DX LISTENING DIGEST MARCH 2003 ARCHIVE HOME presents...
DX LISTENING DIGEST MARCH 2003 ARCHIVE
NOTE: we are a few weeks behind in converting DXLD issues to html. In view of current events March 19, we are skipping ahead to bring you the latest issues, and may continue to do so even though previous issues are not yet available. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-054, March 30, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1175: WBCQ: Mon 0545 on 7415 RFPI: Mon 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage; see C.R.] WWCR: Wed 1030 9475 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0700, M-F 1300 on 7490 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1175.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT U R DOING FOR US DXers. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....WE LEAN ON YA MAN! all the best Glenn (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt) ** AFGHANISTAN. ------------------------------------------------- NEW RADIO STATION ON AIR, SATELLITE DISHES BANNED ------------------------------------------------- Two new radio stations are on the air in Afghanistan, with another coming soon, while a western province has banned satellite dishes and movies, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Voice of Afghan Women, a new all-female radio station, went on air in the Afghan capital of Kabul on 8 March. The station will broadcast one combined hour of programming in Pashtu and Dari each day. The radio station is funded by United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) and is headed by Jamila Mujahed. She is an Afghan journalist who is also editor in chief of Malalai, a French-funded magazine for women in Afghanistan. Mujahed said the new radio station "will focus on women - the problems they face, and how they can find solutions for them," reported RFE/RL, quoting the Associated Press. The day after Voice of Afghan Women was launched in Kabul, another radio station staffed by women and targeted at a female audience was launched in Mazar-e Sharif. The town in northern Afghanistan is about 35 miles south of the border with Uzbekistan. The new 50-kilowatt FM radio station, named Rabia Balkhi, is funded by the Ampex Corporation of Canada and will broadcast two hours of programming each day. A third radio station is expected to go on air this spring in Kandahar, the country's second largest city. Afghan Independent Radio (AIR) will be the first independent radio station based in the former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. According to the Boston-based NGO Afghans for Civil Society (ACS), former BBC producer Akhtar Kohestani will serve as station manager. For 20 years, Kohestani worked with the BBC's Pashtu Service as a producer of radio programs for Afghanistan. Internews will provide technical support for the station and staff training. Program content will be shared among radio stations throughout Afghanistan. Plans are under development for program sharing with the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Radio Afghanistan (Kabul), and Radio Afghanistan (Toronto). The project is managed by Afghans for Civil Society and funded by the Carr Foundation and the Open Society Institute (OSI). For more information visit http://www.afghanpolicy.org Meanwhile, the Heart province in West Afghanistan bans satellite dishes and movies. The ban is on place on the orders of the Endowment and Islamic Affairs Department of Herat, Radio Afghanistan reported on March 5. Herat also has issued a warning to shopkeepers and other businesses to "remove posters of Indian film stars" from their premises, the report added. Radio Afghanistan noted that the former Taliban regime "also restricted movies, televisions, dish antennas, and posters." Herat Province on March 1 issued a ban on playing music in public and the sale and the screening of movies. -------------------------------------------- [ Via / From / Thanks to and / or excerpted from the following : ] THIS WEEK IN THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS' NETWORK http://www.ijnet.org IJNet is published by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Issue #198 (via Georges Lessard, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Tuned in to Radio Afghanistan today, around 1515 on 18940 via Kvitsöy, Norway. No program, instead Merlin's dramatic interval music over and over (Silvain Domen, Belgium, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here we go again ** AFRICA. As there have been a lot of reactivations and frequency changes in African SW scene I have just made an update of my Africalist database of Subsaharan Africa SW stations. It's available as a handy winzipped .xls-file on another server than it used to be: http://africa.coolfreepage.com/africalist/ btw: last time a piece of news like this was in DXLD, downloads significantly increased to +/- 100 within a few days, then dropping again to the usual +/- 20 a week... Myself, I have not made any sensational logs recently, so that's all for today and most certainly for a longer while (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, International Vacuum, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Re AM910 on 15820: that looks not like their "own transmission". It looks like one of the many Argentine military links to Antarctica. They use SSB, on LSB they often relay one of B.A.'s AM stations, on USB you could hear sometimes phone-patches with Antarctica bases. Heard many AM stations from B.A. on these utility links, often around 20 and 29 MHz, but also 15 MHz was reported often on utility SWL lists. Most of these AM stations even don't know that they were transmitted to Antarctica. 73, (Tom - DL8AAM, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Here is the RAE A03 sked I received via postal mail, a poor copy in Spanish with the right hand of the copy cut off. 09-12 UT Panorama Nacional de Noticias 6060, 15345 America 10-12 UT Programa Japones 11710 Lejano Orie 12-14 UT Programa Castellano (Micro Lenguas Aborigenes) 15345 America 18-19 UT Programa Ingles 9690, 15345 Europa 19-20 UT Programa Italiano 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Eu 20-21 UT Programa Frances 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Af 21-22 UT Programa Aleman 9690, 15345 Europa - N. Af 22-00 UT Programa Castellano (Micro Lenguas Aborigenes) 6060, 11710, 15345 Europa - N. Af 00-02 UT Programa Portugues 11710 America 02-03 UT Programa Ingles 11710 America 03-04 UT Programa Frances 11710 America 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 2920.31, 23/3 0455, 1460 Radio Iluminares al Mundo, Buenos Aires (1460 x 2) id:"1460 Iluminares al Mundo" mensajes religiosos y música con ritmo popular y contenido cristiano. SINFO = 25222. Según los datos aportados por Marcelo Cornachioni en "Conexión Digital N 201" el QTH de la emisora es el siguiente: Laprida 1237, (1804) Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.Tel: (011) 4232-7673. Pertenece a la Iglesia Antorcha de Dios y es Director: Alejo I. Acuña (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, Argentina) 2539.85, 23/3 0447, LS11, Radio Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata (1270 x 2) ID: "LS11 una radio por y para el pueblo de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Radio Provincia AM 1270" SINFO=35333 (Ruben Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Re 2KM and QSLing: If it's possible if you or anybody else would help me by having their E mail, I'll be more than happy to send them an Email telling them what QSL is all about. Thanks for a very well done job; all the best from Egypt. Yours, (TAREK ZEIDAN, Cairo, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Re DXLD 3-050: Translated through AltaVista: [sic:] AUTHORIZED Orf orf-kollektivvertrag AND RESTRUCTURING Orf stiftungsrat By ROI. Dr. Klaus Pekarek (ORF Stiftungsrat of chairmen) Oe1, most successful Kultursender Europe, becomes the voice of Austria in the world The ORF Stiftungsrat under the presidency of general manager Dr. Klaus Pekarek agreed in the plenary session on Wednesday, 26 March 2003, that between ORF management and ORF Zentralbetriebsrat final new kollektivvertrag. The new kollektivvertrag will apply to all woman employees and coworkers, starting from 1. Jaenner 2004 a work contract close, as well as for free coworkers, who worked already so far for the ORF. Agreement of the donation advice gave it also for the restructuring of ROI., suggested by the management, further agreed the donation advice to order Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider to the expert for the quality monitoring and Joerg Ruminak to the protection of children and young people-assigned. Oe1: New voice of Austria in the world The restructuring of ROI is necessary, because the Federal Government withdrew itself before two years from the financing of the foreign service. In the view both to economic necessities and to the quality assurance of the foreign offer over short wave and ons-line service the ORF will replace the past radio Austria international starting from 1 July 2003 by the new offer "radio Austria 1 international" - most successful Kultursender Europe becomes the voice of Austria in Europe and in the world. Of the Austrian public in an overwhelming high extent the accepted program-mix from information, culture, music, literature, education, science and religion thereby beyond the borders the foreign Austrians as well as a global public to the past extent of ROI, interested in Austria, will achieve. By the transfer of the highly qualified journalists of ROI the personnel capacity is strengthened by Oe1. The new "radio Austria 1 international" will cover also a English- language information offer going beyond the present Oe1-Programm. By the further Beitrieb of the short wave transmitter Moosbrunn both the chances of the digitization of the short wave and the employment of the short wave for crisis periods become secured. With the re- organization of the foreign service over short wave the ORF can offer and in one period of three years to savings at a value of annually approximately four million euro obtain further highest quality at the same time. Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider to the expert quality monitoring, Joerg Ruminak to the protection of children and young people-assigned orders In December 2002 the donation advice of the introduction of a quality assurance system has that/those for the year 2003 agreed, which for the quality monitoring - topic in the year 2003 will be the maintenance - and for the overall evaluation eine/n Sachverstaendige/n plans, with agreement of the donation advice to order is. With this task Professor Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider, managing director chain GRP, is entrusted, which accomplishes a quality monitoring for the ORF since 1997. To the protection of children and young people-assigned, a further element of the quality monitoring, Joerg Ruminak is ordered. Joerg Ruminak, successor of Kurt miner as directors/conductors of the headquarter "Humanitarian Broadcasting", is active since 1980 in the ORF. From 1987 to 1993 he was director/conductor of the family and child radio in the ORF regional studio Vienna, from 1993 to 2001 directors/conductors of the head department society, youth and family (ORF via dock Ludwig, DXLD) (via Ed Mayberry, swprograms via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. I've been listening to Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal for over seven years now, and I can't recall a single instance where they've talked in their news programs with any member of the Vlaams Bloc. (For those who don't listen to RVI, the VB are a populist, anti-immigrant party of the right rather similar from what I can gather to Pat Buchanan here in the States.) Indeed, in their day- after election special after the 1999 general election, they talked with politicians from each of the parties that had won and would presumably be forming the next coalition. This is perfectly understandable. They also talked to members of the Christian Democrats who had lost the election and would be out of power. As far as I could tell, the ONLY Flemish party in the new Belgian parliament with whom they didn't speak were the Vlaams Bloc. After the 1999 election I wrote a letter to RVI complaining about their censorship of the VB when they talked with every other party -- at least Radio Austria International talks to politicians from the Freedom Party and lets listeners decide for themselves -- and all I got in response was a bunch of dissembling. It seems clear to me that the cold shoulder, and the extremely heavy-handed and biased treatment, given by RVI to the VB is an extension of the cordon sanitaire that the political parties have in refusing to form any coalition with the VB, but because the VB have the "wrong" views and are being censored by a government body, people who complain about control of media by the private sector will remain silent (Ted Schuerzinger, Mar 25, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. This from the CBC Hotsheet for March 20. I've sampled this; it's interesting and worth your attention, IMHO (John Figliozzi, Mar 19, swprograms via DXLD) HOME DELIVERY: Home Delivery is a digital magazine featuring the best of CBC Radio and Television. The best of CBC radio and television is now available in one package that can be delivered right to your home. It`s called Home Delivery. It`s a full- screen digital magazine that delivers CBC`s award-winning content to your desktop --- free -- each week. In the current issue, CBC Archives takes a look back at the influx of American draft dodgers who came to Canada during the Vietnam War. Home Delivery - subscribe for free at http://www.cbchomedelivery.com (via Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio Canada International and CBC [English only] schedule to April 6. *** WEEK OF CONFUSION ONLY: then times to NAm shift [Site code: ae=UAE, ch=China, ne=Netherlands, ru=Russia, sw=Sweden, uk=UK; rest Sackville] CBC 0000-0057 As 9755ch, 11895ch CBC 0000-0059 NA 5960, 9590 CBC 1200-1259 As 9660ch, 11730ch CBC 1300-1559 Am, M-F 9515, 13655, 17710 CBC 1400-1659 Am, Sa-Su 9515, 13655, 17710 CBC 1500-1557 As 15360ch, 17820ch CBC 2300-2330 Am 5960, 9590, 11865 CBC 2330-2400 NA 5960, 9590 RCI 0200-0257 As 15150ch, 17860ch RCI 0200-0259 Am 6040, 9755, 11725 RCI 2100-2159 Eu, Af 5850sw, 5995uk, 7235uk, 7425ru, 9770, 9805ae, 13650 RCI 2200-2229 Eu, Af, ME 5850sw, 6045uk, 9770, 9805ne (Prime Time Shortwave Mar 30 via DXLD) ** CANADA. NEW CBC SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME I assume this is new… first time I've heard it anyway, today (29 March) on Radio Canada International at 2135Z. It's called "SciTech Files" (spelling?), and contains segments by various CBC reporters, many of whom I recognize from other programs. I'm trying to figure out why this is different from "Quirks & Quarks". It seems to me SciTech deals more particularly with Canadian issues. I don't have web access at the moment to check on what their site has to say about it. Today's reports were as follows: 1. SARS (the pneumonia-like respiratory disease), and its appearance and spread in Canada. Interviewed were a member of the public who chose to quarantine herself, and an expert on infectious diseases.* 2, "Time & Again" feature: We were returned to 1947, and heard taped interviews about early mobile telephone service. A demo call was made thru a mobile service operator, and the recipient of the call describes the transmitter and receiver boxes in his car. I think this'll never catch on!! 3. Report on new medical opinion that we drink too much water, and shouldn't be drinking as much as is currently recommended. If I may inject a personal opinion: Ever see what water does to a piece of iron? — you can imagine what it does to your stomach!!! (Saul Broudy, Philadelphia, PA USA, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) 2100-2200 UTC is usually not reserved for CBC programming, but for RCI produced shows... (Ricky Leong, QC, ibid.) *Re SARS: What is it about the Orientals, that great masses of people in public will wear surgical masks, even when they only have a cold to keep from spreading it, whilst one *never* sees these in public in North America. Or are the masks even effective enough to bother with? Viri are pretty damn small (gh, DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS. 6715U, Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, Las Palmas; 2324+ March 28 [Fri], thanks Gerry Bishop phoned tip. Nonstop Korean M preacher. Very good save for fax co-channel (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. LA COMPAÑÍA DE LA RADIO COMUNITARIA. Por Rafael Rodríguez R. Viajar por Colombia es una experiencia llena de sorpresas por descubrir; no sólo por su geografía y paisajes; durante un viaje por carretera llevado por motivos familiares y descanso que hice a la ciudad de Bucaramanga, capital del departamento de Santander, descubrí para mi agrado la enorme labor que realizan las emisoras comunitarias que adjudicará el gobierno colombiano para operar en el FM. Fue así que equipado del Sony ICF-SW 7600 y su compañera una grabadora TCM-454VK, emprendí el viaje que tomaría 9 horas hasta arribar a Bucaramanga. Durante el mismo siempre estuve acompañado de la señal de alguna emisora comunitaria en FM; así cuando se perdía la señal de una, llegaba la señal de otra y por algunos momentos eran varias las estaciones que llegaban con una buena calidad en la señal y el audio. Fue así que no más saliendo de Bogotá, por la Carretera Central del Norte a 30 minutos de viaje y en lo que se conoce como el altiplano cundíboyacense llegaron las señales de las emisoras: 107.4 Cotidiana HKG47 desde Cota, con el programa: Espinacas al Aire. 94.4 Alegría HKH44 de Tocancipa con música vallenata 101.3 Amigos de Choconta HKG45 desde Choconta 107.4 Ángelus HKH23 emisora parroquial desde Esquilé Ya adentrándose en el Departamento de Boyacá y antes de llegar a Tunja, su capital, los sonidos provenientes de las emisoras comunitarias de esta región cambiaron a mayor música típica y menos anuncios, pero aun asi logré identificar las siguientes emisoras: 98.6 Maravilla HKD95 desde Viracacha "la ciudad de las 7 maravillas" algo particular el lema de este pueblo; tengo que visitarlo algún día. 106.6 Ventaquemada HKD93 desde el pueblo del mismo nombre. 89.1 Dorado HKC59 de Turmequé, capital del Deporte nacional el "Tejo" Luego de dos y media horas ya me encontraba en Tunja, una ciudad de un largo pasado colonial allí pude escuchar algo del FM local donde tristemente están varias señales retransmitiendo a cadenas del FM de Bogotá como: Rumba, Oxígeno, 40 Principales, La Vallenata, Tropicana. Aún asi allí llegaban las señales de emisoras comunitarias de otros pueblos cercanos como: 94.1 Lanceros HKD90 desde Tuta anunciándose como "la nueva radio de Boyacá" y una comunitaria local en: 95.6 ICBA FM HJI30 que pertenece al Instituto de Cultural de Boyacá con excelente programación. Ya retomando la carretera vino una señal en 90.1 retransmitiendo la señal desde Bogotá de Colombia Estéreo, cabe anotar que esta estación no está registrada en el Ministerio ni es mencionada en la página web de la cadena radial del Ejército. Luego antes de salir de Boyacá y llegar a Santander escuché estas emisoras: 94.1 Arcabuco HKC56 desde el pueblo del mismo nombre y un programa realizado por estudiantes del Colegio Alexander Von Humboldt, Magazín estudiantil. 100.6 Hit HKD28 de Moniquira "Hit estereo radio seria, radio profesional, orgullosamente comunitaria" Ya en Santander, el primer pueblo que se encuentran es Barbosa, llamado "la puerta de Oro de Santander". Allí estaba la emisora: 103.2 Buenas Nuevas Digital HKK72, emisora evangélica del Ministerio Buenas Nuevas con mensajes por la paz y la convivencia. Hay que anotar que en Barbosa opera una emisora comercial que retransmite la Cadena Rumba de RCN en 98.2; también llega la señal desde el pueblo cercano de Velez: 107.7 Senderos HKL72 con programas para la familia campesina; el camino continuó hasta Oiba desde donde transmite: 91.2 Ecos HKL44 "Ecos estéreo, una buena radio al servicio comunitario". Luego de Oiba vienen una serie de pequeños pueblos que oficialmente no tienen emisoras pero aún asi me llegaron señales en 96.3 identificándose como Chibara estereo, y 92.4 Serranía estereo; ambas com música popular campesina pero no logré identificar desde qué pueblo transmitían. El siguiente pueblo en la ruta es Socorro. Allí a pesar de contar con una frecuencia autorizada y adjudicada (103.2 HKL65), en el momento no se encontraba operando, pero en AM opera en 1590 Radio Sra. del Socorro retransmitiendo la señal de Minuto de Dios Radio 107.9 desde Bogotá. Al continuar se llega a San Gil; esta es una ciudad intermedia. Allí transmite la más particular de las emisoras escuchada, con una excelente programación y reflejando lo que es una emisora comunitaria: 107.2 La Cometa. HKL58 identificándose ``En el aire, radio comunitaria, La Cometa HKL58, La Cometa 107.2 FM estéreo, desde San Gil, Santander, señales a cielo abierto.`` Luego de San Gil viene uno de los tramos más complicados de la geografía de Colombia, que se llama "Pescadero" y es el descenso que bordea el Cañón que forma la unión del Río Chicamocha con el Río Suárez; es un sector muy complicado por la cantidad de curvas y sectores angostos en la carretera; asi con el descenso se hace difícil captar alguna señal pero ya se empiezan a escuchar algunas estaciones desde Bucaramanga. Luego de pasar este sector vino la última emisora comunitaria que capté y fue: 107.2 Betuliana HKK75 desde Betulia. Ya pronto se arriba a Bucaramanga con lo cual se empiezan a escuchar las emisoras de esta ciudad y su área metropolitana que comprende los municipios de Girón, Piedecuesta, Floridablanca. Hay que tener en cuenta que estas emisoras comunitarias fueron adjudicadas con el Plan de Gobierno "Todas las Voces, Todas" la mayoría de éstas operan con sólo 200 vatios que les fueron autorizados. Hay algunas con mayor sonido profesional y mejor comercialización, para saber un poco más sobre la radio comunitaria de mi país, pueden leer un pequeño artículo que gentilmente reproducieron los amigos del GRA en el Conexión gráfico No. 140 de octubre 2002. ALGO MAS SOBRE COLOMBIA: Ariel Crocco, de Rosario, Argentina, nos envió algunos datos de las emisoras de la Armada colombiana, a través de las cuales se prepara una intensa campaña educativa, cultural, recreativa y social en zonas afectadas por el flagelo del terrorismo y el narcotráfico. Esta informacion le fue enviada por el Capitán de Corbeta GERMAN ORLANDO VELASQUEZ GOMEZ, JEFE DIVISION COMUNICACIONES -DEPARTAMENTO ACCION INTEGRAL, COMANDO ARMADA, CADENA RADIAL ARMADA NACIONAL COLOMBIA [each has E-mail, but truncated, deleted here] NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Corozal UBICACION: COROZAL (SUCRE) FRECUENCIA 99.8 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.P.55 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2841055-FAX 2843436 DIRECCION: PRIMERA BRIGADA DE I.M. COROZAL (SUCRE) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Puerto Leguízamo UBICACION: PUERTO LEGUÍZAMO (PUTUMAYO) FRECUENCIA 99.3 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.K.X.52 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 5634111-FAX 5634082 DIRECCION: FUERZA NAVAL DEL SUR PUERTO LEGUIZAMO (PUTUMAYO) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Marina Stereo Bahía Málaga UBICACION: BAHÍA MÁLAGA (VALLE) FRECUENCIA 102.1 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.Q.42 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2460635-FAX 2460110 DIRECCION: FUERZA NAVAL DEL CARIBE BAHIA MALAGA (VALLE) COLOMBIA NOMBRE EMISORA: Archipiélago Marina Stereo UBICACION: SAN ANDRES ISLAS FRECUENCIA 94.5 FM DISTINTIVO DE LLAMADA H.J.I.56 POTENCIA. 5 KW TEL: 2841055-FAX 2843436 DIRECCION: COMANDO ESPECIFICO DE SAN ANDRES Y PROVIDENCIA - COLOMBIA (via Conexión Digital Mar 30 via DXLD) ** CONGO. Good signal from Radio Congo, Brazzaville on 4765 kHz from tune-in at 1815 today (Sunday 30 March). Nice to have another African back on 60m! 73s (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Again today, Sunday 30 Mar, Brazzaville noted on 4765 at 1755 in French (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Between COM and WOR UT Sun Mar 30 at 0610, on RFPI, James Latham mentioned that he has been working on a new antenna for 7445, which will improve reception in Eu and NAm when put into use later this week (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Radio Imperial. 17835.16. 0350 UT. Weak Spanish language signal evident here at this time but severe QRM from NHK At 0400 NHK closed leaving Radio Imperial in the clear with a weak but readable signal. Very good clear ID at 0403 then music. Lost at 0405 so assume station closed at this time. I note in WRTV that their MW outlet on 810 closes at 0300. My reception would have been Saturday in El Salvador and a 0405 closure would be 10.05 pm there I think (Ian Cattermole, New Zealand, Mar 30, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. For those who are interested in French stations receiving, I`ve put on my website some MP3 audio clips recorded on various frequencies. France Inter, France Info, France Bleu, City radio de Paris, RFI ... and soon more samples to help you. Mainly recorded just before the news, with ID jingles. Hope this will be useful for all band Dxing! URL : http://audiomaniac.multimania.com/fx.htm See paragraph "Radio France ID for DXers" bottom part of the page 73 from (Pascal Perriot - Tours, France, Mar 30, dxing.info via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Data-base or soap-box? The Radio-Portal web site has added a scrolling marquee at the bottom of their home page that condemns the United States. The messages said "On March 20, 2003, the United States of America left the community of civilized states..." and "Put G. W. Bush to the International Court of Justice, together with Saddam!" [That`s Willi Passmann. .] http://www.radio-portal.org (Ed Mayberry, TX, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. For what it's worth, the last DW broadcast to North America was heard on UT-March 30 at 0100 on 6040 via Antigua with usual programming on the Iraq war; no other frequencies were noted, since DW went into the new, reduced A03 schedule (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW monitoring March 30 continues: 1600-1700 UT -- 17595, via Wertachtal, giving good to excellent reception. (SINPO-55545; S9+ signal on meter). No reception on 6140, 6170, 7225; but this would be expected given these frequencies and the time of day (near midday) in ENA. After News, the newly extended "Mailbag" program for Asia was heard with letters read and pop music played. (17595 beamed 90 degrees to Asia with 500 kW. Backscatter radiation would "beam" a signal toward extreme northern South America and the Caribbean, in reasonable proximity to the east coast of NA.) (17595 also readable on Sony SW-07 with whip, with SINPO 35533.) [what you refer to isn`t really backscatter -- gh] March 30: 1900-2000 UT -- 13590, via Wertachtal, giving good reception. (SINPO-55544; S9+ signal on meter). 11965 via Trincomalee audible, but not at a comfortable listening level (SINPO-23332). No reception on 6180, 7225; but this would be expected given these frequencies and the time of day (mid-afternoon) in ENAm. After News and ten-minute special edition of Newslink (preempting "Hard to Beat"), the new (to shortwave) program "Inspired Minds" (profiles of musicians and artists) and a music program, as per the published schedule. (13590 beamed 135 degrees to Middle East with 500 kW. Backscatter radiation would "beam" a signal bisecting NA. 11965 beamed 285 degrees to Africa with 250 kW would continue on path reaching northern South America.) [13590 barely readable on Sony SW-07 with whip, with SINPO 25532.] (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY (near Albany), Lowe HF-150 stack A/D Sloper antenna, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DW Frequency Report: for North America: 1900 UT 11965 (Trinicomalee, 250 kW, 285 degree bearing) minimally audible 13590 (Wertachtal, 500 kW, 135 degree bearing) listenable with some fading (SINPO 34434, S5 on Sony ICF-2010, whip antenna). 6180, 7225 not audible (nor would these be expected here). At 2000: Neither 15205 (Nauen) nor 9780 (Trinicomalee) are listenable here, though a signal can be seen at S1/S2. Location: Allentown, PA (50 miles N of Philadelphia, 30 miles N of Kulpsville) (Richard Cuff, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) DW Freq. Report for NA 2100 UT 2100-2200 UT -- 15205 and 11865, both via Kigali, giving excellent reception. (SINPO-55555; both well over S9 signal on meter). 9440 via Wertachtal is heard, but at much lesser quality (SINPO-34433). After News and ten-minute special edition of Newslink (preempting "Hard to Beat"), the new (to shortwave) program "Inspired Minds" (profiles of musicians and artists) and a music program, as per the published schedule. (15205 and 11865 are beamed 295 degrees to West Africa with 250 kW. As this signal continues beyond West Africa, its beam carries it over the Florida peninsula.) [Both frequencies excellent (55555) on Sony SW-07 with whip.] (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) 15205 is S9 on my '2010 in Allentown, PA 11865 is S4, SINPO 33433. (Richard Cuff, ibid.) 2200-2300 UT -- No sign of either 9720 (Trincomalee) or 15605 (Komsomol`sk) here (both 250 kW to East Asia). Perhaps a west coast listener can hear these? (Figliozzi, ibid.) ** GERMANY. Transmisión especial de la DRM desde Juelich los dias 3/4 Abril 2003. A raiz de la European Digital Radio Conference a celebrarse en Munich, se realizará una transmisión especial de la DRM desde Juelich los dias 3 y 4 Abril 2003 a 0830-1500 UT en 5975 kHz, 130 , LPH (Media Network Newsletter 14 Marzo 2003 via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Today there was a strong DRM signal on 6140. Cut off at 1859, so there should be no doubts that this was Jülich, probably permanently switched to DRM effective from today although the Deutsche Welle technical schedule still shows it as if it would be AM. Another case of left hand not knowing what the right one is doing as German saying goes? Herewith also Europe would be without a shortwave service of English from Deutsche Welle because the 50 minute transmission from Sines in the evening, the only one alongside the 6140 channel keeper now switched to DRM, was cancelled like the transmissions to North America (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. DRM 6132-6148 kHz covered around 14-15 UT range. Seems Juelich T-systems site. DRM 15440 close-down at 1500 UT, DRM Sines, Portugal (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. 15775, very loud signal, surrounded by propagation-wise distorted poor signals from GB, France, Norway, Germany etc. on the 19 mb at 1456 UT; it was Reykjavik on strong USB-mode signal, (LSB totally supressed) 45544 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR A-2003 changes --- The following are the changes monitored for AIR External Service A-2003 schedule effective from today. 0130-0230* Nepali 9470 via Aligarh (ex 11715 Delhi) 0215-0300 Pashtu add 13620 Bangalore 0300-0345 Dari add 13620 Bangalore 0315-0415 Hindi 11840 replaces 11835 Panaji 0400-0430 Persian add 15770 (Aligarh?) 0430-0530 Arabic add 15770 (Aligarh?) *Note: on 9470 AIR FM II programs started today from around 0230 (ex 0130) due to Nepali at 0130-0230 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Mar 29, dx_india via DXLD) Here are more monitored changes of AIR External service observed from today. 1000-1100 English 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 ,, ,, 15410 replaces 15235 1115-1200 Thai 15410 Panaji replaces 15235 1115-1215 Tamil 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 1215-1245 Telegu 13695 Bangalore replaces 13710 1215-1315 Burmese 15415 not heard 1330-1500 English 11620 dropped 1515-1615 Swahili 13605 not heard 1615-1730 Hindi 13605 not heard (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Mar 30, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET/VACUUM. WORLD LINK TV --- I have previously drawn your attention to a news program called "Mosaic" which airs on World Link TV. They have changed the times they run this program. It has been only Monday-Friday USA time but it would be worth checking on weekends as they seem to be giving the program some emphasis since the war began. Mosaic is a compilation of Middle Eastern newscasts with an English language voice over if the original is in Arabic or Farsi. The lineup changes from day to day but I have seen the following countries represented: Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and the Arab News Network from London. Last I heard the Iraq Satellite Channel was still up and running. The program runs 4 times daily. The new UT times are 0230, 0830, 1430, and 2030. World Link is available on the lowest priced tiers of both DISH Network and Direct TV. You will need a DISH 500 antenna to receive it on DISH Network as the channel was recently transferred from the 119 West satellite to the one at 110 West. It is carried on the primary Direct TV satellite at 101 West. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, Mar 26, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Mosaic was featured on CBS TV Sunday Morning Mar 30; as in a previous item here, they do have a video webcast, I`ve watched some (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN. One of our readers has pointed out that the extensive IRIB schedule in last issue was just their HFCC registration, not necessarily in full effect. I should add that a fair portion of those transmitters are likely to be used for unregistered jamming (gh, DXLD) Viz.: ** IRAN. 17545, Persian bubble jammer 14-15, against Israel, noted for the first time against Israel. 11705 bubble jamming, against US Radio Farda Persian, Lampertheim 17-19 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. /NORWAY Radio International at 1630 on new 13800 via Kvitsöy. Abrupt start with Dire Straits tune, ID and frequency. Good signal (Silvain Domen, Belgium, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Anybody hearing Iraq on 11787 over the past day or so, or have we finally MOAB'ed the thing? (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. US: OFFICIAL IRAQI RADIO NOT HEARD SINCE EARLY SATURDAY VOA News30 Mar 2003, 01:35 UTC A U.S. government radio service that monitors foreign broadcasts says the Baghdad government's official radio station has not been heard on any frequencies since early Saturday. The U.S. service said pro-government broadcasts in Baghdad had been replaced by those of a station broadcasting an anti-Saddam message. The new station calls itself Information Radio, and was heard with poor reception as recently as 2230 hours UTC Saturday. The U.S. report also said Iraqi satellite television has not been seen or heard on any frequencies since Monday, March 24. Separately, U.S. monitors say an Arabic station run by Saddam's son, Uday, known as the Baghdad Voice of Youth radio, has not been heard since Tuesday, March 25 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** IRAQ [?]. A very heavy woodpecker jammer was noted around 1200- 1600 UT on the 22mb, 13661.3 kHz could approx. be measured as the centre frequency, but the signal disturbed a very, very wide range of 13630 to 13710 kHz. Seemingly against BBC Arabic Skelton 13660 kHz. Reminds me on the Russian woodpecker from Poltava-Ukraine twentyfive years ago. The other 15555 kHz frequency via Zyyi, Cyprus has also been jammed, but by a different buzzy siren sound (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [and non]. Are you hearing three different stations on 756? (gh to Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, March 30) Dear Glenn, About 756: this frequency is really giving me a hard time for several reasons: I could hear a carrier but no audio. Is it because the 10 kW transmitter from Qena, upper Egypt?? or is it al Mashreqya radio??? But I used to monitor that station longtime ago -- - not anymore! Now they say Baghdad is using this one, and some says Information radio --- bummer. Wish I was in Jordan ;) Will keep you posted my friend with the latest. All the best (TAREK ZEIDAN, Egypt, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Excerpt of Royal Navy article referenced in 3-053: HMS Chatham, its own Harpoon missiles poised for use, remained in position throughout Sunday morning to help secure the deepwater port of Umm Qasr, where pockets of resistance by Iraqi defenders were causing Allied troops some problems. The frigate had already used its 4.5 in gun, which has a range of about 11 miles, to bombard Iraqi military bunkers on Friday, and has also acted as the afloat headquarters of the American-planned 'psychological operations' division of the war. It broadcasts programmes dubbed `Radio Free Iraq`, consisting of a mix of modern Middle East music interspersed with messages of peace – and warnings that the Allies will use extreme force against those who do not surrender. The radio station`s transmitter is so powerful that it reaches much of Iraq, with Arabic-speaking presenters talking between songs (via gh, DXLD) As Hans suggests, apparently this really refers to Information Radio. The name `Radio Free Iraq` is already taken by that station in Prague! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Today I did some outdoor listening for the first time this year, and indeed I could listen to what should be Information Radio on 4500, quite weak but sufficient for the ATS 909 (with whip antenna only, of course). Mostly music with short announcements in between, somewhat boomy modulation (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nick Grace of CRW believes the transmissions on this frequency are intended for Iraqi Kurdistan, as it's in the range used by a number of existing Kurdish stations. Military activity in that region has been increasing over the past few days (Andy Sennitt, RN blog Mar 30 via DXLD) On 30 Mar I was listening to Information Radio (Iraq) on 4500 just prior to their closedown at 2000. While 4500 had a spoken info, 9715 had Arabic music. But the last closing announcement by male just at 2000 sounded identical on both frequencies to my ears. So, are there two separate audio streams from Information Radio? Or was there another station on 9715 with Arabic music signing off just before Information Radio leaving their closing announcement audible. If I heard correct it seems 4500 is not replacing 9715 but is additional frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Mar 30, dxing.info via DXLD) Information Radio is becoming "regionalised". The content of the messages will vary according to the circumstances in the area each frequency is designed to cover. 9715 covers the southern part of Iraq, 4500 is almost certainly intended for the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Nick Grace of CRW points out that they chose a frequency in the range used by a number of existing stations in Iraqi Kurdistan. These guys do their homework. You'll probably find some of the same music on both the services, but it will be played out from a digital file on board the aircraft so won't necessarily be in sync with another Information Radio service. The regional announcements will be inserted by the team responsible for a particular service. Obviously they'll all use the same standard ID's, which is what you heard. I understand that six aircraft are assigned to this mission, so don't be surprised if more frequencies appear in the coming days and weeks (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Mar 30, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. Three stations currently audible this evening (Sunday 30 March) around 4 MHz all with fair to good reception: 4500 kHz Arabic and western-sounding music, AA talk - probably Information Radio (US psyops to Iraq), heard from 1750 tune-in. 4085 kHz Kurdish music and talk - probably Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan. From 1750 tune-in. [see also KURDISTAN] 4025.35 kHz Voice of the Liberation of Iraq (via Voice of the People of Kurdistan?). Heard from 1828 sign-on with military music, and Arabic talk, frequent IDs "hunasawt at tahrir al-iraq" (Edwin Southwell reported at the Reading DX meeting yesterday that he had recently heard programming in English, Arabic and Kurdish on 4085 kHz so it is a channel worth checking.) 73s (Dave Kenny, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030, 25m long wire, Mar 30, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1830 gmt 30 March 03 [4025 +/- 5] 1. Item on the need for the voice of all communities and groups in Iraq to be heard. 2. Station announcement, with information on times, frequencies. 3. Martial music. 4. Call on Iraqi citizens to remain in their homes, not to drive their cars or go out on the streets, to stay away from installations vital to the regime, and not to go on to the roofs of their houses during air raids, for their own safety. Martial music. 5. Warning that the coalition forces will consider any source of firing of weapons as a target. Call on citizens not to approach alliance forces. 6. British military spokesman said yesterday that British forces treated wounded Iraqi civilians who had fled from Basra and were fired at by Iraqi forces. POWs have also been treated. 7. Five US soldiers killed when booby-trapped car exploded near Al- Najaf. 8. Iraqi opposition sources speak to the Kuwaiti news agency Kuna [remainder of item unmonitorable] 9. British tanks destroy HQ of militia loyal to Saddam Husayn in Basra. 10. US marines 250 km south of Baghdad short of food supplies. Local citizens gave them food. 11. More details on destruction of militia HQ in Basra. 12. Washington Post reports on attacks by Kurdish forces on Ansar al- Islam bases in northern Iraq. 13. Song, followed by martial music. 14. Warning to all those whom the regime has made responsible for firing ground-to-ground missiles against the coalition forces or civilian areas that the coalition will be able to trace their whereabouts by satellite with complete accuracy and destroy their positions completely. Call on these people to leave their posts immediately rather than fighting for Saddam Husayn. 15. Western intelligence reports says the Iraqi regime is using terrorism to force the people to defend it. Members of the Ba'th Party militia are rewarded with houses and cars. They encourage people to spy on and denounce each other. 16. Dictator Saddam Husayn and his advisers will try to flee. Soon the Iraqi people will be able to celebrate the end of his regime. 17. There have been reports in some of the media that Saddam's militias have killed some Iraqi soldiers and civilians. Call on Iraqi soldiers to stop defending Saddam's regime. 18. Report on President Bush's latest weekly address and what he said about the war, accusations against Saddam. 19. Saddam wants to repeat his crimes of the first Gulf War, setting light to oil wells and destroying Iraq's wealth and infrastructure. The Iraqi people will pay the price. 20. Iraqi deserters have said that Saddam's militias have ordered soldiers to carry out suicide attacks against the coalition forces. 21. Reports that Saddam has fired his air defence chief following deaths of civilians in Baghdad which may have been caused by Iraqi missiles. Spokesman for Blair quoted. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1830 gmt 30 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ. I'm still checking the Iraqi Satellite Channel "IRAQ TV" on hot bird TPS 13 Deg East. The images are more stabilized today and programmes are not so often interrupted than during previous days. Good reception! The sound reflections are mainly observed when a room is more or less empty or large... So Tarek I was thinking that religious buildings or large underground bunkers could have been used as studios coz have enough room for that! 73 amigo Tarek (Pascal Perriot, Tours, France, Mar 30 1100 UT, Dxing.info via DXLD) ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1610 GMT 30 MAR 03 Iraq Satellite Channel TV continues to broadcast, although there is often at least one daily break of some hours. Republic of Iraq Radio was heard again on 30 March on two mediumwave frequencies. Voice of Youth radio remains unheard. Following is BBC Monitoring's round-up of Iraq-related media news and observations on Iraqi media: Iraq Satellite Channel continued to broadcast and carried the following programmes, interspersed with patriotic songs: 1205 gmt: End of Al-Sahhaf's news conference. 1213-1215 gmt: Video clips of damage caused by US bombing, interviews with citizens on bombing. 1232 gmt: News conference by a military spokesman. 1247 gmt: Call for afternoon prayers. 1253 gmt: Military spokesman's news conference continues. 1259 gmt: End of news conference by military spokesman. 1310 gmt: Documentary on the Iraqi 1920 Revolution. 1329 gmt: Video clips from Doha Al-Jazeera of US soldiers killed, others taken prisoner, in Al-Nasiriyah battle during the first days of the war. 1347 gmt: Video clips showed houses damaged by US bombing, citizens speaking about the "invaders' crimes." 1358 gmt: Video of Iraqi women providing "quick meals" to armed citizens. BBC Monitoring cannot receive the domestic Republic of Iraq Television, which is believed to be still broadcasting. Republic of Iraq Main Radio Service Domestic Iraqi radio was heard at 0848 gmt on 30 March on 909 kHz. That frequency has been heard before and is thought to be from a transmitter near Baghdad. It had not been heard since 26 March 2003. The station has also been heard on 30 March on 603 kHz in the Arbil area of northern Iraq. This is believed to be the Ninawah transmitter near Mosul. The programmes were as follows: 1125 gmt: Radio carried sayings by Saddam Husayn, station identification, and talks in Iraqi dialect criticizing Bush, and praising Saddam Husayn. 1130 gmt: Radio carried a largely-indistinct newscast: A. Station identification B. Indistinct on a decree by Saddam Husayn. C. Military spokesman statement on enemy losses. D. Indistinct on the foreign minister criticizing resolution on memorandum of understanding. Remainder of newscast indistinct. 1210 gmt: Talk praising Saddam Husayn. 1228 gmt: Slogans praising Saddam and calling for fighting enemies. 1232 gmt: Station identification. 1238 gmt: Poem criticizing Arab regimes and praising Iraqis' steadfastness. 1245 gmt: Call for afternoon prayers. The station then faded. Domestic Voice of Youth radio cannot be traced. Internet: The Iraqi News Agency, INA, and other Iraqi web sites were not accessible. BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 30 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. MORE IRAQ MAPS Members may want to again check the University of Texas Perry - Castañeda Library Map Collection site. They've added two new portions of recent NIMA Tactical Pilotage Charts: Baghdad Region 1998 848 Kb. Kuwait - Eastern and Neighboring Iraq 1999 848 Kb. Both are .jpg files. Many other maps of Iraq, Afghanistan etc. can be found at: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html (WUN mailing list via F. W. `Pim` Ripken, Mar 30, BDXC via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. The Kol Israel Summer schedule is now found on the IBA website. http://bet.iba.org.il/shortwavws.html The Bezeq website hasn't been updated yet. http://www.bezeq.co.il/english/template/default.asp?maincat=2&catid=102&pageid=743 (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. BBC WORLD TO BE AXED FROM CABLE (Israeli Cable TV) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1049012174655 British news station BBC World will no longer be broadcast on cable TV from Tuesday. In the following days BBC World will also be taken off of digital cable. The 24-hour news channel will continue broadcasting in Israel via satellite on YES. The cable networks made the decision to pull the channel, which competes with CNN, Sky News and Fox News, due to low ratings and say they will use the vacant channel for spot to broadcasting something else another channel (via Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. CABINET PASSES TV TAX CUTS, REFORMS IN IBA Mati Wagner Mar. 27, 2003 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1048758129505 The cabinet passed cuts in the the TV and radio taxes starting in and reforms in the Israel Broadcast Authority (IBA) Thursday. The Finance and Industry and Trade Ministries initiated the cuts that are to be implemented gradually over a three-year period. The present annual NIS 131 radio tax and NIS 515 TV tax will be lowered to NIS 38 and NIS 260 respectively. In addition to the TV and radio tax, IBA also receives revenues from an NIS 120 tax paid as part of automobile licence renewal expenses. The cabinet passed an additional measure that separates the IBA's TV and radio business operations and financial reporting. Beginning in 2004, the two communications media will operate as separate entities. The Finance, Justice and Industry and Trade Ministries were also empowered to establish a joint committee that will weigh addition efficiency-improving reforms. The committee is to present recommendations within three months. The committee will recommend reforms that will improve broadcast content quality, said a Treasury press release. "With the rise of cable TV and Channel 2 in the early nineties, IBA TV was confronted with a crisis", said the press release. "Large numbers of talented senior workers left IBA for cable TV and Channel 2. Viewership fell. Programming remained at a low level. Locally produced content made up a very small percentage of broadcasts." The committee's goal will be to prevent the IBA from "losing relevance" in an increasingly competitive atmosphere. IBA's radio department's revenues were NIS 370m. while expenses reached NIS 255m. Revenues from radio advertisements reached NIS 160m. and NIS 210m. from the TV tax. The surplus revenues and the rising number of automobiles convinced the Treasury of the need for a cut in the TV and radio tax. CHANNEL 10 CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER THREATENS TO PULL THE PLUG http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1048758129497 (via Doni Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Israel, of course, went on Summer Time Friday. (Thursday, 2200 GMT). Glen[n] Hauser should be interested to know that it is the religious who fight against Summer Time in Israel because they feel it tends to promote the desecration of the Sabbath (which runs from Friday before sunset to Saturday after sunset) (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) I believe you mentioned this at a previous shiftover, but it can`t be said often enough (gh, DXLD) ** JORDAN. I have not listened to Radio Jordan in years because of intense FSK interference. Today I was pleasantly surprised. At about 1610 I decided to check propagation and tuned to the frequency of Radio Jordan, 11690 kHz. It was clobbered as usual by two FSK signals, one slightly above and one slightly below the 11690 frequency. I threw in the old crystal filter on the R-388 and after some fudging was able to get the passband and notch characteristics to the point where I could actually get some program information. They were having an English language call-in program just like you might hear on your local USA station. I believe they are relaying a local Amman station on 96.3 FM. I did hear a female announcer ID the station but all I could make out was the FM part of the ID. This is the only English language FM listed for Amman. The show was broken up by music (They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.) and by "breaking news" bulletins which related to the war and General Frank's latest news conference which was almost two hours old by this time. The female host asked listeners to call in with their opinion on the question, "With all the media coverage we have been getting on the war, are we getting too much information?" . The program is due to end at 1700 UT but if you want to drop a nickel and startle a radio host, you might try calling tomorrow. The phone number is announced as 47-47-201 or 202. Because they did not use the country code, I presume the folks at the station have no idea they are reaching an international audience. They also gave a URL but copy was too bad to get it. So the full phone number according to Passport would probably be +962 (6) 47-47-201 or 202. If you call, tell them Joe sent you. There were time pips approaching 1700. The long dash occurred at 7 seconds before the hour. It was followed by a newscast in English. The first four minutes were devoted to the latest news from the front. This was followed by an account of the protests happening around the world at various USA embassies. At 6 minutes there was a story about a Palestinian who got shot by the Israeli's today. This was followed by a headline summary and the weather forecast. Snow was predicted someplace but I did not catch where. At 1708 they transitioned into detailed economic and war related stories. The journalism seemed pretty good and was confined to the facts as I already knew them. At 1715 they began a musical program. The lead tune was "When The Saints Go Marching In." I wonder if there was a not too subliminal message there? None of the tunes were announced. All were jazz, mostly from the swing era. At 1725 there was another ID for 96.3 FM but I was unable to make out the name of the station. A male announcer ID'ed Radio Jordan at 1729:15. Time pips heard on time at 1730. This was followed by noticias in Espanol. The Spanish language transmission is not shown in Passport so I gather it is relatively new [that`s some other station – Turkey? neatly opening when Jordan closes; at least it was so in B-02 –gh] I always get more fun out of listening to shortwave relays of domestic stations and this experience was no exception. It's nice to know what the natives are concerned about and what the common folk are saying. Excuse me now. I have to go find those HF FSK-homing missiles I stashed in my barn when the NASWA Research Laboratory contract for a jammer elimination device was cancelled by the Clinton Administration because they might be considered too provocative. We wouldn't want to start a war now would we? ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch , DE, Mar 24, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ I've been listening to Radio Jordan's English service this morning, and I have to say, the choice of music has been interesting. You have to wonder if it's a subtle commentary. When I tuned in at 1624, I was greeted with Screaming Jay Hawkins and "I Put a Spell on You". A little while later, CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" came over the air. After the news at 1700, they restarted the music with The Boxtops song "The Letter", in which the protagonist claims that he has to go home because his baby wrote him a letter. Right now they're playing a song I'm not really familiar with about notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. Interesting stuff. They've been breaking in between songs periodically with breaking news reports from the war zone about an Iraqi attack on an American supply convoy in southern Iraq that I haven't seen reported on the CNN or BBC web sites. The full news at 1700 was pretty interesting too, leading with stories of civilian casualties in Baghdad and the like (Ralph Brandi, NJ, Mar 26, swprograms via DXLD) How are you guys able to hear this one through the noise. All I get is RTTY noise, both on USB and LSB. Any attempt to use the audio notch on the AP-150 meets with failure. I can sometimes make out that there's programming there, but it's indecipherable.... (John Figliozzi, Half Moon NY, ibid.) I tune to LSB, then notch out the RTTY noise, which is centered around 2.1 kHz. I guess the (optional) notch on the 7030 Plus is better than the notch on the AP-150, because with these adjustments, I get a signal that's pretty darned listenable (Ralph Brandi, ibid.) I configure the R-388 for LSB reception and then, using the crystal filter phasing control, I notch out the upper tone of the FSK signal operating below 11690. I then tighten the filter for best intelligibility. The FSK station above 11690 is closer to 11690 than the station on the low side so it is better to use LSB. Boatanchors forever (Joe Buch, DE, ibid.) I think you have a true notch on that 7030; the one on the 150 is an audio notch which is admittedly much less effective. The 150 also does not have a bandpass either. :-( jaf (Figliozzi, ibid.) I listened to that today also. Between 1715 and 1730 sign-off; they played "Don't Sleep In The Subway Darling". Was that a request phoned in from Baghdad by Saddam's wife? (Joe Buch, DE, Mar 26, ibid.) RADIO JORDAN CHANGES PROGRAMMING TO REFLECT NATION'S SOMBRE MOOD By Natasha Twal http://www.jordantimes.com/mon/homenews/homenews5.htm AMMAN --- Radio Jordan has amended its programming schedule by halting its more upbeat songs and replacing them with patriotic ones, reflecting the sombre national mood due to the US-led war on Iraq, officials said Sunday. The major change was in putting ``Amman 99 FM`` service on hold, said Director of Arabic Services at Radio Jordan Mohammad Sarayreh, explaining that some 75 per cent of its transmission was composed of upbeat Arabic songs. ``Now people tuning in to Amman FM will hear amended programmes from the AM Arabic service, which is broadcast on 612 AM and 801 AM,`` according to Sarayreh. ``No one is in the mood to listen to energetic, happy songs in these circumstances,`` he added, pointing out the freeze would continue for a while. ``We still do not know when we will resume our regular programming schedule,`` Sarayreh told The Jordan Times. In addition to replacing ``upbeat`` songs with national songs, the AM service has increased the length of its news reports from 30 minutes to between 45 to 60 minutes, explained the director. ``We are also broadcasting breaking news, interrupting any running programme for the news flash,`` he added, saying as well that the length of news briefs has been increased to nearly 10 minutes. Similar changes have occurred in the foreign service programmes of Radio Jordan. ``We are playing downbeat music, which reflects the nation`s mood and our mood here at the station,`` said Haitham Atoum, foreign services director at Radio Jordan. The foreign service includes a French service on 90.0 FM and an English service on 96.3 FM. ``The DJs [disc jockeys] are no longer speaking on air either. We are only presenting a playlist of sedate music with breaking news every 15 minutes, sometimes less depending on developments,`` explained Atoum. ``We are not happy with what is going on so we are refraining from playing happy music,`` he exclaimed. Commenting on the change at the more music-oriented English service on 96.3 FM, Randa Naffaa, a 27- year-old researcher for a development institute in Amman, said nobody is in the mood to listen to loud music such as pop or rock and roll anymore. ``I did not listen to news on the radio. But now news reports are the only thing I tune in to,`` said Naffaa. According to the young researcher, the English service of Radio Jordan has to produce more local news reports and political talk shows. ``In these times, the international media will be listening to 96.3 FM, since it is the only English service here. The service needs to do more reporting, such as covering street reactions to the war for example,`` she concluded. Monday, March 24, 2003 (via Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) Nice find, Kim. The breaking news inserts did indeed tend to come every fifteen minutes. I don`t know if I would say the music wasn`t ``upbeat``. CCR, Screaming Jay Hawkins, and The Boxtops are pretty energetic. On the other hand, there was also a fair amount of blues being played. I just thought it was interesting that the playlist could possibly be read as a subtle and clever commentary on the situation (Ralph Brandi, swprograms via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. IRAQ. On 4085 at 2027 on March 26th I heard a man calling to the people of Iraq in English, saying Saddam's time is up and telling them to stay away from military targets etc., 2031 programme of Kurdish music and news, same English segment heard at 2125, 2130 Kurdish music and songs till 2200 close down. SINPO 44544, best on USB. On the 27th heard English 1825, Arabic 1830 to 1850 tune out, 2025 recheck English till 2033 then into Kurdish with martial music. Presumably Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan (Edwin Southwell, Basingstoke, UK, World DX Club, via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) see IRAQ ** LITHUANIA. Sitkunai (100 kW) A03 operational schedule: 7470 kHz (315 backlobe to ME): 1600-1630 R.Barabari in Farsi. 