," he said. "They're the ones essentially who have stolen the airways from the people in this country." "It's our way of repossessing something that's been stolen and putting it to much better use than some A&R Top 40 schlock format," Dunifer said. Listening to Free Radio Santa Rosa, it's clear from the eclectic mix of songs that the station falls outside of tightly defined corporate radio niches like "classic rock" or "smooth jazz," which are dictated largely by advertising strategy. But it's more than just an outlet for a hi-fi record junkie to spin his own collection. Much more than music In addition to music, it's a forum for satire and parody. A recent mock radio commercial for "Taint Cola" includes an obscene tutorial skit that involves a teacher instructing a pupil how to have sex with his girlfriend. It's a juvenile gag you won't hear on any local stations. But it's not too perverse for a program like Howard Stern's morning show. "The (Free Radio Santa Rosa) format is so eclectic that I don't know if there should be a concern from commercial radio," said KRSH program director and DJ Bill Bowker, who years ago considered creating a low- power microstation when he was looking to diversify. "Although the big corporate guys always worry about stuff like that and try to shut down creativity." The National Association of Broadcasters says it's a matter of potential signal interference rather than competition for listeners and advertising dollars. "They were not going to be commercial stations to begin with -- they weren't allowed to sell spots so it wasn't an issue of competition," said association Senior Vice President Dennis Wharton. "There might be a few listeners who sample it, but I don't think there's going to be a mass defection to low- power radio. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong." (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. I seem to remember an article in DX News a long time ago which showed best groundwave propagation in late winter when there was a significant snow cover that was starting to melt and getting softened up by rain - i.e. the beginning of "mud season". The saturation of the ground that was still frozen not too far below the surface gave a conductivity boost. Summer showed decreased performance especially if it had been dry for an extended period. Leaves on oaks, maples, and other hardwood trees during May through September could also reduce groundwave strength (relative to winter / early spring) to some degree. The article was based on a northeastern US location (NJ or PA, I think). Doug Smith W9WI wrote: ``I'm not convinced long-haul midday midwinter DX *is* groundwave.`` A lot of it isn't. Morocco-1044 heard from Cappahayden, NF at noon and Saudi Arabia-1521 on Cape Cod at 1 p.m. were definitely skip as fading was observed and because those signals aren't heard that early on a daily basis even in winter. On a more mundane level, WWKB-1520, WPTR- 1540, and WQEW-1560 frequently blast in here in the Boston area during the day in autumn and winter at night- like levels. Their summertime "true groundwaves" are much weaker. On the higher end of the dial, there's almost always some skip when you're out beyond 600 miles. In Newfoundland, WWZN-1510 Boston has a baseline groundwave strength, but its level sometimes goes 1 to 2 S-units higher because of midday skip. Charlie Taylor similarly noted a lot of combined skip and groundwave during the middle of the day on US stations heard from Bermuda, especially high-band stations like WADK- 1540 RI and (then) WQXR-1560 NY. I think he had coastally-sited WTHE-NY and (then) WSLT-NJ as his daytime regulars on 1520 but, sometimes, inland WKBW-NY (which had no appreciable groundwave at that distance) would pop atop the channel due to midday skip. If you heard a signal day after day at noon with no short- term fading and only a slight season-to-season variation (as affected by rainfall improving ground conditions), then you'd have a solid case to declare it groundwave. Azores - 693 heard from Newfoundland and Turks and Caicos - 530 heard from Cape Cod fit this category. Both are in the 1400 mile (2250 km) range. That's about as far as I've read about consistent (including summer) groundwave reach on MW, though if either of these stations jacked their power up to a megawatt, 2000+ mile over-water range wouldn't surprise me. Longwave goes even farther with Ireland - 252 being receivable all day in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and probably outer Cape Cod (if a Beverage site was available in the National Seashore). For pure groundwave (or long-haul skip for that matter), if one direction is over salt water and the other is through a mountain range, you'd notice a big difference. Other than obvious factors like that, areas that are receiving heavy rain or snow might get a little boost versus bone-dry areas in another direction. One- hop high-angle short skip is relatively unaffected by what's under it since the signal path is high above the ground within a short distance of both the transmitter and receiver ends of the path. Skip assistance in winter is generally noted on northerly signals: here in MA, a lot of the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, and Great Lakes states stations are common because the ionosphere stays more "night like" where days are shorter. CFRB-1010 and CHUM-1050 from Toronto sometimes "swamp" the NYC stations on those channels during winter days even though, generally, the New Yorkers are much stronger than the Canadians at night. Day skip from southerly areas (MD, VA, NC, etc.) isn't very common (Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Fwd: "WORLD BEACON" CLOSES DOWN Subject: [A-DX] World Beacon stellt Sendungen ein (fwd) World Beacon stellt seine Kurzwellensendungen zum 15.04. ein. Hier die Originalnachricht, die heute Nacht per eMail kam: Reception schrieb: Almost two years to the day after its launch, the World Beacon will sign off, effective April 15. Affiliated Media Group, the parent company that operates the short wave based mission initiative has announced it will suspend operations to concentrate on the company's domestic ministerial clients. The Beacon was the brain child of Affiliated Media Group founder and chairman Ray Davis, who conceived a Caribbean version in the 1970s. At its height, The World Beacon broadcast a full weekly schedule to Africa, Europe and Russia, shuttering European and Asian operations when sufficient clients could not be found to fill the broadcast time slots. The station broadcast from transmitters in England, South Africa, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The Beacon was in fact the victim of Affiliated's incredible growth and success. The agency which represents a wide array of spiritual and secular clients found demand for its domestic services far exceeded client requests for overseas radio ministry opportunities. The events surrounding September 11, 2001 were also a factor, limiting the company's ability to receive and respond to the flood of mail that the Beacon received each week. The World Beacon launched on April 2, 2000 with its popular signature theme performed by the new age group Deep Forest. In addition to a full schedule of spiritual programming, the Beacon produced "Midnight Ministry" and "DXQSL" which were dubbed "listener appreciation programs." The station was profiled on the popular Radio Netherlands Media Network program and had a large cadre of devoted listeners around the world. Program director Jeff Johnson will continue to process reception reports through April 15. Send yours via email to reception@worldbeacon.net (via Rudolf Sonntag, Gilching, Germany, A- DX via Kai Ludwig, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DXLD) Above taken directly from http://www.worldbeacon.net which also still displays this schedule for African Beacon, via UAE? and South Africa: 1800-2200 17850 kHz 1800-2200 3230 kHz (via gh, April 2, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Re PROJECT FE, via Singapore: Program PAW history - enquiries on Google and Yahoo showed up: As a result of the Azusa Street Revival, a number of independent Pentecostal churches ... Submitted by Suffragan Bishop Charles A. Sims at the 2000 Summer Convention. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. PAW service via WBCV. http://www.pawcreek.org/obd.htm http://www.pawcreek.org/ PAW Shortwave! Saturday Nights. WWCR 3210 Mhz 10-11 PM (EST). http://www.templeyp.org/p_history.htm (BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RFE Kazakh entry on 5005 kHz 100 kW, 1400-1600 RFE RL- 7 KA DUS at 045 degrs. Near the typical TJK freqs 5750, 5800, 5830: 5860 1400-1600 RFE RL-9 KY DUS 045 5860 1900-2100 RFE RL12 FA DUS 264 (IBB schedule, Mar 31 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE - A-02. Here are details of the proposed En schedule for Christian Science Publishing Society, to Asia, India, FE, Australia and NZL, for A-02: tx kW degr India: 1300-1400 9940 Far East relay, IRK 250 224 So China: 1200-1300 9875 Far East relay VLD 500 228 No China: 1000-1100 11780 Far East relay Taiwan 100 352 INS/AUS/NZL 1200-1300 9585 Far East relay K/A 250 213 AUS/NZL 0800-0900 9845 via WSHB SHB 500 245 Transmitter sites for the FE relay are expected to be available at the HFCC Public Master Schedule after the new season starts on March 31. (Mar 30, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. IBB online schedule says Iranawila, Sri Lanka, is site for new 19000 kHz 1230 Uzbek transmission, 348 degrees (gh, Joe Hanlon, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. All stories concerning R. Liberty`s new Chechen broadcasts and the extremely negative reaxion to them from Russia, are filed in this and other issues under: CHECHNYA [non] ** VATICAN. Vatican Radio is now on even 5890 kHz (ex odd 5882), reported from March 26th onwards (Rudolf Krumm, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) Direct from Vatican garden tx: 5890 0225 0440 28 VAT 80 10 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 0440 0700 27,28W VAT 80 330 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 0800 0815 28 VAT 80 330 23567 SP CVA VAT 5890 0800 1000 28 VAT 80 330 4 IT CVA VAT 5890 0900 0915 28 VAT 80 330 23567 EN CVA VAT 5890 1000 1015 28 VAT 80 330 234567 IT CVA VAT 5890 1000 1100 28 VAT 80 10 1 VAR LANG CVA VAT 5890 1100 1115 28 VAT 80 330 234567 FR CVA VAT 5890 1155 1230 28 VAT 80 10 IT CVA VAT 5890 1355 1600 28 VAT 80 10 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 1600 1630 27,28 VAT 80 330 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 1630 1710 28 VAT 80 50 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT Same frequency also from Santa Maria de Galeria tx site: 5890 1710 1840 28 SMG 100 26 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 1840 2010 28 SMG 100 337 VAR. LANG. CVA VAT 5890 2010 2045 37N SMG 100 266 SP/PR CVA VAT 5890 2045 2100 37S,38 SMG 100 200 AR CVA VAT 5890 2100 2215 28 SMG 100 337 IT CVA VAT (HFCC file Apr 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. A clandestine Colombian guerrilla station continues to broadcast from an undetermined location either in Colombia or on Venezuelan soil, in the Machiques region of Zulia State, in NW Venezuela. The local cattle breeding federation, Gadema, has recorded some of the programs and informed the local military authorities of this clandestine station. There has been no official action whatsoever, says a Gadema official to Caracas newspaper El Universal, in its Apr 2 edition. The station reportedly calling itself ``Resistencia del Caribe`` [or would it perhaps be ``Voz de la Resistencia del Caribe``? HK] plays Alí Primera [Venezuelan protest singer, 1942-1986] and ``música llanera`` giving speeches promoting Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez` ``Bolivarian revolution`` as well as ``the struggle of the FARC`` guerrilla. The FM station is on the air ``every afternoon`` on 95.7 FM and the signal is heard 40 Km inland per their own announcements, ``con señal hasta el kilómetro 40``. When President Chávez promulgated a new agrarian law on Dec 10 last, the guerrilla station was relaying the proceedings for the local audience in the Machiques area. Also in other areas along the Colombo- Venezuelan border, Colombian guerillas are reported to use Venezuelan soil as a haven and retreat from the ongoing skirmishes with the Colombian Army. The Venezuelan Government officials, and the President himself, have angrily dismissed the reports as false (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden. Apr 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://archivo.eluniversal.com/2002/04/02/02176AA.shtml GUERRILLEROS SE REFUGIAN EN MACHIQUES --- SIN ADMITIR VÍNCULOS CON PARAMILITARES, LOS GANADEROS SE AGRUPAN PARA DEFENDER Alicia La Rotta Moran, Enviada Especial/El Universal Machiques de Perijá.- Un aire de intranquilidad se respira en todo Machiques, los ganaderos se sienten abandonados por el Estado, a merced de los guerrilleros, los cuatreros y los invasores. No ven la mano firme de la justicia y pretenden asumirla por sus propios medios. Dicen que no se dejarán quitar tan fácilmente lo que les ha costado generaciones construir.... [excerpt concerning radio:] Emisora de las FARC Cuando el presidente Hugo Chávez Frías promulgaba la Ley de Tierras el pasado 10 de diciembre, el Municipio Machiques de Perijá tuvo la oportunidad de escuchar en vivo la transmisión del acto desde la propia plaza Caracas gracias a la emisora clandestina de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Resistencia del Caribe, que transmite todas las tardes desde el dial 95.7 FM, 'con señal hasta el kilómetro 40'. La emisora sólo pone música de Alí Primera o llanera y dedica gran parte del día a promover la revolución bolivariana del presidente Hugo Chávez y la lucha de las FARC. ...Al alcalde de Machiques le preocupa el trabajo silencioso que está efectuando la guerrilla en la zona. 'Los guerrilleros están bastante tiempo con los indígenas, tengo informaciones de que hasta juegan fútbol los domingos. Los mismos indígenas me lo dicen. La experiencia de tantos años y el doloroso evento de sufrir un secuestro en la familia nos indica que en cualquier momento pueden ocurrir problemas y que el Estado se va a ver bastante incapacitado para brindarle solución al conflicto que pueda surgir'. Explica que el Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) está resguardado en los valles del río Tucuco, el río Santa Rosa y el río Yaza, mientras que las FARC están en zonas más planas, más hacia el sur, por Caño Colorado y Guaracuya (El Universal via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [and non]. VIETNAM/AUSTRIA: New schedule for Voice of Vietnam via MOS 100 kW/300 deg to Eu: 9725 1700-1728 English; 1730-1828 Vietnamese; 1830-1858 French VIETNAM/U.K.: New schedule for Voice of Vietnam via SKN 250 kW/150 deg to Eu: 9725 1900-1928 Russian; 1930-2028 Vietnamese VIETNAM: Freq change for Voice of Vietnam to Eu via Hanoi tx: 1600-1628 English; 1630-1658 Russian; 1700-1758 Vietnamese; 1800-1828 English; 1830-1858 French; 1900-1928 English; 1930-1958 French; 2000- 2028 Spanish; 2030-2058 English; 2100-2128 English all on NF 11640, ex 9730 // 13740. co-ch on NF 11640: 1600-1700 FEBA Radio in Amharic 1700-1800 FEBA Radio in Oromo/Tigrina 1800-1828 CRI in Hausa via Bamako relay 1830-1928 CRI in Arabic via Bamako relay 1900-1930 AWR in Fulfulde via Meyerton 1930-2000 AWR in Igbo via Meyerton 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. UZBEKISTAN/MOLDOVA. Clandestine stn R Free Vietnam from April 1, will broadcast on 15235 at 1400-1430 (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, BC-DX Mar 28 via DXLD) 15235 1400-1430 49 TAC 200 kW 130 degrees UZB MNO MCB (wb) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC`s new frequency of 6175 keeps getting more interference, when checked around 2100. First it was a domestic service from CNR China; then V. of Russia in French; and now VOA is there too (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ZIMBABWE: STATE MEDIA BOSS RESIGNS "FOR PERSONAL REASONS" | Text of report by Zimbabwean TV on 2 April [ZBC Presenter] The ZBC [Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation] chief executive officer, Mr Allum Mpofu, resigned today for personal reasons. [Reporter] In his resignation letter Mr Allum Mpofu appreciated the support given him at his stay at the ZBC by the board chairman, other members of the board, management and staff of ZBC. He said he was fortunate to be associated with the ZBC during the country's most trying period. Mr Mpofu said he hoped his contribution did make a difference to the development of broadcasting in Zimbabwe. He joined the corporation in August last year to see the ZBC turn around. In a statement, the ZBC board chairman, Dr Gono, said it was with regret that the board of governors in a round robin consultative process accepted the unprompted resignation. Dr Gono thanked Mr Mpofu for his efforts over the last eight months and wished him well in his future endeavours. Ms Jennifer Tanyanyiwa, the corporation's legal adviser and corporate secretary, has been appointed the acting chief executive officer. The Board of Governors said they will still start a search for a new executive officer. Source: ZTV1, Harare, in English 1800 gmt 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Wonder what his personal reasons could be??? (gh) Hi Glenn! Here's a piece from the Daily News (the opposition Zimbabwe newspaper) about the resignation of the head of the ZBC: http://www.dailynews.co.zw/daily/2002/April/April3/2875.html (Bill Westenhaver, QU, DXLD) Here's a piece from the BBC WS news about the head of the Zimbabwe BC resigning, apparently because he was outed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1908000/1908367.stm The ZBC, on their website, refer to the resignation as being for "personal reasons": http://www.zbc.co.zw/news.cfm?id=5182&pubdate=2002%2D04%2D03 State broadcast chief quits ahead of gay sex inquiry in Zimbabwe http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020403/ap_wo_en_ge/zimbabwe_gays_1 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, QE, DXLD) GAY CLAIMS FORCE OUT MUGABE'S TV CHIEF http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,678377,00.html (via Sandy Wilson, Muncie, Indiana, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS PLC - Statt sattem Datenstrom nur ein Rinnsal. Kunden klagen ueber Kinderkrankheiten des Mannheimer Internet-Zugangs Vype. Mit fantastischen Versprechungen hat die Mannheimer MVV Energie AG im vergangenen Jahr fuer ihr neuartiges Powerline-Angebot geworben. Die Steckdose als Tor zum Internet, fuer wenig Geld mit Hochgeschwindigkeit surfen und gleichzeitig telefonisch erreichbar sein - solche Aussichten klingen wie Musik in den Ohren der Computerbesitzer... Der gesamte Artikel (Preise stehen am Ende) ist ueber http://www.morgenweb.de/service/multimedia/20020403_32_n031012000_08702.html erhaeltlich (Bernhard Weiskopf, Germany, A-DX Apr 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-053, April 4, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com [NOTE: due to size, this issue continues as DXLD 2-054] 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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html Note: in order to keep the size manageable, this file starts over with 2-052 and the previous 51 issues of 2002 are now at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldta02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1125: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1125.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1125.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1125.html FIRS AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2130 on 15685, Sat 0600 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, 2400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB CONTINENT OF MEDIA 02-02 is now available: (STREAM) http://www.DXing.com/com/com0202.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.DXing.com/com/com0202.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0202.html ON RFPI: Fri 1900, Sat 0100, 0700, 1300, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Tue 2000, Wed 0200, 0800, 1400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB HFCC A02 SCHEDULE is now available at: http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html (wb DF5SX WWDXC Germany, BC-DX and Andy Sennitt, April 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. 1 Feb 2002 - In the Air With Commando Solo. 193rd Special Operations Group Made Headlines With Broadcasts to Afghanistan. This item in "Radio World" would suggest (in the second last paragraph) that the Commando Solo [shortwave] broadcast came from an aircraft over Afghanistan along with AM and TV. It may or may not be right; who knows? http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/special-report/rwf-193rd.shtml (Barry Hartley, New Zealand, BC-DX Mar 28 via DXLD) You should not use ``Commando Solo`` as if it referred only to SW. In fact, it refers to the entire operation, but mainly MW (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. RNASG, 15475.49, Fri Mar 29 2140-2210*. Tune-in to continuous Spanish romantic ballads, Argentine music. The only announcement during this period was a Spanish ID at 2158. Abruptly off at 2210. Surprisingly good signal. Almost forgot to check for these guys on this Good Friday (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. UnID feeder on 20276-LSB, Mar 30- 0210-0315+, Spanish talk by M and W. Brief music breaks, promos, ads. Time pips at 0200 and 0300. Spanish ballads. Fair, better on \\ 15820-LSB (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB AUSTRALIA PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE! 3rd April 2002 "TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE..." TRIBUNAL UPHOLDS HCJB AUSTRALIA'S APPEAL With grateful thanks and praise to God, HCJB Australia announces that the Western Australia Town Planning Appeal Tribunal has decided in favour of HCJB's planning proposals for the Kununurra broadcast site. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley has been requested to work with HCJB to formalize the planning approvals for Stage 1 within 21 days. God has done it! He has opened even wider the great door of opportunity that was opened previously by the "Changing of the Law of Australia" and the granting of four International Broadcast Licenses. "To God be the glory, great things He has done!" Australian Director, David Maindonald, on behalf of the Board and staff, wishes to sincerely thank the many Christians around Australia and around the world who have prayed and supported HCJB during this process. HCJB Australia can now press ahead with its development plans for broadcasting to commence, God willing, on the 22nd December 2002. The continuing prayers and practical support of God's people is sought for the remaining months of planning, preparation and construction. David Maindonald, Australian Director, HCJB Australia (via Robin L. Harwood, Tasmania, swprogorams Apr 3 via DXLD) How do they know God had any interest whatsoever or influence on this local tribunal? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. The first edition of Insight Central Europe will air on Radio Austria International on 6 April as follows: To Europe, N. and W. Africa at 1130-1200, 1330-1400 and 1830-1900 UT To North America west at 0030-0100 UT To Pacific/Far East at 1130-1200 UT (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) WTFK? ** AUSTRIA. International MARCONI DAY, ROI-ORF special call OE1M. 24 hrs on April 27, 2002. Info on http://roi.orf.at/intermedia INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY, 27 APRIL 2002: AMATEUR RADIO SPECIAL EVENT STATION OE1M Radio Austria International (the external broadcasting service) operates, as in previous years, special event stn OE1M - a special prefix for this day only -, on International Marconi Day, 27 April, 2002. This operation aims at inviting radio amateurs and broadcast listeners to learn more about each other. The QSL, accordingly, will be issued "cross.-mode" for OE1M-QSOs/RRs and/or reception reports for "Intermedia", R Austria International's weekly communications magazine (broadcast via AM, SW, cable, satellite, and internet). For details check http://roi.orf.at/intermedia Current working freqs will be announced on the website, and if you enter your call-sign in the "QRZ" section, OE1M will immediately call you on the band. INTERNATIONALEN MARCONI-TAG, 27. APRIL 2002: AMATEURFUNK-SONDERRUFZEICHEN OE1M Radio Oesterreich International, der weltweite Rundfunkdienst des ORF, betreibt, wie in den Vorjahren, am "Internationalen Marconi-Tag" (Samstag, 27. April 2002) die Amateurfunk-Sonderstn OE1M. Das Rufzeichen wird nur fuer 24 Stunden aktiviert. Diese Aktion ist als Brueckenschlag zwischen Funkamateuren und Rundfunkhoerern gedacht, zwei weltweiten Gemeinschaften, die viel zu wenig von einander wissen. Daher ist die Sonder-QSL als Kombi-Bestaetigung gestaltet und wird einzeln oder gemeinsam ausgestellt fuer ein QSO oder einen Empfangsbericht zu OE1M und fuer den Empfang des Medienmagazins "Intermedia" von ROI (auf MW, KW, via Kabel, Satellit und Internet). Sendezeiten und Frequenzen sowie weitere Informationen sind zu finden bei http://roi.orf.at/intermedia Am IMD werden auf dieser Seite auch die jeweils aktuellen Arbeitsfrequenzen angegeben, und wer unter "QRZ" das eigene Rufzeichen eintippt, wird von OE1M prompt auf dem Band gerufen. Zur Einstimmung fuer Rundfunkhoerer und als Anreiz fuer Amateurfunk-Neulinge bringt "Intermedia" in der Ausgabe der Vorwoche, ab 19. April, eine "Kleine Einfuehrung in die Wunderwelt des Amateurfunks". QSL via OE-Bureau oder direkt an ORF/ROI, A-1040 Wien, Austria. Intermedia, Europa-Frequenzen: Fr 17:04*, 18:30**; Sa 19:03**; So 16:30*UTC 6.1655 (*und 13.730, **und 5.945) sowie im Internet (Wolf Harranth, OE1WHC, via Christoph Ratzer, OE2CRM, Apr 2, BC-DX via DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. Radio Bahrain launched on Internet | Excerpt from report in English by Bahrain newspaper Gulf Daily News web site on 2 April People around the world can now tune in to Radio Bahrain via the Internet. The station celebrates its 25th anniversary today by launching live 24-hour transmission through the Information Ministry's web site: http://www.moi.gov.bh "This is a dream come true for me," Radio Bahrain head Salah Khalid told the GDN yesterday. "Putting the station live on the Internet has always been a dream and it is happening now. We are now able to reach more people than before. Bahrainis living abroad and former Bahrain residents will definitely see this as good news as they can be updated with what's happening here around-the-clock." Once logged on to the Information Ministry's web site, people should click on the Radio Bahrain logo and click on the 'Live' button to listen to the station. The radio station has come a long way since it first went on the air in 1977. "Its target audience were non-Arabic speaking expatriate communities in Bahrain and the Gulf region in general," said Mr Khalid. "When it first opened there was 100 per cent expatriate staff on air. Today, we are now 80 per cent Bahrainis. We have a total of 20 disc jockeys, the majority of whom are Bahrainis." The station started out in Isa Town then moved to Adliyah, then back to Isa Town, where it is now part of a fully-modernized television and radio broadcasting complex. It began 24-hour transmission in 1990, in the wake of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. A year later it started broadcasting worldwide on 6010 kHz (49 m) short wave. This service offers local and international news (on the hour every hour) and coverage of political, social and culture activities in Bahrain. Seventy-five per cent of the station's daily output is music, including 13 hours of live shows, featuring popular DJs... "Delivering the local and international news every hour is one of our most important services," said Mr Khalid. "Last year, after the terrorist attacks in the US, the station brought in an emergency plan under which news readers update our listeners with breaking news, regardless of time... He said listeners' views were vital to improving services. "They are welcome to send us their suggestions by contacting us on 780780 or faxing us on 780911, or logging on to the Internet site," said Mr Khalid. There are plans to develop an independent web site for Radio Bahrain. "We plan to put a lot of things in this web site, such as a music library and song requests and suggestions from our listeners are more than welcome," he said... Source: Gulf Daily News web site, Manama, in English 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) This story raises unanswered questions. If it was originally for non- Arabic-speaking expatriates, is there still non-Arabic programming, and if so in what languages, including English?? By referring to DJs, it appears the station is mostly concerned with playing music. Or is it? Worst, the above gives the impression the SW service on 6010 is still funxioning. This has not been reported for years; not currently shown in PWBR 2002; already in the 1998 WRTH, as of Oct 15, 1997, the 60 kW transmitter on 6010 was asterisked as inactive (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. Note slight change: DX-Antwerp 20th anniversary program on May, 25th, 2002 0800-0900 UTC. see http://www.dxa.be via Tbilisskaya (RUS) 17785 kHz (250 kW) and Sitkunai (LTU) 9945 kHz (100 kW) (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, BDXC via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 2 April logs: 5964.80 R. Nacional Huanuni 0958 till 1030 killed by cochannel station 4600.24 R. Perla del Acre 1000-1017 om in Spanish a 4761.54 R. R. Guanay presumed 1005-1025, threshold signal, tty on USB, 1035 some music as audio faded in, best LSB, very weak here 4732.32 R. La Palabra 1022 instrumental classical music 5927.20 R. Dif. Minería piano music 1042 with OM ID R. Minería (Bob Wilkner, R75 with Scotka made noise reducing antenna, Pompano Beach, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Rádio Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto-SP, ouvida em 3 de Abril entrando no ar em 3205 kHz às 0915 UT. Anunciou o e-mail: studio79am@n... [truncated by yahoogroups]. A emissora também se identifica como Rádio 79 e Rádio Nova Ribeirão. 73 (Samuel Cassio, Brasil, April 3, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. RTV Burkina, 5030, Mar 29 2205-2400* Af folk music, talk by man in French and vernacular; local drums. S/off with anthem. Strong, really booming in. Again Mar 30 from *0559-0610+, s/on with anthem, French announcements at 0600, Afro-pops, fair but slight QRM from Costa Rica, University Network on 5029.07 (Brian Alexander, PA, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. April 3 at 1421 tune-in found some music playing on 15620, 1425 open carrier, and 1428 more music and 1430 opening in Burmese. This proved to be parallel to a stream delayed about 30 seconds via the Democratic Voice of Burma website http://www.communique.no/dvb/ which also shows frequencies for the 1430-1530 broadcast at http://www.communique.no/dvb/about/airtime.html as 17805 KHz - 16 meter 15405 KHz - 19 meter 5945 KHz - 49 meter But none of these were audible; something else on 15405. Wonder where 15620 is coming from? Rather weak with a lot of fading here (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On Apr 2 and 3, I heard a strong DVB signal on 15620 kHz from 1430 UT onwards. 15620 is much stronger than usual Juelich signals at my place, due of 19 mb DEAD zone here. BUT 17495 from MDG is usually very poor into EUR, so US stn on 17495 appeared, I guess WBCQ 17495 1300- 0200 50 kW at 245 degrs towards zones 10, 11. At 1457 UT RRI Bucharest on 17805 with IS opening procedure very loud. 5945 from Tashkent doesn't propagate into Europe at this time of year. On Apr 3rd when switched on at about 1417 UT, 15620 carried already filler music, songs in an unID language as 'placeholder' program till 1425 UT. DVB IS/ID jingle started at 1428:11 UT till 1430:30. The DVB program was cut midst on the word/sentence at 1530:31, transmitter switch off 1531:03 UT (wb, BC-DX Apr 2/3, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. UZBEKISTAN/GERMANY/MADAGASCAR: A-02 for Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 1430-1530 on 5945 TAC 15620 JUL 17495 MDC 2330-0030 on 9490 JUL 11715 MDC (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** CANADA. Dear Listener, Our technical schedule for the new broadcast season is now online. This schedule is effective from April 7th to October 27th, 2002. To view the schedule, please visit: http://www.rcinet.ca/horaires/A02.htm Due to a labour dispute at Radio Canada International, some programs are not available. We will resume our regular service when the dispute is resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience. Best Regards, Radio Canada International's Internet Team (via John Norfolk, April 4, DXLD) ** CANADA. On the RCI Action Committee web page, there continues to be updated information on the CBC/Radio-Canada lockout in Quebec and Moncton, New Brunswick. There is a request on the site asking listeners to inform the RCI Action Committee of what is actually going out on RCI broadcasts. See the information on this at the following web page URL: http://www.geocities.com/rciaction//Lockout020401.html (Sheldon Harvey, QU, April 3, swprograms via DXLD) viz.: RCI PRODUCTION STAFF LOCKED OUT! Production staff at Radio Canada International`s head office in Montreal has been locked out as part of a larger conflict between the French service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the union representing production staff. Staff has been without an agreement on new working conditions since June of 2001. Frustrated with the lack of progress in the negotiations, the Communications Union of Radio-Canada (SCRC is the French acronym), called a 24 hour strike on Friday, March 22, 2002. The French network then promptly locked out the 1300 employees (about 50 from RCI) and is using managerial staff to fill air time. The main issues in the conflict: the inequality of wages between men and women, the precarious situation of half of the employees who are not staff, and a call for a just wage increase. There are a number of websites that have more information on the conflict (see below), and we will try to update RCI specific news as it becomes available. Please keep us aware of what is being put on RCI airwaves at rciaction@yahoo.ca Please also complain to the usual people: see Contacts Websites: [see action committee site for actual links] Official site of Radio-Canada (French radio/TV service of CBC) CBC Official site of the union: Syndicat des Communications de Radio- Canada Great site in French of one of our members from the domestic service, with lots of photos: http://radcan.blogspot.com/ (RCI Action Committee via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC WON'T AIR LITERARY FEST Bernard Perusse, Montreal Gazette, Wednesday, April 03, 2002 Chalk up another casualty for the CBC lockout: CBC radio will not be at the fourth annual Blue Metropolis literary festival, which starts today and runs until Sunday. The radio network's plans to broadcast live from an on-site studio at the Renaissance Montreal Hotel are off, CBC spokesman Patricia Pleszczynska confirmed. "By mutual agreement, we have had to cancel our planned recording and production activities, but the festival will otherwise proceed as scheduled," she said. "We kept our hopes up until all possibilities were exhausted, but the festival activities will take place as planned," Blue Metropolis spokesman Marie-José LeBlanc said. Some 1,300 journalists and production staff in Quebec and New Brunswick have been off the job since they launched a 24-hour strike on March 22. After the walkout, they were locked out by management. Montreal productions Daybreak, Radio Noon and Homerun have been replaced by management-produced packages, network programming and rebroadcasts. Katie Malloch's Jazz Beat and Shelley Pomerance's All In a Weekend are also on ice for now. Michel Couturier of the Syndicat des Communications de Radio-Canada said yesterday that the CBC had asked for conditions on a negotiating framework and mediator Jacques Lessard has been asked to summon both sides for further talks. "It could be today, it could be tomorrow or it could be the next day," he said. "We're ready." Meanwhile, locked-out union members are offering their own programming via union's Web site http://www.scrc.qc.ca (Click on "Radio-Libre"). The Internet broadcast, which went on the air yesterday at 2 p.m., experienced some technical difficulties on its first day, but is expected to offer news and labour-negotiation updates as of today, Couturier said. Music will soon be added to the Internet schedule, he said (© Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id=FBAB60EC-EA15-41A9-A26E-B03F6125B0AD Note the mention of the webradio operated by the striking SCRC union. The URL for the page for the audio is: http://www.scrc.qc.ca/sections.php?submit=sections§ion=17 but the audio is only in MP3, using FreeAmp or WinAmp software. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. BROWN, Harold Andrew - Aged 72. Died peacefully, 30 March, 2002, at the Health Sciences Centre, after a short illness, surrounded by his family. Harold is survived by his loving wife Mary (née Hatfield) and a large and devoted family; sons: Harold, Murray, Keith and Chris, and daughter Robin; daughters-in-law: Sandy, Liz, Theresa, Tracy and son-in-law Tom, and thirteen grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son David; his parents: Harold and Mary, and step- father Murray Sloan. Harold was a proud Newfoundlander and graduate of St. Bonaventure`s College who gained national acclaim as a Radio and Television Broadcaster. His career spanned nearly 5 decades from the early days in Newfoundland when he was known as ``Uncle Harry`` on Junior Jamboree through a 30 year career with the CBC hosting such popular programs as As It Happens, Morning Side, Marketplace, Take 30 and TV Ontario`s Speaking Out. In 1976 he received an ACTRA Award for Best Public Affairs Broadcaster for Radio as the host of CBC Toronto`s Metro Morning. Harold was also involved in numerous fundraising efforts, most notably, his long standing association with the Janeway Children`s Hospital Foundation Telethon, as part of the Childrens` Miracle Network. His career and volunteer work not withstanding, his true devotion was to his family. As Husband, Father and `Papa`. Harold took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren bending many an ear with tales of their latest adventures. Private family funeral and burial to take place 2 April, 2002 in Holyrood. It is the family`s wish that donations in his memory be made to St. Bonaventure`s College, Bonaventure Avenue, St. John`s, Nfld. A1C 6B3 or the charity of one`s choice. In our eyes, The warmest of men, the kindest of souls. `Til we meet again... April 02, 2002 (©2002 St. John's Telegram via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) Here's the only online obituary I've found for Harry Brown, former "As It Happens" host. 73- Bill Westenhaver http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1017788663694&call_page=TS_Entertainment&call_pageid=968867495754&call_pagepath=Entertainment/News (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. Re: tacit approval? I guess not... With some reservations, we present some 22 stories about this, mostly from Russian agencies. As far as we can tell none are duplicates, tho much of the same material is covered. Actual monitoring reports of the first broadcast are at the end (gh, DXLD) RUSSIA PROTESTS AGAINST PRAGUE-BASED RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS TO CHECHNYA | excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Moscow, 2 April: The Russian Foreign Ministry today summoned a consul of the US embassy to give him a protest against the planned broadcasts of [Prague-based] Radio Liberty to Chechnya. The diplomatic note voices concern over the broadcasts in Chechen, Avari and Cherkessi which starts on Wednesday [3 April]. "Russia has stressed that special propaganda broadcasts to the region, including Chechnya ... can seriously complicate the effort of the [Russian] authorities to stabilize the situation in the region," the statement said. "The step is incompatible with a joint struggle against terrorism and the atmosphere of partnership relations which have been created between Russia and the USA," it added... In 1995 the radio moved to Prague from Munich... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1504 gmt 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIA CONCERNED OVER RADIO LIBERTY'S NORTH CAUCASUS PLANS | Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 2 April: The Russian Foreign Ministry today presented to a representative of the US embassy in Moscow a diplomatic note expressing concern over the intention of the American Radio Liberty/Free Europe to begin from 3 April broadcasting to the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation in the Chechen, Avar, Cherkess and Russian languages. "The initiating of special propaganda broadcasting to the region, including Chechnya, where active measures are being taken within the antiterrorist operation to counteract extremism and religious fanaticism, may hamper the efforts of the federal authorities aimed at stabilizing the situation in the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted. This step, the ministry believes, "is not compatible with the joint fight against terrorism or the spirit of partnership between Russia and the USA which is taking shape". The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that, as an open and democratic state, Russia will form its attitude to the programmes of the Radio Liberty/Free Europe on the basis of the generally-accepted international standards in the field of the freedom of information and the current Russian legislation. "We will watch closely to what degree this broadcasting complies with the aims of stabilizing the situation in the North Caucasus and the inadmissibility of the propaganda of interethnic and international enmity," the ministry stressed. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1422 gmt 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) MOSCOW CONCERNED OVER RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS FOR NCAUCASUS 2/4 Tass 426 By Dina Pyanykh MOSCOW, April 2 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday handed in a diplomatic note to a U.S Embassy representative expressing concern over Radio Liberty's plans to begin broadcasts from April 3 for the North Caucasus, in the Chechen, Avar, Circassian and Russian languages. "The initiation of specific propagandistic broadcasts for the region, including Chechnya -- where active steps are being taken within the framework of an anti- terrorist operation to counteract extremism and religious fanaticism - - may complicate the efforts by federal authorities to stabilize the situation in this region," the Foreign Ministry said. The move is incompatible with the common struggle against terrorism; with the spirit of partnership relations which are coming to exist between Russia and the United States, it said. The Ministry emphasized that Russia, as an open and democratic state, will form its attitude toward Radio Liberty's broadcasts on the basis of universally acknowledged international standards in the sphere of freedom of information, and the effective Russian legislation. "We will watch carefully to what degree this broadcasting meets the tasks of stabilizing the situation in the North Caucasus and preventing the propaganda of ethnic and national dissension," according to the Foreign Ministry. Sergei Yastrzhembsky, an aide to the Russian president, said Moscow is not especially pessimistic about the upcoming broadcasts, but that it intends to "watch very seriously and attentively their themes. "We are not going to feel pessimistic at all in advance but we shall keep an eye on the programs to be broadcast in these languages bearing in mind that it is a zone of our special priorities and national interests," Yastrzhembsky pointed out. Radio Liberty, headquartered in Prague will go on the air every day starting Wednesday with programs in the Russian, Chechen, Circassian and Avar languages, Radio Liberty press secretary Sonia Vinterova told Itar-Tass correspondent Igor Shamshin earlier. According to her, "the programs will be devoted to political, economic, cultural and ethnographical issues." There are nine staffers in Radio Liberty's Caucasian department, and as many reporters preparing information in Moscow, Brussels, North Caucasus and Istanbul. The department is planning to hire more personnel and increase broadcasting time. The programs will be broadcast from 19.00 to 20.00, Central European time, (21:00 - 22:00, Moscow time) and repeated on the next day from 8:00, Moscow time. The time slot for each language is 15 minutes. -0-myz/ (via David R. Alpert, DXLD) RUSSIAN MINISTER SLAMS US-BACKED RADIO'S CHECHEN BROADCASTS | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 2 April: Russian Nationalities Policy Minister Vladimir Zorin has criticized the decision of Radio Liberty to start broadcasting to Chechnya in the Chechen language. There was a discussion on this matter earlier, and "the reversion to it [broadcasts in Chechen] will not promote peace in the North Caucasus," Zorin said in an interview with Interfax on Tuesday [2 April]. He called the Radio Liberty decision "badly considered and untimely." "Such decisions should not be made unilaterally, but in coordination with the federal centre and the Chechen republic's leadership," the minister said. "If we really want to fight together against terrorism, actions by the world community, including media outlets, should be coordinated," he said. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1148 gmt 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS RADIO LIBERTY CHECHEN SERVICE WILL HARM SECURITY | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 2 April: Radio Liberty newscasts in the Chechen language might undermine not only Russia's security, but also that of the US, because those in charge cannot properly control the content, deputy head of the Russian government's administration Aleksey Volin told Interfax. "Members of radical Chechen groups will broadcast in the Chechen language, but no-one in the United States is fluent in it," Volin said. Radicals might abuse radio programmes and "stir radical and extremist groups in Chechnya that maintain connections outside Russia, notably in the Middle East, Europe and the United States", he said. The Chechen-language broadcasts are likely to fuel extremist sentiments that could hurt the United States in the long run, he said. "The launch of Chechen-language broadcasts is a step that is not aimed at stabilization of the situation in the North Caucasus. It is likely to fire extremism not only in Russia, but in other countries, in light of contacts between Chechen terrorists and international terrorist organizations," he said. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0900 gmt 2 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) 2002-04-02 15:26 * RUSSIA * GOVERNMENT * CHECHNYA * RADIO * LIBERTY * MOSCOW IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF RADIO LIBERTY'S BROADCASTS IN CHECHEN MOSCOW, April 2, 2002 /from RIA Novosti correspondent Andrei Malosolov/ -- The Russian government negatively assesses the beginning of broadcasts by Radio Liberty in the Chechen language, said deputy head of the Russian government's apparatus Alexei Volin. According to him, the radio station's broadcasting in the Chechen language "will negatively affect the security of not only Russia but also of the United States, because it will be weakly controlled by its clients." Alexei Volin said that the programmes in the Chechen language will be broadcast by representatives of the radicals from the Chechen groups, because it is hardly possible to find people in the United States speaking Chechen. Alexei Volin underscored that in this way Radio Liberty's broadcasts can be used by representatives of the Chechen radical groups for exciting radical and extremist sentiments in Chechnya and by the groups which "have well established contacts outside Russia, including in the Middle East, in the European countries and in the United States." In the opinion of Alexei Volin, the broadcasting by Radio Liberty in the Chechen language can stimulate the growth in extremist sentiments which will finally affect also the United States. The deputy head of the Russian government's apparatus also pointed out that the statement about the beginning of broadcasts in the Chechen language by Radio Liberty "can be assessed as a step not aimed at stabilising the situation in the North Caucasus and not only in Russia but also in other countries, taking into consideration the contacts of the Chechen terrorists with international terrorist organisations." On Tuesday, the press secretary of Radio Liberty - Free Europe told the mass media that broadcasts in a number of the languages of the peoples of the North Caucasus, including the Chechen language, will be carried from Prague - for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. According to reports from Prague, Radio Liberty will start these broadcasts on Wednesday, April 3. Earlier, it was planned to start broadcasting to Chechnya on February 28. However, at the request of the United States administration, the Board of Directors of Radio Liberty in Washington took a decision to postpone the broadcasting for a certain period (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) RUSSIAN REPUBLIC CONCERNED OVER PLANS FOR RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Makhachkala, 3 April: There is concern in Dagestan over the decision to start Radio Liberty broadcast in the languages of peoples of the North Caucasus, among which is the Avarian language, the language of Dagestan's biggest ethnic group, the Avars. ITAR-TASS was told this by Dagestan's Minister for Nationalities, Information and External Relations Magomedsalikh Gusayev. "We are not glad about this decision, but we hope that the earlier made statement will be adhered to and broadcasts will be in the framework of the international agreement on information exchange," the Dagestani minister said. He said specific commentaries and evaluation will be made "when we discern the nature and contents of broadcasts", Gusayev said. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1239 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) PRO-RUSSIAN CHECHEN LEADER DOUBTS RADIO LIBERTY IMPARTIALITY | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Groznyy, 3 April: Akhmad Kadyrov, head of the pro-Moscow administration of the Chechen Republic, fears that Radio Liberty's broadcasts in Chechen will be less than impartial. "I do not support banning media activities. Freedom of speech is our common legacy, a standard for any civilized society. Everything depends on who and how uses the right to free speech or statement," he said, commenting on Radio Liberty's plan to start broadcasting to the North Caucasus in four languages. "If Radio Liberty is placed at the disposal of one group, that group will become the final source of the truth. The situation in the Chechen Republic is not likely to improve as a result. I do not have specific data about the programmes to be aired, but fear that broadcasts in Chechen may focus on criticizing the official authorities there and the federal centre's efforts to rebuild the economy and the social sphere and uproot terrorism in Chechnya, while praising 'the Maskhadov team'," Kadyrov said. In this case information will be "biased and partial", he said. "In that case there will be more than freedom of speech in the broadcasts. The whole project will be political sabotage and expansion against the Russian Federation as a whole," Kadyrov said. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1152 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY HAPPY TO HAVE LISTENERS IN KREMLIN AS WELL AS CHECHNYA | Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 3 April [Presenter] Today Radio Liberty starts broadcasting in the North Caucasus area. Speaking to Ekho Moskvy Radio, Radio Liberty spokesperson Sonia Winter told us some details: [Winter, speaking in English with Russian translation superimposed] The broadcasts will start approximately at 2100 [Moscow time, 1700 gmt] with a news bulletin in Russian. It will be followed by programmes in Avar and Chechen, lasting 15 minutes each. We welcome [Russian presidential aide] Sergey Yastrzhembskiy's statement to the effect that he will be watching our programmes and will be among Radio Liberty's listeners. Our approach to radio programmes in the Caucasus will be exactly the same as to any other Radio Liberty programmes. We pledge that we shall offer only objective and independent information. [Correspondent] Today Russian official figures expressed their dissatisfaction with the effect that Radio Liberty will broadcast in Chechen, among other languages. The officials have been joined by State Duma deputies and some Federal Assembly senators. Source: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 1300 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY'S CHECHEN BROADCASTS INFURIATE RUSSIAN OFFICIALS | Text of report by Chechenpress news agency web site 3 April: Today Radio Liberty started broadcasting in Chechen and several other languages of the North Caucasus. The programmes are being broadcast from the Liberty's central bureau in Prague. Two hours in the morning and two in the evening are earmarked for the broadcasts. "We report news for 15-20 minutes in each language. Nine announcers from the North Caucasus are based in Prague. We also have correspondents reporting from the spot," Sonia Winter, spokeswoman for the US government-funded broadcaster, has told Interfax. The news of Liberty's Chechen broadcasting drew heavy fire from Moscow. Minister Vladimir Zorin, who deals with ethnic issues in the Russian government, described this decision of the United States as "ill considered and untimely". In an effort to defend the Kremlin's position which is rather distant from the principle of freedom of press, Zorin confused the notion of terrorism with the Chechen language. Reiterating the Kremlin's previous statements and raping the theme of international terrorism once again, Zorin stated in the military-political lingo: "We have a common enemy and if we do not interact with each other and pursue the policy of double standards, this will lay a foundation for the spread of terrorism." The remark made by the deputy head of the Russian government's office, Aleksey Volin, was even more intricate. He not only shared with journalists an absolutely preposterous idea which deserves a serious assessment, but also showed his utter incompetence on the issue. Namely, Volin suggested that since no-one in the USA speaks the Chechen language, "radical Chechen groups can take advantage" of these broadcasts "to stir radical and extremist groups in and outside Chechnya". This will take a toll on the USA as well." If you have already digested this phrase, then let us examine it. So, Volin thinks that the Americans must check Liberty journalists. I don't know what it might look like, but I think I know what the Russian official meant. First of all, certainly there are specialists in the USA familiar with the languages of the North Caucasus, including the Chechen language. Volin is simply underestimating the potential rivals. The Kremlin has repeatedly burnt its fingers on this in the past. Secondly, it seems that Volin doesn't have a clear understanding of what an announcer's job involves. He probably thinks that an announcer can say whatever he feels like saying on the air. Comrade Volin! Please don't confuse an announcer with a DJ, as Zorin did with terrorism and the Chechen language. Neither is it appropriate to portray a Liberty announcer as a "coordinator-in-chief of the entire Chechen underground". And, of course, you shouldn't confuse the Chechen language with an "abstruse" cipher. Finally, it is completely wrong to try to intimidate Americans with the Chechen language. The Americans can appreciate freedom of speech and assess threats. The beginning of broadcasts in the Chechen language is a sign of that. The Americans have long been aware of the fact that half-drunken Russian soldiers bear responsibility for 90 out of 100 deaths in Chechnya in the past few years. It is not America but the future of Russia which is in danger. Source: Chechenpress web site, Tbilisi, in Russian 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHECHEN PM HOPES FOR OBJECTIVE RADIO LIBERTY COVERAGE | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Groznyy, 3 April: The government of Chechnya does not see any obstacles to Radio Liberty - Free Europe's Chechen-language broadcasts for the North Caucasus but hopes its information will be objective. "I don't think we should shut ourselves off from the press. In the absence of information, journalists will hunt for it anywhere. But only objective information should be released. Everything said must be backed by facts," Chechen Prime Minister Stanislav Ilyasov told Interfax on Wednesday [3 April]. "The situation is not simple in the republic and any word said arouses a painful reaction, and a hidden meaning is sought in it," he said. Ilyasov proposed that all foreign journalists, including Radio Liberty journalists, should produce objective information. "We have much to say. Perhaps we cannot cover everything that is happening in the republic - there are objective reasons for this. But the situation is improving with every passing day," said Ilyasov. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0807 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ANALYSIS: US LAUNCHES RADIO FOR NORTH CAUCASUS DESPITE PROTESTS | Text of editorial analysis by Chris McWhinnie of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit at Caversham Today the US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, also known as RFE/RL, starts a radio service aimed specifically at listeners in the North Caucasus. This is despite misgivings by the Russian authorities about the effect such a station could have. The radio starts today at 1700 gmt beamed on shortwave from studios in Prague and US transmitters in Greece and Germany. The hour-long daily programmes are divided equally between the local languages Avar, Chechen and Circassian with a few minutes in Russian and a repeat broadcast each morning. It will concentrate on current affairs, culture and local politics. The broadcasts were due to start in February but were reportedly delayed by the US State Department, although it was in late 2000 that the US Congress mandated RFE/RL to commence the North Caucasus service. This week the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass reported that there was a month-old agreement in place between Russia and the USA that these broadcasts would not take place. Yesterday, 2 April, the Russian Nationalities Policy Minister Vladimir Zorin criticized the broadcasts. "There was a discussion on this matter earlier", he said, adding that the resumption of such plans would not promote peace in the troubled region. He said that media such as this and the fight against terrorism should be coordinated not formed unilaterally. The Russian Foreign Ministry echoed this line yesterday. It summoned a consul of the US embassy to receive a diplomatic note, a protest at the start of these broadcasts. It thought the move could complicate the Russian effort to stabilize the region and was incompatible with the joint fight against terrorism or the spirit of partnership between Russia and the USA. It said it would watch the broadcasts closely to see how they affected stability in the North Caucasus. The Kremlin was less perturbed. A presidential aide said he would not make pessimistic predictions; "let's wait and see", he said. The pro-Moscow Chechnya government doesn't see any obstacles to the US radio broadcasts but in a region where the local media is only just beginning to find its feet, the Prime Minister Stanislav Ilyasov hoped the station would be objective and factual. However, he did not rule out the possibility that reception on the republic's territory could be stopped - a reference perhaps to the possibility of jamming the radio's signal. "We'll see about jamming. Jamming is not my remit", he said. There is concern in Dagestan too, where Avar is the language of the biggest ethnic group. A minister told ITAR-Tass they were not happy at the decision to go ahead with the broadcasts but said they would make an evaluation of its output. There is some local media already. The 18 staff at Chechen TV broadcast for just three hours a day from the capital Groznyy. Local TV reception is hampered by the mountainous terrain but TV from Russia reaches 60 per cent of the area. The Chechen government has also just formed the Groznyy Inform news agency which is intended to channel government information to the local media. Local press has also been revived - a printing press produces local and republic-wide newspapers. The USA is one of the world's most prolific broadcasting nations. It cuts, adapts or launches services according to the needs of its foreign policy: On 21 March the US, with the backing of President Bush, launched a 35m-dollar Arabic station called the Middle East Radio Network or Radio Sawa, it means "together" in Arabic. Relayed on FM in Jordan and Kuwait and via Middle East satellites it is focused, in its own words, "on making sure that US international broadcasting does the best possible job reaching people whose sources of news are often biased and anti-American." The overseers of all US external broadcasting are a government agency called the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and one of its members, Tom Korologos, described broadcast services like this as "the best high-yield, low-cost weapon in our arsenal. They are the most cost- effective way of reaching the outside world." So although RFE/RL describes itself as a private, international communications service to the regions it serves, it is clearly a tool for US foreign policy makers. RFE/RL is well known to older listeners in Eastern Europe. It beamed vernacular services during the Cold War to countries behind the Iron Curtain, despite a barrage of radio jamming from Russia and its allies. The Voice of America, VOA, has increased the hours of six language service since the terrorist attacks of 11 September. It doubled the time given to the Turkish service, reversing a previous cut. The US views Turkey as a key ally with an invaluable role throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus. VOA Dari-Pashto, Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Uzbek services have also expanded. "The Voice of America recognizes the importance of Uzbekistan to events in the region," said William Royce of VOA's South and Central Asia Division. "We want the Uzbek people to receive reliable, accurate news and information on events in the world and in neighbouring Afghanistan, along with clear statements of US government policies and actions in the war against terrorism." In October last year President Bush appointed Robert Reilly as the new director of the VOA. His background has been seen by some staff there as policy advocacy rather than news. He took the role at a time of vigorous public debate about the role of the station during the emerging war on terrorism. At the time the Wall Street Journal wrote that VOA has been, quote, "rudderless except for a gaggle of bureaucrats". In an editorial it blamed the Clinton administration for dismantling the VOA's "capacity to sustain in-depth programming about American institutions". The USA also funds the opposition TV Liberty service for Iraq and RFE/RL produces both Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Afghanistan. A separately funded radio news service called Radio Free Asia broadcasts surrogate domestic radio into those South East Asian countries which the US believes are undemocratic and which lack media freedom. Beyond VOA and RFE/RL there were reports that the US plans to set up a news channel and independent publishing houses in Central Asia. US State Department officials visited Kazakhstan and floated the idea of a powerful Central Asian station broadcasting in the languages of the region. Another example of broadcasting expansion has been the work of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) alongside VOA in providing radios sets and programming to local stations in Afghanistan. The self proclaimed aim is "to increase the Afghan people's direct access to accurate information, so they can make better informed decisions about their future." Clearly the US now takes broadcasting to other countries in local languages very seriously and believes it can gain some influence in this way. This new resolve reflects the foreign policy changes brought about by the new administration and by its response to the events of last September. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 3 Apr 02 (via DXLD) CHECHEN OFFICIAL TELLS RADIO LIBERTY: BE OBJECTIVE OR FACE JAMMING | Text of report by Russia TV on 3 April [Presenter] In less than an hour's time, America's Radio Liberty will broadcast its first news in Chechen from its Prague studio. Moscow is paying particular attention to this fact. It is already known that initially there will be two hours' broadcasting to Chechnya. It will be provided by nine journalists. Everything else remains a secret. Radio Liberty's Prague office refuses outright to answer questions as to whether the station's Chechen service will include representatives of the Chechen separatists' former propaganda chief, Movladi Udugov, or whether there will be any representatives of people wanted as terrorists by Russia. Obviously, this is a concern to many people not just in Moscow but in Chechnya as well. Here's what the current leader of the republic had to say about the start of broadcasting from Prague: [Stanislav Ilyasov, chairman of the Chechen government, Groznyy] The information shouldn't come from just anywhere, from the caves and markets, but should be authentic and verified. If that's how they go about their work, I don't think that's so bad but if they start sowing discord here, then, of course, that would be a problem. Let them put out correct and objective information and we won't jam them. If they put out rubbish, we will. [Presenter] In the opinion of the president's authorized representative in the Southern Federal District there is a high probability that Radio Liberty will be used as a rostrum by those who oppose peace in Chechnya. [Viktor Kazantsev, the Russian president's authorized representative in the Southern Federal District, at a news conference] When all the information is being broadcast from Czechoslovakia, who's going to provide that information? It might not be those who are working to restore Chechnya within the republic itself but those who don't want this restoration. Those who couldn't solve things by force now want to portray everything in a distorted light, including the impossibility of the economic and social restoration of Chechnya. That's the problem. Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1600 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) 2002-04-03 20:03 * RUSSIA * CAUCASUS * US * BROADCASTS * COMMENTARY * "LIBERTY" TO BROADCAST IN CHECHEN. US AGAINST RUSSIA OR "LIBERTY" AGAINST US? MOSCOW, APRIL 3, 2002 /from RIA Novosti political observer Vladimir Semyonov/. - On Wednesday, Radio Liberty will begin broadcasts in Chechen and two other North Caucasian languages. Yesterday, the Russian foreign ministry summoned the minister-counsellor of the US embassy to Russia to pass him a note expressing Moscow's concern about the fact. Controversial broadcasts in Chechen while the federal authorities are conducting the anti-terrorist campaign trying to counter extremism and religious fanaticism can hamper Russia's efforts to stabilize local developments. Politeness is, certainly, diplomats' professional tool. However, foreign radio broadcasts in the republic where Russia is conducting the anti-terror operation are a sort of combat action, i.e. propaganda. In charge of propaganda in the Soviet Army's division staff was an officer holding at least the rank of major. Apart from radio broadcasts, the officer had at his disposal such means of waging war as propaganda projectiles - artillery shells and air bombs stuffed with leaflets - and armoured personnel carriers outfit with loudspeakers. The US must have specialists and equipment of the sort as well. Putting aside diplomatic politeness, the Russian citizen has to decide whether the US declared war on Russia on April 3. Or better still, shall he or she consider the date the beginning of the closure of Radio Liberty's Russian service. It is not Radio Liberty's propaganda aimed at North Caucasus and at changing the Russian public's attitude to the regional developments that is going to cause immeasurable harm - the radio will never attain this goal. It can well raise doubt in America's sincere commitment to the anti-terrorist cause. Radio Liberty can be qualified as the US' internal enemy, a destructive force being funded by American taxpayers. To shut down the radio station is a crucial prerequisite to establishing true mutual understanding between the Russian and American peoples. Of interest is the fact that Radio Liberty has stepped up activity in the Caucasus direction against the background of serious debates about the future of the US' foreign propaganda in general. In late March, US Congress embarked on consideration of a new bill, which envisages thorough restructuring of the entire system of foreign propaganda, or public diplomacy of the US. The bill also envisages reform of America's system of foreign broadcasts. In particular, it proposes to abolish the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an official body that oversees Voice of America, Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Martí and others. To be set up instead is a new federal body - the National Broadcasting Agency - to rank among ministries and to be headed by a director the US president will appoint every fifth year. Under the circumstances - the prospect of closing down the radio has long been discussed in Washington - Radio Liberty managers are striving to be helpful. They will start broadcasting in any language to survive. The Chechnya project is a straw they are catching at. There are many of those trying to make a profit out of the Chechen problem. One need not go into frequency details to prove that this ideological body of the US Congress is staffed completely by notorious businessman Boris Berezovsky's people. Every second "guest" of the station is in Berezovsky's pay. Vladimir Abarinov is both Radio Liberty's Washington correspondent and a correspondent with Facets, Berezovsky's Internet site, with the list being long enough. Boris Abramovich, for one, achieved his spiritual emanation with Radio Liberty, which is financed by Congress, by the way. Forget about Congress' prestige. Such coöperativeness hinders the effort to resolve the problem of international terror, and that is regrettable. 2002-04-03 20:25 * RUSSIA * CHECHNYA * RADIO * KADYROV * SKEWED PROGRAMMING FEARED ON RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS MOSCOW, April 3. /RIA Novosti/. Akhmad Kadyrov, head of the administration of the Chechen Republic, fears Radio Liberty's Chechen- language programming may be biased. In remarks released to RIA Novosti by his press office, Kadyrov said he feared Chechen-language news broadcasts might "concentrate on criticizing the present authorities of the Chechen Republic and the federal government's policies on the recovery of the economy and welfare and the eradication of terrorism in Chechnya, while glorifying the 'Maskhadov team'," a reference to Chechnya's former separatist leader. Kadyrov warned that if Radio Liberty provides a platform for any one group and pins the status of the ultimate truth on it, the news will be one-sided and biased and will do nothing to improve the situation in Chechnya. 2002-04-03 19:43 * RUSSIA * PARLIAMENT * CHECHNYA * RADIO * FEDERATION COUNCIL TAKES NEGATIVE VIEW OF RADIO LIBERTY STARTING BROADCASTING IN NORTH CAUCASUS MOSCOW, April 3, 2002. /From RIA Novosti correspondent Maria Balynina/. The Federation Council has taken a negative view of Radio Liberty starting on April 3 broadcasting in some languages spoken in the North Caucasus, including the Chechen. Akhmar Zavgayev, a senator from the administration of Chechnya, told RIA Novosti that his attitude was "highly negative". "I do not rule out that Chechen-language broadcasting by Radio Liberty may fuel extremist and nationalist sentiments in the republic," he said. According to Zavgayev, people who will broadcast to Chechnya "do not know Chechnya, or the fundamentals of the Chechen tragedy and the Chechen conflict". "In this situation broadcasting may have an opposite effect and instead of peace and accord now established in the republic may pour oil on the flames of separatism and banditry," the senator said. He recalled that working in Chechnya now are enough journalists who are well grounded and "know not by hearsay the real situation in the republic". Zavgayev did not rule out that following consultations with Chechen head of administration Akhmad Kadyrov and members of the Chechen government he would raise the issue of Radio Liberty broadcasting in Chechen at one of the coming meetings of the upper chamber so that senators passed their judgements. Alexander Pleshakov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council's international committee, said in a RIA Novosti interview that he did not feel Radio Liberty starting broadcasting in Chechen "will serve to improve the situation in that highly complex region". "No doubt there are such notions as 'freedom of speech', but Radio Liberty broadcasting in Chechen will clearly not improve the situation in the region," he indicated. "I am convinced, for example, that Radio Liberty is not beaming on Palestine, so why should this be done in relation to Chechnya?" Pleshakov wondered. 2002-04-03 12:32 * RUSSIA * CHECHNYA * RADIO * YASTRZHEMBSKY * YASTRZHEMBSKY STAFF RESOLVED TO KEEP AN EYE ON RADIO LIBERTY PROGRAMS MOSCOW, APRIL 3RD, 2002 /FROM A RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT/ -- The staff of Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the Russian presidential aide, intends to closely follow the contents of Radio Liberty's programmes in the North Caucasus. Yastrzhembsky said as much live on NTV--Independent Television--Tuesday. "We can only follow the contents of broadcasting and watch the staffers of the Liberty Radio, who present news in Chechen, and make conclusions," he stressed. In his words, reciprocal measures can be taken within the Russian legislation, depending on our estimates. None the less, the presidential aide noted, I would rather refrain from any extremely pessimistic forecasts. Radio Liberty will start broadcasting from Prague on Wednesday, April 3rd. Radio Liberty's spokeswoman Sonya Winter has told RIA Novosti that the Radio will broadcast in Chechen, Avari, Cirkassian, and Russian. The broadcasting will last for two hours, however, it will be gradually increased (last few via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) RUSSIA CONCERNED CHECHEN BROADCASTS FROM CZECH CAPITAL WILL FUEL EXTREMISM | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Moscow, 3 April: The broadcasts of Radio Liberty in the Chechen language can fuel extremism in the northern Caucasus, Russian government spokesman Alexei Volin told the daily Izvestiya today. "It cannot be ruled out that the broadcasts will be abused by Chechen radical groups," Volin said, adding that the broadcasts to the Caucasus might worsen security in Russia as well as the USA. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spokeswoman Sona Winterova said on Monday [1 April] that a two-hour broadcast will start on Wednesday which will be equally divided among the three Caucasian languages: Chechen, Avar and Circassian. The Russian programme will last several minutes. The broadcasting time will be gradually extended. The broadcasts will be prepared by nine editors in the initial phase, who will be joined by others after some time, Winterova said... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1910 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) USA/RUSSIA: RFE/RL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NORTH CAUCASUS BROADCASTS | Text of press release by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on 3 April Washington, DC, 3 April: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. launched broadcasts today to the North Caucasus in the Avar, Chechen, and Circassian languages. In announcing the new broadcasts, RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine emphasized that programming would be "accurate, impartial, and respectful of the human rights of all persons in this war-torn region." Dine said that "RFE/RL's broadcasts are known for their independence, professionalism and solid journalistic values. Because of the depth of experience of our correspondents, I am confident that our North Caucasus broadcasts will be known for these same qualities." RFE/RL is set to broadcast one hour per day of original programming from 1900-2000 CEST [1700-1800 gmt] on shortwave frequencies 9865, 11760 and 15350 [kHz], with a repeat hour of broadcasts from 0600-0700 CEST [0400-0500 gmt] on shortwave frequencies 9850, 11760 and 17710. These same programmes will also be available on the Internet at http://www.rferl.org Many of the North Caucasus peoples, Dine said, are already familiar with RFE/RL because of its broadcasts in the Russian language. But like those of other nations to whom the station broadcasts, many clearly prefer to receive news and information in their own languages. According to RFE/RL Director of Broadcasting Jeffrey Trimble, each hour will feature 15 minutes of programming in each of the three North Caucasus languages, with an additional 15-minute news programme in Russian focusing on events affecting the North Caucasus region. The programmes will be produced by a staff of nine, all based at RFE/RL's Prague operations centre. The broadcasts will focus on current news, world events, culture, history, language, religion, local politics and democratic institution building. Congress mandated RFE/RL in late 2000 to commence North Caucasus broadcasting. Funding for the project was appropriated many months later. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; the Caucasus; and Central and Southwestern Asia funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Washington D.C., in English 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS TO CHECHNYA ARE "ONE-SIDED" - RUSSIAN SPOKESMAN | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 4 April: The Kremlin's chief spokesman on Chechnya, Sergey Yastrzhembskiy, has said that the pessimistic forecasts concerning the bias of Radio Liberty's North Caucasian service are coming true. "An analysis of the first broadcasts, issued in the Chechen, Avar and Cherkess languages, shows that they are one-sided, to say the least." "It would be logical to expect Radio Liberty to draw the listeners' attention to the recent order by Commander of Federal Forces in Chechnya Vladimir Moltenskoy, which was a very important event and which aroused a strong response in the republic. But this problem was looked at from only one angle. Military operations were presented in a biased way, as seen by the notorious journalist Anna Politkovskaya," said Yastrzhembskiy. "We continue monitoring programmes by Radio Liberty's North Caucasian service," he said. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1021 gmt 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIAN MPS WANT RADIO LIBERTY STRIPPED OF LICENCE | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 4 April: The committee for international affairs of the State Duma, the lower house of Russian parliament, is drafting an address on behalf of the house to the Russian government proposing to recall the Radio Liberty licence for broadcasts to the Russian territories, deputy head of the committee Sergey Shishkarev told ITAR-TASS on Thursday [4 April]. He noted that despite requests of Russian legislators, the US Congress has insisted that Radio Liberty, which it finances, starts broadcasts in the Chechen language to Chechnya from 3 April. "Broadcasts to the territory in which the antiterrorist operation is being conducted can be regarded as interference in our internal affairs," Shishkarev said. He said that in view of the recent resolution of the US Congress on Chechnya, in which actions of the federal authorities were "unceremoniously criticized", it can be surmised that "information neutrality will not be observed in Radio Liberty broadcasts". Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1209 gmt 4 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY BROADCASTS IN CHECHEN LANGUAGE PUT MOSCOW ON ALERT Wed Apr 3,10:19 AM ET By TIM VICKERY, Associated Press Writer MOSCOW - The Russian government warned that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's new Chechen-language news broadcasts could feed extremism in the already troubled North Caucasus region.... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020403/ap_wo_en_ge/russia_radio_liberty_3 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Back in 2-033 the schedule given was 0500-0600 RFE Chechen starts 11875 9725 1800-1900 RFE Chechen starts 11845 9590 but that was long before A-02 and DST started (gh, DXLD) Now listed under AV, CH and CI in the online IBB schedule April 3 at 1700-1800: RFE RL-3 LAM 04 15350 092 RFE RL-3 BIB 07 11760 105 RFE RL-3 KAV 02 9865 051 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello both of you, I listened to the new transmissions between 1715 and 1730. 9865 was barely audible underneath co-channel VOR in French to WEu (S-9 +60). 11760 was at the S-9 level, some splash from the lower side, from 1728 interference from equal level CRI (Urumqi to ME) in Chinese - poor choice of frequency. 15350 was at the S-9 + 10 level with interference from equally strong VOR in Hungarian (apparently via Yekaterin`burg). 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NEGATIVE --- I couldn't copy any IBB/RFE/RL/VoA programs on these three channels, given above. 9865 is a V of Russia French service channel for decades, 500 kW from Moscow towards SW-EUR and NW-AF, powerful signal, and even in SSB mode, I couldn't copy any signal from Kavalla, Greece. RUS S=9 +60 dB, twist my needle. Before 1700 UT RUS French to Africa. 11760 is difficult reception here, due to Finland powerhouse 500 kW next door 11755. Heard some Russian service at 1645- 1700 UT. Then at 1730 UT China 500 kW Urumchi in Chinese signed on, IS, ID, Chinese lang sce. 15350 was Romanian sce of V of Russia before 1700 UT, then Hungarian til 1745 UT, dominating this freq. From 1745 moved into VOR Czech service. S=9 +60 dB. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. QSL INFO OF XING JIANG PEOPLE'S BROADCASTING STATION I've just received a full data QSL letter from Xing Jiang People's Broadcasting Station, China, which responds to my mail reception report at 1430 UT 2001 Dec. 10, on frequency 5060 kHz, as follows: Dear Sir, We confirm your reception report on 5060 KHz, 2001 Dec. 10, meet our programme log exactly. Yes, it is Xing Jiang PBS. Thank you for listening. Signature: Zhao Donglan No IRC mail report and a follow up to : Ms. Zhao Donglan, Editorial office, Xing Jiang People's Broadcasting Station, Urumuqi, Xing Jiang, People's Republic of China Also enclosed 10 Yuan (Chinese currency) to inform me that my letter was read in their programme. It's my first time to get award in currency from a station. Perfect service! (Qiao Xiaoli, China, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. The Asian satellite TV unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Star TV, has begun transmitting a new channel made for China in the affluent southern province of Guangdong, a company official said on March 29. News Corp spokesman Wang Yukui said the channel, called Xingkong Weishi, began transmission on March 28, and is available via cable to about a million homes. It is one of three foreign-owned channels that won permission late last year to be aired in ordinary Chinese homes in a series of deals showing China's willingness to slowly open up its broadcast media (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan April 2 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CHINA/MALI: Freq change for CRI via Bamako relay: 1800-1828 Hausa; 1830-1928 Arabic NF 11640, ex 15550. co-channel on NF 11640: 1800-1828 VOV in English 1830-1858 VOV in French 1900-1928 VOV in English and AWR in Fulfulde (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. The destruction of Voz de la Resistencia, the broadcasting station of the Farc guerillas, was probably not ``in retaliation for the closure by FARC Guerillas on Feb 28 of Government controlled radiostation Onda Zero``, as suggested in DXLD 2-051, but rather the result of a mopping up action after the Colombian government on Feb 20 ousted the guerilla from their 42,000 sq. km. free zone south of Bogotá. Apart from destroying the Voz de la Resistencia HQ the police have busted numerous big cocaine laboratories operated by the guerillas. They have also seized considerable quantities of chemicals needed for producing cocaine out of the coca plant which was grown on almost one third of the area in the free zone. According the Diario del Huila newspaper, Onda Cero, was a community broadcaster which has been operating from Acevedo in SE Huila province during the past four years. No frequency is given, but it is known that the FARC guerillas are looking for FM transmitters capable of operating on or around 95.9 MHz, which is the frequency they intend to use for their planned nationwide network, called Cadena Radial Bolivariana. (See Venezuela [+ non]). A majority of the Huilan population usually votes for the conservative party, but the guerrilla attack was probably only another strike in a continued series of attacks on media and comms infrastructure in this part (and other areas) of the country. The Diario del Huila says in their Mar 3 edition that outside of the town of Pitalito, guerrillas from the 13th front of the FARC the night before destroyed a 25 meter tower used by three communications enterprises, Comcel (cellular phones), Halcón (radio telephone) and the broadcasting station ``La Poderosa`` (no frequency given). The only news source giving an operational frequency for Voz de la Resistencia was the Caracol network. The station is known to have operated on 95.9, with various repeaters on the same frequency, but for daytime coverage of the 42,000 sq. km free zone they may have needed a medium wave frequency, too, and so 660 kHz would have been a good choice for a decent daytime coverage of part of the area. The hours of transmission were said to be from 1000 to 2400 [UT], which is essentially a daytime operation. In the now extinct free zone all taxi drivers were tuned to 95.9, says Prensa Latina reporter Luis Enrique González in an undated article for Nuestro Mundo, posted on a website run by the US Communist Party, cpusa.org Luís Enrique González says in his report that he was received by a guerilla called Pablo, the manager of the station, ``at the entrance of the rustic station building``. This must have been the Voz de la Resistencia HQ as shown in a front page picture by El Espectador newspaper on Jan 7, last year. Two guerrillas, one female and one male, are hanging around the open entrance in a shanty-looking wooden house with the station name and the FM frequency handpainted on the wall next to the entrance. An English language translation of the accompanying text was published in DXLD 1-005, Jan 8, 2001 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, April 3 for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. HRT, Hrvatska Radiotelevisija, computer made QSL for 11805 on 21.4.2000!!!! with program listing from 8.4.2001. Letter edited 19.2.2002, v/s Dane Pavlic, D.PAvlic@hrt.hr (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. 9561.5, R. Ethiopia Mar 30 1611-1626 34333 English, Talk and music // 7165 (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** FINLAND. SCANDINAVIAN WEEKEND RADIO INFO! 1. Here is SWR's frequency schedule for April 6th 2002 broadcast! We will start our transmission normal way at 00 hours local Finnish time (=21 hours UT Friday 5th April). Some changes might happen. UTC 48 mb 25 mb 21-23 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 23-00 5980 kHz 11690 kHz 00-05 5980 kHz 11720 kHz 05-08 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 08-11 6170 kHz 11690 kHz 11-16 5990 kHz 11720 kHz 16-20 6170 kHz 11720 kHz 20-21 5990 kHz 11720 kHz SWR is on the air at every months first Saturday 24 hours, starting 0:00 local time (+3 UTC). We publish our programme schedule on this page one week before transmission. Phone number +358 400 995 559 is on use during transmission weekends. Also SMS -messages are welcome. 2. Student programmes via SWR! Our April-broadcast includes totally 12 and half hours fresh programmes of tradenomy-students of Pirkanmaa (+ one datanomy student) starting at 0830 UT! Listen and enjoy. More info (in Finnish) can be found here: http://www.swradio.net/fin/huhtik_opisk.htm Rest hours are occupied by our own staff: 2300-0400 UT Continental NightSift Johnny Cash - man in black. 70 years of CASH, still ain't got enough.." Hosted by RadioJack. 0400-0500 UT Esa presents something ?! 0600-0700 UT Rockin' Rhythm by DJ Tex Willer in English. Good Finnish rockabilly-music and information about the top RAB-happenings in Finland. 0700-0830 UT Kirjelaatikko/Letterbox ja/and Radiolehtikatsaus/Radiomagazine Review suomeksi ja/and in English by DJ Tex Willer. 3. Our new QSL -card series is released We have made a series of new QSL-cards. Take a look into picture http://www.swradio.net/fin/images/QSL_2002_1_2_A_C.jpg to find out the first of them, which are available right now. More is to come in later time (autumn 2002). There is also special X-mas QSL, but you have to report us to see it. Collect them all! And please remember to enclose with your report 2 IRC (Remember that you have it stamped correctly!) / 2 USD / 2 EUR for return postage. You may also print our new reception report form (in pdf -format). 5. New discussion area called Electric Sauna has been created for our listeners (host by Skannerilehti). It replaces former Message board of SWR. So please visit http://planet.iwn.fi/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/skalehti/sauna/YaBB.pl?board=swr and take part. 5. Contact info: Mail address: Scandinavian Weekend Radio, P.O Box 35, FIN-40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND Phone and FAX: Phone number +358 400 995 559 and fax number +358 3 475 5776 is on use during transmission weekends. E-mail addresses: General mail: info@swradio.net Editor-in-chief: jarkko.lehtovaara@swradio.net Webmaster: v-v.haikarainen@swradio.net Technician: esa.saunamaki@swradio.net WEB Page: http://www.swradio.net Best Regards, (Dj Madman, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GEORGIA. Just in very short, no time to listen Mauno's 909 kHz unID/Russian; hope they will be there next week. 909 GEO is now determined by YL in Tbilisi. It is FIRST Program of Georgian (Gruzinskoye) R there \\ FM 102.4. Transmitter is not in capital (QSBing). No more details yet. May be they start with R Rossii, in the morning. That's just my assumption. She also confirmed 4540.0 - R.Khara (I hear them irregularly around +1515-1530+, quite strong) and what is the most amazing, Russia is seemingly trying to jam it (+0.6+0.8 kHz "Mayak" relay by what I guess is military low power xmtr (in AM! mode). (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC- DX Mar 29 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. DTK Juelich usage for RL/RFE programs; Not RL-IRQ anymore, now RFE at 0100-0600 and 1600-1900. 