9710 kHz (259 to Eu): 0800-0830 R. Vilnius in Lithuanian, 0830-0900 R. Vilnius in English; Sun 1000-1100 Avaye Ashena in Farsi, Sun 1100-1200 Fundamental Broadcasting Network in English, Sun 1200-1300 R. Santec in German. 9875 kHz (315 to NA): 2300-2330 R. Vilnius in Lithuanian, 2330-2400 R. Vilnius in English. 11690 kHz (315 to NA): 0000-0030 R. Vilnius in Lithuania, 0030-0100 R. Vilnius in English. (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. RADIO FAN GETS QSL FROM OAX5X RADIO VIRGEN DEL CARMEN EN HUANCAVELICA --- SIGNED BY THE BISHOP! Mahopac, NY, Mar 17 (DX Listening Digest) --- When John Sgrulletta of Mahopac, an avid shortwave listener, sent off a reception report, mint stamps, a cassette recording, and a U.S. dollar to OAX5X Radio Virgen del Carmen of Huancavelica, Perú, he hoped for a QSL card. As any amateur or shortwave radio fan knows, a QSL card is a postcard acknowledging a listener`s report of having received the station. QSL cards go back to the earliest years of radio, the 1920`s, when people sent in reception reports to stations hoping for a card bearing the station`s call letters, frequency, some program details, perhaps some art work or a photo of the station, its towers, or personalities. Mr. Sgrulletta got his QSL card, all right, but signed by no less than the American Bishop there, His Excellency William McDermott, who many EWTN listeners will recall has been a guest on Mother Angelica`s program on several occasions. Here is Mr. Sgrulletta`s report, published in Glenn Hauser`s DX Listening Digest of March 17….. [q.v.] Maybe other bishops ought to emulate this good bishop. Maybe your Catholic radio stations ought to consider printing some QSL cards (the size of regular postcards), too. They are relatively inexpensive and are used to verify reception to those listeners out of the normal listening area. Local ham operators can shows you what a QSL card looks like; broadcast station QSL`s are the same. The design can be what you want it to be, but QSL`s always give basic information about the station and confirm reception as to date and time. Database Huancavelica: OAU5J Radio Virgen de Carmen 1520 AM (1,000 wats) y OAX5M-FM 105.3 FM y OAX5X 4886 khz (800 w). El Obispado de Huancavelica. Plaza Bolognesi No. 142, Cercado, Huancavelica, Perú. o Apartado 92. José López Alvarado, dtr. Tel.: (51-64) 75-2989 E-mail: jlopez_alvarado@hotmail.com (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Mar 31 via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. Re WBMJ 1190: When old time DXer Lars Rydén visited San Juan radio stations in mid 1967, Bob Bennett had left WKYN 630 to become VP and Manager of WBMJ. At that time WBMJ, owned by Bob Hope, was under construction with studio space rented at Hotel Darlington, Santurce. At WKYN Bob Bennett had served as Program Director. He was the one who signed my QSL for WKYN in January 1964. The station went on the air sometime in mid 1968, first European logs in September 1968, after that a regular catch (Olle Alm, Sweden, 30 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. A very distorted signal monitored on both 15300 [very strong] and 15220 kHz, during the French outlet to Maghreb at 1100- 1200 on 15380 and 17745 kHz. That means 80/160 kHz away from 15380. But the fundamental 15380 was covered by very strong Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in Arabic. 11830 another terrible Romanian transmitter, domestic service relay during afternoon (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. The following broadcasts of FEBA were noted today (transmitter sites unknown){full schedule with sites in DXLD 3-056} 15580 : 0030 Tamil etc. 15605 : Tuning Signal continuously at 1215-1245 followed by programs in Indian languages 11885 : Tuning Signal at 1515, 1615 etc. and in African (?) language (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. Still on SW: 13795 kHz -- Swiss Radio International, targeting Africa. Decent audio, SINPO 34434 -- Sony ICF-2010, whip antenna. Location: Allentown, PA (Richard Cuff, Mar 30, swprograms via DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand has a new frequency for their evening service which is easily heard in Australia. Noted on 9700 (x 9810) in English from *1230 to 1300*. QRM from another Asian station (perhaps South Korea??) on same freq. Not sure why Thailand changed as 9810 is now vacant this evening (Rob VK3BVW Wagner, Melbourne, Australia, Mar 30, EDXP via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. 21560 ??? Chinese music jammer against whom? I guess Voice of Tibet 1430-1515; Tashkent?? (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 15415 in English, very clean audio, 45554, around 1130 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, RUI A03 quick check continued. 1100 UT 15415 RUI not heard. Around 1152 UT China Radio Int. begins using 15415. 2100 UT 5905 RUI initially not heard. Finally RUI heard around 2130 until end of broadcast with S 1/2 to S 4, severe QRN, slight QRM from 5900 R. Bulgaria? (I attempted to get a positive ID, station was playing music, but wasn't in English, but at 2200 UT terrible noise, DRM?, started on 5900). Conclusion. Hearing RUI will be difficult in A03. Will be interesting to hear if difference once U.S. changes times next Sunday. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, VA, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC A-03 frequency schedules: Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml as of March 30th. The updated information should be there --- individual sub-regions are shown; each has its own chart. Hope this information helps - (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA with help from John Figliozzi, Mar 19, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. I know at least one person on the list had trouble accessing the BBCWS in Windows Media since Yahoo! Broadcast stopped their service; a link to the audio in Windows Media format now appears at the BBCWS website. It's a very narrow 8 kbps bandwidth, and the sound is muddy (at least right now) but it is an option for those who don't have other options. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/radio/winstream_popup.shtml the URL for the feed itself is http://stream.servstream.com/ViewWeb/BBCTechnology/Event/BBC_World_Service.asx Even the usual BBCWS RealAudio feed is cut to 11 kbps -- presumably to conserve bandwidth. In addition to the feeds available at the BBCWS website, you might wish to consider other feeds from public radio stations with improved bandwith. To see who is webcasting the BBCWS at any time, consult these pages at Kevin Kelly's PublicRadioFan website: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=1164 (all-news PRI feed) http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=476 (Europe feed) During the war, you may find BBCWS carriage for longer durations than shown in Kevin's database. For example, at 2200 UT on 22 March, KPLU- FM -- not shown as carrying the BBCWS at that time -- is continuing the service as I type this. The URL for their stream is http://wma.str3am.com/kplu and is a 16 kbps Windows Media feed. Good listening (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Mar 22, swprograms via DXLD) And of course, the BBC World Service Windows Media Player feed is available for the clicking on International Listener's front page drop-down menu. There have been many moments in the past few days when the Real Player feeds have been overtaxed, so it's definitely a good alternative. Also, check out the TV feeds from the BBC on the site's Television page. Hey, if I don't blow my own trumpet, who else will? http://www.internationallistener.com http://home.houston.rr.com/edmayberry (Ed Mayberry, ibid.) It's interesting that the BBC Website has the following statement... "Responding to demand a Windows Media stream is being offered during the war in Iraq" I was one of the people who sent an email to the BBC requesting this. I didn't think they would do it so Let's say thanks when they do respond to a request like this! (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) You might want to try the Yahoo Broadcast streams. I don't know how you access them on the web (the Yahoo Broadcast web site has disappeared) but the following live Americas streams are working right now: rtsp://63.250.208.25/bbc288.ra Real Audio mms://63.250.199.195/bbcworld Windows Media Player I'm not sure if you can get to the all news or Spanish streams at Yahoo Broadcast if they still exist (Joel Rubin, NY, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) The sound quality of the BBC World Service Windows feed is VASTLY better on the International Listener's front page than it is on the BBC website. Ed, Many Thanks for drawing our attention to the link! (Sandy Finlayson, Mar 25, swprograms via DXLD) BBCWS will start to introduce non-news programming as of 0000 UT 3/29/03. In general, you'll hear news for the first half hour, features the second half hour of each hour. Features that normally run 27 minutes (from :32 to :59 past an hour) will be shortened to 23 minutes; the additional 5 minutes will be set aside for a sports wrapup or a readout of incoming e-mails / SMS messages regarding the war. Sportsworld will run, but the first 20 minutes of each hour will be news related. A weekdaily Talking Point will air at 1530. Outlook will air live at 1132 and 1632 it seems. The only time you'll hear science programs is the 1932 weekday slot. The BBCWS will still mostly be a news service, specifically from 2200 to 0830 UT. They believe this is their major mandate, and will continue to emphasize the news. I should add there is no music in the planned "hybrid" schedule. (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Mar 28, swprograms via DXLD) Here is the current plan as of 1800 UT Friday 3/28 for the BBC World Service as of this coming Monday. There are a few anomalies here that I didn't get a chance to clarify with my Bush House contacts before the weekend. It appears this single schedule applies to all regions, but I am frankly not sure. The schedule is subject to revision at a moment's notice if events warrant reverting to the "rolling news" format that has been in use since Gulf War II began. All times and days are UT. Please pass along to others who would benefit from this information. Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA BBCWS WEEKDAY PROGRAM SCHEDULE AS OF 31 MARCH 0000-0832: News coverage 0832-0855 Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu -Assignment, Fri - Sports International 0855-0900: Sports news 0900-0932: News coverage 0932-0955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu -One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1000-1132: News coverage 1132-1200: Outlook 1200-1532: News coverage 1600-1732: News coverage 1732-1800: Outlook 1800-1932: News coverage 1932-1955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu -One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1955-2000: SMS messages 2000-2132: News coverage 2132-2155: Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu- Assignment, Fri - Sports International 2155: Sports news 2200-2400: News coverage (via Richard Cuff, PA, Mar 29, swprograms via DXLD) BBCWS WEEKEND SCHEDULE AS OF 29 MARCH 2003 Here is the weekend schedule for the BBCWS beginning 29th March. This information is subject to change/revision as world events warrant; I've compiled this information from Bush House contacts. I believe I have accounted for Summer Time correctly -- which begins at 0100 UT (Sunday 30th March), but some of the projections for Saturdays once Summer Time is in force may not be correct. I'll confirm this with World Service contacts next week.. The duration of this news-oriented schedule is not known, as events in Iraq or elsewhere can't be predicted. Richard Cuff Allentown, PA Weekend (tentative) News coverage will air EXCEPT for those times and days shown in the following list. 0032-0045: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business 0045-0055: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Global Business 0232-0255: Sat - Assignment, Sun - Agenda 0332-0345: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - People & Politics 0345-0355: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Letter From America 0432-0455: Sat - Assignment, Sun - Global Business 0530-0545: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Agenda (to 0555) 0545-0555: Sat - Letter From America 0645-0655: Sat - People & Politics 0732-0745: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 0755) 0745-0755: Sat - Analysis 0930-0945: Sat - Assignment (to 0955), Sun - People & Politics 0945-0955: Sun - World Business Review 1145-1155: Sat - Analysis, Sun - Letter From America 1406-1455: Sun - Talking Point 1420-1455: Sat - Sportsworld 1520-1600: Sat - Sportsworld, Sun - Assignment (1530-1555) 1620-1655: Sat - Sportsworld, Sun - Sunday Sportsworld 1732-1745: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 1755) 1745-1755: Sat - People & Politics 1932-1945: Sat - World Business Review, Sun - Global Business (to 1955) 1945-1955: Sat - Letter From America 2230-2255: Sat - Agenda 2330-2355: Sat - Assignment (Richard Cuff, PA, swprograms via DXLD) I was listening to the Africa stream yesterday, and they had their own programs, and were nothing approaching All War All The Time (Ralph Brandi, NJ, Mar 29, swprograms via DXLD) LICENCE TO CULL http://media.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4631623,00.html The BBC's decision to cut 100 jobs and freeze spending in its online arm may have gone relatively unnoticed but it has huge implications for the future of the corporation. By Owen Gibson, Monday March 24, 2003, The Guardian The axing of 8% of the BBC's new media workforce barely registered even with those watching the BBC like hawks in the run up to charter renewal in 2006. After all, as BBC director of new media Ashley Highfield has explained, it's simply a case of the BBC's online operations (BBCi) moving into a new, more mature phase of development. But scratch the surface and it soon becomes apparent that this localised decision has far-reaching consequences for the corporation as a whole and goes right to the heart of the debate that will continue to rage over the next three years. Cutting 100 jobs at its new media division, as well as freezing spending at the department, is perhaps one of the first signs that the corporation has realised that it needs to check its expansionist tendencies before someone else does the job for it. ..... The popularity of the BBC site plus the amount spent on it, upwards of #111m a year, multiplied by the number of people it employs - more than 1,200 before the cutbacks - all add up to an unfairly bloated competitor, they argue. At the last count, the BBC ran more than 25,000 websites on just about every subject. [ and another 70 lines about unfair BBC competition ] (via Daniel Say, Mar 23, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Richard asked how the Iraq war has changed things at KUHF. Check the station's web site at http://www.kuhf.org and click on "KUHF news stories" then "KUHF Local" and "KUHF business" and you'll see a lot of the local stories we've generated as this story developed. NPR has five potential "news wheels" according to the heaviness of the situation, levels one through five. Solid NPR rolling coverage is level five, such as what happened in the hours after "shock and awe" began, as well as when that first initial attack on Saddam's top brass occurred. At that level, stations get three one-minute breaks hourly, and we can insert 60 seconds of local angles (stories about local Homeland Security, the war's effect on local business such as layoffs at Houston-based Continental Airlines, security at the Port of Houston --- amazingly, Iraqi oil shipped "indirectly" had been in the top five list of imports until the war, stories about departing service men and women, etc.). Level four allows for an additional two minutes of news at the top of the hour, following NPR hourly news, and that's where things have been quite a bit during "All Things Considered." Iraq is nine hours ahead of Houston, so the bombing campaign fell in afternoon programming. But most "Morning Edition" hours have been level three --- rolling coverage, but with the usual local cutaways (we insert local news following NPR top-of-the-hour newscasts and we do five-and-a-half minutes at the half-hour. By most mornings, the intense coverage has ramped back down, as things have turned out so far. In other hours in middays and evenings, we've added extra NPR hourly newscasts. We could carry BBC World Service, I've recently found out, since we are an affiliate of Public Radio International ("Marketplace," etc.) but the program director hasn't chosen to do so, yet. The station has a commitment to classical music during non- news hours, though, so I don't see things changing, but I'm working on him! Leading up to this, I've been covering stories like Winston Churchill III's speech to the Houston Forum, which was incredible. He was verbally and eloquently blasting France and Germany, which I suppose the British will probably always do, right? I covered Tom Delay way back in August on one of his visits --- one of the first voices we had on the air supporting the president's plans. It was the day I returned to work after a gall bladder operation, and it was surreal hearing him talk about the need to go to war while still on pain killers! We've been putting in extra hours, but a friend from NPR out of Austin, John Burnett, is "embedded" somewhere in the Iraqi war theatre, and has been sending back great stuff for the network. Another colleague at all-news KTRH here in Houston, Aaron Kiturski, is also over there doing the same thing for Clear Channel stations. We have a newsroom of six reporters, a web developer and news director, and we've been cranking it out--a lot of it is on our web site in Real Audio (Ed Mayberry, TX, Mar 22, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. CNN changes tone -- CNN - at least, the international version - has changed the tone of its war coverage. They've ditched the loud, triumphalist theme music they had been using since the war began. Since Saturday, they've been using a quieter piece of music. They have also cut back on the amount of live reporting, and have a lot more "filler" material such as foreign press reviews, extracts from foreign TV coverage of the war, and a piece on Radio Sawa which was quite sceptical about the station's chances of establishing itself as a credible information source (Andy Sennitt, RN blog Mar 30 via DXLD) Ditto domestic tonechange; BTW, Chonnie Cung has quit after being marginalised, her 0100 UT show like so much else obliterated by All War All the Time (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I emailed Steve Bratcher of the VOA regarding listening to the VOA from Israel on MW (normal broadcast band AM). 1260 AM is normally the frequency on which it can be heard, a few hours a day. His reply was: "Unfortunately, 1260 (Rhodes) has been reassigned to carry only Arabic programming. I do not expect English to return to 1260 anytime soon! We are adding, and have added, to our MW capabilities. Our new station on Cyprus using 990 kHz is also being dedicated to Arabic programming. I wish that I had better news for you!" He also emailed the Summer VOA English schedule to me. On the other hand, the BBC is broadcasting English on 1323 AM, 24 hours a day (and has been for a while). This frequency can be heard from Israel much of the day. Even when not much is going on in the Middle East, the BBC is only off the air in English (on that frequency) for a few hours a day (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5015.13, WWRB; 0303-0308 March 29. Noted English, but with big het. Then M with, "This is radio station WWRB, broadcasting... Manchester, Tennessee" atop M doom and gloom Sept. 11 talk. While the FCC continues to bust FM microbroadcasters, things like this mess are allowed (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now, now, see last issue ** U S A. HPY DAYS COME TO LOS ANGELES AS EL SEMBRADOR PUTS KHPY HISPANIC CATHOLIC RADIO ON THE AIR Los Angeles, Mar 24 (CRU) --- Hispanic Catholic radio may have come to Los Angeles, judging by a new ``Radio`` page at the El Sembrador website http://www.elsembradorministries.com Three weeks ago Catholic Radio Update reported that El Sembrador was negotiating with a radio station owner to lease his station with an option to purchase it at the end of a year. El Sembrador announces now that it is broadcasting over KHPY 1670 AM San Bernardino-Riverside-Los Angeles. Licensed to Moreno Valley, in the heart of the Inland Empire area of California, KHPY runs 10,000 watts day and has special authorization to run 9,000 watts night, using a different directional antenna pattern. Expanded AM band stations (1610-1700 AM) are limited to 1,000 watts night. KHPY reportedly received the dispensation from FCC rules because of poor ground conductivity. The station uses three towers daytime and two towers nighttime. El Sembrador reports its programming can be heard from Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 am to midnight. In this regard, it is similar to WCAR 1090 AM, which runs Catholic programming Mondays through Fridays, and on the weekend runs brokered programming to earn some cash. El Sembrador gives no schedule of programming or indicates its source, whether locally originated, or from EWTN`s Radio Católica Mundial, or the Archdiocese of Miami`s PaxNet. This may be an indication that all is set but Catholic programming has not yet begun on KHPY. A Catholic Radio Update e-mail to Señor Noel Díaz, president of El Sembrador, brought no response. The KHPY daytime signal covers not only the Inland Empire --- San Bernardino, Riverside and Ontario --- but also all but northeastern Los Angeles. The signal goes north to Hesperia, southeast to Palm Springs, and south to San Diego. The nighttime signal is basically the same except to the west and south; it does not reach most of Los Angeles, does not get into Long Beach although it covers Orange County, and to the south it goes only as far as Oceanside. In his letter for March, to be seen at the website, president Noel Díaz says that engineers and experts have told him that the station is capable of being engineered for a better signal over all Los Angeles, and an expert has told the same thing to Catholic Radio Update. KHPY El Sembrador 1670 AM will bring Catholic radio to the second largest MSA in the country (16,373,645 people), the largest diocese in number of Catholics, and Catholic radio to 78 dioceses, not including the additional coverage of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Orange. The Diocese of San Bernardino, of which His Excellency Gerald R. Barnes is bishop, has 881,631 Catholics (28.2% of the population); the Diocese of Orange 1,029,138 Catholics (37.8%), of which His Excellency Tod Brown is bishop; and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with 4,121,601 Catholics (39.4%), of which Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is archbishop. KHPY will cover most of the largest Hispanic market in the United States, with 6,646,562 Hispanics. The Los Angeles metro area is the second largest city of Mexicans in the world after Mexico City. KHPY is the ninth Hispanic Catholic radio station in the U.S., and the 59th Catholic radio station on the air. Database Riverside–San Bernardino -- Los Angeles: KHPY El Sembrador 1670 AM Moreno Valley (10,000 watts day, directional; 9,000 watts night, directional, different pattern). Format: Hispanic Catholic. Delbert L. Van Voorhis. Leased by El Sembrador Ministries, Inc. 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Mondays through Fridays. Ministerio El Sembrador, 2636 N. Ontario St., Burbank, CA 91504. Tel.: (818) 260-0222, fax 557-7796. E-mail: elsembrador1@aol.com http://www.elsembradorministries.com Noel Díaz, president. El Sembrador also operates the ESNE satellite channel. (In the Dioceses of San Bernardino and Orange, and Archdiocese of Los Angeles) Catholic radio`s time has come, particularly in parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada, where it has not existed before, or has existed in small numbers far out of proportion to the Catholic population. Demographers put the U.S. Catholic population at close to 30%, although the official Church figures show only 23%. In Canada, that percentage is 44%. In Latin America, where Catholic radio has been established for 70 years, the growth of spiritual life stations, aiming at deepening the life of grace in the souls of their listeners, is showing remarkable growth that appears unstoppable. They join the hundreds of diocesan stations already there (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Mar 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. THE NEWS IN MORMON COUNTRY For more than a century, one newspaper has been a counterweight to a powerful church. Will Dean Singleton alter the balance? http://www.cjr.org/year/03/2/scherer.asp (Columbia Journalism Review via gh, DXLD) Another story on Mormon control of the media in the Theocracy of Utah, mostly about print, but also broadcasting (gh) ** U S A. FCC OFFICIAL REQUESTS WEEKLY REPORTS FROM MAINE HAM The FCC`s Boston office has requested a Maine amateur to submit weekly reports detailing some of his on-the-air activities. FCC Boston District Director Vincent F. Kajunski wrote Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, on March 4. Kajunski said the FCC needed the information to determine if Baxter was operating his station in compliance with Part 97 and with rules regarding recording and broadcasting of telephone calls. ``Your Amateur Radio station is apparently being used for broadcasting various `programs,` `talk shows,` children`s shows and programs having nothing to do with Amateur Radio,`` Kajunski said in his letter. ``Transmissions from your station are being used for deliberate interference and for communications in which you apparently have a pecuniary interest.`` Kajunski also alleged that transmissions from Baxter`s station ``start and end erratically, are sometimes repetitive and abruptly end with no identification as required by Commission rules.`` Such operation, he said, indicates the transmissions ``are not under the control of a licensed operator.`` Kajunski`s three-page letter also outlines other complaints and allegations involving transmissions from or operation of K1MAN. Starting March 17, Kajunski said he wants weekly reports from Baxter that, among other specifics, provide the name, address, telephone number and exact location of the control operator and the method of station control used when K1MAN transmits. He also requested dates, times and frequencies of broadcasts of telephone conversations; transmissions referencing the offer of a degree in electronics or an IARN (International Amateur Radio Network) credit card; transmissions referencing the IARN Web site; and transmissions soliciting donations of radio equipment or other items, including donations to ``the Radio Peace Corps Foundation.`` Kajunski further asked for a record of CQs transmitted, including recorded or automated CQs and a description of any responses, including the call sign of responding stations. He also requested that Baxter provide within 30 days information on the alleged transmission of an ``apparently continuous `CQ` loop that the FCC says aired at approximately 10-second intervals for more than two hours on February 3, 2003, on 20-meter SSB. Within the same time frame, the FCC also wants a list of dates, length of time and frequencies ``during which your amateur station has operated since February 15, 2002, without you at the transmitter location.`` If any, Kajunski asked for the name and address of the control operator, the location of the control operator and control point and the method of control used (ARRL Letter Mar 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non?]. Pescadores Venezolanos hablando, captados a las 1405 UT en los 9620.1 kHz usb. Estaban hablando de la pesca del dia cuando de repente se presentó un ruido como un jammig estilo motor y luego otro sonido que parecía jamming estilo burbuja. Los sonidos eran demasiado fuertes puesto que no dejaban escuchar nada. Entonces uno de los pescadores le dijo al otro: mira mi hermano que ruido del coño es ese? Por lo escuchado, se trataban de pescadores del oriente de Venezuela (DIAZ GOMEZ, José Elías, Venezuela, Receptor: Sony ICF2001-D, Antena: Hilo largo de 27 metros, Conexión Digital Mar 30 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4615, Mideast clandestine; 0257-0300 March 29. Good but with bubble jammer atop. Non-Arabic W talk (Kurdish or Farsi?). (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Mar 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRM [see also GERMANY] +++ LOW BUDGET DRM RECEPTION WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER - by Michael Bethge Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a new digital radio standard for the long-, medium- and short-wave ranges. The standard was formed by a consortium in co-operation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The new system offers the radio stations and new service providers access to the multimedia age with small bit rates for large target areas and long distances. Germany's international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, has announced that from June 2003 it will transmit digitally on shortwave to Europe and the Middle East. Deutsche Welle thus becomes the first international broadcaster to commit to a start date for regular DRM transmissions. Other broadcasters will certainly follow soon with regular DRM transmissions. At this moment there are no consumer receivers with built-in DRM decoder available on the market. The only possibility to receive/ decode DRM transmissions is currently with a modified receiver in combination with a personal computer running with the Windows operating system. A few specialized radio dealers offer to make the necessary modifications on your receiver, like Charly Hardt in Germany http://www.charly-hardt.de However, this modification is not really cheap - between 120.00 and 150.00 Euro. In addition, you need a DRM decoder for your personal computer, which is normally offered by the DRM Consortium for E60.00 at http://www.drmrx.org I have therefore looked for a possibility to receive/decode DRM transmissions without investing that much money. In this case you will have to make the necessary modification to your receiver yourself, which is not too difficult - at least it was not really difficult for my NRD-525. Just have a look at the receiver modifications described at http://www.drmrx.org/receiver_mods.html for a number of receivers. You will have to buy a so-called "universal downmixer from 455 kHz or 10.7 MHz to 12 kHz", which is available from Sat-Service-Schneider in Germany http://home.t-online.de/home/sat-service/sat/DRM/DRM.htm E-Mail: sat-service@t-online.de I received it within 3 days and paid E31.90 including VAT and postage. On the right please find a picture of this small unit. After you have built in the downmixer and connected it to your personal computer's sound card (line in jack), you will need a software decoder. After some research in the Internet, I have found a freeware decoder called "Dream", developed by the Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany http://www.tu-darmstadt.de/fb/et/uet/fguet/mitarbeiter/vf/DRM/DRM.html Since they are offering only the uncompiled source code for this program, and also two "DLL" files were missing, I have made a full compiled version available for our members at http://www.wwdxc.de/archive/dream.zip (size: 2.1 MB). After downloading the ZIP file, please uncompress the files to a new empty directory. After that, the program file "dream.exe" can just be started with a double mouse click. If everything is working well, the decoder will soon show the station you have tuned in on the screen, and you will hear the transmitted program from the loudspeakers connected to your personal computer. A list of current DRM test transmissions can be found at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html If you have any more questions on this subject, please do not hesitate to contact me by E-Mail at mail@wwdxc.de (Michael Bethge, March WWDXC DX Magazine via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) CONTESTS +++++++++ WHO`s WHO IN DX Set up by this year`s EDXC Conference organizing club; at the moment only 11 entries; anyone may fill out the form; in German http://www.dx-who-is-who.org (via El Dial, Abril, via DXLD) SUMMER BCL CONTEST Please can you talk of this contest for BCL. Thank you and 73 http://site.voila.fr/SWLCONTEST/ (Frank Parisot, France, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION ++++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary February 26 2003 through March 18 2003 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 2/26 102 5 2 no storms no storms 4 27 109 14 5 no storms no storms 9 2/28 118 23 3 no storms no storms 8 3/ 1 125 18 3 no storms no storms 9 2 138 13 3 no storms no storms 9 3 147 12 3 no storms no storms 6 4 149 16 3 no storms no storms 6 5 146 20 3 minor no storms 9 6 149 17 3 no storms no storms 7 7 150 18 3 minor no storms 8 8 150 13 2 no storms no storms 6 9 148 11 3 no storms no storms 9 10 153 13 1 no storms no storms 7 11 144 11 3 no storms no storms 7 12 no report 13 no report 14 134 15 2 no storms no storms 5 15 139 17 5 moderate minor 8 16 131 22 3 minor no storms 9 17 129 16 3 minor no storms 8 3/18 125 31 5 strong minor 8 ********************************************************************* (IRCA Soft DX Monitor Mar 22 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-053, March 29, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1175: RFPI: Sun 0600, Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage; see C.R.] WWCR: Sun 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0545 on 7415 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0700, M-F 1300 on 7490 WRN: Sun 1500 N. America WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1175.html [already] MARCH HTML FILE UPDATED now thru issue 3-052: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html WORLD OF RADIO [not] ON WJIE. The new time we were informed of, 0300 UT Sunday, did not pan out: checking both 7490 and webcast at 0310, we hear music instead; maybe next week? Anyway, we were back on WWCR 5070 at 0330 {and RFPI 7445 at 0612} (gh, DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO MP3 --- Hi Glenn, just to let you and your listeners know that a 16 kbps MP3 file is available at Dxerscalling Audiosend; WOR 1174 and 1175 are there, handy for those who miss the SW Broadcast and want a smaller downloadable file (3.28MB) http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/dxerscallingAudiosend/files/ Thanks as always, keep up the great work, 73 Tim Gaynor, Dxerscalling Australia and Audiosend http://nrin.hypermart.net/dxerscalling.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS Glenn, I read with great interest the comments in DXLD 3-051 regarding the opinions you express about matters both political and religious. As a member of the "vast right wing conspiracy" I would like to point out to those who take umbrage with your opinions that at the end of the day DXLD is still YOUR web site and you can say anything you damn well please on this web site. If others don't like it, perhaps they should create a site of their own. As someone who has been DXing for just over two years I am thankful for DXLD, HCDX, Cumbre and NASWA. I would be lost without the efforts of other DXers who share with me when and where to listen (Scott R Barbour Jr, NH USA) Glenn, have benefited from your radio related work since the 1970`s. I recall eagerly awaiting the next issue of ``Popular Electronics`` for the ``DX Listening`` column. I still have a ``DX Listening`` from March 1976 with ``Shortwave News From All Over``. Those were the days--- ``Turks & Caicos Islands. VSI`s afternoon show on 4.788 MHz``, ``Radio Swan de Honduras started out on 6.185 MHz``, ``Brazil has big plans for international broadcasting`` and ``Tirana`s tirades make it a station most Americans avoid with a passion``. Any possibility of republishing the old articles? These are fascinating history. I`ve enjoyed the recent historical items in DXLD. From ``Popular Electronics`` I recall hearing the DX items on RCI`s DX Program. I remember the excitement of hearing DX/SWL items on the show and then scanning the bands for the stations. From RCI`s show I recall hearing my first ``World of Radio`` on WRNO. I still have the WRNO certificate signed by Joseph Costello III. Shame WRNO didn`t live up to their plan. However, WRNO did have a major impact on private SW broadcasting from the U.S. Some in DXLD report receiving WRNO, but WRNO has become rare DX. The days of ``Review of International Broadcasting`` and ``DX Listening Digest`` were great time for a radio hobbyist. I had fun doing the ``DIAL`` column in RIB. In the early 1990`s I had too many other things going on at once. Unfortunately, radio took a back seat (a way, way back seat). Then, in late 1999, I was able to, once again, enjoy the hobby. I was glad to find gh was still active. With technology we`re fortunate to have DXLD online. We`ve gone from a monthly publication in the 1970`s to the weekly WOR to the, almost daily, DXLD. With work, family, etc I don`t always get the opportunity to listen to the broadcast WOR. However, having the real audio files available is a great convenience. The sound is very clear – I can even hear the script pages being turned! I`ve seemed to acquire, once again, an insatiable appetite for DX/SWL news and tips. However, the regular doses of DXLD feeds me the info I need. I know I`ve written a long letter and have not actually gotten to the point. The point is Thanks for everything you have done for the hobby, and me, throughout the years. I`ve enclosed a donation as a token of my gratitude (Kraig W. Krist, VA, March 15) ** ARGENTINA. 15820, AM910 La Red, Buenos Aires, // 910 kHz, 0310+, March 30. LSB mode. Talk about different artistic shows in Mar del Plata city. 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hard of Hearing radio: It's exactly what it sounds like Auditory Adam keeps bass deep, tones low on university station Chris Purdy, The Edmonton Journal, Friday, March 28, 2003 CREDIT: Larry Wong, The Journal Adam Ungstad produces Canada's first Hard of Hearing Radio show on CJSR for people with hearing loss. . . http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/story.asp?id=AB6223B8-A598-4D06-B6C8-3DAAB5AA1B58 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CHINESE AGENCY STARTS 24-HOUR AUDIO NEWS SERVICE ON IRAQ WAR | Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) In response to many requests from the broadcast media, beginning 12 March, Xinhua's international audio news feed service began offering continuous, 24-hour a day front-line audio reports gathered from Xinhua reporters in Baghdad, aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, and in the countries surrounding Iraq. The reports are distributed over the Internet. Currently an average of about ten audio reports per day are being provided. The reports have been well received following broadcast on some radio and television stations. There are still some elements of the broadcast media which are not familiar with the audio report feed service which Xinhua is currently offering. Radio and television stations who are interested and who need these reports are invited to contact the Radio and Television News Editing Office of Xinhua's International Department, tel. 010- 63073650 or 63071906, e-mail AVSERVICE@XINHUANET.COM Thank you. Xinhua International Department 29 March 2003 Source: BBC Monitoring research 29 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. 11690 USB+carrier, R. Okapi, 2300-0000 Mar 28. Lively music some with a Latin flavor. The only song I recognized was Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles". Brief talk by OM in French. Okapi jingles heard at 2348. SINPO peaked at 23432 and they were in the clear until the ToH (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Radio For Peace International's Weekly Program Update for the week of 30 March - 5 April, 2003 ======================================== (Frequencies/hours subject to change without notice) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (AM): 24 hours, daytime to Central America, nighttime to the rest of the world. 19 meters: 15.040 MHz (AM): Off line for the moment for some necessary repairs. And streaming live on the Internet in MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org - off at the moment due to technical difficulties (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) However, they give program details as usual for the coming week, so perhaps WOR, COM et al. will be back on. Indeed, UT Sun 0540 COM started, so WOR at 0610? (gh, DXLD) ** CROATIA. Re: DXLD Zadar Croatia 1130 kHz off frequency. Die Frequenzabweichung bei dem HRT Mittelwellensender Zadar in Kroatien von 1134 auf 1130 kHz duerfte bereinigt sein. Um 1113 Uhr sandte Zelimir Klasan von HRT aus Zagreb folgende Meldung: Ein Synthesizer hatte die Frequenzkontrolle verloren. 73 wb From: "Wolfgang Bueschel To: "HRT Zelimir Klasan Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 9:13 PM Subject: Zadar 1130 kHz, 4 kHz off the registered frequency Hello dear Zelimir, for past few days now, in international broadcasting newsgroups there are reports of odd - mediumwave Zadar site on 1130.00 kHz (next whistle tone to Deanovec 1125). 4 kHz DOWN the ITU registered frequency of 1134 kHz. Measured the exact frequency right now, on March 27th at 2000 UT; Zadar is still on odd 1130 kHz. May you can explain this phenomenon ? Quarz crystal failure at Zadar ? kind regards de Wolfgang Bueschel DF5SX D-70597 Stuttgart Deutschland From: "Zelimir Klasan To: "Wolfgang Bueschel Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 11:13 AM Subject: Re: Zadar 1130 kHz, 4 kHz off the registered frequency Dear Mr, Bueschel, thank you very much for your kind email and information. We have traced problem with one of synthesizer (lost of kHz control). Sorry for inconvenience. Best regards, Zelimir Klasan HRT hrtnet@hrt.hr (BC-DX Mar 28 via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. See 3-051; ham DXpedition has been delayed until early April: http://www.qsl.net/lldxt (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. CYPRUS / MONACO http://www.ddm.gouv.fr/actualites/depeches_afp/index.html (in French) RADIO MONTE CARLO-MIDDLE EAST GOES UP RECEIVED IN BAGDAD PARIS, March 27, 03 ( AFP) - RMC Middle East, French radio of expression arabophone of the group RFI, is received in Bagdad in MW and in FM in Doha (Qatar), Manama (Bahrain), Khartum (Sudan), Amman (Jordan) and Damascus (Syria), indicates on Thursday (March 26) a communiqué of the radio. The radio set up a relay at Ajloun in Jordan what allows its programs to be received in FM in Damascus (Syria). Current event mobilized the editorial staffs of the group RFI, which for lack of measure of audience, underlines "the reproduction of auditors' appeals and the impressive jump of the number of visits of RFI's Internet sites (+35% in March) and RMC Middle East (+335% of connect supplementary from Jordan or +104% from Saudi Arabia. PS / Saddam Hussein would listen regularly to this station as well as the Arabic service of the BBC according to the French press (machine translation via Bernard Chenal, France, March 29, fixed up a bit by gh for DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. DW Frequency Report for NAm UT March 30 0400-0500 UT -- 7225 [Rwanda] is adequate (33343 --- some ham QRM and about an S5-6 signal, for the most part). 11945 is quite good (45444 --- a solid S9 on the meter). 15410 inaudible. (7225/11945 also audible in same relative signal strength on Sony SW- 07 with whip.) "Inside Europe" is the listed program, but this was not heard. Instead, a special edition of "Newslink" was followed by "Network Europe". 0500-0600 UT -- 9700 listenable at first. (SINPO-34333; S5/S6 signal on meter). Very weak, barely readable signals on 12045 and 13755. 11925 and 15410 inaudible. As hour goes on, QRM from Radio Rossii on same frequency increased, reducing SINPO to 33333 and at times to 32332. (9700 also readable on Sony SW-07 with whip.) (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY (near Albany), Lowe HF-150 stack, A/D Sloper antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [and non]. ERT relays by IBB from US Sites, A-03, languages ``various``: ERT ERA5 600 800 DL 03 15190 296 ERT ERA5 600 800 DL 02 15190 296 ERT ERA5 1200 1500 DL 01 11730 075 ERT ERA5 1600 1900 DL 04 17705 075 ERT ERA5 2000 2200 DL 04 17705 075 ERT ERA5 2000 2200 GA 08 17565 164 ERT relays by IBB from sites in Greece, A-03: 0 400 KAV 12 15650 095 0 400 KAV 12 15630 095 0 400 KAV 11 9420 355 0 400 KAV 11 7475 240 400 800 KAV 12 21530 095 400 700 KAV 11 17520 095 900 1400 RHO A 1260 134 900 1300 KAV A 792 999 1100 1400 KAV 11 12110 355 1100 1300 KAV 05 12105 355 1200 1400 KAV 12 15650 095 1300 1700 KAV 05 9420 355 1300 1700 KAV A 792 330 1400 1900 KAV 12 12110 355 1400 2100 KAV 11 9420 355 1730 1800 KAV A 792 999 1900 2100 KAV 12 12105 355 2000 2130 KAV A 792 330 2100 2400 KAV 12 15650 095 2100 2300 KAV 12 12110 095 2100 2300 KAV 11 9425 105 2100 2300 KAV 11 9420 105 2200 2300 KAV A 792 330 2300 2400 KAV 11 12105 240 2300 2400 KAV 11 7475 240 (IBB March 29 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** INDIA. The afternoon broadcast of AIR Vividh Bharathi on 10330 via Bangalore 500 kW transmitter is now at 0900-1200 (ex 0630-1200) Its full schedule is 0025-0435, 0900-1200, 1245-1740. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 5040, 1437-, RRI Pekanbaru, Mar 29. Strong signal with typical RRI muddy audio fighting it out with Myanmar on 5040.57. Therefore use LSB. Though the het is loud, I'm finding it difficult to hear much of Myanmar. Good overall for the RRI with talk by man and woman (Walter Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Re Christian Voice schedule, 3-051: the Asia portion, of course would be mostly via Darwin; previously used Tashkent as well (gh, DXLD){i.e. Voice Inernational, ``Christian`` having been decided too inflammatory a name for a stealth station} ** INTERNATIONAL. For some more 'first hand' information: Military Frequencies to monitor (all are in USB) include: 4709, 4724, 6712, 6739, 8992, 11176 (the one I hear most stuff on), 11271, 15038 (Ken Zichi, MI, MARE Mar 29 via DXLD) ** IRAN. A03 IRIB 12-Mar-2003 Version: 02 Total reqs: 228 [gh removed excess administrative data; all entries are days 1234567; all dated 3003303 to 261003 except the two Ebri entries on 9910 and 11925; asterisks by languages not explained. Strange spellings presumably influenced by Farsi; but some lang. abbrs. are unk. Azimuth 0 seemingly means non-direxional rather than due north; English, Ebri and Spanish also excerpted below] SITES: AHW = Ahwaz [SW near Basra, Iraq], KAM = Kamalabad [near Tehran], MAS = Mashhad [NE corner], SIR = Sirjan [central], ZAH = Zahedan [near Pakistan/Afghanistan tri-state area, per WRTH map, except does not list Ahwaz, but does list a site missing here, Mahshar] {Not all of these may actually be in use, as noted in next issue} FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC POWR AZIMUTH SLW ANT LANGUAGE 3945 1200 1500 30S,40E MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI* 3945 1730 1930 40E,41NW MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI* 3985 1630 0130 39,40 AHW 250 0 0 935 ARABIC 5945 1430 1700 29S,40NW SIR 500 346 0 218 TURKI-AZ* 5955 1500 1600 30,40NE MAS 500 0 0 935 UZBAKI* 5955 1600 1730 30S,40NE MAS 500 0 0 935 TADJIKI 5970 1900 1930 38E,39W KAM 500 250 0 145 EBRI 5985 1500 1600 30,40NE MAS 500 0 0 935 UZBAKI 5985 1700 1800 30,31 KAM 500 58 0 145 RUSSIAN 6010 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 SIR 500 328 0 218 EBRI* 6015 1630 1730 40E,41W SIR 500 65 0 156 PUSHTU 6025 1630 2130 38,39 KAM 500 250 0 145 ARABIC 6040 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH* 6065 1800 1900 30,31 AHW 500 26 0 145 RUSSIAN* 6135 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH* 6135 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 KAM 500 333 0 217 EBRI* 6185 1630 1730 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 0 156 ARMENIAN* 6200 1430 1700 29S,40NW SIR 500 338 0 218 TURKI-AZ 6205 1800 1900 29 SIR 500 328 0 218 RUSSIAN 6220 1430 1700 29S,40NW SIR 500 346 0 156 TURKI-AZ* 7120 0330 0530 39N AHW 250 0 0 935 S-A 7125 1930 2030 28NE,29,30 KAM 100 340 0 146 RUSSIAN 7130 0230 0330 40E,41W SIR 500 75 0 218 PUSHTU 7165 1430 1530 30,31 KAM 500 58 0 145 RUSSIAN 7165 1600 1730 28S,39N KAM 500 289 0 215 TURKI-ES 7175 0330 0530 39N KAM 500 250 0 145 S-A 7175 1900 1930 38E,39W SIR 500 282 0 146 EBRI 7175 1930 2030 28NE,29 SIR 500 340 0 146 RUSSIAN 7180 0100 0230 30S,40NE MAS 500 0 0 935 TADJIKI 7180 0230 0300 30,40NE MAS 500 0 0 935 UZBAKI 7180 1430 1530 30,31 KAM 500 58 0 145 RUSSIAN* 7180 1730 1830 28S SIR 500 313 0 218 BOSSNI* 7195 1630 1730 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 PUSHTU 7210 1700 1800 30,31 SIR 500 18 0 146 RUSSIAN 7215 1630 1700 41 KAM 500 109 0 216 URDU* 7230 1630 1730 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 0 146 ARMENIAN 7245 0330 0530 39N SIR 500 295 0 156 S-A 7245 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 100 0 216 ENGLISH 7260 1800 1900 29,30 KAM 100 340 0 146 RUSSIAN 7270 1430 1530 40E,41W ZAH 500 0 0 935 PUSHTU-m 7270 1530 1730 40E,41NW ZAH 500 0 0 935 URDU-m 7285 1530 0330 38,39,47,48 KAM 500 238 0 145 ARABIC 7295 1200 1500 30S,40E MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI 7295 1730 1830 28S KAM 500 298 0 146 BOSSNI 7295 1830 1930 28SE SIR 500 295 0 156 ALBANI* 7295 1930 2000 28 KAM 500 298 0 146 ITALY 7315 1900 1930 29 KAM 100 335 0 146 EBRI 7335 1930 2030 28NE,29 SIR 500 320 0 146 RUSSIAN* 9500 0230 0430 39 SIR 500 304 0 218 KORDI-SO* 9515 0030 0230 12S,13S,14N,15N KAM 500 259 0 215 SPANISH 9520 1430 1530 41NE SIR 500 90 0 218 BENGALI 9525 0130 0230 40E,41NW SIR 500 80 0 156 URDU 9535 2030 2130 28SE ZAH 500 289 0 145 ALBANI 9545 1730 1830 28S KAM 500 298 0 146 BOSSNI* 9545 1830 1930 28SE KAM 500 298 0 146 ALBANI 9550 1600 1730 28S,39N KAM 500 298 0 146 TURKI-ES 9560 2330 0030 8,10,11 KAM 500 333 0 216 FRENCH 9565 1330 1430 41 SIR 500 90 0 146 URDU* 9570 0030 0230 12S,13S,14N,15N KAM 500 259 0 215 SPANISH* 9570 0030 0130 41NE KAM 500 95 0 211 BENGALI 9570 1830 1930 28SE ZAH 500 289 0 145 ALBANI 9580 0300 0630 30S,40E MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI 9580 1430 1530 28E,29 SIR 500 330 0 218 RUSSIAN 9590 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH 9605 0230 0330 40E,41W KAM 500 94 0 216 PUSHTU 9610 0330 0430 38E,39NW KAM 500 250 0 145 S-F 9615 1430 1530 29-31 AHW 500 26 0 145 RUSSIAN 9625 1630 1730 40E,41W KAM 100 95 0 146 PUSHTU* 9630 1230 1330 40E,41W KAM 500 95 0 146 PUSHTU* 9635 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 105 0 218 ENGLISH 9645 1230 1330 40E,41W MAS 500 0 0 935 PUSHTU* 9655 0030 0230 11,12 SIR 500 304 0 218 SPANISH 9655 1730 1830 39S,47,48,52,53 KAM 500 205 0 211 SAWAHILI 9665 1330 1430 39S SIR 500 235 0 146 URDU 9685 2230 2330 49,50,54 SIR 500 115 0 216 MELAU 9705 1630 0330 39,48,53 MAS 500 210 0 145 ARABIC 9720 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 105 0 218 ENGLISH* 9725 1230 1330 40E,41W ZAH 500 0 0 935 PUSHTU* 9725 1630 1730 40E,41W KAM 100 95 0 146 PUSHTU 9730 2230 2330 49,50,54 SIR 500 115 0 216 MELAU* 9735 1630 1700 41 SIR 500 90 0 218 URDU* 9740 0130 0230 40E,41NW SIR 500 80 0 218 URDU* 9750 1600 1730 28S,39N KAM 500 298 0 146 TURKI-ES* 9750 2030 2130 37NW SIR 500 295 0 218 SPANISH* 9780 1630 1730 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 322 0 211 ARMENIAN 9790 1230 1330 40E,41W ZAH 500 0 0 935 PUSHTU 9800 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 211 0 216 ENGLISH 9805 0300 0330 29E,30,31 SIR 500 18 0 146 RUSSIAN 9810 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH* 9810 1430 1530 39S,40S KAM 500 190 0 146 BENGALI 9810 2130 2230 28S ZAH 500 289 0 145 BOSSNI 9835 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH* 9835 1730 1830 28S ZAH 500 289 0 145 BOSSNI 9870 2130 2230 54,55,59 SIR 500 115 0 218 ENGLISH 9875 0300 0330 29E,30,31 SIR 500 18 0 146 RUSSIAN* 9890 0030 0130 41NE SIR 500 90 0 145 BENGALI 9890 0230 0630 39S KAM 500 178 0 146 ARABIC 9900 1430 1530 31-33 SIR 500 43 0 216 RUSSIAN* 9910 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 KAM 500 333 0 217 300303 300803 EBRI 9935 1730 2230 27,28,37-39,46 SIR 500 302 0 211 ARABIC 11610 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH 11640 1830 1930 28SE KAM 500 298 0 146 ALBANI* 11660 2030 2130 28SE KAM 500 298 0 146 ALBANI* 11665 0230 0430 39 ZAH 500 289 0 145 KORDI-SO 11665 1300 1400 30,31,40NE KAM 500 58 0 145 KAZAKI 11665 1430 1530 41NE KAM 500 95 0 216 BENGALI* 11670 1930 2030 27 KAM 500 304 0 215 ENGLISH 11680 0030 0130 41NE KAM 500 94 0 216 BENGALI* 11695 1330 1430 41 KAM 500 118 0 146 URDU 11695 1430 1530 41 KAM 500 118 0 146 HINDI 11700 0930 1000 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 0 146 ARMENIAN 11705 0830 0930 39S,40S SIR 500 198 0 146 BENGALI 11710 1830 1930 27,28 SIR 500 310 0 211 FRENCH* 11710 2130 0130 4,7-10 SIR 500 340 0 218 ARABIC 11725 2030 2130 28SE KAM 500 298 0 146 ALBANI 11740 1630 0330 37-39 MAS 500 270 0 145 ARABIC 11750 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 216 0 216 ENGLISH 11750 2330 0030 42-44 KAM 500 64 0 216 CHINA 11765 1730 1830 27,28 KAM 500 304 0 215 GERMANY 11765 1930 2000 28 KAM 500 298 0 146 ITALY* 11765 2030 2130 37 KAM 500 289 0 215 SPANISH 11770 0230 0630 39S KAM 500 178 0 146 ARABIC* 11775 1430 1530 41 KAM 500 109 0 216 HINDI* 11775 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 109 0 216 ENGLISH 11790 0230 0330 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 PUSHTU 11820 1430 1530 29,30 KAM 500 358 0 145 RUSSIAN 11830 0300 0330 30,31 KAM 500 58 0 145 RUSSIAN 11840 1630 2130 27,28 KAM 500 304 0 215 ARABIC* 11855 1730 1830 27,28 SIR 500 320 0 146 GERMANY 11855 2100 2130 45 SIR 500 60 0 218 JAPANESE 11860 0300 0330 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 320 0 146 ARMENIAN 11860 1830 1930 27,28 KAM 500 304 0 215 FRENCH 11860 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 ENGLISH 11870 0500 0530 29,30 KAM 500 358 0 145 RUSSIAN 11870 1230 1330 40E,41W KAM 500 118 0 146 PUSHTU 11870 2130 2230 28S KAM 500 298 0 146 BOSSNI 11875 0330 0430 38E,39NW KAM 100 258 0 146 S-F 11880 0130 0230 40E,41NW KAM 500 94 0 216 URDU 11880 0830 1200 40E,41NW MAS 500 0 0 935 DARI 11880 1830 1930 46,47 SIR 500 258 0 218 FRENCH 11895 2130 2230 28S KAM 500 298 0 146 BOSSNI* 11905 1730 2230 37,38W,46NE SIR 500 278 0 218 ARABIC* 11920 0030 0230 8-11 SIR 500 328 0 218 ENGLISH 11925 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 SIR 500 330 0 218 300303 300803 EBRI 11925 0330 0430 38E,39NW KAM 100 258 0 146 S-F* 11930 1830 1930 46,47 KAM 500 255 0 216 HUSA 11935 0130 0230 30,31,40NE SIR 500 30 0 206 KAZAKI 11965 0030 0130 41NE SIR 500 90 0 145 BENGALI* 11965 2230 2330 49,50,54 KAM 500 109 0 216 MELAU 11970 2330 0030 8,9 SIR 500 328 0 218 FRENCH* 11995 1730 1830 39S,47,48,52,53 SIR 500 223 0 218 SAWAHILI 12005 2330 0030 8,9 SIR 500 328 0 218 FRENCH 12015 1430 1530 41NE KAM 500 95 0 216 BENGALI 12030 1430 1530 41 SIR 500 95 0 156 HINDI 13635 2100 2130 45 SIR 500 65 0 156 JAPANESE 13640 0130 0230 40E,41NW AHW 250 84 0 145 URDU 13650 1930 2000 28 ZAH 500 289 0 145 ITALY 13665 1730 1830 27,28 SIR 500 322 0 211 GERMANY* 13665 2130 2230 55,58,59 SIR 500 113 0 218 ENGLISH 13700 1830 1930 27,28 SIR 500 304 0 218 FRENCH* 13710 0330 0530 29S,40NW SIR 500 338 0 218 TURKI-AZ 13730 0230 0330 12,13 KAM 500 280 0 211 SPANISH 13730 1330 1430 41 KAM 500 109 0 216 URDU* 13730 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 ENGLISH* 13740 2330 0030 42-44 KAM 500 64 0 216 CHINA* 13755 1300 1400 30,31,40NE SIR 500 30 0 206 KAZAKI 13755 2030 2130 37NW SIR 500 295 0 218 SPANISH 13770 0130 0230 30,31,40NE SIR 500 18 0 146 KAZAKI 13770 0330 1530 38,39,47,48 KAM 500 238 0 146 ARABIC 13785 1230 1330 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 PUSHTU 13785 1830 1930 27,28 SIR 500 310 0 211 FRENCH 13805 1330 1430 41 KAM 500 109 0 216 URDU 13805 1430 1530 41 KAM 500 109 0 216 HINDI 13820 1230 1630 39S,40S KAM 500 178 0 146 ARABIC 15125 0330 1630 39 MAS 500 210 0 145 ARABIC 15150 0330 1630 38,39 MAS 500 270 0 145 ARABIC 15165 0230 0300 41 SIR 500 102 0 146 HINDI 15200 1230 1330 49,54 SIR 500 115 0 218 MELAU 15215 0500 0530 29 SIR 500 322 0 211 RUSSIAN 15235 0530 0630 28S SIR 500 295 0 211 BOSSNI 15235 0630 0730 28SE KAM 500 298 0 146 ALBANI 15235 1200 1300 28 KAM 500 298 0 146 ITALY 15260 0430 0600 28S,39N KAM 500 289 0 215 TURKI-ES 15260 0930 1000 29SE,39NE,40NW SIR 500 322 0 211 ARMENIAN 15265 0330 0430 39S,47,48,52,53 SIR 500 235 0 146 SAWAHILI 15330 1300 1400 30,31,40NE SIR 500 40 0 211 KAZAKI 15365 0430 0600 28S,39N ZAH 500 289 0 145 TURKI-ES 15395 1430 1530 41NE SIR 500 102 0 146 BENGALI 15435 1830 1930 46,47 SIR 500 268 0 218 HUSA 15440 0730 0830 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 PUSHTU 15450 1030 1130 40E,41N ZAH 500 0 0 935 ENGLISH 15490 1330 1430 41 AHW 250 84 0 145 URDU 15490 1430 1530 41 AHW 250 84 0 145 HINDI 15490 2330 0030 42-44 SIR 500 75 0 218 CHINA 15550 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 94 0 216 ENGLISH 15555 1300 1330 45 SIR 500 60 0 218 JAPANESE 15570 2330 0030 42-44 SIR 500 68 0 218 CHINA 15600 1030 1130 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 ENGLISH 15610 1030 1330 39 ZAH 500 289 0 145 KORDI-SO 15610 1330 1530 39 ZAH 500 289 0 145 KORDI-SH 17535 1200 1300 42-44 SIR 500 76 0 216 CHINA 17555 1230 1330 49,54 KAM 500 109 0 216 MELAU 17560 0630 0730 28 KAM 500 295 0 217 ITALY 17570 0330 0430 39S,47,48,52,53 KAM 500 203 0 216 SAWAHILI 17590 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH 17590 0630 0730 27,28 KAM 500 304 0 215 FRENCH 17590 0730 0830 27,28 KAM 500 310 0 218 GERMANY 17600 0600 0700 39,46,47,52 SIR 500 260 0 156 HUSA 17635 0230 0300 41 SIR 500 95 0 156 HINDI 17680 0530 0630 28S SIR 500 310 0 211 BOSSNI 17680 0630 0730 28SE KAM 500 289 0 215 ALBANI 17780 0630 0730 27 SIR 500 310 0 218 FRENCH 17785 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 289 0 215 SPANISH 17800 1130 1230 47,48,52,53 SIR 500 223 0 218 SAWAHILI 17810 1300 1330 45 KAM 500 60 0 217 JAPANESE 17825 0630 0730 28 SIR 500 295 0 211 ITALY 21460 1200 1300 42-44 SIR 500 65 0 156 CHINA 21470 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 100 0 218 ENGLISH 21480 0500 0530 31-34 SIR 500 46 0 216 RUSSIAN 21490 1200 1300 42-44 KAM 500 65 0 216 CHINA 21560 0700 0730 27W,28,29E SIR 500 320 0 156 EBRI 21610 0500 0530 31-34 SIR 500 46 0 218 RUSSIAN 21630 1200 1300 42-44 KAM 500 64 0 218 CHINA 21645 0630 0730 46,47 SIR 500 263 0 218 FRENCH 21730 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 107 0 216 ENGLISH 21745 1230 1330 49,54 SIR 500 113 0 218 MELAU 21810 0600 0700 39,46,47,52 SIR 500 270 0 156 HUSA 21810 1130 1230 47,48,52,53 SIR 500 231 0 158 SAWAHILI Now the ENGLISH section excerpted, and arranged into time order. The first one is toward North America: 6135 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH* 9590 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH 9835 0030 0230 7-10 KAM 500 333 0 216 ENGLISH* 11920 0030 0230 8-11 SIR 500 328 0 218 ENGLISH 15450 1030 1130 40E,41N ZAH 500 0 0 935 ENGLISH 15550 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 94 0 216 ENGLISH 15600 1030 1130 40E,41W AHW 250 84 0 145 ENGLISH 21470 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 100 0 218 ENGLISH 21730 1030 1130 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 107 0 216 ENGLISH 7245 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 100 0 216 ENGLISH 9635 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 105 0 218 ENGLISH 9720 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 SIR 500 105 0 218 ENGLISH* 11775 1530 1630 41,49,50,54 KAM 500 109 0 216 ENGLISH 9800 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 211 0 216 ENGLISH 11670 1930 2030 27 KAM 500 304 0 215 ENGLISH 11750 1930 2030 52S,53S,57 SIR 500 216 0 216 ENGLISH 11860 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 ENGLISH 13730 1930 2030 27 SIR 500 313 0 218 ENGLISH* 9870 2130 2230 54,55,59 SIR 500 115 0 218 ENGLISH 13665 2130 2230 55,58,59 SIR 500 113 0 218 ENGLISH Also excerpting a couple of other languages of interest: Ebri is that service in Hebrew, called `Voice of Davud``: 6010 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 SIR 500 328 0 218 EBRI* 6135 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 KAM 500 333 0 217 EBRI* 9910 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 KAM 500 333 0 217 300303 300803 EBRI 11925 0230 0300 7,8,10,11 SIR 500 330 0 218 300303 300803 EBRI 21560 0700 0730 27W,28,29E SIR 500 320 0 156 EBRI 5970 1900 1930 38E,39W KAM 500 250 0 145 EBRI 7175 1900 1930 38E,39W SIR 500 282 0 146 EBRI 7315 1900 1930 29 KAM 100 335 0 146 EBRI 6040 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH* 9515 0030 0230 12S,13S,14N,15N KAM 500 259 0 215 SPANISH 9570 0030 0230 12S,13S,14N,15N KAM 500 259 0 215 SPANISH* 9655 0030 0230 11,12 SIR 500 304 0 218 SPANISH 9810 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH* 11610 0030 0230 10-12 KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH 13730 0230 0330 12,13 KAM 500 280 0 211 SPANISH 17590 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 304 0 215 SPANISH 17785 0530 0630 27,28,37N KAM 500 289 0 215 SPANISH 9750 2030 2130 37NW SIR 500 295 0 218 SPANISH* 11765 2030 2130 37 KAM 500 289 0 215 SPANISH 13755 2030 2130 37NW SIR 500 295 0 218 SPANISH (from complete frequency schedule via Swopan Chakroborty, India, edited and excerpted by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. IRAQ-IRAN. The Voice of Mudjahidin of the People which spreads programs towards Iran has it seems stopped emitting. Main camps of this anti-Iranian movement of Marxist obedience Leninist was at Tawilah in Iraq where it possessed a broadcasting station medium waves which sprayed Iran. This political organisation was created in 1965 and already spread in the sixties ten [1970s?] one program in Farsi (at the time of the Shah) called Patriotic Radio since Lybie. The organization arranges also SW broadcasting stations which are probably mobile. From time to time the Iranians do not hesitate to make raids in Iraq to silence broadcasting stations. For want of anything better SW broadcasting station is very widely blurred for the years eighty. In 1981 the Voice of Moudjahiddin of the People used the SW broadcasting station of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. At the end of some weeks one quarrel burst between two formings (trainings), which had as a corollary to stop the programs of Moujahidines of the People from the station of the Democratic Party of the Kurdistan. In 1981 the leader of Moudjahidines of the People, Massud Radjavi settled down in France at Auvers on the Oise, near Paris. He was expelled from France in December, 1987 and lives since in Iraq. His wife Myriam Radjavi always lives in Auvers sur Oise as well as the brother of Massoud who lives also there. Movement arranges average important servicemen in Iraq and benefits from the support of Saddam Hussein's regime. It possesses about 10000 fighters and possesses heavy materiel such as tanks T-55 of Soviet manufacture and T-72. Americans put Mudjahiddin Khalq on their blacklist as terrorist organization. According to Le Monde of March 22 the Iranians would have received the assurance of the Americans that Massud Radjavi's organization would have no more its place in Iraq with the reversal of Saddam Hussein's regime. Adress : Secrétariat du CNRI, B.P. 18, 94430 Auvers-sur-Oise, France web: http://www.iran-e-azad.org/ (machine translation via Bernard Chenal, France, March 29, fixed up a bit by gh for DXLD) ** IRAQ. 756, Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, March 24 2100-2200, good signal, Speech of President Saddam Husein followed by Iraqi national anthem. Many martial songs played. State radio and TV HQ in Baghdad bombed next day on March 25. No signal on the freq at the same time on March 27. Monitored in Turkey. (Oguma) 756 R.Romania Int., March 27 -2050-2105- 34333 Romanian, ID, IS, talk. Good reception due to Baghdad's QRT (Hiro Oguma, Turkey, Japan Premium via DXLD) Info Radio also uses 756 and see Eastern Radio item below ** IRAQ. According to Al-Jazeera's correspondent in the Iraqi capital, Iraqi TV transmissions were continuing, and Iraqi radio was also broadcasting normally. The US-run Information Radio was heard on 756 kHz from 0800 gmt today; however, it was unheard at 1500 gmt. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, the official radio station of the Iraqi government, has been confirmed broadcasting on mediumwave 603 kHz. It was monitorable on that frequency up to 1400 gmt. Voice of Youth radio, operated by Saddam Husayn's son Uday, remains unheard on all recently used frequencies. The following are BBC Monitoring's observations on Iraqi media monitored at 1200-1800 gmt on 29 March: Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service The station was monitored at 0700 gmt on 603 kHz (believed to be a transmitter at Ninawah near Mosul), broadcasting Iraqi patriotic songs and poetry. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was monitorable on that frequency up to 1400 gmt. Voice of Youth Radio Voice of Youth Radio continues to be unheard on all known frequencies since 0430 gmt on 25 March. Other radio broadcasts targeting Iraq US-run Information Radio continued to be heard on 756 kHz from 0800 gmt today. Information Radio is part of the US psychological operations aimed at Iraq. It commenced broadcasting on 12 December 2002. The broadcasts are transmitted from US military EC-130 aircraft flying over southern Iraq. US leaflets dropped over Iraq give the following frequencies for Information Radio broadcasts: 693 and 756 kHz mediumwave, 9715 and 11292 kHz shortwave and 100.4 MHz FM. Source: BBC Monitoring research 29 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. US STARTS TV BROADCASTS TO IRAQ, SETS OUT POLICY ON TARGETING IRAQI TV | Excerpt from transcript of briefing on 28 March by Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks, Deputy Director of Operations; posted on the US Central Command web site; subheadings added editorially: General Brooks: Operation Iraqi Freedom continues this eighth day since the coalition ground forces entered Iraq. The coalition is setting the conditions for future operations, and we remain focused on the key objective of removing the regime and disarming Iraq. As always, we remember our fallen comrades and their families. In the past 24 hours, we continued combat operations against regime forces, conducted strikes against regime command and control, and took major steps forward in setting the foundation for the future of Iraq. In places where we encounter paramilitary forces and terrorist- like death squads, we are inflicting severe blows. With each engagement, the regime loses more of its ability to deny freedom to the Iraqi people... Information war On our information front, we have increased our broadcasts, and they now include television broadcasts covering all of southern Iraq, and we have also expanded that coverage to include Baghdad and the surrounding areas. This is in addition to our radio broadcasts, which, as I mentioned, continue on five different frequencies, 24 hours a day. The UK forces also have begun operating an AM radio station out of Umm Qasr. From each of these platforms, our messages continue to focus on providing encouragement and lifesaving information to the Iraqi people. Concurrent with our combat operations, our efforts to preserve Iraqi resources and our humanitarian efforts are picking up the pace... US policy on attacking Iraqi TV, jamming Question: Martha Brant with Newsweek magazine. I've got a couple of questions related to Iraqi state TV. Would you first give us a battle damage assessment of the attempts to hit that compound? Could you explain why that wasn't one of the first targets that coalition forces hit? Was it an attempt to maybe use that infrastructure later to communicate with the Iraqi people? And then lastly, sir, any attempts to jam Saddam Hussein's TV broadcasts? General Brooks: Well, there are several parts to the questions you asked, and I'll try to roll them really into one answer. First, the targeting we go through is designed to achieve a particular effect. And there are a number of parts to the command-and-control apparatus of this regime. It's very robust. It has many redundancies built into it. And it, in fact, has taken into account that it might indeed at some point be attacked. The timing of any attack, including the ones against television stations that broadcast and also support the regime in its decisionmaking, the timing of that is associated with when we want to achieve a particular effect. What we'll do in a number of cases is try to influence one layer and then another and then another of decision-making and degrade the capability of the regime to command and control, to issue instructions, to cause reinforcements, all the things that a headquarters or a command would need to do to make operations successful. And so that accounts for a bit of why the timing was done when it was. It was because we chose to attack it when we did and why it was attacked the way it was. There are, as I mentioned, some redundancies in the system. So what we might have, in effect, on one location, it might pop up somewhere else. And we'll find where that backup is and we may address it. And we'll peel that back, which degrades the capability again, and attack it. So as we see capability, we attack to remove the capability. And it's as simple as that. Q (Inaudible.) Is that also going on? Can you address that? General Brooks: Well, what I'll say on that is we have a number of methods of disrupting command and control. Jamming is only one of them, and we use that when we believe it's appropriate... Q (Inaudible) Chicago Tribune. If I can follow up on Martha's question, are you trying to take Saddam Husayn off the air, his television appearances? And also, we've seen some headlines throughout the region about casualty numbers - 3,000-4,000 civilian casualties from the bombing in Iraq. Can you comment on those figures and tell us if you have any calculations of civilian casualties from the bombing? General Brooks: Well, I'll go back to the answer I said earlier. In terms of the methods we use to disrupt command and control, there are a number of methods, and those are ongoing. It's not about broadcast. It's about command and control. And so that's where our influence is... Q (Inaudible) - KIRO in Seattle. Not to beat a dead horse here, but you've said you're trying to interrupt command and control, not broadcast. But don't these repeated broadcasts have the effect of boosting the morale of the outlying forces of the regime? Even if they don't give direct orders, don't they seem to reflect that somebody in Baghdad is still in charge and that they can still exert some influence? General Brooks: Well, I think they do reflect that in some cases, although I wouldn't want to speculate on what impact they actually have on people who are observing broadcasts, whether they're members of the regime, military forces or others. What I'm saying is the purpose of our operation is related to the military aspect of those broadcasts, the military aspect of the command-and-control facility that is joined with the broadcast areas. That's what we seek to disrupt. We want not to have the regime in control. And everything that we do is directed to prevent the regime having control... Source: US Central Command web site, Washington, in English 29 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. BRITISH FORCES OPERATING IRAQI RADIOS BRITISH FRIGATE BROADCASTING INFORMATION RADIO? Friday March 28 2003 via Fox News- CAMP AS SAYLIYAH Qatar - British forces have managed to take Iraqi television and radio off the air in Basra Sky News reported Thursday. Transmitters were destroyed on Wednesday night Sky reported which has isolated the city from communications with Baghdad. U.S. Central Command said Thursday night's bombing of Baghdad did hit a telecommunications center although it did not specify which one. Several frequencies in Iraq's second city have now been taken over by coalition forces who are reportedly broadcasting their own messages according to Sky reports. They also have radio broadcasts running regularly. British forces have begun operating an AM radio station out of Umm Qasr. The Associated Press contributed to this report. (My WRTH list a 693 kHz in Basra with 600 kW I see no listing for a station in Umm Qasr --- Johnson) http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2003/0303/0003032501.asp for a story that says that the British frigate Chatham is serving as a floating platform for 'Radio Free Iraq,' seemingly a reference to Information Radio. It isn't clear from the article if the broadcasts are coming from the ship. The ship has a website at http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1571.html (Hans Johnson, Mar 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Some more info on the UK station: It is broadcasting a mix of messages and music. The messages are aimed at the Iraqi troops urging them to surrender as well as at civilians in the city of Basra, giving them safety instructions to avoid getting hurt during the sporadic fighting that takes place there. The content is partly produced by the US and partly by the British. The British troops have also dropped leaflets in the city. I am still waiting for the frequency... I am also trying to monitor it myself. The most obvious frequency choice would be 693 kHz, if the Iraqi station in Basra has indeed been destroyed, but here in Qatar that frequency is covered by a station broadcasting in Farsi. [Later:] From what I`ve now heard from the officers here at Camp as- Sayliyah, it seems likely that there isn`t any new UK-run radio transmitter in Umm Qasr, as previously announced by the coalition. Instead, it seems that some UK-produced programming, perhaps with a different station ID, is transmitted via Information Radio, and for Basra residents, 693 and 756 kHz would be the frequencies best audible. Neither one is heard here in Qatar. The FM station mentioned earlier presumably refers only to the FM broadcasts of Information Radio. I`m still trying to get an independent confirmation for this, but this is how it looks right now. Also, I can confirm Tarek`s excellent discovery of Information Radio on 4500 kHz. It is official, the transmissions on this frequency began a few days ago. The transmissions on 4500 kHz originate from a Commando Solo EC-130E aircraft (Mika Mäkeläinen, Qatar, Mar 29, dxing.info via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Al-Mustaqbal & Twin Rivers Radio The very tentative schedules of the broadcasts: al-Mustaqbal 2130-0030 on 1575 kHz; Twin Rivers Radio 1430-1832 on 1566 kHz. Note: the schedules were changed with the start of Radio Tikrit, not now (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Mar 20, 2003 for CRW via DXLD) Twin Rivers Radio The schedule: the beginning of morning programme- without changes, starts from 0300 on 1566 kHz. I reported earlier about mainly musical format of Twin Rivers Radio (Radio Mesopotamia). The radio station has changed the format with the beginning of the strike on Iraq. About 60% of time are now devoted to information, 40% to Arabic music (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Mar 26, 2003 for CRW via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Another new one... BBC Monitoring is reporting that an anti- Saddam radio station identifying itself as "Eastern Radio" [al- idha'ah al-Mashriqiyah] has been heard on mediumwave 756 kHz, a frequency that has been used by both Republic of Iraq Radio and the US-run Information Radio (Andy Sennitt, 1:48:11 PM Mar 29, Media Network weblog via DXLD) Eastern Radio It turns out that this station reported by BBC Monitoring on 756 kHz has been around for some time, and previously reported by Clandestine Radio Watch. Here's what Tarek found in the archives: Eastern Radio, Eastern Broadcasting House Organization: Carmel News Agency, which is a Washington-based Arabic news organization. Presumed to be a PSYOP operation by the Israel Defense Forces. Broadcasts from: Kfar Killa, southern Lebanon, or northern Israel Languages: Arabic Identification: (Arabic) al-idha'ah al-mashriqiyah, dar al-idha'ah al-mashriqiyah. (English) Eastern Radio, Eastern Broadcasting House. Active Since: December 23, 2000 Known as "Experimental Radio from the Mediterranean Basin" [(Arabic) al-idha'ah al-tajribiyah min hawd al-mutawassit] between December 2000 and January 2001. Formerly known as the Voice of the South and broadcast on behalf of the South Lebanese Army. Contact Address: Post Office Box No 52341, Limassol 4062, Cyprus Fax Washington, DC: 1-202-4680261 Fax London: 44-207-6917678 Monitored: Dec 00: Time? 756 kHz (BBCM via CRW 60) 1400 756 kHz (Zedian-Egypt via CRW 60) Jan 01: *0600-0800* 756 kHz Identifying as "Eastern Radio." (BBCM CRW 62) Nov 01: *0700-1630* 756 kHz (BBCM CRW 87) I see Dave Kernick also spotted this (Andy Sennitt, Media Network weblog 3/29/03; 10:48:30 AM via DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQ SATELLITE CHANNEL STILL ON THE AIR I just checked the DSL feed of the Iraq Satellite Channel and it's still on the air with excellent reception. As Tarek observed yesterday, the audio definitely has a boomy sound as if they're broadcasting from an empty warehouse or something. It's certainly not a studio. Bart Kuperus (who worked with me at WRTH) called last night and we we were discussing how amazing it is that they just keep coming back. Bart is of the opinion that they must have mobile uplinks. And if they have a number of them, they can operate from different locations seamlessly. That would also explain why they don't carry press conferences live. It could well be that the videos are delivered by despatch riders, and that the actual location they broadcast from is constantly changed. That would also explain why the playback quality of such recordings is markedly inferior to the live studio output. I bet they're still using analogue video tape (Andy Sennitt 8:18:42 AM Mar 29, Media Network Weblog via DXLD) More evidence of the makeshift nature of the production facilities they're using. The 1300 UTC news bulletin is on, and the announcer has no autocue. He hardly looks up. In between items he glanced to his left as if waiting for a cue, a sign that they don't have a conventional gallery set up. But the technical quality of the satellite signal continues to be excellent. The closing sequence had a globe with the word "news" in English scrolling across the screen, no Arabic text. All the presenters are wearing identical military style uniforms, but with no insignias, suggesting they're civilians. All the men I've seen so far seem to have incredibly hairy chests - I wonder if this is part of the macho image they're trying to get across? (Andy Sennitt. 2:11:35 PM Mar 29, ibid.) The picture and sound are breaking up again following more bombing. In case you haven't read the replies to earlier items, Ibrahim has a possible explanation for the audio quality: Hi, I have information from inside Iraq stating that the Iraqi regime is using mosques and Islamic Holy shrines like the those in Najaf and Karbala as broadcasting centers for Iraqi TV and radio in order to avoid them being bombed by the allies. Maybe this explains the boomy echo like sound you hear in when they speak due the domes and the large size of those shrines (Ibrahim 9:33:55 PM Mar 29, ibid.) Hi Andy, well, with all due respect....I think this idea is not right coz simply if they are on the air. And the call for the prayer started, it'd be like in the middle of jammed stadium. I think this is not the right place (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, 3/29/03; 8:07:41 PM, ibid.) ** IRAQ. CPJ CONCERNED THAT IRAQIS ARE DEPLOYING JOURNALISTS AS SHIELDS... International journalists evacuated the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad on 20 March after receiving reports that the hotel was a likely target of a U.S. air strike because of the alleged presence of a military bunker beneath the hotel, the CPJ reported the same day. Due to this report, a large number of journalists had previously left the Al-Rashid Hotel and moved to the Palestine Hotel, which is further from government buildings. Journalists who went to the Palestine Hotel last week told CPJ the Iraqi authorities ordered them to return to the Al-Rashid Hotel on 19 March without explanation. While larger news organizations, such as CNN and the BBC, resisted and were allowed to stay put after threatening to leave the country, others reluctantly returned to the Al-Rashid. On 20 March, after learning of warnings from an unidentified Western government to leave the Al-Rashid immediately, the journalists rushed back to the Palestine Hotel. Some journalists suspect human shielding as the reason behind Iraq's orders. Pentagon spokespeople would neither confirm nor deny that the hotel was a target, saying only that Baghdad is a dangerous place for journalists. Reportedly, Iraqi officials ordered journalists to stay in their hotels during the attacks and instructed them not to leave their hotels unless accompanied by government escorts. CC ...AND LEAVING IRAQ IS MADE DIFFICULT. Many journalists have departed Baghdad in recent days, citing safety concerns, the CPJ reported on 20 March. Iraqi authorities allegedly delayed or prevented some reporters from leaving Iraq because they had not complied with proper exit procedures. A spokeswoman for "The New York Times" told CPJ that reporter John Burns and photographer Tyler Hicks could not secure a newly required "currency-clearance certificate" and, therefore, had not left for Jordan. Other U.S. news outlets encountered similar bureaucratic hurdles while trying to exit the country. Some were delayed for hours, while others were forced to return to Baghdad. CC (Catherine Cosman, RFE/RL Media Matters Mar 28 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. USEFUL SECRETS? The March-April issue of the "Columbia Journalism Review" ran an article entitled "In a Run-Up To War, How Do We Report Intelligently on Intelligence?" Viewing the protection of "sources and methods" as the "who and how" of intelligence, the article poses a series of key questions on how the media treats intelligence matters. For the full text, see http://www.cjr.org/year/03/2/gup.asp CC (Caherine Cosman, RFE/RL Media Matters Mar 28 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. A compendium of anti-war sentiment: http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm (via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [and non]. This is an interesting note about the "Silent" radio broadcasts operated by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). I think it's a great concept, and I wish we could have something similar here. The basic idea is that you leave your radio on, tuned to the silent frequency. They simply broadcast an open carrier, so you don't have to sit around listening to the bubble-heads blather on about stuff that they don't know anything about. When there is an emergency message to be broadcast, then they turn on the audio. It's particularly useful for the Sabbath Observant population, who would normally not turn their radios on & off on the Sabbath. It allows them to leave the radio on for the whole Sabbath, and still be informed of any emergencies (Brian Leyton, Valley Village, CA, Mar 20, NRC-AM via DXLD) WLW did something similar during WWII, left the transmitter on with a mike open and a clock ticking (Powell E. Way, ibid.) ** JAPAN [non]. 5985, R. Japan via Dhabayya, UAE, March 27 1730-1800, fair to poor, Japanese, Special transmission to the Middle East in the US led war on Iraq. Domestic service relay, basically. It seems to be no use for Japanese living there because of its poor contents and signal strength! (Hiro Oguma, Turkey, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Clandestine, Hmong Lao R., 12070 kHz, very simple letter (v/s: Shoua Cha, Chairman) in 92 days for English report, audiocassette & 1$. Report sent to St. Paul office in MN, USA. Report sent on December 9, 2002. but this report returned to me for address mistake. Followup report sent on February 22, 2003. This QSL can be seen at http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~dxworld/index.htm/ (Kenji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** LEBANON [non]. 11515, V. of Liberty, Mar 23 1634-1647* 35333-35322 Arabic, Talk and Arabic music. ID at 1646. 1647 s/off (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanishi, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5100, 2237-2325, R. Liberia International. Mar 28 Surprised to find them back on the air once again. I have always liked this station for some reason. The male announcer seems very friendly. More music, Touched by an Angel at 2240. Nice African tune at 2243. Liberian football scores given during music at 2246. Fairly nice copy. TOH, female announcer with news, same one as before. However it is possible the male announcer is not the same one as previously heard here. Still very friendly (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non?]. 15220 Libya, Tripoli, fair with News in English from 1730 to 1737 UT 3/29. Then News in French. Nice ID at 1737 "You have been listening to the Voice of Africa broadcasting from the Great Jamahiriya". Drake R8 40' Vertical (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, hard- core-dx via DXLD) {this was a France relay no longer 15220 in A-03} ** MALAYSIA. RTM - V. of Malaysia A03 [LOC = site key: See 3-055} ----------------------- FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF LOC POWR AZI SLW ANT DAYS LANG 5965 0000 2400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 Malay 5980 2200 1500 54NE TUA 10 0 0 751 1234567 Local 6025 0200 1700 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 Local 6050 2200 1500 54 SIB 10 0 0 751 1234567 Local 6060 0400 1500 54 MIR 10 0 0 751 1234567 Local 6100 1300 1530 49 KAJ 100 343 0 805 1234567 Thai/Bur 6175 0300 0830 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 Eng/Malay 6175 1000 1400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 Indonesia 6175 1700 1900 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 Malay 7130 0400 0600 54NE STA 10 0 0 751 1234567 Local 7270 0800 1500 54 STA 10 045 0 216 1234567 Local 7295 0000 2400 54 KAJ 100 0 0 926 1234567 English 9665 0300 1230 55,58-60 KAJ 250 130 0 218 1234567 Eng/Chin 9750 0300 0830 54SE KAJ 100 150 0 145 1234567 Eng/Malay 9750 1000 1400 54SE KAJ 100 150 0 145 1234567 Indonesia 9750 1700 1900 54SE KAJ 100 150 0 145 1234567 Malay 11885 1030 1230 44N,45NW KAJ 100 025 0 216 1234567 Chinese 15295 0300 1230 55,58-60 KAJ 250 130 0 218 1234567 Eng/Chin 15295 1530 1900 39 KAJ 250 295 0 218 1234567 Arabic Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD){more notes: 3-059} ** MYANMAR. See INDONESIA ** NEW ZEALAND. In DXLD 3-052, someone using the name "M. Power" passes critical comments about RNZI reducing power to 50 kW, and SKY Australia not carrying an RNZI audio feed. RNZI 50 kW For well over 12 months, RNZI has reduced power to 50 kW for broadcasts outside the time critical breakfast session directed to Polynesia and parts of Melanesia. Monitoring of reception across the target areas reveals little or no reduction in service levels as a result. RNZI second transmitter RNZI is currently installing digital SW receivers at local radio stations in the South Pacific, in readiness for introducing its second SW transmitter which will broadcast in DRM and provide FM quality reception. This information has been public knowledge for over 12 months and was reported in the New Zealand DX Times http://www.radiodx.com early in 2002. Other SW NZ broadcasting law allows for RNZI SW facilities to be leased by other broadcasters (such as NZ Defence Forces Radio, BBC and others have done). It also permits special interest SW broadcasters such as the Radio Reading Service which operates with 1kW SW broadcasts from Levin, near Wellington. This is also common knowledge for many years, as can be found in the WRTH, Passport to WorldBand Radio and many DX publications. No demand for more SW Although it is an anachronism that other SW stations are not allowed to broadcast from NZ, equally no-one has exhibited any interest in committing the capital funds to establish such stations. Religious broadcaster Radio Rhema toyed with the idea about 30 years ago and discarded it. It now has 50+ AM/FM transmitters on air in NZ, over 100 AM/FM transmitters on air in Australia, and other stations in various Pacific island states and Russia and clearly sees its future in local programming to serve local audiences. Student Radio Student radio stations in NZ operate as quasi-commercial FM broadcasters with niche formats in highly competitive urban media markets. In other words, they exist to make money for their student owners. Likewise the foreign student market business exists as an export of services purely to make money for their private and state suppliers. To suggest they should partner RNZI to produce and broadcast a range of Asian language programs targeted at Asia ignores their reason for existence and radio market realities in Asia. Local FM in Asia In South Asia (such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), new FM services are creating a new local radio environment. FM radio markets in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (amongst others) are already very sophisticated. For RNZI to drop 30 minutes daily of Tamil or whatever into South India via SW and/or audio file is a complete waste of time and taxpayer resources. SKY Australia Compelling SKY Australia to carry an RNZI audio feed and SKY NZ to carry ABC NewsRadio and Radio Australia in return is a dangerous use of state power. If broadcasters in the two deregulated media markets of Australia and NZ choose to carry program feeds from each other as a commercial decision or one funded by taxpayers, that's fine. State Compulsion But state compulsion of carriage of program content on private broadcasters is something both countries generally eschew. The exceptions are Australian content rules and a voluntary NZ content code of practice, and special rules for community stations and niche broadcasters in both countries. Even the state broadcasters in both countries remain largely free of such political interference. Charters do guide broad principles for content in return for taxpayer funding. Hyperisolationist NZ? I'm not sure what 'hyperisolationist' means but it sounds the kind of accusatory comment which has no place in this radio column. (David Ricquish, Wellington, New Zealand, http://www.radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. PAKISTAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION HF BROADCAST SCHEDULE A'03 From March 30, 2003 to October 25, 2003 Language Freq UTC Target Area To : Far East Chinese 11570 1200 - 1230 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 Chinese 15070 1200 - 1230 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 To : South East Asia Urdu 15485 0045 - 0215 41,44,45,49,50,51,54,55,59 Urdu 17895 0045 - 0215 41,44,45,49,50,51,54,55,59 To: South Asia Assami 11650 0045 - 0115 41 [partly in English] Assami 15625 0045 - 0115 41 [partly in English] Bangla 11650 0115 - 0200 41 Bangla 15625 0115 - 0200 41 Bangla 15625 1200 - 1245 41 Bangla 17635 1200 - 1245 41 Hindi 9340 0215 - 0300 41 Hindi 11640 0215 - 0300 41 Hindi 11640 1100 - 1145 41 Hindi 15625 1100 - 1145 41 Tamil 15625 0315 - 0345 41 Tamil 17540 0315 - 0345 41 Tamil 15625 0945 - 1015 41 Tamil 17495 0945 - 1015 41 Sinhali 15625 1015 - 1045 41 Sinhali 17495 1015 - 1045 41 Nepali 15625 1245 - 1315 41 Nepali 17635 1245 - 1315 41 To : Middle East, Iran, Turkey & N/West Africa Turkish 9385 1630 - 1700 38, 39 Turkish 11550 1630 - 1700 38, 39 Irani 7550 1715 - 1800 40 Irani 9385 1715 - 1800 40 Arabic 9385 1815 - 1900 39 Arabic 11550 1815 - 1900 38, 39, 46, 47 Urdu 15100 0500 - 0700 37 - 39 Urdu 17835 0500 - 0700 37 - 39 Urdu 21460 0500 - 0700 38, 39, 46, 47 Urdu 11570 1330 - 1530 37 - 39 Urdu 15065 1330 - 1530 37 - 39 English 11570 1600 - 1615 37 - 39 English 15065 1600 - 1615 38, 39, 46, 47 Urdu 7550 1800 - 1900 40 Urdu 7570 1915 - 0045 38, 39, 46, 47 To: East/South East Africa Gujrati 15485 0400 - 0430 48s, 52, 53, 57 Gujrati 17825 0400 - 0430 48s, 52, 53, 57 English 15725 1600 - 1615 48s, 52, 53, 57 English 17820 1600 - 1615 48s, 52, 53, 57 To: West Europe Urdu 17835 0800 - 1104 17,18SE, 27 - 29 [incl. English news] Urdu 21465 0800 - 1104 17,18SE, 27 - 29 [incl. English news] Urdu 9400 1700 - 1900 17,18SE, 27 - 29 Urdu 11570 1700 - 1900 17,18SE, 27 - 29 To: CIS & Russia Turki 5860 1330 - 1400 39NE, 40 Turki 7375 1330 - 1400 39NE, 40 Dari 5860 1515 - 1545 39NE, 40 Dari 7375 1515 - 1545 39NE, 40 Russian 7375 1415 - 1500 29, 30E Russian 9385 1415 - 1500 29, 30E Iftikhar Malik. Senior Broadcast Engineer, PBC Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan ---------------- Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. PBS external transmissions via IBB Tinang, A-03: Filipino & English: FIEE PBS PBS 0200 0330 PHT 10 15270 283 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 FIEE PBS PBS 0200 0330 PHT 03 15120 315 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 FIEE PBS PBS 0200 0330 PHT 01 11885 283 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 English: ENGL PBS PBS 1730 1930 PHT 09 17720 283 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 ENGL PBS PBS 1730 1930 PHT 07 15190 283 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 ENGL PBS PBS 1730 1930 PHT 12 11720 283 03/30/2003 10/25/2003 (IBB A-03 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. The early WBMJ San Juan 1190 Dear list, I am Svenn Martinsen of Norway. Thank you for many interesting discussions on list. Maybe somebody will know something about this subject? I am seeking some info on the early WBMJ San Juan, Puerto Rico, especially the years 1968-1971. I know that the station then was owned by the Mid-Ocean Broadcasting Co, and had its studios in the Penthouse of the San Juan Darlington Hotel. Especially, I remember the dj "Charlie Brown" who was on the air evenings on 1190, and was frequently picked up over here in Norway. He made a great impression on fans of the former offshore station "Radio London"(I was one) over Christmas 1968, as the two stations seemed to sound very similar. "BIG L" having closed in August 1967. WBMJ and Brown was picked up out of nowhere, as a new station of 1968 it was not listed anywhere, but I found out by listening to the ads! It used Pams jingles, including the same newsjingle as London. WBMJ`s news was "20/20" though and the jingle went" WBMJ eleven.ninety: twenty twenty news is now!" And familiar morse bleeps between news items. Brown also used a "horn" effect, similar to many US top 40 DJs at the time. Of records played at the first occasion heard was "Stormy" by The Classics IV, "Back in the USSR" by The Beatles and "Stoned Soul Picnic" by the 5th Dimension. Of other material an ad for the Darlington. I reported the station after the December 28th, 1968 reception, but did not have a reply. I did get a QSL card later, however, for a reception of December 28th, 1970, posted in San Juan on Oct.8th, 1971. I have no notes of this in my log, but I clearly remember a reception on a "barefoot" (no external antenna) Tandberg transistor in 1970! Does anyone know: WBMJs start date? The identity of Brown Are tapes and/or pictures available of these early days? (Svenn Martinsen svennm@c2i.net near Bergen, Norway, NRC-AM Mar 22 via DXLD I received a verification letter from 1190 WBMJ in 1999 in which it states, "WBMJ - We Broadcast the Message of Jesus... WBMJ, with 10,000 watts of power, was purchased in 1985 and changed to an all- Christian format in English and Spanish on September 29, 1986." The station is owned by Calvary Evangelistic Mission (CEM), Inc. A brief history of CEM and 1370 WIVV is described; "WIVV - West Indies Voice of Victory... On December 8, 1956, WIVV went on the air with 1,000 watts of power (upgraded to 5,000, September, 1970)." The earliest reference to WBMJ that I have is in the NRC Domestic Log, 5th Edition, 1978-79, indicating location at the Penthouse, Borinquen Hotel, San Juan, with a Spanish pop format and slogan "Radio Rock." 1190 WBMJ is not listed in the Summer 1958 Jones station listings, so it's a relatively new AM station (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) WBMJ signed on in 1968 under general manager Bob Bennett, who continued to manage the station through 1980 when Bob Hope's Mid Ocean sold to record impresario Jerry Masucci. From 1968 to roughly 1972, WBMJ was an English language Top 40 station, with all announcing and music in English. Spots were mostly in Spanish, though. In 1972, WBMJ switched to Spanish jocks and a mix of 90% English music with some Spanish pop hits, under the name of Radio Rock. Radio Rock became #1 very quickly, staying there through much of the rest of the 70's, challenged seriously only by WKAQ with its Spanish Top 40 and, later, WQII, with its Spanish Hot A/C format. The reasoning for the format was simple: all through Latin America, American music was popular. A really tightly done Top 40 with US hits would be an attractive proposition. However, all advertising in PR tended to be in Spanish, so the spots were in Spanish. Even in 1968, there were less than 100,000 "Continentals" living in PR; everyone Else was a Spanish speaker first... Many knew English, though. The station, however, never got into the top stations in ratings, usually registering around 7th or 8th. GM Bob Bennett was a veteran of US Top 40 radio when he moved to Puerto Rico and started building WBMJ. The station was simply another iteration of the proven Top 40 format from the mainland. Since the Island of Puerto Rico is a US territory, it was natural to use mainland announcers and jingles and, of course, follow religiously the Billboard record charts. Since the culture shock of living in PR was hard on the jocks, they seldom lasted more than a year. On the other hand, there were several totally bilingual Puerto Rican jocks who were there for a lengthy period, speaking English on a station in Puerto Rico! WBMJ was a sign on. It took nearly a year to get the directional pattern to work. Originally licensed at 10 kw day and night, they had to reduce power to 5 kw at night to get the system to proof, since the site, still in use, is surrounded by rocky small mountains to the West of the towers, which are in a riverbed. The studios, from sign on in 1968 to 1980 were in the Penthouse of the Darlington (which often went bankrupt becoming the Borinquen, and later, Gran Bahía Hotel) in the Miramar section of San Juan with an impressive view of the San Juan Bay and Old San Juan and the Condado hotel area. Beautiful. The ads for the Darlington were part of the ads for the rent trade the station had. The station only moved when the hotel finally closed down and was shuttered around 1980. The hotel was a tourist hotel, but it was not on the beach, not near restaurants, and across the street from the city's most famous bordello. I once interviewed Charly Brown to work at WUNO; he was feeling underpaid at WBMJ and was trying to learn Spanish. I found him to be extremely unpleasant, and he smelled bad. There have been so many Charly Browns in US radio I really doubt that anyone could figure out who he was now. Bennett died in the early 90's, and the local English language jocks like Héctor Ortiz are also now dead. WBMJ became a salsa oldies station in about 1981 as Exitos 1190 and then, eventually, became religious under the ownership of the operators of WIVV from Puerto Rico's Vieques Island. It is religious now, mostly in English. In the years I managed stations in San Juan, I considered Bob Bennett both a friend and a worthy competitor. WBMJ, especially as Radio Rock, was a good station and brought up the standards of radio on the Island (David Gleason, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Thank you, David, for an extremely interesting posting. I remember WUNO 1320 equally well, with many more receptions than WBMJ. This was actually as WNEL one of the big DX stations for Swedish DXers in the 40s. Also your WQII Guaynabo 1140 the "Once Q" on Dec. 24th, 1975 which you sent me a QSL letter for sometime after. Ah those memories! Many other PR stations did make it over here, WLUZ Radio Luz 1600, WXRF 1590, WRSJ 1560 as Radio San Juan in SS, WRAI R Aeropuerto 1520, WMDD R El Conquistador 1480, WVOZ R Voz 1400, WISA Isabela 1390, WIVV 1370, WBQN 1160 many times all. WOSO El Oso in EE 1030 just once, so WMIA R Mia 1070. Also WHOA 870, WAPA 680, WKAQ 580 and surely others I forget now.. Oh yes, WNEL 1430. Owing to the salt- water path often good strengths. As to WBMJ, I remember also The Radio Rock and the later REL format. (Heard only once late 80s with WLIB on the old pattern and CJMR on a sunset opening) But no reception made a greater impression than these great early non-directional nights. Thanks also to Bruce for the nice feedback. (Svenn Martinsen, ibid.) ** ROMANIA. Glenn, Found the following A03 sked at the Radio Romania International website March 30, 2003 around 0146 UT. 0641-0656 9690, 11840, 11940, 15270 W Europe 07-08 21480 NE Africa 14-15 15250, 17805 W Europe 17-18 11940, 15380 W Europe 17-18 9510, 11820 N Europe 21-22 7185, 9725 N Europe 21-22 9510, 11775 W Europe 23-00 9570, 11775 W Europe 23-00 11740, 15105 N America 02-03 15105, 17720 Japan 02-03 9510, 11940 N America 04-05 9510, 11940 N America 73, (-.. . Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, Annandale, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. VOICE OF RUSSIA WILL BROADCAST 24/7 FROM BERLIN Russian state radio's Voice of Russia (http://www.vor.ru) is expanding its broadcasting location in Berlin, pressetext.Europe reported on 24 March. The AM station will soon broadcast from the German capital 24 hours a day. The station will soon be broadcasting to the Near and Middle East via shortwave, and a new Internet broadcast-distribution system is under preparation. CC (RFE/RL Media Matters Mar 28 via DXLD) **. SAIPAN. 9465, 1624-, KFBS, Mar 29. Ukrainian program starting at 1602 and signing off at 1625. Targetted to young people, and giving an address in Ukraine at conclusion of program. Very good reception noted. Into Russian at 1630 (Walter Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. RADIO JUGOSLAVIJA Program [sic] schedule Period: 1430 UTC March 30, 2003 to 1430 UTC April 7, 2003 [i.e. WEEK OF CONFUSION ONLY!!; after that, BELOW] Time(UTC) Language Target Freq.(KHz) 0000-0030 SPANISH S.AMERICA/w 9680 0030-0100 SERBIAN 1 (Except Sunday) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPA/w 9580 0100-0130 ENGLISH 1 (Except Sunday) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPA/w 9580 0030-0130 SERBIAN (spec.)(Sunday only) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPA/w 9580 0130-0200 SERBIAN (RTS) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPA/w 9580 0530-0600 ENGLISH 2 N.AMERICA/w EUROPA/w 9580 1430-1500 ARABIC 1 ARABIA 11800 1500-1530 RUSSIAN 1 RUSSIA/MOS. 11870 1530-1545 HUNGARIAN 1 HUNGARY 6100 1545-1600 GREEK 1 GREECE 6100 1600-1630 FRENCH 1 EUROPE/w 9620 1630-1700 GERMAN 1 EUROPE/w 9620 1700-1715 ALBANIAN 1 ALBANIA 6100 1715-1730 BULGARIAN 1 BULGARIA 6100 1730-1800 ITALIAN 1 EUROPA/w 9620 1800-1830 RUSSIAN 2 RUSSIA/MOS. 6100 1830-1900 ENGLISH 3 EUROPA/w 6100 1900-1930 SPANISH 2 SPAIN 7200 1930-2000 SERBIAN 2 (Except Saturday) EUROPE/w 6100 2000-2030 GERMAN 2 (Except Saturday) EUROPE/w 6100 1930-2030 SERBIAN (spec.) (Saturday only) EUROPE/w 6100 2030-2100 FRENCH 2 EUROPE/w 6100 2100-2130 ENGLISH 4 EUROPE/w 6100 2130-2200 SERBIAN 3 (Except Saturday)AUSTRALIA 7230 2130-2230 SERBIAN (spec.) (Saturday only) AUSTRALIA 7230 2200-2230 ENGLISH 5 (Except Saturday) AUSTRALIA 7230 2230-2300 CHINESE 1 CHINA 9580 Period: 1430 UTC April 7, 2003 to 1430 UTC October 26, 2003 Time(UTC) kHz Language Target 0000-0030 9580 ENGLISH 1 (Except Sunday) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPE/w 0030-0100 9580 SERBIAN (RTS) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPE/w 0430-0500 9580 ENGLISH 27 N.AMERICA/ce EUROPE/w 1430-1500 11800 ARABIC 1 ARABIA 1500-1530 11870 RUSSIAN 1 RUSSIA/MOS. 1530-1545 6100 HUNGARIAN 1 HUNGARY 1545-1600 6100 GREEK 1 GREECE 1600-1630 9620 FRENCH 1 EUROPE/w 1630-1700 9620 GERMAN 1 EUROPE/w 1700-1715 6100 ALBANIAN 1 ALBANIA 1715-1730 6100 BULGARIAN 1 BULGARIA 1730-1800 9620 ITALIAN 1 EUROPE/w 1800-1830 6100 RUSSIAN 2 RUSSIA/MOS. 1830-1900 6100 ENGLISH 3 EUROPE/w 1900-1930 7200 SPANISH 1 SPAIN 1930-2000 6100 SERBIAN 1 (Except Saturday) EUROPE/w 2000-2030 6100 GERMAN 2 (Except Saturday) EUROPE/w 1930-2030 6100 SERBIAN (Spec.) (Saturday only) EUROPE/w 2030-2100 6100 FRENCH 2 EUROPE/w 2100-2130 6100 ENGLISH 4 EUROPE/w 2130-2200 7230 SERBIAN 2 (Except Saturday) AUSTRALIA 2130-2230 7230 SERBIAN (Spec.) (Saturday only) AUSTRALIA 2200-2230 7230 ENGLISH 5 (Except Saturday) AUSTRALIA 2230-2300 9580 CHINESE 1 CHINA 2300-2330 9680 SPANISH 2 S.AMERICA/w 2330-2400 9580 SERBIAN 3 (Except Sunday) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPE/w 2330-0030 9580 SERBIAN (Spec.) (Sunday only) N.AMERICA/ce EUROPE/w (R. Yugoslavia website via Daniel Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. Final FEBA loggings 9484.96, 1418-, FEBA, Mar 29. Presumed logging in Urdu on reported last day. Telephone like audio with talk by man and woman. Box number and Pakistan heard at 1422. Really nice reception when rechecked at 1450 with regional vocals. Still tinny audio, but solid S5 to S7 signal no matter which antenna I chose (including T2FD, K9AY, 60 meter loop, or 25 MHz vertical! Interesting propagation indeed. Usually there's a big difference among them). ILG lists Hindko until 1455, then Balti. POB in Pakistan is heard at 1455, followed by a short music bridge, then a male takes over mentioning 'SW band', then FEBA IS, then into what sounds like a very different language and more central Asian music (presumably Balti?). 11599.95, 1459-, FEBA, Mar 29. Strong signal at 1559 with IS and into presumed Kannada (listed in ILG) with Christian sounding vocals. Last day of broadcasting from the Seychelles. Address given at 1512. FEBA Radio clearly heard several times. IS at 15:12:50 until 1514, then cut. I was expecting English to be broadcast at 1515, but this was not the case. Interesting, nothing at all on their other frequencies at this time either. Have they pulled the plug at 1515 UT? Will monitor later. Premature prediction as they were back in English at 1533 recheck. Remeasured at 11599.93. Program was called 'Abundant Life'. Went on until 1541, when they gave the following address: Abundant Life, FEBA Radio, POB 2526, Bangalore 560025, India. This was repeated twice. Followed by program 'Sound Words'. RCI IS spoiled reception at 1558, but they did mention major changes coming. 9484.96, 1829-, FEBA, Mar 29. Suspect this is the final transmission, according to the schedule. Just barely audible with IS and ID in French. Unable to decipher anything else. Sad to bid this wonderful DX target goodbye! (Walter Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Radio Exterior de España 30 de marzo - 25 de septiembre de 2003 English schedule 0000-0059 15385 America 2000-2059 15290 Monday-Friday Europe 2000-2059 9570 Monday-Friday Africa 2100-2159 9840 Saturday-Sunday Europe 2100-2159 9570 Saturday and Sunday Africa (REE website, via Daniel Sampson, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com DXLD) Radio Exterior de España A'03 30 de marzo - 25 de septiembre de 2003 To : África Árabe 1900-2059 7270 L-V 2000-2159 7270 S-D Français 1900-1959 9570 Lundi-Samedi 2000-2059 9570 Dimanche English 2000-2059 9570 Monday-Friday 2100-2159 9570 Saturday and Sunday To América English 0000-0059 15385 Français 2300-2359 15385 Sefardí (martes) 0115-0145 11795 (Sur) 0415-0445 9650 (Norte) To Europa Deutsch 1730-1800 9665 Mo und Do Français 1800-1859 9655 Lundi - Samerdi 2000-2059 15290 Dimanche 2300-2359 6055 kHz English 2000-2059 15290 Monday-Friday 2100-2159 9840 Saturday-Sunday HA PYCCKOM 1700-1730 15325 To Oriente Próximo y Medio Árabe 1700-1859 21610 1900-2059 17560 L-V 2000-2159 17560 S-D Français 1900-1959 7150 Lundi -Vendredi 1900-1959 17560 Samedi-Dimanche Sefardí 1825-1855 17770 Lunes (From REE website - http://www.ree.rne.es/LExt.htm via Alokesh Gupta New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** SUDAN. ST0RY Sudan operation continues apace: Despite dust storms, heat and nearby civil unrest, the ST0RY DXpedition continues in full swing on most intended bands with more than 17,000 QSOs now logged-- 6000 of them between 40 and 10 meters on March 25 alone. ST0RY plans to be on the air for the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest March 29-30 weekend. According to The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com several West Coast DXers reported hearing big signals from ST0RY on 17 and 15 meters for several hours during the afternoon of March 25. ST0RY operator Chris Sauvageot, DL5NAM, says all the antennas now are up, and the operators are in good shape. ``We have to be careful about local demonstrations here in town (Khartoum) from students,`` he said. ``We have a safe place here at the River Nile; the hosts are great here.`` So far, 40 and 30 meters have yielded the most CW QSOs, with more than 2000 logged on each band. Op Dietmar Kasper, DL3DXX, says the team will attempt more 20-meter CW activity. ``It`s really hot during the day,`` he reports, with temperatures in the 100+F range. DL3DXX says it`s nearly impossible to get past the wall of East Coast stations on 40 and 80 meters to work stations further west, but the team has worked a number of W6 and W7 stations. The operators have been experiencing high noise levels on 160 meters. Six-meter activity also planned. The team reports it`s getting used to living in the sand, but there was a dust storm all day on March 25. More information and an on-line log search engine is available on the ST0RY Web site http://www.df3cb.com/st0ry/ --some information provided by The Daily DX (ARRL Letter Mar 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, R. Ukraine International, A03 quick check March 30, 2003 0000 and 0300 UT on 12040. Severe QRM from DW on 12045 kHz. RUI was not heard. Will check and report on 1100 and 2100 UT later. 73, (-.. . Kraig Krist, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. CRIGGION/RUGBY RADIO SITES TO CLOSE We reported three weeks ago that the BT radio site at Criggion, near Welshpool, was closing soon. It's emerged that this is part of a change to the communications arrangements for Royal Navy submarines that's likely to see the final closure of another historic radio site at Rugby. A consortium led by VT Merlin Communications has won a private finance initiative contract to modernise the VLF transmitter site at Anthorn in Cumbria. The consortium will also be responsible for providing new digital receivers. The contract is ultimately worth about 280 million pounds and will involve the close-down of the 16 kHz VLF transmitter at Rugby. It's understood that most of BT's HF services from Rugby have now ceased, and that the site is likely to close next year. The standard time and frequency station, MSF, which transmits on 60 kHz from the Rugby site, may be off the air for up to four hours this Tuesday, the 1st of April, on one of its regularly-scheduled maintenance periods. These take place between 1000 and 1400 UTC on the first Tuesdays of January, April, July and October. MSF will be closed down for a period of two weeks for maintenance purposes during July, August or September, although the precise dates are not yet known (RSGB 28/3 via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Virginian-Pilot: The BBC World Service on short- wave radio is a news junkie's delight. It comes in best at night. The BBC.com Web site is updated every minute. . http://www.pilotonline.com/military/ml0329cam.html 73 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) Article has a lot more on media impact of the war, also in US ** U K [and non]. (3/28/03, 10 a.m. ET) -- The Animals' 1960s hit "We've Got To Get Out Of This Place" and Thin Lizzy's 1976 hit "The Boys Are Back In Town" are among the top songs on BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) Radio, serving British troops stationed in the Persian Gulf during "Operation Iraqi Freedom." http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=212819 (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** U K [non] Anyone waiting for the special 'first year' QSL card from LaserRadio for their transmissions via Ulbroka, Latvia last summer? I got this e-mail reply from the station yesterday: "Hello! I was actually looking at your previous email earlier this week ! The cards were not printed due to delays in getting photographs of the Transmitter etc., We've been talking with a journalist who has some nice photos which we could use for the QSL series however it all comes down to Price! Hence the delay. I think we are about to print a few QSL CARDS with just a scene of Old Riga - it will make things easier and cheaper plus we can get the cards out. We have not forgotten you or the others - it`s just pressure of time and costing everything. Most of our time/effort goes into the programming and buying the VERY expensive airtime! With every good wish, Andrew" (via Lennart Weirell, Västerås, Sweden) ** U S A. R. Farda, A-03 03/30/2003 to 10/25/2003: PE FRD FRD 0 2400 KWT C 1593 005 PE FRD FRD 0 2400 DHA B 1539 010 PE FRD FRD 30 400 MOR 05 9805 075 PE FRD FRD 30 600 LAM 09 9795 104 PE FRD FRD 30 600 LAM 01 9795 104 PE FRD FRD 30 200 BIB 03 9615 085 PE FRD FRD 200 400 KAV 07 9775 095 PE FRD FRD 400 830 KAV 04 15290 095 PE FRD FRD 400 600 KAV 02 15185 100 PE FRD FRD 400 830 KAV 07 9510 092 PE FRD FRD 600 730 KAV 02 17835 100 PE FRD FRD 730 830 MOR 01 17835 075 PE FRD FRD 800 1400 IRA 07 21650 315 PE FRD FRD 800 1400 KAV 01 13680 100 PE FRD FRD 1400 1600 WOF 04 17750 105 PE FRD FRD 1400 1700 LAM 04 13680 108 PE FRD FRD 1400 1700 KAV 06 9435 088 PE FRD FRD 1600 1700 WOF 04 17670 105 PE FRD FRD 1700 1800 IRA 01 11845 315 PE FRD FRD 1700 1900 LAM 02 11705 108 PE FRD FRD 1800 1900 IRA 01 11845 324 PE FRD FRD 1900 2130 LAM 09 11985 104 PE FRD FRD 1900 2000 KAV 08 11670 095 PE FRD FRD 1900 2000 DB 07 6140 264 PE FRD FRD 1900 2100 DB 11 5860 264 PE FRD FRD 2000 2130 UDO 07 11960 300 PE FRD FRD 2000 2130 IRA 03 9960 318 (IBB A03 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glen[n]: We are aware of the 5.015 spur. What is interesting is that this spur is (we are pretty [99.9%] sure) from a neighbor`s barn! The tin roof is somehow mixing and re-radiating. The roof panels are galvanized tin with just amount of rust to enhance the spur! The tin panels are resonant at 5 MHz!! (figures!!) The other spur has been eliminated; this one was coming from the barb wire fence down the road, with the solid state fence charger that puts a charge on the fence to control livestock. FCC is aware of this and we have been given exceedingly wide latitude to resolve (Dave Frantz, WWRB, TN, March 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent tonight with excellent signal on 5040 kHz at 1935 UT with IS & Programme in German, IDing as 'Radio Tashkent International'. No sign of anything on 5025 kHz so obviously a freq switch (Graham Powell, Wales, Mar 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Editor - Online DX Logbook --- A full list of English Broadcasts from the Middle East is available Free at http://www.shortwave.org.uk ** VENEZUELA. 4830, YVOB, Radio Táchira, San Cristóbal (Táchira state) MAR 29 0155 - with up-beat announcer, samples of Spanish music and mention of "Alegría en Radio Táchira". Good, some QRM from a computer in the neighborhood (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS BRITISH [non]. Famous DXpeditioner Danny Weil, ex- VP2VB, reported ill: DXpeditioner Danny Weil, ex-VP2VB, of YASME fame, reportedly is in a nursing facility after suffering a stroke late last year. Now 84, Weil would welcome cards and notes from his friends and acquaintances around the world. He was active under a variety of call signs in the 1950s and early 1960s from various ports of call while sailing one of the three YASME yachts. His address is Danny Weil, Regency Care at Medical Center, Room 101, 3935 Medical, San Antonio, TX 78229. More information is available on the Danny Weil, VP2VB, Page http://www.qsl.at/common/weil.html ARRL soon will publish the book YASME: The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio Expeditions by Jim Cain, K1TN, which includes many tales of Weil`s DXing adventures (Jim Cain, K1TN, and The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com via ARRL Letter Mar 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, Zambia National B.C., Mar 24, 1558-1608, 33432, Vernacular, Local pops music. 1558 with IS. 1600 ID. Drums. Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanishi, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ PRIME TIME SW A-03 The first edition of the shortwave schedules for the A-03 schedule season is now posted at the Prime Time Shortwave website, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com The schedules are available in sorts by time, country or by frequency. The schedules are available in Excel, DBase, HTML and ASCII text file formats. There are still a few schedules missing. If you feel you have a more up-to-date schedule for any of the stations I would appreciate hearing from you. Good listening, (Dan Sampson, DXLD) CIA `FACT`BOOK I would recommend treating any information in the CIA Factbook publication with a healthy dose of scepticism. One online edition, a few years ago, claimed there were no shortwave stations anywhere in the world! Every single entry I checked said 'shortwave 0'. I presume that they use a database program that defaults to zero when no information is entered, instead of the more appropriate n/a (Andy Sennitt (speaking for myself, not my employer), DX LISTENING DIGEST) HUGE AM DATABASE Thanks to Northwest Broadcasters website, I found a link to http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserade.html scroll down to Database extracts (WP format), and download the files -- there are 30 items to be unzipped. One of them is AMSTATION.DBF – this file has 8200 lines (one/station) and seems to include all stations on MW from US, Canada, and Mexico. It seems quite complete (CHMJ-730 calls are correct, and of the FM side, the new CKLG-FM calls are also included for Vancouver), but with some anomalies -- e.g., Vancouver-540 is shown. I don't think this has been viable for years, but there it is . . . anyway, for your amusement ef (Eric Floden, BC, Mar 25, NRC-AM via DXLD) DRM +++ Listen on 6010 at 0000 or 0400 and you'll hear RCI's relay of the BBC World service via Sackville in DRM mode. Don't forget, DRM is pure digital noise, there's no analog signal to be heard within it. As regards bandwidth of the noise, well it's kind of a Catch-22 - DRM requires a high signal level for good continuous audio decode and the bandwidth consumed is more or less proportional to the bandwidth of the audio signal encoded on it. (Higher fidelity analog audio output requires a wider bandwidth for the digital signal carrying it.) This means that you'll be hearing a certain amount of noise from an adjacent DRM signal if you're anywhere near its target area. It's not an overly messy encoding format but if you live in a target area you'll be getting a certain amount of slop from it. Conversely, an educated calculation on my part indicates that if you're out of a signal's target area you won't get much noise - but neither will you get good audio from it should you try to decode it (Lee Reynolds, Helena AL, NRC-AM via DXLD) Did you get the software package from DRM? How easy was it to install and set up. I've been thinking of dropping down the Visa card and getting the package as I would be interested in hearing some of the test transmission (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Yes, Fred, I have the Fraunhofer package which I purchased from Merlin. (Should you buy it, tell James I sent you!) Installation and setup was (for a wonder, seeing as it's under Windows) problem-free. It *can* be a bit squirrely about sound cards but I can verify that it works just fine with the SoundBlaster Live. One caveat, though - you can't just feed baseband audio to the soundcard and expect it to be decoded. You need to have a 12 kHz IF/Audio signal to feed the card. This means either using a receiver that has a tappable 12 kHz IF or downconverting a more conventional IF. Incidentally, the April 2003 edition of Monitoring times contains a multi-page article on DRM written for the intelligent layman. (There's also a "Dummy's Guide" written by a fine fellow following on after it!) (Lee Reynolds, NRC-AM via DXLD) For anyone that's interested, check out http://www.drmrx.org/receiver_mods.html for 12 kHz downconverters. There are also some little kits available from MiniKits but I didn't find a web page for them when doing a search for "DRM downconverter" which does find some interesting things (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP012 ARLP012 Propagation de K7RA ZCZC AP12 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 12 ARLP012 From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA March 21, 2003 To all radio amateurs [undated excerpts:] For an explanation of the relationship between K and A indices, check http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GEOMAG/kp_ap.html The spring equinox begins today. Spring is a great time for HF propagation, with all points on the earth today getting about 12 hours of sunlight. There actually is some variation in day length on this day, dependent on the observer's latitude. This is explained by the U.S. Naval Observatory at http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/equinoxes.html For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html (via Bob Foxworth, NRC-AM via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-052, March 28, 2003 CONTINUED from DXLD 3-051::: ** ITALY. RAI INTERNATIONAL A03 TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE valid from March 30 th: North America: 1400-1425 17780 21520 Italian 1830-1905 17780 21520 Italian 2240-0055 9675 11800 Italian 0055-0115 9675 11800 English 0115-0130 9675 11800 French 0130-0315 9675 11800 Italian 0315-0335 9675 11800 Spanish Central America: 0130-0230 11765 Italian South America: 2240-0055 9840 12030 Italian 0055-0115 9840 12030 Spanish 0115-0130 9840 12030 Portuguese 0130-0230 6110 Italian 0130-0315 9840 12030 Italian 0315-0335 9840 12030 Spanish North-Eastern Europe: 0345-0405 7235 9670 11800 Russian 0405-0425 7235 9670 11800 Ukrainian 0505-0525 9670 11800 Lithuanian 0530-0550 9670 11800 Romanian 0600-0620 11800 Russian 0630-1300 9670 11800 Italian 1335-1355 7190 9690 Albanian 1400-1415 7190 9690 Slovene 1415-1435 7190 9690 German 1435-1455 7190 9690 Croatian 1500-1520 9690 11700 Turkish 1520-1540 9690 11700 Greek 1530-1555 9670 11855 French 1540-1600 9690 11700 Bulgarian 1555-1625 9670 11855 Italian 1605-1625 9845 11700 Russian 1805-1825 5990 9605 German 1810-1825 6130 7115 Czech 1825-1840 6130 7115 Slovak 1840-1900 6130 7115 Polish 1910-1930 6130 7240 Serbian 1935-1955 6130 7240 Hungarian 1935-1955 5970 9745 English 2000-2020 6110 9745 Swedish (Mon-Wed-Fri) 2000-2020 6110 9745 Danish (Sun-Tue-Thu) 2000-2020 6110 9745 Esperanto (Saturday) 2000-2020 6185 9670 11800 Russian 2115-2135 5970 7255 Romanian 2135-2155 5970 7255 Czech 2155-2210 5970 7255 Slovak 2210-2225 5970 7255 Polish Spain-North Africa: 0435-0500 6110 7235 9875 Italian / English 1330-1355 9670 11800 Arabic 1500-1525 9670 11925 11795 Italian 1630-1655 9670 11700 French 1700-1800 9670 11725 Italian 2025-2045 6130 7290 Arabic 2050-2110 6130 7290 Portuguese 2110-2130 6130 7290 Spanish 2135-2155 6130 7290 Arabic Central-East Africa and Near East: 0435-0455 11900 Amharic 0455-0530 11900 Italian 0530-0550 11900 Somali 0600-0620 11900 Arabic 1630-1655 9605 11665 Arabic 1700-1800 9730 11795 15320 17800 Italian 1910-1930 9795 11890 Somali 2025-2045 6185 9670 11880 English 2050-2110 9670 11880 15240 Portuguese Asia-Far East-Japan-Oceania: 1000-1100 11920 Italian 2205-2230 11895 English Europe-Mediterranean: 2200-0400 6060 Notturno dall`Italia 0400-2200 6060 Radiouno On Mediumwave: 1330-1355 567 Arabic 2200-0400 846 900 Notturno dall`Italia Regards (via Ramón Vázquez, Spain, DXLD) ** ITALY. COMUNICATO STAMPA Con la presente vi invitiamo all`ascolto di RADIOMAGAZINE del 26.3.03 Che potrete trovare sul sito: HTTP://WWW.RADIOMAGAZINE.NET Alla pagina ``ascolta il nostro settimanale`` in formato real player. Ecco gli argomenti che saranno trattati nella puntata di questa settimana: Tutto sui Media e la Guerra in Iraq. In Medio Oriente l`accesso limitato ad INTERNET, convoglia l`attenzione sulle onde corte, unico mezzo per avere informazioni di prima mano sulla situazione. Durante la trasmissione vengono proposte le posizioni di alcune emittenti internazionali in Italiano: Radio Cairo, Voce della Russia, Radio Cina Internazionale. Si passa poi ad alcune registrazioni dal web, in uno speciale ``sonoro`` con tutte le radio da seguire come fonte di prima mano sul conflitto irakeno: BBC, Radio Free Iraq, Radio Kuwait, Kol Israel, American Forces Radio TV, British Forces Radio, BSKSA Arabia Saudita, Radio Egiziana e la voce di Saddam. Conclude il programma una rassegna di notizie dal mondo delle comunicazioni. Le novità in rete in relazione al conflitto irakeno, il nuovo virus forse creato da Saddam, e tante altre notizie. Le precedenti puntate o quelle più interessanti, sono alla pagina ``archivio sonoro``. Mentre nella sezione ``radiomagazine story`` troverete una puntata dedicata ad INTERNET e Pedofilia, e due puntate sull`Elettrosmog. Approfittiamo dell`occasione per comunicare che l`emittente privata toscana RADIO STUDIO X da Momigno (Pistoia), stà ritrasmettendo il nostro programma sulle sue frequenze. Il venerdì alle 21,00 e il martedì alle 01,00 ora italiana. La stazione oltre alla consueta Modulazione di Frequenza, trasmette anche in Onda Media di 1566 o 1584 kHz, udibile in tutto il Nord e Centro Italia. OFFERTA VALIDA SOLO QUESTA SETTIMANA !! RADIOMAGAZINE STUDIO QUALITY Andando nella directory sottoriportata, potrete scaricare il nostro programma in formato MP3 studio quality, normalmente riservato solo alle emittenti che ritrasmettono il nostro programma, dove resterà in rete fino al prossimo lunedì 31 marzo 2003. http://www.radiomagazine.net/trasferimenti/riversareconcura.htm Contatti: radiomagazine@libero.it info@radiomagazine.net INFORMATIVA SULLA PRIVACY. CHI NON FOSSE INTERESSATO A RICEVERE I NOSTRI COMUNICATI PUO` INVIARE UN MESSAGGIO IN BIANCO AD UNO DEGLI INDIRIZZI SOPRA RIPORTATI, INDICANDO NELL`OGGETTO: ``cancella dalla mailing``. (via DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. NHK World Radio Japan A-03 Japanese. Notice on Frequency Changes in Special Transmission In light of the situation in Iraq. R Japan has been offering a 24-hour Japanese-language service to the Middle East and North Africa on a special basis. Please be informed that the frequencies for this service will be changed starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday March 30 (JST). Following is a list of the new frequencies. Frequencies for other services remain unchanged. UT kHz Transmission station 00-02 6025 Rampisham 02-04 9570 Rampisham 04-12 15480 Dhabayya 12-14 15165 Rampisham 14-15 17860 Rampisham 15-18 17860 Rampisham 18-22 6115 Dhabayya 22-24 6015 Dhabayya !!!! in B-02 Japanese: 00-03 6180 Rampisham 03-04 9755 Dhabayya 04-12 15455 Dhabayya 12-15 17765 Rampisham 15-17 17765 Rampisham 17-18 5985 Dhabayya 18-20 6015 Dhabayya 20-22 6145 Dhabayya 22-24 5970 Dhabayya (via Wolfgang Bueschel, Mar 28, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 4025, Voice of the People of Kurdistan, operated by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) from Sulaymaniyah, NE Iraq, 1725- 1758*, Mar 22, and 0254-0340, Mar 22 and 23, Arabic IDs: ``Idha`at sawt Sha`b Kurdistan, sawt al-Ittihadi al-Watani al-Kurdistani``, news about Basra and Tomahawk missiles, Arabic songs. 34343 (Petersen) 4025.50v, Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, *1832-2015*v, Mar 22, 23 and 25. After playing "Land of Hope and Glory", Arabic ID: "Sawt al- tahir al-Iraq" (Voice of the Liberation of Iraq). Arabic talks about democracy in Iraq interspersed with military music. At 1900-1905 ID (``Burasi Iraq...``) and political talk in Turkmen or Turkish, and more Arabic from 1905. By 1930 it had drifted to 4025.34. 34434. This new clandestine, using the same frequency as the Voice of the People of Kurdistan, is no doubt U.S. supported. (Petersen). 4085 is the regularly heard Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, broadcasting from Salah al-Din in NE Iraq. It has extended its broadcasts till 2200* and was heard here Mar 22 and 24, 1820-2200* in Surani Kurdish and Arabic and with frequent IDs. 44434 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) VOA Kurdish expanded: see U S A ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010, Kyrgyz R, 1600-1630, Feb 28, relays BBC in Kyrgyz Mo-Fr and BBC in Russian Sa-Su, and 1700-1710 Deutsche Welle in Russian // 4795 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) Times about to shift? ** LIBERIA. Of note, today (Friday March 28), we began testing our transmitter in Liberia on 11.515 MHz. This antenna is pointed up through the heart of northern Africa centered on Israel. We finalized the agreement on the three 100 kW's in the Seychelles, and our engineer will be going there later in April to begin the dismantling process (Doc Burkhart, WJIE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. Over the last 2 evenings UT (March 27 and 28), I have heard ELWA 4760 kHz signing off after some religious programming. I don't recall hearing them the past few weeks. They are at a lower level than Radio Nigeria on 4770 but were somewhat better yesterday. Rather than signing off 2200 give or take 3 or 4 minutes as I've heard in the recent past, both days they have extended and signed off at 2232 after their NA. The programming today was leaning towards the fire and brimstone variety before signoff (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, USA JRC NRD-515/K9AY, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) Surprise ** MALI. 11960.0, R Mali, 1117-1125, Mar 15, discussion in French on the country's medical assistance scheme; 13431 with co-channel QRM from HCJB in Spanish to Cuba; also noted 0817-fade out 0950, Mar 17, Vernacular talks, tribal songs; put a very poor signal 0845-0915 (power down?), then suddenly revived, as if a new transmitter had been switched on, till it finally faded out; an unsual and amazing 34543 rating, but still worse than on // 9635v (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD)). Both frequencies were regularly strong on STP (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, R Mauritanie, *0856 and observed till very late, Mar 18; it had transmitter break down 0902-0930. 45444 at best of course. They had s/off on 4845 sometime after 0830, the signal being very poor and noisy plus with a few transmitter troubles too, so it appears that's the same transmitter used for 41 m (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) Both frequencies heard with fair reception on STP (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 2390, XEJN-OC Radio Huayacocotla, 1309-1330. Escuché una canción norteña, tipo corrido acompañado por acordeón, terminando pusieron otra; a las 1313 dieron la hora "Radio Huaya da la hora, son las siete y dieciocho...", notando que tienen su reloj adelantado 5 minutos. Luego tocaron otro corrido, luego escuché una cápsula informativa hablando del Dengue, como se transmite, que síntomas da, cómo prevenirlo, terminado escuché una cuña musical, a guitarra, hablando del dengue. Esto fue muy curioso; luego siguieron tocando música hasta las 1325 cuando dieron la hora: "Radio Huaya da la hora, son las siete y media..." y empezaron a dar noticias en Náhuatl, mencionando al secretario de Gonbernación Santiago Creel y de la Guerra de EE.UU. Todo con un SINPO de 33333. Receptor: Radio Shack DX-398, Antena Extrena tipo L invertida de 5 metros de longitud. Nota : XEJN Radio Huayacocotla tiene un sitio web en http://www.sjsocial.org/Radio/ (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Mar 26, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Radio Netherlands news ticker: As promised last week, we've lauched this new freeware program. It's a 2 Mb download for Windows, but we advise against using it if you have a dial-up connection because it checks for news updates every 5 minutes. But if you have an always-on connection, we hope you'll find it a useful way of keeping in touch with the news from Rado Netherlands. There's full user information and screenshots on the download page at http://www.rnw.nl/special/en/html/newsclock030327.html [non]. Extra RNW frequency due to Iraq crisis --- I've just had word from our Programme Distribution Department of a new frequency for our transmission in Dutch at 1330-1425 UT as from Sunday 30 March. We'll be using 17525 kHz beamed towards Afghanistan from a transmitter at Krasnodar near Russia's Black Sea coast. I say that with some nostalgic feelings, as 30 years ago I spent a month in that city as part of my university course (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Mar 28 via DXLD) (also via Manfred Reiff) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZ NEWS BOSS BLOWS WHISTLE ON BUDGET BLOWOUT SATURDAY, 29 MARCH 2003 By JOHN DRINNAN A Radio New Zealand executive on sick leave since mid-January has used the "whistleblower" law to raise questions about RNZ's $8 million news budget and the way it has been spent... http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/print/0,1478,2364374a11,00.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. I have submitted information to you before, but some years ago. I do have a proposal about where I believe RNZI should go: CBC.am/rnzi.com My RNZI web proposal has not been revised recently, but it is up to date considering the strategic climate at the moment. I have submitted the following letter, in a slightly modified form to Kiwinews.co.nz; I hope you read some of it on the air. =============== Radio NZ International's power cut to 50 kW is "Strategically Dangerous" while Gulf War II progresses. RNZI has problems I have campaigned in the past for RNZI to have 2 x 100 kW SW transmitters, as opposed to a single 100 kW transmitter that is now in use. The 2nd transmitter would allow for better use of SW frequencies and antennas, although the addition of the 2nd transmitter would require the construction of a separate transmitter building and modifications to the existing switch matrix and audio chain. I am writing today because I am especially bothered by this recent news from the RNZI home page: "Massive power price increases have prompted Radio New Zealand International to reduce transmission power from 100 to 50kw and also reduce transmission hours." Although I firmly believe that RNZI doesn't need to run their primary (and only transmitter) at 100 kW continuously when hydro prices are elevated, powering down to 50 kW is a very bad strategic idea -- considering the current political climate with respect to the war in the Persian Gulf. The NZ PM needs to authorize extra funds to allow RNZI to operate at 100 kW for at least 3 - 6 hours / day (variable over the standard 18 hour broadcast day) each according to the RNZI station manager's strategic judgment and ionospheric conditions. If RNZI has leftover funds from this once per decade expenditure -- let RNZI choose what to do with those funds. To do anything less than support RNZI at this time would smack of Burmese or even North Korean style isolationism. RNZI could probably have access to more money and resources, if the current station management would allow MP's (inside and outside the ruling party) to have air time to access the Kiwis that live in Australia and the Pacific Islands. Party political messages have never violated the charter of any state run broadcaster in recorded history that I know of, so there is no risk in RNZI losing money by having party political transmissions. It is hoped that NZ will (in future) pass legislation allowing for religious and non governmental SW broadcasting to originate from NZ. This legislation should provide these transmission rights providing that RNZI has emergency and contractual lease access to any future SW transmission sites. It must be noted that Australia has only recently fulfilled its Magna Carta obligations with respect to religious broadcasting on SW, but lags behind with respect to nongovernmental SW broadcasting. I understand NZ's geopolitical stance on "Gulf War II" and the penalties created by any political decision at this time. However, fence building and fence mending will be necessary parts of NZ external policy for the next decade -- regardless any of the existing political parties views on foreign relations. I hope that RNZI soon changes its transmission schedule to (add/modify) the following foreign language services: 30 min (Arabic) @ 5 Days / week 30 min (Urdu) @ 5 Days / week 30 min (Chinese -- Mandarin + Cantonese) @ 6 Days / week 30 min (Korean) @ 6 Days / week 30 min (Hindi) @ 5 Days / week 30 min (Tamil) @ 2 Days / week 30 min (Kanada) @ 2 Days / week 30 min (Thai) @ 5 Days / week The broadcasts could be made available as audio files, suitable for email delivery and retransmission. This will please many radio stations in South Asia. Also, some language transmissions could be combined together (i.e.: 15 min Hindi + 15 min Tamil) to save transmission costs. All of these language services could be added via joint venture between RNZI and the foreign language departments and student radio services of the major universities in Auckland and Wellington ... at little cost to the NZ rate payer. Many foreign students (and children of recent NZ migrants) from these regions would gladly do a 6 month internship as part of their university careers. The NZ government has been (for the past couple of PM's) too hyperisolationaist for its own good -- and this completely goes against NZ's traditional dependence on trade. SKY TV is failing to serve NZ's needs Sky TV NZ is not fully serving NZ's needs. I am pissed off that SKY Australia does not carry RNZI as a radio service. SKY NZ needs to be told by the NZ government radio and television authority that SKY's permission to provide service to NZ audiences implies an obligation to carry RNZI in Australia -- as there are so many Kiwis there. I don't believe that carrying an extra 80kbs mono audio stream will harm SKY Australia's finances. Customers come to DTH / DTV services like SKY because the DTH services offer something the customer cannot usually obtain elsewhere. Carrying RNZI will make SKY Australia more profitable than the extra nominal expense of RNZI carriage, as Kiwi customers count! Sky NZ in return could carry a similar audio stream of ABC Newsradio and Radio Australia designed for NZ needs, with equally profitable results. I am not anti-SKY TV, as I would gladly work for them if they would hire me... ("M. Power" onuj23@juno.com Mar 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGER. 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niamey, 2005-2215, Mar 18, local songs after a few announcements in French prior to their 2200 hours TS; 25422 at 2005, but better 2215, still without QRM (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) On Mar 16 it signed off at 2200*. It is definitely on the air throughout the day, as I also heard it 0628-1045 and 1445-1615 (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) i.e. NBC?? ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. New Frequencies! Johno here folks.....been talking pidgin to a source that I cannot name... but the 100 kw in Port Moresby...the operation to become 24 hours on the proposed frequencies...7120 and 7180 kHz. Timeframe unknown, but will have my source tell me when the time comes, as a lot of process has to be overcome. So how`s that! I don`t know the background to it all, but this will give the amateurs a right royal pain...whilst give some of the Chinese transmitters a bit of curry and vice versa (Johno Wright, Australia, Mar 24, ARDXC via DXLD) {NBC??} ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3205, R West Sepik, Vanimo, 0945-1032* (new sign off time), was only active on Mar 3-7 and 9, Tok Pinsin program; the signal was weaker than the 10 kW heard some months ago, 25332. It has been off the air since the elections last August! (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4890.08, R Macedonia, Arequipa, new station which according to http://www.uttermost.net and http://ibfe.org belongs to the ``Macedonia World Baptist Missions Inc. and the Crown College of the Bible`` in Powell, Tennessee! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) [and non?]. MACEDONIA MISCELLANY Samuel Cássio in an email to me says he logged the station already on Jan 29. This logging was duly reported to Conexión Digital and various Brazilian lists, and so he should be mentioned as the one who actually discovered the new station, he says, not Björn Malm, which is what you can read on the DXing.info info page. In Oct 2002, the Finnish DXer Jari Lehtinen, heard an unID SS gospel transmission on on 4975, at approx. 0630. For various reasons, he did not believe this was the listed Radio Del Pacífico. He sent me an audio clip, and I found that this was an actual broadcast, with time pips, frequency info etc., from Vida FM, which is sort of a second local HCJB program aired llocally in Quito. This leads me to think that this could have been a transmitter test arranged by HCJB engineers before shipping the transmitter to Arequipa. I asked the DX Partyline host Allen Graham if he knew why Vida FM was aired on 4975, but he seemed to be travelling in the States, and so no answer was forthcoming at the time (Henrik Klemetz, Mar 26, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PERU. Carlos Eduardo Gammara (Radio La Hora, Cusco) confirms in an e-mail that Radio Santa Mónica (1370) bought the shortwave license [4965] from Radio San Miguel. Heard with good signals almost every evening in Norway. 73 de OLE FORR, FRYA, N-2647 SOR-FRON NORWAY, Mar 21, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. PBS Manila audible on 9581.5 23/3, tune-in 0855, discussion program in Tagalog from 0900, smatterings of English. Re- check 0945 when had phone-in program, mentions of Manila. News 1000, seemed to go off shortly after 1010 (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW, Rohde & Schwarz EK-890, ARDXC via DXLD) Valenzuela, actually ** QATAR. The supposed English site of al-Jazeera referenced in last issue apparently leads to something quite different, a school, rather than being hacked. What is/was the correct URL? Altho I`m sure I heard it correctly, the al was missing according to the following article: http://english.aljazeera.net (gh, DXLD) AL-JAZEERA WEB SITE FACES CONTINUED HACKER ATTACKS http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2003/03/27/rtr922027.html (Forbes.com via Drudgereport.com: via Alton Peltier, Mar 27, DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 9550, 0242-, Radio Romania International, Mar 28. Hoping to pick up Radio Okapi, but no luck. Just the English service of RRI. Fair, almost good reception now. Much better than at 0200 when I could make out English news, but not much else. I know that Okapi was heard in California recently, but I'm surprised that RRI didn't swamp them as well. Mailbag program tonight. Read a letter from Columbus, Ohio (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. R. Gardarika, 6245, Heard *1900-2120*, Mar 24, Russian and English IDs, Russian pop songs. Open carrier continued till about 2140*. 55545. I sent Mikhail an e-mail about this early sign off, and he wrote back Mar 25: ``Gardarika had some problems with their studio computers yesterday. They promise full 3 hours starting from this evening. By the way, their SW service is separate in full (not // 69.05 and 102.4 St. Petersburg, 73.4 and 103.1 Vyborg and 101.7 Kingisepp)``. Heard again Mar 25 with 55545 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) 6245, R. Gardarika relay via St. Petersburg 2150-2201* 03/25, with massive QRM bursts, 5-15 seconds apart. 2123-2201* 03/26 with shorter, more tolerable QRM bursts, spaced approx. 60 seconds apart. RS pop music and ballads with OM IDs between songs. S/off routine over lite jazz music, repeated twice, beginning at 2156 with YL mentioning "St. Petersburg", OM mentioning "25 kilohertz, 49m band", YL mention "telephone" then OM read numbers (7812-??-29801), YL with e-mail (studio.??ru.) and PO address. IDs, OM with "Nevskyana Volna", YL with "R. Gardarika". Off at 2201 sharp both days. (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., NH, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RDA balun, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Only a few days left in this one`s current activity; the QRM bursts were likely from legal occupant of this utility band (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RADIO ''THE VOICE OF RUSSIA'' - RUSSIAN WORLD SERVICE (OVERSEAS BROADCASTING) TIME/FREQUENCY SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER PERIOD '2003 (Times = UTC/GMT, Frequencies = kHz) ----------------------------------------------------- To EUROPE: 0100-0200 = 1170, 936; 0200-0300 = 936; 1200-1300 = 1548, 1386, 1323, 1215, 1170, 1143, 999, 972, 936, 603; 1300-1400 = 1386, 1323, 1215, 603; 1500-1600 = 612 (on Mo, Tu, Th, Su); 1700-1800 = 11630*, 9480**, 5950, 1089; 1900-2000 = 15350, 12020**, 11745*, 11630*, 9820*, 9480**, 9450**, 7370, 5950, 1215, 1143, 1089, 936, 612, 603; 2000-2100 = 12030, 9890*, 9470**, 9450*, 7390, 7370, 7310**, 1215, 1143, 999, 603 NOTES: 603 and 1323 kHz - for Germany via local transmitters; 612 kHz - for Moscow Region; To The BALTIC COUNTRIES: 1200-1300 = 1143; 1700-1800 = 11630*, 9480**; 1900-2000 = 11630*, 9820*, 9480**, 9450**, 7370, 1143; 2000-2100 = 7370, 1143 To The UKRAINE AND MOLDAVIA: 0100-0200 = 1170, 936; 1200-1300 = 1548, 1431, 1170, 999, 972, 936; 1900-2000 = 15350, 12020**, 11745, 7370, 936; 2000-2100 = 1170, 936; To The BYELORUSSIA: 0100-0200 = 1170; 1200-1300 = 1143, 1170; 1900-2100 = 1143 To The CAUCASIAN AREA: 1200-1300 = 1170 (on Mo, Tu, Th, Su); 1900-2000 = 12055; 2000-2100 = 12055, 1314, 234 To The CENTRAL ASIA: 0100-0200 = 1503, 972, 648; 1200-1300 = 9920, 9735**, 9485, 9470*, 1143; 1300-1400 = 1251 To The AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and PACIFIC AREA: 1200-1300 = 11640; 1300-1400 = 11640, 7315 To ASIA and FAR EAST: 1200-1300 = 15560, 15470, 11640a, 9920, 9745, 7340a, 1143; 1300-1400 = 17645a, 15560, 15470, 11640a, 9745, 7340a, 7315, 1251; 1500-1600 = 15560, 12055, 7350 NOTES: a) - for South-East Asia To NEAR and MIDDLE EAST: 0100-0200 = 1503, 972, 648; 1200-1300 = 9735**, 9485, 9470, 1431, 1143; 1500-1600 = 17580, 12055, 7350, 7130**, 1314, 1170 (on Mo, Tu, Th, Su) 1900-2000 = 12055, 5950, 1314, 1089, 234; 2000-2100 = 12055, 5950, 1314, 234; To The WESTERN HEMISPHERE: 0100-0200 = 21755**, 17690, 17660, 17620*, 17565*, 15455**, 12070*, 12060, 11750, 9480, 7300**; 0200-0300 = 21755**, 17690, 17660, 17650, 17620*, 17565**, 12070*, 12060, 11750, 11720, 9945, 9480, 7330b, 7300 NOTES: b) - for Atlantic Area. -------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES: *) - Till September, 6th; **) - Since September, 7th. -------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------------- OUR ADDRESS: Russian World Service, ''The Voice of Russia'', Moscow-Radio, 115326 Russia. VOICE: [+7 095] 950-6868. FAX: [+7 095] 950-6116. E-MAIL: letters@vor.ru ACTUAL INFORMATION, WEB and ''REAL AUDIO'' (on live): http://www.vor.ru/Russian.htm (Pavel Mikhaylov, Moscow, March RUS-DX via DXLD) ** SÃO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE. 1530 MW, VOA Pinheira. I visited this IBB facility on Mar 13 and will make a full report later on. To follow up on recent information in the DX-Press about replacement of the antenna for the 600 kW MW transmitter carrying VOA programs towards Africa in the 0300-0630 and 1600-2230 timeframes, I saw the dismantled old antenna laying on the ground as a bunch of metal corroded by the salty air from the Atlantic Ocean being just about 100 meters away. A contractor was working on installing two new masts and told me that their work would be completed by the end of March 2003. Transmissions had already been done through the northernmost of these masts for about a month and I heard it with 55555 on both islands (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. 11884.93, 0313-, FEBA, Mar 28. Presumably the second last day of transmission for this old friend. One of my all-time favourite Interval signals. Plenty of splatter above and below, but the IS punched through very well. Into presumed Swahili service, but talk was difficult to follow. Quite sure I did hear FEBA and Seychelles, though. USB is best. Already improving by 0318 with regional music. Talk by male at 0320:45 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also LIBERIA! ** SEYCHELLES [non]. PRESS RELEASE Friday 28th March 2003 VT MERLIN SIGN MAJOR BROADCAST CONTRACT WITH FEBA RADIO VT Merlin Communications, part of VT Group plc has signed a major contract with religious broadcaster Feba Radio to deliver their programming on its global short wave network, providing extensive coverage of Feba's key target regions, including the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. In addition to offering Feba the global and technical capability they require, the signing of this contract will see VT Merlin become Feba's prime transmission partner by offering the customer broadcast support services, including scheduling & frequency management, as well as consultancy. Over fifteen hours of programming a day produced by Feba globally will be received by VT Merlin via FTP and then distributed to sites overseas for transmission on short wave, providing the coverage required by Feba. Feba's programming is Christian in content giving input on topics as diverse as dealing with HIV or learning English. Programmes are made by national producers, who understand the needs of their listeners. Listeners tune in across Africa, Asia and the Middle East in a variety of languages. Feba Radio's International Director, John Bartlett commented: "Feba is very pleased to be extending this relationship. We have found VT Merlin to be very understanding of our needs and look forward to continuing business with them." Richard Hurd, VT Merlin's Head of Transmission Services said: "The signing of this contract and the development of our partnership with Feba has enabled us to offer a cost effective and comprehensive, added value broadcast service. The flexibility of VT Merlin's transmission network enables them to prioritise and put their listeners first. We look forward to developing our relationship with them". (via Hans Johnson, Mar 28, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) If they really ``put listeners first`` Merlin would not inundate us with even more gospel huxters (gh, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE [non]. Re Project Airwaves schedule: Delete Singapore relays: 15250 0100-0230 smtwtfs NEW SNG 100 13 NA FE 15265 0600-1100 smtwtfs NEW SNG 100 13 NA FE 13735 1100-1300 smtwtfs NEW SNG 100 13 NA FE [but still:] 21510 0400-0530 [x0330-0600] smtwtfs NEW Dhabbaya 250 90 NA S AS (Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX Mar 26 via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Inicio emisiones español R. Eslovaquia Esquema de transmisiones, Voz de Eslovaquia, Verano 2003 (30.03.2003 - 26.10.2003) Hora UT Región kHz m 0230-0300 América Central 6190 49 América del Sur 9440 31 América del Sur 11990 25 1430-1500 Europa Occidental 6055 49 Europa Occidental 7345 41 Europa O./América del Sur 11600 25 2000-2030 Europa Occidental 6055 49 Europa Occidental 7345 41 Europa O./América del Sur 11650 25 Radio Slovakia International, Mytna 1, P.O. Box 15, 817 55 Bratislava, Slovakia RSI_spanish@slovakradio.sk (via Ramón Vázquez Dourado, Spain, Mar 28, DXLD) ** SPAIN. Received the following in email today: Dear Mr. Bastow, We have received your reception report and we regret to inform you that from January 2003 Radio Exterior de España has cancelled temporarily the reception report verification service. REE will not issue QSL cards until this service is re-established, but we will be glad to answer any DX related letter or request. Thanking you for your interest in REE and in our programmes, we remain Yours sincerely (Pilar Salvador, Relaciones con la Audiencia REE (via Wayne Bastow, Mar 24, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In the "S-Files" we go to the far north of the country to a village of wooden huts set up for church goers Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Repeat feature Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" Stockholm's new casino, Shebang, and music from the Internet Don't forget our new shortwave schedule goes into effect on Sunday. See the last edition for the details, or check our website. You can order the schedule by automatic e-mail by writing to: sche-@sr.se [truncated, but we can guess] (SCDX/MediaScan Mar 26 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [and non]. Swiss Radio International A03 Schedule: Near East-Africa: 0600-French/ 0630-German/ 0700-Italian/ 0730-English on: 13650-Julich/Germany-200 deg 15445-Julich/Germany-160 deg 21750-Sottens/Switzerland-165 deg 0830-English/ 0900-Italian/ 0930-German/ 1000-French on: 21770-Sottens/Switzerland-165 deg 1630-Italian/ 1700-Arabic/ 1730-English/ 1800-French on: 13750-Julich/Germany-115 deg 15515-Julich/Germany-115 deg 17870-Sottens/Switzerland-140 deg 1830-Italian/ 1900-Arabic/ 1930-English/ 2030-German/ 2100-French on: 11815-Julich/Germany-160 deg 13645-Julich/Germany-200 deg 13795-Sottens/Switzerland-140 deg 15220-Montsinery/F.Guiana-115 deg South America 2200-French/ 2230-German/ 2300-Italian/ 2330-English on: 9885-Sottens/Switzerland-230 deg 11905-Montsinery/F.Guiana-175 deg (via Ramón Vázquez Dourado, Spain, DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. THAILAND A'03 Broadcast Schedule --- Radio Thailand, World Service For listeners in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Europe, and America on the following frequencies: (as per A-03 seasonal change) effective March 30, 2003 GMT Language kHz 0000-0030 English 9870 0030-0100 English 15395 0100-0200 Thai 15395 0300-0330 English 15395 0330-0430 Thai 15395 0530-0600 English 21795 1000-1100 Thai 11805 1100-1115 Vietnamese 7260 1115-1130 Khmer 7260 1130-1145 Lao 6030 1145-1200 Burmese 6030 1200-1215 Malaysian 11805 1215-1230 Indonesian 11805 1230-1300 English 9700 1300-1315 Japanese 11850 1315-1330 Mandarin 11850 1330-1400 Thai 11685 1400-1430 English 9830 1800-1900 Thai 9695 1900-2000 English 7155 2000-2015 German 9680 2015-2030 French 9680 2030-2045 English 9680 2045-2115 Thai 9680 Radio Thailand is part of the Government Public Relations Department, Royal Thai Government, Postal address: 236 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Din Daeng – Din Daeng, BKK10400 Tel. (662) 2771814, 277-6139(plus fax), 274-9098(recording) and 274-9099. Email address: amporns@mozart.inet.co.th website: http://www.prd.go.th Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** TUNISIA. 15450, 1452-1515, R. Tunis, Mar 26. Arabic music at tune in. Weak but audible signal with fades. S1 signal level with peaks to S-3. Male announcer in Arabic at 1455. Qur`an heard at 1456. Female announcer at 1459 with ID in ENGLISH, Welcome to R. Tunisia. Very pleasant voice. Then to news items in Arabic with echo. Female announcer very fast talker. Echo so bad at times, even if I knew some Arabic not discernible. Did hear Iraq mentioned several times. Male announcer at 1502. Interludes of very soft music (Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. Hi Glenn, Yesterday on Thu March 27 I heard Turkmen Radio from Asgabad broadcasting in English on 4930 kHz the 60 mb. Reception was quite superb on exactly 4930,00 kHz. They finished their English programme 1649 UT. Obviously they started 1630 UTC? WRTH gives wrong info on their English programmes. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Biographies of many people on or in the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/ (via Larry Nebron, DXLD) ** U K. TUSA ATTACKS BBC'S 'BARREN' ARTS COVERAGE Claire Cozens Friday March 28, 2003 John Tusa, the former head of the BBC World Service, has accused the corporation of neglecting the arts, describing the BBC's arts coverage as "barren". http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,924920,00.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** U K. BBC BOSS ADMITS 'DAILY' MISTAKES IN IRAQ Jason Deans, Friday March 28 2003, The Guardian A senior BBC News executive today admitted that the reporting of allied military claims in Iraq that later prove false, such as heralding the fall of Umm Qasr at least nine times, had "left the public feeling less well-informed than it should be". Mark Damazer, the deputy director of BBC News, also admitted the BBC had been making mistakes "on a daily basis" during the first week of the Iraq conflict, but denied there was any deliberate bias towards either the pro or anti-war camps. "I don't deny for a moment that the accumulation of things that have happened in the first week, such as the false claims about the fall of Umm Qasr and the surrender of the Iraqi 51st division, have left the public feeling they are not as well informed as they should be," Mr Damazer said. "But it's perfectly proper for us to say 'a British defence source has said there's an uprising in Basra' and not report it as gospel truth. We attribute wherever possible to a source. The secret is attribution, qualification and scepticism," he added. Mr Damazer said allegations by the anti-war lobby that the BBC had become "shackled" by the government and military were "profoundly ill-judged and unfair". "Although it's unquestionably true that we make mistakes, and on a daily basis, we don't only make them in [a pro-war] direction," he added, speaking last night at a meeting of Media Workers Against the War. Mr Damazer admitted one of the areas where the BBC had made mistakes was in its use of language, but that it was seeking to put this right. "If we have used the word 'liberate' in our own journalism, as in 'such and such a place had been liberated by allied forces', that's a mistake," he said. "That is the wrong language to use without evidence of Iraqi people feeling as though they have been liberated," Mr Damazer added. He said it was also "not good" to open a news bulletin by announcing that the death of two soldiers was the "worst possible news for the armed forces". Mr Damazer added that although the death of two soldiers was obviously the "worst possible news for their families", far worse things could happen on the battlefield with far greater loss of life, for which language such as "the worst possible news for the armed forces" would be more appropriate. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) BBC CHIEFS STRESS NEED TO ATTRIBUTE WAR SOURCES Claims and counter-claims in the media Ciar Byrne, Thursday March 27 2003, The Guardian BBC news chiefs have met to discuss the increasing problem of misinformation coming out of Iraq as staff concern grows at the series of premature claims and counter claims by military sources. As a result the corporation has reinforced the message to correspondents that they must clearly attribute information to the military when it has not been backed up by another source. "There's been a discussion about attribution and it's been reinforced with people that we do have to attribute military information," said a BBC spokeswoman. "We have to be very careful in the midst of a conflict like this one to be very sure when we're reporting something we've not seen with our own eyes that we attribute it," she added. On nearly every day of the war so far there have been reports that could be seen as favourable to coalition forces, which have later turned out to be inaccurate. Earlier this week there was confusion over whether there had been an uprising in the key southern city of Basra. A British forces spokesman, Group Captain Al Lockwood, said on Thursday there had been a "popular uprising", but this was denied by Iraqi authorities. By last Sunday the southern Iraqi seaport of Umm Qasr had been reported "taken" nine times, while reports of the discovery of a chemical weapons factory in An Najaf have not been confirmed - just two more examples of the confusion over what is coming out of military sources. "We're absolutely sick and tired of putting things out and finding they're not true. The misinformation in this war is far and away worse than any conflict I've covered, including the first Gulf war and Kosovo," said a senior BBC news source. "On Saturday we were told they'd taken Basra and Nassiriya and then subsequently found out neither were true. We're getting more truth out of Baghdad than the Pentagon at the moment. Not because Baghdad is putting out pure and morally correct information but because they're less savvy about it, I think. "I don't know whether they [the Pentagon] are putting out flyers in the hope that we'll run them first and ask questions later or whether they genuinely don't know what's going on - I rather suspect the latter." Earlier this week the BBC's director of news, Richard Sambrook, admitted it was proving difficult for journalists in Iraq to distinguish truth from false reports, and that the pressures facing reporters on 24-hour news channels had led to premature or inaccurate stories. Veteran war correspondent Martin Bell has called for 24-hour news channels to "curb their excitability" and warned against unsubstantiated reports which may help the allied cause, but later turn out to be false. The Times journalist Janine di Giovanni has also said that the demands of real-time television, combined with the restrictions placed on reporters in Baghdad by the Iraqis and the difficulties of getting to the front line are making it virtually impossible for journalists to cover the war properly. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K. HOW MUSIC AND FILMS LOSE OUT BECAUSE OF WAR (Filed: 28/03/2003) TV and radio stations are reacting to the fighting by making some changes to their schedules. Matt Born reports Last week, a confidential memo to staff at MTV, the music television station, was published on the internet - to the acute embarrassment of the channel's chiefs. "In light of the outbreak of war in Iraq in the last 12 hours … we recommend that videos featuring the following are not shown at the moment: war, soldiers, riots and social unrest, executions, other obviously sensitive material," it said. Fans of Britney Spears will be blissfully unaffected... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/28/nmed228.xml (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K [non]. RADIO WAVES FOR THE FORCES By Katie Smith, BBC News Online entertainment staff The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) is celebrating its 60th birthday by being relayed to more than 20,000 troops on duty in the Gulf... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2889035.stm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) Handling lots of dedications. No mention of recent addition of SW! But then we know how BBC feels about that outmoded medium (gh, DXLD) Hello Glenn, The link below leads to an article about 'Greetings via BFBS in Gulf Region'. They mention they van now hear BFBS via 'SW and FM transmitters in the region'. BFBS-RADIO SENDET GRÜßE AN DEN GOLF Auf der Seite http://www.rp-online.de/special/irak-krise/2003-0327/bfbs.html gibt es einen Artikel über 'Gruesse via BFBS in der Golfregion' : BFBS-Radio sendet Grüße an den Golf "Dad, wann kommst du wieder?" (via Martin Schoech, Mar 27, DXLD) (3/28/03, 10 a.m. ET) -- The Animals' 1960s hit "We've Got To Get Out Of This Place" and Thin Lizzy's 1976 hit "The Boys Are Back In Town" are among the top songs on BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) Radio, serving British troops stationed in the Persian Gulf during "Operation Iraqi Freedom." http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=212819 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U K (presumed). 9800, BFBS 1830 till abrupt sign off at 1900, "G3" technology programme with Dave Raven, good signal, programme straight copy of old Media Network's radio programme with various gurus talking about electronic gadgets, 3G phones, DVD players etc. Gave contact address as dave.raven@bfbs.com The answer to their quiz question is "Watson and Crick". (26th March) (David Norrie, Auckland, NZ, AOR 7030, hard-core-dx via DXLD) This would be a new transmission, extending an hour later than before (gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. UZBEKISTAN? 13720, 0301-, BFBS, Mar 28. English accented news, with TC for 5 minutes past 6 (I think). Poor to fair, but superior to 6135. Into modern music (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. A'03 Summer Schedule of Bible Voice (BVB) (March 30, 2003 - October 26, 2003) [all these frequencies were labeled `mhz` but I assume they were meant to be kHz. No info whatsoever on sites, even languages, tho I suppose this has been researched before --- gh] MIDDLE EAST 7430 1700-1815 M-F 1700-1900 Saturday 1700-2000 Sunday 13710 1900-1930 Thurs 1900-2000 Friday 1900-2000 Saturday 17180 [sic!!!] 0900-1000 Friday 15680 1530-1730 M-F 1515-1730 Saturday 1515-1800 Sunday EAST AFRICA 13810 1630-1700 Daily 1630-1730 Tues/Wed/Fri/Sat CENTRAL AFRICA 13725 1900-1915 M-F 1900-2030 Sat 2000-2030 Sun INDIA 17540 0200-0300 Sat/Sun 11975 0030-0100 Mon-Sat 9610 0200-0230 Daily 7180 0030-0100 Daily 17655 1530-1616 M/T 1530-1630 Wed-Sun EAST EUROPE/RUSSIA 5970 1800-1815 Mond-Friday 1800-1900 Sat/Sun WEST EUROPE/UK 5975 0700-0745 M-F 0700-0815 Sat/Sun CHINA 13590 1145-1300 M-F VIETNAM 6070 1400-1500 Sat 9540 1500-1600 Daily bible-@sympatico.ca [truncated; or maybe CANADA non?] Best regards, (via Vasily Gulyaev. Astrakhan, Russia, EDXP via DXLD) ** U S A. The Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS) makes interesting listening at this time! I tried a number of their frequencies, but only had luck hearing 6350 usb [Hawai`i] at 1155 UT with a war updates for servicemen. ID and news at 1200. Programming is far more upbeat on the progress with the war than is VOA (a bit like listening to the cable FOX News service....plenty of hype and gung-ho!!). (Rob VK3BVW Wagner, Melbourne, Australia, FRG100, Sangean 909, Icom ham IC701 transceiver, Dipoles and longwires, Mar 21, EDXP via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA COVERAGE OF GULF WAR Washington, D.C., March 24, 2003 -- VOA has deployed experienced war correspondents throughout the Middle East, including four journalists embedded with the U.S. Army and Marines and on two aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. VOA teams are also reporting from Doha, Qatar; Amman, Jordan; Cairo, Egypt; Jerusalem, Israel; the United Nations; in Washington from the White House, Pentagon, State Department, Capitol Hill; and from capital cities around the world. Following President Bush`s announcement of the start of hostilities, VOA immediately shifted to an all-news format. In addition, VOA`s broadcasts in the region's languages have bolstered their schedules. VOA Broadcast Highlights: Kurdish - increased from 1 to 4 hours daily on shortwave and Internet; Persian - broadcast 4 hours daily, plus expanded Website services and enhanced news content in 2 1/2 hours weekly of TV simulcasts; English - 24 hours on FM in Kuwait (heard in parts of Iraq and also heard by members of the U.S. armed forces in the region.); TV Newsline - 30-minute Monday to Friday news and information program full of stories about the latest news, along with background reports and interviews on what it all means, broadcast via satellite and through affiliate stations; Arabic - VOA Arabic news Website (VOA Press Release via DXLD) So here`s the current Kurdish schedule from IBB Monitoriong; third column is the `network` i.e., audio feed routing: KURD VOA G 0400 0500 IRA 01 15115 299 KURD VOA G 0400 0500 BIB 01 9705 105 KURD VOA G 0400 0500 KAV 10 7200 105 KURD VOA G 1300 1400 MOR 03 17780 075 KURD VOA G 1300 1400 KAV 02 15215 095 KURD VOA G 1300 1400 KAV 09 11845 108 KURD VOA G 1600 1700 MOR 01 15250 067 KURD VOA G 1600 1700 MOR 03 11875 067 KURD VOA G 1600 1700 KAV 03 7240 105 KURD VOA H1 1800 1900 MOR 07 12030 075 KURD VOA H1 1800 1900 MOR 05 11805 075 KURD VOA H1 1800 1900 BIB 06 6115 105 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A LOCAL LIFE: TIBOR S. BORGIDA. VOA FOCUSED EMIGRE'S MISSION === For 40 years at VOA and its predecessor agencies, he produced radio broadcasts about world news and the people and events in the United States, where he had found a haven from the Holocaust and a refuge from the pervasive anti-Semitism in Central and Eastern Europe in the prewar years.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9032-2003Mar22.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) {in addition to earlier obit!} ** U S A. Saw this reported on aus.radio.scanner Well VOA is broadcasting a special service for you know who, right now on 30.270 (FM) and it's S5 in Qld at 0946 [A]EST. Seems a bit weird. Worth a try? (Richard Jary, Mar 23, ARDXC via DXLD) 2 x 15135? I gave this a listen and got a good sig. I found out that Lorraine thinks Susan is a cow. Paul wants to "enjoy" Lisa's company. Mike hates his job. John will be home late coz he`s in the pub. Then I realised 30.270 is in the middle of the cordless phone band. Hot damn, my neighbours have a more interesting life then me (Jem Cullen, ibid.) ** U S A. ANALYSIS: U.S. FACES TOUGH TASK IN WOOING ARABS Copyright © 2003 Nando Media Copyright © 2003 AP Online By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (March 26, 12:33 a.m. AST) - Radio Sawa, the U.S. government broadcast operation beamed to Arabs, has swung into high gear these days because of the Iraq war. Regularly scheduled news programming has almost doubled, and like its commercial counterparts, the station is on a news-as-it-happens basis.... http://www.adn.com/24hour/iraq/story/827486p-5838950c.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** U S A. CONFLICT WITH IRAQ: PROPAGANDA YET ANOTHER FRONT IN IRAQ WAR -- Saturday, March 29, 2003 By MURIEL DOBBIN, McCltchy Newspapers WASHINGTON --- The United States may score a military victory in Iraq, but propaganda experts warn that winning the war of communication with the enemy may turn out to be just as significant... http://www.naplesnews.com/03/03/naples/d902886a.htm (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** U S A. Re KVOH Spurs: That would be 17921, 18067, 18213... any further? And below, that would be 17629, 17483, 17337... any further? (gh, DXLD) Those 3 sets above and below are what I could hear with an S9+ fundamental here in Nashville. I guess at the transmitter site they could extend several more multiples (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Just to let you know, we are still testing our second transmitter in Upton on 13.595 MHz. We've had a persistent problem with two power supplies, but we feel we will have it resolved shortly. We finalized the agreement on the three 100 kW's in the Seychelles, and our engineer will be going there later in April to begin the dismantling process (Doc Burkhart, WJIE, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also LIBERIA; and top for additional WORLD OF RADIO times ** U S A. 5919.97, 0254-, WBOH, Mar 28. Wondering if this is the official sign-on of the SW station. Thanking the Lord for expanding the listening audience of FBN. Mentioned that it's heard in Lithuania [via 9710 relay], 36 countries and 49 states. Transmitter cut-off at 0300 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder which state is missing, and why?? Seems impossible that their signal could not reach every state including the far flung ones. Maybe just being modest; not to mention more than only 36 countries (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR A03 Summer Schedule Transmitter #1 - 100 KW - 46 Degrees 9475 1000-1100 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 15825 1100-2200 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 9475 2200-0000 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 3210 0000-1000 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 9475 0900-1000 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 15825 1000-2200 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 9475 2200-0000 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 3210 0000-0900 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 9475 0900-1000 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 15825 1000-2200 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 9475 2200-0100 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 3210 0100-0900 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 9475 0900-1000 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 15825 1000-2200 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 9475 2200-0000 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 3210 0000-0900 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 Transmitter #2 - 100 KW - 85 Degrees [Dr. Gene Scott only] 13845 1300-0100 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 5935 0100-1300 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 13845 1200-0100 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 5935 0100-1200 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 13845 1200-0200 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 5935 0200-1200 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 13845 1200-0100 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 5935 0100-1200 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 Transmitter #3 - 100 KW - 40 Degrees 12160 1300-2300 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 5070 2300-1300 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 12160 1200-2300 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 5070 2300-1200 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 12160 1200-0000 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 5070 0000-1200 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 12160 1200-2300 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 5070 2300-1200 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 Transmitter #4 - 100 KW - 90 Degrees [Brother Stair only] 9475 1400-2200 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 7465 2200-0500 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 7560 0500-1400 30 Mar 03-05 Apr 03 9475 1300-2200 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 7465 2200-0400 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 7560 0400-1300 06 Apr 03-31 May 03 9475 1300-2200 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 7465 2200-0400 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 7560 0400-1300 01 Jun 03-31 Aug 03 9475 1300-2200 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 7465 2200-0400 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 7560 0400-1300 01 Sep 03-25 Oct 03 (WWCR via Daniel Sampson, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com DXLD) ** U S A [or non]. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Las radios piratas norteamericanas confirman con QSL los reportes de recepción. Al menos así lo hace UNDERCOVER RADIO, una de las asiduas ilegales en el rango 6925-6955kHz. En días pasados recibí un paquete contentivo de un CD con 10 tracks (con la programación de la estación y la señal de intervalo), una hoja informativa y una vistosa QSL con el slogan: UNDERCOVER RADIO, broadcasting from the Middle of Nowhere. El material esta firmado por un tal Dr. Benway. Según la descripción de la QSL, se trata de un transmisor casero de 200 watts (móvil). La confirmación es de una transmisión del pasado 13/02. Me llamó la atención de que a pesar de que el remitente es un P.O. Box 293, ubicado en Ontario, las estampillas del paquete eran estadounidenses. Sin duda, es genial recibir este tipo de QSL's debido a su rareza y poco tiraje. Dentro de unos años tendrán un valor incalculable. Saludos, (ADÁN GONZÁLEZ, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Mar 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ENFORCEMENT: THE FCC VS. K1MAN - AGAIN The FCC has again written to Maine radio amateur Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, regarding he operates his Amateur Radio station. Amateur Radio Newsline`s Paul Courson, WA3VJB, is in Washington with the details: In its latest letter to Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, the Commission says he has not corrected problems that prompted their letter in January, which was based on monitored information and numerous complaints to the FCC. The FCC claims that Baxter`s Amateur Radio station is apparently being used for broadcasting non-ham radio matter including programs, talk shows, and children`s shows. The agency also alleges transmissions from his station are being used for deliberate interference and for communications where Baxter apparently is trying to make money. The FCC also notes that some of the transmissions start and stop erratically, and leave the air with no identification as required by Commission rules. An enforcement official who wrote the letter said such operation indicates the transmissions are not under the control of a licensed operator. The FCC goes on to say that the transmissions from Baxter`s station are tape recordings, which themselves wouldn`t be illegal, but that in some cases it sounds to the FCC as if the recordings may have been questionably taken from an answering machine and off the telephone and broadcast without full compliance with the law. Enforcement authorities also wrote some of the transmissions are repetitive, apparently for weeks, of the same telephone calls. Baxter has raised controversy for years with what he portrays as a daily bulletin service on 14.272, 3.972 and 3.890 MHz, prompting interference complaints from sideband and AM communities alike. Baxter has patterned his program to the style of commercial talk radio, right down to having a toll free telephone number for listeners to call in and chat. The FCC wants Baxter to respond to its latest letter to decide what if anything to do next. For the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), I`m Paul Courson, WA3VJB, near FCC headquarters in Washington. This latest letter to Baxter came from Vincent F. Kajunski who is the FCC`s District Director in Boston Massachusetts. Kajunski also directed K1MAN to submit weekly reports detailing certain aspects of his stations on air operations. (FCC) (Amateur Radio Newsline Mar 28 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. Website for KHPY-1670 California, changed to Spanish religion: http://www.elsembradorministries.com/KHPY.html (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Dxing.info via DXLD) ** U S A. RFI has signed a contract with the US University of Illinois on broadcasting programmes in French 24 hours a day. RFI is broadcast on 99.7 FM only on the university campus (RFI via BBCM; full story under France, DXLD) Which campus?? UIUC? Licensed as? Translator? Satellator? LPFM? Part 15? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. POLICEWARE COMING http://www.stoppoliceware.org/rip_mix_burn_jail.php WHAT IS THE CBDTPA? The CBDTPA is a bill (S. 2048) proposed in Congress by Senators Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), along with Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Breaux (D-LA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The acronym stands for "Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act". Note that the CBDTPA was originally known as the "SSSCA" while in draft form. WHAT WOULD THIS LAW DO? The law would force all new personal computers and digital home entertainment devices sold in the United States to have government- approved "policeware" built-in. This policeware would restrict your use of copyrighted material on these devices -- including music files and CD's, video clips, DVD's, e-books, and more. WHO COULD GO TO JAIL? You, if you're one of the millions of Americans who uses your computers to burn music CD's, listen to MP3's, share video files, etc. You'd face up to five years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine. Think you'd be able to get around the law by removing the policeware from your personal computer? Think again -- anyone who defies the government by disabling or tampering with the policeware on their own computer, in the privacy of their own home or business, would also face five years in the slammer. Since alternative operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD would most likely refuse to incorporate government policeware into their code, users of these open-source systems would also be eligible for hard time. HOW CAN WE FIGHT THIS? If we have any hope of keeping government policeware off of our personal computers and home entertainment devices, we must act quickly and decisively. For starters, you can sign our petition opposing the CBDTPA, contact your representative in Washington, tell a friend about this site, and put a banner on your own web site. Also, if you're a constituent, feel free to contact the CBDTBA's sponsors in the Senate to let them know how you feel. Please be polite and well-reasoned. - Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - (202) 224-6121 - Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) - (202) 224-3004 - Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) - (202) 224-3934 - Senator John Breaux (D-LA) - (202) 224-4623 - Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) - (202) 224-5274 - Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - (202) 224-3841 - Capitol switchboard -- call YOUR Senator! - (202) 224-3121 Finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee has set up a page where you can share your thoughts: Click Here to Visit. PLEASE NOTE that it's more effective to contact your Senator directly -- if you post a comment to the above page, please be sure to make a printout and mail / fax it to your Senator. Thanks for joining the fight (via Michael McCarty, DXLD) ** U S A. Heard via Guam delay before 1800 UT a caller to Jim Bohannon (who`s a hawk when it comes to war) mention that he`s on live webcast via WNTK in New Hampshire. I looked at http://www.wntk.com and indeed he`s on the schedule M-F at 10 pm to 1 am ET, and the station does webcast, tho server alert when I checked: pnm://audio.wntk.com/wntk http://audio.wntk.com:7072/ramgen/wntk/wntk.smi (Glenn Hauser, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {but UT Sat joined late due to silly puck game, probably typical Fri nite} ** U S A. HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE TO GO WITH WAR NEWS AROUND THE DIAL By Steve Carney, Special To The Times During their network's coverage of the Iraq war, National Public Radio executives say they're working hard to strike the right balance -- conveying the gravity of the situation without veering toward pacifism or jingoism. And that's just for part of the broadcast they believe most listeners notice only in passing. The music between segments on NPR's news programming is supposed to be unobtrusive, primarily serving as a cushion to ensure that every report ends the second it is supposed to. The interludes also offer listeners a chance to reflect and take a breather between stories…. http://www.latimes.com/la-et-carney28mar28001425,0,6449718.story (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. FOR BROADCAST MEDIA, PATRIOTISM PAYS By Paul Farhi Now, apparently, is the time for all good radio and TV stations to come to the aid of their country's war. That is the message pushed by broadcast news consultants, who've been advising news and talk stations across the nation to wave the flag and downplay protest against the war. "Get the following production pieces in the studio NOW: . . . Patriotic music that makes you cry, salute, get cold chills! Go for the emotion," advised McVay Media, a Cleveland-based consultant, in a "War Manual" memo to its station clients. ". . . Air the National Anthem at a specified time each day as long as the USA is at war." The company, which describes itself as the largest radio consultant in the world, also has been counseling talk show stations to "Make sure your hosts aren't 'over the top.' Polarizing discussions are shaky ground. This is not the time to take cheap shots to get reaction . . . not when our young men and women are 'in harm's way.'"... To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40057-2003Mar27.html (via Bill Westenhaver, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. March 20, 2003 CLEAR CHANNEL CEO GETS $1.98M BONUS Lowrey Mays, chairman and chief executive officer for Clear Channel Communication, received a bonus of $1.98 million with his $1 million salary last year... http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2003/03/17/daily37.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** U S A. CAN THEY SAY THAT ON RADIO?! ''There is no code of uniformity when it comes to what is judged indecent by differing radio stations, especially across formats'' such as top 40, urban and rock, said Tom Taylor of the industry publication Inside Radio and Industry... http://tennessean.com/entertainment/news/archives/03/03/30678633.shtml?Element_ID=30678633 (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 4796, Son La R and TV Station, Son La, is no longer broadcasting its morning program at 2200-0100. Only heard with the evening program 1200-1400, Feb 28 and Mar 2 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, 0245-, Radio One, Mar 28. ZNBC heard at fair to good levels with fish eagle IS, that used to be heard so well on 6265. Still half-decent here, but use LSB to avoid splatter from WBOH (I'm assuming) on 5920. Continued until 0250:45, then into NA. Talk in Vernacular at 0253. Sounds like a speech to an enthusiastic crowd (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 5975, ZBC, National FM, back here throughout the day, heard past 2200, Mar 08, mainly in Vernacular, lots of Afro pops, excellent signal here. No other frequency seems to be in use (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, via Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5015.17, TCN Network, Gensis [sic] Broadcasting in EE. 0320-0500 Call in talk show with host Alex Jones. Talk show topics mostly that of the Iraqi war and American Patriots. Noted all adverts not of local type. Organic seed.com, some water filter was mentioned, Tiny Tenna. No city noted but Alex Jones says he was located in Texas. I never heard a station ID but only mentions of TCN Network and Gensis Broadcasting. S 5 signal level. Checked for // stations and none found. This did not appear to be a spur as very clear sharp het, no drifting noted and only slight fades. No idea who this might be (28 Mar 03, Bon Montgomery, PA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Did you rule out WWRB 5085? As we have repeatedly had to point out, this station puts a mixing product with its 5050 transmitter on 5015 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CIA FACTBOOK Anyone got the ISBN number of a good book that lists countries with info about their politics, economic situation, main industries, tourism, geographical significance etc. Always a good bet when writing to stations in different countries is to know about more about the country -- don't you think !! Readers Digest produced a good one years ago, but it`s well out of date now. Any help much appreciated. Thanks (Richard Lowis, UK, dxing.info via DXLD) Try the "CIA Factbook", http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ Greetings, (Martin Elbe, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ After last week's burst of activity the flare action has calmed down with nothing worth noting since Mar 20. The solar wind remained elevated until Mar 24 resulting in periods of geomagnetic disturbance and in variable ionospheric depressions at low latitudes and extended localised periods of disturbance at high latitudes. Solar wind speed has again picked up in the last day with a southward influence again leading to disturbed conditions however this is expected to calm down soon and conditions should be good for the next week. Prepared using data from http://www.ips.gov.au (Richard Jary, SA, Mar 28, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-051, March 28, 2003 [NOTE: continued in 3-052 issued at same time] edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 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 ON WJIE 7490. Sorry about [missing] last week's program. It was a glitch on our part with the war coverage. Your program is aired daily (M-F) at 8:00 AM Eastern, plus the following: 2:00 AM Eastern Monday and Tuesday, 10:00 PM Eastern Saturday, 5:00 AM Eastern Saturday. Thanks, (Doc Burkhart, WJIE, March 28) {UT below valid for one week} NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1175: WWCR: Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: Sat 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630 on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage] WJIE: Sat 1000, Sun 0300, Mon & Tue 0700, M-F 1300 on 7490 WBCQ: Mon 0545 on 7415 WRN: Sat 0900 rest of world, Sun 0430 Europe, 1500 N. America [expected times this weekend during the DST changeover] WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1175.html [already] UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL For a long while, I and many others have noted the bias that Glenn brings to his Digests. Expecting facutal reporting on the "world of radio" - like news of a new broadcast station or a change in hardware or something newsworthy regarding the "industry" or activity of radio in general, we read instead a peppering of one-sided "news" items about either religion and politics. True, those "reports" are included with items of fact regarding this or that station. Yet, Glenn's political and religious bias does show in what he includes in his Digests. There are always two sides to the story. While Glenn is free to write anything he likes, I would love to see an equal treetment of political "radio" news if he decides to post such items. But that is not seen. Which is unfair to the unsuspecting reader who might be new to the scene. "Buyer beware" - or in this case, "Reader beware." 73 de (Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA Hood, posted on SWBC and several other lists) Tomas, Well, you`ve come a long way since once offering to help make DXLD more searchable, wasn`t it? I wonder what in particular in this issue, if anything, set you off. I have a point of view. I do not feel I have to hide it. This does not prevent me from processing and publishing other points of view, along with a great deal of objective information. Sorry you find this to be a problem (Glenn) Glenn, though I haven`t seen DXLD for a looong time I know that you are doing a lot for us SW listeners. It is appreciated, keep on doing it your way. vy73 (Harald Kuhl, Germany, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tomas, you are a good guy and I love all you bring to the hobby for all of us on the internet. But I hardly think that anyone needs to be warned about being corrupted by Glenn Hauser. With the daily right wing bombardment we all receive on AM and SW radio, he's surely just one harmless voice for the other side. Let him speak. he has done a lot for the hobbyist with minimal compensation to himself. 73's (Joe, W1DEE, SWBC via DXLD) I will second what W1DEE said. I for one am sick of the right wing stuff on AM radio!!! Go Glenn!!! Thanks de W8BTM (Tim McGraw, SWBC via DXLD) Folks, just a reminder... If I remember correctly (and I do), this list is described as... "A list for serious SHORTWAVE BROADCAST DX listeners. Not for program discussions, ham radio, transcripts of programs, space trivia, weather reports, repetitive announcements or travelogues." If you have problems with that, email ME. Thanks, (Dan Ferguson, SWBC@ topica.com list owner via DXLD) My thoughts, and an apology to Glenn. Glenn, I have and still greatly appreciate your contribution to the hobby. I have always looked to you as one of the premier authorities on current events in the radio world. I have no personal ill feelings toward you and I do not wish to come across as attacking you or to slam your hard work. You provide timely and important information on what is going on in the world regarding radio and communications. Thank you. Thank you, very much. My posting was born out of a frustration and an emotion that stems from my feeling overwhelmed with what seems to be a perponderance of manipulations on my emotions to sway my opinions on various things. Everywhere I turn in these troubled times there seems to be strong and persistant voices trying to convince me to think one way or the other regarding current political and or religious events. I expect that on the airways. I turn on the shortwave radio in part so that I can find differing viewpoints and angles on the news. I love having at my disposal the vast range of options that come with shortwave radio listening. My post regarding the digest was an expression of frustration that when I turn to a resource from an expert (and you ARE an expert!) on what is going on regarding communications and the radio/tv field, it seems to include, with the radio news items, bits and pieces of political op-ed as well. I felt, when I wrote my message, that the op-ed items were "extra" and somewhat one-sided. I was expressing that there are more than one way to view current events (and here I am referring to what I thought were non-radio op-eding). I did not, and do not, attack any particular view that you or anyone has. In my post, I did not have issue with the fact that you have any viewpoint, nor did I indicate that I have issue with any particular viewpoint. I was just expressing that I wish that those digest were a bit more neutral, or at least balanced with an equal amount of the opposing political op-ed. (My choice would be to not include op-ed). I do not mean to say that the majority of the radio news items are political or religious. Nor am I saying that your views are bad - how could I judge something like that? All of this, of course, is my own personal expression of my frustration. So, for all to see: I sincerely apologize, Glenn. I respect you and your work. I do still wish to be able to turn to resources such as yours and find pure radio-related news, without extra op-ed materials. That is just my own problem - others might not have any issue with that. I will keep my frustration to myself. Regarding the indexing and databasing which we discussed: I am fighting a tough economy. As a programmer analyst type, I have really come to rough waters in my industry. Many of my friends have been out of work for at least 17 months. I have been blessed with some work, though spotty. But when I have that work, it is very demanding (since I must compete against many others), and my time is limited for "hobby" programming. I still desire to make the index and database, but it is time-consuming since what I proposed is complex. As the economy regains some stability and my industry stablizes, I hope to finish this project. I really hope it will be of benefit to the whole community. Glenn: I appreciate you and your work. Please accept my apology regarding my post. I hope that you can understand where I am coming from and what it was that I was trying to express. 73 de (Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA, SWBC topica list via DXLD) -- : Propagation Editor, CQ/PopComm Magazines - Member, USArmy MARS : : http://prop.hfradio.org : Brinnon, Washington 122.93W 47.67N : : A creator of solutions : http://accessnow.com : Perl Rules! : : 10x56526 - FISTS 7055 - FISTS NW 57 - http://hfradio.org/barsc : : A.R.Lighthouse Society 144 -- CW, SSB, RTTY, AMTOR, DX-Hunting : Tomas, OK, thanks for this follow-up. Good luck with getting non-hobby paying work! (gh) Hi, am listening to you now on one of the 40 meter stations (much of my listening is done on radios not having frequency display). BTW, it's a real boost when you mention contributors. My name is usually pronounced with accent on the first syllable, and soft "g", although I don't know what would be an official pronunciation, I believe it's a Swiss name... Take care... (Chuck Ermatinger, St. Louis MO, with a PayPal contribution) ** AFGHANISTAN. /NORWAY 18940, R. Afghanistan via Kvitsøy, New schedule is 1430-1730 (Su 1400-1700) (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Zuidpool --- De Chileense zendamateur Mario Reyne Zúñiga uit Santiago (roeptekens: CE3BFE) is in dienst van het Chileens Antarctisch Instituut (INACH). Momenteel is hij gestationeerd op de wetenschappelijke zuidpoolbasis Julio Escudero. Dit onderzoeksstation is gevestigd op het eiland Rey Jorge (King George), dat deel uitmaakt van de Shetlands. Ten gerieve van het wetenschappelijke werk hebben de Chilenen het dorpje Villa Las Estrellas gebouwd, compleet met een school, bank, postkantoor en souvenirwinkel. In verband met het gat in de ozonlaag, werden in de jaren negentig alle schoolkinderen echter teruggestuurd naar het Chileense vasteland. Mario Reyne ZúñNiga komt als CE9A op de volgende frequenties in de ether: 7015, 14015, 21015 en 28015 kHz (morse), 7080, 14150, 21150 en 28505 kHz (enkelzijband) en tenslotte 14070, 21070 en 28070 kHz (digitaal) (undated item at kortegolf.info found Mar 28 by gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 11710.04, 0159-, RAE, Mar 28. Time pips at top of hour with multilingual IDs in Spanish, French, English, German, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, and Japanese. Into English program. Usual full details of schedule and QSL information. Quite good reception tonight (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Voice of Armenia, signs on at 2040 with a very good signal for the English service. Programming seemed oblivious to the current war with no mention of the action going on the region. Strange considering the location of Yerevan in relation to Iraq! Discussion ranged from local news to the weekly economic update! Also announces itself as "The Public Radio of Armenia" (Rob Wagner, Vic., Mar 21, EDXP via DXLD) 9965? ** AUSTRALIA. 15480, 1518-1530, HCJB AUSTRALIA, Mar 26. Very weak and partially audible. ID heard at 1518 by male announcer, then a short music piece, 'Send in the Clowns' Male announcer with talks in EE but difficult to get clear copy. S meter reads 0. Interludes of 'Send in the Clowns' is played after each short talk. Reading excerpts from the Bible. Azimuth is 307 degrees and not beamed toward N. America. ID again at 1527 by male announcer. Then female singing the 'Lord`s Prayer'. ID again at 1529 and then to news items. by male announcer (Bob Montgomery, PA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. As per message received from HCJB-Australia they will not be changing their frequencies w.e.f. 30th March: From: "english" english@hcjb.org.au Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 3:47 AM Dear Mr. Gupta, Thank you for your email of 23rd of March. I spoke to our Program Director and he says since we are a new station and still having a few problems, he will not be changing the schedule in March, as is normal, but waiting a few months. When this is available, we will send you a copy. Regards, QSL Manager (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW AUSSIE ARAB X-BANDER In recent weeks 1620 2KM Sydney has been sold & replaced by an Arabic Service. According to John Wright the station is owned by Tony and Rita Ishlak. The company is called World Media Network P/L. Address is: 82 Alexander St, Crows Nest, 2065, NSW, Australia. Phone number (02) 9966 4388. They broadcast music and make programmes for Sydney's Arab community. Johno suggests that these people wouldn't know a QSL card from a Jumbo jet... so you might have to advise them what it is all about (David Onley, Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia, Mar 26, Dxing.info via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Radio Austria International The "Stiftungsrat" made a decision: on March 26 a so called "compromise proposal" was accepted with 22 to 11 votes, with 1 abstention. Only small parts of Radio Austria International (Logo, station's tune, a daily 15-Minute-English-Journal...) will survive; the program will consist then mainly of relays of the domestic program "Ö1". This program includes English and French news "shortly after 0800" (0700 UT presumed [imminently 0600 UT]). From July the name will be "Radio Österreich 1 International". The amount of 4.5 Mio. Euro yearly, which was needed for Radio Austria International, shall be "decreased step by step to a minimum" stated the ORF Head of the Economic Affairs Dept. Alexander Wrabetz. The result of the vote is published at the end of the Listener's Initiative page: http://www.radio-portal.org/roi/votum.html Greetings from Germany, (Willi Passmann, DJ6JZ, Mar 28, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BENIN. 5025, ORTB, Parakou, Heard daily on STP mornings and evenings, but also with some heterodyne QRM from Uganda. It now signs off at 2300* also on weekdays! (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9694.5, R Rio Mar, Manaus AM, 2143-2300*, Mar 2 and 13, own newscast, songs and a sudden ID given with frequency list right before audio was shut down and the carrier taken off the air. 45444. Typically Brazil's best overall 31 m station audible evenings here (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5990, Radio Senado de la Nación, Brasília, 1016-1026, March 27, Portuguese transmission. Brazilian romantic songs selection. Announcement by male about a local Senate commission activity. 34422 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ?? Something odd here. Come to think of it, I have NEVER seen the name of this station reported in Portuguese (presumably R. Senado da Nação), only Spanish! How come? (gh, DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. 4815/5030, Rdif. TV Burkina, Ouagadougou got its 60 mb transmitter back on the air early March after two months of repair. I first heard it 2054-2235 on Mar 07 and 08 with French and Vernacular talks, ID 2200 before the news, Afropop and native music, 35433, while 5030 was silent. On Mar 09, *1702, the carrier came on here (switched from 7230) with QSA 3, but there was a whistling tone and very badly modulated audio until 1725 when the tone disappeared and French talk could be heard with good modulation. 25222. But on Mar 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 I heard it on 5030 instead of 4815 at 1811- 2305 in Vernaculars and French, 35433 (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) 7230, R Burkina, Ouagadougou, a missing log for some time, 0825-fade out 0900, Mar 13, French for an African tunes and tribal songs program; 15431 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) Also heard 1654-1701*, Mar 9 with Afropop, French ID and announcement of frequency change to 60 mb. Good modulation (Cf. 4815 above). During daytime this channel is also faded out on STP (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** BURUNDI. 6140 still off air Mar 10 as it has been for years and I have my doubts that it will ever come back (Vashek Korinek, RSA via Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC DEPARTURE By Aaron Wherry, CanWest News Services TORONTO - A little over a year and a half after he was brought in to revolutionize CBC Radio's programming, Adrian Mills is leaving the public broadcaster. In an internal memo to all English radio staff Monday, CBC Radio vice-president Jane Chalmers announced that Mills would be moving on to "the next phase of his creative journey," though CBC officials refused to clarify the circumstances under which he had departed. "It is with regret that I announce the departure of Adrian Mills, executive director of programming, after six years of remarkable achievements at CBC." Chalmers wrote in the memo. "We will miss Adrian: His humour, passion and his keen mind enriched our lives." Esther Enkin will serve as interim executive director for the time being, Chalmers added. Mills' departure was described by one observer as "reassuring," and it will certainly be applauded by those listeners who became disgruntled with CBC Radio's dramatic changes under his leadership, but one host brought in by Mills said his efforts brought new life to the broadcaster. Mills joined CBC in 1997 as creative head of children's and youth programming after overseeing the same programming at the BBC for three years. In 2000, he assumed additional duties as managing director for cbc.ca. In the fall of 2001, he was appointed executive director of programming for CBC Radio and soon thereafter set to work restructuring and overhauling many of the broadcaster's most noted programs including This Morning and Definitely Not the Opera. Last fall, he oversaw the relaunch of the CBC Radio One morning schedule, including the introduction of flagship shows the Current and Sounds Like Canada. The changes, Mills contended in a July, 2002, interview with the National Post, were instituted to attract a younger, more diverse, audience. "Canada is changing," he said, "and society has changed, so CBC Radio needs to make sure it is as relevant to future generations as it was to previous ones. "I was concerned we could be perceived to be a white anglo network." Focus groups had indicated that young people viewed the network as "radio for older people," he said. "They felt we were perhaps not as intriguing or interesting as they would like." Repeated attempts to contact Mills for this story were unsuccessful. "While I wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do next, I think much of what he did there was wrongheaded and did the CBC and listeners of the CBC no favour," one high-profile media observer countered. "Sometimes when people are hell-bent on change, but don't know what they want, they bring in somebody completely from the outside. The president of the soup company is brought in to run the newspaper, and usually with predictable results." In recent months, the anger felt by some listeners had spilled over into the press, with many column inches devoted to the clash of ideologies - between the "old" CBC Radio of Peter Gzowski and the "new" CBC of Sook Yin Lee, the host of Definitely Not the Opera. Individuals within CBC Radio also began to speak out, though often anonymously, expressing their disdain for Mills' changes. "It was a kind of misguided egalitarianism and a kind of reflexive quest for young audiences in a kind of pandering and unflattering way. Smart, young people will come to good broadcasting, you don't have to put on rock 'n' roll," the observer noted. "It took time to do what he did and it will take time to undo what he did, and they won't want to be perceived as reversing course too dramatically, I wouldn't think. But I hope it means that they're going to go back to basics, that they've found the faith that they lost." Noah Richler, a National Post columnist and host of CBC Radio's Richler on Radio, was one of the individuals brought in by Mills. "I believe that he was a good thing and a brave fella, because it takes a lot of gumption to actually try to change a leviathan organization," he said yesterday. "I think he should be given credit for a lot of things that he tried to do and that are still ongoing." Mills was willing to listen to the public, and motivated enough to make changes in the face of tradition, Richler said. "The first guy that makes these changes usually takes the wrath," he said, adding that Chalmers seems to have the same energy and will, hopefully, continue where Mills left off. "The CBC is an organization with extensive and very solid ties to the Canadian public. It's almost more accountable than government is. And I do think that Adrian tried to make these ties more immediate and more sensitive. And in some cases it worked and in some cases it didn't. But nobody was going to do it and he did," Richler said, noting the success of programs like The Current. "But there's tremendous internal resistance to changes like that." Richler said many of the critics who slammed Mills' changes were ignoring some of the CBC's most intelligent content and refusing to accept some of the broadcaster's new voices. "We don't want to lose, with this, the right to try new things, some of which will be mistakes, others not. There's no reason to suspect that this process won't be ongoing. They introduced a new vigour in how they respond to the Canadian public and it would hard to go back on that. "It's an organization that has undergone a very critical self- analysis after 9/11 and I disagree with a number of the critics. I actually think that the CBC is sounding pretty good." National Post CanWest News Service 03-24-2003 (Relayed by Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Mar 25, DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. 7220, R TV Centrafricaine, Bangui, 0700- 1630, Mar 03-11, heard daily in French and Vernaculars, news, ID, Afropops. One of the best heard SW stations on STP during daytime, but frequent transmitter breaks of 2-5 minutes duration were noted. On Mar 15 the President was participating in a summit in Niger, and in the meantime 40 supporters of former Army General François Bozizé, living in exile in Chad after previous Coup attempts, took over control of the country by capturing the presidential palace, the airport, and the radio and television station. When the President returned to Bangui, his aircraft was fired at and he had to land in Cameroon --- where he was arrested! On Mar 16, I noticed that 7220 was silent throughout 0945-1745. The radiostation not only ``went into darkness``, but I also felt I really was in the ``Dark Africa``. (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. both frequencies of Radio Station Chechnya Svobodnaya - 12025 and 15355 kHz - found empty this morning, 27 MAR, around 0800 UT. Tried two more times later after noon UTC with the same result... Monitoring of 171 kHz not possible here... (Karel Honzik the Czech Republic (Czechia), AOR AR-7030 30 m Long Wire, hard-core-dx via DXLD) R Chechnya Svobodnaya seems to have left the shortwave again, so apparently this was a temporary coverage increase due to the recent referendum. 15355 and 5905 have gone silent instead of returning to R Rossii (Olle Alm, Sweden, 27 March, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6285, Yunnan Broadcasting Station, 2305-2330, Mar 21, new frequency heard // with the usual 6035. The program consisted of non- stop Mandarin instrumental music (Kaj Bredahl Jørgensen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** CONGO. 4765, R. Congo, Brazzaville, 2217-2324, Mar 6, French ID, test program playing Chinese opera !!! (maybe to support the repair sponsor?). The following two test programs were mentioned about every 15 minutes: 0900-0300 4765 and 0300-0900 9610. 0900-1500 7115, 1500-2100 9610, 2100-0300 4765 and 0300-0900 9610. Reception reports were requested to Direction Générale de Radio TV du Congo, B. P. 2912, Brazzaville (New address!). 35444. Also heard 0555-0740 fade out, Mar 7, French ID and test program playing Chinese opera. 35444 heard // 9610 (32432). 4765 was silent on Mar 7 (evening), 8, 9 and 10. The station has been off the air on 4765 since August 2001 except for a few days in February 2002. 5985 and 7115 were never heard during my stay on STP. 9610, R Congo, Brazzaville, 1753-1815* (abrupt sign off in the middle of a speech !), Mar 15, regular program in French, Afropop. No other frequencies of R Congo were heard. 32432 (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) Reported couple of times within recent weeks, Congo Brazzaville noted again on 28 Mar at 1800 in French on 4765 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. See ROMANIA ** CROATIA. The Zadar high power [600 kW] transmitter moved from 1134 to 1130; a discussion in a German bulletin board suggests that this took place a few days ago. The carrier is spot on 1130.0, suggesting that the transmitter was deliberately retuned. But why? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On March 28 at 0340 I noted Hrvatski Radio first program with a very strong signal on 1130 kHz. It was not heard on 1134, so this one seems to be off channel (Ronny Forslund, Delsbo Radioklubb, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) http://hem.passagen.se/drak/ ** CUBA. 9600, R Reloj, La Habana, 0703-0755, news and timechecks each minute, "Radio Reloj, dos, cincuenta y cinco minutos", 0800 OM ID "Transmite Radio Reloj desde La Habana, Cuba " (Samuel Cássio, Brasil, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD)). Previously reported as R Rebelde // 5025 (Ed ibid.) Like RHC, picking up RR audio after hours ** CZECH REPUBLIC. IRAQ PLOTTED RADIO FREE EUROPE ATTACK - CZECH OFFICER --- March 26, 2003 12:00 PM PRAGUE (Reuters) - Iraqi agents plotted an attack on the Prague headquarters of U.S.-run Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to stop its Arabic-language broadcasts to Iraq, according to a top Czech intelligence officer... http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1721064 (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Radio Prague A'03 English Broadcast Schedule -------------------------------------------- (March 2003 - October 2003) UTC Freq Target 0700-0727 - 9880, 11600 -North West Europe 0900-0929 - 21745 -West Africa/South Asia 1030-1057 - 9880, 11615 -North Europe/North West Europe 1300-1329 - 13580, 21745 -North Europe/South Asia 1600-1627 - 5930, 21745 -North-West Europe/East Africa 1700-1727 - 5930, 17485 -North-West Europe/Central Africa 2000-2027 - 5930, 11600 -North-West Europe/S & E Asia/Australia 2230-2257 - 11600, 13580 -North America 0000-0027 - 7345, 9440 -North America 0100-0127 - 6200, 7345 -North America 0300-0327 - 7345, 9870 -North America +7385 WRMI 80W22 25N54 0330-0357 - 11600, 15620 -Middle East/South -West Asia Transmitters at Litomysl 16E10 49N48 Live transmission via Internet http://www.radio.cz Local AM transmissions in the Czech Republic 1330-1400, 1930-2000 (Mon-Fri), 2030-2100(Sat/Sun) (European Summer Time) - 1071, 1233, 1287 kHz. Address: Radio Prague, Vinohradska 12, 120 99 Prague 2, Czech Republic (From the printed schedule received via snail mail) Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Música Del Ecuador -- I had occasion to get up this morning at 3 AM local time and discovered a program I have missed hearing for a year or two now. Música Del Ecuador is without a doubt the best program of Andean style music on the radio as far as I know. I highly recommend it. It airs on The Voice of The Andes, HCJB, at 0800 UT on 5965 kHz. As far as I know it is aired only on UT Friday. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Joe: Are you sure it was 0800? Their online schedule has it as 0700- 0730 to Europe (John Figliozzi, ibid.) But frequency (and times?) about to change for A-03 (gh, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17835.18, R. Imperial, 2315 UT 28 March. Not heard at this location since early February. Nice selection of local Tunes with lots of accordion and vocals. Level still low - only S4 here, just above the noise, but quite listenable. Music Modulation much better than the voice modulation (Don Nelson, Oregon, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Nacional, Bata, heard with strong signal and excellent modulation on 5003.2, 2039-2110, Mar 21 (Kyriakos Dritsas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) At 0250-0425, Mar 22, I heard an unID on 5005.03 with strong signal and non-stop orchestral music and English songs. No announcements. 44434 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) Despite checks on STP on Mar 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 12, I never heard it there! (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. Nederlandse zendamateurs zijn tussen 24 maart en 3 april actief vanaf de Faroer, een Deense eilandengroep in de Atlantische oceaan. Het gaat om Rob Snieder uit Voorburg (roeptekens: OY7ET), Ronald Stuy uit Barendrecht (OY7WP) en Dick Grolleman uit Wijhe (OY7QA). De drie zijn lid van het Low Land DX-pedition Team. Het Nederlandse trio wordt vergezeld door de Brit Tom Wylie (OY7TW) en zijn Amerikaanse collega-amateur Bill Boeckenhaupt (OY7WB). De deelnemers aan de reis hebben de beschikking over twee Yaesu FT-1000MPS transceivers, die 24 uur per dag worden bemand. Meer informatie is te vinden op de website van het Low Land DX-pedition Team: http://www.qsl.net/lldxt (Kortegolf.info via DXLD) {which shows he dates have been moved later into early April!} ** FIJI. Fiji on Shortwave --- Exotic Fiji, with its 333 islands! A tourist haven for those who want to get away from it all. As the tourist brochure states: Fiji is the place for a truly relaxing tropical get-a-way. The swimmer can swim with the harmless manta ray, the surfer can surf the 20 ft high waves, the hiker can hike in the tropical rain forests, and you can seek accommodation in one of the outer resorts at the Octopus Hotel. In colonial days, Fiji was listed on the map as the "Cannibal Isles", and it is reported that many sailing ships avoided these islands during that era. The BBC London reported recently in one of its news bulletins in the World Service on shortwave, that Fiji is now marketing a new food product, called, "Cannibal Chutney". No, don't be concerned, this new product is quite harmless. You see, the last cannibal ceremony in Fiji took place more than 100 years ago. Just as exotic is the shortwave radio scene in Fiji. Back in the year 1930, AWA in Sydney installed a shortwave transmitter in Fiji, rated at considerably less than 1 kW, for use as a communication station. In fact similar units were installed at three other locations in the Fiji Islands for inter-island communication. The main station in Suva was given the callsign VPD which was in use at the time by a shortwave broadcasting station located at Doveritz near Berlin in Germany. This communication station in Fiji was used at times to broadcast radio programming. For example, in 1933 AWA in Sydney arranged a special worldwide program under the title "South Seas Broadcast". The AWA unit in Suva, station VPD, transmitted the Fijian segment on shortwave to station VK2ME in Sydney. Regular broadcasting from VPD2 on shortwave began the following year and a new transmitter was installed in 1936. In fact, it was conjectured that test broadcasts on shortwave from the Sydney factory under the callsign VK2MD were from the new transmitter intended for installation in Fiji. Another new transmitter was installed just prior to the European Conflict. During the Pacific War, Fiji was noted on air under the callsign VPD4 with a relay of the BBC in French. This service was on the air for about 18 months beginning mid year 1940, using the old transmitter now running at about 400 watts. Around the same time period, this station also carried a shortwave relay to Fiji and the Pacific on behalf of AFRS, the American Forces Radio Service. Early in the year 1942, transmitter VPD was taken over by the army and navy for use as a telegraph transmitter. When peace was restored to the Pacific, plans were laid for the construction of a new two storey studio building in Suva, and a new transmitter base at Naulu (nah-OO-loo), in a swampy area 25 miles from Suva. These new facilities were officially opened in 1954. For the new location, the new callsign on shortwave became ZJV, the same as on mediumwave, though a few months later the callsign was changed again, this time to VRH. But alas, in August 1972, the shortwave service in Fiji was dropped in favor of coverage on mediumwave, and subsequently on FM. Over the years, the radio service in Fiji has issued nine different QSL cards, some of which were also available in the earlier years from the AWA address in Sydney. All of these cards are now considered to be quite exotic, and they form a very valuable overview of the history of radio broadcasting in Fiji (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Mar 30 via DXLD) {WTFK?} ** FRANCE [non]. Avec la nouvelle saison A03, Radio France Internationale utilise de nouveaux relais à l'étranger. Elle diffuse depuis l'île de l'Ascension à 0400-0500 sur 7150, 0600-0700 sur 11665 et 1200-1230 sur 17815 Elle transmet également depuis Kigali au Rwanda à 0600-0700 sur 17770. Elle utilise aussi les émetteurs de Dhabayya aux Emirats Arabes Unis à 0400-0500 sur 13780, 0500-0600 sur 13640, 1700-1800 sur 6010 RFI diffuse également depuis le Tadjikistan à 1600-1630 sur 6020 La station émet aussi depuis Singapour à 1600-1630 sur 6035 Depuis l'Ouzbekistan, RFI transmettra à 1700-1800 sur 9530. Enfin, elle profitera d'un émetteur en ondes moyennes à Taiwan entre 2200 et 2300. (grille de RFI) (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. FRANCE: RFI DEVELOPS FM TRANSMITTERS AROUND THE WORLD | Excerpt from report by press release by Radio France Internationale on 26 March Since early 2003, RFI [Radio France Internationale, the French external radio service] has now over 100 FM transmitters. New FM transmitters have been set up in Ajlun in Jordan, Arta in Djibouti for RMC M-O, Sambava, Nosy Be and Fort Dauphin in Madagascar, in addition to the 59 transmitters in Africa, 25 in Europe, three in the Middle East, four in Asia Pacific and six in America. FM is RFI's priority today. Among all international radios, RFI is the radio which has the largest number of FM transmitters: BBC has only 60, Voice of America and Deutshe Welle even less than that. FM transmitters RFI in India RFI has signed an agreement with Sky Sat to broadcast RFI 24 hours a day on the cable network of Pondichery. RFI in Afghanistan Change of frequency in Kabul from 95 FM to 89.5 FM. Resumption of RFI programmes in the world RFI in Mali RFI programmes are broadcast in Kidal (Northeastern Mali) on frequency 93.1 MHz by the radio ADRAR, member of the Malian TV Broadcasting Network (TDM). RFI has signed a rebroadcasting agreement with radio Kourou-Kan 92.6 FM which will broadcast in Kita every news bulletin on the hour and 10 hours of daily programmes. RFI in Costa Rica RFI has signed two new rebroadcasting contracts with two Latin- American radio broadcasters: SINART which include a daily programme and two 10-minute news bulletins in Spanish, as well as excerpts from RFI Musique all day long on 105.5 FM and 590 AM. RFI in Guatemala Radio Faro Cultural broadcasts daily on 104.5 FM an RFI programme of 30 minutes in Spanish. RFI in Niger RFI has reached an agreement with partners to the southwest of Niamey: Dallol FM will resume broadcasting on 92.8 FM with 13 hours and a half of daily programmes. Radio Souda will broadcast 8 hours of daily programmes on 104 FM. Radio Fara'a 90.3 FM has strengthened its partnership with RFI by broadcasting five hours of programmes daily. RFI in the USA RFI has signed a contract with the US university of Illinois on broadcasting programmes in French 24 hours a day. RFI is broadcast on 99.7 FM only on the university campus. {comments! See USA, 3-052} Advertising campaigns Institutional campaign in France EuroNews from 17 March to 16 April 2003 (108 spots) in French, English and German Paris Premiere from 19 March to 1 April 2003 (101 spots) Canal+ Horizons from 19 March to 1 April 2003 (40 spots) Fashion TV from 20 to 29 March 2003 (20 spots) Source: Radio France Internationale press release, Paris, in French 26 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GABON. Re 4777, R Gabon, reactivated: It had not been reported on 4777 since July 2000 when it was replaced by 7270 that continued until May 2001. I did not hear any of these frequencies on STP Mar 03-16 despite frequent checks (Anker Petersen, São Tomé e Príncipe, DSWCI DX Window March 26 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Here is a reply from Deutsche Welle in response to a letter a few weeks ago about their cutting back on short wave broadcasts and making greater use of satellite and internet. Dear Listener/Viewer/User, You recently contacted us about the termination of our English language shortwave broadcasts to North America, Australia and New Zealand. As you may have been informed, DW will focus on expanding the number of radio stations, such as Canadian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC News Radio, who successfully rebroadcast DW-Radio's programs. Listeners in those regions will, of course, still be able to hear us via satellite or by means of our Internet page at http://www.dw-world.de/English I should also like to inform you that our Technical Department will be issuing further information: As a shortwave listener, you are probably aware that, every now and again it is possible to "tune in" to a broadcast which is being beamed to an entirely different corner of the world from the one from where you are. This is, naturally, purely by chance and reception cannot be guaranteed but we think that such information might prove to be of some help to you in "keeping in touch" with our programs should you not have access to the Internet, satellite or organizations distributing our programs in your area. In order to find such frequencies, we have to wait until we start using the new frequencies which will be available to us as from 30th March. Your particulars have been noted and, as soon as we have this information at our disposal, we will send it to you. Regards, DEUTSCHE WELLE ENGLISH SERVICE, Linda Akinyi ***** (via Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 7265, Sudwestrundfunk, quite good with GG and EE pops and man in GG with sirens and ID at 0500 UTC 3/27. Into News mostly on Iraq. I was very surprised that this gets out so well listed as on 20 KW. I have not had any luck with the other regional Germans. I am pleased with this. Drake R8 40 foot vertical (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Dieter Leupold reported in the very last edition of ROI's DX-Telegramm that Berlin-Britz 6190 [Deutschlandsfunk] will be switched off by the end of this month due to problems with electromagnetic radiation and ``insufficient exactness``. The latter remark appears to paraphrase the circumstance that this is an ancient transmitter from 1950, rated at 20 kW but not driven to full power, the officially given figure 17 kW. The signals are not very strong, and the rather shallow modulation decreases the usefulness of this outlet further. Concerning the ``Elektrosmog`` matter: This is no new problem at Berlin-Britz. The site is already prohibited from using the vertical incidence antenna (allegedly the only mediumwave antenna with circular polarization in Europe) once responsible for nighttime service on 990, resulting in a dramatically decreased performance of this outlet. Probably one day Berlin-Britz will have to cease medium- and shortwave operations altogether, just like the Dammheide site located inmidst Berlin, too. For now 6005 is not affected and will stay on the air (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4779.98, 0225-0232, Radio Cultural Coatán, Mar 28. Fair to good signal, except for swisher, with full ID and sign-off announcements. No NA. Sounded to me like Radio Coatán, rather than Radio Cultural Coatán. Religious sounding programming before sign- off. Very light, dreamy music (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. The AIR Vividh Bharathi transmissions on 10330 Khz is now transmitted via Bangalore 500 kw transmitter only. Its schedule is 0025-0435, 0630-1200, 1245-1740. Till 18th March 2003, 4 different transmitters located at Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Guwhati running in parallel, were in use. As reported earlier in this dx_india reflector, these transmitters are now heard with tests on 7270, 7170, 7220 and 7190 respectively. It will be interesting to note how reception is now on 10330 compared to earlier days. For the A-2003 period, from 30th March 2003, AIR Delhi Home Service will be making the following change. 7150 0030-0040 (replacing 7170 due co channel interference from Radio Singapore in Tamil) ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3231.90, RRI Bukittinggi, 1205- past 1415, back on the air Mar 08 after five months absence, Bahasa Indonesia dramas and Gamelan music, including relays of RRI Jakarta news ``Warta Berita`` at 1200-1230 and 1400-1412. They relay their FM-program, so this is not a specific SW program. 35543 4870.94, RRI Sorong, 0945-1005, Jan 30, Programa Satu in Bahasa Indonesia, only audible on that day ! 35443. It was gone on my retune at 1055. 4925, RRI Jambi, 1050, Mar 2, program in Bahasa Indonesia. It was off the air Feb 28 - Mar 1 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 11784.90, Voice of Indonesia, *0100-0200*, Mar 5 and 9, active again here with English // 9525 which sometimes is off the air, by the way. Also announced 15150 was not audible (Roland Schulze, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) RRI Home Service at 1300 UT through to 1700 on 11860 (new time/ frequency?) March 28. Melody (assumed to be the Song of the Coconut Islands) and ID heard at 1500, 1600 and 1700. BBC-Swahili etc heard on the same frequency after 1600 (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. CHRISTIAN VOICE A'03 Christian Vision - shortwave radio schedules Valid from 30th March 2003 Asia [part? Or all via UAE?]{Ooops, I mean Darwin, but also has used Tashkent...} Freq UTC Language Target 7180 1300 - 1800 Indonesian Indonesia 11680 1700 - 2100 English India/Indonesia 11850 0100 - 0400 Hindi India 11935 2330 - 2400 Indonesian Indonesia 13635 1100 - 1700 Hindi India 13665 1500 - 1700 English India/Indonesia 13685 0900 - 1300 English China 1300 - 1500 English India/Indonesia 13770 0900 - 1400 Mandarin China 15165 2200 - 0200 Mandarin China 15365 0900 - 1300 Indonesian Indonesia 17560 1400 - 1800 Mandarin China 17715 0800 - 0900 Mandarin China 17820 0600 - 0900 Indonesian Indonesia 21680 0030 - 0100 Indonesian Indonesia 0430 - 0500 Indonesian Indonesia 0530 - 0600 Indonesian Indonesia Africa [from Zambia, except 15365? -- maybe that is too since it ends in 65!] 4965 1500 - 2200 English Central/Southern Africa 6065 0400 - 0600 English Central/Southern Africa 9865 0600 - 1500 English Central/Southern Africa 15365 2000 - 2300 Portuguese Southern Africa Latin America [from Chile, studios in Miami] 6070 2200 - 1200 Spanish Southern South America 9635 1200 - 2200 Spanish Southern South America 11745 2100 - 1100 Portuguese Brazil 11935 1100 - 1300 Spanish Mexico, Central America 15375 0000 - 1200 Spanish Northern South America 15475 2100 - 0100 Portuguese Brazil 17680 1200 - 2400 Spanish Northern South America 21500 1100 - 2100 Portuguese Brazil 21550 1300 - 1400 Spanish Mexico, Central America Andrew Flynn, Head of Engineering, Christian Vision Tel +44 121 522 6087 Fax +44 121 522 6083 Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. MICROSOFT PUTS LID ON HOTMAIL REDMOND, Wash., March 25, 2003 (AP) To cut down on junk e-mail, Microsoft Corp. is capping the number of e-mails that users of its free Hotmail service can send each day. By limiting to 100 the number of messages that could be sent in a 24-hour period, Microsoft's MSN division hopes to stop people from using its service to send the unsolicited messages, known as spam.... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/17/tech/main533347.shtml (via Peter Costello, DXLD) We ran into this limit on a particularly busy day, but will be delighted to live with it if spam really reduces (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET / VACUUM. Dear Listener, Welcome to the latest edition of the WRN Newsletter update. Published weekly, the updates will keep you informed of programme highlights so that you can better plan your listening, no matter how or where in the world you listen to WRN's English language networks. With the "War on Iraq" underway, WRN is providing its listeners with a world of diverse views, voices and opinions on the Iraqi conflict. Keep up with the latest news from our programme partners via the WRN website by clicking on http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/index.php?CurrentLetter=1 Currently we have daily audio files from Radio Australia, Radio Austria International, Radio Budapest, Channel Africa, China Radio International, Israel Radio, Radio New Zealand International, Radio Polonia, RVi: Flanders International Radio, Radio Slovakia International and Vatican Radio (WRN newsletter Mar 21 via DXLD) Don't forget: In many countries, Sunday 30th represents the end or the beginning of wintertime (depending where in the world you live). The time change represents a chance for us at WRN to make alternations to our networks. The local time that you tune into your favourite programme may also change as well. For the latest schedules visit the WRN website at http://www.wrn.org. The programme highlights in this update take into account the time changes (WRN newsletter Mar 28 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. X M SATELLITE POSTS BIGGER-THAN-EXPECTED LOSS XM Satellite Radio Holdings reported a larger than expected loss yesterday in the last quarter of 2002, but Wall Street focused instead on the company's leap in revenue, to $9 million, from $532,000 a year ago, and projections that it would more than triple its subscriber base to about 1.2 million by the end of the year. XM, which is based in Washington, also said it would begin generating more cash than it is using by the end of next year and would not need more financing to reach that goal. XM's net loss of $161 million, or $1.76 a share, in the last quarter of 2002 was far larger than the consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call, which had been $1.38 a share. But XM's shares rose 86 cents, or 15 percent, to $6.77. Barnaby J. Feder (NYT) (via Joe Buch, DXLD) ** IRAN. The Iranians have been jamming R. Farda much more for some days now. They are using jammers of the "pouring water" type that normally are used against the Mojahed frequency jumpers. Are the Mojahed transmitters active, or have they been silenced by the war? (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Mar 26 via DXLD) The "pouring water" or "chop-chop" jamming of Farda is of the same type that is used on 11575, and a slightly offset carrier is heard. Daytime, 21575 seems not to be jammed - if it is I can't hear it. Similarly, 13680 seemed to be clear of it this morning, but I hear jamming at 1530 --- but no Farda signal! Jamming seems to be selective at times --- or maybe it is just haphazard? 17675 and 15290 were both audibly jammed this morning. Perhaps the renewed intensity has to do with events in the country to the west of Iran? I haven`t heard the Clandestine Mojahed station either - or should I say the jamming. This was an absolute "Pain" in the 9300-9390 range and made frequency selection difficult. Presumably the transmitters were in the central/southern part of Iraq and have had a visit from a flying object? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Mar 26 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. Iraq: After UK troops took the R&TV building in Basra today afternoon, some of the clandestine stations stopped their broadcasts: Voices of Mojahed Revolution and Comm. Party of Iran on 3880, 4380 kHz (V. of Revolution last time heard today at 0230-0330 in Kurdish). KOMALA on 3930, 4615. Iranian Kurdistan 3975. Radio Kurdistan on 4140 vary (Mar 27). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Mar 28 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 4650v/5350v/5650v/6450v/6750v/6950v/7050v/7070/8250v/8350v/8600v/8850 v/9350v/10250v/10450v and 13450v, Voice of Mojahed, Eastern Iraq, the usual broadcasts in Farsi and the Iranian jamming was not heard on Mar 22 at 0310-0320 or 1550-1600, or on Mar 25 at 1635-1645 on any of these frequencies! Maybe the station has suffered battle damage or Saddam intends to use the transmitters for other purposes? (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) 7525, Voice of Iran (?), via Kvitsøy, Norway, 1845-2058*, Mar 24 and 25, New frequency, live Farsi (?) talks about Iraq and Iran, comments to the current military situation and today's press conferences, phone-ins, ID 1930: ``Inja Iran, seday-e Iran-e Iran``, a few songs often abrupted, signed off with ID: ``…seday-e Iran.``. 55454 deteriorating to 45333. For this purpose Norkring transmitters were taken off from R Denmark programs at 1830-1855 on 9980, 1920-1955 on 9980 and 13800, and 2030-2055 on 7490 and 9980. On Mar 25, Voice of Iran was heard as usual on 11575 at *1630-1700 in Farsi with jamming, but programs sounded different (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) 7560, Mesopotamian R and TV, Arbil, Iraq, *1700-1800*, Fr 28 Feb, is also broadcast on Fridays (cf. DX-Window no. 215), however this evening the political program was missing, and the full hour consisted of the humming lady with IDs in Kurdish and English, and non-stop Kurdish songs. 44444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) 11575, R Voice of Iran (K.R.S.I.), full-data form-letter in 5 weeks. Address: 9744 Wilshire Blvd., #207, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, U.S.A. (Korinek in DXplorer Mar 10). Via TDF Issoudun, France or Kichinev, Moldova ? (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. MOLDOVA. 7460, 0241-, Radio Payam-E-Doost, Mar 28. Presumed logging with Persian sounding music at fair reception (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. IRAQI STATE RADIO REPLACED WITH U.S. PSYOP BROADCAST By Nick Grace, CRW Washington with wire and BBC Monitoring reports Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) 128 Extra D March 20, 2003 [Mar 20] With the words "The facilities of the Iraqi regime have started to be hit... This is the day we have been waiting for... The attack on Iraq has begun," the United States jammed and then obliterated Baghdad Radio with its own psychological war programming, Reuters reports, in a remarkable move to control the airwaves over Iraq.... http://www.clandestineradio.com/dossier/iraq2003/2003_0320.htm [includes several audio files] (via Dxing.info, DXLD) Hi Nick, well I`m an Egyptian Dxer; been a DXer for the last 18 years or so... I heard the audio file on CRW and to be honest I found nothing stating that this is Info Radio! And the program was only a religious program...and as I remember from monitoring Baghdad in 1991 for NHK that's how they - and any other Mideast station start their programs - even Cairo starts the day with religious programs. So as a native Arabic speaking, I found that file a bit... [icon_rolleyes.gif] (TAREK ZEIDAN, SU-land, dxing.info via DXLD) Hi Tarek, Thanks for taking a listen to the audio file. Indeed, CRW's Takuya Hirayama also listened to it and described the content as being religious despite my belief that al-Qaeda was mentioned. (Sometimes static numbs the mind, hi!) He also listened to the second audio file, which is also on the site, and agrees that an identification is broadcast at 2:35 in the recording. With that said, I believe it's quite significant that the programming that accompanied the first wave of airstrikes on Baghdad and elsewhere was religious, especially if it was the programming that "replaced" Radio Baghdad's feed. In fact, I find religious programming much more significant than psyop "surrender now" type messages. It suggests that the coalition wants to reassure the Iraqi troops and civilians that Operation Iraqi Freedom is not against Muslims and the Iraqi people but against the regime in Baghdad - as President Bush stated during his State of the Union address back in January. Thanks also for your excellent reporting! Your logs and analysis during this time of crisis have been [icon_biggrin.gif] extremely valuable! About me... I've been a DX'er since 1986. Also licensed as KA1UXT and held YB0RMI. Thanks again, (Nick Grace, ibid.) ** IRAQ [and non]. From Iraq: Media behaviour note 0600-1400 gmt 27 Mar 03 --- BAGHDAD REPUBLIC OF IRAQ TELEVISION Domestic TV, Republic of Iraq Television has been unmonitorable by BBC Monitoring since 1500 gmt on 24 March. But there was a report from a BBC correspondent, on 27 March, that Republic of Iraq Television was again available in Baghdad. The status of Youth TV is unknown. A report from the BBC Online news web site on 27 March said that British forces had taken Iraqi state radio and television off the air in the second city of Basrah. The report said transmitters were destroyed by air raids overnight and that the coalition had taken over a number of radio frequencies and were broadcasting their own messages to the people. This could be a reference to US Information Radio, an airborne station, or local transmissions. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service and Voice of Youth Apart from a report on 27 March of a weak Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service transmission on 603 kHz, believed to be from Ninawah near Mosul , BBC Monitoring has not traced Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service and Voice of Youth on any known or recently used mediumwave frequency: 558, 693, 756, 846, 909, 963, 1044 kHz or shortwave frequency, 11787 or 6175 kHz within the reporting period 1730 gmt 26 March to 1400 gmt 27 March. Iraqi radio services could be available via localized or FM transmissions. Source: BBC Monitoring research 27 Mar 03 (via DXLD) Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service has been unheard since 1500 gmt on 28 March on 6175 kHz. The radio was unheard on all other frequencies. Other radio stations A radio station that identified itself as the "Information Radio" and which carried anti-Saddam reportage, broadcasting on 756 kHz, a medium-wave frequency generally used by Baghdad Radio, was heard with fair to poor reception. Voice of the Youth Radio, a radio station run by Uday Saddam Husayn, continued to be unheard on all known frequencies since 0430 gmt on 25 March. Internet Official Iraqi News Agency website http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ - and all other Iraqi sites hosted on http://www.uruklink.net were inaccessible. Source: (BBC Monitoring research 28 Mar 03 1600-1800 and 2200-2359 UT via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. THE PROPAGANDA WAR IN IRAQ Richard Edwards, Tuesday March 25 2003, The Guardian When Major Harry Taylor stands on the frontline and looks into the whites of his enemy's eyes, he reaches not for a rifle, but for his mini-disc and giant speakers. With a set of Arabic tapes, thousands of leaflets and even a special propaganda radio station, he is armed not to take Iraqi lives, but to influence minds. This is psychological warfare - the cutting edge of modern day battle - where brains can overcome brawn. Major Taylor is head of 42 Commando Royal Marines' Psyops - psychological operations - and a master of putting mind over matter. While his colleagues are busy wielding weapons in a firefight, he is blasting out Arabic messages telling them to surrender. "Iraq is a particularly sensitive place for propaganda and there has long been the thought that thousands of soldiers may surrender in great numbers," said Major Taylor. "The psychological side is therefore important and we have already been successful, with dozens of people surrendering because of our tracks and leaflets. "It doesn't work all the time, but it does give people the option of something different from being on the wrong end of an AK47." The psyops team use 50 different types of leaflet, which they drop in their thousands on military and civilian targets. They also have two propaganda radio stations, sets of wind-up radios, halal meat rations and mini-disc messages to win over locals. It works on many different levels, according to Major Taylor. "We use tactical and strategic methods. Tactically, on the first stage, we target the military by dropping leaflets stating the inevitability of their defeat, telling them they will not be destroyed if they play our game and exactly how they can surrender. "On the second wave we show them pictures of Iraqi officers who complied. On the third wave we show them pictures of those people who did not." In particular the leaflets may target specific commanders, telling them they will be accountable for their actions and gnawing away at their will to fight. Equally the leaflets reassure civilians they will not be harmed if they stay away from military targets and advise them to tune into the special radio stations. On the front line, meanwhile, the strategic messages can cater for every environment. The psyops team have a set of hundreds of Arabic words which they string together in sentences. They can range from basic orders to put hands up and surrender, to details of how heavily they are outnumbered and a countdown to the next bombardment. "The main thing is that we are trying to save these people's lives and a huge amount of planning goes into it to make sure we get the messages exactly right," Major Taylor said. "We have to account for political and cultural sensitivities and it is easy to get wrong. That is why every piece of propaganda is signed off right at the very top, by General Tommy Franks, the head of allied forces in the Gulf," he added. Psyops has been used in Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan and in various ways for thousands of years to win over enemy populations. But in Iraq, Major Taylor said, his team have their work cut out against one of the world's masters of propaganda, Saddam Hussein. "It is quite a challenge and a lot of our messages are aimed at correcting the lies he tells - that we will plunder the country and take their women," Major Taylor said. "His propaganda is of the first order and we certainly have a battle on our hands to defeat him at his own game." Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) !! So there is a separate British psyops operation including radio? Name of stations, frequencies, times??? Why don`t these journalists do their jobs with the basics of any story?? Perhaps stations already known but not yet connected with the Royal Marines (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non?]. The UK is now broadcasting on AM as well (Kelly O`Donnell, Qatar, NBC Today 1453 UT March 28, note by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Details?! ** IRAQ [and non]. PSYOP TV IN BAGHDAD, BRITISH RADIO IN UMM QASR Here are some news from the radio propaganda front. The US Psychological Operation in Iraq now includes also TV broadcasts. This was announced today in a press briefing by Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks here at Camp as-Sayliyah base near Doha, Qatar - which is where I am at the moment, reporting for the YLE TV & Radio (The Finnish Broadcasting Company). The TV broadcasts cover entire southern Iraq, up to and including Baghdad. Also the PSYOP radio station is more widely available. According to a source at the CENTCOM forward headquarters here at Camp as-Sayliyah, Information Radio broadcasts can be heard better than before the war broke out, as the planes are now flying all over Iraq, and not just in the Southern no-fly zone, which was the case until eight days ago. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks has told repeatedly in the briefings that Information Radio now broadcasts 24 hours a day on five frequencies, without giving any more details. There have been news or speculation about different platforms being used aside from the Commando Solo aircraft, but I do not have a confirmation about this for the moment. It was also announced in the briefing today that the British troops have set up a radio station in Umm Qasr broadcasting to the people living in Basra. Basra itself is still controlled by the regime of Saddam Hussein, although it is surrounded by coalition (mostly British) troops. Here in Qatar news about this radio station first surfaced yesterday, but without any more details. Earlier, the coalition had knocked out the Iraqi radio station in Basra. A British media officer later informed me that there are actually two transmitters, one on FM and the other on the AM band, but he did not know - or was not willing to tell - the frequencies at this point. I will keep you posted here as further information is received. Also, I ran into a news report claiming that Information Radio can be heard on 100.4 MHz here at Camp as-Sayliyah. This is not the case, but in stead there is a BFBS relay transmitter audible on that frequency. Background info can of course be found at http://www.dxing.info/articles/iraq.dx but I will not be able to update the article before I return to Finland around April 2 (Mika Mäkeläinen, Qatar, dxing.info Mar 28 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Bombing in Baghdad The bombing in Baghdad that started about half an hour ago has affected the digital feed of the Iraqi Satellite Channel. The sound and picture now keep breaking up - but it's still on the air, so apparently the TV building has not been hit. Andy Sennitt Iraqi music The Iraq Satellite Channel is playing some of those music videos in praise of Saddam. MTV it ain't, but I have to say that I've always had a liking for Iraqi music. Out of all the Arab countries, I've always liked their songs best from a purely melodic point of view. I'm no expert on these things, but there seems to be a western influence in their music, which maybe crept in during the years of British occupation. I made a couple of screenshots which I'll post on the Radio Netherlands Web site tomorrow. I really hope they don't try to silence the Iraq Satellite Channel. Very few people inside Iraq can actually see it, and I can't imagine it's a threat, merely an irritation, to the coalition. Andy Sennitt Iraq Satellite Channel I am watching the The Iraq Satellite Channel via DSL as I type this. They're carrying an "interview" in English with two westerners, an American man and a woman who is not a native speaker of English. The presenter, in military uniform, is translating whay they say into Arabic. It's pure propaganda - he just ended by wishing them a "good stay" in Baghdad and said "You will stay to see the Iraqis win - I hope!". They're now showing film of anti-war protests in the West with gentle music behind. The quality of the picture is fantastic. Whatever you think of the rights and wrongs of the war, you have to admire the resourcefulness of the engineers who have managed to produce such a technical achievement. Having said that, now the sound has gone faint, and I think the coalition are trying to block the audio as the Defence Minister (I think) is speaking. But the fact that I can see it at all is amazing. Andy Sennitt (March 27 entries from his new weblog http://radio.weblogs.com/0121781/ -- reverse order? via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 9715, Information Radio, heard tentatively 0030-0031, Mar 23, Arabic news by man and woman about coalition forces at Basra, but then disappeared, 25222. 11292 was not audible here (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) Today I was trying to get Iraq. So I remembered that while monitoring it in 1991 they used to go to off band frequencies so I said I'll give that a try; but on 4500 kHz at 1800 I picked up a weak station with a familiar voice but no IDs as they started playing Arabic hip/hop hits so I stayed waiting and listening to that awful music but it was worth it 1815 and ID "You are listening to your Source of information. Radio Information" [as translated, I assume --- gh]. The guy I refereed to is the guy whom I mentioned is working as well in R. Tikrit. That's why I said his voice was familiar. Now they are giving out an announcement how to treat a POW from the coalition troops, treat him well, etc. Followed by another hit. Tried 9715 but as well the Russian section of DW is booming in, 11292: As usual a very very weak signal but nothing clear. A new catch for this one, for me at least! (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On a tip off from Tarek Zeidan in Egypt via Wolfgang Bueschel, tuned in a station on 4500 at 1850, Arabic music, announcements by lady and then a man 1853 with many mentions of Iraq and then back to Arabic music. Good signal with slight fading. Tarek says is identifying as Radio Information and was saying how coalition forces treat POW's well at 1815. New channel for the US psyops station presumably. Like Tarek I noted earlier that 9715 was silent (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, March 28th, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Tarek, Great job indeed. When I've seen your info just before 2000 UT I tried 4500. Sig was very weak here but I heard it --- for the first time. Other channels are occupied most of the time so tnx again. Super 73 (Pascal Perriot - Tours, France, dxing.info via DXLD) Tarek Zeidan in Cairo found Information Radio on 4500 kHz this evening. It's coming in well in The Netherlands. I have put a 2 minute audio clip online. you'll find the link at the bottom of this page: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq-psywar.html (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ. During a trip out to Limekilns [NSW DXpedition site] for antenna maintenance yesterday (22/3) John Schache and I heard Iraq on 11787, huge signal around 0600 with Arabic music. Unfortunately, it was mostly carrier & modulation level was terrible (Craig Seager, ARDXC via DXLD) Well not very often my luck holds out....but with DW on 11785 and the powerhouse to Australia on 11795... Baghdad was getting hammered (that`s not unusual), however at 0600 depsite its low audio...heard the AA ID "Huna Baghdad"....clear as a bell, then more yak yak got hammered from 0604 to 0625 then reappeared for a few minutes then gone and maybe forever......my Arabic speaking neighbour impressed. He thought it would have been simsmetal Baghdad by now. Johno using a TRIO...and no Jem no trani's..... (Johno Wright, Australia, Mar 23, ARDXC via DXLD) Despite the bombing of the radio and TV building in Baghdad last night, Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service has been received this morning on 11787. The signal was good. I noticed that Iraq Satellite channel on Hot Bird 13 degrees east (TPS) was interrupted at 1200 UT. So let's keep on monitoring ... (Pascal Perriot - Tours, France, Mar 26, dxing.info via DXLD) Radio Baghdad on 11787 kHz --- it is Egypt on 11785. The Baghdad transmitter radio "is broken" (Union des Écouteurs Français, Mar 28, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Radio Republic of Iraq Inter-l last time was heard on Mar 23rd at 0800 with news in Arabic, on 11787 kHz (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Mar 28 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) A 7-minute audio clip of harangues interspersed with patriotic songs and many IDs can be heard on the Interval Signals Archive website at http://www.intervalsignals.net (follow the IRAQ link in the left-hand column). Recorded off-air from 6175 at 0615 28th March 2003; the audio quality gradually improves, so stick with it! Regards, (Dave Kernick, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. The latest catch. 1900 UT March 28, I picked the Iraqi Republic Radio - the voice of the Iraqi people. With the news and ID on a new frequency, 4785. First time to hear it on this freq. Used to hear it mainly on 11710 and 9570, if I'm not wrong. Still remember when this station started in 1991: they used to play only songs for 2 hours no IDs at all I was really confused about this one till they came up with this confusing ID. ``Idha`at algomhuriya al Iraqiya - sout al shaab al iraqi``. Around that time the ID of the official Baghdad radio was the same. Till Baghdad changed its ID to ``Idha`at jomhuriyat AL IRAQ``. it may not catch your ears the difference but around that time. It was really REALLY confusing. All the best...more to come (TAREK ZEIDAN, Cairo, Egypt, Mar 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be the clandestine from Sa`udi Arabia on the semi-harmonic of 9570. When they are on 9750 instead, the semi-harmonic falls on 4875 (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. On 28 Mar at 1947 the V. of Iraqi Liberation was noted on 4020.5 [ex-4025v] in parallel with 1206 in Arabic. On 28 Mar at 2020 they are on 4030.3 still in parallel with steady 1206 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also KURDISTAN ** IRAQ [non]. 9535, Voice of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq, via Sirjan, Iran, *0330-0340, Mar 22, Arabic ID: ``Sawt el-Sawra el- Islamya fi el-Iraq``, patriotic talks to the Shiit muslims in Iraq, Muslim prayer, 35333, // 6145 (43443 QRM Deutsche Welle) and 7100 (33433 QRM Arab on 7105) (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Mar 26 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. REPORTING THE WAR: THE BROADCASTERS' DILEMMA --- Commentary by Andy Sennitt, 28 March 2003 http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/media030328.html (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. For most Iraqis, limited to news from state-run media, every day brings fresh victories over invading U.S. and British forces. Daily television news bulletins show downed U.S. strike helicopters, captured U.S. soldiers and "heroic" resistance by Iraqis in battle. President Saddam Hussein broadcasts to the nation, exhorting his troops and calling on all Iraqis to stand firm and defeat the enemy. Ministers promise more casualties among the "infidel invaders" advancing towards Baghdad. Iraqi viewers do not see the vivid international footage of the relentless bombardment of their capital. Nor were they shown pictures of the first U.S. and British tanks rolling into the south of their country late last week, spearheading a U.S.-led drive to overthrow Saddam and disarm Iraq of alleged weapons of mass destruction. In the propaganda war being fought out by both sides on the sidelines of the military action, the Iraqi media is playing to national pride and patriotism. There is a constant feed of military music, repeats of the latest Saddam footage, Muslim prayer and readings from the Koran, Islam's holy book. Muslim clerics have special programmes to rally the masses against a "war on Islam", drawing on sayings by the Prophet Mohammad on "martyrdom" and jihad (holy struggle) against the invaders (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Mar 26 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. ANALYSIS: IRAQI TV SOLDIERS [verb] ON | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 27 March Iraqi TV facilities in Baghdad were among targets repeatedly hit on the night of 25-26 March by US-led forces. As well as the bombardment from the air, cruise missiles also hit Iraqi TV installations. The external service, Iraq Satellite Channel, was disrupted on several occasions on the 26th and was off the air for over thirteen hours before spluttering back onto the airwaves at 0657 gmt on 27 March. On 27 March a BBC correspondent in Baghdad reported that the Iraqi domestic TV channel had also returned to the air. Meanwhile the BBC news web site reported on 27 March that British forces had taken Iraqi TV in Basrah off the air. Referring to the Baghdad air raids, UK Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, insisted that there was "no direct attempt to take Iraqi TV off the air". The International Federation of Journalists condemned the bombing of Iraqi TV, saying it was not credible to claim this was a legitimate military target. "This is clearly an action taken to frustrate the use of television by the regime to communicate with the people of Iraq," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It is part of the psychological war in which journalists and media staff are the victims." Recalling the precedent set by NATO in its bombing of Radio- Television Serbia during the Kosovo war in 2000, the IFJ added: "Once again, we see military and political commanders from the democratic world targeting a television network simply because they don't like the message it gives out." In the week since the war on Iraq started, Iraqi electronic media had continued to broadcast despite the bombardment of Baghdad. They highlighted war-related developments, including anti-war demonstrations worldwide, and patriotic songs in praise of Iraq and Saddam Husayn. But the official media also limited the details available to Iraq's citizens. So Iraqis, who mostly lack access to satellite services, got little information about the progress of the war. Iraqi TV avoided carrying live news conferences by Iraqi officials, as broadcast by pan-Arab TV channels, such as Al-Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV and the new all-news channel from Dubai, Al-Arabiyah. It did, however, carry morale-boosting speeches by Saddam Husayn telling Iraqis of fresh victories, and also broadcast offers of rewards to anyone who shot down American aircraft or captured airmen or soldiers. When Iraqi TV screened footage on 23 March of dead US soldiers and captured POWs, outrage followed among public opinion in the US and countries supporting the US-led war. After remarks by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that it would have been highly desirable to end Iraq's ability to communicate, and his warning to civilians to move away from broadcast facilities in Baghdad. Direct attacks on Iraqi TV look increasingly likely. However, makeshift Iraqi TV services keep returning to the air and contingency arrangements appear to have been made for mobile transmitters, makeshift studios and satellite uplinks to keep delivering the images and messages of the leadership. The TV's mere presence on the airwaves, as long as it continues to show programmes supporting Saddam Husayn, is at least symbolic of the Iraqi Government's grip on the infrastucture in Baghdad. Pan-Arab channels' war coverage draws millions With ownership of satellite TV dishes banned in Iraq, and only a tiny minority of wealthy Iraqis able to afford a state-run subscription service to international channels, most Iraqis did not see the vivid footage of the relentless bombardment of their capital shown on the pan-Arab TV channels, the best known being Al-Jazeera. News agencies report that Al-Jazeera crews often got preferential treatment by Iraqi authorities to broadcast scenes from sites bombed in US-British air raids. Al-Jazeera said its number of viewers jumped 10 per cent since the war began, bringing its worldwide audience to 44 million. And on 25 March Al-Jazeera launched a new English- language web site - http://english.aljazeera.net - which was quickly hit by hacker attacks . But Al-Jazeera's rivals in the battle for hearts and minds, the most prominent being government-run Abu Dhabi TV and Al-Arabiyah, a new all-news channel backed by Saudi money and based in Dubai, also attracted tens of millions of viewers. "Back in 1991, there were no Arab networks, which meant CNN was tops... Now, most of the Arab networks are playing to the Arab street and indulging audiences by airing pictures they know will appeal to the masses," Abdullah Schleifer, director of the Adham Centre for Television Journalism at the American University in Cairo, told Reuters news agency. And BBC correspondent Paul Harper commented: "There are signs that traditional channels closely controlled by Arab governments are trying to adjust their rather staid formats to meet the challenge. Arab viewers are grateful they're no longer dependent on the Americans to watch events as they unfold - but graphic, instantaneous images of the fighting may also be a big factor in fuelling widespread Arab opposition to the war." The war of words and pictures will continue, even after hostilities cease. Within Iraq, new or realigned electronic media will probably emerge as the political sands shift. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Today 28/3/03 around 0645 UT watching the Iraqi Satellite channel I noticed a new echo while they were reading the news....a new studios...? new location..? all the best (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Glenn Hauser mentions on his DX Listening Digest, that on one of the schedules, both English and French are at 1530 UT... Looking at israelradio.org and looking at the local time it should be broadcast, English should've been listed as 1630 UT. I'll double check that... if I'm wrong, I'll get back to you. [Later:] Moshe Oren did confirm that the English should be at 1630 UT (Doni Rosenzweig, Mar 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KI shifted to DST today 1 hour later for all transmissions (Mar 27) (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) CLOCKS GO FORWARD TONIGHT By Mazal Mualem Daylight saving [sic] time begins tonight. At 1 A.M., clocks should be moved forward one hour. Daylight saving time will be in effect for 188 days, until October 3. This date was set by law in July 2000 and will remain effective until 2004. It was considered an historic compromise between the ultra- Orthodox parties, which wanted to shorten the period of daylight saving time, and the the secular parties, which wanted it lengthened. Last summer, then-interior minister Eli Yishai of Shas attempted to change the date so that daylight saving time would end before Yom Kippur and make the fast easier. The attempt met with heavy criticism and Shas withdrew a draft law it had hoped to pass. Current Interior Minister Avraham Poraz of Shinui plans to work toward lengthening daylight saving time when the period fixed by law expires (Ha`aretz Mar 27 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) CONTINUED as DXLD 3-052! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-050, March 26, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1175: WWCR: Thu 2130 9475, Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630… on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage] WBCQ: Mon 0545 on 7415 WJIE: Fri maybe 1300 on 7490 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html upload delayed, until sometime on March 27, we hope --- [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1175h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1175.html [already] IMPORTANT NOTE: Contrary to our previous note, we could not skip a week at this point in WOR production, and a new WOR 1175 was produced as usual March 26, and first broadcast on WBCQ at 2300. Shortly after issuing DXLD 3-049, our main website was back in use: http://www.worldofradio.com ** AUSTRIA. It is all but no pleasure to report what the ORF council decided today: Radio Austria International will be terminated and replaced by Ö1 shortwave relays effective July 1st. Official release: http://kundendienst.orf.at/fakten/gremien/stiftungsrat_30326.html (via Kai Ludwig, Mar 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ORF-STIFTUNGSRAT GENEHMIGT ORF-KOLLEKTIVVERTRAG UND NEUSTRUKTURIERUNG Von ROI. Dr. Klaus Pekarek (ORF-Stiftungsrat Vorsitzender) Ö1, erfolgreichster Kultursender Europas, wird zur Stimme Österreichs in der Welt Der ORF-Stiftungsrat unter dem Vorsitz von Generaldirektor Dr. Klaus Pekarek stimmte in der Plenarsitzung am Mittwoch, dem 26. März 2003, dem zwischen ORF-Geschäftsführung und ORF-Zentralbetriebsrat abgeschlossenen neuen Kollektivvertrag zu. Der neue Kollektivvertrag wird für alle Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter gelten, die ab 1. Jänner 2004 einen Arbeitsvertrag schließen, sowie für freie Mitarbeiter, die schon bisher für den ORF gearbeitet haben. Zustimmung des Stiftungsrats gab es auch für die von der Geschäftsführung vorgeschlagene Neustrukturierung von ROI. Weiters stimmte der Stiftungsrat zu, Prof. Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider zum Sachverständigen für das Qualitätsmonitoring und Jörg Ruminak zum Jugendschutzbeauftragten zu bestellen. Ö1: Neue Stimme Österreichs in der Welt Die Neustrukturierung von ROI ist deshalb notwendig, weil sich die Bundesregierung vor zwei Jahren aus der Finanzierung des Auslandsdienstes zurückgezogen hat. Im Hinblick sowohl auf wirtschaftliche Notwendigkeiten als auch auf die Qualitätssicherung des Auslandsangebots über Kurzwelle und Online-Dienste wird der ORF das bisherige Radio Österreich International ab 1. Juli 2003 durch das neue Angebot "Radio Österreich 1 International" ersetzen - der erfolgreichste Kultursender Europas wird zur Stimme Österreichs in Europa und in der Welt. Der vom österreichischen Publikum in einem überwältigend hohen Ausmaß angenommene Programmmix aus Information, Kultur, Musik, Literatur, Bildung, Wissenschaft und Religion wird damit über die Grenzen hinaus die Auslandsösterreicher sowie ein an Österreich interessiertes globales Publikum im bisherigen Umfang von ROI erreichen. Durch den Transfer der hoch qualifizierten Journalisten von ROI wird die personelle Kapazität von Ö1 verstärkt. Das neue "Radio Österreich 1 International" wird auch ein über das derzeitige Ö1-Programm hinausgehendes englischsprachiges Informationsangebot umfassen. Durch den weiteren Beitrieb des Kurzwellensenders Moosbrunn werden sowohl die Chancen der Digitalisierung der Kurzwelle als auch der Einsatz der Kurzwelle für Krisenzeiten gesichert. Mit der Neuordnung des Auslandsdienstes über Kurzwelle kann der ORF weiterhin höchste Qualität anbieten und gleichzeitig in einem Zeitraum von drei Jahren Einsparungen in der Höhe von jährlich rund vier Millionen Euro erzielen. Prof. Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider zum Sachverständigen Qualitätsmonitoring, Jörg Ruminak zum Jugendschutzbeauftragten bestellt Im Dezember 2002 hat der Stiftungsrat der Einführung eines Qualitätssicherungssystems für das Jahr 2003 zugestimmt, das für das Qualitätsmonitoring - Thema im Jahr 2003 wird die Unterhaltung sein - und für die Gesamtbeurteilung eine/n Sachverständige/n vorsieht, der/die mit Zustimmung des Stiftungsrats zu bestellen ist. Mit dieser Aufgabe wird Prof. Dr. Rudolf Bretschneider, Geschäftsführer Fessel- GfK, betraut, der seit 1997 ein Qualitätsmonitoring für den ORF durchführt. Zum Jugendschutzbeauftragten, einem weiteren Element des Qualitätsmonitoring, wird Jörg Ruminak bestellt. Jörg Ruminak, Nachfolger von Kurt Bergmann als Leiter der Stabsstelle "Humanitarian Broadcasting", ist seit 1980 im ORF tätig. Von 1987 bis 1993 war er Leiter des Familien- und Kinderfunks im ORF-Landesstudio Wien, von 1993 bis 2001 Leiter der Hauptabteilung Gesellschaft, Jugend und Familie (ORF via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Re 3255: Glenn, A emissora de Xapuri é autorizada há anos e agora se chama R. Educadora Seis de Agosto, como publicado em um passado recente no próprio DXLD. 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins São Carlos, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA: Summer A-03 schedule of RADIO BULGARIA from March 30 to October 26, 2003; ADDR: 4, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1040 Sofia and P. O. Box 900, 1000 Sofia. Tel.: +359 2 9336 733; fax.: +359 2 650 560 Website: http://www.nationalradio.bg Program Director: Angel Nedyalkov e-mail: nedyalkov@nationalradio.bg Frequency Manager: Ivo Ivanov e-mail: rbul1@nationalradio.bg MW: Petrich (G.C: 23.18E/41.42N): 747 kHz 500 kW/non-dir Vidin (G.C: 22.40E/43.49N): 1224 kHz 500 kW/205 deg SW: P=Plovdiv/Padarsko (G.C: 24.42E/42.10N): 2 x 500 kW, 3 x 250 kW S=Sofia/Kostinbrod (G.C: 23.13E/42.49N): 2 x 100 kW, 2 x 050 kW ===================================================================== ALBANIAN / e-mail:albanian@nationalradio.bg 0530-0600 Mon-Fri Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 0600-0700 Sat/Sun Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 1100-1130 -daily- Balkans 9500 P250/248 1600-1630 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 1900-2000 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 ===================================================================== BULGARIAN / e-mail:bulgarian@nationalradio.bg 0000-0100 -daily- NAm 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 0000-0100 -daily- SAm 9500 P250/245, 11600 P250/258 0430-0500 Mon-Fri Weu 9400 P500/306, 12000 P500/306 0430-0500 Mon-Fri Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 0430-0500 Mon-Fri EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030 0400-0500 Sat/Sun WEu 9400 P500/306, 12000 P500/306 0400-0500 Sat/Sun Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 0400-0500 Sat/Sun EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030 1000-1030 -daily- Balkans 9500 P250/248 1000-1030 -daily- EEu 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1000-1030 -daily- WEu 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1200-1400 -daily- Balkans 1224 1200-1400 -daily- WEu 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1500-1600 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 1500-1600 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030 1500-1600 -daily- ME 15700 P500/126 1500-1600 -daily- SAf 17500 P500/185 1800-1900 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 1800-2000 -daily- WEu 7200 P250/306 1800-2000 -daily- ME 7400 P250/140 ===================================================================== ENGLISH / e-mail:english@nationalradio.bg 0200-0300 -daily- NAm 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 0630-0700 -daily- WEu 11600 P500/306, 13600 P500/306 1130-1200 -daily- WEu 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1730-1800 -daily- WEu 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 2100-2200 -daily- WEu 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 2300-2400 -daily- NAm 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 [English portion via WORLD OF RADIO 1175] ===================================================================== FRENCH / e-mail:french@nationalradio.bg 0100-0200 -daily- NAm 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 0600-0630 -daily- WEu 11600 P500/306, 13600 P500/306 1100-1130 -daily- WEu 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1700-1730 -daily- WEu 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 2000-2100 -daily- WEu 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 ===================================================================== GERMAN / e-mail:german@nationalradio.bg 0500-0530 -daily- WEu 9400 P500/306, 12000 P500/306 1030-1100 -daily- WEu 11700 P500/306, 15700 P500/306 1630-1700 -daily- WEu 9400 P500/306, 11900 P500/306 1900-2000 -daily- WEu 5800 P500/295, 7500 P500/306 ===================================================================== GREEK / e-mail:greek@nationalradio.bg 0500-0530 Mon-Fri Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 0500-0600 Sat/Sin Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 1030-1100 -daily- Balkans 9500 P250/248 1630-1700 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224, 747 2000-2100 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 ===================================================================== RUSSIAN / e-mail:russian@nationalradio.bg 0300-0400 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030, 1224 0500-0530 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030 1030-1100 -daily- EEu 11600 S100/030, 13600 S100/030 1400-1500 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030, 1224 1400-1500 -daily- Cas 13600 P250/045 1600-1630 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9500 S100/030 1800-1900 -daily- EEu 7500 S100/030, 9900 S100/030 2300-2400 -daily- Cas 11700 P250/045 ===================================================================== SERBIAN / e-mail:serbian@nationalradio.bg 0600-0630 Mon-Fri Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 0700-0800 Sat/Sun Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224 1130-1200 -daily- Balkans 9500 P250/248 1700-1730 -daily- Balkans 7200 P250/248, 1224, 747 2100-2200 -daily- Balkans 5900 P250/248, 1224, 747 ===================================================================== SPANISH / e-mail:spanish@nationalradio.bg 0100-0200 -daily- SAm 9500 P250/245, 11600 P250/258 0100-0200 -daily- Cam 9700 P250/295 0600-0630 -daily- SEu 15700 P250/260, 17700 P250/292 1100-1130 -daily- SEu 15600 P250/260, 17600 P250/292 1630-1700 -daily- SEu 15700 P250/260, 17500 P250/292 2100-2200 -daily- SEu 11800 P250/292, 13800 P250/260 2300-2400 -daily- SAm 9500 P250/245, 11600 P250/258 ===================================================================== TURKISH / e-mail:turkish@nationalradio.bg 0500-0530 -daily- ME 6000 P250/115, 7400 P250/140 1000-1030 -daily- ME 7400 P250/140, 9400 P250/115 1730-1800 -daily- ME 7400 P250/140, 1224, 747 ===================================================================== DX-MIX program in Bulgarian will be on air: 1345-1400 Sun 1224 11700 15700 1945-2000 Sun 7200 7400 DX-MIX program in Russian will be on air: 0345-0400 Sun 1224 7500 9500 1445-1500 Sat 1224 7500 9500 13600 0515-0530 Sun 7500 9500 ||| additional 1615-1630 Sat 7500 9500 1045-1100 Sun 11600 13600 1845-1900 Sat 7500 9900 0515-0530 Mon 7500 9500 ||| additional 2345-2400 Sat 11700 1045-1100 Wed 11600 13600 ||| additional (Observer, Bulgaria, March 24, via DXLD) ** CHINA. Malaysia (non) Historian jailed in China over Clandestine Radio Article Glenn, I've found an interesting article on the internet http://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/antonians/southchina.shtml purporting to spill the beans about a communist clandestine station broadcasting in the 60s and 70s. It appears on the website of St. Anthony's College, Oxford, which is considered to be a recruiting ground for Britain's MI6 spies. The article, reproduced from a story published last year in the South China Morning Post, says a Hong Kong based Chinese historian, Xu Zerong, has been jailed in China for revealing "state secrets". It says Xu claims to have visited the "ruins" of the Voice of Malayan Revolution station, near Changsha in China's Hunan province, in 2000. He says the broadcasting facilities were housed in a tunnel built in 1969 and were used for 12 years. The station allegedly had a staff of 80 Malayan communists, 100 Chinese assistants and was guarded by a company of Chinese soldiers. He says a quotation from Mao Zedong is still visible on the tunnel's wall: "The righteous struggle of the people in countries around the world are and will be supported by the 650 million people in China". Xu's revelations are said to be an embarrassment for the Chinese because the ideological justification for such clandestine operations was that the "class struggle" is more important than respecting the sovereignty of other nations, a position that, potentially, undermines China's current criticisms of the US for putting "human rights" above sovereignty (Roger Tidy, UK, March 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA [non]. NEW DRM TRANSMITTER TO DT IN GERMANY FROM RIZ /GERMANY On the web site of RIZ Transmitters Co. Zagreb, Croatia http://www.riz.hr/ "NEWS" We are proud to announce that we have just won Deutsche Telekom Project for delivery and installation of the first of ten 500 kW SW DRM Transmitter that is going to be installed in DT Short Wave Radio Broadcasting Center in Wertachtal-Germany. (this scrolls in a window on the home page) (RIZ website last update Feb. 24 2003 via Donald Wilson, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. CZECH RADIO LAUNCHES BROADCASTING TO CZECH TROOPS IN KUWAIT | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 26 March: A half-hour programme for soldiers of the first Czech-Slovak antichemical unit in Kuwait began to be broadcast on Tuesday [25 March] by Radio Praha, Czech public radio's foreign broadcasting service, Rene Zavoral from the Czech Radio communications department told CTK. According to Radio Praha's director Miroslav Krupicka, whose words were quoted by Zavoral, the broadcast should form a bridge between the soldiers and their homeland. Family members, friends, and the general public will all have air time in these broadcasts, he added. "We have considered the possibility of addressing the Czech troops in our broadcasts for some time," Krupicka stated. The decisive impulse, he added, was information that several soldiers in Kuwait were regularly listening to Radio Praha. The programme for the soldiers in Kuwait is part of the news and comment broadcast prepared for world transmission each day. The first report was from Monday's meeting of Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik with the families and friends of soldiers from the anti-chemical unit in Liberec, north Bohemia, the unit's home base. Those who would like to send the soldiers a greeting or a message can do so via the message line of Czech Radio, at 221 552 989, or by e- mail at cr@radio.cz, Zavoral added. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1020 gmt 26 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) Time and freq???? ** INDIA. E mail confirmation was received from AIR Chennai within 3 days for an email report for their new frequency of 7270. According to that reply, they are replacing 10330 by 7270 and it is of 100 kw. Their email is : airavadi@vsnl.com Their postal address is: Mr. K. PALANISAMY, Asst. Station Engineer, All India Radio, Avadi Chennai- 100062. This address can be used for sending reports to AIR Chennai. Their SW frequencies currently in use are 4790, 4920, 7160, 7270 and on MW 720, 783 and 1395. Reports on their new frequency of 7270 will be of special interest to them. It operates at around 0630-1730. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, dx_india via WORLD OF RADIO 1175, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. If you've got access to the digital channels from the Hotbird satellite, there's currently a feed of WABC-TV New York available on 11.938H, 27,500, 3/4 (labelled RTV Studio). Local news, ads and lots of US domestic Gulf War coverage - very interesting. Thanks to http://www.transponder-news.de for the info (Gavin Robertson, Mar 24, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAQ. The Republic of Iraq Radio shortwave transmitter on 11787 kHz continues to be heard despite the continuing American-led attack on Iraq. Yesterday afternoon (22 March) I tuned in at 1604 and heard patriotic songs and strident rhetoric until past 1650. Unfortunately, as usual with this transmitter, despite a fair strength carrier, the modulation level is very low so the programming is barely audible at times. Yesterday around 1600 a strong "noise" on 11790 did not help reception, although 11785 was fairly clear (apart from a weak station on 11784.9 - Indonesia?). This morning 11787 (23 March) the strong carrier on 11787 is still present. Iraq has also been reported (see DX Listening Digests) on 6175 kHz, but I have not heard that channel here (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire/beverage, Caversham, UK, Mar 23, via DXLD) ** IRAQ. 11787, Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, 0800 UT 22/03: Music and irate crowd shouting in Arabic. Very difficult to read any of the audio so unable to make positive ID. Also heard until S/off at 1535 on 23/03 and from 0645 UT 24/03. Heard on the 25/03 until 0715 UT when Carrier disappeared. No sign of Transmission when checking at 0800 hours on 26th March Graham Powell Editor - Online DX Logbook via DXLD) A full list of English Broadcasts from the Middle East is available Free at http://www.shortwave.org.uk 11787.0 - 1030 UT March 26, Strong signal 9+20 at this time; modulation seems to be better than previous days. Commentaries and interviews in Arabic by male and female announcers + songs - Nothing heard on 6175. Despite the bombing of the radio and TV building in Baghdad last night, Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service has been received this morning on 11787. The signal was good. I noticed that Iraq Satellite channel on Hot Bird 13 degrees east (TPS) was interrupted at 1200 UT. So let's keep on monitoring ... 73 (Pascal, Tours, France. March 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. TUNING IN, By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (AP) -- Tune into 100.4 FM and you'll likely hear Celine Dion, Sheryl Crow and U.S. warnings to Iraqis to stay away from military targets. The United States is stepping up its propaganda campaign ahead of imminent war, dropping record numbers of ominous leaflets over Iraq and beaming a five-hour Arabic-language radio show to Iraqis every evening. "Information Radio" comes to Iraqis courtesy of "Commando Solo" -- an EC-130E aircraft flown by the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Dropping an antenna from its belly as it nears the Iraqi-Kuwait border, "Commando Solo" transmits messages prepared by the Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group in Fort Bragg, N.C. For the past four months, it has beamed them on three frequencies accessible to Iraqis -- 100.4 FM, 690 kHz on the AM dial and 9,715 kHz on shortwave. [what about the other two??] "We're trying to convey information to the people of Iraq, whether it be to the civilian population, the military or even anyone who has any idea about weapons of mass destruction," said Army Staff Sgt. Noble of Lorain, Ohio. He asked not to be identified further. The broadcasts tell Iraqis what to do to avoid harm, he said in an interview Tuesday at Camp As Sayliyah, the U.S. Gulf command center for a war against Iraq. Similar broadcasts were used during the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan, and have been used in almost every major conflict since the Vietnam War, said Air Force Sgt. Mike, an electronics communications specialist from Harrisburg, Pa. The 11 crew members of "Commando Solo" -- one of six EC-130E's in use by the psychological operations unit -- say the Iraqi authorities haven't been able to jam their signals. The broadcasts are advertised to Iraqis in leaflets dropped over the "no-fly zone" in southern Iraq, including a record 1.9 million dispersed on Tuesday that brought the total dropped this year to over 17 million. Besides radio schedules, the leaflets issue dire warnings like: "Attacking coalition aircraft invites your destruction," and "Do not risk your life and the lives of your comrades. Leave now and go home. Watch your children learn, grow and prosper." Some stress that coalition forces do not wish to harm innocent Iraqis, while others encourage the Iraqi military to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction or burning oil fields. The flying broadcasters said they have no idea who's listening to their Western and Arabic music and the heavy dose of U.S. programming. A few Iraqis contacted in Baghdad said they were aware of "Information Radio" but none said they listen to it (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) [Note: BBCM has been issuing these notes every two hours; here is a recent one] ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 0000-0200 GMT 27 MAR 03 Republic of Iraq Main Radio Service continued untraced during the reporting period. Iraq Satellite Channel TV transmissions on Hot Bird at 13 degrees east, Arabsat at 26 degrees east and NileSat at 7 degrees west went off the air at 1722 gmt and remain off. BBC Monitoring cannot currently verify reports that Republic of Iraq Television has resumed broadcasting in the Baghdad area. The Voice of Youth radio was not traced by BBC Monitoring during this reporting period. As of 0000 gmt on 27 March, Iraqi media monitored by BBC Monitoring are observed to behave as follows: Iraqi Satellite Channel Television, the external TV service, not monitored since 1730 gmt on 26 March. Republic of Iraq Television, the domestic TV service, not monitored since 1500 gmt on 24 March. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, the main domestic radio station, is unheard on all frequencies. However, a radio station that has not identified itself and is heard with poor to inaudible reception as of 1855 gmt on 603 kHz, a frequency used by Baghdad Radio, continues to carry patriotic Iraqi songs. The official Iraqi News Agency web site http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ and all other Iraqi sites hosted on http://www.uruklink.net including the dailies Al-Thawrah, Al- Jumhuriyah, and Al-Iraq are inaccessible. Source: BBC Monitoring research (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQI TV RESUMES "LOCAL" TRANSMISSION USING MOBILE TRANSMITTERS, SAYS AL-JAZEERA | Text of report by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 26 March A new wave of bombardment started over Baghdad a short while ago. The Iraqi capital was hit by more than 30 explosions in the early hours of this morning. Smoke columns were seen rising from a number of buildings. The Information Ministry and the Iraqi Television building are thought to be among these buildings. The Pentagon says that the Iraqi Television station has been destroyed. The Iraqi Television's satellite transmission has stopped. However, the local transmission has resumed, using transmitters mounted on vehicles, some sources have told Al-Jazeera. Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 0804 gmt 26 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS -- GETTING THE U.S. MESSAGE TO IRAQIS BY JEFF GLASSER Posted: Mar. 22, 2003 Jeff Glasser, a U.S. News senior editor, is reporting from Central Command headquarters in Qatar. DOHA, QATAR --- As the first bombs crashed down on Saddam Hussein's capital city shortly before dawn Thursday, an unusual message aired on Baghdad radio. "This is the day we have been waiting for," a speaker in Arabic declared. "The attack on Iraq has begun." In an audacious escalation of the information war, U.S. Commando Solo EC-130E planes apparently "drowned out" Iraqi state radio and replaced it with an American broadcast, says Nick Grace, editor of ClandestineRadio.com… http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/iraq/articles/qatar030321.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** IRAQ. STATE-RUN MEDIA GIVES IRAQIS UPBEAT NEWS ON WAR By Samia Nakhoul BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - For most Iraqis, limited to news from state-run media, every day brings reports of fresh victories over invading U.S. and British forces. Daily television news bulletins show downed U.S. attack helicopters, captured U.S. soldiers and "heroic" resistance by Iraqis in battle. President Saddam Hussein broadcasts to the nation, exhorting his troops and calling on all Iraqis to stand firm and defeat the enemy. Ministers promise more casualties among the "infidel invaders" advancing toward Baghdad. Iraqi viewers do not see the vivid international footage of the relentless bombardment of their capital. Nor were they shown pictures of the first U.S. and British tanks rolling into the south of their country late last week, spearheading a U.S.-led drive to overthrow Saddam and disarm Iraq of alleged weapons of mass destruction. In the propaganda war being fought by both sides, the Iraqi media is playing to national pride and patriotism. There is a constant feed of military music, repeats of the latest Saddam footage, Muslim prayer and readings from the Koran, Islam's holy book. State-run newspapers, too, appeal to Iraqis' patriotism, their pages full of pictures of Saddam meeting military commanders, in control. Banner headlines trumpet battle successes. Muslim clerics have special programs to rally the masses against a "war on Islam," drawing on sayings by the Prophet Mohammad on "martyrdom" and jihad (holy struggle) against the invaders. "We are in our sacred country. ... These evil infidels, British and Americans, ... the enemies of Islam have launched a hypocritical, vicious and spiteful war on Iraq and Muslims," one cleric told viewers. "This Iraq will not kneel and will not bow, except to God." The media has become a rallying call to all corners of Iraq, mobilizing the nation's 25 million people -- from Sunni Muslims loyal to Saddam, to Kurds, tribesmen, Baath party faithful and the majority Shi'ites, many of whom rose against Saddam after the 1991 Gulf War. In a clear pitch to keep the Shi'ites on board, one of the most repeated TV clips is of Saddam praying at the Shi'ite shrine of Imam Hussein at Kerbala. DITCHING DENIAL Some Baghdad residents try to broaden their news intake, secretly tuning in to Arabic-language radio stations like Radio Monte Carlo and the BBC's World Service in the early morning or late at night to avoid state jamming. Only a tiny minority of Iraqis risk having satellite TV channels, such as al-Jazeera. In Iraq, satellites are either banned or unaffordable. Discovery risks a heavy fine. Six days into war, Iraqi officials are more accessible than ever, holding daily news briefings on battles underway across southern Iraq. In the 1991 Gulf war, when a U.S.-led coalition drove Saddam's army out of neighboring Kuwait, Iraq's media boasted preposterous victories. Twelve years on, television and newspapers are no longer in denial. Losses are reported in an apparent effort to gird and strengthen public and military resolve. In daily broadcasts, Iraqi television mourns the nation's "martyrs" slain in combat with U.S. and British troops in towns and cities across southern Iraq. Individual soldiers, tribesmen and members of the ruling Baath party from different ethnic and religious sects are named for their bravery in "repelling the enemy." Video of mass anti-war protests and rioting from around the world -- from London and San Francisco to Cairo and Hamburg -- is replayed over and over again, telling Iraqis they have widespread support abroad. "Iraq is scoring every day a new victory that demonstrates Iraqi heroism, unveils the enemies' weakness, destroys their foolish arrogance and humiliates their stature as they confront the people of Iraq and its forces," said a military spokesman. Reuters/Variety 03/25/03 16:42 ET (AOL Canada news via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQI TV CONTINUES BROADCAST, PROPAGANDA By DEBORAH HASTINGS c The Associated Press Hour by hour, Iraq TV broadcasts the fierce propaganda of Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. ``Slit their throats,'' is the greeting Iraqi citizens should give advancing allied troops, the leaders advise on the air. Despite bombs, missiles and thousands of ground troops rumbling toward Baghdad, the government-controlled station operates with only intermittent outages. But threatened death and mayhem are not the most disturbing words coming over the Iraqi airwaves. The halting responses of captured Americans, their faces etched in fear, are also broadcast. And ultimately, after being picked up by Qatar-based satellite network Al-Jazeera and bounced around the world, they have made their way onto U.S. television. And into the homes of prisoners' families, who can only watch helplessly. On Monday, Iraqi television showed farmers stomping on the helmets of two downed Apache helicopter pilots in central Iraq. ``A small number of peasants shot down two Apaches,'' Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahhaf said. ``Perhaps we will show pictures of the pilots.'' They did. Chief Warrant Officers Ronald D. Young Jr., 26, of Lithia Springs, Ga., and David S. Williams, 30, of Orlando, Fla. appeared on camera but didn't speak. They looked confused, turning their heads and looking in different directions. ``He looked stubborn, mad,'' said Young's mother, Kaye, standing outside her Atlanta home Monday night. ``He probably was frightened though.'' At first, the mother said, she was hysterical. ``Now I'm numb.'' American military officials have long promised a war that would take great care to avoid civilian casualties and infrastructures such as power and communications grids. Increasingly, however, U.S. leaders are being asked why allied troops - with their precision weaponry - don't simply knock Iraqi television off the air for good. The answers have been vague. On Tuesday, during the daily military briefing at the coalition's $1.5 million desert press center in Qatar, a reporter asked Air Force Maj. Gen. Victor Renuart: ``Why haven't you attacked those facilities and taken them out?'' ``I'm not going to talk about what we target and when,'' Renuart replied. Besides, he added, he doesn't think such propaganda hurts the allied cause. ``I don't believe it affects us in a negative way,'' he said. ``I think people around the world understand that it is, in fact ... not necessarily reality.'' Which may be exactly what coalition leaders are hoping for, and why they haven't yet targeted the television station, say wartime propaganda experts. ``They're trying to allow Iraq TV and the Iraq government to hang themselves,'' said Garth Jowett, a University of Houston communications expert and co-author of ``Propaganda and Persuasion.'' On Tuesday night, the Iraqi information minister appeared again, in uniform. ``Hit the enemy, hit them, hit them at times and in places he does not expect,'' he said. ``Fight them, hit them (with) in new ways. These days are the days of your great victory.'' Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz held a news conference Tuesday at a Baghdad hotel, broadcast live by Iraqi television as well as by other TV outlets including CNN. Saddam's leadership is in ``good shape,'' Aziz said, and the president is in ``full control'' of the army and the country. He did not mention allied reports that the coalition had taken more than 3,000 Iraqi prisoners of war and that a reported 500 Iraqi soldiers have been killed in the past two days. Iraq has used its television station to try to prove that Saddam is alive and well. Aziz has used it to disprove rumors he had defected. In the United States, the footage of captured Americans ``makes war personal,'' Jowett said. ``The effect that it has in this country is to simply stiffen the resolve here.'' In the Arab world, he said ``it's simply preaching to the choir.'' 03/25/03 17:57 EST (via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQ TV RAID MAY BREAK GENEVA CONVENTION BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The head of the world's biggest journalists' organisation says a U.S. bomb and missile attack on Iraqi television was an attempt at censorship and may have breached the Geneva Conventions. "I think there should be a clear international investigation into whether or not this bombing violates the Geneva Conventions," Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), told Reuters on Wednesday. "We have every reason to believe this is an act of censorship against media that U.S. politicians and military strategists don't like," he said. A U.S. official in Washington earlier said the raid had hit the main television station, a key telecommunications vault and Baghdad satellite communications, damaging the government's command and control capability. But White said U.S. strikes would have targeted television earlier if it had been a military target. "There is no question that this attack reflects the anger and frustration of political leaders in the United States over the showing of prisoners on television and the use of television to boost the morale of Saddam Hussein supporters," said White. "This is the only credible explanation for this attack." He said the IFJ, which represents more than 500,000 journalists in 100 countries, believed there was no military justification for the raid, which recalled NATO's bombing of Radio Television Serbia during the Kosovo war three years ago. "Once again, we see military and political commanders from the democratic world targeting a television network simply because they don't like the message it gives out," he said. Despite the attack, Iraqi television came on air at about 9 a.m. (6:00 a.m. British time), and state radio was also broadcasting normally. Iraq's 24-hour international satellite television channel ceased broadcasting during the raids but came back on air at about 9:20 a.m. British time with patriotic songs. The IFJ said international law forbade attacks on television and radio stations unless they were used for military purposes, and there was no evidence this was the case in Iraq. March 26, 2003 1:15 PM http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1721317 (Reuters via Swissinfo via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** IRAQ. 'EMBEDS' OFFER GRAPHIC BUT LIMITED WAR CLOSE-UP By Merissa Marr LONDON (Reuters) - Rarely since the Vietnam war has the world seen such graphic frontline images, with footage from Iraq showing reporters hunkering down with troops in a hail of fire and crawling among soldiers as bombs fly. First met with suspicion, a campaign to "embed" journalists with U.S. and British forces has produced Hollywood-style pictures that have taken even broadcasters by surprise, as reporters take up positions with troops on battlefields across Iraq. But skeptics question whether the "embeds" have brought the media any closer to providing the big picture of war, as armchair warriors revel in gung-ho images of journalists riding on top of tanks and missiles flashing into the night. Despite access to the frontline, embedded reporters are also seeing the war entirely through the eyes of the U.S. and British forces. The Iraqi army does not have anything that resembles embeds on its side. "It appears that the fog of war has been blown away but it hasn't," said Jamie Cowling, a research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy Research in London. "It's comparable to a searchlight in a dark room rather than being able to turn the lights full on." More than 500 reporters are eating, sleeping and following the action with forces in a high-risk strategy the United States and Britain hope will show the heroism of their troops in a politically risky war. So far, that strategy appears to have paid off back home. But it could just as easily go wrong if pictures of injured troops and drawn-out battles start flowing back home -- a situation that could see the forces quickly clamp down. LIVING ROOM WAR Even politicians admit, the reality-TV reporting is only telling part of the story. Indeed, little has been seen of fighting in western Iraq, and skeptics note embeds are attached to units unlikely to see the more gruesome aspects of the war. "What we see is real but it is not the only part of the reality," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday. The Vietnam war was coined the first "living room" war after television reporters were given free and uncontrolled access to the battlefield. But that policy came back to haunt the United States as gruesome images turned the public against the war. Subsequent conflicts have been much more tightly managed. But a proliferation of news outlets and advances in technology have made the media harder to control this time. "For both President Bush and Prime Minister Blair, this is politically a highly risky war," said Roger Mortimore, political analyst with polling firm MORI. "Propaganda is a part of this war and it would be very bad propaganda to be seen to be censoring news organizations." Indeed, many media watchers say the United States and Britain have been surprisingly open with the media so far, despite imposing restrictions on "embedded" reporters and initial fears that reporters would be manipulated. "A lot of people have been surprised at the access and cooperation we've had in the field. It's produced some remarkable images," said Tony Maddox, senior vice president Europe, Middle East and Africa for CNN International. But should the conflict turn nasty, the military could easily use restrictions on what embeds are allowed to broadcast to clamp down on negative images. CONFUSION Despite accusations that they are only telling part of the story, embedded journalists have been uncovering key developments in the U.S.-led assault on Iraq. But a reliance on reporting what they see with their own eyes means they have sometimes jumped the gun. For example, one reporter mistook a caravan of camels for Iraqi trucks. Many news organizations have also sent independent reporters into Iraq to verify events. But that strategy has proved highly dangerous, with two reporters already killed. While the images from embedded reporters have their fans, some media experts conclude they are just confusing the public. "It's confusing but a different kind of confusing from previous conflicts. It's hard to know what's real and isn't real after a bit," said Steve Barber, media analyst at Ernst & Young. Reuters/Variety 03/25/03 16:36 ET (via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** IRAQ. REPORTERS AS WEAPONS By Allan Little BBC world affairs correspondent in Kuwait city The conflict with Iraq has changed the face of war reporting with an unprecedented number of journalists in the battle zones. I am standing in the lobby of an international hotel in Kuwait city. It is just after dark. A US army major is talking urgently into a mobile phone to a journalist who has got lost in southern Iraq. "These voices you can hear," the major is saying. "Are they English or Arabic? Arabic. "Then lie flat on the ground. Do not move. "Switch off your mobile phone because if it rings it will give away your position. Stay there all night. "When you hear American forces arrive wave something white and put your hands up. "Now", he adds ominously, "is there any message you would like me to pass on to your next of kin while you still can?" Who is the hapless, terrified hack who has phoned the US army press office in Kuwait in desperation, unable to move and now fearing for his life? He has run across the Iraqi border and headed blindly into the battlefield and has run up against units of the Iraqi army. Rest at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2880949.stm (via Muskokan, Mar 25, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. ARABIC STATIONS COMPETE FOR ATTENTION March 25, 2003 By NEIL MacFARQUHAR DAMASCUS, Syria, March 24 - Against the backdrop of the real war, another battle is shaping up across the Arabic-speaking world among television broadcasters vying for an audience addicted to news. Gone are the days when the region had to tune to Western networks. Although Al Jazeera, the satellite station based in Qatar, still dominates, newer, smaller channels are challenging its grip on Arab viewers. Al Jazeera's brashness and its broadcasts of far more graphic pictures than any other network ensures that critics track its every move. "Their impact is now huge," said Hussein Amin, chairman of the department of journalism and mass communication at the American University in Cairo. "They are affecting Arab public opinion to a degree never reached before." Sawsan Shair, a renowned Bahraini columnist, is among the critics of Al Jazeera's presentation. She tunes into the pro-American Kuwait channel when she wants to drown out harsh reality - "everything is always O.K. - the allies are going through smoothly, there is no resistance, the Iraqi government will fall down soon," she said. "But if I want my blood pressure to go up, I watch Al Jazeera. They always insert their point of view." Bias is partly a matter of perception. But critics say Al Jazeera's repeated broadcasts of Iraqi civilian victims and its gentle treatment of Iraqi officials give it an anti-American tone, or worse, fill Baghdad's propaganda needs. For example, Arabic networks sympathetic to the Americans call the conflict a war of liberation. Al Jazeera calls it an invasion. Viewers recall few if any interviews with Iraqis happy to see Americans, and note that they report that American officials "claim" while Iraqi officials "say." Some viewers complain that it rarely mentions Iraqi military casualties. When a figure from the Iraqi opposition tried to say on Al Jazeera recently that all the violence was the legacy of Saddam Hussein's more than two decades of tyranny, the anchor cut him off. He kept berating the man, asking how he could blame Mr. Hussein when Americans were hurling bombs against Iraq. Iraqi officials, on the other hand, often run on at length, even when edited. Al Jazeera remains popular. One 39-year-old Iraqi woman living in Damascus is typical - she watches the news nearly all day, switching channels according to her mood. (Many Iraqis remain wary of having their names published.) Mostly she watches Al Jazeera. "They don't lie, we have confidence in them and they have good translators," said the woman. Sometimes she switches to Abu Dhabi TV, a satellite channel owned by the wealthy emirate, which occasionally beats Al Jazeera on developments. Abu Dhabi TV says it has provided images from Baghdad to some 120 networks worldwide because of its spectacularly close shots of explosions captured by its three cameramen there. Its overall approach is gentler. Its anchor rarely interrupts speakers and its promotional slogan is "On the Front Line" compared with Al Jazeera's "War on Iraq." It edited Iraqi television's broadcasts of dead American soldiers this weekend to show just one from a distance. "Certain images we feel are too sensational, we do not want to fall victims of propaganda from either side," said Muhammad Dourrachad, the station's deputy director. Al Jazeera, financed by Qatar's ruling family, denies any bias. "We are not with or against any party or any country," said Muhammad Jasem al-Ali, the general manager. "We show bin Laden and we show Sharon at the same time. We bring on the opposition, all the people who are against Saddam, and we bring on some who are with Saddam." The station's reach and the depth of its reporters make it stiff competition for Western networks. Sometimes the anchors have four correspondents inside Iraq on screen simultaneously - in northern Iraq, Baghdad, Mosul and Basra. No other stations fielded reporters in Mosul and Basra. The general manager defended the decision on Sunday to broadcast the Iraqi television interviews with captured Americans. "We are professionals and our job is telling the truth, to tell what we see in the field," he said. The station, which claims 45 million viewers, comes under harsh criticism from Arab governments. Al Jazeera had to relinquish two of three spots for reporters traveling with the United States military because Bahrain and Kuwait refused accreditation. Kuwait even demanded that all networks sign a pledge not to share images with Al Jazeera. In Syria, the government views Al Jazeera as insufficiently antiwar. "They may speak Arabic, but they are not reporting from an Arab perspective that takes a clear stand against the war," said Buthaina Shaaban, director of foreign media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arab viewers can be fiercely partisan. After watching pictures of their country being bombed, some Iraqis decided to return and fight despite their dislike for Mr. Hussein. In Amman, Jordan, in an Iraqi expatriate warren, Saad al-Kabe, 28, a money changer, was angered by a report that said 67 civilians were killed today. "People are not going back to protect Saddam," he said. "They are going back to defend their families because the Americans are killing them." In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians identify with the Iraqis because they too have been attacked with a vast arsenal of American-made weapons, like Apache helicopters. There has been a run on Iraqi flags. In Ramallah, protesters even chanted against Al Arabiya, a new Dubai- based network partly financed by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon, for reporting that reflected the initial American line that the Iraqi government was collapsing. The Arab networks mostly accepted the American military version of events uncritically at first but grew wary after preliminary word that Umm Qasr had fallen, or that senior Iraqi officials like Taha Yassin Ramadan had been killed proved untrue. In contrast with the Arab channels, the Western networks have largely avoided showing the gruesome scenes of Iraqi civilian casualties, focusing more on military hardware and analysis. Arab viewers particularly fault them for fielding many correspondents lacking any sense of the region. Viewers were appalled when one CNN reporter, for example, passing an encampment of Iraqi nomads, speculated that they did not own cars and would be awestruck by the "camels of steel" roaring past. "It was like Lawrence of Arabia," commented one viewer sarcastically, noting that it is exactly these kind of tribesmen who might be attacking American invaders. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/25/international/worldspecial/25SYRI.html?ex=1049631651&ei=1&en=d9542549f3607a8c Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Just news, BBCWS says, until at least early Friday. I've also been monitoring other SW stations' output on the Iraq conflict. RFI and DW have been "right down the middle", as it were. You would not know from these stations' reporting that their host governments' were opposed to the conflict (unless of course, the subject comes up in appropriate context). On RFI this morning, their Tehran reporter stated that the Iranian government is being careful not to do anything to provoke US troops into attacking Iran and that the "man on the street" in Tehran seems to feel that a US invasion would be welcome so they could get rid of the conservative mullah dominated system in place now! (Quite interesting, although I certainly hope we don't go there...) Another surprise to some perhaps is the VOA. Their reporting has also been "independent" -- timely presenting the views of protesters as well as supporters, successes as well as setback. Where the VOA has been superior IMHO is that they are still reporting on the rest of the world. Their approach seems more balanced in that regard than the BBC, which seems to me to be too much "Iraq all the time". There are other things going on in the world, after all. For example, from VOA reports it seems the N. Koreans are getting more nervous by the day. This was the lead story on Asia-Pacific from R. Australia earlier today. Perhaps the BBC will start to modulate this as the day goes on (John Figliozzi, Mar 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1175, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. IRISH STATE BROADCASTER READY TO BLAST UK From The Radio Magazine: 18 March 2003 RTE, the Irish public service broadcaster is preparing to launch its pop service on the old Atlantic 252 Longwave transmitter. The County Meath based transmitter has been heard testing on a regular basis in the run up to the launch but so far no indication of a start date has been given. An RTE spokesperson told The Radio Magazine that things were still being finalised and that it had not been agreed as to whether the pop service Radio2FM, the music and chat service Radio 1, or a new 'best of RTE' service was going to be relayed. Launched in September 1989 the powerful transmitter managed to obtain an 80% geographical coverage of the UK mainland. At its peak Atlantic 252 had a 6% share of the UK adult audience with its simplistic blend of tuneful Top 40 music and slick presentation. The station ceased operations at the end of 2001 after selling out to TEAMtalk (via Mike Terry, Mar 21, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Just a reminder (hopefully I got this straight :-) ): At 2300 UT ON MARCH 27, Thursday night (that's 1 AM Friday morning Israel Time) Israel springs their clock ahead an hour. Soon after (a few hours?), the Kol Israel TIMES will change.... subtract one hour from the listed Winter times. For Friday and Saturday, they will still be on the Winter FREQUENCY schedule though. As of Sunday, March 30, Kol Israel will go to their Summer FREQUENCY schedule. Finally, (for US listeners, at least,) we will change the clock to DST early Sunday April 6, and then the Kol Israel times will effectively return to their 'normal' local times (except for the war schedule change). (Doni Rosenzweig, Mar 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looking over recent issues, I see contradictory info; one version had both English and French at 1530 on the same frequencies (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL [non]. Israeli Mickey Gurdus, 58, tunes one of his radios as he listens to the voices of American soldiers in the Iraqi battlefields from his studio in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, March 24, 2003. Gurdus, who speaks half a dozen languages, has reported over three decades the first details on numerous hijackings, kidnappings of westerners during the Lebanon war, troop movements, Mideast fighting and coups. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito) Tue Mar 25, 3:15 PM ET http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030325/168/3mexk.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) FROM HUNDREDS OF KILOMETERS AWAY, ISRAELI MONITORS IRAQ WAR TRANSMISSIONS http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030325/ap_wo_en_ge/me_fea_israel_listening_to_war_1 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. JAPAN: ACTIVISTS PLAN TO SMUGGLE VOA RADIOS INTO N. KOREA | Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo on 24 March Activists helping North Korean refugees are planning to smuggle up to 20 million radios tuned to the Voice of America (VOA) into the country as part of efforts to destabilize the communist regime, the planners said Monday. The campaign is aimed at giving the population access to unfiltered information on their own country and helping bring about a regime change, said Douglas Shin, a Korean-American Christian missionary involved in the campaign. The activists say they plan to smuggle the solar-powered radios from China via boats. In North Korea, citizens face severe restrictions on their movements, and the frequencies of radios sold there are fixed to government-run broadcast stations, according to the activists. VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government. It was pivotal in disseminating Western information to people in communist bloc nations during the Cold War. Shin says that although only 10 per cent of the radios may end up in the hands of North Koreans, they could still have an impact on democratizing North Korea by providing the people with uncensored information about their own country. Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0154 gmt 24 Mar 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Hi Glenn, I just heard two clandestine stations: 11530 kHz VOICE OF MESOPOTAMIA - DENGE MEZOPOTAMIA with very strong (S9 +20dB) signal and very clear reception. This station is operated by Kurdistan Workers Party. News and ID 1531 UT. Scheduled 13-17 UT. This broadcast comes from Moldova. Another station is: 9155 kHz R ASHUR - VOICE OF ASSURIAN REPUBLIC with sign on at 1558 UT. Not 1650 UT as ILG states. Signal strength S9 and quality of reception very distorted. News in Assyrian 1605 UT. Transmitter site is Baku, Azerbaijan. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, Mar 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. MONACO and KYRGYZSTAN: Mr. Siemens (TWR - German Office) provided some info regarding the collaboration between TWR and Radio EXTOL (1467 kHz in Bishkek). Initially, TWR supplied Radio EXTOL with several broadcast recording, in order to make estimations of signal quality and reception conditions. Contrary to usual practice of broadcasting to Central Asia, those broadcasts were not prepared in Almaty studios. Then, starting from the summer season, Radio EXTOL must start broadcasting of TWR Russian/Kyrgyz/Kazakh/etc. services on a test basis, meanwhile developing the regular sschedule. Planned time for Test broadcasts is 2130-2300 local (must be .......UTC in summer. - Ed.) (open_dx - Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia, Signal Mar 23 via DXLD) ** MALAYA [non]. V. of Malayan Revolution: See CHINA ** NIGERIA [non]. On Thursday, March 27, 2003, Jakada Radio International will resume its broadcasts on shortwave at 1900-1930 UT on 15170 kHz from Monday to Friday. The broadcasts are directed towards Nigeria (Ludo Maes, TDP Mailing List, Belgium, March 26, 2003, via WORLD OF RADIO 1175, DXLD) from where? ** PAKISTAN. A-03 Schedule: PBC Pakistan Broadcasting Corp. Sked effective 30 March to 25 October 2003 Arabic 1815-1900 ME 9385 11550 Assami [has been partly in English] 0045-0115 sAS 11650 15625 Bangla 0115-0200 sAS 11650 15625 1200-1245 sAS 15625 17635 Chinese 1200-1230 FE 11570 15070 Dari 1515-1545 CIS 5860 7375 English 1600-1615 AF/ME 11570 15065 15725 17820 Gujrati 0400-0430 AF 15485 17825 Hindi 0215-0300 sAS 9340 11640 1100-1145 sAS 11640 15625 Irani 1715-1800 ME 7550 9385 Nepali 1245-1315 sAS 15625 17635 Russian 1415-1500 CIS 7375 9385 Sinhali 1015-1045 sAS 15625 17495 Tamil 015-0345 sAS 15625 17540 0945-1015 sAS 15625 17495 Turki 1330-1400 CIS 5860 7375 Turkish 1630-1700 ME 9385 11550 Urdu 0045-0215 seAS 15485 17895 0500-0700 ME 15100 17835 21460 0800-1104* EU 17835 21465 1330-1530 ME 11570 15065 1700-1900 EU 9400 11570 1800-1900 ME 7550 1915-0045 ME 7570 *Usually includes English approx 1100-1104 [and 0800-0804??] (PBC via WOLFGANG BUESCHEL, xls converted to text by Alan Roe, DXLD) ** POLAND. Radio Polonia announced in its Media Magazine March 25th that English from March 31st would be at 1200-1300 on 9525 and 11820 and 1700-1800 on 5995 7285. They hoped that the 11820 frequency would be able to be received in North America (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Too low ** QATAR. HACKERS TARGET AL-JAZEERA'S SITE NEW YORK (AP) - Hackers attacked the Web site of the Arab satellite television network Al-Jazeera today, rendering it intermittently unavailable, the site's host said. The newly launched English- language page, which went live Monday and posted images of the corpses of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, was hardest hit in a bombardment of data packets known as a denial-of-service attack. Ayman Arrashid, Internet system administrator at the Horizons Media and Information Services, the site's Web host, said the attack began this morning. rest at http://tinyurl.com/85wb (Mar. 25, 2003. 07:07 PM via Patrick Cain, caj-list, via Ricky Leong, DXLD) http://english.jazeera.net is the site, I heard on some show (gh) {NOT: as in next issue, instead: http://english.aljazeera.net} With all of the emotion and innuendo circulating about al-Jazeera, this is a good reminder of the networks true nature and its origins. . . Qatar, which is the headquarters for the US/UK/Aussie command during the current military operation in Iraq. IN DEFENSE OF AL-JAZEERA --- BRAVE NEW WORLD: MSNBC.coms Michael Moran comes to the defense of al-Jazeera. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/643471.asp (via John Figliozzi, Mar 26, ODXA via DXLD) More about Al-Jazeera, and other networks, above under IRAQ non ** RUSSIA. Estimados amigos: Les comunicamos que desde el 30 de marzo, hasta el 25 de octubre de 2003, "La Voz de Rusia" tiene el siguiente esquema para sus emisiones en español: Hacia Europa: 2030-2100 UT ... Periodo: 30.03.03-25.10.03: 7440 kcs. Hasta 06.09.03: 11630 kcs. Desde 07.09.03: 9480 kcs Hacia Centroamérica: 0000-0100 UT ... Periodo: 30.03.03-25.10.03: 9830 y 11750 kcs. Hasta 06.09.03: 9665 kcs. Desde 07.09.03: 7180 kcs. 0100-0200 UT ... Periodo: 30.03.03-25.10.03: 9830 kcs. Hacia Sudamérica: 0000-0100 UT ... Periodo: 30.03.03-25.10.03: 7330, 9480, 9830, 9860, 9965, 11.510, 12.060 kcs. Hasta 06.09.03: 9450 y 12010 kcs. Desde 07.09.03: 9890, 9470 kcs. 0100-0200 UTC ... Periodo: 30.03.03-25.10.03: 7330, 9830, 9860, 9945, 9965, 11510 kcs. Hasta 06.09.03: 9450, 12010 kcs. Desde 07.09.03: 9470, 9890 kcs. Agradeciendo su atención, les saluda muy cordialmente, (Francisco Rodríguez, "Frecuencia RM", LA VOZ DE RUSIA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. VOICE OF TURKEY A'03 -------------------- LANGUAGE FREQ HOURS SITE POWER MODE TO: EUROPE Albanian 11875 1130-1230 CAK 250 DSB Bosnian 9500 1800-1900 CAK 500 DSB Bulgarian 7140 1330-1430 EMR 250 DSB Croatian 11970 1600-1630 EMR 250 DSB English(1) 11655 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB English(1) 9650 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB English 17830 1230-1330 EMR 500 DSB English 9785 1830-1930 EMR 500 DSB English 9830 2200-2300 EMR 500 DSB English 11960 2200-2300 EMR 500 DSB French 11850 1930-2030 EMR 500 DSB German 15470 1130-1230 EMR 500 DSB German 13640 1730-1830 EMR 500 DSB Greek 11930 1030-1130 EMR 500 DSB Greek 9655 1430-1530 EMR 500 DSB Hungarian 13770 0930-1030 EMR 500 DSB Macedonian 11690 0800-0900 EMR 250 DSB Rumanian 9560 0930-1030 CAK 250 DSB Serbian 11860 1330-1400 EMR 250 DSB Spanish 15150 1630-1700 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 9460 0700-2100 CAK 500 DSB Turkish 15350 0700-1600 CAK 500 DSB Turkish 5980 1600-2200 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 9460 2100-0700 CAK 500 DSB Turkish 11885 2200-0400 EMR 500 DSB TO : NORTH AMERICA English(1) 11655 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB English(1) 9650 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB English 11960 2200-2300 EMR 500 DSB English 9830 2200-2300 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 9460 2100-0700 CAK 500 DSB Turkish 11885 2200-0400 EMR 500 DSB TO : AUSTRALIA English 17595 1230-1330 EMR 500 DSB English 9525 2030-2130 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 21715 0900-1200 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 13655 1200-1600 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 9560 1600-2200 EMR 500 DSB TO : ASIA Arabic 9560 0400-0600 CAK 500 DSB Arabic 11690 0900-1100 EMR 500 DSB Arabic 15520 0900-1100 EMR 500 DSB Arabic 11735 1400-1600 CAK 250 DSB Azerbaijani 11730 0700-0830 CAK 250 DSB Azerbaijani 15140 0700-0830 EMR 500 DSB Azerbaijani 11865 1400-1500 EMR 500 DSB Chinese 17715 1100-1200 EMR 500 DSB English 7270 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB English 17595 1230-1330 EMR 500 DSB English 9525 2030-2130 EMR 500 DSB Georgian 11690 0700-0800 EMR 500 DSB Greek 7295 1030-1130 CAK 250 DSB Kazakh 11860 1500-1600 EMR 500 DSB Kyrgyz 11860 1600-1700 CAK 500 DSB Persian 11795 0830-0930 CAK 250 DSB Persian 17705 0830-0930 EMR 500 DSB Persian 11940 1230-1400 CAK 250 DSB Russian 15450 1300-1400 EMR 500 DSB Russian 9675 1700-1800 CAK 500 DSB Tatar 6175 1800-1900 EMR 250 DSB Turkish 11750 0400-0900 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 11955 0400-1600 CAK 250 DSB Turkish 15545 0400-0900 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 17690 0400-0700 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 21715 0900-1200 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 13655 1200-1600 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 5960 1600-0400 CAK 250 DSB Turkish 9560 1600-2200 EMR 500 DSB Turkmen 11905 1530-1630 EMR 500 DSB Urdu 17715 1200-1300 EMR 500 DSB Uzbek 9555 0100-0200 EMR 500 DSB Uzbek 6115 1700-1800 EMR 500 DSB TO : AFRICA Arabic 11690 0900-1100 EMR 500 DSB Arabic 17790 1400-1600 EMR 500 DSB Arabic 11735 1400-1600 CAK 250 DSB English 7270 0300-0400 EMR 500 DSB French 9535 1930-2030 CAK 500 DSB Turkish 11955 0400-1600 CAK 250 DSB Turkish(*) 17630 1000-1500 EMR 500 DSB Turkish 5960 1600-0400 CAK 250 DSB Turkish 7215 1700-2200 EMR 500 DSB TURKISH TIME : UTC + 3 (*) : Fridays only. (1) : The transmission frequency of the English Programme between 03:00-04:00 UTC will be changed from 11655 kHz to 9650 kHz on 31 August 2003. Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) [English portion via WORLD OF RADIO 1175] ** TURKEY. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR 0900 GMT 26 MARCH At 0900 gmt on 26 March, Turkish electronic media monitored by BBC Monitoring were observed to behave as follows: CNN Turk TV, a commercial television station affiliated to CNN International; NTV, a commercial news channel; and TRT 2 Television, a state-funded news channel, continue to operate a rolling news format covering Operation Iraqi Freedom and related developments. They offered comments and analyses by military experts and journalists. Images imported from foreign televisions stations were shown with the aid of split screens and news scrolls continue to update the public. All monitored stations carried a review of the Turkish press, concentrating on the Iraqi issue. They reported on Colin Powell's remarks relating to Turkey, the bombing of Baghdad, and the resumption of Iraqi TV broadcasts after a break of some three hours. The stations continued to provide breaking news and hourly updates on Iraqi developments. Correspondents reported live from the various capitals and the southeast of Turkey. The resumption of "activity" at the Incirlik airbase was reported by CNN Turk and NTV. CNN Turk hosts retired Col. Edward Moore and an international relations expert from the Monterey Institute. A special report by its correspondent in Arbil in northern Iraq covered the latest developments in north Iraq. Relayed live by CNN TURK was a speech delivered by Tuncay Ozilhan, chairman of TUSIAD, the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association, in Istanbul levelling criticism against the government. Ozilhan's speech was also broadcast while in progress by NTV, while TRT 2 did not broadcast it. NTV's "consultant" Emre Kongar, hosted in the studio, offered an assessment in which he spoke of the "US ineptitude" and asserted that Turkey is not a mercenary country. An extensive reportage was carried by this station on the Kuwaiti Red Crescent's activities to extend aid to Basrah. TRT 2 repeatedly reports on remarks by Marc Grossman [Under Secretary, Political Affairs], who says that opening up the northern front depends on Turkey. The briefing conducted by the chief of the General Staff in Diyarbakir, was not carried live, reportedly upon the general's request. Correspondents provided initial reports by telephone and all the stations eventually aired a recording of the full speech. General Ozkok declares that Turkey does not intend to engage in war in Iraq or to invade Iraq. Source: BBC Monitoing research 26 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. UKRAINIAN MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1300-2100 GMT 26 MAR 03 The conflict in the Gulf is still the stop story in Ukraine, with the local angle on events taking a close second place. Ukraine's national television channels have continued to give priority to the war in Iraq in their regularly scheduled news bulletins, which all started off with a roundup of the latest reports followed by various other stories related to the military engagement. Today's news concentrated on a press conference given by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who blamed Saddam Husayn for provoking the war while asserting a Ukrainian role in the post-war reconstruction. Several Ukrainian TV channels also broadcast comments by the US and UK ambassadors gently suggesting that Ukraine should take measures to make sure weapons of mass destruction don't get into the wrong hands. In the same widely covered press conference, Kuchma reiterated that Ukraine made no illegal arms deals with Iraq. The international exchange across Ukrainian screens was summed up with a 40 minute excerpt on state television of Kuchma's address, much of which dealt with the Gulf war. Private channels concentrated on the bombing of an Iraqi market, Russian condemnations of the war and the battle for Basra. In general, the tone was less inflammatory and slightly more balanced than previous days. However, the Ukrainian press maintained its bleak view of the armed conflict across a wide spectrum of newspaper. The parliament Holos Ukrayiny printed a front-page article entitled "Blood is cheaper than oil'. The serious analytical Den reported on the possible environmental effects of the war, including earthquakes, floods, viruses and increased radiation levels. The opposition Vechernye Vesti accuses the Ukrainian president of double standards for supporting Washington while condemning the war. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** U K. PROTESTERS HIJACK RADIO STATION --- by Steve Rogers http://www.thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/news/NEWS2.html Anti-war protesters hijacked national radio to promote a peace rally in Brighton on Friday night. Listeners to the 1pm BBC Radio 4 news bulletin yesterday were stunned to hear a pirate broadcast, promoting the demonstration in Brighton, cut in over the scheduled programme. The BBC antenna at Whitehawk Hill was not tampered with and investigators suspect the broadcast was made from another transmitter in the city working on the same frequency. They are now keeping a careful watch on the station's output to check any unlicensed transmissions. Brighton resident Brian Oram said: "I just turned on the radio for the 1pm Radio 4 News on 94.5 FM. "There was a normal start to the programme for about 60 seconds then a big hiss and another broadcast started. "A non-BBC male voice started going on about Kate Adie and unauthorised satellite uplinks being targeted by US forces. "It went on for about one minute, then changed to an anti-war speech requesting large support for an anti-war demonstration in Brighton." Another listener, Tony Howard, said he had radios tuned into different Radio 4 transmitters and said only the Brighton antenna was affected. He said: "This strange voice came on and started talking about the Gulf and it mentioned Community Base." Community Base, on Queen's Road, Brighton, is a centre for a number of charitable groups and local organisations. Director Colin Chalmers said: "We received three calls from people who heard the broadcast. The first said they heard us mentioned and the second thought it was actually being broadcast from Community Base, which was worrying." Crown Castle, which operates BBC transmitters, was unable to comment as the matter was under investigation. A spokeswoman for the Radiocommunications Agency said: "I can confirm an illegal broadcast interrupted the licensed radio channel." (via Brock Whaley for DXLD March 23, 2003) ** U K [non]. LaserRadio.Net moves to 9520 kHz. LaserRadio.Net is pleased to announce a move to a new frequency for our European listeners. From April 13 you will be able to hear us on 9520 kHz with extended broadcast hours between 1200 and 2000 UT. In order to carry out essential aerial maintenance our European service will be off the air this Sunday (30 March) and the following (6th April). Our North American service via WBCQ on 9330 kHz from Maine is unaffected and will be on air as normal with a modified schedule. This week : 2000 Stewart Ross 2100 Gary Fosster 2200 The Media Show 2300 Geoff Rogers - featuring The Amateur Radio Newsline 2400 Close The web stream is also on the air 24/7 and will be providing repeats of last week's programmes from Saturday at 1500 and the WBCQ programmes from 2000 Sunday. The WBCQ programmes will then repeat up until the following Tuesday. Details on the weekend of 6th April will be given later. For full information, please go to the web site at http://www.laserradio.net =-= (received via email from Tom Taylor via Chris K4RAF, Buggs Island Virginia, Mar 26, DXLD) Earlier planned to skip only Apr 6, as on WOR 1175 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 17775, KVOH (presumed), 1930 Mar 26, Distorted spurs observed at multiples 146 kHz above and below 17775. The fundamental consisted of Spanish language religious format with many references to Los Angeles, so I assume this is KVOH. The upper set of spurs neatly straddle the 17 meter amateur band (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be 17921, 18067, 18213… any further? And below, that would be 17629, 17483, 17337… any further? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB LICENSE APPLICATION, WBCQ CP GRANTED FCC PUBLIC NOTICES RELEASED TODAY http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchPN?report_key=309715 Report No. IHF-00042 Wednesday March 26, 2003 INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY RE: APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR FILING The applications listed herein have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any of the applications if, upon further examination, it is determined they are defective and not in conformance with the Commission's Rules and Regulations and its Policies. IHF-LIC-20030212-00001 P WWRB Blueridge Communications Inc. License Application for License to cover CP (IHF-C/P-20010608-00006). For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchPN?report_key=309716 Report No. IHF-00043 Wednesday March 26, 2003 INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY RE: ACTIONS TAKEN The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority. The effective dates of the actions are the dates specified. IHF-C/P-20020806-00003 P WBCQ ALLAN H. WEINER Construction Permit Grant of Authority Date Effective: 03/04/2003 For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. (This grants construction permit to ADD ANOTHER TRANSMITTER AND ANTENNA at WBCQ.) (Donald Wilson, Mar 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Radio Africa International A'03 (The United Methodist Church) Effective 30th March [via DTK Germany] English - 1700-1900 UT on 13820 and 15715 kHz.-Daily to Africa French - 0400-0600 UT on 13810 kHz -Daily to Africa French - 0600-0800 UT on 15435 kHz.-Daily to Africa Contact Address : Radio Africa International 475 Riverside Drive Room 1374, New York NY 10115, USA. E-Mail : radio@gbgm-umc.org Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** U S A. FOX NEWS KEEPS WARTIME COVERAGE LEAD By DAVID BAUDER .c The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - The first Gulf War established CNN as a television news outlet to be reckoned with. The second may be just as important for Fox News Channel's reputation. Through the first five days of the war, Fox News Channel has averaged 4.16 million viewers each day to CNN's 3.74 million. Fox's audience was bigger when the war began March 19, and every day through Sunday, according to Nielsen Media Research. While Fox has been the top-rated cable news channel for more than a year, industry experts wondered whether that lead would hold during a big breaking news story. CNN overtook Fox, for example, on Feb. 1 when the space shuttle disintegrated. Despite CNN's overwhelming advantage in reporting manpower, more Americans - at least so far - want to watch the war unfold on Fox. ``I think it's a pretty big surprise,'' said Erik Sorenson, MSNBC president, on Tuesday. Because of CNN's experience with the first Gulf War, ``I think people thought CNN would win, at least in its early stages. One of the executives there said they would own the story, and I don't think they do.'' CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson downplayed Fox's ratings advantage, saying Nielsen shows that more people at least sample some of CNN's coverage during the day. Fox's ratings are higher because its viewers watch for a longer time. CNN also draws viewers to its Headline News and has a greater presence overseas than Fox, Robinson said. ``We're perfectly comfortable having the biggest audience in the world,'' she said. A Fox News Channel spokesman didn't return a call for comment. Fox's war coverage tends to be more uplifting, emphasizing the positive and trying to beef up morale and national identity, said Robert Thompson, professor of media and popular culture at Syracuse University. The network usually maintains an American flag graphic on the upper left corner of its screen, and anchorman Shepard Smith wore a flag pin in his lapel on Tuesday. Fox's fans seem to like the network's style more than the traditional news coverage of CNN, said Alex Jones, director of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. The conservative ideology that drives its prime-time programming seems to be spreading more into its news coverage, he said. ``The Fox view is a useful one to have out there,'' Thompson said. ``It's not as if they are hiding it or pretending that it's not there. You have three networks out there, they don't all have to be doing the same thing.'' More viewers are watching war coverage with itchy fingers on their remotes, frequently shifting channels to find more action, Thompson said. A survey released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that nearly four of every five people gave the press good marks for its war coverage. The survey found that people who agreed with the decision to go to war were happier with the coverage than those who disagreed. During the busy first three months of the year, Fox's viewership has grown by 75 percent over the same period last year, Nielsen said. Fox and TNT are now tied for second behind Nickelodeon as the top-rated basic cable channel. CNN's audience has grown 53 percent year to year and MSNBC's 32 percent. The war has provided a much-needed boost to MSNBC. The third-place cable network has averaged 1.76 million viewers for its war coverage. MSNBC has played up its resources with the full NBC News team and, with NBC breaking into regular programming less frequently for war coverage, that has worked to MSNBC's advantage. MSNBC had 2.11 million viewers on Sunday, its best day since the war's start. It dovetails with MSNBC's latest strategy, which is ``to cover the news when it happens and analyze it when it's not happening,'' Sorenson said. The war is likely to delay the debut of former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's new prime-time show, he said. 03/25/03 18:24 EST (via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** U S A. MUDDYING THE AIR WAVES By PAUL KRUGMAN, New York Times 03/25/03 By and large, recent pro-war rallies haven't drawn nearly as many people as antiwar rallies, but they have certainly been vehement. One of the most striking took place after Natalie Maines, lead singer for the Dixie Chicks, criticized President Bush: a crowd gathered in Louisiana to watch a 33,000-pound tractor smash a collection of Dixie Chicks CD's, tapes and other paraphernalia. To those familiar with 20th-century European history it seemed eerily reminiscent of. . . . But as Sinclair Lewis said, it can't happen here. Who has been organizing those pro-war rallies? The answer, it turns out, is that they are being promoted by key players in the radio industry — with close links to the Bush administration. The CD-smashing rally was organized by KRMD, part of Cumulus Media, a radio chain that has banned the Dixie Chicks from its playlists. Most of the pro-war demonstrations around the country have, however, been organized by stations owned by Clear Channel Communications, a behemoth based in San Antonio that controls more than 1,200 stations and increasingly dominates the airwaves. The company claims that the demonstrations, which go under the name Rally for America, reflect the initiative of individual stations. But this is unlikely: according to Eric Boehlert, who has written revelatory articles about Clear Channel in Salon, the company is notorious — and widely hated — for its iron-fisted centralized control. Until now, complaints about Clear Channel have focused on its business practices. Critics say it uses its power to squeeze recording companies and artists and contributes to the growing blandness of broadcast music. But now the company appears to be using its clout to help one side in a political dispute that deeply divides the nation. Why would a media company insert itself into politics this way? It could, of course, simply be a matter of personal conviction on the part of management. But there are also good reasons for Clear Channel --- which became a giant only in the last few years, after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 removed many restrictions on media ownership --- to curry favor with the ruling party. On one side Clear Channel is feeling some heat: it is being sued over allegations that it threatens to curtail the airplay of artists who don't tour with its concert division, and there are even some politicians who want to roll back the deregulation that made the company's growth possible. On the other side, the Federal Communications Commission is considering further deregulation that would allow Clear Channel to expand even further, particularly into television. Or perhaps the quid pro quo is more narrowly focused. Experienced Bushologists let out a collective "Aha!" when Clear Channel was revealed to be behind the pro-war rallies, because the company's top management has a history with George W. Bush. The vice chairman of Clear Channel is Tom Hicks, whose name may be familiar to readers of this column. When Mr. Bush was governor of Texas, Mr. Hicks was chairman of the University of Texas Investment Management Company, called Utimco, and Clear Channel's chairman, Lowry Mays, was on its board. Under Mr. Hicks, Utimco placed much of the university's endowment under the management of companies with strong Republican Party or Bush family ties. In 1998 Mr. Hicks purchased the Texas Rangers in a deal that made Mr. Bush a multimillionaire. There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear, but a good guess is that we're now seeing the next stage in the evolution of a new American oligarchy. As Jonathan Chait has written in The New Republic, in the Bush administration "government and business have melded into one big `us.' " On almost every aspect of domestic policy, business interests rule: "Scores of midlevel appointees . . . now oversee industries for which they once worked." We should have realized that this is a two-way street: if politicians are busy doing favors for businesses that support them, why shouldn't we expect businesses to reciprocate by doing favors for those politicians — by, for example, organizing "grass roots" rallies on their behalf? What makes it all possible, of course, is the absence of effective watchdogs. In the Clinton years the merest hint of impropriety quickly blew up into a huge scandal; these days, the scandalmongers are more likely to go after journalists who raise questions. Anyway, don't you know there's a war on? (Via Jean Adamson via Howard Box, who adds: The plot thickens. At the heart of it the "publicans" need the war to polarize the Am public into rightists and wimps! ("Publicans" and sinners ?) - Howard Box, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Accompanied by a beautiful `windbag` caricature of Rush (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. GAYLORD SELLS ITS NASHVILLE STATIONS TO CUMULUS http://www.radioandrecords.com/Subscribers/TodaysNews/homepage.htm As rumored by R&R this morning, Cumulus is getting Gaylord's WSM-FM & WWTN/Nashville for $65 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to fund a portion of the construction of Gaylord Opryland Texas Resort & Convention Center, the renovation of the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and what Gaylord terms "other growth initiatives." Gaylord has already agreed to let Cumulus program and market the duo; that will begin following the expiration of statutory antitrust waiting periods, and the transaction is expected to close in early Q3. Gaylord will continue to own WSM- AM/Nashville, but Cumulus will manage the station's advertising via a joint sales agreement. Speaking of WSM-AM, Gaylord says the company "remains committed to developing further this cherished icon of country music and key distribution channel for the company's Grand Ole Opry content." Cumulus will now own five stations in the Music City; it already owns WNPL, WQQK & WRQQ/Nashville. Cumulus Agrees To Add Opry Program To Its Stations The two companies have announced a joint marketing agreement under which Cumulus has committed to carrying America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend, a two-hour weekly syndicated program to be distributed by Westwood One beginning next month, on its Country stations. Gaylord's Focus: Hotels And Opry Gaylord Entertainment President/CEO Colin Reed says the sale of its two FMs in Nashville "is another step in our transformation as we sharpen our focus on our core businesses — Gaylord Hotels and the Grand Ole Opry." Reed says that WSM-AM is an "integral component" of the company's strategy to extend the reach of the Opry brand and believes its JSA with Cumulus and that company's agreement to carry America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend benefits both Cumulus and Gaylord. "We are proud of the success that WWTN and WSM-FM enjoyed while under our ownership," Reed said. "We are confident that Cumulus possesses the expertise to enhance further the strong positions that WWTN and WSM-FM currently hold in the Nashville market." (via Brock Whaley for DXLD) GAYLORD TO SELL RADIO STATIONS WSM-FM, WWTN-FM, WILL KEEP WSM-AM http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/03/03/30676934.shtml?Element_ID=30676934 (via Charles Gossett Jr., DXLD) ATLANTA-BASED CUMULUS BUYS NASHVILLE RADIO STATIONS FROM GAYLORD Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Atlanta-based Cumulus Media Inc. is buying Nashville radio stations WWTN-FM and WSM-FM from Gaylord Entertainment for $65 million, the companies announced Tuesday http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/5478097.htm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A. There was an interesting story in the Denver Post yesterday titled "FCC gets an earful from Colorado." It says the FCC has received over 15,000 letters and e-mails on the subject, the most it has ever received. Here is an excerpt from the article: Many of those writing point to existing radio consolidation as a sign of what can happen if other media companies are allowed to consolidate further. Limitations on radio ownership were relaxed in 1996. Companies can now own up to eight stations in each market. Clear Channel owns eight in the Denver area. "(Clear Channel) has not provided breaking news events concerning fires and weather warnings in a timely fashion," Denver resident Doug Crane, 48, said in his letter to the FCC. "Their 50 (kilowatt) outlet (KOA) in Denver was very slow in providing information as ash and smoke were blanketing the Denver area" during fires last year. The station said after the fire that it initially underplayed the story. Go to www.denverpost.com and tab down to where it says SEARCH DPO. Put in FCC and then search. Look for the story titled "FCC gets an earful from Colo." (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, Mar 24, NRC FM-TV via DXLD) ** U S A. Here's one way for a daytimer to appear to be a 24-hour station, as reported by 100000WATTS.COM: Silent WRIK-A/PADUCAH (BROOKPORT, IL) flips to Talk as WSBX-A, "NEWS/TALK 750 WSB," "borrowing" the name of the 50 kW COX Talker on the same frequency in ATLANTA that booms into PADUCAH after the local station signs off. (from http://www2.allaccess.com/ via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. 1580 WNTF, Bithlo FL; "Coming back from a long silence, noted at least the last couple of days with old 50's/60's rock songs, with about 10-seconds of silence in between each one. Sounds like a reel-to-reel tape; same songs in the same order each day. Listened today from about 1:15 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. [March 25, ET] and only heard one I.D., at around 3:15 P.M. Don't know if they're on the 2.1 Kw rig, or are on their 10 kW C.P. This must be the open carrier I've been hearing at night on 1580." (Christopher Johnson, Kissimmee, FL via Terry L. Krueger) And still listed as inactive on www.100000watts.com per mid-day check. Didn't get around to searching the FCC dB's. (Terry Krueger, FL, Mar 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WEB SITES FOR AM DX STUFF I came across a search engine for US stations that was developed by a private company, Cavell Mertz and Davis. What's nice about it is how everything is so well organized for different kinds of searches. The site says it is still in Beta, but the different searches I tried came out well. Find this at http://www.fccinfo.com A really interesting clock for your computer desktop can be found at http://yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html Called "Industorious Clock", it has a digital readout but it uses hands. You have to see this for yourself-check it out! A US radio station broadcasting from a ship? Yes-and you can read about Seattle's KKOL putting their transmitter on the Coastal Ranger at http://www.dalke.com/kkol/ as well as see a number of really nice pictures of the operation. Jim Dalke was the consulting engineer, and also wrote an article for Radio World (Rich Toebe, IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) ** U S A. Commentary --- THEY GOT THEIR WAY - ONCE AGAIN The dismissal by the FCC last week of 485 LPFM applications because of alleged third-adjacent channel interference represents another victory by the powerful commercial broadcasters organization, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Ever since the announcement that the Federal Communications Commission was going to create a low-power FM service (LPFM) to make it possible for community groups and organizations to have a voice, the NAB has been up in arms. The NAB group and many of its powerful individual members, the networks and the big media corporations, had mounted an attack on the system. When the FCC under President Bill Clinton`s administration moved forward and launched the system, answering the objections of its opponents, the NAB and fellow travelers, including National Public Radio, moved the battle to Congress. Through persistent lobbying and disseminated, deceptive recordings of what FM radio would sound like because of all the interference caused by LPFM stations separated by three channels from the power commercial stations (which run 6,000 to 100,000 watts ERP), the NAB persuaded Congress to pass a law forbidding three-channel separation. There had been no studies to prove that a 100-watt LPFM or 10-watt LPFM would cause any interference with the powerful commercial stations. National Public Radio (NPR) produced no studies to show that the new LPFM stations would interfere with the subcarrier ``Reading for the Blind and Print Handicapped`` services offered by many of them. The NAB merely alleged that the new LPFM service would cause considerable damage to the nation`s excellent FM radio service, and NPR alleged that the blind would not be able to hear the newspapers, magazines, and books read to them over the air. No matter that three-channel separation is very common in the rest of the world. In fact, two-channel separation is not uncommon. See the article on XHUIA Radio Ibero 90.9 FM in last week`s Catholic Radio Update. Congress bought it. Come to think of it, I can recall little over the 50 years I have been reading the broadcasting trade press that Congress has not bought from the NAB broadcast lobby. Why Congress should be so subservient to a group that it, along with the Executive Branch, is supposed to regulate, I do not know. They get no breaks for political ads, and they continue to be treated poorly by the journalists of these organizations. Perhaps there is no explanation other than that they are politicians. The present FCC under the chairmanship of Michael Powell, son of General Clayton {sic! Colin} Powell, has been even more hostile to the LPFM service. Actual field tests, not NAB laboratory recordings, are underway to determine if 100-watt LPFM stations interfere with commercial high-power stations. But Powell would not wait, just as Powell would not wait regarding the pending FCC legislation allowing the media giants to own even more stations in a market, to allow newspapers to own radio and television stations in the same market and vice versa, to allow cable systems to be owned by newspapers and radio and television stations and vice versa, etc. etc. One of the first actions under the new President George W. Bush administration was that Chairman Powell had the FCC advance the window for applications from the third and final group of states. Groups were caught off guard, and applications scheduled for the following year had to be submitted in short order. A clever way to cut down on the number of applications and thus the number of LPFM stations, no? The public hue and cry, reported in previous newsletters, led a maverick FCC Commissioner to announce his own series of public hearings when Chairman Powell refused to hold any. The FCC Commissioners who bothered to attend got an earful from packed meetings in New York, Richmond, and Seattle. (The planned Los Angeles meeting had to be cancelled because of a blizzard.) The media giants were there, and the always subservient trade press mocked the hearings and the groups and citizens who showed up to object to the handing over of the nation`s media to a handful of media giants. No matter that even Broadcasting magazine reported last week that 12 international media megacorporations control, along with 4 more attendant corporations, most of the world`s important news media. These media giants, the top half-dozen of which command 60% of the broadcast advertising revenues in the United States, moan that they need larger stables of broadcast properties to stay profitable! This gigantic giveaway to a bunch of international operators concerned with nothing but profits and pleasing stockholders is utter betrayal of public trust. These effective blockings and limitations on LPFM development are nothing less than devious, political end plays and schemes worthy only of lawyers. It is not just that 12 Catholic groups including 4 dioceses will not have any LPFM radio voice. It is irrelevant that the majority of the LPFM applications were filed by fundamentalist Protestant sects and churches. There were also applications from highway departments, small town and city governments, high schools, colleges, fire departments, chambers of commerce, dozens of commonweal organizations such as drug rehab and youth centers, even a coven of witches. They now have all been shut out. Pity the poor public. It must rely on foxes to guard the chickens (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update March 24 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ PEEKING THROUGH THE CRACKS IN RADIO SHACK By Troy Wolverton Staff Reporter 03/25/2003 05:25 PM EST Radio Shack (RSH:NYSE) shares rose on Tuesday, despite a sell rating from Deutsche Bank Securities. http://www.thestreet.com/_tsclsii/stocks/troywolverton/10076447.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 26 MARCH - 21 APRIL 2003 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels. Activity is expected to be at low levels until the return of Region 306 and Region 314 on 02 and 03 April respectively. Low level activity with a chance of moderate activity is expected on 04 - 17 April. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected during the forecast period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux may reach high levels on 27 - 28 March, 04 – 06 April and again on 14 - 19 April due to returning coronal holes. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to major storm levels during the period. Two small but intense coronal hole streams are due on 25 – 27 March and 30 – 31 March and are expected to produce active to isolated major storm levels. A weak but persistent coronal hole stream is expected on 01 – 04 April with unsettled to isolated active conditions. The large equatorial coronal hole is due to return to a geo-effective position on 10 – 14 April. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 Mar 25 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 2003 Mar 25 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Mar 26 110 20 4 2003 Mar 27 120 15 3 2003 Mar 28 125 12 3 2003 Mar 29 130 12 3 2003 Mar 30 135 12 3 2003 Mar 31 135 20 4 2003 Apr 01 135 15 3 2003 Apr 02 140 20 4 2003 Apr 03 145 10 3 2003 Apr 04 145 10 3 2003 Apr 05 145 10 3 2003 Apr 06 140 10 3 2003 Apr 07 140 10 3 2003 Apr 08 140 12 3 2003 Apr 09 135 15 3 2003 Apr 10 135 15 3 2003 Apr 11 135 20 4 2003 Apr 12 130 20 4 2003 Apr 13 125 20 4 2003 Apr 14 120 25 5 2003 Apr 15 110 25 5 2003 Apr 16 100 20 4 2003 Apr 17 90 15 3 2003 Apr 18 90 10 3 2003 Apr 19 95 20 4 2003 Apr 20 100 10 3 2003 Apr 21 105 20 4 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1175, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-049, March 25, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1174: WWCR: Wed 1030 9475, Thu 2130 9475, Sat 0700, Sun 0330? 5070… RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700, Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445 [may be pre-empted for Pacifica anti-war coverage] WBCQ: Wed 2300 on 7415, 17495-CUSB WJIE: M-F 1300 on 7490 WRN: Sat 0900 rest of world, Sun 0530 Europe, 1500 N. America WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1174.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1174.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1174h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1174h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1174.html IMPORTANT NOTE: Since some or most of our scheduled airings on RFPI and WWCR were pre-empted, and WJIE had not yet started 1174 as of March 25, and since our computer problems are not yet resolved, it will be fitting to (try to) continue airing WOR 1174 for another week, rather than producing a new WOR 1175 on March 26. Due to computer problems, DXLD may not be as large or as frequent as usual. Although this is a full issue, it is far from catching up with material piling up. Our main site http://www.worldofradio.com is not being updated, but new DXLDs and any other new info will be accessible at our other site, with notifications at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html Our e-mail addresses may become overloaded, so please understand if there are bounces, and avoid sending large files (Glenn) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. RADIO AFGHANISTAN A-03 via Merlin: ----------------- 13680 0230 0330 smtwtfs RTA Dhabbaya 250 45 NA ME 18940 1330 1630 smtwtfs RTA Kvitsoy 500 95 NA ME (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) NA= languages not specified ** ANGOLA [non]. R. ECCLESIA, A-03 via Merlin: ---------- 7205 1900 2000 smtwtfs MNO Meyerton 250 328 ECCLESIA AF (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia ``ABC`` via Merlin A-03: --- 15435 1300 1430 smtwtfs ABC Singapore 100 13 CHINESE CHN 21615 0000 0030 smtwtfs ABC Tinian 250 255 INDONESIAN SE AS 21780 0400 0430 smtwtfs ABC Tinian 250 255 INDONESIAN SE AS 11550 0900 0930 smtwtfs ABC Taipei 250 205 INDONESIAN SE AS 11550 2130 2330 smtwtfs ABC Taipei 250 205 INDONESIAN SE AS 17865 0500 0530 smtwtfs ABC Singapore 250 13 KHMER SE AS 9720 2300 2330 smtwtfs ABC Singapore 100 13 KHMER SE AS 17865 0530 0600 smtwtfs ABC Singapore 250 13 VIETNAMESE SE AS 15110 2330 2400 smtwtfs ABC Taipei 250 225 VIETNAMESE SE AS (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Dear Glenn, unfortunately the best German media program will be cancelled. So I send you the following lines: After almost 34 years INTERMEDIA - the most popular German DX program from Radio Austria International - will be terminated by the end of this week for financial reasons. The program started as Kurzwellenpanorama (short wave panorama) on May 6, 1969 and changed its title to Intermedia, the media magazine, in May 1997. Since October 1976 it was hosted by Wolf Harranth. In November 2002 Wolf took his leave for early retirment. Vera Bock followed him as new presenter. Now the last INTERMEDIA programme can be heard on Friday March 28 (with repeats on Saturday and Sunday). (see the attached German website announcing the end of Intermedia) http://roi.orf.at/intermedia/welcome.html Times (in UT) and frequencies: Friday 1804 – 1830 5,945, 6,155 Friday 1930 – 2000 MW 1,476 Saturday 2003 – 2100 5,945, 6,155 Sunday 1730 – 1800 6,155, 13,730 At present there are still a French DX programme (Flash des ondes) as well as Mundo DX in Spanish (produced for 20 years now by the ASOCIACIÓN DX BARCELONA). Also their future and the future of Radio Austria International as whole is uncertain. (see the attached English website) http://roi.orf.at/english/en_wirueberuns.html Best 73 (from Ottobrunn, Germany, Michael Weigand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: The management of the ORF, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, has presented a position paper to the members of the board of trustees, the so-called "Stiftungsräte", who have to come to a decision on the future of Radio Austria International (ROI) at a meeting on March 26th. Based on the information contained in this paper, Radio Austria International will cease operations on 30 June, 2003. The ORF says the company is no longer in a position to operate an international service for solely financial reasons. Since 1 January, 2002, the ORF Act has placed the onus on the ORF itself to operate an international service. Whereas up until 31 December, 2001, the Austrian government provided the funds to operate Radio Austria International, the ORF has had to run the service at its own expense since the beginning of 2002. The federal government rejected the notion of paying even part of the operating costs, which, in the year 2002, amounted to roughly 3.5 megaeuros. When questioned, State Secretary Franz Morak pointed to the section of the ORF Act which says that the ORF may operate an international service if it so wishes, but does not have to by law. Nor does the existing legislation require the ORF to provide programming in foreign languages within the framework of its international broadcasting services. Because the federal government is not willing to provide the funds necessary, the ORF sees itself compelled to close ROI in its present form, citing its own difficult financial state and the overall spending cuts called for by the board of trustees. As things now stand, there will, in future, be a radio program on ROI's present frequencies. The ORF will broadcast Österreich 1 (Ö1), its cultural radio station. That, at any rate, is the proposal made by ORF management to the board of trustees. The final decision on the future of Radio Austria International is in the hands of the board of trustees, which meets on 26 March. Then and only then will it be possible to say whether ROI will, in fact, go off the air. ENDE FÜR INTERMEDIA UND DX-TELEGRAMM Nach 308 Sendungen muss Intermedia aus finanziellen Gründen leider mit Ende des Wintersendeschemas eingestellt werden. Auch das DX- Telegramm wird es nach 1249 Ausgaben im Sommersendeschema nicht mehr geben. Wir bedanken uns bei allen unseren Höreren für ihre langjährige Treue und Mitarbeit. Hörertelefon Ihre Wünsche, Anregungen und Kommentare und 90 Sekunden Aufsprache für unsere Sendungen: +43 1 50101 16070 INTERMEDIA Unser Radiojournal "intermedia" verdankt seine Popularität bis heute der Kombination von prägnanter, aktueller Kurzinformation und ausführlichen analytischen Features zu allen elektronischen Kommunikationsmitteln: ob Kurzwelle oder Rundfunk via Satellit, ob Amateurfunk oder Internet. DX-TELEGRAMM Ergänzt wird "intermedia" durch das wöchentliche "DX-Telegramm" mit brandneuen Empfangstipps für weltweite Wellenjäger. [hotlinks on the original website:] Erläuterungen zur Funkprognose im "DX-Telegramm" DL1VDL's kleines Funkwetterlexikon (via Michael Weigand, DXLD) ** BELARUS. BR-1 from Belarus was heard using 3992 LSB around 1715 also on March 24th at fair strength and in parallel with 279LW and 6115. 73s from (Noel R. Green [Blackpool, UK], Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS. 2340 kHz, 14.3 2155, Radio Minsk (2 x 1170) ostörd och väl så stark som på grundfrekvensen. Konstiga signaler (musik av odefinerbart snitt) också på 2370 och 2433 (AM-signaler). QSA 4. JE/RFK (Jan Edh/Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) 2340, 14.3 2155, Radio Minsk (2 x 1170) undisturbed and somewhat stronger than on its fundamental. Strange signals music of undefined type) also noted on 2370 and 2433 (AM-signals). QSA 4 (JE/RFK = Jan Edh, Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. VRT A-03 via Merlin: --- 13690 1729 1856 smtwtfs VRT Skelton 300 180 VRT FGDE EUR AF 15325 1757 1856 smtwtfs VRT Dhabbaya 250 230 VRT FGDE AF 13690 1929 2056 smtwtfs VRT Skelton 300 180 VRT FGDE EUR AF 9925 0500 0529 smtwtfs VRT Meyerton 500 355 VRT FLEMISH AF 13685 0700 0756 smtwtfs VRT Skelton 300 180 VRT FLEMISH EUR AF 21630 0957 1056 s...... VRT Meyerton 250 355 VRT FLEMISH AF 15195 1057 1126 smtwtfs VRT Rampisham 500 168 VRT FLEMISH S EUR 21630 1057 1126 smtwtfs VRT Meyerton 250 355 VRT FLEMISH AF 15195 1257 1556 s...... VRT Skelton 250 175 VRT FLEMISH EUR AF (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3255.05, 14.3 2300, Rádio Difusora Seis de Agosto, Xapuri. Står som "unauthorized" i DBS, men sände A Voz do Brasil så kanske annat nu? Annonseringar och programprat sedan, men efter fem minuter var spraket i blandning med någon utilitysändare för svåra. QSA 1-2 JE/RFK (Jan Edh, Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) 3255.05, 14.3 2300, Radio Difusora Seis de Agosto, Xapuri. Listed as ``unauthorized`` in DBS, but broadcast A Voz do Brasil so maybe other order now? Announcements and program followed, but after five minutes the noise mixed with some utility transmitter became too heavy. QSA 1-2 (JE/RFK = Jan Edh, Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. Radio Burkina, 5030, verification letter with red "Ministère De La Communication" stamp and written greeting "Sincères Salutations. Merci pour l'écoute de notre station." In 195 days for French report and $2 US. Marcel Toe veri-signer (John Beattie, Ventura, CA, Mar 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Timesignals: "First a series of outer space beeps, then silence, then a long dash. The long dash means one o'clock. Time is passing; in the silence before the long dash the future is taking shape. I turn my head to the pillow. I don't want to hear it." -- Margaret Atwood (Posted to alt.radio.networks.cbc via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CANADA. After about three days of continuous coverage on the crisis in Iraq, CBC Radio One has finally taken a break, sort of. Paul Kennedy announced after the 9 p.m. (EST) news that CBC will present "some of our favourite programming, starting with two -- count 'em, two -- hours of the Vinyl Café." He said CBC Radio News will interrupt the programs for any breaking news. Paul Kennedy is interrupting the programs at the bottom of the hour to introduce Jill Dempsey for news (Ricky Leong, QC, Mar 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANARY ISLANDS. Jilly Dybka in Cumbre-DX reported earlier that he heard Full Gospel Church Las Palmas (6715 kHz) on 16 Mar (Sunday) in Spanish. Glenn Hauser pointed out that there was info from the station that they on some occasions have sermons also in Spanish and English. Well, on Sunday, 23 Mar at 1934 I happened to listen to 6715U and indeed, there was a preacher in Spanish alternating with a Korean one. A brief announcement by female in Spanish and then a children choir. Then again preacher in Spanish, talking like non- native, possibly Korean pastor. Band was very noisy at that time. I had to leave radio for a while and when I came back at 1950 there was nothing audible. Thanks to Jilly for a nice tip. Hope we'll soon hear some English from Las Palmas :) (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Mar 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 6185, China Huayi Broadcasting Co. (Fuzhou, Fujian province) 1301-1400 UT Mar 14. Co-channel with V. of Russia s/on at 1300, clear ID for Huayi with Fuzhou included in ID. This station broadcasts to Taiwan and SE Asia, and plays an interesting mix of music including Buddy Holly and other American pop songs (done as instrumentals). Fair signal and copy overall, Huayi overpowered V. of Russia by 1310 and remained listenable until 1400 when it degraded (Jeffrey Heller, Katy Texas (near Houston), Drake R8B, 67 foot sloper style passive loaded wire, Cumbredx mailing list vua DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. HCJB A-03 via Merlin: ---- 12025 2100 2230 smtwtfs HCJ Skelton 250 165 ARABIC N AF 11760 1600 1700 smtwtfs HCJ Rampisham 500 62 RUSSIAN RUSS (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) 12025 was Sackville during B-02 ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. On 21 Mar on 5005 at 2025 a strong station with African music. As I suspected, they announced (in Spanish) "Radio Nacional Radio Bata". The ID mentioned frequencies (I hope I got them all correct) FM 98 and 102 and SW 5005 and 15190. Hope they will stay on the air now for at least a few months :). Modulation and signal strength are great here (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {oops, duplicates item in 3-047} ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle had a wonderful program on "Talking Point" at 2130 UT March 24 on 15410 kHz. This was an interview with the head of the Asian Languages Department at DW, and an insightful survey of how Asian countries viewed the war in Iraq. I did not catch his name, unfortunately. A summary: China has called for "an immediate end to the war," and wants to take the conflict back to the diplomatic table. There are several reasons for this. 1. There is new leadership in China with next to no experience with such high stakes situations. 2. China has never liked any interference by any superpower (Russia or the United States). 3. China is nearly totally dependent on imported oil. 4. China sees itself as having a rôle in the "third world countries," and feels that it deserves some say in major international affairs. The Chinese foreign policy has nearly always been pragmatic. Question: So, you think China is already looking beyond the war? Answer: Yes, they probably will. China will not accept increased US influence in the Middle East, then exporting these influences into Central Asia, as the US has already done to some extent in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. China looks east, to Japan and Korea, and the US is already there. China is starting to feel encircled by the US. [couldn`t be encircled by a nicer country --- gh] On Pakistan: While a supporter of the "War on Terrorism,", Pakistan helped to create the Taliban, and many of al Qaida left Afghanistan, possibly are in Pakistan. The vast majority in Pakistan are opposed to the war. If the government is perceived as being too close to the US, many Muslim leaders will have an easy task to instill hatred in the US, and their own government. Question: This is something to be taken seriously by President Bush? Answer: Yes, if he's informed enough, he should consider it. Then the guest looked at other, mostly Moslem, nations in Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, summarizing the view of the "man on the street" in these countries. In summary, made by the same gentleman, 1. Whatever the outcome of the war, it has already deepened the rift between the West, (particularly Washington) and Islam. 2. Many in the Arab and Islamic countries will consider it a war against Islam. 3. Many fundamentalist Mullahs and clergy will exploit this. 4. Governments in power that are considered by their people as too "pro-West" will be endangered, and indeed, many of these governments will fall. This program is one reason why shortwave is so vital. It is such information that is very important to the whole issue of the war and is missing from the domestic media coverage, particularly TV, and even National Public Radio. I have to write DW a letter about this, giving them another reason why their programs should remain on short wave --- I never would have caught this on the Internet, and will really miss their "European" perspective when their SW broadcasts to North America cease (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, Mar 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DW's Newslink tonight (0100 UT Tue) broadcast to NAm on 6145) also had a very interesting program on the Iraq situation which featured in sequence: 1. An analysis of the US war strategy, who's driving it and what the alternatives were. 2. An excellent interview with Hans Blix on inspections before and after the war 3. A review of clandestine broadcasting to, in and around Iraq featuring (YLE Finland's) Mika Makelainen, a recent visitor to the annual SWL Winterfest in Kulpsville, PA. who also has a fabulous internet site of his own http://www.dxing.info The interview referred to by Roger Chambers followed Newslink at 0130. [Too late now, but] One can expect to hear this sequence of programs again in broadcasts to NA at 0300 and 0500 at least. Here are the frequencies: 0300-0345 on 11985, 6020, 6045, 9640, 9700 0500-0545 on 11795, 5960, 6120, 9670 Too bad this consistently excellent broadcaster has decided that, after March, NAm is no longer in its shortwave sphere of interest. (John Figliozzi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Today it was confirmed that Megaradio is bankrupt and applied for the bankruptcy proceedings at Munich already on Monday. Just one of various reports: http://www.satundkabel.de/index.php?link=news&newsid=562&ressort=Satellit Allegedly the mediumwave transmitters will be switched off by the end of this month because no transmitter fees were paid since January. This unconfirmed gossip obviously refers to the T-Systems (Deutsche Telekom) transmitters in Germany, so the airtime lease on Marnach 1440 would be another issue (Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAITI. (non-SW) - (Based on news agency reports) - Michèle Montas, the widow of Jean L. Dominique, the former owner of R. Haiti Inter (on SW for many years, then only on MW and FM, like most local stations in the country), said she would soon be closing the station down due to serious threats received; her bodyguard has recently been killed. Her husband, a personal good friend of mine when I used to live in Haiti (1961-1967), was assassinated, as well as his bodyguard, on April 3, 2000, an act widely condemned in the international media. So far the government has not laid down charges on the apparently known suspect. Out of fear, several officials in charge of the judicial investigation have fled to the US or the Dominican Republic. A sad page indeed for Haiti's radio history. (Jaar-QC, NASWA Flashsheet Mar 23 via DXLD) We had this news before, but not at such a personal level. That would be Victor C. Jaar, a DX name from the past we have not seen for decades (gh, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 4830, R. Litoral, 0324-0340+ UT Mar 15. Went looking for R. Táchira [see VENEZUELA] at nite but found R. Litoral. (Venezuelan power supply issues? Also possible that Táchira was underneath, but very weak.) Fair signal, lots of QRN, solo Spanish singer and ID at 0329. Signal degraded considerably by 0340 (Jeffrey Heller, Katy Texas (near Houston), Drake R8B, 67 foot sloper style passive loaded wire, Cumbredx mailing list vua DXLD) ** INDIA. The following additional AIR frequencies of 7170 & 13605 is noted carrying the running Commentary of World Cup Cricket Final between India and Australia just now. It may continue till end of the play around 1730 UT Sunday 23 March 2003. On 7170 lot of interference is noted from Radio Singapore. This is in addition to the special frequencies of 7190 (Delhi), 7220 (Mumbai), 7270 (Chennai) and 11620. (7270 Chennai was on from around 0615 with AIR FM II programs. Test tones from 7220 Mumbai were on from around 0630 to 0748.) The commentaries started from 0750. Today AIR FM II additional tests from around 0430 noted on 6155 (Parallel to 9425, 9470 and 11620). Maybe because of all this activity Radio Sadayee Kashmir was missing on 9890 at 0730-0830. [see also] The afternoon broadcast of Vividh Bharathi on 10330 kHz from 0630 normally by 4 transmitters is not heard today. This may be due to tests on 7190 7220 & 7270. Also AIR External Service 15235 & 17510 was missing at 1000-1100 in English (Jose Jacob, dx_India, Mar 23 via DXLD) AIR is noted testing on a wide range of frequencies as follows lately with AIR FM II programs in Hindi & English: 6155 Delhi 0430-1100 UT 7170 Delhi 7190 Guwahati 50 kw 1100 7220 Mumbai 100 kw 7270 Chennai 100 kw 0700-1730 9425 Bangalore 500 kw 0130-1230 9470 Aligarh 250 kw 0130-1230 11620 ? 0430-1100 13605 Bangalore 500 kw -1100 The Vividh Bharathi programs on 10330 are affected as those transmitters are being used for tests on 7190, 7270 etc. (Jose Jacob, Mar 24, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Merlin A-03 schedule entries of uncertain provenance: CHRISTIAN RADIO ?? --------------- 15590 1900 2000 smtwtfs MNO Woofferton 250 170 CHRISTIANRADIO AFRI W AF (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) [what about KTBN?] GOSPEL FOR ASIA --------------- 6145 0000 0130 smtwtfs MNO Dhabbaya 250 85 NA S AS 15590 1230 1330 smtwtfs MNO Dhabbaya 250 85 NA S AS 11695 1600 1630 smtwtfs MNO Dhabbaya 250 85 NA S AS 6145 2300 2400 smtwtfs MNO Dhabbaya 250 85 NA S AS (via Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) NA == languages not specified PROJECT AIRWAVES (NEW) --------------------- 15250 0100 0230 smtwtfs NEW Singapore 100 13 NA FE 21510 0330 0600 smtwtfs NEW Dhabbaya 250 90 NA S AS 15265 0600 1100 smtwtfs NEW Singapore 100 13 NA FE 13735 1100 1300 smtwtfs NEW Singapore 100 13 NA FE (via Silvain Domen and Alokesh Gupta, DXLD) What is this? Could it be missionary?? (gh) Hi Glenn, I can't find anything more about this one, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's yet another religious broadcast. Only thing I know is that it was listed for previous seasons as well, but nothing ever came of it. All the best (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. MOSAIC TV PROVIDES WINDOW INTO THE MIDDLE EAST BY DANA HULL, Knight Ridder Newspapers SAN JOSE, Calif. - KRT NEWSFEATURES (KRT) - One television monitor shows CNN with its "Showdown Iraq" logo. On another, an anchor on Lebanon's Al-Manar TV, a privately owned station controlled by the fundamentalist movement Hezbollah, talks about diplomatic wrangling at the United Nations. On a third screen, a Baghdad correspondent from the United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi TV gives a live report. They're all playing on a bank of monitors at WorldLink TV, a non- profit network based in San Francisco that makes news broadcasts from the Arab world and Israel available to satellite TV subscribers in the United States. WorldLink takes news programs from 16 foreign stations from Egypt to Israel to Syria, adds English voiceovers and transmits a repackaged program called "Mosaic" to households with satellite dishes. The half-hour program, aired five days a week, gives Americans who don't speak Arabic or Hebrew a rare window into the Middle East. "After September 11, a lot of people asked, `Why do they hate us?'" said David Michaelis, a veteran Israeli journalist who is WorldLink's director of current affairs. "You will never understand that if you only watch American television. To understand how America is viewed in the Middle East, you need to watch the media that they are seeing." Except for English translations, Mosaic leaves the news broadcasts from other countries in their original form, without commentary or analysis. The segments are edited for time so that each show contains footage from stations across the region. That footage is far more graphic and bloody than what is usually seen in the United States. When a suicide bomb explodes on a bus in Jerusalem, the Israel Broadcasting Authority quickly rushes to the scene. When the Israeli military fires missiles into a village in the West Bank, Palestine Television, the official station of the Palestinian National Authority in Gaza, often shows images of bloody Palestinians with missing limbs being rushed to the hospital. Mosaic airs both. "It's not easy to watch it, but it's really important to compare perspectives," Michaelis said. " The pictures are brutal because people are so used to violence in the Middle East." WorldLink is operated by Link Media, a non-profit company formed through a partnership of four independent media organizations. Its board of directors includes prominent progressives and human rights advocates, from Carl Pope of the Sierra Club to William Schulz of Amnesty International. WorldLink specializes in documentaries on global issues, foreign feature films, and world music, and its target audience is decidedly liberal. The network's Web site says it "serves the millions of Americans who desire to make positive change in our world." Mosaic is available to the 20 million U.S. households that have satellite dishes. A consultant estimates that 2.9 million households have watched WorldLink, but the network doesn't know how many dish owners watch the Mosaic program. Some of Mosaic's episodes can also be viewed via videostreaming on the Web at http://www.worldlinktv.com Alice Nashashibi pays $65 a month for her package of programming on the DISH Network and watches Mosaic most days. "You get more detailed news about what is happening in the Middle East than you do on the American channels," said Nashashibi, a San Francisco resident who grew up in a Lebanese-American household but is not fluent in Arabic. "It's in English, and there are no commercials. I just wish they had it on regular TV instead of only on satellite." Many Americans have heard of Al-Jazeera, the independent TV network based in Qatar. Al-Jazeera has been criticized for its anti-American commentary and for airing videotaped statements from Osama bin Laden that praised the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But Al-Jazeera is just one of a number of networks accessible by satellite in the Middle East, where cable television is not readily available. And while Al-Jazeera is an independent network that is often critical of Arab governments, WorldLink has agreements with 16 primarily state-owned broadcasters to use their programming. "In the United States, you watch cable and go from Fox to CNN," said Jamal Dajani, a Palestinian-American who is Mosaic's producer. "The average Arab viewer is not flipping between channels but countries. A family in Morocco may regularly watch Lebanese TV. There are major differences between what is seen here and what is seen there." Mosaic's staff consists of four full-time and three part-time employees. Much of the work consists of watching and logging hours of video footage at WorldLink's Battery Street studio and deciding which stories should make the show. Recently, most of the Middle Eastern stations carried live footage of a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York. One television monitor out of the 14 in the studio was starkly different: the state network operated by the Iraqi News Agency aired a segment alleging that the United States plans to come and steal the country's vast oil reserves, and made no mention of the U.N. meeting. WorldLink was launched in Dec. 1999, and is funded by grants and donations. The Mosaic program began in Nov. 2001 with a $250,000 grant by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., gave Mosaic a $500,000 grant last May. Smita Singh, the Hewlett Foundation's Special Advisor for Global Affairs, said the foundation thinks it is important to expose American audiences to foreign perspectives. "There is no other venue for news from the Middle East in English," Singh said. "It behooves us to know what people elsewhere are seeing, and how their media is covering events. We would love to see the Mosaic format replicated in other areas of the globe. How are Indian and Pakistani television reporting on the conflict in Kashmir?" With the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq under way, Mosaic expanded from five to seven days a week, and hopes to increase its ability to videostream the program on the Web. While numerous American journalists are currently "embedded" with U.S. troops, Arab reporters are scattered across Iraq and camera crews are stationed in Kurdish-controlled parts of the country. Competition among Arab journalists for scoops and exclusive footage is as intense there as it is here. "During the war, there are going to be American journalists with the troops on the streets of Baghdad," Michaelis said before the war started March 19. "But there is intense competition within the Arab world - many satellite networks are trying to compete with Al- Jazeera. The Arab reporters and cameramen will be with the civilian population, and they are not going to leave." --- (c) 2003, San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.). (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. At 1745 UT on 21 March we recorded the US psyop station Information Radio on 9715 kHz, with a strong signal but co- channel with Deutsche Welle in Russian. On this segment you can hear a female announcer telling the Iraqi people that the US wants to liberate Iraq from Saddam. Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told a news conference that the raids just before dawn on 20 March hit "empty buildings" belonging to television and radio stations. He also said the United States used technology from locations west of Iraq to block Iraqi satellite television." This claim is borne out by reports from the region that the Iraq Satellite Channel was operating irregularly in the hours following the first raids, interrupting the speech by Saddam Hussein. The broadband feed of the Iraq Satellite Channel in The Netherlands is currently unavailable. Suggestions that the Saddam Hussein speech was actually a recording seem very doubtful, as Saddam referred to the date - 20 March [what does that prove? ---gh]. International news agencies have been carrying misleading reports that Iraq's state radio is "off the air." In fact, broadcasts are continuing but some of the frequencies have changed. The mobile facilities prepared in advance by the Iraqi authorities are probably in use. Reports that the US had "taken over" the "main frequency" are also misleading. Information Radio has been using 693 and 756 kHz ever since it first came on the air in December 2002. The fact that Baghdad may not currently be using those frequencies would explain why it has suddenly become audible over a wider area (Andy Sennitt, Media Network via DXLD) We have been broadcasting 24 hours a day since Feb 17 on five frequencies (CENTCOM briefing, Qatar, 1417Z March 25, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Refers to Information Radio, 11292, 9715, etc. Seems the networks are not even trying to caption names of persons on camera any more; they have so much other clutter (gh) MEDIA OBSERVATIONS FROM SALAM IN BAGHDAD (Disclaimer: Radio Netherlands has no connection with Salam, and is not responsible for any other comments you may find on his page). 21 March 2003 [local times = UT +3] 3.13 pm: "The Iraqi Satellite Channel is not broadcasting anymore. The second youth TV channel (it shows Egyptian soaps in the morning and sports afterwards) also stopped transmitting. This leaves two channels: Iraq TV and Shabab (youth) TV. They are still full of patriotic songs and useless "news", they love the French here." 20 March 2003 10.33 pm: "All radio and TV stations are still on and while the air raid began the Iraqi TV was showing patriotic songs and didn't even bother to inform viewers that we are under attack. At the moment they are re-airing yesterday's interview with the minister of interior affairs." 4.28 pm: "I watched al Shaf [the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Relations] on al-Jazeera. He said that the US has bombed the Iraqi Satellite Channel, but while he was saying that the ISC was broadcasting and if it really did hit the ISC headquarters it would have been right in the middle of Baghdad. What was probably hit were transmitters or something. All TV stations are still working." 1.23 pm: "The English speaking radio station on FM is now replaced by the Arabic language state radio program broadcasting on the same wavelength." 6.40 am: "Someone in the BBC said that the state radio has been overtaken by US broadcast. That didn't happen: the 3 state broadcasters [sic] still operate." This page last updated 22/03/03 22:16:35 Dutch time Updating of this page will resume from 0800 UT on Sunday 23 March. Observations on Saturday 22 March Thanks to Wolfgang Buschel, Nick Grace, Lou Josephs, Thorsten Koch, Vladimir Titarev and Tarek Zeidan for help with today's updates. 2105 UT: CNN reports that Iraqi TV showed pictures of Iraqi citizens stepping on, and burning, some of the leaflets dropped by allied aircraft advertising the frequencies of Information Radio. 1705 UT: CNN reporter Gary Strieker aboard the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt says that US aircraft "destroyed an AM radio station in central Iraq" during last night's air attacks. 1615 UT: The team of CNN journalists expelled from Baghdad, including correspondents Nic Robertson and Rym Brahimi, arrived safely in Jordan a few hours ago after making the dangerous overland journey from Baghdad. CNN was ordered to close its office and leave the country after the Iraqi government described their reports as "propaganda." However, a team of journalists from Britain's ITN was not so fortunate. Their two cars came under fire as they travelled between Umm Qasr and Basra. Their fate is unclear. The group includes veteran ITN reporter Terry Lloyd [later: Lloyd was reported killed], cameraman Fred Nerac and local translator Hussein Othman. Other western broadcasters, including the BBC and German TV network ZDF, still have correspondents in Iraq, but all their reports are closely monitored by the Iraqi authorities. 1615 UT: Baghdad with the news from 1500 till around 1535 followed by a song and now 1542 UT a political analysis by a professor in Baghdad Uni...I think! mainly on LSB 6175 kHz (Tarek Zeidan in Cairo) 1455 UT: Baghdad went back on the air exactly at 1443 UT on 6175 and 11787. For the time being only Qur`an on both frequencies. Poor modulation, but at least, we could hear something (Tarek Zeidan in Cairo) Here in The Netherlands we're again hearing a strong carrier on 11787, but no detectable modulation at the moment. Nothing audible on 6175, which we would not expect to hear at this time of day (Andy Sennitt) IRAQI INTERNET Media Network's Lou Josephs believes that Iraq's Internet links with the outside world have been cut. It appears that there is no new content coming from inside Iraq. Radio Baghdad is still ON +0500-0820+ UT on 11787.017 kHz and 6175.011 kHz. Both suffer from low and slightly distorted modulation. Mostly Arab songs, Time Signal (5 + one long bip) as usually shifted in time e.g. at 0700:50. I don't think it's an 'artificial substitution' for real Iraqi program. BTW, 6175 is new for me (Vladimir Titarev, Ukraine via CRW) Worth noting however that the GHFS (or whatever they're now called) is unlikely to have any war or real tactical related traffic on it - it'll just be routine transport and so forth. 7630 is probably the most active live warzone frequency I`ve found so far with 4039 and 4739 coming in joint second (David Ross, ODXA via DXLD) Thanks for this post David!!!! I have been looking all over the net for some ideas of which frequencies can be best monitored, and of course it's here on the ODXA list where I finally get my info! Thanks again, and if you see any more info like this, please post! Best regards, (Matt, ibid.) Hello Matt, Here is another useful set of frequencies. http://www.angelfire.com/mb/amandx/mbmil.html Particularly the CANFORCES CFARS network at the bottom of the page. A list of Canadian ships using this network: http://www3.sympatico.ca/gunslinger/cfars.htm A list of land based stations: http://www3.sympatico.ca/gunslinger/members.htm (David Ross, ibid.) Hi DXers, 23-03-2003 - 11787 at 0335 UT: This morning the frequency is clear, my S-meter is not over 1. 0457 UT: DW on 11785 is causing a strong disturbance on 11787 with French and Portuguese programs (S3 to S8 till 0530 UT) 0530 UT; The frequency is clear again. 0545 UT: Baghdad is on the air. I notice the same problem reported yesterday: strong carrier and poor modulation. The carrier is about S9+15dB here but heavy distortion on low level audio. 0551 UT: A very strong signal appears. Don't know the origin. 0555 UT: Better modulation, we hear clearly the chants and music. 0557 UT: DW is back and now Baghdad is unreadable but always on the air. I did not try 6175: this frequency appears in old edition of WRTH but here strong stations on adjacent channels prevent me to catch anything! Voice of Iraqi Liberation: Heard at 0248 UT on 4025.0 with a very good signal 9+20 and slight QSB. Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan: Heard at 0323 UT on 4090.0 (reported 4085) with a clear and strong signal 9+20. Program of military music, communiqués and talks in Arabic (Pascal Perriot, Tours, France, NRD515/ SONY7600G/ DATONG AD270/LW/ DATONG FL2 AF FILTER, hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ. 11787, Radio Iraq Int'l., 1355+ March 23. Presume the one, nothing but carrier so seemingly they just left the transmitter on all the time and/or can't get the audio feed to the site, or very low modulation as some are reporting. Fairly good, faded down later in the morning (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, FL, Tocobaga DX via DXLD) This situation is nothing new, not caused by war --- been that way for sesquiyears; everybody is trying to pick them up now (gh, DXLD) Tried to get 6175 today Mar 24 as usual around sunset in Cairo 1530 UT, but in vain; also 11787 is not on I think!!!! What's going on??? Can anybody hear anything? Have they changed the frequencies? Hope to hear from you soonest (TAREK ZEIDAN, Egypt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1700 GMT 23 MAR 03 Iraqi electronic media continued to operate on Sunday 23 March. Republic of Iraq Television, the domestic service, was observed by BBC Monitoring at one stage broadcasting in parallel with the Iraq Satellite Channel. Republic of Iraq Radio Main service continued to be heard on mediumwave and shortwave. On the 846 kHz frequency (believed to be a transmitter at Nasiriyah), an Arabic-language radio station has been observed broadcasting pro-Iraqi government programming and urging Iraqis to defend their country. The broadcast was not in parallel with other active Iraq Radio Main Service frequencies. Iraqi domestic and satellite television have shown video of Saddam Husayn chairing separate meetings with different sets of senior officials. His son Qusay was always present at the meetings, but his eldest son Uday was not shown. The TV channels have also shown news conferences held by, among others, Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan and Information Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf. Other programming on Iraq's broadcast media has focused on praise for Iraqi resistance and "victories" against US "aggressors". Iraqi TV has continued its coverage of anti-war demonstrations worldwide. And the Iraqi news agency web site has updated its content. Following are BBC Monitoring's observations on the Iraqi media up to 1700 gmt on 23 March: Iraq Satellite Channel Iraq Satellite Channel, the external service, continues to be observed via Hot Bird 6 at 13 degrees east and Arabsat at 26 degrees east. The channel continues to carry unscheduled announcements, patriotic songs and scheduled newscasts. The highlights of programming between 1100 and 1700 gmt on 23 March were as follows: 1103 gmt: Newscast, which included the following item: 1. Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan holds a news conference in Baghdad today. 2. Information Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf holds a news conference in Baghdad today. 3. Foreign Minister Naji Sabri says that the Iraqis have shot down another plane. Sabri's statements to Al-Arabiyah TV are cited. 4. Staff Maj-Gen Al-Rawi says he contacted the commander of the 51st Mechanized Infantry Division. 5. Twelve members of the US forces were wounded in a grenade attack in northern Kuwait. 6. US missiles target civilian areas and wound scores of Iraqi citizens. 1120 gmt: Patriotic songs 1127 gmt: Recording of Staff Maj-Gen Al-Rawi's statements in a news conference today. 1137 gmt: Patriotic songs. 1141 gmt: Programme entitled: "Diary of Mother of Decisive Battles." The programme hosts Baghdad University Professors Dr Abd-al-Razzaq al-Dulaymi and Dr Hasan Tawalibah. Al-Dulaymi speaks about media and its role in accurately reporting US and British military activities in Iraq. Tawalibah speaks about the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party statement issued yesterday. 1300 gmt : The "Diary of the Decisive Battle" programme continues. A recording of an Abu Dhabi TV channel report showing Iraqi citizens and soldiers on the banks of the River Tigris searching for two Western pilots whose planes were shot down over Baghdad were aired during the programme. 1322 gmt : Patriotic songs. 1326 gmt : Interviews with armed Iraqis dressed in military attire voicing support for Iraq and Saddam, and stating readiness to resist the "idol" of this age. 1335 gmt : Patriotic songs. 1400 gmt: The channel interrupts the "Diary of the Decisive Battle" programme to air an Al-Jazeera report showing Iraqi soldiers and citizens firing weapons near the River Tigris. Al-Jazeera correspondent is heard saying "they are firing to celebrate capturing a pilot". 1412 gmt: A report on the situation in Karbala district is aired as part of the "Diary of the Decisive Battle" programme. The report includes statements by tribesmen in Karbala voicing support for Iraq and Saddam. 1423 gmt: The programme goes on to discuss Western media "attempts" to "mislead" the public. Within the programme, an Al-Jazeera report is aired showing the leader of the Iraqi 51st Division denying reports that he had surrendered. 1445 gmt: Patriotic songs. 1452 gmt: Repeat of Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan's news conference. 1505 gmt: Radio Baghdad and the Iraq Satellite Channel were observed to broadcast on the same Iraq Satellite Channel frequency. At 1520 gmt, only the Iraq Satellite Channel was heard. 1520 gmt: Sunset call for prayers, after which the Ramadan news conference is resumed. Republic of Iraq Television Republic of Iraq Television continued to carry patriotic songs praising Saddam Husayn and Iraq. The following programming was observed between 1100 and 1700 gmt on 23 March: 1116 gmt: Repeat of a news conference held by Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan in Baghdad. 1318 gmt : Repeat of Iraqi Information Minister Muhammad Sa'id al- Sahhaf's briefing to reporters on latest developments. 1402-1416 gmt: News summary on world satellite channels highlighting arrest of two Western pilots. [Six-minute break in reception] 1430 gmt: Civil defence official gives guidance to citizens what to do inside their houses in case of bombing. [10-minute break in reception] 1520 gmt: Call for evening prayer. 1533 gmt: Programme interviewing an Iraqi political science professor who speaks about the US disinformation campaign in war on Iraq. The programme also shows demonstrations in New York and other US cities, as well as demonstrations and rallies in Iraqi governorates in support of Saddam Husayn against US-led war against Iraq. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service On the 846 kHz frequency (believed to be a transmitter at Nasiriyah), an Arabic-language radio station was observed from fade-in at 1205 gmt on 23 March. The broadcast was not in parallel with other active Iraq Radio Main Service frequencies. The station was broadcasting pro-Iraqi government programming and urging Iraqis to defend their country. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, the main official radio station of Iraq, was observed on the following frequencies at various times between 1100 gmt and 1700 gmt on 23 March: 603 kHz (believed to be a transmitter at Ninawah near Mosul) - observed at 1500 gmt ; and 909 kHz (believed to be a transmitter at Baghdad) - observed from 1100- 1700 gmt. It was heard until 1600 gmt on 6175 and 11787 kHz shortwave (locations unknown). Radio programming is interspersed with patriotic songs and brief commentaries urging Iraqis to resist the "invaders." The following programming was observed between 1100 and 1700 gmt on 23 March: Programming was as follows: 1100 gmt: News summary: 1. US Department of Defence admits that Iraqi air defences continue to pose threats to US and UK aircraft. 2. A US soldier from the 101st Airborne Division is arrested for hurling hand grenades at his colleagues in northern Kuwait, AFP cited. 3. Report on antiwar protests staged in several European countries. 4. His Holiness Pope John Paul II says that the Iraq war is a threat to the future of mankind, remarks made at a meeting with journalists cited. 5. The US administration shuts down its embassy in Riyadh and its consulates in Jedda and Dhahran, AFP cited. 6. Palestinian security source says that Israeli troops conducted an incursion into eastern Gaza City yesterday. 1110 gmt: Report on a meeting Saddam Husayn held with his top aides. 1130 gmt: Newscast: 1. Saddam Husayn chairs a meeting that brought together several of his top aides. 2. The National Assembly announces the death of Nayif Shindakh Thamir, official in charge of the Ba'th Party organizations in the Al-Najaf Governorate, "who achieved the honour of martyrdom" while engaging in combat. 3. Iraqi military spokesman makes statement on the downing of five fighter planes and two helicopters. 4. Report on a news conference held by Information Minister Muhammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf on a visit he paid to the Al-Qadisiyah neighbourhood. 5. The Nigerian Foreign Ministry regrets the onset of the Iraq war, a statement issued by the Nigerian Foreign Ministry is cited. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry also regrets the onset of the war. 6. Wounded civilians renew their pledge of allegiance to Saddam Husayn. 7. The US Department of Defence admits that the Iraqi air defences continue to pose threats to US and UK aircraft. 8. UK spokesman is cited on an aircraft that went missing during the ongoing hostilities. 9. Venezuelan vice-president denounces the ongoing "aggression" against Iraq. 10. Report on antiwar protests staged worldwide today. 11. Antiwar demonstrations staged at Egyptian universities. 12. Some 250,000 persons take to the streets in Madrid to protest the ongoing Iraq war. 13. 1148 gmt: Radio dispatch from Al-Muthanna Governorate. Four coalition tanks were destroyed in Al-Samawah. 14. A US soldier from the 101st Airborne Division is arrested for hurling hand grenades at his colleagues in northern Kuwait, AFP cited. 15. UK's Robin Cook criticizes British government for backing the US "aggression" on Iraq. 16. Israeli troops conduct an incursion into Jenin. 17. Israeli sources admit that Palestinian resistance men carried out an attack against a Jewish settlement near Umm al-Fahm today. 1303 gmt : Full recording of news conference held by Iraqi Vice- President Taha Yasin Ramadan today. 1403 gmt: News summary. [largely indistinct] 1414 gmt: Recording of a pan-Arab satellite television interview with Abd-al-Bari Atwan, the pro-Iraq chief editor of the London-based Al- Quds al-Arabi. 1417 gmt: Recording of Al-Jazeera TV interview with its correspondent in Baghdad on search for Western pilots in Tigris river. 1433 gmt: Koran. 1500 gmt: Scheduled newscast: 1. Saddam Husayn chairs meeting comprising ministers of military industrialization, higher education, others. 2. Iraqi spokesman says five coalition aircraft and two helicopters downed. 3. Iraqi information minister holds news conference this morning. 4. Masses of Diyala lay their martyrs to rest. 5. Arab solidarity delegation arrives in Baghdad. 6. Antiwar protests continue worldwide. 7. International human rights organization condemns the aggression against Iraq. 8. US Defence Department admits Iraqi ground defences continue to pose a threat. Internet The Iraqi News Agency (INA) web site http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ continues to update. INA carried the following reports: 1. President Saddam Husayn meets Qusay Saddam Husayn and Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad. 2. President Saddam Husayn meets Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and other Iraqi officials. 3. Iraqi Armed Forces issue communique on military operations in Iraq. 4. Statement issued by the National Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party. INA carried the following headlines at 1310 gmt : 1. Collapse in morale of forces of the US aggression. 2. Robin Cook criticizes the British government. 3. Venezuela condemns the US-British aggression. 4. The Moroccan House of Representatives demands a halt to the aggression. 5. A US soldier killed and 13 injured. 6. Russian concern over the effects of the US-British aggression on Iraqi historical sites. 7. The information minister stresses that the aggressors are targeting residential areas and services. 8. A British aircraft crashes (over Kuwait). INA posted the following headlines at 1430 gmt: 1. President Saddam Husayn chairs a meeting comprising the ministers of military industrialization and higher education. 2. Moscow patriarch condemns the barbaric US-British aggression. 3. The information minister stresses that the US and British war criminals are in a great dilemma in Umm Qasr. 4. A delegation of Tunisian volunteers arrives to defend Iraq. 5. The shaykh of the Murad tribe in Yemen condemns the US-British aggression. 6. International delegations participating in the Human Rights Committee denounce the unjust aggression. The Iraqi UN Mission web site, http://www.iraqi-mission.org/ was not accessible. The Iraq2000 web site, which hosts the daily newspaper Babil, a number of Iraqi weekly newspapers and the Babil Online news website,http://www.iraq2000.com, was not accessible. [non] BROADCAST MEDIA TARGETING IRAQ Voice of the Liberation of Iraq says Saddam Husayn was killed during raid of 20 March Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, a radio station believed to be operating from Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, broadcast the following report at 1830 gmt on 22 March: "According to reports from the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the dictator of Iraq Saddam Husayn was killed from a serious injury he sustained during the missile attack of 20 March. These sources said that the Iraqi dictator had appointed his eldest son Uday as his successor to rule Iraq and the Iraqis before dying. "According to reports, Uday's younger brother Qusay, protested strongly against this decision and killed the personal guard of his brother Uday." [Passage omitted: Uday expected to be more ruthless than his father; allied forces calling on Iraqis to provide any information of Uday] Voice of the Liberation of Iraq is a station first monitored in March 2003 on mediumwave 1206 kHz in the Middle East and shortwave 4025 kHz. Iranian media behaviour The Iranian media continued their normal behaviour between 0700 and 1500 gmt on 23 March. Most of the programmes were still about the Iranian New Year and consisted of entertainment programmes. Even thought it is the New Year holidays, newspapers affiliated to the Iranian news agency were published and on sale at the news stands. However, their web sites were not updated. The radio news bulletin mostly quoted IRNA and foreign news agencies about the ongoing war in Iraq. Iranian news agencies continued their coverage of the war on Iraq but mostly quoted foreign sources. Turkish media behaviour On 23 March CNN Turk Television, a commercial television that is independent in content and affiliated with CNN International; NTV, a commercial news channel that is independent in content; and TRT 2 Television, a state-funded news channel, continued to operate in an open-studio format covering Operation Iraqi Freedom and related developments. The stations provided frequent updates and breaking news, such as the bombing of Mosul and Baghdad, and the fighting in Umm Qasr They all focused on the explosion at Pennsylvania Camp in Kuwait. They also broadcast their own reports or relayed footage from foreign TV channels of news conferences by Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, who threatened Turkey against cooperation with the United States in the war launched against Iraq; Iraqi Information Minister Sa'id al- Sahhaf; and Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan. OTHER MEDIA REPORTS US slams captured POW tape as "Iraqi propaganda" The Qatar-based network Al-Jazeera on 23 March broadcast videotape of interviews with men and women who appeared to be US prisoners of war. Al-Jazeera said the footage had been screened earlier on Iraqi domestic TV. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on US network CBS that the tape was Iraqi propaganda. "It seems to me that showing a few pictures on the screen, not knowing who they are and being communicated by Al-Jazeera, which is not a perfect instrument of communication, obviously is part of Iraqi propaganda. Responding to Iraqi propaganda, it seems to me, is not what the United States armed forces are about," international news agencies quoted Rumsfeld as saying. Journalists' group calls on US-led forces to protect media staff The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on 23 March called for the forces of the United States and its allies to protect all journalists and media staff covering the Iraq conflict, even those not formally travelling under military protection. The following is the text of an IFJ press release: The International Federation of Journalists today called for the forces of the United States and its allies to protect all journalists and media staff covering the Iraq conflict - even those not formally travelling under military protection. The death of Australian cameraman Paul Moran, who died in a reported suicide bombing in northern Iraq, and growing concern for the safety of a three-person television crew working for ITN, which is missing after reportedly being under fire while following forces moving on Basra, has raised new fears over the safety of journalists. The death of Australian cameraman Paul Moran, who died in a reported suicide bombing in northern Iraq, and growing concern for the safety of a three-person television crew working for ITN, which is missing after reportedly being under fire while following forces moving on Basra, has raised new fears over the safety of journalists. The IFJ is demanding that media exercise more restraint in covering the conflict. "Journalists, especially freelances, are under tremendous pressure and they face terrible risks if they don't keep their distance," said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ this morning. "Safety is paramount and media organizations must not let their competitive urge to be first with the news get in the way of protecting people on the ground." "This is a war fought in the glare of worldwide publicity and everyone - military and media alike - must ensure that journalists and media staff are given protection," said the IFJ. "Journalists must be given protection by the military whether they are travelling under military control or not," says the IFJ. "It is not acceptable to create a privileged group of so-called 'embedded' journalists and to ignore the needs of other journalists from all around the world who are covering the conflict trying to serve many hundreds of millions of people who are hungry for news about the war." The IFJ president, Australian journalists' leader Christopher Warren, expressed the shock and concern of journalists worldwide over the death of Paul Moran, a cameraman with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, who died in a car bomb explosion in Sayyid Sadiq in northern Iraq outside the village of Khurmal yesterday. "This death illustrates that in journalism there are tragic sacrifices to be made in covering the war in Iraq," said Warren. "We send our most profound condolences to Paul's family and colleagues. The whole region is potentially dangerous and all media must be alert to the threats." Witnesses said Moran and his two colleagues, who were injured, were waiting to enter the village when a taxi drew up beside them and exploded. Khurmal is a base of the mainstream Komala Islami Kurdistan (Islamic Society of Kurdistan), which was targeted by cruise missiles early Saturday [22 March] at the same time as the hardline Ansar al-Islam, which is allegedly linked to the Al-Qa'idah terror network. Meanwhile British television reporter Terry Lloyd and colleagues Fred Nerac and Hussein Othman are missing. ITN said the crew came under fire while travelling to Basra in southern Iraq. One of the crew, Daniel Demoustier, was injured but was able to get to safety. Lloyd is an award-winning correspondent who has reported extensively in the past from Cambodia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The IFJ has also protested also over the expulsion of a CNN team from Baghdad. "This is a spiteful and petty act of victimization against professional journalism by a regime that has no respect at all for press freedom," said White. Further information: + 32 2 235 22 00 Australia: ABC news chief to retrieve cameraman's body The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's head of news and current affairs, Max Uechtritz, will travel to Iran to retrieve the body of ABC cameraman Paul Moran, who was killed in a car bomb attack while on assignment in northern Iraq. Reporting this, ABC News Radio noted that ABC correspondent Eric Campbell had been slightly injured in the suicide car bomb attack in Sayyid Sadiq in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The journalists had been working in an area where there are no coalition forces and no Iraqi troops, the report added. Western media used as "propaganda" tools for US war - Iran paper The English-language newspaper Iran Daily on 23 March questioned the truthfulness and dependability of Western media war reports, saying their news stories are being used as propaganda by American officials to achieve their goals. A commentary in Iran Daily's "second war edition", cited by the Iranian news agency IRNA, said in part: "... There have been reliable reports that American statesmen have been censoring all war-related news... Some of the pictorial reports presented by the American media remind one of Hollywood films, while the contradictory news disseminated by them reveal attempts to distort the truth..." Stories such as the "surrender of 20 per cent of Iraq's Republican Guards, the likelihood of Saddam Husayn's death during the bombardment of Baghdad, the possibility of America deploying nuclear weapons in this war and the emergence of an imminent civil war between Iraqi Sunnis and Shi'is" point to a one-sided presentation of news about the war, the paper was quoted as saying. It added: "One important ingredient in achieving success in any war is the use of psychological warfare. Before the US launched the current war, it evidently indulged in a propaganda warfare not only to prepare the Iraqi people but the world as a whole for the war." "How could the Western mass media be trusted as reliable and professional sources of news and information when they are being used as propaganda tools by the American statesmen?" the daily asked. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Mar 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. ClandestineRadio.com has been updated on Mar 25th http://www.clandestineradio.com The preliminary editions 129 and 129 Extra (Iraq) of the newsletter Clandestine Radio Watch have been published on March 25th http://www.schoechi.de/crw.html The update of ClandestineRadio.com includes updates regarding the situation in Iraq and has several new audio links and new analysis articles by cr.com editor Nick Grace. The prelimininary issue CRW 129 for instance includes QSL logs for Hmong Lao Radio and Chan Troi Moi (not Clandestine, but certainly 'CR related'). Both QSL cards can be seen in CRW's Clandestine Radio QSL Gallery at http://www.schoechi.de/pic-cla.html The prelimininary issue CRW 129 Extra (Iraq) presents (clandestine) radio related news reg. Iraq in thematical and chronological order. (Martin Schoech, Merseburg, Deutschland, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. March 20th NY Times reported in an article entitled "First Strikes Set the Stage for a War Against Iraq" regarding issuing instructions on how Iraqis could surrender --- "The message was delivered by a radio station near the Kuwait-Iraqi border operated by American Special Operations forces and by an airborne radio station." This is the first I have read about this station which seems to indicate that there is a US Army PSYOPS unit operating in Kuwait broadcasting Information Radio. Not sure who this is, but the 10th PSYOPS Battalion deployed to Kuwait last October. I also heard a report on BBC on Mar 23rd that wind up radios were being dropped into Basra. http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom/03_03/23.htm worth a look, great current pictures. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81509,00.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/not_in_website/syndication/monitoring/media_reports/2583893.stm which talks of ground transmitters in Kuwait and the Gulf all the way back in December (Hans Johnson, March 24, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Concern over satphone use ------------------------- With the US military targeting satellite phone transmissions to locate Iraqi military commanders, analysts worry calls from journalists and other civilians could appear as beacons for bombers. The US military won't discuss how precisely it can track people based on their satphone signals, and the satellite phone companies say they don't know. But military and intelligence experts say US targeting technology is not just possible, it's getting better. "It's just yet another thing journalists now have to take into account," said Kate Adie, a veteran war correspondent for the BBC. US military officials have urged journalists and other foreign civilians to leave Iraq for their own safety. Iraq's information ministry estimates 300 foreign journalists remain in Baghdad. Major satellite telephone providers have said they saw subscriptions and usage rise alongside the prospect of a US invasion. On Tuesday, Inmarsat said it was activating a fifth satellite to help ease congestion caused, in part, by transmissions of news video. Source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=528&e=1&cid=528&u=/ap/20030321/ap_on_hi_te/iraq_satellite_phones (AP via Yahoo! News via Georges Lessard, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** IRAQ. IMPROVED TOOLS TURN JOURNALISTS INTO A QUICK STRIKE FORCE By AMY HARMON As an NBC correspondent based in northern Iraq, Fred Francis is not finding work, or life, easy right now. But things would be a lot harder without his compact satellite dish, which at 140 pounds is about 800 pounds lighter than the one he lugged into Panama during the 1989 United States invasion and spent five hours setting up as the fighting went on a half-mile away. A prototype that was inspired by NBC's frustration with the jerky videophone pictures from the war in Afghanistan, the small dish lets Mr. Francis travel light, set up in 20 minutes and send home decent video. As ABC's larger dish blew off the roof of a nearby hotel one night last week, Mr. Francis snuggled with his compact model on a sheltered balcony. "When you're in dumps like this one, the one thing you want is communication," said Mr. Francis, whose equipment also provides him with high-speed data lines and two-way video so he can help edit his stories and watch the "Today" show. FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/business/media/24TECH.html?tntemail1 (via Bill Doskoch, Toronto, ON, caj-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. MILITARY FREQUENCIES AROUND