0100-0300 RFE RLIQ AB 12030 108 0300-0400 RFE RLIQ AB 11910 108 0400-0600 RFE RLIQ AB 12030 108 1600-1700 RFE RLIQ AB 9825 108 1700-1800 RFE RLIQ AB 9575 108 1800-1900 RFE RLIQ AB 9705 108 1600-1700 RFE RL-2 AR 11670 090 1900-2100 RFE RL12 FA 9885 100 (IBB schedule, Mar 31, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Some nice pictures of the Wilsdruff transmitter near Dresden can be found on a page actually not dealing with broadcasting at all: http://www.lte.ei.tum.de/~remling/digital/galerie/lte-ex-2000/vorschau.html In the fifth row the PA stage of the old 250 kW tx installed in 1953 is featured. The middle picture shows two of the SRW-357 tubes, the right one in the foreground antenna switch and dummy load, in the background the HF pre-stages (the closet with open door contains the exciter, the other ones the amplifiers). Such txs were also installed at Berlin-Mahlsdorf/Uhlenhorst (693 and 1359), Burg (657 and 1575), Wachenbrunn (882) and Woebbelin (576, just to mention the last used frequencies), furthermore also at Plovdiv Bulgaria. The PA stage has two pairs of tubes because one SRW-357 cannot handle more than 80 kW, but all preliminary stages exists once only, so it is not correct to describe the Burg set-up as 4 x 125 kW as certain publications did. The old longwave tx at Zehlendorf near Berlin, replaced by a new Telefunken rig not earlier than in 1998 or 1999, is of a similar design, with three such 250 kW PA stages combined to a single 750 kW (once again no multiple pre-stages, so again in the end a single transmitter). The sixth row of pictures on the webpage shows the 153 metres (5/8 wavelength for 1044 kHz) pipe mast and its feeder line. The antenna house contains the current 1044 tx, a 20 kW Thomcast. The dish receives MDR info via the Astra satellite system as back-up for cases of circuit failure, an automatic switch puts the Astra signal on the air when there is no audio on the circuit from Dresden. There was a problem when parliament coverage was carried: During such sessions silence can occur... and trigger the switch. This indeed happened a couple of times, but now it is not common anymore since the switch was readjusted (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX Apr 2 via DXLD) It is perhaps of interest that the Juelich site was originally established by Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk (NWDR), the public broadcasting today devided into Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). But later the postal office (Deutsche Bundespost) became responsible for the operation of certain broadcast transmitters and took over the Juelich station. Around 1990 Juelich was thoroughly reconstructed; the ancient txs (installed between 1956 and 1964) were replaced by state-of-the-art PDM rigs (Telefunken S4001). Also the antennas were refurbished. In the nineties Deutsche Welle cancelled the contract about the Juelich site, not without spreading some wrong information: The equipment would be obsolete and the station had to close down due to coal mines. What they did not want to admit was the fact that a shut-down of the station would destroy investments done just a couple of years ago and worth millions of taxpayers money. But as well known Deutsche Telekom continued the Juelich operations without Deutsche Welle. The number of antennas at Juelich exceeds 30. A figure of 28 Deutsche Welle transmitters would be information from the old days: Juelich has 12 txs, Wertachtal 16. Now Deutsche Welle is down to just 20 txs in Germany: Four new ones with ALLISS antenna systems were inaugurated at Nauen in 1997 and replaced the old equipment then. The SW operations at Koenigs Wusterhausen ceased already in 1993 after being limited to single 6115 in 1991, and Wiederau ("Leipzig") left SW also in 1991 or so (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX Mar 28, via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. A new star is born There will be a new radio on shortwave starting their transmission on Friday 12th April 2002. Its name is "Radio Rasant". The magnificance to this radio is that all participants are students aged from 14 up to 15 years. There will be about 2 transmission throughout the whole year. That's the fact. But we hope that there will be some more broadcasts after some further negotiations. The transmission will mainly be in German but there is an English introduction and extroduction with a mailing address. Their first 60 minutes' transmission is already scheduled and these are the facts: Friday 12th April 2002 2200 UT 7120 KHz Saturday 13th April 2002 0730 UT 7120 KHz, 1200 UT 7120, 1730 UT 3985 Sunday 14th April 2002 1200 UTC 7120 KHz Friday 19th April 2002 1930 UTC 3985 KHz Reports and QSL requests are mostly appreciated. Send your reports and requests to "Radio Rasant", Städtische Realschule Sundern, Rotbuschweg 28, D- 59846 Sundern, Germany Fax: ++49 (0)2933 77073 (Reinhard Marx, Germany, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very good, but you forgot to mention the station broadcasting this, obviously IRRS in Italy (gh, DXLD) ** GOA. INDIA 9700 All India R Panji. Full Data 'Quin-Minar' Tower card for a direct Postal report to Delhi. Total time of 16 months, 10 months after postal follow-up. Several reports and follow-ups to Panji (direct) have never been replied to. v/s A. K. Bhatnagar Director, Freq. Assignments (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, DXplorer Mar 29 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GREECE. Hi Glenn, Just read the item on Greece and checked the frequency immediately - it's 17905. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, April 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1125, DX LISTENING DIGEST) not 17904 ** GREECE. What was the old frequency which 17905 replaced? (gh, DXLD) Was winter freq of 9420 kHz, and \\ 15630. (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX) ** HAITI. RADIO HAITI-INTER STAFF ACCUSE PRESIDENT OF BLOCKING MURDER INVESTIGATION Jean Leopold Dominique, the owner and general manager of Radio Haiti Inter, and Jean-Claude Louissaint, the caretaker of the radio station, were murdered on 3 April 2000. On the second anniversary of the unsolved murders, friends of Dominique and staff of the radio station criticized severely the attitude of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to the investigation, which they say Aristide has delayed. They want the mandate of examining Judge Claudy Gassant, who said he had ended his investigation of the case, renewed. The following is the text of a report by Haitian Signal FM radio on 3 April: On the occasion of the second anniversary of the murder of the journalist, the friends of Dominique and the employees of Radio Haiti- Inter have criticized severely the attitude of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, whom they describe as the person mainly responsible for blocking the investigations of the double murder that occurred on 3 April [2000]. During a news conference yesterday, the Radio Haiti-Inter journalists denounced this attitude, which explains the slowness observed in the process. Journalists such as Pierre Emmanuel, the director of the editorial room, described the 3 April [2000] event as a state- sponsored crime. However, they did not neglect to reaffirm their willingness to continue their fight for justice to the end. Our colleague Jean-Claudy Saint-Cyr filed the following report: [Saint-Cyr - recording] From 3 January 2000 to 3 January 2002 [dates as heard], it has been two years since Jean Leopold Dominique, owner and director-general of Radio Haiti-Inter, and Jean-Claude Louissaint, the caretaker at the radio station, were shot and killed by murderers, murderers whose identities have not yet been revealed, even though many hearings have been held about the crime. The case has gone from one examining judge to another but they have never revealed who the criminals are. Today, Dominique's friends and some Radio Haiti-Inter employees hold President Aristide responsible for the slowness observed in the investigations concerning this murder because, according to their statements, all three powers [executive, legislature and judiciary] are under the control of the Lavalas Family [FL], whose supreme head is President Aristide. They are convinced that the president's words on this matter were false. We invite you to listen to Sony Exceus and Fritzon Aureus: [Exceus] Manoeuvre after manoeuvre has been made by the justice minister, by the dean of the civil court [of Port-au-Prince, lawyer Lise Pierre-Pierre], by the 21 May Senate [i.e. the Senate elected in the disputed elections of 21 May 2000] and by the police in order to block - [pauses] The person who believes he can deliver the coup de grace is President Aristide. We say the coup de grace because President Aristide, as head of state, has blocked the investigations for four months. [Aureus] The president always said that he was waiting for a report from former Minister Louis Gary Lissade before he would make a decision on the judge's mandate. So far, the president has remained silent. He has never said anything. [Saint-Cyr] Furthermore, Emmanuel, the information director of Radio Haiti-Inter, said, while supporting what had already been said, that the non-renewal of Judge Gassant's mandate is one of the signs that shows that President Aristide does not want the investigation to really move forward. Emmanuel added, however, that if the head of state is interested in getting the investigations to move forward after all of his nice statements on the issue, he must prove it. [Emmanuel] [words indistinct] By today, Judge Gassant's mandate had not been renewed. This is one of the points that has caused the investigation to be blocked. It is not without reason that we insist on the renewal of the mandate, which can possibly be made. But what means will be put at his disposal? If the proper means are not put at his disposal, the same problems will recur. He will then be put in a situation where he will not be able to work or he will have to resign. If the president has good will about the progress of the investigations, he must prove that. [Saint-Cyr] The secretary-general of the Association of Haitian Journalists [AJH] Joseph Guyler C. Delva, says he has observed with sadness how the investigations regarding Dominique's death have proceeded after two years. According to Delva's statements, President Aristide does not want justice to be rendered to the journalist. On that score, Delva asks all radio stations in the country to go off the air for one minute on 3 April as a sign of solidarity with Radio Haiti-Inter. [Delva] It is sad that two years after Dominique's murder, we are still talking about investigations. I wished that we were at another stage, where we could speak about a trial, a true trial aimed at finding out who killed Dominique. I consider, we in the AJH consider, that the president must decide that he will do so, that he will not do so yet or that he will wait and do so when he wants to. The president is the only person who has the authority to renew it [Gassant's mandate]. He is not required to get anyone's opinion. But if he thinks that he needs somebody's opinion, I do not believe that - since 4 January and even before 4 January - because they must have started to think about it even before the judge's mandate expired. They have been waiting for a report since then. I do not believe that it should take this report an eternity to arrive. We are not going any further into this. However, we are asking that a gesture be made on 3 April. At least, the president should show that he really wants the dossier to move forward. Judge Gassant had finished with the dossier. May Aristide allow him to close it. [Saint-Cyr] In conclusion, we shall add that at 0605 [local time] on 3 April, the very time when Dominique was murdered, Radio Haiti-Inter will go off the air for the entire day. Several activities, including masses that will be celebrated throughout the country in memory of Dominique, are due to take place that same day. Source: Signal FM Radio, Port-au-Prince, in Creole 1230 gmt 3 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. 3940: I checked with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht club about the broadcasts and was told: "I am quite sure the broadcasts would be as scheduled. Sorry that we cannot check anything from our side onshore. I will try to check it from our committee boat as well. Sorry for any inconvenience (via Hans Johnson, Apr 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Estimado Glenn Hauser, he sintonizado con agrado el reinicio de las trasmisiones en español de Radio Budapest hacia América Latina; la escucha fué hecha el 31 de Marzo a las 2145 UT por los 11885 kHz con un SINPO de: 3 3 2 3 2 con música e identificación. La programación normal está anunciada a partir del 2 de abril. El esquema de emisiones presenta una modificación: Primera trasmisión para España 20.45 UT por 6025 y 6145. Segunda trasmisión América: 2145 UT por 6025 y 11885. Atte (Manrique Beceiro, Uruguay, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. The A-02 schedule for AIR shows several transmissions synchronised from two transmitters with different directivities on the same channel. Here are the details of the changes made by AIR, as compared with B-01: 5990 0100-0200 Sindhi 7250 0130-0228 Nepali (NEW) 9690 1330-1500 GOS-III to SEA (NEW) 11715 0130-0228 Nepali (NEW) 11775 1215-1330 Tibetan (ex-11695) 11775 1330-1430 Nepali (ex-11695) 13685 1115-1215 Tamil (ex-13700) 13685 1215-1245 Telegu (ex-13700) 15075 1615-1730 Hindi EAf (NEW) 15075 1745-1945 GOS-IV to EAf (NEW) 15415 1215-1315 Burmese (NEW) 11620 2045-2230 GOS-V (one txer to Eu and one to Au/NZ) 11620 2245-0045 GOS-I (one txer to NEA and one to SEA) 13685 1000-1100 GOS-II En (one txer to NEA and one to Au/NZ) 15075 0315-0415 Hindi (one txer to ME and one to EAf EXCEPT GOS-II all GOS sces in English are now on 11620. AIR is interested to receive reception comments for the GOS in English on 11620 13605 13685 kHz in NAm, AU and NZ and of course in Eu (Alok das Gupta, India, BC-DX via DXLD) see also GOA ** IRAN [non]. FRANCE(non): Voice of Iran in Farsi: 1630-1730 on 17525 strong co-ch Radio Denmark till 1655 // ????? (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. MOLDOVA: Radio International in Farsi via KCH 500 kW / 115 deg: 1630-1715 NF 9940 (55555), ex 7520 Bahoi Radio / R. Sedoye Payem e Doost in Farsi via KCH 500 kW / 115 deg: 1800-1830 on 7480 (55555) MOLDOVA/LITHUANIA: Radio Barobari in Farsi via KCH or SIT: 1655-1730 on 7480 (45444) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 2, via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 4365.60V, V. OF Communist Party of Iran Mar 31 1614- 1652 Farsi, Talk and music. ID at 1616 and 1632. Parallel 3380.3 \\ 4365.60, 4375, 4380.8. Also, 4375.60V, V. of Communist Party of Iran Apr 1 1609-1635 34333 Farsi, Talk and music. ID at 1614 and 1623. \\ 4375.60, 4365.60 (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** IRAQ. PAPER SLAMS LAUNCHING OF US RADIO BEAMED TO ARABS The Iraqi paper Al-Thawrah has criticized the US misconception according to which the Arab media are biased and disseminate hatred for the USA and Israel. The paper slams the new US radio, Radio Sawa, which it says targets young Arab listeners "to promote its policy which is anti-Arab and anti-Muslim". The following is the text of an editorial by Iraqi newspaper Al-Thawrah web site on 25 March The US administration of evil has become so reckless that it believes that the problem that the United States has with the Arabs and Muslims is a question of media and propaganda. Judging by its behaviour and the statements of some of its officials, this administration thinks that the United States is "not well understood" by the Arabs and Muslims and that the "extremists" among them are distorting its "image" and inciting hatred against it. Hence it has never thought of revising its actions, re-examining its policies and stances and carrying out some self-criticism to be able to distinguish between injustice and fairness and to tell right from wrong. Instead it has searched for new methods to burnish its ugly image, but without making any changes in its policy towards the Arabs and Muslims or altering in any way its attitude to their causes and affairs. This is because it believes that it is the Arabs and Muslims who must change. Its policy and positions, however, are firm and unchangeable. Consequently the US administration is no longer satisfied with visits, tours and meetings with the Arab officials to convince them of the soundness of its policies, positions, plans and scenarios. It has decided to carry out an all-out propaganda onslaught on the Arab mind to falsify its perceptions and alter its convictions. This onslaught targets Arab and Muslim public opinion, especially young Arabs, to encourage them to carry out the task that it alleges that the Arab media, particularly Arab television stations, neglect to carry out. It accuses these media of bias and of disseminating hatred among the Arab masses for the United States and the Zionist entity. It makes this allegation although these media regularly receive official instructions resulting from US pressure to use particular terms and phrases and not to use others in their news and commentaries when speaking about the Arab-Israeli conflict and Bush's "sacred" war that he is waging on the Arabs and Muslims under the slogan of "combating terrorism." In accordance with this attitude, US officials at first decided to address their discourse to the Arab public opinion directly through an Arab television station. They made more than one attempt to do this but failed. The evil Bush himself has announced that he will double the size of the so-called US "peace corps" that has 7,000 "volunteers?", working in 70 countries most of which are Islamic countries to propagate the US values and concepts that Bush has described as the "sound concepts." Additionally 60 US "intellectuals" with direct or indirect links to the White House, the Pentagon, and the Central Intelligence Agency, including Samuel Huntington and Francis Fukuyama, addressed a message to the world, particularly to the Arabs and Muslims, to promote the programme of aggressive war that Bush's administration is conducting to humiliate the Arabs and Muslims and impose hegemony on the world under the "antiterrorism" slogan. That message was written in a specious quasi-intellectual style in an attempt to impart a false moral character to Bush's programme. It was, however, received with ridicule and denunciation by the Arabs and Muslims. The Bush administration's latest action in this context has been the establishment of a radio station broadcasting in five local Arab dialects to address young Arab listeners who are under 30. The people in charge of this station claim that its purpose is to "inform the listeners of the reality of what is happening in the United States", that is, to make propaganda for the United States and its concepts and to promote its policy which is anti-Arab and anti-Muslim and to market its positions that are actually unfair to their rights and interests. The US administration of evil is, however, disregarding the striking contrast, indeed the blatant contradiction, between the allegations made by US propaganda and the actual US policy and the positions that reflect this policy. In contrast with the claims made by US propaganda, the Arab citizen is daily confronted by facts, pressure and phenomena that prove to him that the United States is interfering directly in his country's affairs, policies and positions. He realizes that he is not living in a country that is fully independent and sovereign. Daily he witnesses anti-Arab and anti-Muslim US positions that betray flagrant enmity to the Arabs and Muslims and a total bias to their enemies. US propaganda cannot make this blatant contrast palatable or acceptable to the Arab citizen, no matter how intense and skilful this propaganda is and no matter how much financial and technological resources it has. All the propaganda that the United States uses cannot make the Arab individual accept the US-Zionist partnership and the absolute US backing for the Zionist entity despite the latter's racist and hostile crimes. All this propaganda cannot make acceptable the daily US aggression against Iraq, the continued blockade imposed on it and the systematic, mass extermination of its citizens. The United States cannot convince the Arab citizen that he lives in an independent, sovereign state when he sees the United States dictate to his country's government what policies and positions it should adopt, or when he sees the US military bases on his country's territory and its war fleets parading in his territorial waters and ports. He also cannot feel that his country really possesses and controls its own resources when he sees that the United States has laid its hands on them and is controlling the way in which they are exploited. Yes. These are the striking facts that US propaganda cannot obliterate and is totally unable to make palatable or acceptable to the Arab citizen. It cannot falsify his perceptions, alter the way in which he views the United States, change the way he feels about it, or dissipate his anger against it and against those Arab politicians and rulers who submit to its dictates. The Bush administration cannot do any of this even if it devotes all the resources of the "strategic influence office" that it recently established to mislead him with its "black programmes" and its lies. This is the secret of the repeated failure of the US message to the Arabs and Muslims. The Bush administration, however, refuses to learn the lesson. Source: Al- Thawrah web site, Baghdad, in Arabic 25 Mar 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) NOTE: due to size this issue is split into two parts, continued as DXLD 2-054 *above* ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-052, April 1, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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 HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 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 WORLD OF RADIO #1124: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1124.html NEXT AIRING ON WWCR: Wed 1030 on 9475 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB CONTINENT OF MEDIA 02-02 is now available: (STREAM) http://www.DXing.com/com/com0202.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.DXing.com/com/com0202.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0202.html ON RFPI: Fri 1900, Sat 0100, 0700, 1300, 1730, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Tue 2000, Wed 0200, 0800, 1400 on some of: 7445-USB, 15039, 21815-USB ** AFGHANISTAN (YA5T Update). Robert, S53R, informed OPDX that on the 26th of March he left Kabul for Islamabad and will continue to Dubai, from where he will be traveling home for a break. He states, "Last two months have seen quite some activity from YA5T, since Mark and myself were there. Peter also came for a short visit, but working commitments kept him from operating. There are 22,571 QSOs in total made from Kabul in January, February and March. Mark was on a 10 day trip to Fayzabad, in one of the most remote places in Afghanistan and made additional 404 QSOs from there. And as you know, Peter initially made over 2000 QSOs in December. We will be back in Afghanistan starting May, so get ready for more activity. The YA5T logs are now up-to-date on Andy's, VE9DX, Web page at: http://www.ve9dx.com/ya5t/ya5t.html ADDED NOTE: QSL Manager Steve, KU9C, informed OPDX that there was a pirated YA5T operation on March 27th around 0200z or so...that was the work of SLIM...per a note from Mark, ON4WW (KB8NW/OPDX April 1/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Re LRA-36 15475.55: Walter, I also heard them at low levels from 1940-2010 on the same date - 29th. (Right down in the noise). The propagation here into the Pacific Northwest is how you describe --- fadein around 2000 and building strength until close. For those of us in the Northwest, the optimal time of year to hear seems to be in January-February. I received them on numerous occasions at good signals levels (Don Nelson, Oregon, March 31, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Concerning my recent posting on HCDX [and DXLD 2-051] about LRA-36: Rik van Riel, has brought to my attention an error I made in my reported frequency of this station. The frequency I heard this one on was 15475.55 and not 15425.55. This was a typographical error on my part. Sorry for the mistake (David Hodgson, TN, hard-core-dx via DXLD) On 15475.55, LRA36 Base Esperanza, 2030-2215 April 1, a program of classical and pop music all by YL singer(s), single ID heard at 2143 "Desde la Base Esperanza Antártida Argentina, transmite LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel en español en su frecuencia de 15476 kHz de lunes a viernes para todo el mundo", ID text from a Spanish speaking friend; I no habla [sic] español, no other announcements heard, off suddenly mid song at 2200 approx. Good signal, some distortion and slow fading, about 60% copy here. This after months for some of us, monitoring hets and low audio, by Bill Smith-Texas, David Hodgson-TN and myself. Heard by Don Moman-AB using a 4-30 MHz Log Periodic Antenna with amazing quality! Monitoring reveals +1830-2100* week days. On late, 2200* for weekend? Be aware of occasional QRM from Gabon French 15475 to W. Africa and E. NA during 1800-1900 (Joe Talbot-AB Canada with Bill Smith-TX USA, David Hodgson-TN USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Voice of Armenia noted with its Sunday English broadcast on 15270 now one UT hour earlier, in progress 0815 Mar 31 with Mailbag programme which they said was weekly, co-channel interference though Armenia stronger, off 0830 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, England, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** ASIA [non]. RFA schedule in A-02, valid till Oct 26, 2002. RFA currently broadcasts from 1100 to 0700; there are no transmissions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming includes Mandarin for 12 hrs, Cantonese for two hrs, Uighur for two hrs, and Tibetan for eight hrs. RFA uses IBB transmitters in BIB=Biblis Germany, HOL=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA=Iranawila Sri Lanka, SAI=Saipan and TIN=Tinian N Mariana Isls. And Merlin relays TWN=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE. Additional transmitter sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications? Thus American taxpayers paying for this enterprise are also denied the most basic info about it -[gh] RFA A-02 updated schedule of Apr 1st. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 13680T 15660 17525 17835S 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11975H 11695UAE 15225T 15695 17730 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9530 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405S 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1300 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855B-(from 1200) 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 11520 13765I 15525T 1300-1400 BURMESE 9385 11765T 11940 13745T 1300-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855B 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9445S 11955S 13625T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 11790T 13625 13720T 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 9905P 11765T 11945S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7460 9370 9555UAE 9675UAE 13625T 1600-1700 MANDARIN 9455S-(fr 1630) 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1700-1800 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1800-1900 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 11520 11740T 11945S 11955T 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945S 11955T 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680D 2100-2200 CANTONESE 9355S 11785T 13675T 2100-2200 MANDARIN 9455S 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455T 11670S 11935S 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9930P 11570 15175I 15485T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 9910P 11785T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7365 7470 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 13720S 15560P (various sources, updated on Apr 1, 2002, by Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA [and non]. ROI Launches Insight Central Europe, co- production with other stations: http://roi.orf.at/english/en_insight.html (via Chris Brand, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Do they ever get around to mentioning WHEN one might hear it on each station? Of course not. But there is ondemand audio via above (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5964.73, R Nacional, Huanuni, 1053 Mar 28, stunning signal; must have improved transmitter, interview with caller, Quechua language? 4761.70, R. Guanay (tentative), March 31, national anthem at 1022 s/on .. "Bolivia,... capital.. radio concierto.. buenos dias", tentative ID, most marvellous varied music over a 30 minute period, from brass to penny whistle, music far stronger than dialogue; RTTY on USB. Good signal but high static level, big empty carrier on 4763.91 did not help (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Past weekend (March 28, 29, 30 and 31) I made a DX Camp in Guamini. This is a small town, in a rural zone, at 500 km to south- west of my city (Buenos Aires). I rent a "bungalow" near the lake (called Lago del Monte). Receiver: Sony ICF2010. Antenna: "longwire", 30 mts. 3390.3, Radioemisoras Camargo, Camargo (tentative). 2328-2340. Romantic music. Announcement about different organizations of Chuquisaca. Messagge: "este es un mensaje para....en el paraje...en la localidad de Camargo". 24222 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4471.8, Radio Movima, Santa Ana de Yacuma. 2318-2325. ID as: "Radio Movima, una compañia inseparable". Ads. Bazar San Andrés. 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4681.6, Radio Paitití, Guayaramirim. 2234+ March 28. Local ads read by male. Ann. and ID: "Por Radio Paitití... y por su onda corta..." 14331. Listened past March 31, at same hour too, with signal 2/3 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4796.6, Radio Mallku, Uyuni. 1135+ March 28. Weather report for Camiri and Trinidad. Regional news. ann.: "Informa Radio Mallku". 24232 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6135, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 2240-2246 March 29. ID as: "a través de Radio Santa Cruz, Alternativa FM y más de 30 emisoras de la Red Amazónica...". Ann.: "...A medio siglo de la reforma agraria... la tierra... la Iglesia junto al pueblo...". Local ads: "...Revista Cuarto Intermedio ...adquiérala en Librería San Pablo y en Radio Santa Cruz". 43333 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. From: "Eduardo Moura" dado_moura@hotmail.com Subject: DX in Short wave Date: Mon, Apr 1, 2002, 2:57pm (CST+6) Dear Sir: I have been working at Canção Nova radio, and we have been receiving a lot of contacts from ham operators [sic] which confirm our signal. In order to stimulate this "art", we have started on last Friday [time??] a program "Além Fronteiras" = beyond boundaries, which has among programming, we would like to promote with QSL card and by a commentary on air (in English) for those friends whose confirm our signal reception. AM 1020 kHz SW 49m 6105 kHz SW 60m 4825 kHz SW 31m 9675 kHz http://www.cancaonova.org.br Thanks for now! PY2TP, Eduardo de Moura Per info from the website and the ILRadio database this religious broadcaster is in Portuguese 24 hours per day. (e-mail received from Eduardo de Moura courtesy of John J. Rieger, WI, DX-midAMerica! http://DX-midAMerica.com forwarded via Daniel Sampson, WI, DXLD) ** CANADA. I can't find this in print yet but they announced on the CBC News that Harry Brown, who did Morningside for a while and was one of the founding voices of the then 5 1/2 hour/day program "As It Happens", died (Joel Rubin, NY, April 2 0045 UT, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. CANADA ANNOUNCES ASTRONOMICAL TAX (``LEVY``) INCREASES ON RECORDABLE MEDIA --- Wednesday, March 13, 2002 By Applelinks Contributing Editor Charles W. Moore America has no exclusive patent on officials like Sen. Fritz Hollings sucking up to the entertainment industry and screwing consumers in the process. On March 9, Canada`s Copyright Board Commission announced that a new Canadian ``levy`` will be introduced effective January 1, 2003 on all blank audio recording media. Sample rates for this stickup (all cash figures cited in this article are in Canadian dollars): 60¢ for each audio cassette of 40 minutes or more in length.... http://www.applelinks.com/articles/2002/03/20020313135627.shtml (via Larry Russell, MI, April 1, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn -- Yesterday and today (Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April) I found a Sackville relay of the BBC's internet service from 1500 UT to 1600 UT instead of Radio Austria International. It was 17865. I haven't heard anything on 17860 either, for that matter. At 16 UT the transmission ends. ROI is still available on the 'net, though, so I wonder what's going on. It is nice to get a good strong signal for the Beeb again, if even for a short time (Cindy Lindau, MN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Typical Week of Confusion nonsense. Won`t they ever figure out how to make a smooth, accurate transition to new schedule? (gh, DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. RADIO LIBERTY TO BROADCAST IN NORTH CAUCASUS DESPITE RUSSIAN-US ACCORD | Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Prague, 1 April, ITAR-TASS correspondent Igor Shamshin: Radio Liberty, whose headquarters are in Prague, will begin broadcasting to the North Caucasus. Daily broadcasts lasting two hours will go on air from Wednesday [3 April]. The broadcasts will be carried in Russian, Chechen, Cherkess and Arabic, the press secretary of Radio Liberty, Sonya Vinterova, told ITAR-TASS in an exclusive telephone interview today. "The broadcasts will cover political, economic, cultural and ethnic issues," Vinterova said. A month ago the directors of the radio station said they wouldn't be broadcasting to Chechnya following an agreement reached between the Russian and US governments. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1325 gmt 1 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO FREE EUROPE LAUNCHES CHECHEN BROADCASTING FROM PRAGUE | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 1 April: The Prague-based US sponsored Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will on Wednesday [3 April] launch Caucasian broadcast in Chechen, Avari and Cherkessi as well as in Russian, RFE spokeswoman Sonia Winterova told CTK today. The broadcasts were already to start on 28 February but they were postponed on a request from the US State Department which wanted the broadcasts to be postponed by several weeks... Winterova said today that a two-hour broadcast will start on Wednesday which will be equally divided among the three Caucasian languages. The Russian programme will last several minutes. The broadcasting time will be gradually extended... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1423 gmt 1 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO LIBERTY TO BEGIN BROADCASTING IN CHECHEN, The Moscow Times After a monthlong delay, Radio Liberty on Wednesday [April 3] will begin its controversial broadcasts in Chechen and two other North Caucasus languages, Avar and Circassian. "We will produce 20-minute releases in each language, which will be broadcast from Prague every day," Sonya Winter, a spokeswoman for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said by telephone Sunday from Prague. The total broadcast time in all three languages combined will be two hours a day. She said that some 10 days ago the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an official body in Washington that oversees U.S. foreign broadcasts, gave the go-ahead for broadcasting in the three North Caucasus languages. The U.S.-funded radio broadcasts had been scheduled to begin in late February, but BBG delayed the launch at the request of the U.S. State Department. The BBG said the Congress and White House wanted a chance to review the planned broadcasts, which had drawn stern criticism from the Kremlin. Winter said she could offer no explanation for the decision to proceed with the broadcasts. The Kremlin, while still unhappy about the planned broadcasts, was less harsh in its comments over the weekend. The decision to start broadcasting in Chechen "contains in it a certain risk," Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the Kremlin's chief spokesman on Chechnya, said Saturday. He said Russia would not at the moment make any pessimistic forecasts. "We will monitor the broadcasts' content and selection of newsmakers with exceptional attention, and only after doing so will we make any conclusions," he was quoted by Interfax as saying. In January, Yastrzhembsky warned Radio Liberty that the government would revoke its license in Russia if the Chechen programming was pro- separatist. The choice of Avar and Circassian also has been questioned by some in Russia, who say the broadcasts could be a destabilizing force. Although Avar is the second most popular language in the region after Chechen, it is only one of several dominant languages in Dagestan, where there is an internal struggle for power among ethnic groups. Circassian is one of two main languages in Karachayevo-Cherkessia, where ethnic tensions also are easily stirred. From http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/04/01/012.html (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, and Mike Cooper, GA, DXLD) I sense RFE got some kind of at least tacit go-ahead from Kreml (gh) ** CUBA [non]. Radio Martí boss creates lots of static From: http://www.miami.com Posted on Sun, Mar. 31, 2002 BY ELAINE DE VALLE When veteran broadcaster Salvador Lew was tapped to take over the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, he pledged to revitalize Radio and TV Martí with more relevant programming for Cubans on the island. More than seven months after his appointment, Lew has dramatically increased the amount of news broadcast, using more than 20 freelancers to write, edit, broadcast and produce a slew of new programs, including a call-in show for dissidents, a program on the Santería religion and a show hosted by former Cuban military officers. But staffers and observers say Lew has gone beyond a mere housecleaning typical of a new administration. They claim he has hired friends and associates to well-paid posts, including several with a hard-line view, and manipulated news coverage. ''He acts like a mayor in Cuba,'' said Enrique Patterson, who has cohosted a political satire program for five years. ``Anyone who is his friend has a job.'' Four women have sued for sex discrimination, claiming a hostile work environment for women. The annual personnel budget has been nearly depleted to pay for the freelancers. A federally mandated nine-member advisory committee does not exist. Most recently, the station was accused of editing a sound bite to make it appear the Mexican government had opened its doors to Cubans wanting to leave the island. The broadcast was blamed for a gate- crashing incident at the Mexican Embassy in Havana by 21 Cubans. The 73-year-old Lew, a longtime figure on Cuban Miami radio famed for breaking the story in 1962 that Soviet troops had arrived in Cuba, stands by the broadcast and dismisses the manipulation claims as typical Castro rhetoric. ''I would never permit that,'' he said, adding that he would not jeopardize his credibility. He defends the choices he has made since taking over the $25-million- a-year operation. He recognizes that the changes, which he said have improved the station's programming mix, have ruffled some feathers. ''There are some very professional journalists here . . . but we also have some people who are resistant to change,'' said Lew, who makes $132,000 a year. ``I'm not here to be popular.'' NUMEROUS INQUIRIES Controversy is not new to Radio Martí, which first aired on May 20, 1985, to provide an alternate source of news and information to the state-run media in Cuba. There have been more than two dozen investigations, audits, inquiries or policy reviews at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting in the past 15 years. But 10 staffers who spoke to The Herald, all but two on the condition that their names not be published, said things are different this time. ''Every time there is a new administration, there are problems, but this is a total revolution,'' said one employee who has worked under three directors. Most complaints center on the hiring of the freelancers, many of them Lew's friends and former associates. Zaida ''Sashi'' Alfaro hosts Aché, the Santería show. For more than 10 years, she and Lew cohosted La Peña Azul on La Cadena Azul, then later on La Poderosa. Ol`ga Connor, a columnist at El Nuevo Herald who hosts an arts program on Radio Martí, is a friend. Nancy Pérez Crespo, a director at La Nueva Cuba Press -- a website that publishes dissident Cuban journalists -- has known Lew for 15 years. `LOT OF HIS PEOPLE' Crespo, who also has a weekly program on Radio Mambí, hosts a half- hour call-in show for dissidents on Radio Martí. ''He has brought in a lot of his people under contract to do the work of the employees,'' said one of the employees who claims to have been demoted for complaining. Patterson said his salary was cut by $15 from $100 a show to $85, while some of the new freelancers are making more than four times as much. ''I don't care about $15,'' said Patterson, a Spanish teacher at Miami Northwestern High School. ``I don't make my living off this. But it's the principle.'' He and others said most of the new programs were rejected by the in- house advisory committee because they duplicated existing shows or were inappropriate for the station. ''Then he abolished the evaluation committee and did what he wanted anyway,'' Patterson said. ``This is a government office, not a private company.'' DIRECTOR WAS MOVED Lew said the advisory committee fell apart after he transferred the program director, who chaired the committee, to another department. The director, Martha Yedra, would not comment because she is one of the four women suing for sexual discrimination. Lew also admits having a personal relationship with many of the new hires but said there are others he still has not met. All of them, he insists, were tapped for their professional experience. ''It's only logical that I know some of them. It's logical that one contracts people you know that are good,'' Lew said. ``That's something all bosses do -- surround themselves with people you can trust to do the job.'' He said the personnel budget is ''practically exhausted'' but insists he had to bring in more people to increase news from one to five hours a day and to add shows that speak to previously ignored sectors of the Cuban population -- the military, youths, blacks, women. NO LOVE FOR CUBA ''There are problems here with a lot of people who do not put their hearts into this office and the situation in Cuba,'' Lew said. ``They do their job as journalists, but there is no love for homeland.'' Lew said the complaints come from employees upset about having to work weekends or disgruntled radio hosts whose programs were canceled to make room for more news. ''Our principal mission is to inform, not entertain,'' he said. But Roberto Bermúdez, who hosts a cultural show called El Gato Tuerto, said the issue is more about fairness than bruised egos. His show on Cuban literature, art and films was cut back from five to three times a week. ''They said they had to cut everyone's programs to save money,'' he said. Eliminating two of his three freelancers, who made $50 a show, saved $100 a week. Then Radio Martí hired Connor of El Nuevo Herald to host a similar program twice a week -- at $440 a show. ''So they cut $100 from me to give $880 to someone else to do the very same thing. That is an injustice,'' Bermúdez said. Connor said her program replaced canned music aired on the weekends. ''I was asked to do this program because of my wide experience,'' she said, ``and also because I am in contact not only with the Cuban culture outside the island but also in the island.'' HARD-LINER EXILES Another issue causing controversy is that many of the new freelancers come from the ranks of the hard-line Cuban exile community. Lew has hired Santiago Aranegui, a longtime commentator on Radio Mambí, considered the voice of the diehard conservative Cuban community. In addition, Radio Martí also broadcasts the Tomen Nota editorial by Armando Pérez Roura, news director of WAQI-AM (710), every Monday. Pérez Roura is the dean of conservative Cuban radio. And Lew said La Peña Mambisa, another Mambí show, is also rebroadcast to Cuba. The concern is magnified because other hard-liners are also becoming regulars. Luis Zúñiga and Horacio García Sr., two former Cuban American National Foundation members who are now directors of the breakaway Cuban Liberty Council, host a weekly show titled The Voice of Truth. Said Lew: ``They cannot talk about any organization that they belong to or had belonged to. They only talk about human rights in general, and Luís Zúñiga knows a lot about human rights because he has been to the commission in Geneva for years and years.'' Last week, Fernando Rojas -- another former CANF member now on the Cuban Liberty Council board -- was hired as an advisor and assistant to Lew. ''I have given him some projects to develop,'' Lew said. BOARD POSSIBILITIES Lew said another CANF defector, Feliciano Foyo, may get tapped by President Bush for a new advisory board. The other name mentioned from Miami's Cuban community is Amancio Suárez, former owner of Radio Mambí. ''This operation has been taken over by the ultra-right, hard-line exile community,'' said one woman who has worked at Radio Martí for more than 10 years. ``We can't broadcast any news that presents a good image of Cuba or that hints at anything good that can happen there.'' Some in Wáshington, where the proposed $26 million budget for next fiscal year will soon be discussed, are concerned. ''More news is good, until you ask what kind of news it is,'' said U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, who visited the Office of Cuba Broadcasting last week with Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass. Both men were in South Florida for an anti-embargo conference at the Biltmore Hotel. ``Is it objective? Is it balanced?'' SUPPORTS CONCEPT Flake, one of 34 lawmakers who recently formed a task force to chip away at the U.S. embargo and travel restrictions, said he supports the concept of Radio Martí. But he and Delahunt are suspicious of changes that would give the hard-line exile community more airtime. ''If Radio Martí is working well, I just want to improve it,'' Flake said. ''Unfortunately, what we've been hearing from the people I talked to in Cuba is that it's not about news anymore. It's all Fidel-bashing, and they're not interested in that,'' he said. Lew said Radio and TV Martí will always have enemies in Congress but the operation also has its staunch supporters. They say internal flaps are expected when a new administration takes over. ''There have always been attacks,'' said U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz- Balart, a champion of Radio and TV Martí funding who pushed for the appointment of Lew in July. ``Those who like to see a policy of appeasement with the Cuban dictator are constantly attacking Radio Martí.'' Díaz-Balart said Lew should be commended for the changes he has made. ``Everything I've seen points to a dramatic improvement under his stewardship.'' NEWS WELCOMED Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, principal officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, said human rights activists, opposition leaders and dissident journalists on the island -- who call Radio Martí ''our station'' – are pleased with the increase in international news. What they want is more news from inside Cuba, such as Cuba's $35 million grain purchase from U.S. suppliers last year. ''Recently, they have asked for more information on the food sales because they don't see the food benefiting people in need in Cuba,'' Huddleston said. EXILE NOSTALGIA But dissidents are also ''quite adamant,'' she said, that Radio Martí not become a station run by the exile community. ''They really don't like programs that reflect prerevolutionary events. They say that this is just nostalgia,'' Huddleston said. ``It must be different in tone and substance from Radio Mambí and La Poderosa.'' Cubans contacted by The Herald agree. A woman on a visit to Miami last week from Santa Clara said her family listens often in the early morning and late evening because the government's interference is heavier in the middle of the day. ''It is not just a source of news, it is the only source of news. The state-run media tell you nothing,'' she said, citing the December slaying of a family of five, including a couple from Hialeah Gardens. Lew says he knows people are counting his days, but he isn't moving until he is told by Bush himself. ''The president named me, and the president, if he thinks I'm not doing the job, can name someone else,'' he said. ``There have been people who have tried to get me thrown out. But here I am.'' (via Mike Terry, UK, DXLD) Full story: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/2002/03/31/news/local/2968567.htm (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** DENMARK. SPECIAL EVENT. The world famous writer Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2nd, 1805. Each year from 2000 to 2004 the special call OZ5HCA will be used to celebrate his birthday during the week of April 2nd. In 2005 OZ5HCA will be used during the entire month of April. This year OZ5HCA will be active from April 1st through April 7th. OZ3FYN has made an award to celebrate this event. The award has a picture of the house where Hans Christian Andersen lived as a child, and it will be signed by the mayor of Odense. The rules are as follows: You must work OZ5HCA once on three different bands. All modes count. The price of the award is 3 USD or 3 IRC. Send application (GCR list) and green stamps to the following address. OZ3FYN, P.O. Box 134, DK-5100 Odense C, Denmark (KB8NW/OPDX April 1/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.75, R Cristal Internacional, 1050 Mar 28, finally got ID on this one confirming earlier suspicions, jazz interludes between news items, "Santo Domingo... R. Cristal Internacional"; fair signal (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DUCIE ISLAND. VP6 OPERATIONS. The VP6DI team went QRT on March 26th around 1530z. It was announced that they made about 52,000 QSOs. The team travelled to Henderson Island for the IOTA enthusiasts and stayed about two days. The operators used their own VP6 callsign on Henderson. The last report, they made over 2000 QSOs. The IOTA designations for Ducie is OC-182 and Henderson is OC-056. Per a press release, "logs will not appear on the web site until a later date. Please don't panic." Also a reminder that Ducie QSL cards are via VE3HO (JA1BK for six meters). They added that the QSL cards will not be available at Dayton (KB8NW/OPDX April 1/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4781.4, R. Oriental, 1050 Mar 31, good solid signal in SS, ID including country, if only they were all this easy! (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR [non]. FRANCE / ROUMANIE Après près de 29 ans de diffusion sur les ondes de Radio HCJB, à Quito, Equateur, depuis le 31 août 1973, l'émission "A l'écoute du monde" qui a été diffusée la dernière fois le dimanche 24 mars 2002, ne va pas disparaître. A partir du dimanche 7 avril, on pourra la retrouver sous un format différent (10 minutes par téléphone, tous les 15 jours) sur les ondes du service français de Radio Roumanie Internationale. La plus ancienne chronique DX sur la radio en langue français réalisée par un club de radioécouteurs encore diffusée ne va donc pas disparaître avec la fin des émissions en français sur Radio HCJB. Grâce à un accord avec Radio Roumanie Internationale elle va donc continuer pour informer, aider, conseiller les auditeurs et radioécouteurs (Roland Paget, Amitié Radio - 27 mars 2002 --- les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) QSLH,F? [heures; fréquences??? -gh] ** FINLAND. Today's (or is it Yesterday's?) Capital Weekend on YLE Radio Finland is devoted entirely to interviews conducted by Mika Makelainen at the Fest. I've yet to finish listening, but have heard interviews with Kim Elliott, yours truly and Joe Buch during the first 40 minutes or so. With the time changes (and those triggering changes to the YLE SW broadcast schedule to NA), I'm not sure as to air times. However, the program (1 hour long) can be downloaded in streaming audio or as a file that can be saved to your hard drive and played at any time. Go to http://www.yle.fi/rfinland/ (John Figliozzi, NY, March 31, swprograms via DXLD) ** GREECE. VOG is a huge signal here on the new frequency of 17904 [not really 17905? -- gh] at 0700-1300. This frequency is in the Aeronautical Mobile allocation of 17900-17970. Normally, here in southern Australia, 17904 is busy with traffic to and from Honolulu, Tokyo and San Francisco to aircraft crossing the Pacific. There is no possibility of the aircraft traffic getting through as long as Athens stays there. I wonder if they registered this frequency with the HF Registration Board? I guess they will be forced to shift soon. Their old frequency at this time is now occupied by another station in a south Asian language (Morrison Hoyle, Foster, Victoria, Australia, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And what was the old frequency? (gh, DXLD) Voice of Greece heard 31st March with English Orientations programme 0930-1000 on 15630 17905, also 1830-1845 on 12105, probably a shorter programme on Sunday evenings. The Sunday only It¹s All Greek to Me programme noted 1800-1900 on 9420 15630 and 17705 via Delano (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 4832.2, Radio Litoral, La Ceiba. 0059-0105 March 29. ID: "...por la Radio Litoral....". Songs. 23342 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX Camp in Guamini, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Litoral, HRLW, full-data brown card, 3 page letter and business card in 4 months after follow-up and $1. V/s: Mateo McCollum, Gte. (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP, hard-core-dx April 1 via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. Nothing heard here on the two mornings I listened, March 28 and April 1 on 3940 at 0945 UT except for amateur stations. 73's (Wade Smith, NB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has anyone managed to catch the RTVHK broadcasts on 3940 at 0945? The frequency is dead here and I feel if the station is in fact on air as promoted, it should easily propagate into Eastern Australia - particularly based on past experience (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW, March 31, ARDXC via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR A-02 GOS in English 1000-1100 1053 15260 Sri Lanka 11585 15020 17800 NE Asia 13685 17510 17895 Australia NZ 1330-1500 9690 11620 13710 SE Asia 1745-1945 7410 11620 W Europe 11935 15075 17670 E Africa 13605 15155 W, NW Africa 2045-2230 7410 9650 11620 W Europe 7150 9910 11715 11620 Australia NZ 2245-0045 9705 9950 11620 13605 Asia (prepared by Jose Jacob, April 1, dx_india via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOICE OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN English schedule 0030-0130 11970 Central America, Northern South America 9610 North America 1100-1230 15215 Persian Gulf 15585 Far East 15600 Pakistan 21470 21730 SEAsia, Australia 1530-1630 7245 11775 SEAsia, India 9635 Indian sub continent 1930-2030 9800 11695 S, E Africa 11670 Central Europe 11855 North West and Central Europe 2130-2230 9570 13665 SEAsia, Australia (Website via Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA English at 0400 is on new 17600 now, booming in here, April 1, ex-17535 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. With Israel and its Arab neighbors in the news, there's another audio news source that provides an inteteresting perspective on the region -- an audio service from the Jerusalem Post newspaper, http://www.jpostradio.com There's a link to the "jpostradio tuner" which launches Windows Media Player and plays dispatches and analyses in sequence starting with the most recent news bulletin. As of 1200 UT the most recent news had been posted in the prior few minutes. Content is pro-Israel and intended for an international audience – the English-speaking Jewish diaspora or others interested in Israel. There is an advantage in comparison to Kol Israel in that the reports are independently produced, so you aren't getting 100% of the government slant on things. There is one advertisement that follows the first six-minute (plus/minus) news bulletin: an ad for an Israeli insurance company. Alas, no shortwave service is available, but you could listen via telephone if you wish to spend the money on an international or ("1- 900") phone call (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) The IBA is at least somewhat independent from the current government. In fact if you've read some of the articles on funding of Kol Yisrael one of the reasons for the problems was that the government is NOT thrilled with the positions taken by the IBA. (Wasn't some of the funding for the IBA "to the exile" at one time provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel/World Zionist Organization? The Jewish Agency predates the state.) Of course, the Jerusalem Post was taken over some years ago by the Hollinger chain (London Telegraph, Chicago Sun-Times) whose proprietor, Conrad Black, recently quit his Canadian citizenship because Canadian PM Chrétien would not let him assume a British life peerage. Black is known as a very hands-on proprietor and moved the Post to the Right. If you want written news and audio from the right wing religious settlers, try http://www.israelnationalnews.org (a7.org in Hebrew) better known as the pirate Arutz 7. The good grey liberal paper of record has an English website, http://www.haaretzdaily.com but AFAIK no audio (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** ITALY. Rai International Scheda stagionale valida dal 31 Marzo 2002 al 27 Ottobre 2002 NORD AMERICA 1400-1425 17780 21520 Italiano 1830-1905 17780 21520 Italiano 2240-0055 9675 11800 Italiano 0055-0115 9675 11800 Inglese 0115-0130 9675 11800 Francese 0130-0315 9675 11800 Italiano 0315-0335 9675 11800 Spagnolo AMERICA CENTRALE 0130-0230 11765 Italiano SUD AMERICA 2240-0055 9840 12030 Italiano 0055-0115 9840 12030 Spagnolo 0115-0130 9840 12030 Portoghese 0130-0230 6110 Italiano 0130-0315 9840 12030 Italiano 0315-0335 9840 12030 Spagnolo SPAGNA - AFRICA NORD OCCIDENTALE 0435-0445 7235 9875 Italiano 0445-0500 7235 9875 Inglese 1430-1455 9670 11800 Arabo 1500-1525 9670 11880 Italiano 1630-1655 9670 11730 Francese 1700-1800 9670 11910 Italiano 2025-2045 6130 7290 Arabo 2050-2110 6130 7290 Portoghese 2110-2130 6130 7290 Spagnolo AFRICA NORD ORIENTALE 1330-1355 11800 Arabo 2135-2155 7290 9670 Arabo EUROPA ORIENTALE 0405-0425 7235 9670 11800 Ucraino 0505-0525 9670 11800 Lituano 0530-0550 9670 11800 Rumeno 0630-1300 9670 11800 Italiano 1335-1355 7190 9690 Albanese 1400-1415 7190 9690 Sloveno 1415-1435 7190 9690 Tedesco 1435-1455 7190 9690 Croato 1500-1520 9690 11895 Turco 1520-1540 9690 11895 Greco 1540-1600 9690 11895 Bulgaro 1810-1825 6130 7240 Ceco 1825-1840 6130 7240 Slovacco 1840-1900 6130 7240 Polacco 1910-1930 6130 7240 Serbo 1935-1955 6130 7240 Ungherese 2115-2135 5970 7250 Rumeno 2135-2155 5970 7250 Ceco 2155-2210 5970 7250 Slovacco 2210-2225 5970 7250 Polacco RUSSIA 0345-0405 7235 9670 11800 Russo 0600-0620 11800 15290 Russo 1605-1625 11805 15290 Russo 2000-2020 6185 9670 11800 Russo EUROPA OCCIDENTALE 1530-1555 9670 11885 Francese 1555-1625 9670 11885 Italiano 1805-1825 6015 9605 Tedesco 1935-1955 5970 9745 Inglese 2000-2020 9600 11755 Svedese 2000-2020 9600 11755 Danese 2000-2020 9600 11755 Esperanto AFRICA CENTRALE 1700-1800 15320 17800 Italiano 2050-2110 15240 Portoghese AFRICA ORIENTALE - MEDIO ORIENTE 0435-0455 15250 Amarico 0455-0530 15250 Italiano 0530-0550 15250 Somalo 0600-0620 15250 Arabo 1630-1655 11910 15240 Arabo 1700-1800 9730 15115 Italiano 1910-1930 11890 15240 Somalo 2025-2045 9670 11880 Inglese 2050-2110 9670 11880 Portoghese ESTREMO ORIENTE - GIAPPONE 2205-2230 11900 15625 Inglese AUSTRALIA - OCEANIA 1000-1100 11920 Italiano BACINO DEL MEDITERRANEO 1500-1525 9670 Italiano 2200-0400 6060 Italiano - Notturno dall'Italia 0400-2200 6060 9515 Italiano - Radiouno 0400-2200 7175 Italiano - Radiodue Alla Domenica, dalle 1352 alle 1730, i programmi sono ridotti o soppressi per trasmettere le rubriche sportive 'TUTTO IL CALCIO MINUTO PER MINUTO' e 'DOMENICA SPORT': 1352-1730 21520 Nord America 21535 Sud America 9670 Europa 21710 Centro Africa ITALIANO - PROGRAMMI E NOTIZIARI 0130-0230 11765 America Centrale 0130-0230 6110 Sud America 0130-0315 9840 12030 Sud America 0130-0315 9675 11800 Nord America 0435-0445 7235 9875 Mediterraneo 0455-0530 15250 Est Africa 0630-1300 9670 11800 Est Europa 1400-1425 17780 21520 Nord America 1500-1525 9670 11880 Mediterraneo 1555-1625 9670 11880 Europa 1700-1800 9670 11910 Nord Africa 1700-1800 15320 17800 Centro Africa 1700-1800 9730 15115 Est Africa 1830-1905 17780 21520 Nord America 2200-0400 6060 Europa 2240-0055 9840 12030 Sud America 2240-0055 9675 11800 Nord America ONDE MEDIE EUROPA - BACINO DEL MEDITERRANEO 2200-0400 1332 900 Italiano Europa 1330-1345 567 Arabo Mediterraneo Il nostro indirizzo per la posta ed i rapporti di ascolto è: RAI International, Casella Postale 320, 00100 ROMA Informazioni aggiornate sulle nostre trasmissioni le potete trovare al sito: http://www.international.rai.it/radio/radio.htm (via BCL News, Sicily, via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ITALY. Effective 31 March, 2002 - 27 October, 2002 IRRS-Shortwave (Milano, Italy) - Tx site: 09 11´ \ 45 27´ 3985 0430-0600 Daily English, Italian 7120 0600-0700 Daily English, Italian, German 7120 0700-1500 Sat and Sun English, Italian, German 3985 1700-2215 Daily English, Italian, German 7120 2200-2300 Fri, Sat and Sun English, German All 10 kw non directional in USB -6db reduced carrier or DSB (*) Alternative frequencies : 3,980 3,985 7,120 7,125 kHz For more information: IRRS-Shortwave, PO BOX 10980, I-20110 Milano, Italy. ph: +39-02-266 6971 fax: +39-02-706 38 151 email: info@n... (via BCL News, Sicily, via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Now we know what RKI Murtiwave Feedback does when there be a 5th Sunday. Victor Goonetilleke made another appearance; does this mean he will also be on next week, his normal first-Sunday slot? Prompted by Han, GVG agreed that his item about Chinese music all over the bands by a ``dragon orchestra,`` I think he called it, was first to identify it actually as jamming. Don`t you believe it. This has been repeatedly so identified here and elsewhere almost from the moment it appeared (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Clandestine, 11530, Denge Mesopotamia, 1536-1602*, March 31, YL with singing in language 1536-1557, OM with station ID "Denge Mesopotamia, YL with several mentions of "Denge Mesopotamia", s/off at 1602*. Good signal and audio. Sked is *1500-1600*. Co- frequency interference 1559-1602+ from unID Spanish station (Joe Talbot, AB Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 4760 ELWA, 0621 March 31, religious singing in EE and then into church service. "Liberia", weak, rare visitor to NZ. 6100, R. Liberia, 0630 Mar 31, "good morning to all Liberians... Radio Liberia International... thank you for the moon, the rain and ..." very surprised to hear the reference to "International", fair signal, nothing on 5100 (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. RTM is also back on MW. Good reception at 1800 on 630 and 1554, possibly on 1323 too but not sure (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, March 31, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MALI. Radio Mali heard with English programme on local child welfare 1910 March 30th, programme ended 1923 saying they would be back same time next Saturday, strong on 4835, weaker with interference on 4782.8 (Mike Barraclough, England April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. I heard Sounds Historical on RNZI 0806-1000 on 11675 March 31. They had a special feature on the Queen Mother, specifically her trip to NZ in 1927. This was actually a repeat of a feature that aired two years ago during her 100th birthday celebration. The host, Jim Sullivan, mentioned he would be away on vacation for the next two weeks, returning for the April 21st program. It wasn't made clear whether he would pre-record the next two programs or perhaps have a substitute host. It's difficult to imagine anyone else doing the show. Sort of like "World of Radio" hosted by someone else! 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Glenn, I don`t know if you are familiar with a very interesting site I found by accident today --- it`s http://www.okcityradio.com Thanks as always for your time (Bill Eckart, OK, March 31, DXLD) Including: January 21, 2002 Update CLEAR CHANNEL MOVE-IN AT 1210 AM? GUYMON SIGNAL TO MOVE INTO MARKET AT 50KW PENDING FCC APPROVAL There's been a lot of rumbling about a new station in the Oklahoma City market at 1210 AM. Currently, KGYN-AM (10 kW) in Guymon is operated by LMA by Clear Channel and owned by Telns [sic] Broadcasting. There is an application on file with the FCC that would move the station to Oklahoma City at 50,000 watts. In order for this to happen, there would need to be a change. Midwest City religious KTLV-AM operates at 1220 AM. This move is part of a 20-station move before the Commission affecting stations in Oklahoma and Texas. Find out more at http://www.radioemporium.net One popular theory has CCU moving News-Talk operation KTOK to this signal and possibly making the current KTOK at 1000 AM and urban or possibly sports. This signal is currently 5 kW with differing day and night patterns (from http://www.okcityradio.com March 31 via Eckart, DXLD) While I decry the trend so brazenly promoted by CC to deprive rural areas of what few radio stations they have left, OKC`s only newstalk station could certainly use a better signal, at least to the west (gh, DXLD) It looks like Clear Channel is trying to move AM 1210 out of Guymon to Oklahoma City. Right now the radiostation puts out 10,000 watts at day but if it gets approved by the FCC the station will then move to Oklahoma City with 50,000 watts at day and 10,000 watts at night (Artie Bigley, OH, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6956.65, Radio LV del Campesino, 0236+, March 31, YL with local music, OM with announcements. Good signal with moderate lightning QRN (Joe Talbot, AB Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5032.07 unID, Mar 30 1049 but appears to be something like "Radio Indicee? (phonetically), "ciudad de" technology digital... informative." Better in USB to avoid Cahuita on 5029 which eventually swamped signal at 1120, windscreen wiper interference to boot! (have now received latest Cumbre which states this as Radio LTC so they are IDing using the three capital letters?) 4421.21, R. Bambamarca, 1011 Mar 30, with ID and fair signal as I tuned in. 5470.8, R. San Nicolás, 1117 Mar 30, with SS version of "Sarah", full ID at 1126. 5460.32, R. Bolívar (presumed) 1115 Mar 28 excellent signal, going through place names, "Santa Mónica, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa... Bolívar", happy birthday music at 1136 so taking requests (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Past weekend (March 28, 29, 30 and 31) I made a DX Camp in Guamini. This is a small town, in a rural zone, at 500 km to south- west of my city (Buenos Aires). I rent a "bungalow" near the lake (called Lago del Monte). Receiver: Sony ICF2010. Antenna: "longwire", 30 mts. 4389, Radio Imperio, Chiclayo. 2335-2340. March 30. Cumbia. Ann. by male in Spanish. 14331 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4746.9, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta. 2253-2258 March 28. Very nice local folk music. 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4775, Radio Tarma Internacional, Tarma. 1013-1018 March 30. Huaynos (very, very nice!!!!!!!). Check time and ID as: "cinco de la mañana con 18 minutos, cinco de la mañana con 18 minutos en Radio Tarma Internacional". The name of the program is: "Alegre Amanecer". Greetings. 34433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4826.5, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani. 1022-1028 March 29. Music and news program. ID as: "seguimos informando a través de Radio Sicuani". 24232 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4855.7, Radio La Hora, Cusco. 1019-1025 March 30. Check time and ann.: "las 5 con 20, son las... desde nuestra tierra cusqueña, llegando a todo el Perú a través de nuestra poderosísima onda corta". 34333 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 4940.2, Radio San Antonio, Villa Atalaya. 2303+ March 28. Commentary about the art and the theatre in the country. 23332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 5025, Radio Quillabamba, Quillabamba. 1018-1022 March 28. Very nice local music. Ann.: "su alegre despertar... por Radio Quillabamba". 34232 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 5032, Radio LTC, Juliaca (presumed). 2307-2313 March 30. Music "chicha". The program is conducted by male in Spanish. 22432. Interference from Radio Aparecida, Aparecida, SP, Brazil from 5035.1 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 5460.4, La Voz de Bolívar, Bolívar. 2337+ March 28. Music program conducted by male. Check time. Greetings: "...muchos cariños para... aquí en Bolívar". Romantic music. 24332 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 5700, Radio Frecuencia San Ignacio, San Ignacio. 0115-0120 March 29. Songs (romantic music, "chicha", etc) 24232 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 5949.8, Radio Bethel, Arequipa. 2327-2332 March 30. Local ads: "Taller de frenos...., en calle Bolognesi.." The ads are read by male and female in Spanish. ID: "Sintonizan Radio Bethel..." 22432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6536, Radiodifusoras Huancabamba, Huancabamba. 2318-2325 March 30. Music and short commentary about the Catholic Church. 14331 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6782.7, Radio Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca. 2352-2356 March 30. Music program ("chicha", cumbia, etc). 24332. I can't hear this station on the second harmonic (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine) 6956.8, La Voz del Campesino, Huarmaca. 2345-2350 March 30. Music. Check time and ID as: "las 6 con cuarenta y ocho minutos en Radio La Voz del Campesino". 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND, Radio Polonia`s media programme March 27th recommended an article by Bernd Trutenau on the Media Network website on the Leszcynka transmitter site, saying that it was an accurate summary of the current situation. It says that Radio Polonia would reduce the number of transmitters hired from the site from the current four and that renting transmitter sites abroad would be a possible option. Radio Polonia heard in English March 31st 1200-1300 on just two frequencies, 9525 and 11820, both strong but 11820 suffering badly from a warbling like noise, 9525 only slightly affected and reasonable copy but I could not use my synchronous detector, presumably due to some carrier instability (Mike Barraclough, England, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. R. Gardarika A02 schedule starting this night: 1900-2130 UT daily on 7420 kHz to Europe. Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg, Russia, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia freq schedule A02 (program sked not yet updated) Voice of Russia English March 31-October 27 2002 North America 0100-0200 17595 12000 11825 9725 9665* 7180** 0200-0300 17595 12000 9725 9665* 7180** 0300-0400 17690 17660 17650 17565* 15455** 12000 11750 9665* 7180* 0400-0500 17690 17660 17650 17565* 15455** 12000 11750 9665* 7180* Satellite broadcasts via WRN * - March 31-August 31 ** - September 1-October 26 Latin America 1900-2100 15735 Satellite broadcasts via WRN Europe 0300-0500 1548 603 0500-0900 1323 603 1400-1500 1386 1323 1251 1500-1700 1494 1700-1800 11675*** 9890* 9820*** 9775 9480*** 7360*** 7310** 1494*** 1800-1900 11675* 11630* 9890* 9820** 9775 9480 7360** 7310**7300 5950 1494**** 1900-2000 12070* 12030* 11675* 9890* 9820** 9775 9480* 7440 7360** 7350** 7330** 7310** 1386 2000-2100 15455* 12070* 12030* 11980** 11675* 9820** 9775 9480* 7360** 7350** 7330** 1494***** 1386 1323 Satellite broadcasts via WRN * - March 31-August 31 ** - September 1-October 26 ***- Saturday and Sunday **** - April 29-August 8 ***** - March 31-April 28; August 10-October 26 Africa 1700-1800 11985 11510 9745 1800-1900 11870 11510 9745 Satellite broadcasts via WRN Australia New Zealand 0500-0600 21790 17685 17635 0600-0700 21790 17685 17635 15490 0700-0900 17685 17675 17635 17525 17495 15490 Satellite broadcasts via WRN Middle East 1500-1600 11985 7325 4975 4965 4940 972 1600-1700 15540 12055 11985 7350 648 1700-1800 1251 Satellite broadcasts via WRN Asia 0500-0700 17795 0700-0900 17795 17675 1251 1400-1500 17645 15560 12055 9745 7390 1500-1600 11500 7390 972 1600-1700 12055 11720 7350 1700-1800 1269 1251 Satellite broadcasts via WRN (Voice of Russia web site via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. Re WDJD 585: No tests heard yet in New Zealand either, where Ruatoria's 2XR (2 kW) and Hobart's 7RN (10 kW) still dominate 585. As advised earlier, I've asked them for specific test times and address for reports. Until now, these have been daytime only tests as far as I'm aware. WDJD is church based and over Easter I think they've been busy elsewhere (David Ricquish, Talkback, NZDX Times / http://www.radiodx.com hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. 1/4/02 [gh excerpted English only from a much longer schedule including exotic languages who, sadly, are served only by such evangelists on SW] FEBA Radio - Mahe, Seychelles, Indian Ocean Broadcast Schedule A02, Summer 2002 31st March 2002 to 27th October 2002 Transmitter Site (SEY): 04 deg 36" S, 55 deg 28" E. B: Broad beam of 68deg at -6dB, CHR 2/2/0.8 N: Narrow beam of 35deg at -6db, CHR(S)4/2/0.8, slew +/-12 or 18deg NORTH INDIA, NEPAL, TIBET Frequency Azimuth Power Time UTC Days Languages kHz deg Kw ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1445-1500 .....f. ENGLISH Slow 11600 040 B 100 SOUTH INDIA, MALDIVES, SRI LANKA Frequency Azimuth Power Time UTC Days Languages kHz deg Kw ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1515-1600 .m..tf. ENGLISH 11600 040 B 100 1515-1545 ..tw... ENGLISH 11600 040 B 100 1530-1600 s.....s ENGLISH 11600 040 B 100 MIDDLE EAST Frequency Azimuth Power Time UTC Days Languages kHz deg Kw ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1245-1300 ....tfs ENGLISH Slow 15535 340 B 100 EAST AFRICA, ETHIOPIA, SUDAN, INDIAN OCEAN Frequency Azimuth Power Time UTC Days Languages kHz deg Kw ------------------------------------------------------------------- 0345-0400 .....f. ENGLISH Slow 11880 280 B 75 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule Engineer, FEBA Radio, Ivy Arch Road, WORTHING BN14 8BX, UK. WEBSITE: http://www.feba.org.uk/schedule A02bs01 dated 21.03.02 rww (FROM FEBA RADIO WEBSITE via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) Hi there, I thought you may like to know that the new Feba UK website has just gone online! Full of resources for individuals and groups, it covers everything from trip details to daily prayer points. There are stories, listeners letters, a video and even special areas for those already in a Feba UK club. I think it's informative and fun - I hope you like it too. And there's more... The first ten people to click on the hidden rabbit and send us their details will win a prize! (I'm afraid Feba and FEBC staff are excluded from this, but that shouldn't stop you enjoying the new site!) Thanks and please feel free to let me know what you think of it. God Bless, Janet Janet Kortlever, Information and Communications Manager Feba UK, Telephone: 01903 237 281 Fax: 01903 205 294 Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, West Sussex, England. BN14 8BX (via Gupta, DXLD) Whee! I found the wabbit! But no way of telling if was among first deka, and now they can pester me forever! (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Glenn, I listened to Radio Sweden at 1230 on 18960, April 1. They said that Swedish Easter traditions have evolved since the 1950s and 1960s, when it was largely a religious holiday. Nowadays it is now much more fun and about having a good time. They said that they have turned a negative holiday into a positive one. They also had a humorous item to end the news. Workers at Radio Sweden were being investigated for taking money under false pretenses. Research showed that the only skill these people had was that they could breathe and talk at the same time. But no ice brothel! 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tee hee, guess that was RS` little April Fool joke (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, the Ukrainians had big parliament election today, and the guy at the station slipped to punch 13950, instead of registered 13590 kHz, so the day long a very clear signal out of broadcast band. 73 wb df5sx [nominal:] 13590; 0600-1600; Khar`kiv; 290; W. Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, RUI is excellent here at 0000 April 1 on 12040, while the online audio is poorer than usual. I think I'll listen to Music From Ukraine on 12040. Later: The 0300 RUI online broadcast on April 1st is back to its excellent audio quality. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) My first impressions of reception. March 31, 2002 0000 UT Not heard. QRM from DW on 12045, R. Vilnius on 7325 and WHRI on 7315. 0300 UT 7150 not heard, 12040 S9 +20 dB to S9+30 dB, severe QRM from DW on 12045 April 1, 2002 0000 UT 5905 barely heard, 7320 not heard, QRM from DW on 12045, R. Vilnius on 7325 and WHRI on 7315, 12040 S9+20 to S9+40 dB, no QRM. 0300 UT 7150 not heard, 12045 S9+18 to S9 +30 dB, moderate to severe QRM from DW on 12045. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Ukraine International Tentative Summer Broadcasting A02 Schedule (effective from 31 March 2002) kHz Time UT Transmitter Azimuth Target Area 5905 1600-0100 Kyiv 254 S.-W. Europe 6020 1600-2300 Kyiv ND C. Europe 7150 0200-0600 Mykolaiv 4 N.-E. Europe 7150 1600-2100 Mykolaiv 4 N.-E. Europe 7320 2300-0300 Kharkiv 55 Russia 7410 0400-0800 Kharkiv 277 W. Europe 9620 0400-0900 Kyiv 254 S.-W. Europe 9640 0000-0400 Kyiv 74 Russia, N. Kazakhstan 9640 1400-1800 Kyiv 74 Russia 9950 2000-2400 Kyiv 307 N.-W. Europe 11705 0500-1100 Kyiv 264 W. Europe 11705 1900-2300 Kyiv 264 W. Europe 11840 0400-1300 Kyiv 93 Russia, W. Kazakhstan 11950 1700-2300 Kharkiv 290 W. Europe 12040 2300-0400 Mykolaiv 314 N. America 12045 1100-1700 Kharkiv 55 Russia 13590 0600-1600 Kharkiv 290 W. Europe 15520 0800-1400 Kyiv 307 N.-W. Europe Transmission schedules in various languages are as follows: GERMAN (one hour long): at 1700 on 5905, 6020 and 11950 at 2000 on 5905, 6020, 9950 and 11950 at 2300 on 5905, 7320 and 9950 ENGLISH (one hour long): at 2100 on 5905, 6020, 9950, 11705 and 11950 at 0000 hrs on 5905, 7320 and 12040 at 0300 hrs on 7150 and 12040 at 1100 hrs on 11840 and 15520 UKRAINIAN programmes are transmitted on all frequencies and at all times are as shown above except at the time reserved for German and English programmes. ROMANIAN (30 minutes long) at 1700, 1930 and 2100 on 657 kHz MW (Chernivtsi, 25 kW). Notes: 1. The output of all SW transmitters is 100 kW, except on 12040 kHz where the power is 1000 kW. 2. The Schedule is subject to changes. Real Audio Web address: http://www.nrcu.gov.ua (Alexander Yegorov, RUI, via Kraig Krist, DXLD) ** U K. Hi Glenn, It was interesting to read the comments of your correspondents regarding coverage of the Queen Mother's death. One thing that none of them mentioned, and which is crucial, is that decisions about the amount and nature of the coverage are not made by the broadcasters alone. It has been well documented in the British press that a number of meetings were held in the recent past involving senior officials of the national broadcasters (BBC and commercial), government and Buckingham Palace. The plan that went into operation will have been carefully rehearsed. There will have been a check list of people to call, and those people would be aware that they were going to be called. The only thing that nobody could predict was the timing. Decisions about what programmes - or types of programmes - should be cancelled would not have been made 'on the hoof', but would have been written down. People are entitled to an opinion about these things, but don't blame the broadcasters for simply following instructions. My own criticism would not be about what was broadcast, but what wasn't. I'm referring to coverage of things such as the Middle East crisis, which was relegated to 'other news' as if it had suddenly become relatively unimportant. The apparent inability of British broadcast journalists to focus on more than one major issue at a time has long been a personal gripe of mine. I remember when Princess Diana became pregnant for the first time. 23 minutes of the half hour BBC TV six-o-clock News were devoted to it, and 7 minutes to the entire rest of the world. One other thing: Dickie Arbiter is a former Royal press secretary, and before that he was a broadcaster on LBC in London. He is called in because of his behind-the-scenes knowledge of the Royal household. 73, (Andy Sennitt, UK [non], Netherlands, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Andy, media being unable to focus on more than one story at a time is also a terrible malady in the US (gh, DXLD) ** U K. By Tom Utley (Filed: 01/04/2002) RED FACES IN BBC NEWS ROOMS AS CORPORATION IS CAUGHT ON THE HOP THE BBC had the better part of a century in which to prepare for the possibility that one day the Queen Mother might die. When the moment came, it was caught on the hop. The corporation came into being in 1923, the year before Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became a public figure by her marriage to the future King George VI. When she died on Saturday, it showed itself wholly unprepared. Complaints poured into the BBC switchboard over the weekend about the amateurish and insensitive way in which the long-expected news was presented by the national broadcasting service. While independent channels immediately saw the significance of the Queen Mother's death and understood the strength of public feeling about it, the BBC chose to treat it just another news story. ITV presenters wore black ties while Peter Sissons, the BBC's chief newscaster, wore a dark red one throughout the afternoon and evening. The BBC said yesterday its news presenters would wear black ties on the day of the Queen Mother's funeral "as has always been the plan". Mr Sissons sounded like a drowning man for most of the early part of the BBC's coverage. He seemed to have nothing to say except that the Queen Mother was very old (which we knew), and that she had suffered problems with her health over the past few weeks (which we also knew). No sense came across that he was describing a momentous day in the nation's history. In the early part of the programme, nobody was found for him to interview except Jennie Bond, the BBC's royal correspondent, who was in a car on her way to London. She had just flown in from Klosters, where she had been reporting on the Prince of Wales's skiing holiday with his sons. Unsurprisingly, she knew almost nothing about the circumstances of the Queen Mother's death. When at last somebody was found who had been present at the deathbed - Margaret Rhodes, the Queen Mother's niece - Mr Sissons chose to press her for intimate details. "It must have been a very private moment," he said. She asked him to repeat the question. Mr Sissons had the grace to blush as he did so. "I said that it must have been a very private moment." Mrs Rhodes agreed that it was. He then asked her to describe the scene. Politely and understandably, she refused. In desperation, Mr Sissons begged her to remain on the line to "say a little more about the gap that the Queen Mother will leave in the life of the nation". And so this grim and embarrassing performance went on until the director cut to pictures of Nicholas Witchell, the BBC's other royal correspondent, outside Windsor Castle. Poor Mr Witchell did not even know what day it was, saying that the royal standard was flying limply from the flagpole "on this clear Good Friday evening". In a moment of high comedy on a sad day, Mr Sissons said to Mr Witchell: "And the end, Nick, of an era?" "The end, indeed, of an era," said Mr Witchell. Meanwhile on BBC radio, James Cox was asking Lady Pamela Hicks, daughter of Earl Mountbatten: "Do you think that the Queen Mother had outlived her usefulness?" The feeling yesterday was that the corporation had been left floundering by a ruling last November that coverage of the Queen Mother's death should be cut back. Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC 1, said at the time: "We will take the temperature on the day." When the day came, there was nobody to take the temperature and nobody at the BBC to offer the full coverage of the Queen Mother's historic life that the nation so obviously wanted. Earlier in the day, the BBC had given extensive coverage to the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Commentators had no compunction about saying that this was a fine old British tradition, loved by everyone. No questions were raised about whether it had a future. Yet within an hour of the Queen Mother's death, BBC journalists were asking what implications it had for the future of the monarchy. A more telling question might be what implications the coverage of her death will have for the BBC's future. Many will be asking what is the point of a publicly funded national broadcasting service that cannot even rise to a national occasion such as this. The BBC would not be discussing ratings because "we do not think it is appropriate in the circumstances". That seems an odd way of showing respect. Michael Fish, the weatherman, struck upon a better one: he wore a black tie (Telegraph April 1 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. BBCWS Instructions to NAm listeners It's interesting to note that instructions on how to hear the BBC for NAm and Australasian listeners in "BBC On-Air" have, on an almost monthly basis, been increasingly comprehensive when offering instruction on how to listen via shortwave. Of course, statements continue to emphasize availability via FM and the Internet. However, in the beginning there was no reference to shortwave, as if BBC couldn't be heard in those regions in that way. In April's issue, there is a comparatively lengthy description of how to do so. The change is as subtle as it is overt, if such a contradictory description makes any sense to you. I offer this without comment, except to say that the change in tone in noticeable -- and, quite frankly, welcome (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) See also CANADA ** U K. Dear Glenn, The "Brit" version of bankruptcy is -- bankruptcy. Administration is where the company is bust, but still being run by administrators (accountants in the case of ITV Digital). (Nicholas Mead, UK, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. Hi Glenn, So, A-02 has come into effect, and as it seems some stations are having a bit difficulties... Here some things I heard this weekend: 5850 2100 31/1 S R. Canada Int.-Hörby, Ann px not available, instead French language lesson. 5970 2100 31/1 G V. Of Vietnam, No px, instead movielike-IS tune till 2130. 7235 2130 31/3 HOL R. Canada Int.-Flevo, Ann no px available, instead F lge lesson. 9530 1714 31/1 UAE R. Japan-Dhabbaya, No px! Nonstop movielike IS-mx. 12075 1403 31/3 S R. Sweden-Horby, Ann technical trouble in Sw/E, no R px, nonstop mx instead. 17860 1330 31/1 UAE AWR-Dhabbaya, ID, no Tamil px, nonstop movielike- IS tune instead. Well, this "movielike" IS-tune (fully orchestral) seems to be in use on the Merlin transmissions. Anyone who can tell me more about this? (Silvain Domen, Belgium, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) std remark (gh) ** U S A. The FCC International Bureau has changed their web site to permit the old version of their web links (containing /pnd/) to work again. For now both http://www.fcc.gov/ib/pnd/neg/hf_web/hf.html and http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/hf.html will work (Donald Wilson, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, On WOR 1124, you expressed a concern over a religious group, High Adventure Ministries, using a US government funded transmitter in Europe. Well, there is something related, which concerns me much much more. In 1995, when I was in Germany, I was shocked to discover the blatantly political Rush Limbaugh on American Forces Radio, 873 and probably other frequencies. It seems to me inappropriate that the US government funded station, whose main purpose is to broadcast to our US military forces abroad, should carry such one-sided programming. I suppose they justify it by calling it "entertainment" and saying that their listeners want to hear it. I doubt they carry anything to offer a liberal balance, unless you consider All Things Considered or Morning Edition to be more liberal. (Those programs are carried.) 73, (Tim Hendel, AL, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Until KLTT-670 Denver ruined everything, I recall being able to hear WMAQ-670 Chicago not only in the winter, but on rare quiet summer days, residual groundwave, no doubt. About 1100 km. Also in the winter, I would think groundwave more likely than skywave at low end of band, but could be either. Yes, thanks to excellent ground conductivity here too. I have also been able to get various onetime clears in Dec-Jan-Feb at that distance or greater at noontime, higher end of band, which would be residual skywave. Now, I must be impressed by being able to hear KLTT-670 Denver in daytime during quiet conditions any time of year, groundwave, 750 km. Unfortunately, there is no programming of any interest on it. 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, NRC-AM via DXLD) We'll probably be losing 890 soon also Glenn. There is a 5/.7 kW CP in the works in the Colorado Springs area. This is the 2nd group to get a permit on 890 in CO in the past 2 years so it's only a matter of time before someone builds on the channel (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) Lost 890 sesquidecades ago here, in that WLS daytime reception impossiblized by KBYE-OKC, as it was originally known. I`m just waiting for the present occupants to find a way to go fulltime, legal or not (gh, DXLD) Groundwave in the Winter can still be exciting when conditions are decent. I still hear KFI-640-LA as a regular. Barely there in the Summer above the noise. Also CJDC-890-Dawson Creek BC to the North is another GW visitor. To the East, 1100-CO, 1160-UT, 670-ID/CO. This is off the beverage to the East. On rare occasions KBMR-1130-ND can make a showing in mid winter. CBK-540 is common most of the year too. I remember back about 1970 when the dial was not as crowded, around noon in December I heard KYAK-AK / KORL-HI. Since both are water paths, that helped I am sure. I never heard KORL again during the day, but KYAK was heard occasionally back in those days during the daylight hours. Also about the same time I heard about 1 PM (PST) several Midwest stations WLS-890, WCCO-830, WOAI-1200. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. KOTD-1020 Plattsmouth NE has changed calls to KKSC and moved its transmitter to 3.5 miles NE of Glenwood with 50000 watts day, 1400 watts night, U4. They`re using four towers beamed west during the day and 3 towers at night, also sent west, witha minor lobe to the N and S. They`re only running daytime only as of now (Ernest J. Wesolowski, Omaha NE, NRC DX News April 1 via DXLD) ** U S A, WTBQ Florida, NY 1110 KHz April 1 Heard ad and promo at 1013 UTC during WBT fade. Then WUHN dominant for most of the test. Heard two clear CW IDs during last 20 minutes. By 1100 UTC two Spanish stations also heard, one ID heard as "Once Diez", WNNW Salem, NH. (Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. According to Cindy Anderson, producer at America's Most Wanted, the segment on Steve Anderson of KSMR/UPR fame is scheduled to run on Saturday, April 13th on Fox at 9 PM Eastern [0100 UT Sunday 14th]. They had listened to a number of recordings of Anderson's broadcast, but I not sure if any of these will actually be played on the segment. For a feature on this station, see the April 2002 issue of Monitoring Times (via Hans Johnson, Apr 1, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. From Merlin A-02 file: 13735 1100-1300 smtwtfs Singapore 100 13 PROJECT FE 15345 0100-0300 smtwtfs Singapore 100 13 PROJECT FE 15345 0600-1100 smtwtfs Singapore 100 13 PROJECT FE Another religious sce to China ? via WBCV and other US domestic stations plus Shortwave! Saturday Nights WWCR 3.215 [sic] Mhz 10-11 PM (EST) http://www.pawcreek.org/obd.htm http://www.pawcreek.org/ (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. YUGOSLAV MINISTER SAYS TANJUG, RADIO YUGOSLAVIA TO REMAIN IN STATE OWNERSHIP | Text of report in English by Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug Podgorica, 1 April: Yugoslav Information Minister Slobodan Orlich has announced that, when speaking about media at the federal level, the news agency Tanjug and Radio Yugoslavia will continue to be in the possession of the joint state of Serbia and Montenegro, and added that the remaining media will be privatised. Orlich told the Monday [1 April] issue of the Podgorica daily Glas Crnogoraca that other media institutions should be privatised in keeping with the law and market conditions. The "funds which are being invested for the maintenance of the YU Info television network could be used more appropriately for the Radio Yugoslavia and the news agency Tanjug, so that they could get on their feet," the Yugoslav official said. Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1126 gmt 1 Apr 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) How come the Mountainblacks are more interested in R. Yugoslavia than the Srbs? BTW, everyone is making a big deal of RY posting a SW schedule effective April 8, but will believe it when we hear it (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4759.71-.78, 0952-1022, heard on evenings of 30th and 31st March mention of "Satellite", poor modulation, inaudible past 1022 as Bolivian on 4761.7 signs on. Needs more work (David Norrie, Dxing at Matarangi, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand's North Island, AOR 7030, 50m long wire through bushes, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED 5796. Hi, I have reported an unID earlier on 5796, and it's there with a very weak signal from 22 UT or earlier. I doubt it is anything genuine, probably a harmonic, in that case perhaps the fifth of 828. The language on 5796 sounds like Russian, but I can't be 100 pct. sure. Long programs of various music, including piano jazz, and also a radio play tonight, Mar 31 at 2300. Earlier in the week they were there at 0320, and I tried to compare with 828, be it was not in parallel with a Russian-speaking station on the qrg, which very much sounded like the Radio Svobodna - Radio Liberty format. And R Liberty is indeed listed in Herman Boel's EMWG. (from St. Petersburg with 10 kW). Other checks, with R Rossii and Mayak, showed different programs too. Or is this my rx playing tricks with me ? 73 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden. AOR AR7030, K9AY, lw 60 m, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ###