DX LISTENING DIGEST APRIL 2003 ARCHIVE HOME presents...
DX LISTENING DIGEST APRIL 2003 ARCHIVE
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-061, April 9, 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/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early 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 FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1177: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB [already] Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 1200 on WJIE 7490 (maybe) Sat 0130 on RFPI 7445 WRN ONDEMAND from Fri: 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/wor1177.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1177h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1177.html WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR A-03, DST SEASON: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WOR/COM/MR/RADIO ENLACE MASTER TIME SCHEDULE FOR A-03: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Would you believe, some weeks, for one reason or another I miss every airing of WOR? So, for me, it`s good news that you`re now on WJIE in the morning [M-F 1200 on 7490]. Now I`ll have all the way to the end of the following week to get caught up! The signal here is weak, but it`s good enough to hear and understand. Hope it stays that way (Pete Bentley, East Aurora NY, April 4) Well, the objective is to get the new show on by Friday and sometimes this does happen (gh) ** ALASKA. SITKA RADIO STATION BROADCASTS WHALE SOUNDS Sitka radio station KAQU is broadcasting what may initially sound like static. But listen closely and you will hear the underwater sounds of the ocean near Whale Park, and maybe even whales. Clay Culbert, former owner of Clay's dive shop, says he helped set up the new whale radio station. He told KCAW in Sitka that he's a regular listener. He says the more he listens to 88.1, the more he hears, including the grunts, snaps and pops of whales in the Eastern Channel. Whale radio is a low-powered FM station of only 100 watts. It is the brainchild of a group of West Coast marine mammal biologists. When they came to Sitka for a whale conference, they discovered the town is an ideal place to set up a listening station where whale sounds can be monitored. Jan Straley, a marine mammal biologist at the University of Alaska Southeast, presented the idea to the city. In case you can't get whale radio on the dial, there is a listening station at the first gazebo next to the restrooms at Whale Park. The listening station has a speaker and below it are several buttons. One button hooks directly into the hydrophone. The other provides whale sounds collected by Straley (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (via Andy Sennitt, DXLD) Interesting format. Wonder if it'll catch on? (Andy Sennitt, March 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually it`s been done before, in Vancouver or Seattle area, I think (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC WARNED TO EXPECT STAFF AND PROGRAM CUTS April 5 2003 By Annabel Crabb ABC directors have been told to prepare hit-lists for staffing and programming cuts in the coming weeks, as the broadcaster braces for a rejection of its $250 million triennial funding application to the Government. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/04/1048962935641.html (via Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. ORF English to NAm at 0130 on 9870 splashed by [something] on 9865 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. Home service 1 in Belorussian from March 30: 0400-0600 NF 11735 (55544) MNS 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 7170 for B-02 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Good opening on 7 April. Tuned out when Russell Scotka arrived and we headed for Borders and some much needed Java. 4649.00, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma 2340 -0000 local announcements , "Radio Santa Ana…kilociclos banda de ...metros onda corta...." "en la tierra de Bolivia" "...en la radio en miércoles... buenas noches" Years ago William J. Parks, a Florida DXer, discovered that the owner, at the time, lived in Miami, Florida and verified Radio Santa Ana, from this non exotic location. She arrived unexpectedly at our front door after verifying her station. 4681.55, Radio Paitití, 2343 - 2350 mix of music and OM announcer, "...radio en Bolivia....Paitití", seemingly recorded announcements, T-storm interference. 4716.72, R Yura, Yura, 2344-2355 OM/YL format, fair to good signal, best in USB, promptly IDed as Radio Yura on tune in, at 2345. 4761.63, tentative, R. Guanay, Guanay 2349-2355 fair signal at best. 5952.57, Emisora Pio Doce, Siglo Veinte, blasting in 2350 , 2355 recheck. 3309.95, R. Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba 2356 - 0000 (Bob Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, NRD 535 D modified by R. Scotka, Noise Reducing antenna built by R. Scotka, April 7 - UT April 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria in English: Europe 0630-0700 [frequencies? Same as 1130?] 1130-1200 11700 15700 1730-1800 9400 11900 2100-2200 5800 7500 N America 2300-2400 9400 11900 0200-0300 9400 11900 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. See KAZAKHSTAN ** CHINA. New updated summer schedule for China Radio International in Russian: 0000-0057 1521 7110 9725 9870 0100-0157 1521 0300-0357 15435 17710 17740 1000-1057 1116 7110 9695 9725 11935 15110 1100-1157 1116 1323 1521 7110 9725 9870 11935 1200-1257 1116 1323 1521 1300-1357 1323 1521 5915 5990 9675 9870 1400-1457 1323 1521 1500-1557 5915 5990 9765 9870 11650 11790 1600-1657 1521 9765 9885 11780 11875 11960 13655 1700-1757 1521 9765 9795 9885 11650 11685 11780 11875 11960 13655 1800-1857 1521 9535=via Issoudun 9585 9765 9795 11630 11685 12010 1900-1957 1521 9795 11630 11685 12010 2000-2057 7255 9795 11975 2300-2357 7110 9725 15110 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Cuba heard on air April 8th on 6195 with a good signal at 0644 carrying Radio Reloj - news read by man and woman accompanied by seconds ticks. At tune in 0620 a strong unmodulated carrier was heard past 0630 - assumed to be this one. Checked again at 0705 but nothing heard. On Apr. 7th a much weaker signal was audible in Spanish at 0735 past 0800, when the signal was rapidly fading. This transmission carried music as well as speech so may have been Rebelde. Anyone know what's going on on this frequency? 73's, (Noel R. Green [Blackpool - UK], Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague Int`l, half hour English to NAm: 2330 7345 9440 0000 7345 9440 0100 6200 7345 0300 7345 9870 7385[=WRMI] 2230: announced but not confirmed yet on 11600 13580 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Concurso en Radio Praga: si usted admira o conoce la vida de una personalidad checa, podría ganarse un viaje para dos personas a Praga. Tiene oportunidad hasta el 15 de julio para enviar su ensayo. Correo-e: cr@radio.cz (Adán González, desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, April 7, DX LISENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo English to NAm at 2300 on 11725 is awful! Splash from 11720 in Spanish, also 11730 Spanish. When 11725 does break through at 2330 --- usual (sigh) infamous *crappy* modulation. Next one at 0200 on 11780: heavy Spanish [Portuguese] covers (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. De todas las frecuencias mencionadas por Radio Cairo, a partir del 1ero. de abril, sólo están activas la de 11790 kHz y la de 11755 kHz (a pesar de que la locutora la nombró hasta la saciedad como una frecuencia en la banda de 31 metros y supuse que era 9755 kHz). En ambas la recepción es malísima. 9475 kHz, una de las que mejor llegaba a Venezuela, ha desaparecido del mapa (Adán González, desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Cairo has introduced a 10-mins English segment within the daily two-hour Arabic service to Australia 2000-2200. This is noted at 2130-2140 on 11750, with Education and Language Learning Features. The first hour of this transmission is hopelessly degraded by AWR- Guam co-channel, carrying English to Asia 2000-2100 (Bob Padula, Mont Albert, Vic, Australia, Apr 8, EDXP via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. See RUSSIA ** FRANCE [non]. RFI via Merlin Communications: 6010 1700-1758 DHA 250 kW / 340 deg Persian 6020 1600-1628 DB 200 kW / 160 deg Pashto 6035 1600-1628 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg Pashto 7150 0400-0458 ASC 250 kW / 115 deg French 9530 1700-1758 TAC 200 kW / 255 deg Persian 11665 0600-0658 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg French 13640 0500-0558 DHA 250 kW / 255 deg French 13780 0400-0458 DHA 250 kW / 255 deg French 17770 0600-0658 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg French 17815 1200-1228 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg English (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. /SOUTH AFRICA: RFI via Meyerton: 5985 1900-2158 MEY 250 kW / 355 deg French 9730 1600-1658 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg English 15255 1600-1658 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg English 15410 0700-0758 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg French 17685 1100-1158 MEY 250 kW / 355 deg French 17685 1300-1358 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg French 21760 1200-1258 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg French (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) This contradicts previous schedule claiming that 9730 and 15255 are Moyabi, Gabon; which?? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. I`m getting very good reception of DW English here at 0000 on 7130; 0400 on 11945 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Summer A-03 schedule for Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias in Greek: 1100-1400 NF 11645 (55555), ex 11595 in A-02 1400-2300 on 9935 (55555), but from 1730 totally blocked by VOIROI/IRIB in Arabic (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** GREECE. Dear Glenn: I haven`t dropped off the face of the Earth, but there is nothing really happening that is worthy of note from The Voice of Greece. They have stayed on their frequencies for the last broadcasting season, which was unusual for them some years back. Before Demetri Vafeas convinced the powers who be that it was to their benefit that they send him to the HFCC sessions to thrash out frequency allocations, they were having serious interference problems. Now that everyone has gotten together, they are able, in most cases, to avoid being on the same frequency or having a powerhouse transmitter on an adjacent frequency. I seriously doubt that they will ever put those VOA-donated 250-kW SW transmitters into operation, mainly because of the Internet and their subscription satellite service. At the present time they are picking up bits and pieces from the domestic services with much talk and not much music, especially since they have not contributed to the coalition forces during the Iraqi problem. Greeks over there seem to enjoy sitting on the sidelines hoping for peace but not doing much except to talk about it. It is a wonder that they didn`t pull the switch on the Sunday ``It`s All Greek to Me`` program of March 23 and they even had a repeat of it on the following Sunday. For the past few days, the VOA transmitter in Delano, CA has been cutting off the power from 1900 to 2000 UT on 17705 to North America. Perhaps the engineer goes to lunch from noon to 1:00 PDT, or is it perhaps because The Voice of Greece wants to save an hour`s worth of time? Maybe Dr Kim Elliott has an answer to that one. [the break is part of the new A-03 schedule --- gh] I started intensive monitoring last Sunday. I have not received any broadcasting schedules from The voice of Greece and the schedule has been put together mainly from frequency announcements in Greek and my monitoring. The 15190 kHz transmission from Delano CA at 0600-0800 UT is inaudible at this location at the present time; this frequency is an educated guess based on the broadcasting of a year ago. Some of the ERA Interprogram Orientations frequencies may not be correct, but I will thrash them out when the new Voice of Greece schedules show up from Athens. The Learn Greek program at 1235-1250 UT on Friday is not for anyone attempting to learn Greek from scratch and is of not much use to those of us who at least speak ``Village Greek``; in other words, it`s not for you or me. I have my tape recording going when they put on the daily VOG schedules at 0345 and 1200 UT because they talk faster than I can translate and write in English. I don`t know how reception of the 0000-0350 UT program is in your area, but it could use improvement in this area --- another good reason to get those 250-kW transmitters installed with new antennas directed to North America and not to Alaska and South America as they do now from Kavala, or the 100-kW transmitters from Avlis. I have the feeling that The Voice of Greece is using the short-wave spectrum to broadcast only to those Greek immigrants with radios; the Greeks who are into the next generation pick up Internet or satellite services which are paid services with monthly charges. ERT3 from Thessaloniki is still using one of Avlis` 100 kW transmitters; I guess they get more range from that than the three 35-kW transmitters in their home city. At least 7450 kHz doesn`t have the interference problem during 1900-2250 UT --- they had been using 7430 for many years when they started using the third transmitter (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UT Avlis-1 Avlis-2 Kavala VOA-1 Kavala VOA-2 USA 2300-2400 5865 Eu 9375 Eu 7475 Af/SAm 15650 Au 0000-0400 5865 Eu/NAm 15630 Eu/NAm 7475 Af/SAm 15650 Au/ME 0400-0600 9420 Eu 15630 Eu 17520 Au/ME 21530 Au/ME 0600-0700 12105 Eu 15630 Eu 17520 Au/ME 21530 Au/ME +D 0700-0800 12105 Eu 15630 Eu silent 21530 Au/ME +D 0800-1000 12105 Eu 15630 Eu silent silent 1000-1100 silent silent silent silent All Avlis-1 broadcasts (first column) 1100-2300 are from ERT3: 1100-1200 11645 Eu 15630 Eu silent silent 1200-1300 11645 Eu 15630 Eu 12110 Eu 15650 Au/ME +D 1300-1330 11645 Eu 15630 Eu 12110 Eu #15650 ME +D 1330-1400 11645 Eu 15630 Eu 12110 Eu #15650 Eu +D 1400-1900 9935 Eu 15630 Eu 9420 Eu #12110 Eu +d 1900-2100 7450 Eu 15630 Eu 9420 Eu 7475 Eu +dg 2100-2300 7450 Eu 9375 Eu 9420 Eu 15650 Au +dg USA relays: 0600-0800 Delano 15190 Au/Pac 1200-1500 Delano 11730 NAm 1600-1900 Delano 17705 NAm 2000-2200 Delano 17705 NAm, plus Greenville 17565 Af/SAm ENGLISH PROGRAMS: [this section via WORLD OF RADIO 1177] 0830-0850 Dly 12105 Eu, 15630 Eu News bulletin 1235-1250 Fri 11730 NAm, 12110 Eu, 15630 Eu, 15650 Au/ME Learn Greek (responses in English) 1600-1700 Sat 9420 Eu, 15630 Eu, 17705 NAm Hellenes Around the World 1800-1900 Sun 9420 Eu, 15630 Ei. 17705 NAm It`s All Greek to Me music 1830-1855 Dly 12110 Eu Orientation Program in English #ERA Interprogram Orientations, 30-minute foreign languages daily: 1300 Arabic 1330 German 1400 Russian 1430 Spanish 1500 Romanian 1530 Turkish 1600 Serbian 1630 Bulgarian 1700 Albanian 1730 French 1800 Polish 1830 English (The Voice of Greece = I Foní tis Helladas, A-03 transmission schedule, Mar 30 to Oct 25, compiled by John Babbis, Maryland, for DX LISTENING DIGEST; see notes above) ** GREECE. Summer A-03 schedule for ERA-5 Voice of Greece Interprogramme Orientations: 1300-1400 Arabic/German 15650 plus MW 666, 792 1400-1500 Russian/Spanish 12110* plus MW 666, 792 1500-1600 Romanian/Turkish 12110* plus MW 666, 792 1600-1700 Serbian/Bulgarian 12110* plus MW 666, 792 1700-1730 Albanian 12110* plus MW 666 1730-1800 French 12110* plus MW 666, 792 1800-1900 Polish/English 12110* plus MW 666, 792 * 12105 on April 7 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. See IRAN ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I noted last weekend that CNN International is no longer on WorldSpace. This change must have happened late last week as I had been checking it frequently. The CNNI channel is now carrying an announcement confirming that CNN has been dropped. Not the best time to have done this. A new WorldSpace channel is Radio Sai Global Harmony (screen ID is SGH). The first word in the title is pronounced "sigh". It appears to be run by a Hare Krishna-style Indian religious group. I found its web site - http://www.radiosai.org/ The radio "brings you 24 hours a day the universal message of love of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba". Heard here on both the east and south beams of AfriStar. Not listed yet on the channel line-up at http://www.worldspace.com/productsservices/programguides/afristar_guide.html Regards, (Chris Greenway, Kenya, April 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. I`ve found VOIRI English to NAm at 0130 on 9590, co-channel Spanish; 11920 with two co-channels (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s what they get for not coöperating fully with HFCC (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOIRI English at 0030: toss- up between 9590 and 11920. Both fair to good depending on co-channel QRM. Budapest is on 9590 too, English to NAm at 0100. Tough at 0130; see-saw on both. Observation: not the best choices or quite a few stations: Iran, Budapest, Yugo, CRI (Bob Thomas, CT, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUNDUP AS OF 1630 GMT APRIL 8: Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was traced in northern Iraq, in the area of Arbil, at 0400 gmt on 8 April on 603 kHz. The radio, thought to be from a transmitter near Mosul, was carrying the same programming as the Iraqi TV station in the region. The radio has not been heard on any other mediumwave or shortwave frequencies since 1800 gmt on 7 April. Iraqi radio was back on air, Abu Dhabi TV reported at 0803 gmt on 8 April: "Following a 20-minute interruption, the radio is now transmitting patriotic songs and music. This also came on the heels of the stoppage of the television transmission. At 0852 gmt, BBC News Online reported that Iraqi domestic state radio was off the air. 657 kHz unidentified pro-Saddam Husayn programming Pro-Saddam Husayn programming has been heard in northern Iraq on the 657 kHz, the frequency of the Kurdish service of Republic of Iraq Radio for northern Iraq. The programming is different from Republic of Iraq Radio on 603 kHz, which is being heard in parallel with Republic of Iraq TV, from the Mosul area of northern Iraq. Internet -- No Iraqi Internet media sites are accessible. Source: BBC Monitoring research 8 Apr 03 1630 gmt (via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1800-2200 GMT 8 APRIL 03 Iraqi government radio, television and Internet media have not been observed by BBC Monitoring between 1800 and 2200 gmt on 8 April. Iraq Satellite Channel TV has been unobserved since 1618 gmt on 7 April. Following is BBC Monitoring's round-up of observations and reports on the status of Iraqi media from 1800 to 2200 gmt on 8 April 03: Republic of Iraq Television No video or audio has been observed on Iraq's domestic television service on any of the known frequencies since 1500 gmt on 24 March. Iraqi Satellite Channel Television The channel has been unobserved on Arabsat 3A, NileSat, and Hotbird since 1618 gmt on 7 April. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service The station has been unheard on the medium-wave frequency of 909 kHz since 1800 gmt on 7 April. The radio remains unheard on all other known frequencies. Other radio stations A radio station that identifies itself as "Information Radio" and carries anti-Saddam reportage is heard on the medium-wave frequency of 756 kHz. The station is unheard on the short-wave frequency of 9715 kHz. Iraqi Voice of Youth Radio, which is run by Saddam's eldest son, Uday, has been unheard on all known frequencies since 0430 gmt on 25 March. Source: BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 8 Apr 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 9 APR 03 [excerpts] A report has been received by BBC Monitoring that Iraqi government radio and television have been observed in northern Iraq. The Iraq Satellite Channel has not been seen since 1618 gmt 7 April. At 0838 gmt on 9 April Reuters news agency cited residents in Baghdad as saying that Iraqi radio was broadcasting patriotic songs that morning, "just one day after going off the air, but the signal was faint". The report added: "Iraqi radio had been off the air since US forces stormed into the western part of central Baghdad on Tuesday [8 April]. Iraqi television remained blank and silent on Wednesday." Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service cannot be monitored by BBC Monitoring. However, the radio was traced in northern Iraq, in the area of Arbil, between 0400-0500 gmt and then from 0513 gmt on 9 April. Programming was in parallel on both frequencies observed, 603 kHz and 657 kHz. The radio is thought to be from transmitters near Mosul. The radio has not been heard on any other mediumwave or shortwave frequencies since 1800 gmt on 7 April. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR REPORTS Mixed Arab TV coverage of US troops, toppling of Saddam statue At a time when most of the world's TV stations were showing US troops outside the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad, many state run-TV Arab channels; Algerian, Moroccan, Sudanese, Syrian, Tunisian, were observed to ignore the event and continued to carry scheduled programmes. Some exceptions were Kuwaiti TV, Saudi TV and the Lebanese satellite channel LBC. However, pan-Arab TV stations Al-Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV, Al-Arabiyah, Iranian TV news channel Al-Alam and Hezbollah-linked Al-Manar TV, were observed to carry live footage of the arrival of US troops outside the journalists' hotel and the toppling of a nearby statue of Saddam Husayn. PICTURE BULLETIN OF US PSY-OPS INFORMATION RADIO IN ARABIC 1555 GMT 8 APRIL 03 First 8 minutes unheard. - Music. - Message to the Iraqis: Tyrannical Saddam ordered in 1991 his troops to set alight the Kuwait oil fields to destroy that country's infrastructure. He was not alone in doing so; he had the support of his clique. Today there are indications once more that the despot might be sending similar orders to his henchmen. This time of course, the only thing different is that it is the Iraqi infrastructure which is going to be destroyed. In doing so, the despot will only prolong the suffering of the Iraqi people and their children. If this were to be his final act, it is an act of a desperate man. But of course, you and your children will be the victim. In resisting the implementation of these criminal orders, you will be helping in the speedy recovery of your country. The coalition forces are doing their best to avoid the destruction of your country's infrastructure. Any destruction by the despot will add to the suffering of the Iraqi people, but will not hinder the efforts of the coalition forces to rid Iraq of Saddam. - Music. - Appeal to the Iraqis on the need to treat POWs in accordance with international law, stressing that no Iraqi POW will be treated badly by the coalition forces, and calling on Iraqis to treat well any coalition soldier or pilot they might stumble across. The appeal urged Iraqis to behave in a peaceful manner towards each other and their neighbours, saying that violent acts will only hinder the process of bringing about peace to the country and starting the recovery process. The appeal urged leaders of Iraqi tribes to put aside their differences and use their wisdom to find peaceful solutions to the country problems. The appeal went on to urge all Iraqis to forsake violence and resolve their differences through dialogue and peaceful means. - Talk stressing the determination to rebuild a new Iraq, calling on Iraqis to contribute to the process by helping the Coalition Forces in their efforts to eliminate Saddam and his cronies by either staying at home or abiding by the instructions of the Coalition Forces when they are on the road. The appeal went on to urge people to give information about Saddam and his cronies, i.e. Ba'th Party leaders, intelligence members and senior army officers. Such information will be treated in strict confidentiality, the appeal stressed. - Appeal to the Iraqis, reminding them that the hour of salvation is near thanks to the friends and allies who decide to rid Iraq of Saddam and his clique. It urges Iraqis to give such friends and allies all the necessary support they may need to remove despot Saddam and his regime. The appeal went on to affirm that the coalition forces are not after the country's riches or anything else, just to remove criminal Saddam, his family and cronies, and give Iraqis the opportunity to lead a free and dignified life. - Recording of Bush's address of last week during his meetings with Marine families near Washington with superimposed Arabic translation. NEW RADIO STATION, ARABIC DAILY REPORTEDLY TO LAUNCH IN IRAQ "WITHIN DAYS" | Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site on 9 April Al-Sulaymaniyah: Al-Sharq al-Awsat has learnt that there are plans to move a number of journalists and presenters working in Kurdistan to another Iraqi city to set up an Iraqi radio station targeting Iraqis inside Iraq. In addition, a new Arabic daily newspaper that carries reports on the developments of the war will be published to enlighten the Iraqis and mobilize support for the coalition forces (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) ** IRAQ. IRAQI TELEVISION AND RADIO GOES OFF THE AIR http://www.rosbaltnews.com/2003/04/09/62132.html BAGHDAD, April 8. The central television and radio station of Iraq went off the air this morning. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this has been confirmed by Bashar Maali, an employee of a Syrian radio station who also worked with the Iraqi television and radio station. He confirmed that all television and radio broadcasts have been taken off the air and added that the last television broadcast was a patriotic musical clip recorded by famous Iraqi singers a week ago. He said this might have happened as a result of fighting in the area this morning between US marines and Baas [sic] party guards. The Iraqi Information Ministry, on the other hand, claims that television and radio broadcasts were discontinued as a result of work that is being done on the national television and radio towers (Rosbalt [what`s that?], 08/04/2003, 13:04 via Mike Terry, DXLD) IRAQI TV AND RADIO OFF AIR (more) From The Guardian, Owen Gibson, Tuesday April 8, 2003 Domestic Iraqi television and radio broadcasts were stopped today for the first time. Broadcasts were blacked out after US attacks targeted transmitters in the Iraqi capital in an effort to further demoralise Saddam Hussein's remaining troops. Despite the encroaching coalition forces, Iraqi television and radio had until now continued to broadcast a steady stream of propaganda messages and news but today both were knocked off air for the first time. This morning the station failed to broadcast a early news bulletin and instead showed only old footage of Saddam being cheered at rallies and played patriotic songs. Zuhair Jezairy, an Iraqi writer who quit Baghdad in 1979, said the suspension of broadcasts was hugely significant. "It is very important. He knows that the new generation have been brought up on TV, that there heroes are from the TV. They are used to seeing him three of four times a day, they are brought up to see him every day several times, so maybe if they don't see him maybe they will start to believe he is gone," Mr Jezairy told Sky News. The US military indicated it had targeted television transmitters in the Iraqi capital. "Clearly we would like to destroy Saddam's capability to disseminate lies," said Major Michael Birmingham with the US 3rd Infantry Division. Local state-run Baghdad Radio was still transmitting but airing only national music and songs in praise of Saddam. "Saddam has confused his enemy, Saddam is ours and we will stay with him until we die, he is our Saddam and we will defend him unto death," were the lyrics of one song. US officials said they bombed a building in Baghdad on Monday after intelligence reports that Saddam and his two sons may have been inside. It was not clear if they were hit. In recent days the domestic state television channel has run a morning statement from the military detailing successes against US- led invasion forces, but there was no sign of it today, although times of the broadcast have varied. Central Baghdad was a battleground on Tuesday, with US air raids pounding the area around the information ministry. No officials from the ministry were available to explain why the television broadcasts had ceased. Iraq's international satellite television channel has been off the air for a couple of days. US forces have targeted Iraqi broadcasting facilities, saying they were used by Saddam to maintain control over the country (Guardian April 9 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. On 8 Apr at 2030 I was listening to Information Radio on 9715 and noted that the broadcast was in pure SSB (USB). I recall they have used earlier also carrier but this time not. The signal was fluttery and rather weak. At 2057 suddenly it got much stronger, but no carrier noted. Well, at 2059 another station signed on and at 2100 "Govorit Radio Svoboda" ID. So Radio Liberty using this channel too. Maybe this Information Radio broadcast was from "another platform" (ship or whatever) as mentioned in recent reports (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Well with the latest actions taking place, I've noticed that the information radio was on around 1230 UT today, loud and clear [on 9715???] but nothing special; same messages and songs!? [Later:] Well, as I'm writing this (1545 UT) I can tell now that they are LIVE on the air as the song they are playing right now is a famous hip/hop Egyptian song. The lyrics are saying.. Oh what's going on... oh what I'm seeing --- how beautiful it is!!! We got the message, guys ;) less talking --- only IDs and MORE MUSIC for the last 45 Min or so. [Later2:] Well the information Radio around 1600 UT didn't have anything to broadcast but the press conference of G W Bush and T. Blair I think that was held yesterday, or the day before!?? Don't they have anything else to broadcast? [Later3:] Info. radio around 1600 UT got nothing to broadcast but the press conference of Blair and Bush in Ireland. As soon as the conference was finished an Arabic announcer was talking about the content of the conference and his voice was familiar --- and it turned out to be the Radio Sawa announcer! I recognized his voice. Then the familiar lady of Info. Radio just gave the ID and that's it. After that there was a message to the Iraqi people from the Information radio asking the people of Baghdad NOT to listen to the request of the Iraqi regime to gather in the Saddam airport. I never hearded about that request and how did this message broadcasted to the people of Baghdad! The lady also mentioned something about keep on listening to Information radio --- and you can WATCH ALSO INFORMATION TV!!!!!! for more accurate information. Well, well, sounds like news to me! All the best (TAREK ZEIDAN Cairo, Egypt 9/4/03 1645 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [and non]. GULF WAR II http://www.projectblack.net/iraqiwar.html Here is an excellent resource web site, prepared by Mr. Steve Douglass in Amarillo, Texas. There are dozens of links to all the pertinent sites vital to this situation, including many radio broadcasting stations and organizations. WORLD SWITCH ? IRAQ http://www.worldswitch.com/Countries/Iraq/News.html A collection of links to various Iraqi news, newspapers, radio, television, and magazines, many in English VETERANS AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR http://www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php An information page about the activities of veterans opposed to the Iraq War. ADVOCACY AND INTELLIGENCE INDEX FOR POW-MIA http://www.aiipowmia.com/ Here you will find reports, testimony, statements, depositions, documents, daily news, articles, lists, updates and announcements on POWs and MIAs from ALL wars. The Archives are updated and added-to daily. ALL NEWS REGARDING IRAQ and US POWs - MIAs in IRAQ is posted to the Inter Network Daily News Section (Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter March 24 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non?]. Glenn, I am a regular reader of DX Listening Digest. Appreciate your efforts in putting this newsletter together. I wanted to pass this on with the hope that your one of your readers can supply additional info: Last Saturday and Sunday (April 5 and 6th) I heard station IDing as "The Voice of Iraq (English)" on 15210 kHz. I heard them on Saturday from 1830 UT until sign off at 1957 UT. Sunday I heard them from 1730 until 1957. Programming was in Arabic except for four minute "News Headlines" in English (same script that Iraqi as used by Iraqi Minister of Information) on 28 minutes past the hour followed by Headlines in French. Sunday broadcast also had a call-in number (English) requesting reception reports. Station carried DW Radio relay at 2000 hrs. Reception was fair on Saturday and somewhat poorer on Sunday. I am using rather simple receiving equipment here, a Drake SW1 and a 30 foot antenna arranged as a loop around my apartment window. Keep up the good work (Dave Penney, Shiloh, IL (St. Louis Mo Metro area), DX LISTENING DIGEST) David, Thanks for your intriguing report. I don`t hear anything on 15210 today (Tuesday) before and after 1900 UT, and nothing much is listed there in the HFCC. I am trying to remember what the SW1 is like. Analog readout? Any chance you were 5 kHz off?? Because on 15205 is V. of Africa, Libya, as relayed by France scheduled 1800-2000. Arabic with a few minutes of English is typical of that station. Could you have mistaken `Voice of Africa` for `Voice of Iraq`? I`ve also looked for clandestines that might be using 15210 and/or by the name of V. of Iraq, and come up with nothing. Also, DW started English at 2000 on 15205, not 15210. So I think this the likely explanation, u.o.s. It seems unlikely that under present circumstances, Iraq itself would be arranging a new SW transmission, but all the more important should this be the case. Please let me have your thoughts and any further monitoring (perhaps you can only listen at that time on weekends?) Regards, (Glenn to Dave, via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. POSSIBLE STRIKE AT IBA POSTPONED FOR 24 HOURS Mike Brand reports: Pending further negotiations, the General Strike that was due to have started at 6 am local time this morning has been postponed by 24 hours. If it goes ahead, the strike will include all the national radio and TV stations of the Israel Broadcasting Authority, including Network B (Reshet Bet) - the national news and current affairs station - and Network C (Reshet Gimmel) the Hebrew pop music station. The Silent Channel will not be affected, and if there is a need for emergency broadcasts, all national radio and TV stations will broadcast as normal. All the local commercial radio stations, and the offshore station, Arutz 7, will continue as normal (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 9 April 2003 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. See KAZAKHSTAN!! ** ITALY. Rai 2 is back on 846 from Santa Palomba Site (Roma) for a test transmission; the power is 75 kW. Here you can find the picture of the site: http://www.mediasuk.org/archive/palomba_e.html Wishes, (Andrea Borgnino, April 9, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Tonight at 0005 UT and this morning 0605 UT NO TRACES OF RAI 2 on 846 kHz in Milano area. May be it was just a TEST ???? Best wishes, (Dario Monferini, UT April 9, ibid.) ** JAPAN [and non]. Early A-03 plans of NHK, by site and transmitter: days all 1234567, dates all 300303 261003 or 310303 261003 FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES LOC POWR AZIMUTH SLW ANT LANGUAGE Yamata = main site in Japan 17825 0200 0400 10,11 YAM 300 55 0 208 Various J 13630 0600 0700 2,6,7 YAM 300 55 0 208 English J 9835 0800 1000 2,6,7 YAM 300 55 0 208 Japanese J 17810 1500 1600 49,50,54 YAM 300 235 0 208 Japanese J 9835 1700 1900 14,16,61 YAM 300 85 30 208 Japanese J 13630 2340 2400 49,50,54 YAM 300 235 0 208 Various J 17685 0100 0200 51,55,56,59,60 YAM 300 175 0 208 English J 17685 0200 0400 51,55,56,59,60 YAM 300 175 0 208 Japanese J 11715 0500 0600 25,26,34,35 YAM 300 35 -20 208 English J 11715 0600 0630 25,26,34,35 YAM 300 35 -20 208 Russian J 6145 0700 0800 25,26,34,35 YAM 300 35 -20 208 Japanese J 6145 0800 0830 25,26,34,35 YAM 300 35 -20 208 Russian J 11895 1500 1700 10,11 YAM 300 55 -20 208 Japanese J 5955 1900 1920 25,26,34,35 YAM 300 35 -20 208 Russian J 17825 2100 2200 2,6,7 YAM 300 55 0 208 English J 17825 2200 2300 2,6,7 YAM 300 55 0 208 Japanese J 17560 0100 0400 38,39,40 YAM 300 305 0 208 Various J 11760 0500 0600 23,24,33 YAM 300 330 25 208 English J 11760 0600 0630 23,24,33 YAM 300 330 25 208 Russian J 6165 0700 0800 23,24,33 YAM 300 330 25 208 Japanese J 6165 0800 0830 23,24,33 YAM 300 330 25 208 Russian J 11815 0900 1500 49,50,54 YAM 300 235 0 208 Japanese J 11785 1500 1520 38,39,40 YAM 300 305 0 208 French J 11970 1700 1800 18,27,28N YAM 300 330 25 208 English J 11970 1800 1900 18,27,28N YAM 300 330 25 208 Various J 11830 2000 2100 18,27,28N YAM 300 330 25 208 Various J 13650 2240 2400 44S,49,50,54 YAM 300 235 0 208 Various J 13650 0000 0015 44S,49,50,54 YAM 300 235 0 208 English J 17810 0100 0600 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 -30 208 Various J 15590 0630 0800 41 YAM 300 270 0 208 Various J 15590 0800 1000 41 YAM 300 270 0 208 Japanese J 15590 1000 1200 43,44 YAM 300 270 0 208 English J 11785 1800 1820 48,52,53,57 YAM 300 270 0 208 French J 6165 1900 2100 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Japanese J 9560 2210 2230 44E YAM 300 290 0 146 Korean J 9560 2230 2250 44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Chinese J 13680 0000 0100 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Japanese J 15325 0100 0400 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Various J 17860 0630 0700 44S,49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Chinese J 17860 0700 0900 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Japanese J 9695 0930 1000 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Indonesian J 9695 1000 1200 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 English J 9695 1200 1330 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Various J 11730 1400 1700 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Various J 9685 1800 1820 48,52,53,57 YAM 300 270 30 208 French J 13680 1900 2400 49,50,54 YAM 300 240 0 208 Japanese J 11910 0000 0100 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Japanese J 17845 0100 0300 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Various J 17845 0330 0500 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Various J 17845 0500 0600 44E YAM 300 290 0 146 Various J 9750 0800 1700 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Various J 11910 1900 2400 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Japanese J 15195 0100 0200 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Japanese J 15195 0200 0800 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Various J 6035 1600 1900 43,44 YAM 300 290 0 146 Japanese J 17835 0100 0400 14,16 YAM 100 85 0 208 Various J 17870 0600 0700 61 YAM 100 85 0 208 English J 17870 0700 0800 61 YAM 100 85 0 208 Japanese J 9825 0800 1000 14,16,61 YAM 100 85 0 208 Japanese J 9710 1000 1030 14,16 YAM 100 85 0 208 Spanish J 13660 1100 1230 49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 Various J 13660 1230 1300 49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 Indonesian J 7200 1330 1400 49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 Thai J 7200 1400 1900 49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 Various J 21670 2100 2200 61 YAM 100 85 0 208 English J 17810 2240 2400 44S,49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 Various J 17810 0000 0015 44S,49,50,54 YAM 100 240 30 208 English J 17855 0100 0200 49,50,54 YAM 100 235 0 208 Japanese J 17875 0200 0400 2,6,7 YAM 100 55 0 208 Japanese J 21600 0500 0700 49,50,54 YAM 100 235 0 208 Japanese J 11910 0500 0700 43,44 YAM 100 280 0 800 Japanese J 12030 0800 1000 10,11 YAM 100 55 0 208 Japanese J 12030 1000 1030 10,11 YAM 100 55 0 208 Spanish J 6090 1100 1130 44E YAM 100 280 0 800 Korean J 9505 1400 1800 2,6,7 YAM 100 55 0 208 Various J 11665 2000 2200 49,50,54 YAM 100 235 0 208 Japanese J 21610 0300 0400 51,55,56,59,60 YAM 100 165 0 208 Various J 21755 0500 1100 51,55,56,59,60 YAM 100 165 0 208 Various J 6190 1130 1230 43,44 YAM 100 280 0 800 Various J 6190 1230 1330 44E YAM 100 280 0 800 Various J 6190 1400 1430 44E YAM 100 280 0 800 Korean J 6190 1430 1500 44 YAM 100 280 0 800 Chinese J 11910 1500 1600 43,44 YAM 100 280 0 800 Japanese J 7140 1600 1800 51,55,56,59,60 YAM 100 165 0 208 Japanese J 17700 0400 0100 39 YAM 300 305 0 208 Various J 15325 0400 1000 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Japanese J 11725 1000 1200 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Japanese J 11860 1200 1600 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Japanese J 11725 1700 0200 41 YAM 300 270 30 208 Japanese J Moyabi, Gabon: 11915 0430 0700 27,28 GAB 500 350 0 158 Various J 21730 1030 1100 27,28 GAB 500 350 0 158 Various J 15355 1700 1900 52,57 GAB 500 170 0 158 Various J Ekala, Sri Lanka: 11880 0100 0200 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 English CLN 11875 0230 0300 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 Persian CLN 11930 0300 0400 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 Japanese CLN 11930 0400 0430 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 Arabic CLN 11890 0300 0400 41 EKA 300 350 0 146 Japanese CLN 17820 0500 0530 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 French CLN 11890 0630 0800 41 EKA 300 350 0 146 Various CLN 17675 0830 0900 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 Persian CLN 11890 1230 1300 41 EKA 300 350 0 146 Various CLN 11890 1300 1400 41 EKA 300 350 0 146 Various CLN 17755 1400 1500 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 English CLN 9890 1400 1500 55,58-60 EKA 300 130 0 208 Various CLN 11880 1700 1900 38-40 EKA 300 310 0 211 Japanese CLN 9740 1900 2000 55,58-60 EKA 300 130 0 208 Various CLN 11770 2200 2300 55,58-60 EKA 300 130 0 208 Various CLN Sackville, Canada: 6145 0000 0100 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 English CAN 5960 0200 0400 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 Japanese CAN 6110 0500 0600 6-8 SAC 250 268 0 156 English CAN 6120 1100 1200 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 English CAN 11705 1300 1500 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 Japanese CAN 11705 1500 1600 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 Japanese CAN 15160 1500 1600 6-8 SAC 250 268 0 156 Japanese CAN 6110 2200 2300 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 156 Japanese CAN Montsinéry, French Guiana: 15565 0230 0300 13,14,15 GUF 300 155 0 151 Portuguese GUY 9660 0300 0400 12,14,15 GUF 300 215 0 156 Japanese GUY 9660 0400 0430 12,14,15 GUF 300 215 0 156 Spanish GUY 11895 0500 0530 10,11W GUF 300 295 0 151 Spanish GUY 9530 0800 1000 13,14,15 GUF 300 155 0 151 Japanese GUY 15590 1000 1100 13,14,15 GUF 300 155 0 151 Various GUY 21600 1700 1800 12,14,15 GUF 300 215 0 156 Japanese GUY 11895 2200 2300 10,11W GUF 300 295 0 151 Japanese GUY Woofferton, Skelton, Rampisham, UK: 7230 0500 0700 18,19,28N,29 WOF 300 70 0 211 English G 11710 0800 1000 18,19,28N,29 SKN 300 70 -20 206 Japanese G 11710 1100 1130 18,19,28N,29 WOF 250 70 0 216 German G 11710 1130 1200 18,19,28N,29 WOF 250 70 0 216 Russian G 9750 1700 1800 18,19,28N,29 RMP 500 62 -20 206 Japanese G 6180 2100 2200 18,19,28N,29 SKN 300 70 -20 206 English G 5975 0500 0600 27,28W,37N SKN 250 150 0 141 English G 9660 1100 1130 27,28,37N WOF 300 140 0 218 German G 6175 1700 1900 27,28W,37N SKN 250 150 0 141 Japanese G 6055 2100 2200 27,28W,37N SKN 300 140 0 211 English G 6115 2200 2300 27,28W,37N SKN 300 125 0 211 Japanese G Singapore: 11860 0100 0200 49,50,54 SNG 250 340 0 145 English SNG 11860 0200 0300 49,50,54 SNG 250 340 0 145 Japanese SNG 11740 0600 0700 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 20 147 English SNG 11740 0700 1000 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 0 147 Japanese SNG 11740 1030 1100 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 20 145 Burmese SNG 11740 1130 1200 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 20 145 Thai SNG 11740 1200 1230 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 20 145 Vietnam SNG 11740 1230 1300 49,50,54 SNG 250 0 20 145 Chinese SNG 6035 2000 2100 55,58-60 SNG 250 140 -20 145 Japanese SNG 6035 2100 2200 55,58-60 SNG 250 140 -20 145 English SNG 11920 0700 1000 55,58-60 SNG 250 140 -20 145 Japanese SNG 12045 1500 1700 41 SNG 250 315 0 151 Japanese CLN? Ascension Island: 6135 0330 0400 46-48,52,53 ASC 250 85 0 216 Swahili G 15220 0700 0730 46,47 ASC 250 27 0 146 Arabic G 17650 0800 1000 46,47 ASC 250 27 0 147 Japanese G 15400 1230 1300 46,47 ASC 250 27 0 147 French G 17790 1230 1330 46-48,52,53 ASC 250 85 0 216 French G 21630 1500 1600 46-48,52,53 ASC 250 85 0 216 Japanese G 21630 1600 1700 46-48,52,53 ASC 250 85 0 216 English G 11855 2100 2200 46-48,52,53 ASC 250 85 0 216 English G 15220 2200 2300 13,14 ASC 250 235 0 216 Japanese G Dhabbaya, UAE: 17720 0800 1000 38,39,40 DHA 500 290 0 218 Japanese UAE 17660 1000 1100 18,27,28N DHA 500 315 15 146 English UAE [For good measure, the NHK low-power domestic service relays at Sapporo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and SHO=near Tokyo; inband portion only] 6005 0400 1230 45 SAP 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 6005 2000 0030 45 SAP 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 9535 0100 0330 45 SAP 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 6005 0100 0330 45 NAY 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 6130 2000 0400 45 FUK 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 9535 0430 0730 45 FUK 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 6175 2000 0030 45 SHO 1 0 0 926 Japanese J 9550 0100 0730 45 SHO 1 0 0 926 Japanese J [and while we`re at it, the registrations for private station NSB at Nagara (Chiba), not including 75m band:] 6055 0000 2400 45 NAG 50 64 0 701 Japanese J NSB 6055 0000 2400 45 NAG 50 244 0 701 Japanese J NSB 6115 2300 1000 45 NAG 50 50 0 701 Japanese J NSB 6115 2300 1000 45 NAG 50 230 0 701 Japanese J NSB 9595 0000 2400 45 NAG 50 64 0 701 Japanese J NSB 9595 0000 2400 45 NAG 50 244 0 701 Japanese J NSB 9760 2300 0800 45 NAG 50 50 0 701 Japanese J NSB 9760 2300 0800 45 NAG 50 230 0 701 Japanese J NSB (as of Jan 23, 2003, edited, condensed and explicated by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably not including special service for Iraq War ** JORDAN. re DXLD 3-059: Radio Jordan heard on 11690 at 1600 April 9th with news in English, no noticeable difference in perspective noted with my domestic media, reported US Marines being warmly welcomed in Baghdad. 1624 recheck had 60s pop music, announcement of English broadcast starting at 1300, abrupt off in middle of pop music 1630 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KASHMIR [non]. Summer schedule for Radio Sadoye Kashmir: 0230-0330 NF 6100 (34433), ex 6135, re-ex 9890 0730-0830 on 9890 no signal in BUL 1430-1530 NF 6100 (54554), ex 6135 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN. Kol Israel in Persian via A-A 200 kW / 132 deg noted on April 3-7: 1430-1526* on 5910, instead of DVOBurma in Burmese!!! \\ 13850, 15640, 17545 * Fri/Sat till 1500 and carrier till 1526 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) The joke of the week: WRN World Radio Network / MERLIN send out Israel program via Kazakhstan (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRN would have incoming Israeli audio, but why would Merlin??? (gh, DXLD) {and it took them 6 days to notice!} ** KURDISTAN [non]. MOLDOVA: Summer A-03 schedule for Denge Mezopotamya in Kurdish: 0400-1200 NF 11530* KCH 500 kW /116 deg, ex 15675 TAC 200 kW / 256 deg 1200-1600 on 11530 KCH 500 kW /116 deg * co-ch WYFR English/Arabic/French/English till 0800 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) See also RUSSIA ** KUWAIT. KUWAIT CO. http://www.mandoubco.com/ This site has information about different aspects of Kuwait. There is an interesting section about war precautions for the people of Kuwait, plus you will find links to Radio Kuwait (Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter March 24 via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. See USA - WJIE ** MONGOLIA. 12085, Ulan Bator, fair with Chinese program at 0930- 1000 UT, then Interval signal and woman announcer in English "This is the Voice of Mongolia, English" at 1000. Then gave frequencies and times for English services. 4/8. I can't seem to log any other times in English except this one (Drake R8, 40 foot vertical, Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KAVT Reception Manager, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PALESTINE. THE PALESTINE CHRONICLE http://palestinechronicle.com/index.php The Palestine Chronicle is an independent internet magazine, dedicated to addressing issues and offering perspectives rarely seen in mainstream western media. These issues include the plight and welfare of Palestinian refugees, as well as other displaced and oppressed people around the world. We are committed to democracy and freedom of expression, and we encourage contributions from people who are genuinely concerned with the specified above. However, we deeply oppose any form of literature that expresses religious or racial intolerance. Palestine Chronicle does not speak on behalf of any political or religious party. Palestine Chronicle is written and constructed solely by volunteers from various places around the globe with a common purpose, bringing to light the suffering of humankind everywhere, from Palestine, the Middle East and beyond (via Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter March 24 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RRI English hours: 2300 Eu 9570 good, 11775 fair 2300 NAm 11740 just barely audible! Wiped by WYFR co-channel; 15105 I don`t hear anything So go 9570; don`t *they* know it`s best? 0200 9510 splash by WYFR 9505, and other co-channel 9510; 11940 JBA with splash from 11935, 11945 0400 9510 splash by WYFR 9505; 11940 nil, taken out by 11945 splash (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Some [clandestine] stations via SAM 250 kW / 188 deg: Voice of Homeland in Arabic: 1500-1530 Daily NF 12120 (55555), ex 12115 \\ 12085 (55555) RTV Mezopotamiya in Kurdish: 1700-1800 Tue/Wed/Fri on 7560 (55555) Sagalee Oromiya in Oromo: 1730-1800 Mon/Thu NF 12120 (55555), ex 12115 Dejen Radio in Tigrina: 1700-1800 Sat NF 12120 (55555), ex 12115 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. /GERMANY: Voice of Russia A-03 via DTK/JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME: 1400-1500 Russian Commonwealth 17705 (55555) 2000-2100 Russian World Service 6170 (55555) 2100-2200 Russian Commonwealth 6170 (55555) 2200-2300 Arabic additional 6170 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. The times I heard REE at 0000 on 9690 must have been programming error. Found English at 0000 on 15385; terrible signal! Just makes it. Heavy splash from 15375 Christian Voice; also co- channel (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REE English to NAm 0000-0100 on 15385, fair to good, some splash by CV (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) REE caught once at 0000 on 9690, only on a few minutes. Next day I found them on 15385 in English. That`s where they are for NAm service at 0000-0100. They announce 6055 at top of transmission. Only active on 6055 after 0100 and it`s all in Spanish! (Bob Thomas, CT, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15385 should do OK in the summer except during propagational disturbances. Of course just about any frequency relayed from Costa Rica would be better for English, but that is out of the question (gh, DXLD) 15385 kHz at 0000 UT, starting to propagate better, the signal held well for the whole hour. April 8 (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Drake SW8 with whip only, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. From REE website, some times and frequencies for our favourite programas: NUESTRO SELLO --- mostly classical music: M-F 1405 15585 17595 21540 21570 21610 [ex-1610] Tu-Sa 0105 6055 9535 9620 11680 15160 ESPAÑOLES EN LA MAR --- for seafarers: Mon-Sat 1510 15585 21610 21700; Sat also 21570 M-F 2105 11625 15110 Sat 2205 9765 11625 11815 15110 17850 AMIGOS DE LA ONDA CORTA --- DX program: Sat 1105 15585 13770 Sat 1805 17755 Sun 0105 6020 6055 9535 9620 11680 15160 Sun 1605 21610 LA ZARZUELA Sat 1130 15585 13770 (from http://www.rtve.es/rne/ree/OndaCorta/p-h-f-.htm via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. See RUSSIA ** TAIWAN. RTI hours in English: 0200 15320 SEAs, 11875 Phil, 15465 Japan/Korea; 5950/9680 NAm WYFR 0300 15215 SAm, 15320 SEAs, 5950/9680 NAm WYFR 0700 5950 NAm via RCI Canada [! Why do you think this?? Has always been WYFR and they are still scheduled on 5950 until 0800 --- gh] 1100 11985 China, 7445 SEAs 1200 9610 NZ/Au, 7130 Japan/Korea 1400 15265 SEAs, 11550 China/SEAs 1700 11550 SEAs/China, 3955 Eu 2200 15600 Eu [WYFR] (Bob Thomas, CT, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese from March 30: 1212-1300 15660 (44544) A-A 200 kW / 132 deg plus Chinese mx jammer 21560 (54554) TAC 100 kW / 131 deg plus Chinese mx jammer 1430-1517 12100 (54554) TAC 100 kW / 131 deg plus Chinese mx jammer (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. 9830 kHz at 2200-2245 UTC with a SINPO 33322; parallel 11960 was much better at 55444, and likely would carry better during the summer. April 7 (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Drake SW8 with whip only, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. Additional new morning transmission for Voice of Turkey in Arabic: 0400-0550 on 9560 (55544) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U A E. UAE Radio Dubai in Arabic and English noted on April 5-7: 0600-2100 NF 13650, instead of 13675 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) {So including English 1030, 1330, 1600} ** U K. Here's the link to a story from today's INDEPENDENT, in which the head of BBC radio and music discusses war coverage and the increase in audience during the war: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/media/story.jsp?story=395016 73- (Bill Westenhaver, April 9, LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Additional unregistered frequencies for BBC in Arabic: 0930-1100 on 15165 (54444) 2000-2400 on 5875 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]: New summer schedule for BFBS Radio in English: 0300-0400 7260 (55544) 15795 (35433) 0400-0600 11975 (45444) 15795 (35433) 0600-0700 15425 (55555) 15795 (45444) 1400-1600 13860 (55555) 17895 (55555) over BSKSA Holy Kor`an in Arabic till 1500 1600-1700 13860 (55555) NF 17635 (55555), ex 15245 to avoid Channel Africa in Swahili and French 1700-1800 13860 (55555) 15150 (55544) 1800-2000 6015 (55544) |||| not 6105 13760 (55555) 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Today [April 6th] I tuned into 13860 at 1450 expecting to hear BFBS but instead found FEBA R. in an Asian language! This transmission ceased at 1500 but the carrier stayed on. I returned around 1540 and BFBS was there. It seems they mixed up programming --- maybe BFBS would have been sent on 15605 instead --- that`s where Samara should carry FEBA in Hindi till 1500. BFBS has come up on new 17635 from 1600 replacing 15245 [RSA on there]. I'm informed that 17635 is used until 1800, so also replaces 15150 [RRI from 1730]. (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Apr 6 via Wolfgang Bueschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) I think Merlin PC control features on program satellite delivery circuits is *overwhelmed* today to handle all these programs like --- to mention a few --- FEBA, BFBS, ABC-Radio Australia, V of Tibet, NHK, RFI, AWR, KBS/RKI, UN radio, HCJB, RTA Afghanistan, VRT-Belgium, VOV Vietnam, RTE Ireland, Celtic Notes Wales RI, V of Ethiopia, Voice of Eritrea, R International, Komala, Sawt al-Islah, CBS, Christian R, Ecclesia, Gospel for Asia, Chinese project AIRWAVES via UAE and SNG, RAI, WSHB, some TWR. Yes, the 15245 BFBS/Channel Africa clash noted here from the first day on ... 73 de wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, April 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. PRESSURE FORCES BBC RADIO RETHINK Owen Gibson, Friday April 04 2003, The Guardian BBC London has responded to listeners fatigued by its 24-hour war news and is returning to its regular schedule, including the reinstatement of Danny Baker in his regular breakfast slot. "After careful consideration, we feel that the time is now right to get Danny back on air at breakfast, while making full provision to respond to news events flexibly and comprehensively," said a BBC spokesman. The station has been besieged with complaints since it abandoned its regular schedule on the eve of the invasion of Iraq in favour of rolling news and current affairs programmes. The station's internet message board has been besieged by angry listeners demanding that regular shows, including Baker's breakfast show, be reinstated. "As a loyal listener to this frequency in all its different forms, I accept that the current situation in Iraq is serious but the suits have finally managed to destroy the station. If listeners want to hear continuous rolling news there are alternative stations already including BBC stations," read one typical posting. The site has also been inundated with complaints about talk show presenter Jon Gaunt, who has replaced Danny Baker since the first day of the war, accusing him of being biased in favour of pro-war callers. Having also come under fire in the last year for reducing the number of music shows, BBC London will reinstate its regular schedule from Monday but with extended news bulletins. The hourly bulletins will be extended to seven minutes, with half hourly bulletins extended to four minutes and the recently introduced quarter-past and quarter-to the hour slots retained. The BBC confirmed there were over 100 emails 50% of which, it said, were supportive of the changes to schedules. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. AFN USB quite active with war info feeds from MSNBC and other sources: 3903, 4278, 4319, 4993, 6350, 6458, 10320, 12579, 12689, 13362 (Bob Thomas, CT, WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both you and C. Crane insist on dropping the point 5 from at least: 4278.5, 6458.5, 12689.5 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DEFEND AMERICA http://www.defendamerica.mil/index.html The U.S. Defense Department's unconventional war against terrorism has spawned an unconventional Web site to report news about that war: DefendAmerica.mil. The new site offers the latest news, photographs, transcripts and other information about the U.S.-led global effort against terrorism. As DefendAmerica's editor, David Jackson, put it, "If it has anything to do with the war, we're interested." The Defense Department launched the site before Operation Enduring Freedom began last October. The goal was to inform the public, both in the U.S. and abroad, of what the U.S. was doing to combat global terrorism, according to Victoria Clarke, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs (Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter March 24 via DXLD) ** U S A. Pacifica radio makes comeback as anti-war radio {KPFA} http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030407/ts_alt_afp/iraq_war_us_radio_030407173220 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. AUSTRIA/U S A: Corrections to AWR schedule via Moosbrunn: 0400-0500 Arabic 15470 ||||| is missing in printed schedule 0500-0600 Arabic 15470 ||||| ex 15330 in printed schedule 1800-1900 Arabic 15535 ||||| is missing in printed schedule (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. U.K.:/U S A: Updated A-03 schedule for AWR via Woofferton: 1900-1930 Fulfulde 15270 (55555), ex 15225 in printed schedule 1930-2000 Hausa 15270 (55555), ex 15225 in printed schedule 1930-2000 Igbo 17660 (55555) 2000-2030 French 15140 (55555), ex 15130 in printed schedule 2000-2100 English 15385 (55555) 2030-2100 Yoruba 15140 (55555), ex 15130 in printed schedule (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RUSSIA: From March 30 Dr. Gene Scott again on air via SAM 100 kW / 130 deg: 0300-1600 on 17765 (45544) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 8 via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO WAVES TAKE SOLDIER SALUTES TO MIDDLE EAST From: http://www.wndu.com/news/042003/news_19329.php?PRINT_VERSION=1 Posted: 04/07/2003 05:18 pm Last Updated: 04/07/2003 05:56 pm With American troops fighting half a world away, people on the home front have yet another way to try and bridge the communication gap. Short wave radio signals are going a long way to boost military morale in the Middle East. Some of the signals actually originate in South Bend at the studios of LeSEA Broadcasting. Operations manager Zach Anders of LeSEA Broadcasting says, "We know reports that the troops are listening to short wave we've heard and read stories actually been listening to the Voice of America on the government's short-wave station." {sic} If the U.S. troops in Iraq should also happen to be tune in WHRA what they hear might hit very close to home. LeSEA has been broadcasting soldier salutes, individual mentions of soldiers serving their country. "We wanted to create an opportunity for people to show their love and support for the troops," says Anders. The station set up a phone line that people across the country can call and tape a one minute message. It's hoped it will have a much longer lasting effect on troop morale. "They're putting their lives on the line every day. What a great encouragement to hear America loves them and is supporting them in what they're doing over there in Iraq." Send your own message If you're interested in recording a message on the soldier salutes phone line the number is 574- 299-4059. The calls have been coming in from all over the country and at least one foreign country, much to the surprise of station officials. One caller from Israel dialed the line to convey their support (via Ulis R. Fleming, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. NETWORKS' THEME MUSIC SANITIZES WAR'S DARKEST REALITIES By John von Rhein, Tribune music critic, April 6, 2003 If you catch the fleeting bits of music that accompany the television and radio networks' saturation coverage of the war on Iraq, you might conclude that this is a family entertainment event on the order of "American Idol" or the Super Bowl. Specially composed or borrowed "theme" music that takes its cue from glitzy graphics reinforces the image of a resolute America marching proudly into prime-time battle. It's war as "Must See TV," with catchy tunes. The media's war music, some critics charge, tells viewers and listeners what to think and feel about the conflict even before the embedded reporters deliver their updates from the front. There's some truth to this, although network spokespersons deny it. Fox and CBS have devised Iraq war soundtracks that trumpet an unequivocal, scorched-earth patriotism: Let's feel good about America and beat Saddam! Fox's theme music is caught particularly between Iraq and a hard place. Make that hard rock. As the titles "War on Terror" and "Operation Iraqi Freedom" fill the screen, pounding instrumentals tear across the soundtrack like Tomahawk missiles. These supercharged sound bites make you want to take cover. They also make you expect something momentous, even if it's just Greta Van Susteren interviewing yet another retired military "expert." If Fox is trying hard to appear younger and hipper than the competition, CNN attempts to lure viewers with animated graphics that seem to come straight out of a video game. They are dressed in a signature motif that uses sharp martial drumbeats to seize your attention. A CNN spokeswoman explains that this lead-in music is among a variety of prepackaged pieces the network purchases from a commercial music service for on-air use. CNN senior managers, she says, "work with the graphics people to essentially marry the music with the animation. The music swells when a particular image is shown." But, she adds, "the goal is not histrionics or drama, but something that's compelling and appropriate. We don't want anything that would cheapen the news." Tell that to CBS, which may be attempting to counteract its staid image with a bellicose surge of electronic sounds intended to convey "a climate of fear," according to composer Peter Fish. "To me, this is a real live war, and we should be both awed and simultaneously scared," he recently told the Philadelphia Inquirer. CNN Radio draws on some of the same music used by its corporate big brother but switches to more reflective piano music when producers feel it's appropriate for a given program segment. Like CNN, both NBC and ABC also employ special music for their TV, cable and Internet outlets. NBC's music, in the majestic John Williams' mode, is the work of composer Michael Karp. Much of the uncredited music ABC has been airing since March 19 sounds like a retread of its fanfare-like "Nightline" theme, which has been around since Ted Koppel donned his fatigues for the 1991 Persian Gulf war. By contrast, National Public Radio has opted for a relatively low-key approach in the music that introduces its war-related programming. NPR executives say their aim is to be unobtrusive and give listeners a chance to reflect between fast-breaking stories from Iraq. Their big advantage, they say, is not being saddled with graphics and live images that might dictate or influence the emotional tone of the music. Which means NPR's music can suggest momentous things are taking place without embracing either jingoism or pacifism, in their view. "There are many emotions people feel about a situation like this. Some are patriotic, some are deeply distressed and sad," says Bob Boilen, director of NPR's "All Things Considered" and host of its online music program, "All Songs Considered." "If I were to play very patriotic music, that would send an editorial signal. That bothers me. As a network, we just try to describe what's happening, not put feelings into people's heads." NPR turned to one of its own, Jeffrey Freymann-Weyr, a producer in NPR's arts information unit, for original music appropriate to the balanced tone the network insists it strives for in its war coverage. Recycled music To create NPR's Iraq war "theme," Freymann-Weyr recycled music he had written to bookend the network's reportage of the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. On request, he made a few subtle changes to his score and supplied alternate versions of varying lengths for use with different program segments. "The challenge was that the music needed to be serious and important- sounding but not self-important," says the 39-year-old composer. True enough, his brief war anthem sounds like a New Age variant of the opening of Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." Freymann-Weyr admits the simulated trumpet, timpani and military snare drum sounds he created on his home synthesizer are "a bit of a cliché," but "it didn't feel right not to use them, given the history of music in times of war." NPR has also posted a haunting montage of war photos, with musical accompaniment, on its Web site. The photo essay was created because of the huge listener response to the music public radio uses during its war coverage. "The thing we were trying to shoot for is more compassionate music, because no matter how you feel about this conflict, I think people feel compassion for the soldiers and the innocents," Boilen says. The half-hour of music that underscores the photos ranges from a gently burbling string piece by the band The Frames to a vaguely Near Eastern melody incongruously set to a tango rhythm by Eric Bachmann. The only overtly classical music consists of Minimalist string quartets by Michael Nyman and George Pelecis. The musical photo essay can be accessed at http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/specialcoverage Hum a few bars Indeed, it seems unlikely that any Iraq war theme music will be remembered once the fighting in Iraq stops. Can anyone hum a note of "theme music" from the first Gulf war? It also seems unlikely that the current conflict will produce a patriotic ballad destined to sweep the nation like Sgt. Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets" did during the Vietnam era ("Fighting soldiers from the sky, Fearless men who jump and die, Men who mean just what they say, The brave men of the Green Beret"). The nation has undergone a great deal of moral soul-searching since the Vietnam War, and such simplistic flag-waving no longer seems appropriate, except perhaps to executives of Fox News. The other night, correspondent Joe Klein, speaking to CNN news anchor Aaron Brown, was sharply critical of the mostly sanitized images of the Iraq conflict carried thus far by the networks, including CNN. A telling analogy can be drawn between television's averting its lens from the bloodiest scenes of violent death and destruction and the bland musical clichés that wrap subliminally around the news from the battlefront as packaged for domestic consumption. With ratings and advertising revenue at stake, the corporate media appear reluctant to tell people in their living rooms what they believe those folks don't want to hear. Why risk sowing the seeds of doubt and disillusion back home by rubbing the audience's noses in blood and guts and other unpleasant stuff? And that's where music has been turned into a sanitizing agent. Copyright (c) 2003, Chicago Tribune (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. US MEDIA DIG DEEP FOR POLITICIANS Political donations by US media companies Annie Lawson, Friday April 04 2003, The Guardian Political donations by US television and radio stations have almost doubled in the last year, research has shown. And the Bush family's association with many media organisations runs deep and is reflected by the hefty handouts from the likes of NBC network owner General Electric and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, both trenchant supporters of the war. The amount of money ploughed into party coffers by Rupert Murdoch's Fox TV, NBC and radio giant Clear Channel among others has gone up to £7.56m in 2001/2002, compared with just £4.6m in 2000, the latest figures reveal. Media companies have shown that they have deep pockets when it comes to politics, with the level of contributions made over the last decade growing ninefold, according to the Centre for Responsive Politics, a US research group that tracks money and politics. The support President Bush has received from the corporate sector is evidenced by the unprecedented $100m he raised when he decided to run for president. And although donations by many media organisations are made to both Republicans and Democrats, their support of the Bush administration is exposed by what researchers call "soft money" donations - sponsorship and support for general party activities. For example, just 24% of News Corp's donations to political parties went to Mr Bush, but almost 90% of the "soft money" went to the Republicans. Sheila Krumholz, the CRP's head of research, said while the entertainment industry had become more bi-partisan, "soft money" donations tended to reflect the views of the proprietor. "When you are speaking of the executives and corporation itself, the donations are typically representative of their economic interest of the organisation and are dictated by whoever is in power." Figures show that NBC network owner General Electric and News Corporation, owner of the Fox and Sky television networks and the New York Post, tipped the bulk of their soft money funds into Republican coffers in 2001-02. The two media giants are among the most prolific donors, according the data reported to the US federal electoral commission. General Electric directed nearly 60% of overall donations - $1.92m - to the Republicans in 2001-02. The party received nearly twice the amount in soft money donations. Ms Krumholz, the centre's research director, said media multinationals have a history of dipping their financial fingers in the political pie to protect their corporate interests. "Donations from media companies, as with all industries, have grown over the last decade," she said. However, their political loyalties have seeped to the surface during the coverage of the conflict in Iraq. News Corp, whose Fox network is renowned for its creative approach to US journalistic objectivity, donated $427,487 in soft money to the Republicans in 2001-02. Much of this was directed to the party's national and congressional committees, and a large portion came from either individuals or the companies associated with the Fox network. However, News Corp's overall contributions favoured the Democrats, as people associated with the company gave 76% of the $1.85m in overall donations to the Democrats. Ms Krumholz said overall donations include contributions from employees, who tend to be more left-leaning in media than other businesses. Murdoch's media empire still has close ties with the Bush family. The relationship was recently put under the spotlight when it was revealed that Fox News Channel chairman Roger Ailes, a former Republican party strategist, secretly acted as an advisor to the president in the days after the September 11 terrorist strikes. Global radio giant Clear Channel recently reignited concerns about companies that control mainstream media and snuggle up to political parties, following its controversial sponsorship of pro-war rallies in the US. The media group, which controls 1,225 radio stations across the US and is the world's largest radio empire, also attracted scathing criticism for dropping the Dixie Chicks from its network playlist after its lead singer publicly declared her opposition to the war. The company's founder, Lowry Mays, ensured the majority of the $503,910 donations made in 2001-02 landed in the Republican party's coffers. But his company's links with the Bush family run deeper. Media watchdog takebackthemedia.com this week published the elaborate web of connections that further align Clear Channel with the Bush family. Mays, who took advantage of radio deregulation and transformed Clear Channel into a global multimedia player, is associated with the president through the University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO). Mays sits on the governing board, alongside Clear Channel vice-chairman Thomas Hicks, whose family is believed to have contributed over $500,000 to Bush campaigns over the years. Hicks, a long-time friend and supporter of President Bush, heads the UTIMCO board but his position was recently embroiled in controversy when it emerged he awarded UTIMCO-funded contracts to firms politically associated with the Bush dynasty. Hicks also bought the Texas Rangers American football team from Bush for $250 million in 1998, three times the amount that Bush and his partners had originally paid. The Bush clan is also closely associated with the Reverend Sun Myung Moon-backed Washington Times, whose founder is the notorious leader of the Unification Church cult. The Bush family and Moon are reportedly closely intertwined, with Bush senior having received hefty lecturing fees from the church leader. However, the flow of funds from press and publishing has declined from $15.04m in 2000 to $7.09m in 2002. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Apr 9, 2003 LATEST MISSIONARY RADIO UPDATE WJIE INTERNATIONAL SHORTWAVE This is our latest update, and what great news to share with you! First, our second transmitter WJIE-2, is ON THE AIR! This transmitter is the twin of our 7.490 Mhz transmitter in Upton, KY, and we have been struggling with it for nearly six months. Thanks to the hard work or our engineer Larry Baysinger, and our ministry representative Morgan Freeman, we have finally achieved a stable signal on this 50,000 watt unit. This second transmitter is operating on 13.595 Mhz, so we are asking for QSLs (reception reports) from around the globe! We are currently simulcasting our broadcast on both transmitters, but we hope by the middle of May to split the two signals and operate each independently. Please continue to pray for us! Second, our shortwave transmitter in Liberia is ON THE AIR! Today we performed our final system check, turned on the air conditioner, and fired up THE VOICE OF LIBERTY! This transmitter is directed right to the HEART of the Islamic world, piercing through the Muslim veil in northern Africa and into the Middle East. We have a long way to go this project, so we are currently simulcasting our Voice of Liberty FM in Monrovia, Liberia on this new shortwave station. Hopefully by the middle of June, this will also be operating independently, and you will be able to air your broadcast on this powerful NEW shortwave station! Praise God! Third, many of you are aware of our goal to purchase three 100,000 watt transmitters being decommissioned by another international ministry. Well....I am happy to report to you that we have CLOSED THE DEAL on these, and in May we will be sending our engineer to the Seychelle Islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean to begin the transport process. One of these will be going to Liberia to improve our signal there, and the other two returning here to Kentucky. These new transmitters will put us into another level of ministry through shortwave. We have YOU to thank for this! You stood by us, you gave financially, but most importantly, YOU PRAYED. I cannot begin to tell you how many emails I received from people around the world saying they were agreeing with us on these units. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Finally, here in the US, we have added two new stations to our organization, and we are partnering with a third. Our new stations are WOBS-AM in Jacksonville, Florida and WCKO-AM in Norfolk, Virginia. Both of these are wonderful, growing stations and we would like to invite you to broadcast on them. Call us for more info. We are also partnering with KCIF-FM in Hilo, Hawaii, and assisting them in acquiring quality programming to air on their great station as well. If you are interested in airing your broadcast on these stations or on international shortwave, please email or call one of our following representatives: Doug Rumsey dougrumsey@worldprayercenter.org Morgan Freeman morgan@wjie.org Phone (for both) 502-968-1220 That's our update for now. If you have any questions regarding any of the projects that we are involved in, or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me personally. I would love to hear from you. Check out our updated web-site at http://www.wjiesw.com, and until next time, GOD BLESS! In Christ, (DOC BURKHART, WORLD PRAYER BROADCASTING NETWORK, WJIE INTERNATIONAL SHORTWAVE via DXLD) ** U S A. TV TOWER'S COLLAPSE GAVE RISE TO NEW STRUCTURE ON KNOB HILL Can you give me some information on the WSMV tower in west Nashville? Back in the 1980s when I was growing up in Charlotte Park I never knew what it was for, until I was older. My parents have told me a few things about it, but not much. I know my parents said that part of it fell during construction. Is this true? Can you give me more information http://www.tennessean.com/learn-nashville/archives/03/04/31053940.shtml?Element_ID=31053940 (via Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, DXLD) ** U S A. SENATE TO REVIEW MEDIA OWNERSHIP Committee to study rules on 35% network reach limit, newspaper- broadcast cross-ownership. April 7, 2003: 5:43 AM EDT http://money.cnn.com/2003/04/06/news/companies/media_fcc.reut/ (via Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, DXLD) ** U S A. DESPITE MISSION MOVE, RADIO SHOW WON'T BE `UNSHACKLED` EMOTIONAL DRAMA THE BASIS FOR LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN RADIO HISTORY By Michael DesEnfants, Staff Writer Although there is uncertainty about the future of the Pacific Garden Mission, officials from the century-old shelter said that ``Unshackled`` will continue to broadcast its message across the globe every week. Over the last 52 years, ``Unshackled,`` the longest- running radio show in broadcast history, according to its web site, is recorded out of the Pacific Garden Mission every week. The religious drama has aired 2,741 shows, according to Dudley Donaldson. . . http://www.ccchronicle.com/back/2003-04-07/citybeat2.html (Columbia Chronicle via Ulis Fleming, DXLD) Glenn, Don't know if it's of interest or not.... I think they still run this program on WYFR? (Ulis Fleming, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don`t know about that, but is on current WWCR schedule: Sat 0730 3210, Sun 0530 5070, Sun 1930 12160 (gh, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. RADIO TASHKENT INTERNATIONAL A03 SCHEDULE: Arabic 1700-1730 9715, 7285, 6190 1900-1930 9715, 7285, 6190 Dari 0130-0200 9715, 7190 1520-1550 9715, 7285, 6190 English 0100-0130 9715, 7190 1200-1230 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1330-1400 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 2030-2100 11905, 9545, 5025 2130-2200 11905, 9545, 5025 [English section via WORLD OF RADIO 1177] Farsi 1630-1700 9715, 7285, 6190 1830-1900 9715, 7285, 6190 German 1935-2030 11905, 5025 Hindi 1300-1330 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1430-1500 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 Chinese 1330-1400 5060 1430-1500 5060 Pashto 0200-0230 9715, 7190 Turkish 0600-0630 15200 1700-1730 9530 Uighur 1400-1430 5060 Urdu 1230-1300 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 1400-1430 17775, 15295, 9715, 7285 Uzbek 0230-0330 9715, 7190, 5025 1550-1630 9715, 7285, 6190, 5025 1730-1830 9715, 7285, 6190, 5025 (Station info via Alexander Polyakov, Tashkent via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 8, EDXP via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS IN UZBEKISTAN IN 2002 The Government refused to allow Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Voice of America to broadcast from within the country, despite the Government's agreement with RFE/RL to allow this activity. Both stations broadcast on short-wave from outside the country. . . http://www.cascfen.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=283 (via Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Number stations on 13 MHz and on not usual frequencies. Quite a few jammers active. Really hard driven bubble and whirling noise (Bob Thomas, CT, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-03 CLASHES ++++++++++++ 11895: the VOA/NHK clash at 2200-2230 turns out to have been a Week of Confusion matter only, since from April 7, VOA Creole moved one UT hour earlier to 2100 on this and other frequencies, presumably as Haiti`s timezone moved in lockstep with EDT. However, the withdrawal of NHK listings, among many others, from HFCC cannot have helped avoid the conflict in the first place (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`m finding several technical SW errors! Stations popping up on other than announced frequencies and then dropping off. Also stations starting up 3-5 minutes late or joined in progress 3-5 minutes late. Some drop out several times (VOT, R. Vlaanderen for example), come back, drop out again. Sometimes drop out completely. No further use. I`m sending confirmed info but in the beginning confused by stations using other frequencies intended for other target areas (Bob Thomas, CT, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ QSLing BELLABARBA WBAJ is a religious US daytimer station on 890. Here is what they write on their website http://wbaj.net/radio/testimonials.htm: DXers (Distant Station Listeners) have written to us from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and ... you couldn't guess it ... Italy! In the evening, atmospheric changes enable our signal to "skip" -- even possibly to other countries. Recently, station manager Gary Sherman received a letter from Giovanni Bellabarba in Bologna, Italy! He wrote about things he had heard on the station, and was simply amazed that he'd received the signal. "Perhaps the Lord is magnifying the station's transmissions," Gary commented. (Thanks to A. Lawendel for forwarding this ultimate explanation about Mr. Bellabarba's achievements) 73 (Enrico Oliva, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NASWA COMBATS SW ATTACK ON NORTH AMERICA A wise person once proclaimed, ``Beware of what you wish for, you just might get it.`` In a time that now seems so long ago, in the spring of 2002, it became obvious to NASWA management that the shortwave listeners of North America were under attack. The BBC was eliminating its shortwave service beamed to North America. This was the final straw. Smaller broadcasters had been dropping programs to North America for years. The BBC, however, was not a small broadcaster that nobody listened to anyway. It was the King Kong of the shortwave jungle. BBC fans launched a vigorous campaign under the name of, ``Save The BBC.`` Their immediate goal was not achieved but their organization demonstrated a new militancy in the North American listener community. There was an even more dangerous aspect to this loss. The loss of the BBC to North American audiences would surely give other broadcasters a way to justify deletion of North American services when budget pressures forced tough decisions. The time had come for firm NASWA action. Jumping ahead to today, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea recently announced they had nuclear weapons. They also announced they were cranking up a nuclear power plant to make ``electricity``. The plant also makes plutonium as a byproduct. Plutonium can be used to make more nuclear weapons. The intent was obvious to US Government authorities. As a result, Radio Free Asia immediately doubled their hours per day beamed to Korea. This is an example of Cones Law, ``The amount of shortwave broadcasting directed to a region is directly proportional to the saber rattling coming from that region.`` This phenomenon has been well documented in the past in the shortwave literature and the popular press. For example, Cuba once tried to install Soviet ICBM`s which begat Radio Marti. During the Cold War, the airwaves were very crowded. The USA and the Soviets beamed to each other night and day. There was no room for more than a few bible hucksters trying to make a dollar. You get the picture? Now let`s shift back to 2002. NASWA decided it was time to act. NASWA management requested and obtained an audience with President Bush. The situation was explained to him. The President was requested to help. He graciously conceded to do what he could. ``Do you have any ideas?`` he asked with his typical blank, poker-faced stare. As NASWA pointed out the cause and effect correlation of Cones Law, President Bush`s eyes lit up. The President asked, ``Are you suggesting that if I just make some outlandish, radical statements, threatening everything I can think of I can solve your problem?`` He catches on quickly. The President pointed out that during his time at Yale he had mastered the art of the bluff during many fraternity house poker games. He would use his best efforts to do what he could. The meeting concluded amiably with the usual handshakes. As your NASWA servants left the White House, they knew the President would come through. Little did they know how far he was willing to go to help. Soon the result of our visit became evident. The President declared that there must be a regime change in Iraq and it would happen voluntarily or by military action. Phrases like ``axis of evil``, and ``weapons of mass destruction``, became part of our national lexicon as they popped up in all his speeches. Half the world thought he had lost his marbles; the other half knew it. One day during a speech, the President squinted his eyes and then made a reference to Saddam as ``the guy who tried to kill my daddy.`` Any doubters were now convinced that this was a personal vendetta. The man was executing a masterful bluff. He would soon have every SW transmitter in the world beaming this way 24 hours a day. You could just imagine all those derelict transmitter cabinets being opened - the mousetraps being set in preparation for the return to air - the filaments warming gently in those massive vacuum tubes. You could imagine hearing governments all over the world recalling sacked English-language broadcasters to their old jobs. Alas, the bluff hasn`t worked. President Bush is still trying his best. Every day the clock of universal doom ticks closer to midnight as the rhetoric heats and the missiles fly. The President has done his part to perfection but the adverse trend of international shortwave broadcasting to North America continues. In spite of the President`s best efforts to upset the Germans, (which he seems to have done very well) Deutsche Welle will soon abandon North America. Neither has France restored RFI service to North America in spite of the President`s best efforts to tick them off. Diplomacy has failed. It is now time for NASWA to crank up the pressure: The NASWA Research Lab hereby announces the restart of the NASWA nuclear weapons program. You are probably saying, ``What nuclear weapons program?`` It can now be revealed that NASWA`s world famous research laboratory was contracted by the Vatican in the early 1980`s to help them develop a nuclear device (``which we in more technically developed countries would call a bomb``, to quote Tom Lehrer). In 1981 the Pope was the victim of an assassination attempt. There was a strong fear that underground terrorist elements of the Russian Orthodox Church, with Soviet backing, were working feverishly to develop a nuclear device with which to take over all of Christianty. The Vatican reasoned that it needed a deterrent. The US Government feared that a cooperative arrangement with the Vatican would be struck down by the US Supreme Court as a violation of the US constitutional provision that many interpret today as prohibiting any support to any organized religious institution. So the Vatican, prohibited from doing business with the Los Alamos laboratory, went to the next best, the NASWA Research Laboratory. Like many programs the Laboratory has worked on over the years, the contract with the Vatican was terminated with the fall of the Soviet Union. The Russian Orthodox Church now had much work to do at home and had abandoned its plans for conquest of world Christianity. Today the NASWA Research Laboratory is assembling boxes of nuclear weapon files from the bunkers under its Washington DC headquarters on the Potomac River. These files, from the Vatican contract, will help expedite our return to an active nuclear development program. If the shortwave broadcasters of the world continue to ignore North American audiences NASWA will continue its work until it succeeds. The Lab estimates they can have a working device by April 1 of next year. By the way, NASWA has attempted to contact President Bush at the White House to thank him for his efforts on our behalf. We also wanted to tell him he could stand down as we would be taking our own course of action. He has been too busy to meet with us again for some reason. I wonder what is going on? We in North America don`t get much international news on our shortwave radios anymore. Stay tuned until next time, if there is a next time. (Joe Buch, Technical Topics, NASWA Journal, April 2003, used by permission in DXLD) Copyright 2003 Joseph Buch. Permission for non-profit radio clubs to republish is hereby granted with appropriate credits to the author and The NASWA Journal. Others contact the author at joseph.buch@dol.net for republication permission. PROPAGATION +++++++++++ FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 09 APRIL - 05 MAY 2003 Solar activity is expected to range from very low to low levels. The later half of the period will see the return of Regions 321, 323, 324, and 325. Combined, these regions represent a slight chance of M- class activity. 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 13 - 17 April and again on 27 April - 03 May due to returning coronal holes. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from unsettled to major storm conditions during the period. A coronal hole is due to return to a geo-effective position on 11 - 14 April with unsettled to minor storm conditions possible. Unsettled to isolated major storm levels are possible with multiple coronal hole high speed streams due on 23 April - 02 May. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 Apr 08 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 Apr 08 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Apr 09 105 15 3 2003 Apr 10 100 20 4 2003 Apr 11 95 20 4 2003 Apr 12 95 20 4 2003 Apr 13 90 20 4 2003 Apr 14 90 25 5 2003 Apr 15 95 15 3 2003 Apr 16 95 15 3 2003 Apr 17 100 20 4 2003 Apr 18 105 10 3 2003 Apr 19 115 20 4 2003 Apr 20 120 8 3 2003 Apr 21 125 8 3 2003 Apr 22 130 12 3 2003 Apr 23 135 25 5 2003 Apr 24 145 25 5 2003 Apr 25 155 25 5 2003 Apr 26 155 25 5 2003 Apr 27 160 25 5 2003 Apr 28 160 15 3 2003 Apr 29 155 12 3 2003 Apr 30 155 10 3 2003 May 01 145 10 3 2003 May 02 140 10 3 2003 May 03 125 10 3 2003 May 04 125 10 3 2003 May 05 115 8 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio April 8 via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD) ### DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-060, April 7, 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. CONTINUED from DXLD 3-059: ** QATAR. "Al Jazeera is the most-watched Arab satellite station, partly because its journalism is highly professional and partly because viewers like the fact that its reporters and anchors give the news a pro-Arab spin." (By DAOUD KUTTAB, NY Times) Huh? That is truly a non-sequitur as Mr. Spock used to say. How can it be "highly professional" and simultaneously have a "pro-Arab spin"? A highly professional reporter or network would not spin a story. I guess The New York Times does not recognize this fine point. The only thing good about Al-Jazeera that I can point to is that they have been kicked out of both Baghdad for their biased reporting and kicked out of several other Middle Eastern countries for their criticism of their less-than-democratic governments. On balance Al Jazeera is a good thing for this region of the world but not because of its "highly professional" reporting. Al Jazeera simply provides a biased point of view that none of the local dictators can stomach or influence. It is precisely that freedom of expression that totalitarian regimes the world over fear. Go for it, Al. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ IN 24-HOUR NEWS TIMES, REAL-TIME TRANSLATION By JOHN MARKOFF April 7, 2003 Most Americans likely have difficulty understanding the broadcasts of Al Jazeera, the Arab news network, but several government agencies now can watch it while simultaneously receiving an English translation of the programming. Virage Inc., a San Mateo, Calif., a maker of Internet video technologies, has recently supplied several unnamed United States intelligence agencies with a system that will provide real-time voice recognition and English translation of foreign-language news broadcasts. The system, which was financed last year by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, can run on any fast personal computer, generating scrolling text displays of both Arabic and translated English text. DARPA is conducting a research project known as Translingual Information Detection, Extraction and Summarization, whose aim is to provide English speakers with working translations of languages like Arabic and Chinese. The voice-recognition technology for the Virage system is provided by BBN Technologies, a subsidiary of Verizon, that does research for government agencies. Under ideal conditions, the BBN recognition software can be 95 percent accurate in recognizing spoken English, said Bradley Horowitz, a Virage founder and its chief technology officer. However, in practice such a system would be most useful in spotting individual words rather than creating reliable transcripts, he said. "This is what I call `good enough' accuracy," said Mr. Horowitz. He said the company had supplied several systems to the government, but that he did not know where, or how, the systems were being used. In a demonstration the company recently conducted over the Web, the system produced somewhat cryptic English sentences that gave the viewer an extremely rough idea of what the Al Jazeera newscasters were describing. "It's more like poetry than prose," Mr. Horowitz said. "It evokes the right things, but it's hardly accurate." Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. FEBA SEYCHELLES CLOSURE IMPROVES TV RECEPTION FOR LOCALS The closure of another shortwave transmitting site - FEBA Seychelles - may be regretted by some, but for around 20 families living close to the station it has brought a bonus. Since Sunday, their TV reception has improved. A long-time resident of the area told the Seychelles Nation "I can now watch television and speak on the telephone without a lot of interference like everybody else." Work is now in progress to dismantle the eight antennas: the first has already been removed. The site is unusual in that it was constructed on an artificial platform on the sea bed. Local fishermen are reported to be unhappy at the dismantling work, as they've been warned to stay away from the area for several months. Despite the closure of the Seychelles site, FEBA itself continues a full schedule of shortwave broadcasts via transmitters elsewhere (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 4 April 2003 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. FEBA: The schedules I have seen of FEBA show 15580 as Chita at 0015-0200. However today no FEBA programs were broadcast. Instead the theme music as used by Dhabbaya station, UAE during their interruptions were only heard. It suggests that 15580 at 0015-0200 is from Dhabbaya, UAE (Jose Jacob, Apr 2, dx_india via DXLD){Oops, duplicates earlier item; but see CIS schedule, 3-059} ** SOUTH AFRICA. 15265 is the new frequency for Channel Africa for their 1700 and 1800 broadcasts, ex-17870. Swiss Radio International is now using 17870 at these times (Mark Coady, ODXA April 6, via Daryl Rocker, Herkimer, NY, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Oh no, now on MW, too. On 7 Apr at 1925 on 1386 Brother Stair partly covered by VOR in English. Could this be via Lithuanian transmitter? He mentioned a 50.000 Watt transmitter covering Middle East and parts of Europe, but I guess was talking about some other frequency, not this one. I didn't stay on the frequency too long, 15 minutes of Brother and VOR simultaneously was enough :). (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes ** SUDAN [non]. TWO SUDANESE OPPOSITION RADIOS NOW HEARD REGULARLY Two opposition radio stations are currently being heard broadcasting to Sudan. Both broadcast in Arabic on shortwave. They are: 1. "Voice of Sudan, voice of democracy and peace, radio of the National Democratic Alliance" (Arabic: sawt al-sudan, sawt al- dimuqratiyah wa al-salam, itha'at al-tajamu al-watani al-dimuqrati). Affiliation: Mouthpiece of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Current observed schedule: 1530-1600 gmt daily on 8000 kHz. Background: Began broadcasting from Eritrea in August 1995 (there had been a previous series of broadcasts by the NDA from Ethiopia in 1990-91). Transmissions appeared to be suspended or at least reduced for a while when relations between Sudan and Eritrea improved in 1999 and 2000. The station is now being heard regularly once again. 2. "Voice of Freedom and Renewal, voice of new Sudan" (Arabic: sawt al-hurriyah wa al-tajdid, sawt sudan al-jadid). Other slogans are also used, such as "voice of the struggle of the Sudanese people". Affiliation: Mouthpiece of the Sudan Alliance Forces (SAF). Current observed schedule: 0400 gmt (not Fridays) on 6985 kHz. Background: Broadcasts from the SAF radio were first heard in April 1998. At that time it called itself "Voice of Freedom and Renewal, voice of the Sudan Alliance Forces, voice of the popular armed uprising" (Arabic: sawt al-hurriyah wa al-tajdid, sawt quwwat al- tahaluf al-sudaniyyah, sawt al-intifadah al-sha'biyyah al- musallahah). Over the years the transmissions have sometimes been intermittent, but the station is currently being heard regularly. Source: BBC Monitoring research Mar-Apr 03 Chris Greenway, Kenya (via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 11550, 1706-, Radio Taipei International, Apr 5. Looking for Radio Ukraine listed hear for A03, but instead hear Radio Taipei in English with news. Fair to good. Comment on HFCC A03 which I'm using...........Crummy! Nowhere near as good as the ILG database, but who knows when A03 will be released! (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TANZANIA. R Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, 5050 on 6 Apr at 1645. In Swahili, 1659 Drums, 1700 time pips, ID and into news. Some QRM from a Chinese station, which signed off at 1700. I haven't heard Tanzania on 5050 for couple of months during UT evenings; maybe they've been inactive or irregular. Their transmitter is slightly above the nominal frequency. The 1700 news was also relayed by Zanzibar on 11734.1 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I also heard R Tanzania here in Denmark on 5 Apr at 1925-1935 in Swahili on 5050.1 kHz. It was off at retune 2005. SINPO 24333 with slight CWQRM. According to my notes it has been off the air on this frequency since the end of Nov 2002. Best 73 (Anker Petersen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 7385, 25.3 1630, China Tibet Broadcast Co. med "Holy Tibet" på engelska. Nu man och kvinna som presenterar inslaget. Tyvärr inga lyssnarhälsningar hörda på ett tag. 3-4 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) 7385, 25.3 1630, China Tibet Broadcast Co. with "Holy Tibet" in English. Now man and woman presenting the review. Unfortunately no greetings for listeners heard for a while. 3-4 CB (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Iraq/UK: BBC ARABIC SERVICE LAUNCHES IRAQ LIFE LINE PROGRAMME | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 7 April The BBC Arabic Service launches Life Line - a programme to link people across the Middle East and the Arab diaspora around the world with their friends and relatives in Iraq. The programme invites people to leave voice messages to their relatives and friends by calling +44 207 5572535. The 10-minute daily programme will be broadcast at 1650 (repeated 0350), 1950 (repeated 0550) and 2150 (repeated 0750) gmt. Presenter Salwa al-Jarrah, well known to the BBC Arabic listeners through her popular programmes, says: " The BBC Arabic team felt a need for such a programme to give the Iraqi people around the world and within Iraq a chance to make contact with their relatives and friends. Because of the war situation, many families in Iraq have been divided and a lot of people have moved to different locations, and our programme will serve as a vital communication line." For more information contact: Kifah Arif, Publicity Coordinator, BBC Arabic +44(0)207557 2346; kifah.arif@bbc.co.uk Lala Najafova, International Publicist, BBC World Service +44(0)207557 2944; lala.najafova@bbc.co.uk Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 7 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. M PRICE TAG FOR JOHN PEEL'S LIFE STORY Mar 31 2003, By Laura Davis, Daily Post Staff VETERAN disc jockey John Peel is about to become a millionaire author. The Wirral-born radio presenter has been offered for his memoirs by two separate publishers. . . http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=12793377&method=full&siteid=50061 (via Jilly Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** U K. BBC SHAPES FIGHT FOR NEW CHARTER Dan Milmo and Maggie Brown, Monday April 7, 2003, The Guardian The BBC has begun a three-year battle to secure its future and retain the £2.5bn licence fee by appointing a team of 50 to work on a new royal charter. The director general, Greg Dyke, has engaged outside consultants to help convince the public and the government of the corporation's efficiency and effectiveness. The government will conduct a comprehensive review of the BBC's remit in the run-up to renewing its charter, which lays down the principles that govern the organisation, in 2006. Commercial rivals complain that under Mr Dyke's leadership the corporation is encroaching on their territory. Charles Constable, head of commercial affairs at the BBC, and Roly Keating, controller of the digital channel BBC4, were seconded to the renewal project for six months, and since the beginning of the year they have been joined by about 50 BBC employees. Mr Dyke has also revived one the most hated tactics of his predecessor John Birt by hiring two consultancy firms - Oliver & Ohlbaum and Spectrum Strategy - to help draft the BBC's case. In an attempt to control the debate about the future of the BBC the team is expected to publish a charter renewal manifesto later this year, when the government will also set out the terms of the review. The culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, said in January that the corporation could not take the licence fee for granted and the establishment of such a large renewal team at Broadcasting House reflects its growing concern that the corporation could have its wings clipped. The BBC is under attack on another front in Westminster, as the communications bill winds its way through the House of Lords. Peers are drafting amendments to the bill calling for the BBC to be subjected to an annual scrutiny by the national audit office, or to be fully regulated by the new communications industry watchdog Ofcom. One of Ms Jowell's advisers said last week: "We intend to take this [review] as seriously as the communications bill. "It will be absolutely comprehensive. We are more than happy to look at genuine, serious alternatives to the licence fee, provided that's not time wasting, but the real thing is the purpose of the BBC." The BBC's 10-year charter expires in December 2006, but it is expected that much of the new agreement will be thrashed out much sooner than that in case there is a general election in 2005. On top of government scrutiny, the BBC could be put under the Ofcom microscope as early as next year. The regulator, which comes into being in December, must review the provision of public service broadcasting every five years. MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** U K [non]. BFBS A-03 includes these two via Tashkent 256 degrees: 13860 1600-1700 15795 0600-0700 Other sites UK or not certain (Bob Padula, http://edxp.org EDXP World Broadcast Magazine April 5, used by permission in DXLD) 15245, 1606-, BFBS, Apr 5. Fair reception with sports scores easily over cochannel ?Channel Africa, though the latter is improving (in French). Parallel to much better 13860 (?Tashkent) in the clear. Actually 13860 is very slightly ahead of 15245, so I'm not positive of the sites (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Somebody reported a satirical show in the 1730 half-hour; that was probably from BBCR4`s comedy strip, now shifted an UT hour earlier, whilst BFBS originally carried the R4 news hour at 1700 (gh, DXLD) BFBS booms in here on 7260 kHz with one hour "Breakfast Show" transmission to Middle East deployed UK forces at 0300-0400 UT, completely shutting down a ham SSB net last night (7 APR UT). Parallel 15795 is weak, and 11975 opening at 0400 is swamped by adjacent channel QRM. War news items on the hour and half hour with British flavour (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "ENGLAND." BFBS: Of their new frequencies, 7260 was heard well at *0300 Apr 5; 17895 was weak at *1400 Apr 5, 13860 was slightly better; 15245, poor-fair at *1600, slightly better than 13860 at the same time, but both improving quickly to good level, 15245 better than 13860 by 1630; 15150 very good at 1715 check (sked *1700). Also checked 13760 at 1830 (sked *1800); it was probably BFBS in the background with rock mx, but WHRI was powerful on the channel, and, interestingly, they were having "Soldier Salutes," call-ins with a religious slant for soldiers serving in the ME (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) See also KUWAIT ** U S A. GOVERNMENT-FUNDED STATION COVERS MIDEAST TO SHOW AMERICAN VIEWPOINT --- U.S. radio wooing Arabs --- By Jim Puzzanghera, Mercury News Washington Bureau, Posted on Fri, Apr. 04, 2003 WASHINGTON - In a weathered suite of offices near Capitol Hill, the staff of Radio Sawa scrambles 24 hours a day to give the Arab world a view of the war in Iraq that includes something often missing on Middle Eastern media outlets: the American government's perspective…. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/5556689.htm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) WAR TURNS SOME ARABS AWAY FROM RADIO SAWA http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46757-2003Apr7.html By JAMAL HALABY, The Associated Press, Monday, April 7, 2003; 7:58 AM AMMAN, Jordan - Customers at Mohammad Jassem's barbecue joint in bustling downtown Amman used to like to listen to Radio Sawa, the U.S. government station that reaches out to Arabs with a mixture of pop music and news. But since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iraq war, there has been a surge of resentment at the U.S. government across the region and what some hear as a shift by Radio Sawa toward the official U.S. version. "I don't dare switch to Radio Sawa," Jassem whispered as customers listening to an Amman Radio report of heavy airstrikes on Baghdad's suburbs responded with angry shouts of "Allahu akbar!" or "God is great!" Radio Sawa, which began broadcasting from Washington via relay stations in Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates a year ago, has pledged to offer unbiased reporting. In the past, the station included surveys of anti-U.S. commentary, including editorials from the official Iraqi media. But since the outset of the war, the non-music airtime has been taken up by war reporting, some from news agencies and some from Radio Sawa's Baghdad correspondent, briefly outlining battle developments or the Iraqi position. Live coverage of speeches by President Bush, other U.S. officials in Washington or military officials in Doha is a regular feature, adding to the impression the station is a U.S. government mouthpiece. [really?] In Washington, Sawa spokeswoman Joan Mower said Sawa "hasn't received criticism along those lines." On the contrary, she said, listeners have asked for more news. "We are not a propaganda station," Mower said in a telephone interview. "We are a government-sponsored station ... and we provide accurate and objective news and information about the Middle East." Jordanians - whose geographic, social and cultural ties to Iraq are tighter than those of many other Arabs - strongly oppose a war they see as a U.S. attempt to gain a foothold in the Middle East to control Arab oil and rid the region of regimes critical of Washington. Azza Mahmoud Ibrahim, 32, an Egyptian television producer at an advertising agency in Dubai, said she heard a difference in Sawa's news two days into the war. "When they report Iraqi civilian casualties, they say that this is what Iraqi officials are claiming and there's no way to verify them," she said. "They portray it as if this is just the Iraqi way of getting people's sympathy and pity, as if there is a war without civilian casualties." In Kuwait, though, Majed Hussein, a 17-year-old high school student, said he was a Sawa admirer. He had only one complaint: "I'd like to see it cover Kuwait more. I'd like it to cover the humanitarian aid we're giving to the Iraqi people." Kuwait owes its 1991 liberation from Iraqi occupation to a U.S.-led coalition. Gratitude toward the United States as well as suspicion of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is strong in the emirate, despite an element that shares general Arab anger at what is seen as U.S. meddling in the region. Sawa - Arabic for "together" - tries to entice Arabs in the 15-to-30 age range with pop music, then provide them with a mix of news and information designed to counter often-venomous anti-Western prejudices of the local media. Before the war, many Arabs said they enjoyed Radio Sawa's music but disapproved of what they considered anti-Arab reporting. Still, in places like Jordan, Sawa blared from taxis and cars and was constantly heard in restaurants, shopping malls and coffee shops. But today, Arabic stations like the Middle East Broadcasting Center, based in the United Arab Emirates, and the London-based Arabic service of the British Broadcasting Corp. have become the main source of news for many Jordanians. Amman accountant Eva Iffat, 24, said she turned to MBC two weeks ago because "I felt disgusted with the lies of American officials and Sawa's reports." She said she was specifically irked by Sawa's way of labeling what she considered "martyrs" in Iraq and the Palestinian territories "suicide bombers." Sawa spokeswoman Mower said the station was making inroads despite the anti-war mood, citing a survey in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, conducted by Edison Media Research of Somerville, N.J., that showed that 90 percent of those questioned over a one-week period starting March 24 listened to Radio Sawa, up from 64 percent in January. © 2003 The Associated Press (via Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Re Radio Marti not (?) answering reports. Received a letter in English from the Office of Cuba Broadcasting last week, dated March 13, 2003. It gives no data as to when and where, but I had sent them a report by ordinary mail in 2001 for 6030 kHz, and I wrote that letter in Spanish, I remember. A lot of letters and reports were lost here in a pc crash, so I can't recall the details. Anyway, the verification text is quite OK, and it is signed by Michael F. Pallone, Director, Engineering & Technical Operations. It gives the address Office of Cuba Broadcasting, 4201 N.W. 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33166 and bears the logo of Radio Marti TV and the text Broadcasting Board of Govenors printed at the bottom. A card was enclosed, an old portait of José Martí. I had since long given up hope, yes almost forgotten the report, but now remember that I made some very nasty remarks about the jammers of Radio Marti [sic]. And hi also to Glenn, I know you will read this, so can you comment on the use or non-use of accents. Of course it's Martí in Spanish, like José Martí on the card, in the letter in English tho, it's Marti. I know some people just hate accents, and it becomes tricky when you write in English about people with Spanish names. It seems that habits are personal and change from time to time. And here's quite another thing, perhaps related. It brought me a smile when I read something about Iosif Vissarionovich Dzugashvili, better know as Joseph (Uncle Joe) Stalin in a Spanish weekly magazine. Of course it said José Stalin. He obviously escaped the fate to be known as José Estalin. As you know Stockholm is Estocolmo in Spanish... 73 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) What can I say? I am obviously in favor of accentuation. One major list, Conexión Digital, discourages it, presumably because some members have trouble with displaying them properly, so I am always having to re-accent Spanish texts. However, for quick E-mail items, you have to mess with alt-numbers to get the accents, so I usually don`t bother when composing directly. The Spanish speakers are more likely to put a tilde on the ñ even if they leave other accents off! Another style which I find jarring is to indicate ñ by a capital N even in the middle of a word. On the other hand, I am in disfavor of mangling names from their original language. When speaking Spanish I usually pronounce American names as in English. The accent should never be left off Martí, as too often I hear ignorant Americans pronounce it Márty (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Here`s a story demonstrating how extremely myopic the local press can be. I hate to break it to them, but numerous overseas relay sites are far more effective now that Bethany could possibly be (gh) VOICE OF AMERICA SILENT AS IRAQ WAR UNDER WAY Bethany site broadcast for 6 decades By Michael D. Clark, The Cincinnati Enquirer WEST CHESTER TWP. - For the first time in almost six decades, America is fighting a ground war while the Voice of America radio station in this Butler County community stands silent. The former Bethany VOA station in West Chester Township pulsated with unending, pro-democracy broadcasts from the last years of World War II, through the Korean and Vietnam wars, until the end of the Cold War and during the last time America fought Iraq in 1991's Desert Storm conflict. When VOA broadcasts began in 1944 from a field covered with acres of high towers and miles of short-wave wires, the station, 25 miles north of Cincinnati, was the most powerful on the planet. No one had ever built such a single, large transmitting facility, and it immediately gave America an communications advantage over Nazi Germany's propaganda broadcasts that blanketed Europe and Northern Africa. Directed to the citizens of Nazi Germany, the World War II broadcast began with, "We shall speak to you about America and the war. The news may be good or it may be bad, but we will tell you the truth." The Bethany broadcasts so vexed Nazi leader Adolf Hitler that he referred to its programming as "those Cincinnati liars" in several speeches. "It was the electronic front lines," explained West Chester Parks and Recreation Director Bill Zerkle, whose office is in the former VOA facility on 625 acres just off of Tylersville Road. "It gave oppressed people around the world hope when there was none, and no one will ever know how much of a role Bethany played in bringing down Nazi Germany or the fall of communism." Silent since 1994, when federal funding was cut along with other reductions in the still-active VOA program, Bethany has lost its broadcasting towers - removed in 1997 - and large slices of its grounds to commercial development. A guard tower still stands atop of Bethany, once used to monitor the grounds. In May 1950, a communist supporter cut through a security fence under cover of night and exploded a bomb that toppled a 165-foot radio tower and destroyed a battery shed. A former U.S. serviceman was arrested and confessed to the act of sabotage. Clyde Haehnel, a former vice president with Cincinnati's Crosley Broadcasting Corp. that contracted with federal government in World War II to build the Bethany VOA station, said communist Russia tried in other ways to damage or snuff out the VOA's global message of peace and democracy. "The Russians jammed us heavily during the Cold War. They understood that the VOA at Bethany was an integral part of psychological warfare," said Haehnel. West Chester officials now plan to restore the Bethany facility and create a Voice of America Park and Museum on the remaining grounds, and in June a state historical marker commemorating the site will be unveiled. http://enquirer.com/editions/2003/04/05/loc_voawar05.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A. 7490, WJIE heard carrying a short BBCWS newscast in English at 1600. Not listed on their schedule; anyone have any idea if they carry this at other times or have other BBCWS programs? (Hans Johnson, LA, Apr 5, Cumbre DX via DXLD) If it were not for time of day, I would say, ``are you sure this wasn`t Norway?`` which does relay BBC on 7490 e.g. at 0400 and 0500. WJIE programming continues to be enigmatic, including extremely long periods of dead air, and another no-show for the supposed new time for WOR, UT Sun 0300 --- from next week, I expect we won`t be on at 0200 instead (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST){see 3-062} ** U S A. (WEWN) EWTN Global Catholic Radio Shortwave Frequency Guide Effective March, 30, 2003-October 26, 2003 UT North America Latin America Europe/Africa English/Spanish Spanish English 0000-0600 5825 7425/13615 5825* 0600-0800 5825 7425/13615 9385 0800-0900 5825 7425/11875 9385 0900-1000 5825 7425/11875 Off Air 1000-1200 7520 7425/11875 Off Air 1200-1400 7520 9355/15745 Off Air 1400-1600 9955 11530/15745 Off Air 1600-1700 13615 11530/15745 Off Air 1700-2200 13615 11530/15745 17595 2200-2400 9975 9355/13615 17595 *= * Secondary service to Europe during this time - signal strength marginal ** = Primary is Africa -- Secondary is Europe [NO ** above] (WEWN website via Dan Sampson, http://www.primetimeshortwave.com ) ** U S A. WSHB Herald Broadcasting Syndicate A-03 Shortwave Frequency Schedule 03/30/03 to 10/25/03 UTC Freq Region Freq Region 0000 7535 Ea No Am/Carib 9430 Cent & So America 0100 7535 Cent No America 9430 Cent & So America 0200 7535 W&C No America 9430 Mexico 0300 7535 Russia 9450 RUSSIA 0400 9450 Ea Eur/Russ 13720 East & Cent Afr 0500 9450 Central Europe 9840 South Africa 0600 9450 West & Cent Afr Off The Air 0700 9450 West & Cent Afr Off The Air 0800 9860 Europe 9845 Australia / NewZealand 0900 9860 Europe 9455 Brazil/So America 1000 6095 Ea No Am/Carib 9455 South America 1100 6095 Ea No Am/Carib 9455 Cent & So America 1200 9430 Ea No Am/Carib 11670 Cent & So America 1300 9430 No America 11670 Mexico 1400 Off The Air Off The Air 1500 Off The Air Off The Air 1600 Off The Air 18910 East Africa 1700 Off The Air 18910 Central Africa 1800 15665 Europe 18910 South Africa 1900 15665 Europe 18910 South Africa 2000 15665 Europe 18910 East & Cent Afr 2100 15665 Europe 18910 West & Cent Afr 2200 13770 West Europe 15285 Brazil 2300 13770 So Europe/W Afr 15285 South America (WSHB website via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave) ** U S A. WRMI Schedule/Horario Effective April/Abril 6, 2003. Days are local days in the Americas; times are UTC. Días son días locales en las Américas; horas son UTC. [gospel huxters and known far-right shows deleted by gh] MONDAY-FRIDAY/LUNES-VIERNES To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 1000-1030 La Voz de la Junta Patriótica Cubana (español) 1030-1130 Entre Cubanos (español) 1130-1200 Viva Miami (English/español; Wednesday/miércoles) Note: This transmission from 0900-1200 UTC is temporarily not aired on Tuesday and Thursday. To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 1330-1500 Stock Talk Live (English) 7385 kHz to North America (except as noted)/7385 kHz hacia Norteamérica (excepto donde anotado): Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UTC. Los siguientes son martes-sábado UTC. 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español; hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica) 0230-0300 Radio Praha (Czech) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SATURDAY/SABADO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 1000-1100 Foro Militar Cubano (español) To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 1200-2200 Music 2230-2300 Wavescan (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) The following are Sunday UTC. Los siguientes son domingo UTC. 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0030-0045 La Hora de Chibás (español) 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) 7385 kHz to North America (except as noted)/7385 kHz para Norteamérica (excepto deonde anotado): 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español; hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica) 0230-0300 Radio Praha (Czech) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Viva Miami (English/español) 0400-0900 Solid Rock Radio (English) SUNDAY/DOMINGO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamerérica en 9955 kHz: 0900-0930 Radio Vaticano (español) 0930-1000 Viva Miami (español/English) To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 1200-1300 Viva Miami (English) 1300-1330 Wavescan (English) 1400-2000 Solid Rock Radio (English) 2030-2100 Wavescan (English) 2100-2115 Dub Politico [sic] (English) [new: far-right?] 2200-2230 Viva Miami (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) The following are UTC Monday. Los siguientes son UTC lunes. 0000-0015 Radio Vaticano (español) 0030-0130 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 7385 kHz to North America (except as noted)/7385 kHz para Norteamérica (excepto donde anotado): 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español; hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica) 0230-0300 Radio Praha (Czech) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Wavescan (English) 0400-0900 Jupiter 400 (English) For schedule updates, see our web page: http://www.wrmi.net (WRMI via DXLD) ** U S A. WAR WITH IRAQ --- Skeptics point to talk shows By Rich McKay, Sentinel Staff Writer, April 5, 2003 At Coachman Park in Clearwater today, thousands of patriotic folks are expected to gather at a Rally for America where they'll wave the flag, bash The Dixie Chicks and praise U.S. troops fighting in Iraq. Gov. Jeb Bush is scheduled to speak. There'll be speeches, food, a lot of red, white and blue, and T-shirts that say things like "Get Saddam." It will be the latest in a series of such patriotic events organized by talk-radio stations and held across the country. Two have been held in Orlando, the most recent one on March 29. While the rallies have sparked an outpouring of patriotism, they also have focused attention on the stations themselves and their parent company -- Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's largest radio company, with more than 1,200 stations. "It's a profit-obsessed corporation where patriotism is another easy marketing tool and democracy is a buzz word," said Normon Solomon, the executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy and a nationally syndicated columnist who follows the media. Solomon and other media watchdogs say Clear Channel may be wrapping itself in the American flag to gain favor with the Bush administration, which could influence the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission. The company is asking the FCC to relax rules that limit how many radio stations a single company can own. Clear Channel is based in San Antonio, Texas. Its vice chairman, Tom Hicks, bought the Texas Rangers baseball team from George W. Bush in 1998, and Secretary of State Colin Powell's son, Michael, is the head of the FCC."They're cozying up to Bush for deregulation," Solomon said. Clear Channel corporate spokesmen and talk-radio hosts say that's not the case. They say the rallies are sponsored by the individual stations and are not part of a corporate campaign. In Orlando, the Shannon Burke Show on 540 AM (WFLF)), which bills itself on air as WFLA, has promoted the rallies, as has Clear Channel's national talk host Glenn Burke, whose show airs on more than 100 stations. "It's not a Clear Channel thing or anybody else's thing," said Colin Brady, producer of the Burke show. "We talked about it and got a lot of feedback from our listeners, so we went ahead with it," he said of the Orlando rallies. "That is the most ridiculous accusation I've heard," Burke said of the suggestion that his station was ordered to hold the rallies. Burke, who has been on the air locally for about three years, labels antiwar activists as anti-American. At the recent Orlando rally, Burke spurred about 400 bikers to roll through downtown and rev their engines to drown out a group protesting the war. Richard Whaley of Orlando took his daughter Sally, 12, and his hunting dog Vinnie -- wearing a red, white and blue kerchief -- to the rally. "We're here because the troops need our support," Whaley said. "They hear of the protesters and it demoralizes them. A couple of these will outdo the protests." Burke said the rally movement is pure American -- coming from the wishes of the majority. "It's not so much the radio doing this as people are doing this," said Burke, adding that the idea is popular because people want it, not because of marketing. Beck, whose syndicated show is based in Philadelphia, said the rallies have nothing to do with corporate schemes and everything to do with Americans wanting a venue to praise the troops. "The original idea for this actually came from my competition in Dallas," said Beck, who is scheduled to speak at today's rally in Clearwater. "I heard about it and thought it was a good idea." Jill Geisler a media expert at the Poynter Institute -- a media think tank in St. Petersburg -- has been following the issue of Clear Channel and the rallies. She finds a problem with what Clear Channel stations are doing even without a corporate edict. The size of the radio giant and its strident voice drowns out views from a very divided America, Geisler said. Jorge Meza, 50, of Orlando, who attended the recent Rally For America, doesn't think there is a radio station plot to control a message. "I'll tell you this: I served 26 years in the Army, and if they'd take me back, I'd be over there in Iraq right now alongside my brothers," Meza said. "I'm glad the radio station is doing this. They're reacting to what we the people want. If some of the people want to have a peace-protest rally, let them. And if we have more people here, too bad. This is America." Copyright (c) 2003, Orlando Sentinel (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. HAITIAN RADIO STATIONS EARN FANS, IRE OF FCC By Gariot Louima, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Sunday, April 6, 2003 BOYNTON BEACH -- On a recent afternoon, Phito Thelot sat in a small storage unit, home base for his fledging radio station. There isn't much there except for a stack of compact discs, a console and computer. With time, said Thelot, 106.9 FM could become an important tool to help Haitian immigrants as they adjust to life in South Florida. "The biggest problem with the Haitian community is communication," said Thelot, 39, speaking over the Haitian compas that played in the background. "We just want to get information to the people." But officials with the Federal Communications Commission said they can't verify that the station has a license. And Thelot -- who is preparing to ask Boynton Beach and Delray Beach city officials to give money to his new nonprofit group, the Haitian American Foundation Incorporation -- is breaking the law every time he goes on the air, said John Winston, deputy director of the FCC's enforcement bureau in Washington. "If they don't have a license, they're illegal," Winston said. "We know for a fact that many of those stations are operating illegally. We know of their existence. Those cases are already under investigation." Not affiliated with the Miami-based Haitian American Foundation Inc., Thelot's station can only be heard in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Hypoluxo and Lantana. Thelot said its existence is an indication that Palm Beach County's growing Haitian community is finally coming into its own socially and politically. A Haitian native who graduated from Lake Worth High School, Thelot contends he got permission from the FCC to operate the station and is merely awaiting the official paperwork. "They said they have to listen to the kind of programming you have before they give you the license," he said, adding that he "registered" with the FCC on Dec. 12. If that's the case, Winston said, Thelot never completed the application process. Winston said station operators can't legally go on the air without a license. In January 2000, the FCC created a special class of radio licenses for low power FM radio, designed to create opportunities for governments, nonprofit organizations and schools to be heard on the radio. Thelot said he's working toward obtaining one of those licenses. Haitian activists estimate that about a dozen Creole-language pirate radio stations are operating in Palm Beach County. Both sides admit that despite their legal status, Creole-language pirate stations provide a much-needed service to a community that relies heavily on radio broadcasts for information. There are about 31,000 Haitians in the county, including 4,000 in Boynton Beach, according to the 2000 Census. A handful of licensed stations on the AM dial broadcast Creole-language programs. Most of the unlicensed stations are low-powered FM stations, said Philippe "Bob" Louis-Jeune, a disc jockey on WHFR-AM 980 in Boca Raton. Still, they provide a "really important service for the community," said Louis-Jeune, also the executive director of the Haitian Citizens United Task Force in Lake Worth. Like Thelot's station, pirate stations play Haitian music, conduct on-air discussions of current events and, in some cases, connect to stations in Haiti via the Internet for news programming. "It's the democratization of communication," said Delray Beach activist Joe Bernadel, who runs a charter school for Haitian-American teens. "But if they are illegal, no reputable group will associate itself with them." http://www.palmbeachpost.com/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/south_county_e3f85b0a5421c0db0099.html (via Artie Bigley, Andy Sennitt, DXLD) ** U S A. FAU STATION HEARD OUTSIDE FCC LIMIT By Jennifer Peltz Sun-Sentinel, April 5, 2003 BOCA RATON -- Florida Atlantic University's student radio station can be heard around the world online. But it can't be heard on a car radio on campus, at least for the moment. The station -- WOWL, FM 91.7 -- turned off its transmitter last month, after Federal Communications Commission representatives said the broadcast was drifting off FAU's Boca Raton campus, according to music director Nick Jennings. WOWL operates under federal rules that allow low-power FM broadcasting without a license. Its signal is supposed to be heard only within about 200 feet of its transmitter on the campus library. A Miami Christian music station licensed to use the same frequency, "The Call" (WMKL, FM 91.7), complained to the FCC in January about interference from FAU, said The Call's general manager, Rob Robbins. He said his station had received a complaint from a Broward County listener. FCC officials wouldn't talk about WOWL. But Jennings said station officials hadn't known it could be heard off campus. FAU installed devices several years ago to dampen WOWL's signal, Jennings said. Still, "it's hard to control a radio frequency," he said. "[So] we said, `Why don't we shut the transmitter off until we get this figured out?'" WOWL might try installing new equipment to rein in its signal or moving its antenna lower, Jennings said. For now, its 13-hour broadcast day -- which includes sports talk, funk, a cultural diversity forum, local bands, German hip-hop and an hour of selections from "the worst record collection ever" -- can be heard at wowl.fau.edu and through speakers in campus breezeways. The station started in 1993 on an AM frequency. It's financed by about $80,000 a year in student fees, Jennings said. Meanwhile, The Call is still on the lookout for unlicensed broadcasters, Robbins said. The station recently won a three-year fight with a Hollywood man who transmitted an Israeli radio show on The Call's frequency. Last month, a federal judge ordered Shlomo Malka to pay $35,000 in fines and stop broadcasting, according to FCC and court documents. http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/palm_beach_news/article/0,1651,TCP_1020_1867095,00.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A. When 1380 in Tampa Bay area became WWMI they went from a smooth, clean sound with no sideband splash, to one with much splash and a highly compressed artifice to it. I suspect Disney's SOP is to introduce high level processing in all their stations. DXing on 1370 and 1390 went from "easy" to "unusable" in 24 hours. I suspect their net feed just makes it worse (Robert Foxworth, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) Depends on how they are processing the audio. There are two ways. First is using a processor that has NRSC-II brick filters, post compression, and just shove audio in and depend on the filter to reduce the content. This works... but IMHO it's like putting your thumb over the end of a hose and regulating water flow. Works, but not effective. The second, and better way, is to employ a filter pre-compression, so that the processor only sees a band of frequencies such as 30 to 9.5 kHz, rather than 30 to 20+ kHz. This way you're not processing something that won't be heard by the audience, and will likely cause artifacts in the audio. Another factor is how the transmitter reacts to non-symetrical audio. Some are content with a constant stream of 99% negative, and 125% positive, and they don't spatter. However, there are some transmitters and systems that will splatter 40 kHz or more if not set up right! Most station operators listen to the main carrier, and if it sounds good they don't bother checking the sidebands (Fred Vobbe, Apr 3, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Who says IBOC won't be a boon to DXing? The night IBOC tests on KNXT-840 [Las Vegas NV] finally motivated me to unpack and set up my DXing gear! I used a Drake R8B, Palstar R30, Sony ICF-2010, and CC Radio (the latter two with Kiwa filters) to monitor KNXT and my antennas were the Quantum Loop with the R8B/R30C and Radio Shack passive AM loop with the 2010 and CCR. I listened around 1:30 pm Pacific today and the IBOC hiss/noise was clearly audible from 820 to 860 on all receivers, with 830 and 850 much worse than 820 and 860. An interesting effect I noted on all receivers was that going to a narrower bandwidth seemed to increase the noise/hiss. While that's probably an "aural illusion," it certainly is real and counterintuitive to what we as DXers normally do in QRM-laden situations. I tried the synchronous detection on the R8B/ICF-2010, the notch filter on the R8B, and USB/LSB modes and nothing made a significant dent in the IBOC hash. As I've noted before, it's like having a leaky power transformer of several kilowatts connected to an efficient antenna and ground system! I almost wish another local, KLSQ-870, was also running IBOC. It would be interesting to see what would happen with two locals 30 kHz apart running IBOC. A few months ago, I speculated about what would happen with the "search" function of auto radios with IBOC. I tested this about 2:00 pm today. My car radio is the factory-installed unit that came with my 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Starting at 870 (KLSQ), I sent it searching downward and about 50% of the time it stopped on the noise on 850. Tuning upward from 720, it stopped almost 100% of the time on 830. For some reason, the IBOC hash seemed louder/stronger on my car radio on the lower side. I did not notice a similar effect in daytime on my home DXing radios, so this might be a peculiarity of my Toyota's radio. I'll check further. I listened tonight around 7:00 pm Pacific and the hash was mainly noticeable on 830 and 850; there were traces on 820 and 860 but stations could be heard through the noise. KOA-850 was audible, but the IBOC noise was severe, almost like listening through some crude noise jammer such as those used back in the 1960s around 1160 against Radio Americas. 830 was a totally lost cause --- nothing could be heard there but the noise, so maybe there is more IBOC signal being pumped out below 840 for some reason. Loops were no real help. I was able to null about 90% of KNXT's 840 analog signal and all I could hear was IBOC hash. Some say phasing is the answer to IBOC QRM. I have my doubts, but I do have my Quantum Phaser and I'll set up a couple of wires tomorrow and see if phasing gives better results than looping. I'm more dubious than ever about this whole notion of combining analog and digital signals in the same broadcasting band. Maybe the FCC should just set a date for all analog AM broadcasting to cease and be replaced by IBOC, much like they've tried to do with HDTV. Forget Dxers --- I just don't see how "mixed use" on AM will benefit broadcasters or the general public. Oh well, maybe Siegfried and Roy can figure out a way to make IBOC magically disappear! (Harry Helms AK6C/7, Las Vegas, NV DM26, NRC- AM April 3 via DXLD) Did you get any junk from KNXT-840's night IBOC in Phoenix? (Harry Helms, NV to Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Yes, it`s louder on 830 than 850. Perhaps they are trying to get away from messing up KOA's signal (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) OK, that confirms my daytime observations that the hash is worse on 830 than 850 for some reason. Can anyone more familiar with IBOC offer an explanation of why this might be? (Harry Helms AK6C/7, ibid.) I wonder if that varies from IBOC station to IBOC station. When the KIXI-880 tests were going on during NAB 2002 in Seattle, the hash was worse on 890 than 870. KIXI-880 puts in about S9 here. The hash on 890 was S7 and it was about S5 on 870 (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) || Barry, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of this for broadcasters? I was under the impression the IBOC components had to be symmetrical above/below the analog frequency to get the full benefits of IBOC. || I can think of a couple of possibilities: 1. The primary digital sidebands could be 6 dB higher on the low side than on the low side. A 6 dB reduction in the digital power is allowed in the FCC IBOC Report & Order, but I don't have a copy in front of me to see if the wording might be interpreted as allowing different levels on the two sidebands. You may recall that this mode of operation was suggested by Glen Clark in his petition for nighttime IBOC operation. Or maybe they whipped up something special just for the NAB event. 2. KXNT's 4-tower DA may not be broadband enough to hold its pattern over a 30 kHz bandwidth. Especially if you happen to be near the direction of one of the nulls, it wouldn't surprise me if the field strength could be quite different between 825-830 and 850-855 (Barry McLarnon, Ont., ibid.) That's quite possible. One thing I've noticed since moving here is how many transmitter sites in Las Vegas that were once in open desert are now surrounded by housing developments, shopping malls, etc. The situation with KDWN-720 is almost comical; their towers have homes, apartment complexes, 7-11 stores, etc. between them! I wonder if any of the Las Vegas directional patterns have any real-world resemblance to those on file with the FCC. Thanks for your comments! (Harry Helms, AK6C/7, Las Vegas, NV DM26, ibid.) The sidebands should be symmetrical to keep the normal AM detector happy. And as far as I know, the FCC didn't say anything about dropping the level of only one sideband. As for the Glen Clark idea, I later heard that there was a lot of concern that dropping one sideband's power would not work well in reality. The gotcha was that the lower powered sideband might get interfered with (or be dominated by) some other station's full power sideband and cause receivers in some areas to get the two sidebands from two different stations! I'm not sure why the sidebands would be so different. Barry's antenna array idea is good, but since KXNT has been through the IBOC tests before, I would assume they have a decent system to test with at this point. No one is biting on the independent sideband level thing at this point, so I'd bet against it. I'm mystified and might just call the guys to ask (Chuck Hutton, WA, ibid.) Well, yes and no. Don't forget that there are three sets of sidebands. The requirement for symmetry only applies to the tertiary sidebands at 0-5 kHz from the carrier. The claim is, of course, that most AM receivers don't have significant audio response beyond 5 kHz, so they won't respond to the other sidebands when tuned to the IBOC station. There is a large amount of redundancy in the IBOC signal, as only about 40% of the data carries information (i.e., digital audio and a bit of other data), and most of the remainder is redundant bits for error correction. I believe the system will still function with one of the primary sidebands (10-15 kHz from the carrier) completely absent - this was shown in the adjacent channel interference tests when the 1st-adjacent interference was just on one side. However, the remaining sideband would have to be virtually error-free, since nearly all of the error correction capability is gone. The system would not be robust and would perform very poorly under real world reception conditions. If one sideband were at normal power and the other were 6 dB down, then the penalty in performance would be less, but still significant. || And as far as I know, the FCC didn't say anything about dropping the level of only one sideband. I think you're right about that. The IBOC exciters are probably capable of doing it, but it's not a mode that is part of the IBOC specs. But maybe it will be after iBiquity's report on nighttime testing comes out. :-) || As for the Glen Clark idea, I later heard that there was a lot of concern that dropping one sideband's power would not work well in reality. The gotcha was that the lower powered sideband might get interfered with (or be dominated by) some other station's full power sideband and cause receivers in some areas to get the two sidebands from two different stations! || Do you mean co-channel or adjacent channel stations? I think the concern would be more with interference from analog signals, especially on 1st adjacents, where the analog signal falls right on top of your primary digital sideband. || I'm not sure why the sidebands would be so different. Barry's antenna array idea is good, but since KXNT has been through the IBOC tests before, I would assume they have a decent system to test with at this point. No one is biting on the independent sideband level thing at this point, so I'd bet against it. || I think the antenna explanation is the more likely one. They probably don't care if the DA is imperfect, as long as they get a signal they can work with in the vicinity of the convention center. || I'm mystified and might just call the guys to ask || Sure, why not? And I'm looking forward to reading Scott's reports from the NAB event about the buzz (a term which is appropriate in more ways than one!) and spin about IBOC there (Barry McLarnon, Ont, ibid.) The IBOC AM digital signal is allowed to be reduced by 6 dB to lessen interference to an adjacent signal. The way I read it, the digital signal can be reduced by 6 dB on one side or both. Since nothing that I know of has been published (or released to the public) regarding the A-to-D and D-to A conversion process, I don't know how an unbalanced signal will be received. Presumably only one side is needed to receive / decode IBOC digital (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) Yep, the digital sidebands are said to be totally redundant (identical). Having only one sideband is fine for IBOC (assuming adequate signal strength) - it's the analog AM envelope detector that should complain about having different sidebands. I suppose - anybody know different? - that Glen Clark assumes that with the digital stuff being at a low level withrespect to the analog, that a bit of unbalance wouldn't make things much worse than they already are. Here's my guess: The "enhanced stream" (the one that carries the stereo info in the secondary sidebands) is totally redundant. The upper and lower sidebands have exactly the same information so that symmetry can be preserved that the AM detector requires. So kill one sideband and you would notice no difference if the other sideband is making it through OK. The thing iBiquity calls a data service is also in the secondary carriers, so is also carried in a totally redundant fashion. So again, if you lose a sideband (upper or lower) but the other is OK you still receive the data correctly. But with only 400 bits a second, who cares? They can`t do anything with that data stream except the equivalent of RDS, which has not set the world on fire in the FM arena. Only the primary sidebands are allowed to be non-redundant, according to iBiquity's document on AM IBOC waveforms. Interference on one sideband would cause total loss of IBOC audio in this case, and the system would fall back to the thrilling 5 kHz analog audio. How cleanly it falls back is anybody's guess - at least I have no idea (Chuck Hutton, WA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. AN ALTERNATIVE TO IBAC? Kahn Communications, Inc. (KCI), announced today the development of new technology that will restore AM Radio Broadcasting to 15 kHz stereo fidelity by use of digital processing. The system, Compatible AM Digital (Cam-D[tm]), unlike the pending proposal now before the FCC, will not increase adjacent or co-channel interference. Therefore, the system will be able to operate during the nighttime as well as during daytime hours. Furthermore, the system is fully compatible with the over a half billion radios presently used by the American Public every day of the year. Actually, listeners to such existing radios will hear noticeably improved sound. The new system provides 15 kHz stereo fidelity when received by special new receivers, by use of frequency compression and digital transmission and digital reception techniques. One of the main advantages of the Cam-D[tm] System is that it can provide improved fading performance over vast distances at night. Accordingly, special emphasis was placed upon convincing Midwestern stations to act as Test Stations. KCI is now negotiating with stations in other regions of the country to test the system in urban areas where reradiation from large buildings is prevalent to prove Cam-D's relative insensitivity to reradiation. As of this date, the first stations that have contracted to purchase and install the Cam-D[tm] system are located in the States of: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. Some of these groups are equipping more than one station in a state. The committed stations range from a 500 watt daytimer, to major 50 kw stations with highly directional antennas. KCI has assured each Test Station that Cam-D[tm] will perform properly with the station's (new or old) transmitter, and their existing antenna, without any modifications. These Test Stations will provide spectrum measurements as well as practical demonstrations that Cam-D[tm] does not increase interference with even first adjacent channel stations, proving its compatibility with present frequency assignments. The tests will also be performed day and night to prove that the system does not degrade station coverage, indeed, increases it. And, finally, these initial tests will prove full compatibility with radios in the hands of the American Public. Actually, listeners will not, in any way, hear degraded sound, but will enjoy the same full frequency response broadcasters presently provide their listeners. Special new digitally enhanced radios will be made available in small pre-production sample quantities to demonstrate to Broadcasters and the FCC that Cam-D[tm] provides 15 kHz fidelity, night and day, for much of the station's normal coverage and also that Cam-D[tm] provides Slow Speed Data over the full coverage of the Test Stations. The system is based upon a number of L.R. Kahn patents, as well as brand now inventions. A spokesman for KCI, the New York, N.Y. and Carle Place, Long Island firm, stated that its president, L. R. Kahn, acting individually, had filed a Petition for Rule Making on January 24, 2003, requesting the FCC to appoint a Blue Ribbon Panel of former FCC Commissioners, etc., to propose revised procedures for evaluating all new technology so as to avoid possible future control of industry FCC Advisory Committees by firms proposing Billion Dollar Rule Making Petitions. The Rule Making also requested a STAY of the present FCC Order on Digital Audio Broadcasting. This Rule Making will not be withdrawn, Kahn stated, but it was recently amended to, request the Commission to evaluate and compare the Cam-D[tm] System with the presently proposed Hybrid AM DAB system to determine which system will best serve the American Public (Kahn Communications via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Temporary Authorization -- FCC must be notified within 10 Days The FCC has announced that AM and FM radio stations may begin broadcasting immediately with iBiquity's IBOC digital transmission system; however, the Commission must be notified by letter within 10 days of when IBOC operations commence. Until further notice, AM stations must restrict IBOC operations to daytime hours. This new notification procedure replaces the current requirement that radio stations obtain special temporary authority (STA) prior to the initiation of IBOC transmissions. Stations now operating under STAs should convert to the new "standard interim digital authority," which will not require renewal, by sending a digital notification letter to the FCC. For further info and a sample notification letter, see: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-831A1.doc (via Fred Vobbe, NRC DX Audio Service via DXLD) ** U S A. KPCC, the `other` (Minnesota-owned) Los Angeles public radio station, has belatedly started webcasting; mostly national shows, especially PRI, but a couple of local weekday talkshows. Schedule at http://www.kpcc.org/programming/m-f_broadcast.html must be slightly outdated since it still shows the defunct Rewind (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TEXAS STATE NETWORK - TALK SHOWS Texas Overnight with Charley Jones Neil Sperry's Lawn & Garden Show Texas Fishing and Outdoor Show The Lost Tapes with George Gimarc TEXAS STATE NETWORKS - RADIO STATIONS 550 KCRS Midland 590 KLBJ Austin 600 KTBB Tyler 690 KPET Lamesa 710 KGNC Amarillo 860 KFST Fort Stockton 860 KPAN Hereford 900 KCLW Hamilton 910 KNAF Fredericksburg 930 KDET Center 950 KJTV Lubbock 960 KIMP Mt. Pleasant 990 KAML Karnes City 1000 KSTA Coleman 1080 KRLD Dallas 1120 KJSA Mineral Wells 1130 KFAN Fredericksburg 1140 KCLE Cleburne 1150 KZNE College Station 1200 WOAI San Antonio 1220 KMVL Madisonville 1220 KZEE Weatherford 1230 KSIX Corpus Christi 1230 KSST Sulphur Springs 1240 KPBL Hemphill 1240 KVLF Alpine 1240 KXIT Dalhart 1240 KXOX Sweetwater 1250 KIKZ Seminole 1260 KKSA San Angelo 1290 KIVY Crockett 1290 KWFS Wichita Falls 1300 KSET Silsbee 1320 KVMC Colorado City 1330 KSWA Graham 1340 KAND Corsicana 1340 KHLB Burnet 1340 KRBA Lufkin 1340 KRNX Victoria 1340 KWKC Abilene 1350 KCAR Clarksville 1370 KFRO Longview 1370 KJCE Rollingwood 1390 KBEC Waxahachie 1390 KULP El Campo 1400 KEBE Jacksonville 1400 KEYE Perryton 1400 KGVL Greenville 1400 KIUN Pecos 1400 KRUN Ballinger 1400 KTEM Temple 1400 KVRP Stamford 1410 KCUL Marshall 1420 KFYN Bonham 1450 KCTI Gonzales 1450 KCYL Lampasas 1450 KMBL Junction 1470 KDHN Dimmitt 1490 KBST Big Spring 1490 KVWC Vernon 1490 KZZN Littlefield 1510 KCTX Childress 1520 KHLT Hallettsville 1540 KGBC Galveston 1550 KCOM Comanche 1550 KWBC Navasota 1560 KEGG Daingerfield 1560 KHBR Hillsboro 1570 KVLG La Grange 1580 KGAF Gainesville 1580 KRZI Waco 1580 KTLU Rusk 1590 KEAS Eastland 1590 KELP El Paso 1590 KGAS Carthage 1600 KOGT Orange 88.5 KEOM Mesquite 92.1 KHOS Sonora 92.1 KTFW Glen Rose 92.5 KCUL Marshall 92.5 KYKM Yoakum 94.1 KULF Brenham 94.3 KSEY Seymour 94.7 KWKQ Graham 95.3 KNEL Brady 95.7 KBST Big Spring 95.9 KXIT Dalhart 96.7 KXOX Sweetwater 96.9 KXYL Brownwood 97.1 KVRP Haskell 97.7 KATX Eastland 97.7 KVCQ Cuero 97.7 KWRW Rusk 98.3 KBOC Bridgeport 98.3 KCUB Stephenville 98.3 KEEP Bandera 98.3 KFYZ Bonham 98.3 KRDF Spearman 98.3 KULM Columbus 98.3 KYYK Palestine 98.5 KRXT Rockdale 99.1 KNES Fairfield 99.9 KMOO Mineola 99.9 KSHN Liberty 99.9 KTXM Hallettsville 100.3 KOMX Pampa 100.9 KIXC Quanah 103.1 KVWC Vernon 104.1 KWOW Clifton 104.3 KGAS Carthage 104.7 KZAM Ganado 105.9 KTCJ Centerville 106.3 KPAN Hereford 106.3 KSEM Seminole 106.3 KPSO Falfurrias 106.9 KKYN Plainview 107.1 KAUM Colorado City 107.7 KPLT Paris (via Art Blair, Folsom, CA, IRCA April 7 via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. VATICAN RADIO SCHEDULE APRIL TO OCTOBER 2003 0:30 PORTUGUESE AM 1260 7305 9605 0:40 HI-TA-MA-EN AS/AU/NZ 103.0 9650 12055 1:00 SPANISH AM 1260 7305 9605 11910 1:45 SPANISH AM 7305 9605 11910 2:10 ARMENIAN eEU 1260 6185 9645 2:30 FRENCH AF 103.0 9660 2:30 FRENCH AM 7305 9605 2:30 RUSSIAN eEU 1260 6185 7345 9645 2:30 SLOVENIAN EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 2:50 CROATIAN EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 2:50 ENGLISH AM 7305 9605 3:00 ENGLISH AF 103.0 9660 3:00 UKRAINIAN eEU 1260 6185 7345 3:10 CZECH EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 3:15 SPANISH AM 7305 9605 3:20 BYELORUSSIAN eEU 1260 6185 7345 3:25 SLOVAK EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 3:30 KISWAHILI AF 103.0 9660 11625 3:40 HUNGARIAN EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 3:40 LITHUANIAN eEU 1260 6185 7345 4:00 AMHARIC-TIGRI AF 103.0 9660 11625 4:00 ARABIC AF/AS/PA 1260 9645 11715 4:00 LATVIAN eEU 6185 7345 4:00 POLISH EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 4:20 GERMAN EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 4:20 RUMENIAN eEU 1611 6185 7345 4:30 FRENCH AF 103.0 9660 11625 4:40 BULGARIAN eEU 1611 6185 7345 4:40 FRENCH EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 5:00 ENGLISH AF 103.0 9660 11625 15570 5:00 ENGLISH EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 5:00 SCANDINAVIAN eEU 1260 1611 7345 9645 5:20 ALBANIAN eEU 1260 1611 5:20 ITALIAN EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 5:30 MASS IN LATIN EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 15595 5:30 PORTUGUESE AF 103.0 11625 13765 15570 6:00 FRENCH AF 103.0 11625 13765 15570 6:00 IT-FR-EN W EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 11740 15595 6:10 RUMANIAN LIT.7H EU/ME 93.3 7250 9645 6:15 UKRAINIANLIT.7H eEU 1260 1611 9850 11740 6:30 ENGLISH AF 103.0 11625 13765 15570 6:45 ARABIC W EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 1530 5890 9645 11740 15595 7:30 MASS IN ITAL.7H EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 7250 8:00 SPANISH W EU/ME 105 585 5890 8:15 PAPAL AUD. 3 EU/ME 105 585 5890 8:30 ORIENTAL LIT.7H EU/ME 93.3 11740 15595 17515 9:00 ENGLISH 12456 EU/ME 105 585 5890 10:00 ANGELUS 7H EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 105.0 585 1530 5890 9645 11740 15595 21850 10:00 ITALIAN W EU/ME 105 585 5890 10:30 ITALIAN 7H EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 5890 11:00 FRENCH W EU/ME 105 585 5890 11:00 PORTUGUESE W AM 1260 21850 11:30 MASS IN ENG.5 AF/AS/PA 103.0 15595 17515 11:30 SPANISH W AM 1260 21850 12:00 ITALIAN EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 105.0 585 5890 9645 11740 15595 21850 12:30 CHINESE 123457 AS/AU/NZ 103.8 6020 17515 21770 12:30 MASS IN CHI. 6 AS/AU/NZ 103.0 6020 17515 21770 12:30 RUSSIAN eEU 1260 15595 17630 13:00 SPANISH EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1260 9645 11740 13:15 PORTUGUESE EU/ME 93.3 1260 9645 11740 13:15 VIETNAMESE AS/AU/NZ 103.0 12055 17515 14:00 GERMAN-POLISH EU/ME 93.3 5890 9645 11740 14:30 HI-TA-MA-EN AS/AU/NZ 103.0 12065 13765 15235 14:30 ITALIAN 5 EU/ME 93.3 5890 7250 9645 14:30 MUSIC 123467 EU/ME 93.3 5890 7250 9645 15:00 VESPERS EU/ME 93.3 5890 7250 9645 15:30 ARABIC AF/AS/PA 1260 11625 15595 15:30 ITALIAN EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 5890 7250 9645 15:30 MASS IN ENG. 6 AF/AS/PA 103.8 12065 13765 15235 15:50 ARMENIAN eEU 1611 11715 15185 16:00 FRENCH-ENGLISH EU/ME/AS/PA 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 15595 16:00 KISWAHILI AF 103.0 15570 17515 16:10 RUSSIAN eEU 1260 1611 6210 9585 11715 15185 16:15 SOMALI 6 AF 103.0 15570 17515 16:30 AMHARIC-TIGRI AF 103.8 15570 17515 16:30 SLOVENIAN EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 16:40 UKRAINIAN eEU 1260 1611 9585 11715 16:50 CROATIAN EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 17:00 BYELORUSSIAN eEU 1611 9585 11715 17:00 FRENCH AF 103.0 15570 17515 17:10 HUNGARIAN EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 17:20 LITHUANIAN eEU 1611 9585 11715 17:30 CZECH EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 17:30 ENGLISH AF 103.0 13765 15570 17515 17:40 LATVIAN eEU 1611 9585 11715 17:45 SLOVAK EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 18:00 POLISH EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 18:00 PORTUGUESE AF 103.0 13765 15570 17515 18:00 RUMENIAN eEU 1260 1611 6185 7365 18:20 BULGARIAN eEU 1260 1611 6185 7365 18:20 GERMAN EU/ME 93.3 1467 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 18:40 ROSARY EU/AF/AS/PA 93.3 103.0 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 6185 9660 11625 13765 18:40 SCANDINAVIAN eEU 1260 1611 7250 9645 19:00 ALBANIAN eEU 1260 1611 7250 9645 19:00 ITALIAN EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 19:00 SPANISH 6 AF 103.0 9660 11625 19:20 ESPERANTO 34 eEU 1260 1611 7250 9645 19:20 ESPERANTO 7H EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 19:20 ITAL.-ENGL. 1 eEU 1260 1611 9660 19:20 PHILIPPINE 5 eEU 1260 1611 19:30 FRENCH EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 19:50 ENGLISH EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 20:00 ENGLISH AF 103.0 9660 11625 13765 20:00 RUSSIAN eEU 1260 7305 9575 20:10 SPANISH EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 20:30 FRENCH AF 103.0 9660 11625 13765 20:30 PORTUGUESE EU/ME 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 20:45 ARABIC EU/ME/AF 93.3 1530 4005 5890 7250 9645 21:00 ITALIAN EU/ME/AF 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 21:30 ITALIAN 7 EU/ME 93.3 105.0 585 1530 4005 5890 22:00 CHINESE AS/AU/NZ 103.0 7305 9600 11830 23:15 VIETNAMESE AS/AU/NZ 103.0 7305 9600 HI-TA-MA-EN = HINDI-TAMIL-MALAY.-ENGLISH IT-FR-EN = ITALIAN-FRENCH-ENGLISH W = WEEKDAYS H = HOLY DAYS 1 = MON ..... 7 = SUN (Printed sked via Michael Beesley via Alan Roe, World DX Club and Vatican Radio website via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DXLD) As usual, Vatican refuses to publish the end times of its transmissions, nor to specify relay sites! We know e.g. 6020 is Philippines for Chinese at 1230, and there are probably some Russian sites mixed in too; see CIS (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn, unID April 6, 2003 1102-1205 UT on 1610 kHz playing different blocks of music. During the time I listened I did not hear an ID. Music blocks included several 50's oldies, then a zzzzt sound and switch to several C&W songs, then a zzzzt sound and switch to several 80's soft rock songs, then a zzzzt sound and a switch to several instrumental music pieces, then a zzzzt sound and a switch to several oldies songs, etc. Any idea? DX test? 73, (-.. . Kraig Krist, Annandale VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sounds like a pirate, rather than CJWI Montreal (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5728.43, unID LA, unknown QTH. April 3 2003 - 0000 UT. Heard the station only this date with decent signal at tops and semi distorted audio. On the hour ads plus an ID which I can`t hear. UT -5 and neutral, popular LA music. If we play with the thought that it might be a harmonic from MW 1430 kHz, I know of at least two UT -5 stations having serious problems with their transmitters --- both loggings presented in "mv eko" (Arctic Radio Club, Sverige). Those are: 1429-1432v O___, Radio Imperio, el distrito de Calamarca, la provincia de Julcán, el departamento de La Libertad (Perú). Jan 2003 - 0130 UT. This station is drifting heavily between 1429 and 1432 kHz, sometimes with good signal. Semi distorted audio and the DJ talks fast and untidy as well. The first time I listened I thought they were called "R. R. la frecuencia de amor", maybe a jingle, often repeated. Finally this ID was heard: "Nueva Radio Imperio" and also "Están escuchando Radio Imperio Laser (?)". I checked Radio Imperio, Chiclayo on 4389 kHz, also heard here in Quito on 1491.25 kHz, but you can immediately tell that it is two different stations. Most of the time typical Peruvian music and also typical Ecuadorian. In between Andean Cumbia which can be placed in both countries. 1430.74v OCX1H, Radio San José, el distrito de La Unión, la provincia de Piura, el departamento de Piura. Jan 2003 - 1110 UT. Also this station is drifting in frequency and at some occasions more or less "collided" with the above mentioned Radio Imperio on around 1431-1432 kHz. Have also earlier reported Radio San José on 1451.87 kHz but is listed in WRTH on 1420 kHz. Lots of talk by OM about communal matters in La Unión. Gave two telephone numbers to the station of which I noted one: 37 42 53. Sometimes very long blocks of ads (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-03 CLASHES / FREQUENCY (MIS)MANAGEMENT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn, interesting to have some discussion about frequency clashes/mismanagement in DXLD; it should get people to write the technical department of shortwave stations and tell them: You've got interference, or you're co-channeling with another station, and we have an alternate frequency for you to try! Do some bandscanning, tell the technical people there's a clear frequency they can use! As to NHK's use of 11895 at 2200 (co-channel with VOA in Creole), as far as I know it's coming from the Montsinéry, French Guiana site... is 11705 from Sackville also in use at the same hour (btw language used is Japanese on both channels)? Also, in regard to Vietnam's use of 11630 in English at 1100 I heard them on April 4 with poor signal and unreadable audio, but no sign of a Chinese station QRMing it on this channel (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is some data in the public A03 HFCC schedule for "AUS", but those refer to Merlin stuff, which is not managed by the ABU-HFC, or by "BFM", such as SNG, TAIWAN, TINIAN, HCJB-AUS, VI. BFM is a person by the name of Bernd Friedewald, in Germany, who is responsible for frequency management of RA transmissions. That includes the Internal SW services from the NT. All ABU-HFC assignments have been deleted in the public schedule, such as PNG, KOR, VTN, PAK, J, BGD, MLA, IND, INS, NZ, LAO, CBG, THA, SNG, etc. All current frequency data for all Australian HF broadcasters can be found at the on-line database of the Australian Broadcasting Authority. The frequency problem on 9720 2200-2300 (DW-T BBC-SNG to same areas) has been examined by Merlin and SNG is now on 9730. However, disaster again, as 9730 is in use by VOIRI for Malay 2230-2330) I will be attending the HFCC meeting in Norway as an Independent Professional Engineering Consultant. Re HFCC: ITU certainly does offer its material to anyone who is prepared to pay/subscribe, much of it on CD-ROM. People who are currently condemning ITU for its "failure" to publish everything in the HFCC schedule might care to consider why they believe that this sort of material should be provided to them for free. It is my view that the schedule may be removed entirely from the general(free) domain should hobbyists persist in public criticism (Bob Padula, Australia, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ A RETURN TO GREGORIAN CHANT The idea is so simple, so right, so attractive, one wonders why only Radio Santa Famiglia of the Diocese of Bolzano and Bressanone does it: Return Gregorian Chant to the Catholic airwaves. Why don`t more Catholic stations do it? Now, I know, such a suggestion immediately provokes ridicule and disbelief from the avant-garde group of liturgical ``reformers`` who have wreaked havoc on the Liturgy in the Church in the United States for the last four decades. Last year, a group of these people, alarmed at the movements that are trying to return dignity and grace to the Latin Rite, formed an organization to, as they put it, halt the efforts to undo all the great changes made in the Liturgy over the last decades since Vatican II. Catholic News Service gave them coverage on their website, as they do for all such ilk. But there are great movements afoot. The fact is, everyone is tired of the disembowelment of the Liturgy by the aptly named liturgical terrorists. Even a liberal Catholic like Father Andrew Greeley publicly moaned in his column two years ago that the things that made us Catholics Catholic have been lost, and we now suffer a cultural identity loss. He specifically named --- Are you listening, liturgical reformers? --- Gregorian Chant. There used to be on the website of St Meinrad Abbey of Indiana a learned, lengthy essay by a monk who, after diligently studying the matter, found that the periods of spiritual stagnation and decline of the Church corresponded to periods of decline of the use of Gregorian Chant! Read that again! A monk, after diligently studying the matter, found that the periods of spiritual stagnation and decline of the Church throughout history corresponded to periods of decline of the use of Gregorian Chant! No, avant-gardes: It is not that the dropping of Gregorian causes the Church to decline in fervor and spirituality, it is the other way around. That essay had disappeared when I went looking for it two years ago. Why it was taken off, I do not know. But I have found websites and webpages where even Protestant pastors and church musicians are seeking to restore Gregorian Chant, or a variety of it. The Anglicans and Episcopalians are particularly active in this movement. (Why does it take outsiders to make us realize the value of what we have? Alas, human nature, I am afraid.) In an essay found at http://chant.freeservers.com, Henry Doktorski, director of music ``at a large Roman Catholic Church in Pittsburgh,`` writes at length about what clearly he loves, Gregorian Chant. ``...despite this high-intensity devotional experience, chant has little popularity in these modern times. Most people, including devout Catholics, prefer to listen to music which is more fast-paced. We have become accustomed to fast food, fast cars, fast computers and fast Internet access. We don`t like to take our time anymore. We rush to work, we rush to finish assignments, we rush home.`` He goes on: ``However, chant is not fast; it does not have a beat, and we cannot clap our hands to it. It seems boring and monotonous to most 21st-century Americans; it doesn`t hold our attention. Our minds wander; we want something more stimulating. Yet, perhaps, in addition to mending spiritual illness, change may also provide tangible medicinal relief for hypertension, migraine headaches, ulcers and heart attacks. Chant slows our metabolism, it steadies our pulse and our breathing, and it quiets the mind. Chant allows our soul to experience the inner stillness required to know God. `Be still and know that I am God.` (Psalms 46:10).`` Mr. Doktorski cites at length the work of French physician and researcher Dr. Alfred A. Tomitas on the neurophysiological effects of Gregorian Chant. Dr. Tomitas found that there are two kinds of sound. One he called ``discharge`` sounds, which tire, fatigue, and drain the listener; the other is ``charge`` sounds, which give energy, life and health. I am not doing justice to his research of Mr. Doktorski`s article, which originally appeared in the diocesan Pittsburgh Catholic on May 26, 2000. I am making it sound, unfortunately, like some wacko new therapy invented by New Agers. You must read the entire article. Essentially, Dr. Tomitas has accomplished ``seemingly miraculous recoveries and given new life to thousands of patients by his innovative treatments with sound.`` . One such case involved a French monastery that abandoned Chant for more ``relevant`` music at great cost to monastic serenity and the monks` psychological health. After a whole passel of doctors and investigators were not able to help the monks, who were showing severe neuropsychological and digestive problems, Dr. Tomitas was called in. After carefully investigating the matter, he told the young abbot who had thrown out the Chant and much monastic prayer to restore them. Within six months, almost all the monks had regained their energy and zest for their vocations and spiritual life. ``...Dr. Tomitas understood what no one else did at the time: that the monks had been chanting in order to `charge` themselves, but they hadn`t realized what they were doing. And gradually, as the days passed, they started to get bogged down; they became more and more tired.`` If you still do not believe this, consider: medical studies have shown certain kinds of music, particularly classical music, lower blood pressure, the pulse rate, anxiety levels, and ultimately improve the health of patients Why, then, do we not listen to the people in the pews, to the Andrew Greeleys and the Alfred A. Tomitas, and return Gregorian Chant to our churches and introduce it to our airwaves? I think it is because the liturgical reformers and their camp followers do not credit the Catholic people with much intelligence or love for solemn Chant and Liturgies. I think it is because a rather small but very powerful coterie of avant-gardes have seized the power controls of the Church in the United States and have imposed their own ideas of what the Vatican Council wanted. (If you think this an outrageous statement, go study sociology and see that every human organization of every kind has certain control centers, and every human organization has a certain group inside it that finds out where those controls are, learns to use them, and imposes itself on the group. Study the sociology, my friends.) It took the monks of Santo Domingo Abbey in Spain several years ago to show how popular Gregorian Chant has become, even with New Agers. Remember how a re-issued compact disc of their old recordings soared in the charts in Europe and America? Even the monks themselves were amazed, and two ex-monks actually sued the monastery because they were in the choir that had recorded the old tapes, and they wanted a piece of the royalties. A good twenty years ago, a struggling Class A noncommercial FM station belonging to a high school on San Francisco Bay was looking for some kind of automated programming to keep it on the air all night. The relatively low power, despite a recent power increase, and its position of one among the many dozens of AM and FM stations on the air around the Bay Area, from Vallejo in the north to San Jose in the south, gave KMAH 88.9 FM (now KCEA 89.1 FM) a severe disadvantage in attracting listeners. The young teacher in charge of the radio club that operated the little station at Menlo Atherton High School hit upon a novelty. He went out and recorded the various sounds of the bay— the lap of waves against the shore; the cry of gulls, terns, and the many other seabirds; the slow toll of buoy bells; the bleat of ship horns; the warning fog horns; the muffled background noises in this very populated bay area. After mixing the tapes down, he ran them all night by using what was, back then, state-of-the-art automation equipment. Immediately, enervated and weary listeners discovered it, and the word spread. The audience grew. The local press, then the trade press, then the national press picked up the story. Now, if a high school station sees the value in the extraordinarily pacific effects of seascapes in sound, why do we Catholics remain so dull as not to see the far greater value of our Gregorian Chant? Why do we not see it as exactly the music a tired, jaded, over- stimulated, high-anxiety world needs? Why do we not offer the world what is our own? Why do Protestants and New Agers see its value, but not us? Why do we let a cadre of liturgical avant-gardes who have misread and misinterpreted and misimplemented Vatican II get away with tossing centuries of music into the trash bin and imposing this awful stuff we are fed in our Latin Rite Churches? Why do we not listen to Father Andrew Greeley and Dr. Alfred Tomitas? Why do we not emulate RSF Radio Sacra Famiglia? Why? (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update via DXLD) QSLing BELLABARBA A terrible example of Bellabarba's work can be seen on Radio Nika's home page at http://www.nikafm.ru/dx.htm He has copied every detail (date, time, frequency and even programme details) into his report from a logging, made by Finnish dx-er Jorma Mäntylä. This is what happens to your loggings if you make them public ... The programme details in Jorma's logging are exactly what Bellabarba has in his own report. However, after relistening to his tape Jorma changed the details a little, thus resulting in a bit different wording in his report. This is not the only case unfortunately. Every year Bellabarba sends hundreds of fake reception reports based on other DXers` loggings. Who is this Bellabarba actually? Does he really exist or is it just a cover name by some other dx-er? Comments please! How can we stop this? Best 73 despite all, (Jim Solatie, Finland, MW-DX via DXLD) Hi Jim, Well I don't think there is much anyone can do about it. It's not nice but what can you do? People like this only cheat themselves and really there is no gratification in getting verifications back for stations that others have heard. It's like collecting postcards. Nice view but never having been there. There is absolutely no satisfaction or emotional attachment to any of it. It's a bit like people swapping or selling QSL's. Why bother? I think the big worry is whether it ruins our chances (at some stations) of getting stuff back in the future (Dave Onley, ibid.) Hello Jim & all, Bellabarba does exist indeed. As far as I know, he lives in or near Bologna and enjoys this odd hobby of report faking together with his son. Don't ask me *why*, I am not a psychiatrist. How can this be stopped? Good question. Law does not deal with report faking, therefore one can't simply ask a judge for a (deserved) hanging sentence. One interpretation of this pathology is that it can be 'useful'. This is the view of Dario Monferini, who is in friendly terms with Mr. Bellabarba and regularly publishes his 'verifications' on 'PlayDX'. Dario says that Bellabarba's QSLs are useful sources of station manager's names, addresses and other informations. I strongly disagree with Dario: although I don't send reports or collect verifications, I think that Bellabarba is a shame for the whole DXing community and even more for Italian DXing. Dario's objection that 'Bellabarba never claimed to be a DXer, he simply collects verifications' is bull****: the guy sends 'reception reports', not simply sample QSL requests. I don't see any easy solution to the problem. Sending 'warnings' to every station on the planet would be ridiculous. Banning Bellabarba from the DXing community is useless, as he is not interested in any contact outside his own world. As far as I know, his 'stage' at present is just PlayDX where Dario, deaf to everybody's pleas, goes on publishing the QSLs from 'Dxer Bellabarba' - and losing readers in the meantime. But I am not at all sure that exhibitionism is part of Bellabarba's pathology. Maybe a (snail) mail action from DXers around the world, writing Bellabarba how they feel about him? Good DX (Enrico Oliva, Milan, Italy, http://www.faiallo.org mwdx via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ From a much longer article: SLOW MAIL DELIVERY BUGS TROOPS News from home, needed goodies can take a while, By RON MARTZ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/news/iraq/0403/02martz.html . . .In greatest demand at the moment: cigarettes, baby wipes and shortwave radios. The radios keep troops in touch with what's going on in the outside world and give them news of the war effort they don't get from their superiors. The shortwave radios that several soldiers carried were long ago destroyed by the desert dust. The last one that came into the company two weeks ago is now falling apart. It has been kept together only through the skills of Capt. Jason Conroy, 30, of Apalachin, N.Y., the company commander and a former electrician. The baby wipes help soldiers maintain some semblance of cleanliness in an environment in which nothing is ever clean. . . (via Jilly Dybka, TN, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) GRUNDIG FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER TAKEOVER ABANDONED Consumer electronics giant Grundig says it is not ruling out insolvency after Turkish company Beko told the Istanbul stock exchange that it was abandoning plans to take over the ailing German company "following an in-depth examination and evaluation". It is the second time in just over a month that takeover talks for Grundig have failed. Discussions with Beko started in March after long-running discussions with Taiwanese company Sampo failed to produce an agreement. Grundig posted a loss of 150 million euro (164 million dollars) on sales of 1.28 billion euro in 2001, and has predicted a loss of 75 million euros for 2002 (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 7 April 2003 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ IN IRAQ, SOLAR STORMS PLAY HAVOC WITH COMMUNICATION By Peter N. Spotts | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor On today's digital battlefield, where AA batteries are almost as critical as bullets, researchers are looking for ways to forecast "weather" conditions hundreds of miles up where satellites orbit. Over the past decade, scientists have focused much of their effort on forecasting the effects of large outbursts from the sun, which can fry satellite circuits and trigger surges in earthbound utility transmission lines. Now, military and civilian researchers are paying increased attention to turbulence in Earth's ionosphere, which can weaken navigation, intelligence, and other signals until they vanish under useless noise. While solar storms can aggravate these effects, they can appear almost daily with or without a major solar eruption. In Iraq, "all of our operations are very finely tuned" to minimize civilian casualties, notes US Air Force Capt. Kelly Doser, currently working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colo. Because today's weapons that rely on navigation satellites for guidance, "any little thing that creeps in could have a very heavy impact on how the mission is done." GPS: key to modern warfare By many accounts, the US-led conflict is more reliant on digital information than any in history. Encrypted voice communications, digital images of bomb and missile damage from remotely piloted aircraft and precision munitions, as well as search-and-rescue operations, all depend on satellites. Since the Gulf War in 1991, the military's demand for satellite services has grown tenfold, prompting the Pentagon to contract with commercial-satellite operators for the capacity it needs. Meanwhile, the military's global-positioning satellite (GPS) network has become its backbone for navigation and the key technology behind a new generation of precision-guided weapons. One potential source of error lies in the ionized portion of Earth's atmosphere, which begins about 30 miles up and through which GPS signals must pass, researchers say. Just as turbulence in the lower part of the atmosphere can give starlight its twinkle, turbulence in the ionosphere can cause GPS satellite signals to strengthen and fade - sometimes to the point where receivers lose the signals completely. "The problem usually occurs after sundown and doesn't clear up until after midnight," says Joseph Kunches, chief of space operations at the Space Environment Center. At sundown the lower ionosphere grows less dense than the overlying layers, triggering "bubbles" that rise and generate turbulences that move through the surrounding ionosphere. The US Air Force has established a global network of 12 ground-based sensors, which can detect the effect. One is located in the Gulf region. Each day, the Pentagon's Central Command gets a briefing on conditions the network observes, notes David Anderson, a research associate with the University of Colorado's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. Minimizing ionosphere damage Dr. Anderson notes that the US Air Force Research Laboratory has developed a computer system that allows users to identify other satellites on orbit whose signal paths aren't affected, so that an operator can switch communications to a different satellite. But experts lack a means of forecasting these effects well in advance. One of the critical needs, researchers say, is more sensors on orbit to monitor changes in the ionosphere. Later this year, the Air Force is scheduled to launch a satellite dedicated to scintillation forecasting. In addition, the US and Taiwan are scheduled to launch a constellation of six microsatellites in 2005 that will gather more than 3,000 measurements a day of GPS signals as they pass through the atmosphere from various angles. Researchers say the measurements, which also will be used for weather and climate monitoring, will aid in forecasting the phenomenon and will be important for their understanding of ionospheric scintillation. from the March 31, 2003 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0331/p15s01-woiq.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 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 March 22, delayed via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-059, April 7, 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/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early 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 1176: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 7445 [subject to pre-emption] WJIE: Tue 0600, M-F 1200 on 7490 [maybe] WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 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/wor1176.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1176.html WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR A-03, DST SEASON: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WOR/COM/MR/RADIO ENLACE MASTER TIME SCHEDULE FOR A-03: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html ** AUSTRALIA. While not shortwave broadcasting, those of you who have heard the School of the Air on HF/SW may be interested to note they are moving to an internet-type service, and as such will no longer be using HF radio. I'm not sure when the last HF transmission will be, it was Friday 4 April or will be the following Friday (Jeffrey Burford, Port Augusta, Sangean ATS 909, April 5, EDXP via DXLD) It is interesting to read that the School of the Air is or has left shortwave for the internet, I used to listen to this on and off especially before I started working back in the 1970's, used to pick up Broken Hill, Bourke as well as up into Queensland and the Northern Territory, it was most interesting, the last time I listened was last year while on holidays when I listened to Charters Towers in QLD. I guess it means another end of an era and another nail in the coffin for us shortwave listeners. Best wishes to all! (Michael Stevenson, EDXP via DXLD) WTFK?? Sad to see the School of the Air leaving the SW bands after many years of service, although this has been coming for some time now. Several of you know that I am a music teacher by profession. I once had a 45 piece concert band (woodwinds, brass and percussion) on tour in the Mildura/Broken Hill area (1998, I think it was). One of our gigs was to play on the School's Friday morning transmission from the Broken Hill studio. To get 45 student musicians armed with large musical instruments into that tiny studio was a feat of logical engineering! The morning class began with checking the roll, and I think we heard about a dozen students at their radios in far-flung areas of western New South Wales and South Australia. Some of the kids were very young. The band played several tunes, then some of our musos went to the microphone to play their instruments so the kids could hear the different sounds. It was great fun and there was lots of excitement coming across the air waves as the kids asked questions about the instruments and the music we played. School of the Air is usually conducted on a very strict procedure of the teacher calling in specific students to transmit. However, on this day, there were several occasions when a number of the kids all tried transmitting (talking) at the one time! It was laughable. We left the studio that day feeling like we had really made a valuable contribution to the students' learning. It also gave our own school students an understanding of the importance of School of the Air for young people who are so isolated from the way of life and things we take for granted. Wonderful memories (Rob VK3BVW Wagner, April 7, Melbourne, Australia, EDXP via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 15480, 1559-, HCJB Australia, Apr 5. Finally hear this one with a fair signal. ID at 1600 as 'HCJB, Voice of the great southland', and into Ham Radio Today [Sat]. Better when rechecked at 1655 with religious play. Very good reception at 1713, with locally produced program (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. A couple of weeks ago I told you that I had heard rumours of the imminent close-down of a well-known international broadcaster. In the meantime you might have heard that the station in question is Radio Austria International, the international service of the ORF, the Austrian public broadcaster. For more information I turned to Wolf Harranth, a household name in the world of DXing, and especially in the German-speaking world. Wolf is a veteran at Radio Austria International. He's been producing DX programmes for more than 30 years. His "Kurzwellenpanorama" was first broadcast on May 6 1969; five years ago, on April 4 1997 it was renamed "Intermedia", the logical consequence of new developments in the media. Wolf was also highly active outside the station, as the thriving force behind DX clubs and associations. He published an excellent handbook on DXing and a series of audio cassettes with station IDs, etc. Wolf is also an author and translates books from English into German. So, I called him in Vienna and asked him whether this really was the end of Radio Austria International? SOUND Wolf Harranth Wolf Harranth, journalist, author and translator, producer of Intermedia and DX-Telegramm at Radio Austria International. We'll hear more from Wolf next week. Don't miss it, because, as Wolf said, there is a good way to say good bye. It's something special for DXers who collect QSL cards. FRANS VOSSEN, RVI Radio World April 6 [audio available for one week] listen broadband: http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_HI.asx listen narrowband: http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_LO.asx (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More from Wolf on next week`s show --``a good way to say goodbye``, special QSL (gh) ** BRAZIL. 4885.03, Rádio Difusora Acreana, Rio Branco. 0120 UT. This station has a program in Spanish every Saturday evening called "Antonio Flores", maybe the name of the program leader, who speaks Spanish with Brasilian accent. Very nice program with music, ads and talk. I listened between 0100-0200 UT and cannot tell if the program starts earlier/ends later. In a previous issue of Glenn Hauser`s "DXLD" in the headings with unIDs, there is a logging of a Spanish speaking LA on 4885 kHz. Maybe this is the answer? The funny thing is that I for the first time here in Quito two days later logged Brasil on MW: Radio Difusora Acreana on 1400.02 kHz! Splendid! (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. São Paulo, Radio Bandeirantes, 9645 kHz, 0812 to 0831 UT, SINPO 34132. News about war in Iraq, and commercials (Icom R71A with 114-foot inverted-L; John Sandin, Merriam, KS, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I can't figure out why it's CBL here in Toronto, when you would expect "CBT" (which is actually in NF). The CBC was established in 1936. Before that there was the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC), with the Toronto station using the call "CRCT", and even before the CRBC, the Canadian National Railways network used the call "CNRT" in Toronto. CNRT/CRCT/CBL's frequency was on 840; they moved to 740 after the 1941 NARBA treaty. CJBC once stood for Jarvis Street Baptist Church. They were an English station until the early 1960s (Mike Brooker, Ont., NRC-AM via DXLD) The present CJBC is not related to the station operated by the Jarvis St. church in the 1920's except that both had Toronto as COL:). In 1935 CKNC went silent as its owner, the National Carbon Co (a battery company which was the Canadian branch of an American company (Burgess?)) no longer wanted to be in the broadcasting field. The CRBC, who operated as pointed out above CRCT in Toronto, brought the station, moving into its studios and keeping the CKNC transmitter as a backup under the calls CRCY. About the time the CBC came into being (Nov 1936) CRCT, whose 5 kW transmitter was in Bowmanville (42 miles east of Toronto) suffered severe QRM on its 840 kHz frequency from 250 kW XERA which made reception in Toronto poor. Thus the 100 watt CRCY transmitter was used to provide service for Toronto for some months as a rebroadcaster of CRCT. In Dec 1937 the CBC put 50 kW CBL on the air from the Hornby site, and the Bowmanville site was retired. CRCY became CBY, and during the war became the flagship station for the second CBC English network, the Dominion network (the other was named the Trans-Canada network, now CBC Radio One). For some reason which I have never been able to discover Ernie Bushnell, then with the CBC, had the calls changed to CJBC. CJBC continued as the flagship of the Dominion network until the demise of this network in the early 60's at which point it joined the French network. The CBY calls were used in Newfoundland later as we all know, after Newfoundland became a part of Canada in 1949. 73, (Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, NRC-AM April 2 via DXLD) On succeeding the CRBC in 1936, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reserved for itself the prefix "CB". CRCT became "CBL" Toronto - the "L" because of its location in the Great Lakes region; CRCY became "CBY". As the CBC began to build its powerful 50 kW transmitters, the station calls usually related to their region or purpose, CBF Montreal - French language, CBK Watrous, Saskatchewan, in honour of Kelsey the explorer; CBE Edmonton, CBH Halifax, etc. With all but 4 private Canadian stations limited to maximum power of 1,000 watts (exceptions were CFRB Toronto and CFCN Calgary, both "grandfathered" at 10,000 watts, and CKAC Montreal and CKLW Windsor with 5,000 watts), the CBC proceeded with its objective of increasing its owned-and-operated stations to the maximum power permitted by international agreement. CKGW Toronto was bought from Gooderam and Worts and moved to the "clear frequency" of 740 kHz with power of 50,000 watts (December 1937), and call letters changed to CBL. Coincidentally, in the same year, the Corporation built CBF in Montreal, placing it on 690 kHz - another clear channel. CBF later became the key station of the CBC French Network, embracing newly- established CBV Quebec, CBJ Chicoutimi and private stations in New Carlisle and Rimouski --- supplemented by private stations in Hull, Sherbrooke and Rouyn. CBM Montreal, formerly CRCM, with 5,000 watts took over CBF's English programming. In 1939, the Maritime provinces were given CBA in Sackville, NB on 1070 kHz, and listeners on the prairies were bestowed with CBK, strategically positoned at Watrous, Saskatchewan at 540 kHz - both 50,000-watters. CBR (later CBU) Vancouver and CBO Ottawa, were each given power increases to 5,000 watts - the international limit on their frequencies. (In succeeding years, CBC's Alberta coverage was beefed-up with the additions of CBX Edmonton (ultimately 50,000 on 740 kHz replacing CBX Lacombe), and CBR Calgary in 1964 with 50,000 watts on 1010 kHz. Earlier, in 1948, to improve coverage in Manitoba, CBC bought the original CKY from the Manitoba Government, dubbed it CBW and upped its power from 15,000 to 50,000 watts on 990 kHz). However, while the private stations selected to affiliate with the CBC network were happy to acquire some of the greatest radio attractions in the world, the programming and the income of other broadcasters in two-and-three-station markets suffered. CBC affiliates had first-choice in carrying CBC sustaining (non- sponsored) programs not included in their reserved time agreement, but the CBC did offer the remainder of any they wished to carry to the non-affiliates. In Southern Ontario, where Hamilton and St. Catharines stations existed under the umbrella of CBL's 50 kW transmitter at Hornby, CKOC, CHML and CKTB were regarded only as "supplementary stations". If sponsors paid the extra cost, CBC would add them. Meanwhile, they were welcome to share carriage of the network's sustaining programs. Similarly, in two-station markets across Canada, the CBC obtained extra coverage of its sustaining programs at no cost. | snip | 1940s In the early forties, pressure developed among listeners, advertisers and stations for alternative programming. Sensing this need, and to head-off a possible campaign for a private network, CBC took the initiative to set-up a second coast-to-coast network. CBC lined-up 34 existing and soon-to-exist private stations as affiliates, but lacked a key station in Toronto where CFRB had rejected the invitation to participate (in fact, serious consideration was given to suggestions that CBC should expropriate CFRB - instead, another solution was found). When CBC succeeded the CRBC in 1937, it had also acquired a low-powered Toronto station - CKNC - whose studio facilities it had leased for CBL and which had been founded by the Canadian National Carbon Company. It was given the call sign CRCY and subsequently became CBY. It was usually programmed separately from CBL and also carried sustaining programs (non commercial) from NBC's Blue Network. When CBL carried sponsored programs, CBY's programs were fed over existing lines to CKTB St Catharines and to either CKOC or CHML Hamilton. CBC decided to turn CBY into the key station for its Dominion Network. The power would be increased to 50,000 watts and it could be engineered to share the tower and other facilities of CBL at Hornby. The frequency of 860 - a clear channel - had been previously designated for CBC's use, and CBC moved CBY from 1010 to 860, displacing CFRB which had occupied the channel for several years. CBY became CJBC - the key station of the CBC Dominion Network - when it was formed January 1, 1944. CFPL London and CKX Brandon were deleted from the original network and became Dominion affiliates. The first sponsored program was the intellectual NBC Monday night panel show Information Please chaired by Clifton Fadiman, which, on April 15th, preceded the full compliment of programs that began in the fall. CJBC was the only CBC-owned station on the Dominion Network - all others were privately owned. To manage the new network, the Corporation hired away from CKWX Vancouver Spence Caldwell who, 17 years later, founded the CTV Network. The first CBC network became The Trans-Canada Network. A similar problem had arisen in Montreal when the Canadian Marconi Company's station CFCF refused CBC's wish for it to be the Dominion affiliate. Subsequently, Arthur Dupont, then CBC's Commercial Manager for Quebec, applied for and received a licence to establish CJAD, ostensibly to become the Dominion affiliate. However, before he could get it on the air, CFCF had a change-of-mind, and signed-up as the Dominion affiliate. Perhaps as consolation or compensation for losing the Dominion Network, CJAD was allowed to share with CKAC some programs from the U.S.A. network - CBS. CBR Calgary: 1964 The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. opened CBR on 1010 kHz with 50,000 watts full-time, in October of 1964. Studios located at 1724 Westmount Blvd. Two 473 foot towers used at a site located on the southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 23, near Calgary. Network affiliation ? CBC Trans-Canada. and CBU/CBR Vancouver: 1941 On March 29, CBR moved from 1100 to 1130 kHz with 5,000 watts. 1942 CBR started using low-power relay transmitters to widen its service to B. C. 1947 CBR increased power to 10,000 watts full-time (DA-1). Transmitter: Lulu Island, two 404 foot towers. 1951 CBR became CBU, moving to 690 kHz. 1967 CBU was given permission in December to increase power to 50,000 watts full-time (DA-1) using four 200 foot top-loaded towers. 1975 On November 24, CBU moved to the new CBC Vancouver Broadcasting Centre at 700 Hamilton Street. CBC radio and TV operations in the city had been scattered at various locations. (from http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index2.html via Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC "EXPLODED PIZZA" LOOKS LIKE 1969 LOGO FOR TARGET STORES http://www.targetcorp.com/targetcorp_group/about/history.jhtml (Usenet message in the newsgroups alt.radio.networks.cbc and alt.tv.networks.cbc by Brian Chow, via Joel Rubin, April 7, swprograms via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CRI English at 0400 confirmed April 7 now on both 9560 --- Canada, and new 9755, presumably French Guiana. In that order by a fraxion of a second; not yet checked after 0500 to reconfirm that neither is on during that hour, contrary to CRI`s own published schedules (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Later: confirmed, neither is on after 0500} ** COLOMBIA. 2999.93H, HJLJ, La Básica 1500, Cali. March 2003 - 1050 UT. This station has just begun to be heard with very good signal both mornings and evenings. Belongs to "La Red Sonora". Harmonic from 1500 kHz (2 x 1499.96). (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** C I S. FOREIGN RELAYS ON SW THROUGH FACILITIES IN THE CIS kHz Loc kW Azi UTC (A03): April 6, 2003 21780 TAC 200 131 0800-0830 BBC Bengali, Hindi, Urdu 21630 TAC 200 130 1430-1515 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 21585 TAC 100 131 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 17860 VLD 250 247 2300-2345 DW English 17820 SAM 250 175 0900-0930 DW Persian // 15605 17770 AA 500 121 1030-1055 DW Chinese // 12045 17765 SAM 100 130 0400-1700 WUN The University Network Presents Dr Gene Scott. 17710 IRK 250 224 0230-0300, 0810-0820 BBC Hindi 17695 TAC 100 131 1200-1225 R. Vlaanderen International Dutch // 9865 17695 KDR 200 284 1300-1600(Su) RVI Sport Live 17650 KDR 200 284 1100-1130 R. Vlaanderen International 17650 NVS 500 145 1200-1400 DW German // 9900 7420 17590 KHB 100 218 2330-0025 RNW Dutch 17570 KOM 120 178 0500-0600(Su.) Voice of Mediterranean, Japanese 17545 KDR 200 128 1230-1300 DW Persian 17485 AA 500 141 1000-1400 DW German // 9900 7420 15795 TAC 100 256 0300-0700 BFBS Radio English 15660 VLD 250 230 1400-1500(Tu.)(VOKK) Voice of Khmer Krom, Cambodian 15725 DB 100 117 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, // 21525 15615 15660 AA 500 135 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 15605 KDR 200 128 0900-0930 DW Persian // 17820 15605 SAM 250 129 1200-1500 FEBA Tibetan/Punjabi/Urdu etc. 15605 KOM 250 213 2200-2300 DW English 15605 KOM 250 213 2300-2350 DW Chinese // 12035 15595 SAM 250 140 1330-1400 DW Dari, 1400-1420 DW Pashto 15595 VLD 500 228 2300-2400 RFI French // 15535 15580 TCH 250 230 0015-0200 FEBA Indian Languages/Telugu 15535 IRK 500 180 2300-0100 RFI French // 15595 15530 MOS 250 169 0345-0430 FEBA Arabic 15530 KDR 250 188 1100-1300 FEBA Arabic/English (1245-1300) 15525 SAM 250 140 0800-0830 DW Dari, Pashto 15470 KDR 100 188 2000-2100 RCI English 15470 PK 250 244 2130-2200 VOA Korean 15455 KDR 250 290 0500-0715(M-Sa), 0600-0800(Su) R. Maryja Polish 15195 KDR 200 284 0500-0800, 1700-1800 R. Vlaanderen International 13860 TAC 100 256 1400-1800 BFBS Radio English 13820 KHB 100 218 1030-1125 RNW Dutch 13745 TAC 200 130 0100-0130 BBC Hindi 13710 IRK 250 152 0930-1125 RNW English // 12065 13695 KHB 100 218 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 12065 9890 13690 VLD 200 320 0000-0100 DW Russian // 12070 13590 NOV 100 110 1200-1600 High Adventure Ministries, English/Vietnamese/Chinese 12125 KDR 200 235 1900-1930(M-F) Jakada Radio International (JRI) Hausa 12120 SAM 250 190 1600-1630 Sout Al Watan(Voice of Homeland) // 12085 SHRC 12115 SAM 250 188 1700-1800(Sa.) Dejen Radio Tigrigna 12115 SAM 250 188 1730-1800(M.Th.) Voice of Oromo Liberation (Radio Sagalee Oromia), Oromo 12090 MOS 500 068 1200-1400 DW German // 17485 9900 7420 12075 NVS 500 125 1200-1300 RFI Chinese 12075 TAC 100 131 1430-1625 RNW English 12070 PK 250 263 0000-0100 DW Russian // 13690 12065 PK 250 244 0930-1125 RNW English // 13710 12065 TAC 100 131 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 13695 9890 12065 TAC 100 130 1450-1600 Vatican R. 1450 Hindi, 1510 Tamil, 1520 Malayalam, 1540 Eng. 12055 TCH 500 195 1315-1345 Vatican Radio Vietnamese 12045 SAM 250 129 0015-0130 FEBA Indian Languages 12045 IRK 500 152 1030-1055 DW Chinese // 17770 12045 VLD 200 110 2200-2300 RFI Chinese // 12005 12035 IRK 500 152 2300-2350 DW Chinese 12025 IRK 500 180 1100-1200 RFI Lao, 1200-1300 RFI Khmer 12025 IRK 500 150 0930-1030 RFI Chinese 12010 KDR 250 290 1500-1830 R. Maryja Polish (Sep 7-, 7380 1500-2200) 12005 VLD 500 230 2200-2300 RFI Chinese // 12045 11990 NOV 250 111 1300-1500 VOA Chinese 11975 ERV 100 100 1400-1500 VOA Tibetan 11850 TAC 100 153 0100-0400 Christian Vision, Voice International Hindi 11850 VLD 250 230 1400-1430 Radio Free Vietnam 11570 NVS 100 180 0000-0100 IBC Tamil 11530 TAC 250 256 0400-1200 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 11530 KCH 500 116 1200-1600 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 11520 SAM 200 224 1600-1700 Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Radio- Arabic Voice of Liberty (Lebanon) 9925 KDR 100 284 1700-2100 R. Vlaanderen Internationaal 9920 NOS 250 84 1500-1530 RCI Russian 9900 IRK 250 152 1000-1400 DW German // 17485 7420 9890 PK 250 244 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 13695 12065 9865 PK 250 244 1130-1225 R. Vlaanderen Int. English Dutch // 17690 9865 TAC 200 131 1330-1445 BBC Bengali, 1400 Hindi 9825 NOV 500 195 1700-1730 DW Urdu 9825 SAM 250 140 1730-1800 DW Dari, Pashto 9540 1500-1600 Bible Voice Broadcasting Network, Vietnamese/English 9530 TAC 200 255 1700-1800 RFI Persian 9495 NOV 1300-1415 FEBA Urdu etc. 9495 KDR 250 129 1530-1630 FEBA Persian 9460 IRK 500 152 1300-1350 DW Chinese 9445 IRK 250 225 2315-0200, 1115-1650 TWR-Sri Lanka, Indian 9415 KDR 250 129 1530-1700 FEBA Pashto/Dari/Hazaragi/Turkmen/Uzbek 7460 IRK 250 225 1400-1615 FEBA Malay/Indian (1500-1600 English) 7430 TAC 200 131 1500-1530 BBC Nepali 7420 PK 250 241 1000-1400 DW German // 17485 9900 7385 MOS 250 117 1700-1800 BBC Uzbek, /1730-1800(Sa.Su. Russian) 7380 SAM 250 284 1830-2200 Radio Maryja (Sep. 7-, 1500-2200 KDR) 7330 VLD 500 228 1100-1530 BBC Chinese 7320 SAM 250 285 2030-2127 CRI French 7305 IRK 250 152 2200-2245 Vatican Radio Chinese 7295 DB 100 270 0200-0300 RFE Turkmen 7260 KDR 500 104 1600-1630 RFI 7230 KDR 200 132 1800-1900 DW Persian 7210 IRK 250 125 1600-1700 RFA Korean 7150 IRK 250 152 2200-2300 VOA Chinese 6225 KDR 500 188 2000-2130 DW Arabic 6210 SAM 100 0 1610-1640 Vatican Radio Russian 6140 DB 100 264 1900-2000 Radio Fard Persian 6125 SAM 100 265 1700-2000 Radio Radonezh Russian ????? "???????" 6020 DB 200 180 1600-1630 RFI Persian 5860 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kyrgyz 5860 DB 100 264 1900-2100 Radio Farda Persian 5855 ERV 100 78 1610-1740 TWR-Europa, 1610 English, 1625(M-Th) Kazakh/(SaSu) Turkmen, 1640 Russian(M- Th)/ Kyrgiz(F-Su), 1655(SaSu) Uzbek, 1710(Su) Tajik 5835 KLG 200 270 2030-2125 RNW Dutch 4995 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kazakh 4760 DB 100 45 0100-0200, 1630-1700 RFE Tatar (Nagoya DX Circle, http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/%7Endxc/relay.htm via DXLD) Note: original has lots of hotlinx ** CONGO DR. 7435, 3.4 1820. Probably R. Lubumbashi with a native language here, but due to poor reception and no more substance than it sounded African, I hardly even will say it is tentative. QRK 1-2. RFK (Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6120.89, Radio Rebelde, Bauta. April 2003 - 0250 UT. Strong signal announcing FM "96.7". 0300 UT a program called "Ventana Rebelde". The day after I heard Rebelde on 6140.00 kHz (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Havana Cuba will soon be celebrating its 42nd anniversary... And I am studying the possibility of organizing a contest for Dxers Unlimited's listeners... The contest will be a lot of fun, and as soon as I have the rules ready, you will be learning about it... The idea is to run the contest during the whole month of May, so that everyone participating may have a good chance to win one of the prizes !!! (Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, RHC DXers Unlimited April 5 via Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, ODXA via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 2299.81H, HCGB5, La Voz de Riobamba, Riobamba. March 2003 - 1030 UT. It seems that most of the MW-stations in the town are emitting harmonics. ID "La Voz de Riobamba Antena Uno". Harmonic from 1150 kHz (2 x 1149.90). (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. It seems that R Imperial, El Salvador, can be received in old Europe, too. I could observe this station (presumed only) last night on 17835.4 kHz from 2140 to fade out at around 2210 UT. I heard salsa and rumba music, and a male announcer after 2200. The signal was very poor only, however with some peaks. No ID possible. Maybe that this station will come in with stronger signal during the European summer months, due to the propagation conditions on higher frequencies. bye (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, April 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY 15275 Radio Fathiriu --- Tigrayan International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy (TISJD); 15670 Voice of Ethiopian Salvation/The Voice of Ethiopian Medhin via Juelich. Received a reply from Mr. Walter Brodowsky confirming my reports but he failed to indicate the two stations in question. Have sent a e-mail enquiry asking for further clarification. Reply in 72 days (Ed Kusalik, AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FIJI. Fiji on Mediumwave - Part 3 in our mini-series on radio broadcasting in Fiji As was mentioned on a previous occasion, the first radio broadcast in Fiji came from a new 500 watt mediumwave transmitter manufactured by AWA at their factory near Sydney in Australia. This transmitter, designated as No. 1, was installed at the communication facility operated by AWA on the edge of Suva in Fiji. This new broadcasting service was inaugurated in March 1926. As a wartime exigency, this station also began a relay of American AFRS programming for the benefit of servicemen in the wide areas of the Pacific. The same programming was also carried in parallel by the shortwave outlet, VPD. Soon after the end of the Pacific War, work began on a new broadcasting facility in Suva, with a two storey building for the studios and offices, and a new transmitter base some eight miles out of town. The new studios were taken into service in 1954 and the old ZJV transmitter was re-installed in this new location for use as a second program channel in the capital city area. Callsigns were changed at this stage from the historic ZJV & VPD to the more familiar VRH, though callsign throughout the whole network were dropped in 1968. It took another ten years before the new mediumwave base at Naulu (nah-OO-loo) was ready for use, though ultimately several additional mediumwave transmitters were installed at this location. The regional shortwave service was closed in August 1972 and the two remaining shortwave transmitters were converted to mediumwave usage. The first country station was installed in Lautoka (lau-TOE-ka) in 1956 and this was a complete radio station with its own studios, offices and transmitter. These days, Radio Fiji operates eight mediumwave transmitters at five different locations in two networks for nationwide coverage. In addition, there are also several FM networks on the air as well. The QSL cards issued in Fiji over the years have always been prized very highly and the old cards verifying the reception of ZJV & VPD are these days valued historic items. If you should chance to hear Radio Fiji on mediumwave while on location nearby, a reception report will produce a colourful QSL card of an exotic island scene (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan April 6 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 15605, 1701-, Radio France International, Apr 5. English to Africa with nice ID at 1701 and into world news. Good reception. (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radio Francia Internacional emite en español con destino a América Latina de acuerdo a este esquema, vigente desde el 30/03/2003 al 26/10/2003: HORA UTC KHZ 1000-1030 9830 1200-1230 15515, 17860 1800-1830 17630, 21645 2100-2130 17630, 21645 0100-0130 9800, 11665 Todas las emisiones via el transmisor situado en Montsinéry (Guyana Francesa). QTH: R. France Internationale, B.P. 9516, F-75016 Paris Cedex 16, Francia. E-mail: service.amerique.latine@r... [truncated] Web: http://www.rfi.fr (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 5 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Noticed DW in English with a very good signal at 0540 April 6 on 11925 --- if I didn`t know better, I might think it was a North American service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. From http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx A bold attempt to get the German youth to return to the AM band has failed. Commercial Mega Radio, which was continuously expanding, inaugurating new transmitters and introducing short excerpts of local programming, has gone bankrupt. Reportedly this happened already on March 17, but programming on at least 576, 630, 693, 1431 and 1575 kHz continued until the afternoon of April 4. The station website as well as relays via Luxembourg on 1440 kHz were history already earlier. 1440 kHz is nowadays broadcasting RTL Radio in German (DXing.info, April 4, 2003 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9680, RRI Jakarta, 1259 April 7. Indo, TOH music, commonly referred to as "Song of the Coconut Isles", 1300 news by man, mention President Megawati. 1311 ID by woman, to continuing talk in Indonesian with several mentions of Indonesia. 1311 to man with talk, then back to woman. Fair signal; and in the clear (Dan Ziolkowski, Drake R8 using ERGO software, Alpha Delta Sloper, Franklin WI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO Schedule for Transmission Period A03; March 30 - October 27 2003 Frequency Order kHz kW Unit Location Country Language Day UT --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1602 2.5 2XA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 1602 2.5 2XA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 3215 100 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0500 - 0530 3215 50 RN4 Talata Madagascar Malagasy Daily 0230 - 0330 3215 50 RN4 Talata Madagascar Malagasy Daily 1530 - 1630 3215 100 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 1800 - 1830 3345 100 Sen3 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0500 - 0530 3935 1 ZLXA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 3935 1 ZLXA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 7125 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Bulgarian Daily 0400 - 0500 7130 250 RS1 Rimavska Sobota Slovakia English Daily 1830 - 2000 7165 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria German Daily 1500 - 1530 7230 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria German Daily 0700 - 0730 9385 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Filipino EE Daily 1700 - 1800 9600 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa Yoruba Daily 0500 - 0530 9610 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hundi EE Daily 0000 - 0100 9620 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 1800 - 1900 9645 250 Sen3 Meyerton South Africa French Daily 0430 - 0500 9670 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Korean Daily 1200 - 1300 9720 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hindi English Daily 0000 - 0100 9740 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Korean Daily 2000 - 2100 9775 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria English Daily 0730 - 0800 9820 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria English Urdu Daily 0200 - 0300 9955 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sat 1130 - 1200 11560 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam EE Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1200 11560 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam EE Indian Daily 1600 - 1800 11705 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Japan. Khmer Daily 1300 - 1400 11710 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Oro Daily 0300 - 0330 11750 199 KSDA1 Agat Guam English Daily 2000 - 2100 11770 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mand Burmese Dly 2300 - 0200 11850 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam JJ EE Indon. Daily 2100 - 2300 11875 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Korean Daily 2000 - 2100 11880 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Italian Daily 0900 - 1000 11880 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1400 - 1500 11890 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Nepali Marathi Dly 1500 - 1600 11900 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1200 - 1300 11930 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam EE Filipino Daily 1000 - 1100 11930 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Burmese Daily 1400 - 1500 11975 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1100 - 1200 11975 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Indian. EE Daily 1500 - 1700 11980 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Japanese EE Daily 2100 - 2200 11945 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Farsi Tigrinya Dly 0230 - 0330 11965 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Farsi Daily 0330 - 0400 11975 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Amharic Daily 0300 - 0330 11975 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Kisuahili Daily 0330 - 0400 11980 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Japanese EE Daily 1200 - 1300 11980 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam English Daily 2000 - 2100 12015 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Somali Daily 0330 - 0400 12015 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Filipino EE Daily 1700 - 1800 12120 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2200 - 0200 12130 250 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa African Daily 1700 - 1800 15105 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0530 - 0530 15130 250 Wof2 Wooferton England French Yoruba Dly 2000 - 2100 15130 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Dyula FF EE Daily 2000 - 2200 15150 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1200 - 1300 15160 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Russian English Dly 0300 - 0330 15160 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Arabic French Dly 0600 - 0730 15175 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Arabic French Dly 1900 - 2030 15195 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Punjabi Hindi Daily 1500 - 1600 15195 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2100 - 2200 15215 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam English Daily 1600 - 1700 15215 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2100 - 2400 15235 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam English Daily 1600 - 1700 15235 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Bulgarian Daily 1700 - 1800 15250 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0400 - 0500 15250 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0600 - 0700 15255 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1900 - 2000 15270 250 Wof1 Wooferton England African Daily 1900 - 2000 15275 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Bangla EE Daily 1300 - 1400 15320 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Bangla Daily 1300 - 1330 15320 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi English Urdu Daily 1330 - 1500 15330 500 ROI! Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0600 - 0700 15345 250 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa Ibo Hausa Daily 0530 - 0630 15360 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Romanian Daily 1630 - 1700 15370 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 0000 - 0200 15380 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Sinhala Karen Daily 1400 - 1500 15385 250 Wof1 Wooferton England English Daily 2000 - 2100 15435 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Indonesian Daily 1100 - 1200 15445 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Sat 0100 - 0200 15445 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Daily 2300 - 2400 15460 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi African Daily 1630 - 1800 15520 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Afar Oro Daily 1700 - 1800 15535 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1800 - 1900 15550 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Daily 1400 - 1500 15575 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Indian Daily 1500 - 1600 15610 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1100 15615 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1500 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sun 1400 - 1430 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sun 2200 - 2230 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sat 2330 - 2400 17630 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Indian/English Dly 1400 - 1700 17635 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 0000 - 0200 17660 250 Wof2 Wooferton England Ibo Daily 1930 - 2000 17700 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hindi Sinhala Daily 1400 - 1500 17700 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Nepali M'lam Daily 1500 - 1600 17735 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1700 - 1800 17740 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi English Russian Dly 1300 - 1400 17780 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Dyula FF EE Daily 0800 - 0930 17820 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Farsi Daily 1630 - 1700 17835 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Mandarin Daily 1100 - 1300 17865 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Tamil Daily 1330 - 1400 88.5 10 2XA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 88.5 10 2XA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 (Adrian Peterson, AWR via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Glenn: Re: Do "TinyURLs" or "Makeashorterlink" URLs disappear? From the TinyURL website, it appears that their abbreviated URLs won't disappear unless the service itself disappears: "Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to have to cut and paste it back together? Then you've come to the right place. By entering in a URL in the text field below, we will create a tiny URL that will not break in email postings and never expires." See http://tinyurl.com/ --- From the "Makeashorterlink" website: "How long are the shorter links going to last? "For as long as possible. Put it this way: as long as we are in charge of the database, the links will continue to work. If the time comes when we run out of money or interest in maintaining it, we shall make the database available to anyone who wants to take it on. We hesitate to say "forever", because that's a very long time indeed. But the links will remain usable for a long time." See http://www.makeashorterlink.com/about.php --- (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. MIDDLE EAST TV ON BROADBAND If you have broadband, you can try a site in The Netherlands called The War Television Channels http://www.webcamsue.demon.nl/ It's a portal to all that's available online from the Middle East. It's very comprehensive, and includes the new Arabic-language channel Alalalam, which comes from Iran but can be received terrestrially in parts of Iraq. It has scrolling news in English at the bottom of the screen. Unfortunately the feed is only 50 Kbps, but it's quite viewable at the default screen size. BTW you can also watch Dutch TV via this site. They also have live Baghdad video streams, some with sound! (RN Media Network Blog April 7 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. It has been strongly rumoured in "Free Radio" circles that a brand new station is going to broadcast Love Peace and Good music Offshore. Plans are in an advanced stage to bring back a Free and Peace loving broadcaster off the European coastline, what with all this carnage and killing in the middle east we really need an alternative. Its theme tune is going to WAR by the recently departed Edwin Starr, a sort of tribute to him and a message to peace loving people in Europe. This new station will have a transmitter capable of delivering 100 kW on AM, and also broadcast on Short Wave as well. Due to the 2 grey areas involved in the Radio Bill 0f 1991, this latest venture will only be using 10 kW of RF initially, using a directional beam antenna, aiming its signal to a particular building in Westminster. The backers of this fantastic sensational station have came up with a really original name, they hope it will catch on and give certain people a little "titter" as another Mr Howard used to say. The new name for this poptastic renegade station RADIO SAD-AM on a frequency of 1440 kHz after 2100 gmt, through till whenever, the first record to be played will be Rock Lobster by the B-52s, followed by the Star Spangled banner by Jimi Hendrix, the third record to be aired is not finalised but it is thought that it could either be "The White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn or "I'm Backing Britain" by Bruce Forsyth, that's of course if it manages to play three songs before being silenced, sank or blown to bits (From The Caroline Community, Geoff Hutton via Mike Terry, April 5, DXLD) April 1? ** IRAN. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR 0600-1400 GMT, 7 APRIL 03 | Text of report by Monitoring research on 7 April The Voice and Vision Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or radio and television, maintains its anti-war stance, whereas the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports gains by the Kurdish forces in the north or anti-Saddam rebellion in Baghdad. A number of pre-reform dailies have criticized the pro-Saddam stance of the Radio and TV. As an example, IRNA quoted a senior pro-reform MP, Elaheh Kula'i, accusing the conservative-controlled state television of backing Iraq in its coverage of the war. The 0930 gmt news bulletins of the radio and TV were dominated by news on anti-war demonstrations all over the world, including Iran. IRNA again reported uprising against Saddam's regime as US forces enter Baghdad. It said: "In the wake of the attack by the American ground forces on Baghdad, we have reports of sporadic armed conflict between the people of Baghdad and Iraqi military forces. An IRNA correspondent in Baghdad reported a few minutes ago that the citizens of Baghdad have rebelled against the Ba'th forces." Fars News Agency also reported on the rally outside British embassy, without permission of the Interior Ministry and added that only "dozens of demonstrators were chanting anti-British and anti-American slogans. They set fire to the British flag and demanded expulsion of the British diplomats and closure of the Tehran Embassy." A radio analyst commented on the talks between Russian and American analyst. A military analyst spoke on the future of war. He predicted fierce fighting in Baghdad. All the Iranian newspapers have updated their web sites. Many of them offer analysis about and criticize the ongoing war in Iraq. The conservative evening daily Kayhan, in its edition today, said: "the British embassy in Tehran has received a bomb threat". Watch is maintained and the next behaviour note will be issued at 2100 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 7 Apr 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. NORWAY, 13800, 1641-, Radio International, Apr 5. Good reception with talk in presumed Farsi, with telephone quality audio. Interview of a male by a woman (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. KUWAITI PAPER REPORTS IRAQ PLACING TRANSMITTERS IN HOLY SITES Iraq has placed television transmitters in the shrine of the Musa Kadhim (Seventh Imam of Shia Muslims) in Khadimayn, near Baghdad, IRNA reported on 27 March, quoting the Kuwaiti daily "Al-Ray al-Amm." The Kuwaiti paper claimed Baghdad is trying to provoke U.S. and U.K. forces to attack the shrine and thus enrage Iraq's Shia population. The report added that the transmitters allegedly placed in the shrine were made in Germany and imported via Syria. It is not clear from the report whether the transmitters in question were imported prior to the outbreak of the current conflict on 20 March. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 28 March via RFE/RL Media Matters April 7 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Hi Glenn, Maybe Baghdad did switch to DST a few days late, but http://www.timeanddate.com/ says: Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +3 hours Daylight saving time-adjustment: +1 hour Current time zone offset: UTC/GMT +4 hours Daylight Saving Time DST started on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at 3:00:00 AM local standard time DST ends on Wednesday, October 1, 2003, at 4:00:00 AM local daylight time. I tend to believe specialised sources rather than US commercial broadcasters :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Re. Czech newspaper report from March 26: ``Since the war started, RFE has been broadcasting to Iraq for 12 hours a day.`` In fact they are indeed broadcasting 12 hours a day, but only 10 hours to Iraq; the remaining two hours between 2000 and 2200 are still beamed to Europe for expatriates (19 and 35 degrees from Morocco): AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0300 JUL 01 12030 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0600 MOR 10 9865 075 AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0600 KAV 03 9730 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0300 0400 JUL 01 11910 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0300 0400 ERV A 1314 999 AB RFE RLIQ 0400 0600 JUL 01 11930 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1600 MOR 04 17740 075 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1700 MOR 03 15170 075 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1500 LAM 07 13755 104 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1700 KAV 07 9825 104 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1600 ERV A 1314 999 AB RFE RLIQ 1500 1900 LAM 03 11805 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1600 1700 KAV 09 17740 095 AB RFE RLIQ 1700 1900 KAV 05 17690 095 AB RFE RLIQ 1700 1800 JUL 02 9865 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1800 1900 JUL 02 9705 108 AB RFE RLIQ 2000 2200 MOR 02 11885 019 AB RFE RLIQ 2000 2200 MOR 09 9615 035 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [and non]. Returned to Finland a few days ago from a two-week assignment in Qatar, reporting from CENTCOM briefings etc for YLE TV & Radio. Pretty busy all the time, so I barely had time to use a Sangean 909 which I bought just before departure. No new discoveries on the dial, BUT Camp as-Sayliyah proved to be the right place to find out more about Information Radio and Commando Solo: Where do the transmissions on different frequencies really come from? Where are the aircraft based? And how many are they? When and how were the transmissions extended - and how much of it was revealed in the Coalition press briefings? And the rest of the story. All you ever wanted to know about Information Radio Iraq in the article "US steps up propaganda war" at http://www.dxing.info/profiles/clandestine_information_iraq.dx 73 (Mika Makelainen, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: SHOCK AND AWE ON THE AIR --- US STEPS UP PROPAGANDA WAR By Mika Mäkeläinen, Camp as-Sayliyah, Qatar [see original for numerous illustrations!] http://www.dxing.info/profiles/clandestine_information_iraq.dx Surrender or die is the message beamed at the remaining Iraqi Republican Guard soldiers in trenches around Baghdad. Coalition propaganda is aired 24 hours a day over Information Radio, part of a sophisticated psychological warfare operation aimed at winning the war in Iraq with less fighting, less casualties - and more clever persuasion. This article is the most comprehensive report published so far on the technical aspects of the ongoing Iraqi mission of Information Radio. Information Radio, Radiyo al-Ma'ulumat ([blank]) in Arabic, is a US military Special Operations radio station broadcasting anti-Saddam Hussein messages, which are aimed at weakening his support among the Iraqi people and military. [Caption:] A systems operator and flight crewman mans his station on board a U.S. Air Force EC-130E aircraft during a Commando Solo mission in March 2003 (Photo by US Navy) Radio broadcasts are transmitted 24 hours a day from several transmitter sites in the air above Iraq, on the ground in Iraq and on naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Until now, these transmitter locations have remained unknown. The programs however are well-known - or at least they should be - because that is the purpose of the mission. Each program normally lasts about an hour and contains an introduction, combinations of regional and Western music and an information message. A radio propaganda operation often precedes a war, and a war had indeed been planned for months. In December 2002, a hectic operation was underway 17 kilometers southwest from the Qatari capital Doha at Camp as-Sayliyah, which was being prepared to serve as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in case of war against Iraq. However, a war had already begun - a war for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. [Caption:] A 193rd Special Operations Wing EC-130E Commando Solo is refueled by a 100th Air Expeditionary Wing KC-135 Stratotanker from the Royal Air Force (Photo by US Air Force) For some time, US Special Operations Forces had been operating in and around Iraq preparing the ground for military action. An important part of the work was Psychological Operations (PSYOP). Officially, the purpose of PSYOP is to induce or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to US objectives by conducting planned operations to convey selected information to various audiences in Iraq to influence their emotions, motives, reasoning and ultimately, the behavior of organizations, groups and individuals in Iraq. In short, if the Iraqi military could be convinced that resistance would be futile, the war would become less messy and it would be over sooner than without any psychological warfare. From Doha Airport to the skies of Baghdad The most important field player in the PSYOP warfare is Commando Solo, the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In November 2002 an EC-130 plane had been dispatched from its base at the Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania, to Qatar, to launch a radio propaganda operation against the regime of President Saddam Hussein. Qatar has gradually become the most important US ally in the Persian Gulf and a host of a number of new military bases. Still, Qatar is eager to play down its vital role in the war against Iraq in order to maintain good relations with other Arab countries. The US is cooperating by keeping a low profile. American soldiers are confined to their bases to avoid fueling anti-American sentiment in the country. The most important US airbase is located at Al Udeid, built to host up to 10,000 troops and 120 aircraft, but the Commando Solo operation is based at a much smaller Camp Snoopy, which is located at the Doha International Airport just southeast of downtown Doha. US troops were first deployed to Doha in 1996, although construction work for Camp Snoopy really got underway in 2000. The Commando Solo, other US special operations aircraft and transport aircraft are not hidden in shelters, but are sitting on the tarmac not far from the airport terminal, which is mostly used by Qatar Airways. The broadcasts became public in mid-December, when Pentagon announced the start of a new Commando Solo operation. On December 12, 2002, an EC-130 aircraft of the Air Force 193rd Special Operations Wing began flying near Iraq. According to the US Defense Department, initially the plane was not flying in the Iraqi airspace, not even in the no- fly zones. From the start this psychological warfare operation included not only radio broadcasts but also leaflet drops, which actually started already on October 2, 2002. Both the radio broadcasts and the leaflets have been prepared by the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is where the Army Special Operations Command is also located. Leaflet drops increased steadily, reaching 37 million on April 4, 2003. In comparison, during the Gulf War of 1991, a total of over 29 million copies of 38 different leaflets were dropped. The first leaflets contained messages urging the Iraqi military not to fire at US and British aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone. Later, leaflets have been dropped on Iraqi military forces encouraging them to capitulate, to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction and to leave oil wells intact. Leaflets dropped over population centers have told Iraqi civilians that Coalition forces are targeting the military. The leaflets encouraged civilians to stay at home and to listen to Coalition radio broadcasts. [Caption:] Leaflets have been dropped to Iraq since mid-December 2002, detailing broadcast times and frequencies of Information Radio. US Central Command has published images of most of the leaflets. The English versions of the leaflets are available only to feed the appetite of the western media, while all leaflets actually dropped in Iraq have been in Arabic, which is the native tongue for the majority of the Iraqi people. Leaflets have been dropped using various platforms from fixed-wing aircraft dropping leaflet-bombs to UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters spreading the leaflets. The leaflets are not dropped by the Commando Solo aircraft, as often reported, but leaflets drops and radio broadcasts are separate operations. Thousands of wind-up radios have also been dropped to facilitate the reception of Coalition broadcasts. Five frequencies around the clock A key function of the leaflets has been to inform Iraqis of the frequencies used by Information Radio. From the start, Information Radio has been advertised to broadcast at 18.00 - 23.00 Iraq local time (equal to 1500-2000 UTC during the winter and 1400-1900 UTC from April 1, 2003) on five different frequencies, 693 and 756 kHz mediumwave, 9715 and 11292 kHz shortwave and 100.4 MHz FM. [Caption:] Another version of the leaflets dropped in Iraq (English translation) DXers and professional monitoring organizations were quick to spot broadcasts on 9715 kHz. The other shortwave frequency, 11292 kHz, was also monitored occasionally with a weak signal, while other frequencies have not been reported heard outside the Middle East. Although the reception of signals on the different frequencies varied greatly, it has been generally assumed that all transmissions have originated from several EC-130E and EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft deployed in the area. However, of a fleet of six aircraft, only one Commando Solo aircraft was being used at any given time, and it has broadcast on 693 kHz mediumwave, 9715 kHz shortwave and 100.4 MHz FM. The power on all of these three frequencies has been 10 kW. The aircraft used in the mission are rotated, but all have roughly the same transmitter facilities. In addition to the single Commando Solo aircraft, from the very start Information Radio has been transmitted also from other platforms. On the ground, HMMWV vehicles (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle, HMMWV), also known as Humvees or Hummers, are used by other PSYOP units as platforms for mobile transmitters broadcasting Information Radio. Humvees are designed for use over all types of roads, in all weather conditions and are very effective in the most difficult terrain, making them ideal for conditions in Iraq. [Caption:] A Humvee drives out of a C-141B Starlifter (Photo by DoD). A SOMS-B unit can be transported also in one Hercules transport plane. In PSYOP, a system called SOMS-B (Special Operations Media System-B) has been used since 1997. SOMS-B is a combined radio and television broadcasting station packed in two Humvees and a trailer. SOMS-B units have been broadcasting Information Radio from the staging areas of US troops in Kuwait, and soon after the first coalition ground troops entered Iraq, these mobile transmitters have been broadcasting from Iraq. The exact number of SOMS-B units is not revealed, however, it is more than one. Since mid-December 2002, SOMS-Bs have been broadcasting on 756 kHz mediumwave and 11292 kHz shortwave, both frequencies operated at 1 kW of power and transmitting 24 hours a day. SOMS-B consists of two subsystems, a Mobile Radio Broadcast System (MRBS) and a mobile TV Broadcast System (MTBS), but only the radio system has been used in Iraq. The MTBS can transmit television- quality video using PAL, SECAM (used by Iraq) or NTSC standards. The MRBS would be capable of broadcasting also on FM, although so far FM has not been used. [Caption:] Commando Solo on assignment in the Gulf in March 2003 (Photo by US Navy) Both subsystems consist of a primary shelter Humvee, a cargo shelter Humvee and a trailer. The trailer carries a 33 kW generator, an environmental control unit, and a tent system called the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH). "The coalition continues to push information to the Iraqi population, and at this point we've now pushed our ground-based communications capability further forward by moving a ground base into Iraq. Up until this point in time, it was in neighboring countries," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks at a Central Command briefing on March 31, in an apparent reference to SOMS-B. However, according to information received by DXing.info, SOMS-B was actually deployed in Iraq already several days earlier. Other coalition countries engaged from February In mid-February 2003, Information Radio transmissions were extended. "We're currently broadcasting on five different radio frequencies 24 hours a day and have been doing so since the 17th of February," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks in a Central Command press briefing on March 25. However, it was not the five frequencies nor the 24-hour transmissions that were new. What Brooks failed to mention is that for the first time Coalition partners were involved - and that the extended transmissions originated from ships. Broadcasts began from coalition naval vessels patrolling in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in the northern Arabian Sea. One ship at a time, primarily performing maritime interdiction missions, has been relaying Information Radio programming using whatever transmitters have been available on the particular ships, says Major Peter Mitchell, US Marines Public Affairs official at Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar. [Caption:] A maritime interdiction operation on an Iranian cargo ship (Photo by US Navy). Currently the ships are broadcasting only on 9715 kHz shortwave. Transmitter power depends on the ship in question. Broadcasts begin at 23.00 Baghdad time - when Commando Solo heads back to its base - and end at 18.00 Baghdad time, when Commando Solo once again begins its five-hour broadcast. Together these platforms make 9715 kHz available for 24 hours a day. Ships from at least three Coalition countries (US, UK and Australia) are rotated so that each ship transmits a few days at a time, before handing over responsibility to another ship. In late March 3-4 ships were rotating, but since the beginning of the naval transmissions in February, a total of 6-10 ships have been involved in the broadcasts. Coalition partners have been reluctant to identify the ships in question to maintain operational security. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, there are three frigates (HMS Chatham, HMS Marlborough and HMS Richmond) and three destroyers (HMS Liverpool, HMS Edinburgh and HMS York) which could be involved. HMS Chatham has previously been reported operating as a platform for broadcasts to Iraq. Commando Solo efforts doubled in March Airborne broadcasts were doubled a few days after the war began. Interestingly, this move was never mentioned in the Central Command press briefings, although for instance the leaflet count has been updated repeatedly. One reason behind keeping a low profile could be that news about a second aircraft would have underlined just how small the Commando Solo resources initially were. The number of Commando Solo aircraft involved in Iraq has never been published in briefings or press releases by the Pentagon and CENTCOM. Around March 25, a second Commando Solo unit began support missions from the Doha Airport. This aircraft transmits on 693 kHz mediumwave, on 4500 kHz shortwave and on 101.4 MHz FM. The broadcast schedule is from 18.00 to 23.00 Baghdad time. Leaflets including the new frequencies have not yet been published, but they exist and have already been dropped in the Northern and Western parts of Iraq, which is where the new Commando Solo operates. According to Mitchell, the second unit is temporary. "This won't be a permanent arrangement. For security reasons, I can't tell you how long two aircraft intend to operate in the Iraqi theater," he says. Officially, 683 kHz has been given as the mediumwave frequency for the second unit, and 690 kHz for the first, but as these split frequencies have never been reported heard by any DXer nor professional monitoring organization, both are likely typos. Only the crew members of Commando Solo would know the truth, but they were unavailable for comment. [Caption:] A member of 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW) prepares his EC-130E aircraft for take off at the Doha Airport in March 2003. (Photo by US Navy) "My understanding is that we're getting the Iraqis close enough to the actual frequency that they're easily picking up the signal. I'm unaware of the specifics of what hobbyists are reporting. I do know that we have ample evidence that the signal is being received and that Iraqis are tuning in," Mitchell says. The different platforms are operated independently by different PSYOP units, but all share the same programming material. Although they have been observed with different program feeds, this is not an indication of different content, but is only due to different timing of specific programs, Mitchell explains. By late March, Commando Solo aircraft were able to fly not only in Southern Iraq, but practically all over the country. However, despite the improved output and reach, some have expressed doubts about the effect of these transmissions. Iraqi resistance has been tougher than expected and much fewer troops have surrendered than anticipated before the war. While the true impact of Information Radio will not be revealed before the war is over, officials at CENTCOM are confident that PSYOP is working well. [Caption:] A member of 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW) prepares his EC-130E aircraft for take off at the Doha Airport in March 2003. (Photo by US Navy) "Listenership is currently determined using intelligence sources. Accordingly, I cannot reveal what we believe the listenership to be until such time that Iraq is secure and we can do actual polling after the fact," says Major Peter Mitchell. At least the Iraqi leadership has reacted to the broadcasts. Before the war began, President Saddam Hussein himself sought to ridicule the operation by making fun of leaflets as weapons. In an interview with US Central Command, Air Force Lt. Col. "Mike," a Commando Solo II detachment commander, said that "We call ourselves weapons of mass persuasion". When the war had lasted for two weeks, evidence was mounting that these weapons of mass persuasion have resulted if not in mass surrenders, at least in mass desertions. Not all of this has been achieved by only leaflets and radio broadcasts combined with traditional warfare; PSYOP tools also include email campaigns, telephone calls, messengers and TV transmissions, which were begun by Commando Solo in late March. This was announced by Brigadier General Vincent Brooks on March 28. PSYOP units also use loudspeakers to reach enemy troops up to a distance of nearly 2 kilometers. Finally, there are also weapons of mass persuasion which the Coalition does not admit having. Several clandestine radio operations such as Voice of Iraqi Liberation, discovered by DXing.info, and Radio Tikrit (see article: Monitoring Iraq: War of the Airwaves) broadcast practically the same message as Information Radio, but are presumably run by the US intelligence community. All together, the US has launched the broadest and the most sophisticated psychological warfare operation in modern history to oust Saddam Hussein. (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, ex-Qatar, DXing.info April 5 via DXLD) Of the frequencies mentioned, 11292 kHz looks like an interesting choice. A quick search on the Internet revealed that this frequency has in the past been used by Radio Iraq International - as well as by a so-called spy station broadcasting in Arabic, // 6645 or 6647 kHz. Anyone hearing the station on 11292 or other frequencies? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, DXing.info April 6 via DXLD) Some news on the leaflet front. Quite a few leaflet sets have been published, but not the one listing the most recent Commando Solo frequencies (4500 & 101.4). Here's the most recent one (in English) on the CENTCOM website related to Commando Solo [illustration]: Interestingly, only 9715 kHz is said to broadcast 24 hrs a day, although SOMS-B had been 24 hrs a day much earlier, from the start of Information Radio, on two other frequencies. Not exactly broadcast news, but this could also be of interest. If you hear something on 5102 kHz or 31.2260 MHz, it may be an Iraqi officer trying to get in touch with the US military. Iraqi forces willing to surrender to the Coalition have been told to use these frequencies to inform the Coalition about their intentions. Iraqi officers have been told to tell their name, location, unit size and combat vehicles. The frequencies and other contact information were given in a recent set of leaflets available at http://www.centcom.mil/galleries/leaflets/images/izd-8104.jpg (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, DXing.info April 7 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. As of today, beware of Radio Tashkent now on Information Radio's 9715 kHz, with Arabic at 1700-1730 & 1900-1930. From looking at Tashkent's previous summer schedules, I would expect them to be 9715 kHz 1200-1930 UTC. Regards, (Dave Kernick, UK, March 30, delayed until April 6 via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was heard only with very poor/indistinct reception on 909 kHz over the 24-hour reporting period. It was untraced between 2200 5 April and 0628 6 April. [later:] The official main radio station, Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, has not been heard on the mediumwave frequency of 909 kHz since 1955 gmt on 6 April by BBC Monitoring. The radio has not been heard by BBC Monitoring on any other known frequencies. Associated Press reported at 1027 gmt on 7 April that Iraqi domestic radio had been on the air. Other sources: No other Iraqi state radio, TV or Internet publications can be traced. Source: BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 7 Apr 03 1100 gmt (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Re Good Morning Iraq 31 March: You can hear the BBC Radio 4 feature on Radio Nahrain (4 mins) if you go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listen/listen.shtml and use the "Search the Sound Archive" feature - put "Radio Nahrain" (without the quote marks) as the keywords, and "Good Morning Iraq" will come up in the search results as the eighth item in the list. Regards, (Dave Kernick, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Direct link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/radio4/today/listen/audiosearch.pl?ProgID=1049094547 but it cuts off before it is quite finished; anyway, some nice airchex (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1730 GMT 5 APR 03 | Text of report by Iraq-targeted Voice of the Liberation of Iraq on 5 April 1. Announcer: Huna Sawt Tahrir Al-Iraq - This is the voice of liberation of Iraq; voice of democracy, equality and liberation; voice of peace, tolerance and co-existence; voice of civil society; voice of various ethnic groups, religions and doctrines in Iraq. The newscaster introduces station, time and frequency of broadcast. 2. Music. 3. Announcer addresses Iraqis to tell them that at a time when Uday is hiding underground, his criminal cronies attack coalition forces through the cover of displaying white flags, surrender. The coalition forces are fighting to liberate you from Saddam's bloodthirsty regime. Saddam's supporters have no morale. They abducted Iraqi women. He says Iraqis are aware of these people's crimes. He urges Iraqis not to fight the forces which came to liberate them from Saddam's tyranny. He says the country will be liberated from the crimes of this barbaric man and Iraqis will live free in future Iraq. Then he announces: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 4. Music. 5. Spokesman for coalition forces Vincent Brooks says mosques are sacred sites and must not be used for military and objectives. This was an answer to a question on the dictatorial regime's forces hiding inside these sacred Shi'i sites in Al-Najaf to use them as military positions to attack coalition forces. Brooks says only evil forces can engage in such tactics; he says coalition forces will not respond to fire by supporters of the dictatorial regime hiding inside mosques and other religious sites. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 6. Saddam loses control over Iraqi people and time has come to liberate Iraqi people. The duty of coalition forces is to topple Saddam's regime and liberate Iraq. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 7. Music. 8. Indistinct 9. Iraqi television broadcast statement urges Iraqis to fight coalition forces; coaches of Iraqi soldiers heading to airport in southwest Baghdad; US sends reinforcements to secure airport and changed its name from Saddam International Airport to Baghdad International Airport. 10. Pentagon expresses astonishment about Saddam Husayn's call to Muslims for jihad against coalition forces despite his history on killing thousands of Muslims. 11. US forces say they found thousands of boxes containing unknown substances. 12. US State Department's official says US offered 4m dollars to Iraqi National Congress in order to be able to continue its TV programmes directed to Iraq. 13. US president to head for Northern Ireland next week to hold talks with British prime minister; US president's national security adviser rejects any important role for UN in post-war of Iraq. 14. US Central Command officials say Nida unit of the Republican Army suffered big losses. 15. Music. 16. Appeal: Dictator Saddam has exposed Iraqi people to danger and he producing weapons of mass destruction which he hid in urban areas, sites of worship and schools. This is another attempt to hide his illegal weapons from UN inspectors and from those who work to disarm the dictator and to provide a secure life to the Iraqi people. These attempts expose the Iraqi people to serious dangers and bring destruction and chronic diseases to Iraq and neighbouring countries. The coalition forces are aware of Saddam's coward strategy and will not stop the process of disarmament. Iraqi people, you need to move to guarantee your security, that of your families and the security of your neighbours and to inform members of the coalition forces of any suspicious activity or any information on these weapons. The coalition forces want to eliminate this danger from Iraq. So, move now and rescue Iraq. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 17. Receiving Iraqi opposition figures, British prime minister says US-British forces to live Iraq as soon as possible and there will be a transitional authority led by Iraqis. 18. Music. 18. Another appeal on Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, his burning of Kuwaiti oil wells and their effect on environment and health risks; Saddam destroyed Iraq and his people. 19. Music. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1730 gmt 5 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) 24 hours later, the next report showed a lot more music ** IRAQ [and non]. Says Iraq's Youth Radio was model for Information Radio content, says Info Radio is coming from Navy ships http://www.msnbc.com/news/891134.asp?0cv=KB20 Personal story of woman serving with British PSYOPS unit- http://www.caithness-courier.co.uk/news.asp?storyvar=3362 US passing out shortwave radio at checkpoints telling people to tune to VOA http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/6497567p-7441482c.html Item including bit of British station in Basra http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/095/nation/British_say_they_ll_stay_as_long_as_it_takes+.shtml More on the station: http://msnbc.com/news/895580.asp?cp1=1 Wash Post article mentioning that CIA set up clandestine radio stations against Saddam http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24073-2003Apr3.html (via Hans Johnson, April 6, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAQ. SHARING WITH SPECIAL FORCES: Yesterday the Monitor's Cameron Barr stumbled across some US Special Forces soldiers in northern Iraq. As the story he contributed to notes (see story), they didn't have much to do. "They were pretty laid back," Cameron says, "and they were as eager - in a low-key, Special Forces sort of way - for information from us as we were for details about them. I have to say, they got the better end of the deal. They didn't tell us a thing, but we briefed them about world opinion on the war, the results of a recent US-Kurdish operation against Islamist militants, and other less weighty topics. They were so starved for information that I asked if they had a shortwave radio. The guy who appeared to be the commander said he had one but couldn't raise any English news. So I gave him some BBC frequencies." (From Christian Science Monitor April 2nd via Hans Johnson, April 6, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAQ. From a much longer story, THE FIGHT YET TO COME about plans to administer Iraq; Reilly, of course, served only recently as VOA Director, but didn`t get along with the staff: (gh) The man entrusted to broadcast the new order to Iraqis over television and radio airwaves will be Robert Reilly, who, as head of Voice of America, relayed information to the communist bloc during the Cold War. [sic] The Observer has also learnt the identity of the person who will be the new viceroy of Baghdad: Barbara Bodine, former ambassador to Yemen, known for a mixture of her expertise in the region and fervent hostility to a politically organised Muslim world. Baghdad will be one of three administrative areas, the others being territory around Mosul in the North and Basra in the South 'the same provinces with which the Turkish Ottomans ruled what is now Iraq for four centuries'. http://www.observer.co.uk/focus/story/0,6903,930591,00.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, April 7, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. See also PROPAGATION at end of this issue; and RECEIVER NEWS ** ITALY. RAI 2 is back on 846 kHz. Heard on 7 APR at 1700 UT (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia), AOR AR-7030 30 m Long Wire, hard-core-dx via DXLD) That was a major outlet put off for `electrosmog` problems (gh, DXLD) ** JORDAN. 11690, 1611-, Radio Jordan, Apr 5. English news about Iraq, and then about North Korea. Fair to good reception only, but at least they're in English. 1613 prolonged music bridge, and repeat of news headlines (about Iraq), weather forecast. TC for 15 past 7. Then ID for 'Radio Jordan 9? FM' (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is English now ending at 1630 as usual during DST? (gh, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. LITHUANIA (NOT) 9925, 1637-, Radio Dat, Apr 5. I've been checking for them, and have heard nothing for quite some time. Their website http://www.datradio.com has not been updated either, and the RA link is down. Anyone have any information on what happened? Also I think Lithuania has leased out its transmitter to others at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Today's Washington Post has an interesting story on monitoring broadcasts from North Korea as part of the search for insights into the workings of the Pyongyang regime. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37436-2003Apr5.html (Matt Francis, DC, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: STRAINING FOR THE REAL MESSAGE IN NORTH KOREAN BROADCASTS Monitors Weigh Pyongyang's Rhetoric to 'Filter Out the Facts' By Doug Struck, Washington Post Foreign Service Sunday, April 6, 2003; Page A19 SEOUL -- North Korea says peninsula on verge of nuclear war. . . . North Korea calls Bush "war monger." . . . North Korea threatens to make Seoul a "Sea of Fire." It's all in a day's work for Kim Tae Won. He listens in his headphones patiently, all day, to North Korea's propaganda broadcasts, sorting through the bluster for clues of real danger in the crisis over nuclear weapons. Kim works at one of a scattering of listening posts around the region – in his case, at the South Korean Ministry of Unification -- that constantly monitor North Korea's radio and television stations to watch for provocative moves during the Iraq war. The rhetoric has become more heated since last fall because of tensions over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Many analysts anticipated that the communist state, worried that it is next on the Bush administration's list for preemptive wars, would crank things up once the war in Iraq began. But so far, the airwaves have been relatively calm. The North Korean government has reported on the Iraq war with only a light peppering of editorial flavoring, even using some borrowed American television footage. It has not announced that it plans to restart a plutonium reprocessing plant or test a ballistic missile, the steps that Washington and other governments most fear. For the radio monitors, dramatic announcements are only part of their job. Much of what they do, day in and day out, is try to figure out from routine transmissions just what the reclusive government is trying to tell the world. They weigh the rhetoric, ponder the subtleties, and watch for new names or missing ones to determine changes in the regime's lineup. "It's psychological warfare," said Kang Seok Seung, who helps analyze the information Kim plucks from the broadcasts. "We have to filter out the facts." North Korea largely shuns avenues of normal communication with the outside world. The few foreign diplomats who live in Pyongyang say they get few meaningful messages from the government. There is no independent press inside the country, and the occasional foreign reporters allowed in rarely see anyone important in the government. So the official North Korean radio, television and press outlets become the main voice of the government. Listening for the message is like straining to hear a whisper amid shouts, say monitors like Kim, who has been doing the work for 26 years. The propaganda outlets boil with invective and threats. Some recent samples: "The whole Korean nation will not escape nuclear holocaust," North Korea warns. The "plot hatched" by the United States will "spark a nuclear crisis." A U.S. military exercise is moving "murderous equipment" and "entering a stage of real war." America is "escalating the danger of armed clashes." But even among the florid verbiage, there are useful signals. For example, the monitors pay attention to how foreign leaders such as President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are mentioned. Koizumi, for example, lately is "Japan's leader Koizumi." In Korean usage, that is lukewarm courtesy, a step down from the more respectful "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi" he got after a historic summit in Pyongyang in September. Analysts see that as a sign North Korea doesn't want to insult Koizumi too badly and still wants to keep options open for improved relations with Japan. Personal slanders against the South Korean president have disappeared since the North-South Korean summit in June 2000. Bush, by contrast, gets spitting-mad treatment. He is "warmonger Bush, imperialist Bush," or "that crazy Bush who likes war." It is turnabout for the scorn the Bush administration has heaped on North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, whom Bush admits he "loathes." The monitors pay attention to who says what and when on the propaganda channels. Criticism that simply quotes foreign sources gets the least attention. Statements from a Foreign Ministry spokesman are given sharp attention, as are the editorials in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. The U.S. and North Korean governments both are adept in the language of signals. According to a knowledgeable U.S. source, the Bush administration recently sent indirect word to North Korea suggesting it make a gesture by broadcasting a formal statement of appreciation for 40,000 tons of food aid donated by the United States. The North Korean government took a grudging half-step: It announced the food aid in a two-sentence item on its broadcast -- without any public thanks -- and sent word through private channels that it appreciated the food. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul monitors the broadcasts around the clock, as do other governments. Several ministries in South Korea -- the ministries of unification, defense and information, and even the police -- do similar monitoring. Ironically, what they do is illegal for private citizens in South Korea. Despite budding democracy here, listening to North Korean radio still is a violation of the National Security Law. The ministries and media companies, like the South Korean wire service Yonhap, have to have special permission. "We listen for North Korea's demands and conditions on their political agenda," said Kang Jin Wook, a monitor and reporter at Yonhap. Monitors say they know those on the speaking end of the microphone mean what they say, according to Tadahiro Motomura, vice president of Radiopress Inc., a company that is an outgrowth of the radio room in Japan's Foreign Ministry that listened to foreign broadcasts for Japanese intelligence during World War II. "As far as we know, there is no live broadcast in North Korea. Everything is prerecorded and checked," he said. "I've never heard a North Korean commentator make a mistake. There's an old story that a broadcaster once made a mistake. He was never heard from again." (via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 4085, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, Salah al-Din near Mosul, Iraq. While the Kurdistan Democratic Front is approaching Mosul supported by U.S. Special Forces, I heard for the first time a message in English via this clandestine. On Apr 05 at 2000-2022 there was as usual a long proclamation against Saddam Hussein in Arabic. This was followed by military band music and an eight minutes long, but badly modulated message in U.S. English about the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, instructions to Iraqis on how to safeguard themselves and not provoke fatal incidents at Coalition checkpoints, and requirement that prisoners of war should be treated according to the Geneva Conventions. After Kurdish music the station signed off 2033. 44443. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 20 to 25 minutes past the hours is the favourite time for English there (gh, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. BRITISH RADIO DJ A FAVORITE WITH BAGHDAD-BOUND April 6, 2003 BY SARAH DONALDSON On the outskirts of a vast American army camp near Kuwait City sits a metal cabin that houses a makeshift radio station. Every day, its small staff transmits a morale-nourishing mixture of familiar pop music, news, sports and dedication messages to thousands of soldiers currently deployed in the Gulf. One disc jockey -- breakfast show host Jonathan Bennett -- is gaining a cult following among the camp's GIs. Often, soldiers will knock on the studio door and thank him for playing a song which, for a moment, transported them away from the heat and the sand and back to the familiar comforts of home--perhaps Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run,'' or something by Garth Brooks. But Bennett is no fast-talking, ''Good Morning Vietnam''-style U.S. army jock. He's a 47-year-old Brit from a London suburb. Bennett is in Kuwait to run BFBS Middle East, a temporary branch of the British Forces Broadcasting Service's international radio network. He has worked for BFBS for 21 years, including a stint in Kuwait during the last Gulf conflict, but he's finding this war "the most difficult job" of his life. His audience is more wide-ranging than ever, partly due to an American "policy change", which means they have not set up a Gulf radio station as they did in 1991. This has led to many U.S. troops tuning into British radio rather than the American service, which is broadcast from outside the region. Secondly, improvements in mobile transmission technology mean that Bennett and his colleagues are broadcasting right to the front line. "The guys can actually tune in while they are fighting if they want," says Bennett. "We've got transmitters further forward than any other time since the Second World War. When I go on the breakfast show in the morning, I'm talking to guys who are resting having come off the front line." Bennett says that at first he didn't know whether to be laid-back or serious. "But, in the end, you just read dedications as straight and as sincerely as possible and have as much of a laugh as you can to take their minds of it." Popular song requests include The Animals' 1965 hit "We Gotta Get Out of this Place" and Thin Lizzy's 1976 rocker, "The Boys are Back in Town.'' Last week, an armored unit in the Iraqi desert mocked a battalion further away from the action with D:Ream's 1993 "Things Can Only Get Better.'' Bennett has no doubt that the music he plays provides a vital emotional outlet for the troops. "As the guys at the front line will tell you, war is nine parts waiting, one part fighting. While they're waiting, the radio can take their minds off things." Daily Telegraph http://www.suntimes.com/output/iraq/cst-nws-radio06.html 73 (via Kim Elliott, Jilly Dybka, Mike Terry, DXLD) Yes, that does raise a troublesome question: why isnt`t AFRTS active on the ground over there with local if temporary outlets?? (gh, DXLD) 'AFN MUSIC WAS LIKE A DRUG FOR US' Six decades of U.S. military radio have left a lasting impact on countries where it has been broadcast --- By Jeremy Herron http://makeashorterlink.com/?E25112B14 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** LESOTHO. 4800, R. Lesotho, 0358-0455 03/30. Vernacular. Booming signal at tunein with Afropops. IS (wind-instruments tones, Balafon?) at 0403, OM with drop in audio reading news until 0409. Lite music, then different OM at 0413, audio back up to prior level, with "animated, rising /falling" talks (religious?) with breaks for choral-style and lite Afropop music. Phone-in program at 0430 with breaks for more choral/lite music. Signal gradually faded under QRN until unusable at 0455 (Scott Barbour, Jr., NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. RTM, VOICE OF MALAYSIA AND VOICE OF ISLAM - NEW SCHEDULES FOR A03 4845 24-hrs RTM Kajang Tamil domestic 4895 2200-0100 RTM Kuching domestic 4895 0800-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 5030 2200-0000 RTM Kuching domestic 5030 1000-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 5965 24-hrs RTM Kajang Malay domestic 5980 2200-1500 RTM Kotakinabalu domestic 6025 0200-1400 RTM Kajang domestic Malay and dialects domestic 6025 1400-1700 VOI Kajang Malay As 6050 2200-1500 RTM Sibu domestic 6060 0400-1500 RTM Miri domestic 6100 1300-1530 VOM Kajang Thai, Burmese As 6175 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English Indonesia 6175 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English Indonesia 6175 0900-1400 VOM Kajang Indonesian 6175 1700-1900 VOM Kajang Indonesian 7130 0400-0600 RTM Kuching domestic 7270 0800-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 7295 24-hrs RTM Kajang English domestic 9750 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English As 9750 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English As 9750 0900-1400 VOM Kajang Indonesian 9750 1700-1900 VOM Kajang Malay 11885 1030-1230 VOM Kajang Mandarin 15295 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English Au NZ 15295 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English Au NZ 15295 1530-1900 VOM Kajang Arabic ME Footnotes: 1. 9665 is registered with the ITU with 250 kW from Kajang 0300-1230 to Au and NZ, as an alternative frequency to 15295 2. Operating times and days for domestic services from Kuching, Sibu and Miri are variable 3. Voice of Islam English is listed 0300-0600 but may be extended to 0700 on some days 4. Kuching 4895 and 5030 are subject to constant disruption due to technical problems and may be discontinued (EDXP World Broadcast Magazine March 30, http://edxp.org used by permission, via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. FORM 1090: So now So Cal has yet one more Sports station, XEPRS/1090, which is targeting the San Diego market specifically. So what? -- Except, it sure was good to hear the voice of an old friend, Wolfman Jack, during that first weekend leading up to their recent debut. 1090 ran a tape loop that weekend, mostly of Sports actualities, et al, but they did give a nod to the heritage of the frequency, and it's most listened to resident, the Wolf...who held court each weeknight at 10PM (right after Reverend Ike) on what was then XERB/1090, circa 1965-1971. Of course, some of us remember hearing the wolf prior to the 1090 engagement, on XERF/1570, out of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. Next time you find yourself there, jump across the Rio Grande to Del Río, Texas, and check out the new Museum dedicated to the memory of Wolfman Jack (source? via Greg Hardison, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. Update of a report I sent to http://www.radiolondon.co.uk a few months ago: In 1999, Howie Castle took Webmasters Chris and Mary across the Mexican border from California, to pay homage to the original site where Wolfman Jack had once broadcast from XERB. Now a shopping plaza, the former XERB site contains a 'mini-mast' (left) (see web site) and a plaque commemorating the Wolfman and the station. Now the Texan town of Del Rio "The Best of the Border - where Old Mexico meets the New West" - is to erect a statue to honour the Wolfman, one of America's best-loved DJs, who died in 1995.The howling hero's rock 'n' roll radio career was launched via the Mexican 'border-blaster' stations. Locals have already had the chance to preview a miniature version of the statue, by sculptor Michael Maiden, which was unveiled during a recent music festival held in honour of the Wolfman. The full-sized sculpture will be unveiled on October 31st - a date known appropriately in the US as 'howl-lowe'en'. Wolfman Jack website here: http://www.wolfmanjack.com/ Del Rio Chamber of Commerce site here: http://www.wolfmanjack.com/ (Mike Terry, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Informándoles que en el mes pasado, XHMVS 102.5 Best FM, es la primera estación en la ciudad de México en transmitir una señal RDS (Radio Data System). El texto que envía es "BEST FM". Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, April 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) {There ought to be a law requiring Spanish RDS in Mexico!} ** MOROCCO. This morning (at 0428) heard Radio Morocco with excellent signal on 11920 kHz. News on the half-hour, followed by an interesting ID at 0435: "Idhaat ul-mamlyakat il-Maghribiya min Tanjer". Strange, it used to go from Rabat, the capital. Is it a local studio relayed on the waves of country's external service? Does anybody know whether other domestic programs (Casablanca, Marrakech, etc.) can be heard in SW? WRTH says nothing about it. 73, (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, April 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PALAU [and non]. The High Adventure Ministries website lists the following stations on their network: - "A transmission site in Germany" (i.e. Juelich) for Europe, Middle East, Asia - "A shortwave facility just north of Los Angeles, California" (i.e. KVOH) - An FM station in Liberia (Monrovia) - "We are currently building a new transmission site in Northern Nigeria where we will broadcast FM, AM and shortwave, eventually reaching most of the continent of Africa." No mention at all of Palau. Does anybody know something about the current status of The Station Formerly Known as KHBN (now something T88..) apart from being used for Radio Free Asia? They once sent me a nice QSL with a nice stamp, it would be nice if there still were some service. 73, -- (Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Well, this appears in the current client listing of George Jacobs, http://www.gjainc.com --- 9955.0 KHBN PALAU 0800-1700 S ASIA 50.0 280 9955.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 SE ASIA 50.0 280 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1700 CHINA 80.0 318 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 CHINA 80.0 318 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1600 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 2100-2400 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 12160.0 KHBN PALAU 1000-1600 S ASIA 50.0 270 13840.0 KHBN PALAU 1100-1600 S ASIA 50.0 270 15725.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1100 S ASIA 50.0 270 KHBN is licensed by the Govt. of Palau as T8BZ The question is whether any or all of the above refers to non-RFA programming, as I suspect it does. HA`s Nigerian plans are long ago abandoned, replaced by a joint venture with WJIE in Liberia, supposedly testing that ex-Lebanon transmitter already on 11515. Has anyone heard it? (Glenn Hauser, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5728.43 --- see UNIDENTIFIED ** PERU. 3329.66, Ondas del Huallaga, 0950 with music interrupted by om ID and CHU making its presence felt. 4790, Radio Atlántida, 1102 hyper announcer, exotic music, ID 1105 4750.10, Radio San Francisco, Solana 1020 several ID's Icom R75, NRD 535D modified, Scotka Noise Reducing Antenna Mosquito ~ News http://uk.geocities.com/dxsf/ Mosquito ~ Radio http://uk.geocities.com/dxsf/1959S38.html (R L C Wilkner, FL, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONTINUED as DXLD 3-060! ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-059, April 7, 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/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early 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 1176: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 7445 [subject to pre-emption] WJIE: Tue 0600, M-F 1200 on 7490 [maybe] WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 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/wor1176.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1176.html WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR A-03, DST SEASON: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html WOR/COM/MR/RADIO ENLACE MASTER TIME SCHEDULE FOR A-03: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html ** AUSTRALIA. While not shortwave broadcasting, those of you who have heard the School of the Air on HF/SW may be interested to note they are moving to an internet-type service, and as such will no longer be using HF radio. I'm not sure when the last HF transmission will be, it was Friday 4 April or will be the following Friday (Jeffrey Burford, Port Augusta, Sangean ATS 909, April 5, EDXP via DXLD) It is interesting to read that the School of the Air is or has left shortwave for the internet, I used to listen to this on and off especially before I started working back in the 1970's, used to pick up Broken Hill, Bourke as well as up into Queensland and the Northern Territory, it was most interesting, the last time I listened was last year while on holidays when I listened to Charters Towers in QLD. I guess it means another end of an era and another nail in the coffin for us shortwave listeners. Best wishes to all! (Michael Stevenson, EDXP via DXLD) WTFK?? Sad to see the School of the Air leaving the SW bands after many years of service, although this has been coming for some time now. Several of you know that I am a music teacher by profession. I once had a 45 piece concert band (woodwinds, brass and percussion) on tour in the Mildura/Broken Hill area (1998, I think it was). One of our gigs was to play on the School's Friday morning transmission from the Broken Hill studio. To get 45 student musicians armed with large musical instruments into that tiny studio was a feat of logical engineering! The morning class began with checking the roll, and I think we heard about a dozen students at their radios in far-flung areas of western New South Wales and South Australia. Some of the kids were very young. The band played several tunes, then some of our musos went to the microphone to play their instruments so the kids could hear the different sounds. It was great fun and there was lots of excitement coming across the air waves as the kids asked questions about the instruments and the music we played. School of the Air is usually conducted on a very strict procedure of the teacher calling in specific students to transmit. However, on this day, there were several occasions when a number of the kids all tried transmitting (talking) at the one time! It was laughable. We left the studio that day feeling like we had really made a valuable contribution to the students' learning. It also gave our own school students an understanding of the importance of School of the Air for young people who are so isolated from the way of life and things we take for granted. Wonderful memories (Rob VK3BVW Wagner, April 7, Melbourne, Australia, EDXP via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 15480, 1559-, HCJB Australia, Apr 5. Finally hear this one with a fair signal. ID at 1600 as 'HCJB, Voice of the great southland', and into Ham Radio Today [Sat]. Better when rechecked at 1655 with religious play. Very good reception at 1713, with locally produced program (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. A couple of weeks ago I told you that I had heard rumours of the imminent close-down of a well-known international broadcaster. In the meantime you might have heard that the station in question is Radio Austria International, the international service of the ORF, the Austrian public broadcaster. For more information I turned to Wolf Harranth, a household name in the world of DXing, and especially in the German-speaking world. Wolf is a veteran at Radio Austria International. He's been producing DX programmes for more than 30 years. His "Kurzwellenpanorama" was first broadcast on May 6 1969; five years ago, on April 4 1997 it was renamed "Intermedia", the logical consequence of new developments in the media. Wolf was also highly active outside the station, as the thriving force behind DX clubs and associations. He published an excellent handbook on DXing and a series of audio cassettes with station IDs, etc. Wolf is also an author and translates books from English into German. So, I called him in Vienna and asked him whether this really was the end of Radio Austria International? SOUND Wolf Harranth Wolf Harranth, journalist, author and translator, producer of Intermedia and DX-Telegramm at Radio Austria International. We'll hear more from Wolf next week. Don't miss it, because, as Wolf said, there is a good way to say good bye. It's something special for DXers who collect QSL cards. FRANS VOSSEN, RVI Radio World April 6 [audio available for one week] listen broadband: http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_HI.asx listen narrowband: http://www.vrt.be/wm/rvi/rw_LO.asx (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) More from Wolf on next week`s show --``a good way to say goodbye``, special QSL (gh) ** BRAZIL. 4885.03, Rádio Difusora Acreana, Rio Branco. 0120 UT. This station has a program in Spanish every Saturday evening called "Antonio Flores", maybe the name of the program leader, who speaks Spanish with Brasilian accent. Very nice program with music, ads and talk. I listened between 0100-0200 UT and cannot tell if the program starts earlier/ends later. In a previous issue of Glenn Hauser`s "DXLD" in the headings with unIDs, there is a logging of a Spanish speaking LA on 4885 kHz. Maybe this is the answer? The funny thing is that I for the first time here in Quito two days later logged Brasil on MW: Radio Difusora Acreana on 1400.02 kHz! Splendid! (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. São Paulo, Radio Bandeirantes, 9645 kHz, 0812 to 0831 UT, SINPO 34132. News about war in Iraq, and commercials (Icom R71A with 114-foot inverted-L; John Sandin, Merriam, KS, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. I can't figure out why it's CBL here in Toronto, when you would expect "CBT" (which is actually in NF). The CBC was established in 1936. Before that there was the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC), with the Toronto station using the call "CRCT", and even before the CRBC, the Canadian National Railways network used the call "CNRT" in Toronto. CNRT/CRCT/CBL's frequency was on 840; they moved to 740 after the 1941 NARBA treaty. CJBC once stood for Jarvis Street Baptist Church. They were an English station until the early 1960s (Mike Brooker, Ont., NRC-AM via DXLD) The present CJBC is not related to the station operated by the Jarvis St. church in the 1920's except that both had Toronto as COL:). In 1935 CKNC went silent as its owner, the National Carbon Co (a battery company which was the Canadian branch of an American company (Burgess?)) no longer wanted to be in the broadcasting field. The CRBC, who operated as pointed out above CRCT in Toronto, brought the station, moving into its studios and keeping the CKNC transmitter as a backup under the calls CRCY. About the time the CBC came into being (Nov 1936) CRCT, whose 5 kW transmitter was in Bowmanville (42 miles east of Toronto) suffered severe QRM on its 840 kHz frequency from 250 kW XERA which made reception in Toronto poor. Thus the 100 watt CRCY transmitter was used to provide service for Toronto for some months as a rebroadcaster of CRCT. In Dec 1937 the CBC put 50 kW CBL on the air from the Hornby site, and the Bowmanville site was retired. CRCY became CBY, and during the war became the flagship station for the second CBC English network, the Dominion network (the other was named the Trans-Canada network, now CBC Radio One). For some reason which I have never been able to discover Ernie Bushnell, then with the CBC, had the calls changed to CJBC. CJBC continued as the flagship of the Dominion network until the demise of this network in the early 60's at which point it joined the French network. The CBY calls were used in Newfoundland later as we all know, after Newfoundland became a part of Canada in 1949. 73, (Deane McIntyre, VE6BPO, NRC-AM April 2 via DXLD) On succeeding the CRBC in 1936, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reserved for itself the prefix "CB". CRCT became "CBL" Toronto - the "L" because of its location in the Great Lakes region; CRCY became "CBY". As the CBC began to build its powerful 50 kW transmitters, the station calls usually related to their region or purpose, CBF Montreal - French language, CBK Watrous, Saskatchewan, in honour of Kelsey the explorer; CBE Edmonton, CBH Halifax, etc. With all but 4 private Canadian stations limited to maximum power of 1,000 watts (exceptions were CFRB Toronto and CFCN Calgary, both "grandfathered" at 10,000 watts, and CKAC Montreal and CKLW Windsor with 5,000 watts), the CBC proceeded with its objective of increasing its owned-and-operated stations to the maximum power permitted by international agreement. CKGW Toronto was bought from Gooderam and Worts and moved to the "clear frequency" of 740 kHz with power of 50,000 watts (December 1937), and call letters changed to CBL. Coincidentally, in the same year, the Corporation built CBF in Montreal, placing it on 690 kHz - another clear channel. CBF later became the key station of the CBC French Network, embracing newly- established CBV Quebec, CBJ Chicoutimi and private stations in New Carlisle and Rimouski --- supplemented by private stations in Hull, Sherbrooke and Rouyn. CBM Montreal, formerly CRCM, with 5,000 watts took over CBF's English programming. In 1939, the Maritime provinces were given CBA in Sackville, NB on 1070 kHz, and listeners on the prairies were bestowed with CBK, strategically positoned at Watrous, Saskatchewan at 540 kHz - both 50,000-watters. CBR (later CBU) Vancouver and CBO Ottawa, were each given power increases to 5,000 watts - the international limit on their frequencies. (In succeeding years, CBC's Alberta coverage was beefed-up with the additions of CBX Edmonton (ultimately 50,000 on 740 kHz replacing CBX Lacombe), and CBR Calgary in 1964 with 50,000 watts on 1010 kHz. Earlier, in 1948, to improve coverage in Manitoba, CBC bought the original CKY from the Manitoba Government, dubbed it CBW and upped its power from 15,000 to 50,000 watts on 990 kHz). However, while the private stations selected to affiliate with the CBC network were happy to acquire some of the greatest radio attractions in the world, the programming and the income of other broadcasters in two-and-three-station markets suffered. CBC affiliates had first-choice in carrying CBC sustaining (non- sponsored) programs not included in their reserved time agreement, but the CBC did offer the remainder of any they wished to carry to the non-affiliates. In Southern Ontario, where Hamilton and St. Catharines stations existed under the umbrella of CBL's 50 kW transmitter at Hornby, CKOC, CHML and CKTB were regarded only as "supplementary stations". If sponsors paid the extra cost, CBC would add them. Meanwhile, they were welcome to share carriage of the network's sustaining programs. Similarly, in two-station markets across Canada, the CBC obtained extra coverage of its sustaining programs at no cost. | snip | 1940s In the early forties, pressure developed among listeners, advertisers and stations for alternative programming. Sensing this need, and to head-off a possible campaign for a private network, CBC took the initiative to set-up a second coast-to-coast network. CBC lined-up 34 existing and soon-to-exist private stations as affiliates, but lacked a key station in Toronto where CFRB had rejected the invitation to participate (in fact, serious consideration was given to suggestions that CBC should expropriate CFRB - instead, another solution was found). When CBC succeeded the CRBC in 1937, it had also acquired a low-powered Toronto station - CKNC - whose studio facilities it had leased for CBL and which had been founded by the Canadian National Carbon Company. It was given the call sign CRCY and subsequently became CBY. It was usually programmed separately from CBL and also carried sustaining programs (non commercial) from NBC's Blue Network. When CBL carried sponsored programs, CBY's programs were fed over existing lines to CKTB St Catharines and to either CKOC or CHML Hamilton. CBC decided to turn CBY into the key station for its Dominion Network. The power would be increased to 50,000 watts and it could be engineered to share the tower and other facilities of CBL at Hornby. The frequency of 860 - a clear channel - had been previously designated for CBC's use, and CBC moved CBY from 1010 to 860, displacing CFRB which had occupied the channel for several years. CBY became CJBC - the key station of the CBC Dominion Network - when it was formed January 1, 1944. CFPL London and CKX Brandon were deleted from the original network and became Dominion affiliates. The first sponsored program was the intellectual NBC Monday night panel show Information Please chaired by Clifton Fadiman, which, on April 15th, preceded the full compliment of programs that began in the fall. CJBC was the only CBC-owned station on the Dominion Network - all others were privately owned. To manage the new network, the Corporation hired away from CKWX Vancouver Spence Caldwell who, 17 years later, founded the CTV Network. The first CBC network became The Trans-Canada Network. A similar problem had arisen in Montreal when the Canadian Marconi Company's station CFCF refused CBC's wish for it to be the Dominion affiliate. Subsequently, Arthur Dupont, then CBC's Commercial Manager for Quebec, applied for and received a licence to establish CJAD, ostensibly to become the Dominion affiliate. However, before he could get it on the air, CFCF had a change-of-mind, and signed-up as the Dominion affiliate. Perhaps as consolation or compensation for losing the Dominion Network, CJAD was allowed to share with CKAC some programs from the U.S.A. network - CBS. CBR Calgary: 1964 The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. opened CBR on 1010 kHz with 50,000 watts full-time, in October of 1964. Studios located at 1724 Westmount Blvd. Two 473 foot towers used at a site located on the southeast quarter of Section 10, Township 23, near Calgary. Network affiliation ? CBC Trans-Canada. and CBU/CBR Vancouver: 1941 On March 29, CBR moved from 1100 to 1130 kHz with 5,000 watts. 1942 CBR started using low-power relay transmitters to widen its service to B. C. 1947 CBR increased power to 10,000 watts full-time (DA-1). Transmitter: Lulu Island, two 404 foot towers. 1951 CBR became CBU, moving to 690 kHz. 1967 CBU was given permission in December to increase power to 50,000 watts full-time (DA-1) using four 200 foot top-loaded towers. 1975 On November 24, CBU moved to the new CBC Vancouver Broadcasting Centre at 700 Hamilton Street. CBC radio and TV operations in the city had been scattered at various locations. (from http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index2.html via Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC "EXPLODED PIZZA" LOOKS LIKE 1969 LOGO FOR TARGET STORES http://www.targetcorp.com/targetcorp_group/about/history.jhtml (Usenet message in the newsgroups alt.radio.networks.cbc and alt.tv.networks.cbc by Brian Chow, via Joel Rubin, April 7, swprograms via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CRI English at 0400 confirmed April 7 now on both 9560 --- Canada, and new 9755, presumably French Guiana. In that order by a fraxion of a second; not yet checked after 0500 to reconfirm that neither is on during that hour, contrary to CRI`s own published schedules (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Later: confirmed, neither is on after 0500} ** COLOMBIA. 2999.93H, HJLJ, La Básica 1500, Cali. March 2003 - 1050 UT. This station has just begun to be heard with very good signal both mornings and evenings. Belongs to "La Red Sonora". Harmonic from 1500 kHz (2 x 1499.96). (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** C I S. FOREIGN RELAYS ON SW THROUGH FACILITIES IN THE CIS kHz Loc kW Azi UTC (A03): April 6, 2003 21780 TAC 200 131 0800-0830 BBC Bengali, Hindi, Urdu 21630 TAC 200 130 1430-1515 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 21585 TAC 100 131 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 17860 VLD 250 247 2300-2345 DW English 17820 SAM 250 175 0900-0930 DW Persian // 15605 17770 AA 500 121 1030-1055 DW Chinese // 12045 17765 SAM 100 130 0400-1700 WUN The University Network Presents Dr Gene Scott. 17710 IRK 250 224 0230-0300, 0810-0820 BBC Hindi 17695 TAC 100 131 1200-1225 R. Vlaanderen International Dutch // 9865 17695 KDR 200 284 1300-1600(Su) RVI Sport Live 17650 KDR 200 284 1100-1130 R. Vlaanderen International 17650 NVS 500 145 1200-1400 DW German // 9900 7420 17590 KHB 100 218 2330-0025 RNW Dutch 17570 KOM 120 178 0500-0600(Su.) Voice of Mediterranean, Japanese 17545 KDR 200 128 1230-1300 DW Persian 17485 AA 500 141 1000-1400 DW German // 9900 7420 15795 TAC 100 256 0300-0700 BFBS Radio English 15660 VLD 250 230 1400-1500(Tu.)(VOKK) Voice of Khmer Krom, Cambodian 15725 DB 100 117 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, // 21525 15615 15660 AA 500 135 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 15605 KDR 200 128 0900-0930 DW Persian // 17820 15605 SAM 250 129 1200-1500 FEBA Tibetan/Punjabi/Urdu etc. 15605 KOM 250 213 2200-2300 DW English 15605 KOM 250 213 2300-2350 DW Chinese // 12035 15595 SAM 250 140 1330-1400 DW Dari, 1400-1420 DW Pashto 15595 VLD 500 228 2300-2400 RFI French // 15535 15580 TCH 250 230 0015-0200 FEBA Indian Languages/Telugu 15535 IRK 500 180 2300-0100 RFI French // 15595 15530 MOS 250 169 0345-0430 FEBA Arabic 15530 KDR 250 188 1100-1300 FEBA Arabic/English (1245-1300) 15525 SAM 250 140 0800-0830 DW Dari, Pashto 15470 KDR 100 188 2000-2100 RCI English 15470 PK 250 244 2130-2200 VOA Korean 15455 KDR 250 290 0500-0715(M-Sa), 0600-0800(Su) R. Maryja Polish 15195 KDR 200 284 0500-0800, 1700-1800 R. Vlaanderen International 13860 TAC 100 256 1400-1800 BFBS Radio English 13820 KHB 100 218 1030-1125 RNW Dutch 13745 TAC 200 130 0100-0130 BBC Hindi 13710 IRK 250 152 0930-1125 RNW English // 12065 13695 KHB 100 218 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 12065 9890 13690 VLD 200 320 0000-0100 DW Russian // 12070 13590 NOV 100 110 1200-1600 High Adventure Ministries, English/Vietnamese/Chinese 12125 KDR 200 235 1900-1930(M-F) Jakada Radio International (JRI) Hausa 12120 SAM 250 190 1600-1630 Sout Al Watan(Voice of Homeland) // 12085 SHRC 12115 SAM 250 188 1700-1800(Sa.) Dejen Radio Tigrigna 12115 SAM 250 188 1730-1800(M.Th.) Voice of Oromo Liberation (Radio Sagalee Oromia), Oromo 12090 MOS 500 068 1200-1400 DW German // 17485 9900 7420 12075 NVS 500 125 1200-1300 RFI Chinese 12075 TAC 100 131 1430-1625 RNW English 12070 PK 250 263 0000-0100 DW Russian // 13690 12065 PK 250 244 0930-1125 RNW English // 13710 12065 TAC 100 131 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 13695 9890 12065 TAC 100 130 1450-1600 Vatican R. 1450 Hindi, 1510 Tamil, 1520 Malayalam, 1540 Eng. 12055 TCH 500 195 1315-1345 Vatican Radio Vietnamese 12045 SAM 250 129 0015-0130 FEBA Indian Languages 12045 IRK 500 152 1030-1055 DW Chinese // 17770 12045 VLD 200 110 2200-2300 RFI Chinese // 12005 12035 IRK 500 152 2300-2350 DW Chinese 12025 IRK 500 180 1100-1200 RFI Lao, 1200-1300 RFI Khmer 12025 IRK 500 150 0930-1030 RFI Chinese 12010 KDR 250 290 1500-1830 R. Maryja Polish (Sep 7-, 7380 1500-2200) 12005 VLD 500 230 2200-2300 RFI Chinese // 12045 11990 NOV 250 111 1300-1500 VOA Chinese 11975 ERV 100 100 1400-1500 VOA Tibetan 11850 TAC 100 153 0100-0400 Christian Vision, Voice International Hindi 11850 VLD 250 230 1400-1430 Radio Free Vietnam 11570 NVS 100 180 0000-0100 IBC Tamil 11530 TAC 250 256 0400-1200 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 11530 KCH 500 116 1200-1600 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 11520 SAM 200 224 1600-1700 Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Radio- Arabic Voice of Liberty (Lebanon) 9925 KDR 100 284 1700-2100 R. Vlaanderen Internationaal 9920 NOS 250 84 1500-1530 RCI Russian 9900 IRK 250 152 1000-1400 DW German // 17485 7420 9890 PK 250 244 1330-1425 RNW Dutch // 13695 12065 9865 PK 250 244 1130-1225 R. Vlaanderen Int. English Dutch // 17690 9865 TAC 200 131 1330-1445 BBC Bengali, 1400 Hindi 9825 NOV 500 195 1700-1730 DW Urdu 9825 SAM 250 140 1730-1800 DW Dari, Pashto 9540 1500-1600 Bible Voice Broadcasting Network, Vietnamese/English 9530 TAC 200 255 1700-1800 RFI Persian 9495 NOV 1300-1415 FEBA Urdu etc. 9495 KDR 250 129 1530-1630 FEBA Persian 9460 IRK 500 152 1300-1350 DW Chinese 9445 IRK 250 225 2315-0200, 1115-1650 TWR-Sri Lanka, Indian 9415 KDR 250 129 1530-1700 FEBA Pashto/Dari/Hazaragi/Turkmen/Uzbek 7460 IRK 250 225 1400-1615 FEBA Malay/Indian (1500-1600 English) 7430 TAC 200 131 1500-1530 BBC Nepali 7420 PK 250 241 1000-1400 DW German // 17485 9900 7385 MOS 250 117 1700-1800 BBC Uzbek, /1730-1800(Sa.Su. Russian) 7380 SAM 250 284 1830-2200 Radio Maryja (Sep. 7-, 1500-2200 KDR) 7330 VLD 500 228 1100-1530 BBC Chinese 7320 SAM 250 285 2030-2127 CRI French 7305 IRK 250 152 2200-2245 Vatican Radio Chinese 7295 DB 100 270 0200-0300 RFE Turkmen 7260 KDR 500 104 1600-1630 RFI 7230 KDR 200 132 1800-1900 DW Persian 7210 IRK 250 125 1600-1700 RFA Korean 7150 IRK 250 152 2200-2300 VOA Chinese 6225 KDR 500 188 2000-2130 DW Arabic 6210 SAM 100 0 1610-1640 Vatican Radio Russian 6140 DB 100 264 1900-2000 Radio Fard Persian 6125 SAM 100 265 1700-2000 Radio Radonezh Russian ????? "???????" 6020 DB 200 180 1600-1630 RFI Persian 5860 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kyrgyz 5860 DB 100 264 1900-2100 Radio Farda Persian 5855 ERV 100 78 1610-1740 TWR-Europa, 1610 English, 1625(M-Th) Kazakh/(SaSu) Turkmen, 1640 Russian(M- Th)/ Kyrgiz(F-Su), 1655(SaSu) Uzbek, 1710(Su) Tajik 5835 KLG 200 270 2030-2125 RNW Dutch 4995 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kazakh 4760 DB 100 45 0100-0200, 1630-1700 RFE Tatar (Nagoya DX Circle, http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/%7Endxc/relay.htm via DXLD) Note: original has lots of hotlinx ** CONGO DR. 7435, 3.4 1820. Probably R. Lubumbashi with a native language here, but due to poor reception and no more substance than it sounded African, I hardly even will say it is tentative. QRK 1-2. RFK (Ronny Forslund, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6120.89, Radio Rebelde, Bauta. April 2003 - 0250 UT. Strong signal announcing FM "96.7". 0300 UT a program called "Ventana Rebelde". The day after I heard Rebelde on 6140.00 kHz (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Radio Havana Cuba will soon be celebrating its 42nd anniversary... And I am studying the possibility of organizing a contest for Dxers Unlimited's listeners... The contest will be a lot of fun, and as soon as I have the rules ready, you will be learning about it... The idea is to run the contest during the whole month of May, so that everyone participating may have a good chance to win one of the prizes !!! (Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, RHC DXers Unlimited April 5 via Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, ODXA via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 2299.81H, HCGB5, La Voz de Riobamba, Riobamba. March 2003 - 1030 UT. It seems that most of the MW-stations in the town are emitting harmonics. ID "La Voz de Riobamba Antena Uno". Harmonic from 1150 kHz (2 x 1149.90). (Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin April 6, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. It seems that R Imperial, El Salvador, can be received in old Europe, too. I could observe this station (presumed only) last night on 17835.4 kHz from 2140 to fade out at around 2210 UT. I heard salsa and rumba music, and a male announcer after 2200. The signal was very poor only, however with some peaks. No ID possible. Maybe that this station will come in with stronger signal during the European summer months, due to the propagation conditions on higher frequencies. bye (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, April 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY 15275 Radio Fathiriu --- Tigrayan International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy (TISJD); 15670 Voice of Ethiopian Salvation/The Voice of Ethiopian Medhin via Juelich. Received a reply from Mr. Walter Brodowsky confirming my reports but he failed to indicate the two stations in question. Have sent a e-mail enquiry asking for further clarification. Reply in 72 days (Ed Kusalik, AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FIJI. Fiji on Mediumwave - Part 3 in our mini-series on radio broadcasting in Fiji As was mentioned on a previous occasion, the first radio broadcast in Fiji came from a new 500 watt mediumwave transmitter manufactured by AWA at their factory near Sydney in Australia. This transmitter, designated as No. 1, was installed at the communication facility operated by AWA on the edge of Suva in Fiji. This new broadcasting service was inaugurated in March 1926. As a wartime exigency, this station also began a relay of American AFRS programming for the benefit of servicemen in the wide areas of the Pacific. The same programming was also carried in parallel by the shortwave outlet, VPD. Soon after the end of the Pacific War, work began on a new broadcasting facility in Suva, with a two storey building for the studios and offices, and a new transmitter base some eight miles out of town. The new studios were taken into service in 1954 and the old ZJV transmitter was re-installed in this new location for use as a second program channel in the capital city area. Callsigns were changed at this stage from the historic ZJV & VPD to the more familiar VRH, though callsign throughout the whole network were dropped in 1968. It took another ten years before the new mediumwave base at Naulu (nah-OO-loo) was ready for use, though ultimately several additional mediumwave transmitters were installed at this location. The regional shortwave service was closed in August 1972 and the two remaining shortwave transmitters were converted to mediumwave usage. The first country station was installed in Lautoka (lau-TOE-ka) in 1956 and this was a complete radio station with its own studios, offices and transmitter. These days, Radio Fiji operates eight mediumwave transmitters at five different locations in two networks for nationwide coverage. In addition, there are also several FM networks on the air as well. The QSL cards issued in Fiji over the years have always been prized very highly and the old cards verifying the reception of ZJV & VPD are these days valued historic items. If you should chance to hear Radio Fiji on mediumwave while on location nearby, a reception report will produce a colourful QSL card of an exotic island scene (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan April 6 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 15605, 1701-, Radio France International, Apr 5. English to Africa with nice ID at 1701 and into world news. Good reception. (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radio Francia Internacional emite en español con destino a América Latina de acuerdo a este esquema, vigente desde el 30/03/2003 al 26/10/2003: HORA UTC KHZ 1000-1030 9830 1200-1230 15515, 17860 1800-1830 17630, 21645 2100-2130 17630, 21645 0100-0130 9800, 11665 Todas las emisiones via el transmisor situado en Montsinéry (Guyana Francesa). QTH: R. France Internationale, B.P. 9516, F-75016 Paris Cedex 16, Francia. E-mail: service.amerique.latine@r... [truncated] Web: http://www.rfi.fr (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 5 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Noticed DW in English with a very good signal at 0540 April 6 on 11925 --- if I didn`t know better, I might think it was a North American service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. From http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx A bold attempt to get the German youth to return to the AM band has failed. Commercial Mega Radio, which was continuously expanding, inaugurating new transmitters and introducing short excerpts of local programming, has gone bankrupt. Reportedly this happened already on March 17, but programming on at least 576, 630, 693, 1431 and 1575 kHz continued until the afternoon of April 4. The station website as well as relays via Luxembourg on 1440 kHz were history already earlier. 1440 kHz is nowadays broadcasting RTL Radio in German (DXing.info, April 4, 2003 via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9680, RRI Jakarta, 1259 April 7. Indo, TOH music, commonly referred to as "Song of the Coconut Isles", 1300 news by man, mention President Megawati. 1311 ID by woman, to continuing talk in Indonesian with several mentions of Indonesia. 1311 to man with talk, then back to woman. Fair signal; and in the clear (Dan Ziolkowski, Drake R8 using ERGO software, Alpha Delta Sloper, Franklin WI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO Schedule for Transmission Period A03; March 30 - October 27 2003 Frequency Order kHz kW Unit Location Country Language Day UT --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1602 2.5 2XA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 1602 2.5 2XA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 3215 100 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0500 - 0530 3215 50 RN4 Talata Madagascar Malagasy Daily 0230 - 0330 3215 50 RN4 Talata Madagascar Malagasy Daily 1530 - 1630 3215 100 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 1800 - 1830 3345 100 Sen3 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0500 - 0530 3935 1 ZLXA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 3935 1 ZLXA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 7125 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Bulgarian Daily 0400 - 0500 7130 250 RS1 Rimavska Sobota Slovakia English Daily 1830 - 2000 7165 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria German Daily 1500 - 1530 7230 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria German Daily 0700 - 0730 9385 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Filipino EE Daily 1700 - 1800 9600 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa Yoruba Daily 0500 - 0530 9610 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hundi EE Daily 0000 - 0100 9620 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 1800 - 1900 9645 250 Sen3 Meyerton South Africa French Daily 0430 - 0500 9670 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Korean Daily 1200 - 1300 9720 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hindi English Daily 0000 - 0100 9740 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Korean Daily 2000 - 2100 9775 300 ROI2 Moosbrunn Austria English Daily 0730 - 0800 9820 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria English Urdu Daily 0200 - 0300 9955 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sat 1130 - 1200 11560 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam EE Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1200 11560 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam EE Indian Daily 1600 - 1800 11705 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Japan. Khmer Daily 1300 - 1400 11710 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Oro Daily 0300 - 0330 11750 199 KSDA1 Agat Guam English Daily 2000 - 2100 11770 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mand Burmese Dly 2300 - 0200 11850 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam JJ EE Indon. Daily 2100 - 2300 11875 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Korean Daily 2000 - 2100 11880 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Italian Daily 0900 - 1000 11880 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1400 - 1500 11890 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Nepali Marathi Dly 1500 - 1600 11900 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1200 - 1300 11930 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam EE Filipino Daily 1000 - 1100 11930 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Burmese Daily 1400 - 1500 11975 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1100 - 1200 11975 100 KSDA1 Agat Guam Indian. EE Daily 1500 - 1700 11980 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Japanese EE Daily 2100 - 2200 11945 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Farsi Tigrinya Dly 0230 - 0330 11965 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Farsi Daily 0330 - 0400 11975 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Amharic Daily 0300 - 0330 11975 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Kisuahili Daily 0330 - 0400 11980 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Japanese EE Daily 1200 - 1300 11980 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam English Daily 2000 - 2100 12015 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Somali Daily 0330 - 0400 12015 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Filipino EE Daily 1700 - 1800 12120 100 KSDA2 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2200 - 0200 12130 250 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa African Daily 1700 - 1800 15105 250 Sen2 Meyerton South Africa English Daily 0530 - 0530 15130 250 Wof2 Wooferton England French Yoruba Dly 2000 - 2100 15130 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Dyula FF EE Daily 2000 - 2200 15150 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1200 - 1300 15160 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Russian English Dly 0300 - 0330 15160 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Arabic French Dly 0600 - 0730 15175 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Arabic French Dly 1900 - 2030 15195 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Punjabi Hindi Daily 1500 - 1600 15195 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2100 - 2200 15215 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam English Daily 1600 - 1700 15215 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 2100 - 2400 15235 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam English Daily 1600 - 1700 15235 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Bulgarian Daily 1700 - 1800 15250 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0400 - 0500 15250 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0600 - 0700 15255 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1900 - 2000 15270 250 Wof1 Wooferton England African Daily 1900 - 2000 15275 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Bangla EE Daily 1300 - 1400 15320 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Bangla Daily 1300 - 1330 15320 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi English Urdu Daily 1330 - 1500 15330 500 ROI! Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 0600 - 0700 15345 250 Sen1 Meyerton South Africa Ibo Hausa Daily 0530 - 0630 15360 100 DTK1 Julich Germany Romanian Daily 1630 - 1700 15370 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 0000 - 0200 15380 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Sinhala Karen Daily 1400 - 1500 15385 250 Wof1 Wooferton England English Daily 2000 - 2100 15435 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Indonesian Daily 1100 - 1200 15445 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Sat 0100 - 0200 15445 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Daily 2300 - 2400 15460 250 AD1 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi African Daily 1630 - 1800 15520 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Afar Oro Daily 1700 - 1800 15535 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1800 - 1900 15550 100 CBS1 Paochung Taiwan Vietnamese Daily 1400 - 1500 15575 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Indian Daily 1500 - 1600 15610 100 KSDA3 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1100 15615 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 1000 - 1500 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sun 1400 - 1430 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sun 2200 - 2230 15725 50 WRMI Miami Florida English Sat 2330 - 2400 17630 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Indian/English Dly 1400 - 1700 17635 100 KSDA4 Agat Guam Mandarin Daily 0000 - 0200 17660 250 Wof2 Wooferton England Ibo Daily 1930 - 2000 17700 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Hindi Sinhala Daily 1400 - 1500 17700 250 AD2 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Nepali M'lam Daily 1500 - 1600 17735 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Arabic Daily 1700 - 1800 17740 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi English Russian Dly 1300 - 1400 17780 500 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Dyula FF EE Daily 0800 - 0930 17820 300 ROI1 Moosbrunn Austria Farsi Daily 1630 - 1700 17835 250 AD4 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Mandarin Daily 1100 - 1300 17865 250 AD3 Al Dhabbayah Abu Dhabi Tamil Daily 1330 - 1400 88.5 10 2XA Levin N Zealand English Mon 0900 - 0930 88.5 10 2XA Levin N Zealand English Tue 2100 - 2130 (Adrian Peterson, AWR via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Glenn: Re: Do "TinyURLs" or "Makeashorterlink" URLs disappear? From the TinyURL website, it appears that their abbreviated URLs won't disappear unless the service itself disappears: "Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to have to cut and paste it back together? Then you've come to the right place. By entering in a URL in the text field below, we will create a tiny URL that will not break in email postings and never expires." See http://tinyurl.com/ --- From the "Makeashorterlink" website: "How long are the shorter links going to last? "For as long as possible. Put it this way: as long as we are in charge of the database, the links will continue to work. If the time comes when we run out of money or interest in maintaining it, we shall make the database available to anyone who wants to take it on. We hesitate to say "forever", because that's a very long time indeed. But the links will remain usable for a long time." See http://www.makeashorterlink.com/about.php --- (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. MIDDLE EAST TV ON BROADBAND If you have broadband, you can try a site in The Netherlands called The War Television Channels http://www.webcamsue.demon.nl/ It's a portal to all that's available online from the Middle East. It's very comprehensive, and includes the new Arabic-language channel Alalalam, which comes from Iran but can be received terrestrially in parts of Iraq. It has scrolling news in English at the bottom of the screen. Unfortunately the feed is only 50 Kbps, but it's quite viewable at the default screen size. BTW you can also watch Dutch TV via this site. They also have live Baghdad video streams, some with sound! (RN Media Network Blog April 7 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. It has been strongly rumoured in "Free Radio" circles that a brand new station is going to broadcast Love Peace and Good music Offshore. Plans are in an advanced stage to bring back a Free and Peace loving broadcaster off the European coastline, what with all this carnage and killing in the middle east we really need an alternative. Its theme tune is going to WAR by the recently departed Edwin Starr, a sort of tribute to him and a message to peace loving people in Europe. This new station will have a transmitter capable of delivering 100 kW on AM, and also broadcast on Short Wave as well. Due to the 2 grey areas involved in the Radio Bill 0f 1991, this latest venture will only be using 10 kW of RF initially, using a directional beam antenna, aiming its signal to a particular building in Westminster. The backers of this fantastic sensational station have came up with a really original name, they hope it will catch on and give certain people a little "titter" as another Mr Howard used to say. The new name for this poptastic renegade station RADIO SAD-AM on a frequency of 1440 kHz after 2100 gmt, through till whenever, the first record to be played will be Rock Lobster by the B-52s, followed by the Star Spangled banner by Jimi Hendrix, the third record to be aired is not finalised but it is thought that it could either be "The White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn or "I'm Backing Britain" by Bruce Forsyth, that's of course if it manages to play three songs before being silenced, sank or blown to bits (From The Caroline Community, Geoff Hutton via Mike Terry, April 5, DXLD) April 1? ** IRAN. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR 0600-1400 GMT, 7 APRIL 03 | Text of report by Monitoring research on 7 April The Voice and Vision Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or radio and television, maintains its anti-war stance, whereas the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports gains by the Kurdish forces in the north or anti-Saddam rebellion in Baghdad. A number of pre-reform dailies have criticized the pro-Saddam stance of the Radio and TV. As an example, IRNA quoted a senior pro-reform MP, Elaheh Kula'i, accusing the conservative-controlled state television of backing Iraq in its coverage of the war. The 0930 gmt news bulletins of the radio and TV were dominated by news on anti-war demonstrations all over the world, including Iran. IRNA again reported uprising against Saddam's regime as US forces enter Baghdad. It said: "In the wake of the attack by the American ground forces on Baghdad, we have reports of sporadic armed conflict between the people of Baghdad and Iraqi military forces. An IRNA correspondent in Baghdad reported a few minutes ago that the citizens of Baghdad have rebelled against the Ba'th forces." Fars News Agency also reported on the rally outside British embassy, without permission of the Interior Ministry and added that only "dozens of demonstrators were chanting anti-British and anti-American slogans. They set fire to the British flag and demanded expulsion of the British diplomats and closure of the Tehran Embassy." A radio analyst commented on the talks between Russian and American analyst. A military analyst spoke on the future of war. He predicted fierce fighting in Baghdad. All the Iranian newspapers have updated their web sites. Many of them offer analysis about and criticize the ongoing war in Iraq. The conservative evening daily Kayhan, in its edition today, said: "the British embassy in Tehran has received a bomb threat". Watch is maintained and the next behaviour note will be issued at 2100 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 7 Apr 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. NORWAY, 13800, 1641-, Radio International, Apr 5. Good reception with talk in presumed Farsi, with telephone quality audio. Interview of a male by a woman (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. KUWAITI PAPER REPORTS IRAQ PLACING TRANSMITTERS IN HOLY SITES Iraq has placed television transmitters in the shrine of the Musa Kadhim (Seventh Imam of Shia Muslims) in Khadimayn, near Baghdad, IRNA reported on 27 March, quoting the Kuwaiti daily "Al-Ray al-Amm." The Kuwaiti paper claimed Baghdad is trying to provoke U.S. and U.K. forces to attack the shrine and thus enrage Iraq's Shia population. The report added that the transmitters allegedly placed in the shrine were made in Germany and imported via Syria. It is not clear from the report whether the transmitters in question were imported prior to the outbreak of the current conflict on 20 March. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 28 March via RFE/RL Media Matters April 7 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Hi Glenn, Maybe Baghdad did switch to DST a few days late, but http://www.timeanddate.com/ says: Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +3 hours Daylight saving time-adjustment: +1 hour Current time zone offset: UTC/GMT +4 hours Daylight Saving Time DST started on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at 3:00:00 AM local standard time DST ends on Wednesday, October 1, 2003, at 4:00:00 AM local daylight time. I tend to believe specialised sources rather than US commercial broadcasters :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Re. Czech newspaper report from March 26: ``Since the war started, RFE has been broadcasting to Iraq for 12 hours a day.`` In fact they are indeed broadcasting 12 hours a day, but only 10 hours to Iraq; the remaining two hours between 2000 and 2200 are still beamed to Europe for expatriates (19 and 35 degrees from Morocco): AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0300 JUL 01 12030 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0600 MOR 10 9865 075 AB RFE RLIQ 0100 0600 KAV 03 9730 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0300 0400 JUL 01 11910 108 AB RFE RLIQ 0300 0400 ERV A 1314 999 AB RFE RLIQ 0400 0600 JUL 01 11930 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1600 MOR 04 17740 075 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1700 MOR 03 15170 075 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1500 LAM 07 13755 104 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1700 KAV 07 9825 104 AB RFE RLIQ 1400 1600 ERV A 1314 999 AB RFE RLIQ 1500 1900 LAM 03 11805 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1600 1700 KAV 09 17740 095 AB RFE RLIQ 1700 1900 KAV 05 17690 095 AB RFE RLIQ 1700 1800 JUL 02 9865 108 AB RFE RLIQ 1800 1900 JUL 02 9705 108 AB RFE RLIQ 2000 2200 MOR 02 11885 019 AB RFE RLIQ 2000 2200 MOR 09 9615 035 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [and non]. Returned to Finland a few days ago from a two-week assignment in Qatar, reporting from CENTCOM briefings etc for YLE TV & Radio. Pretty busy all the time, so I barely had time to use a Sangean 909 which I bought just before departure. No new discoveries on the dial, BUT Camp as-Sayliyah proved to be the right place to find out more about Information Radio and Commando Solo: Where do the transmissions on different frequencies really come from? Where are the aircraft based? And how many are they? When and how were the transmissions extended - and how much of it was revealed in the Coalition press briefings? And the rest of the story. All you ever wanted to know about Information Radio Iraq in the article "US steps up propaganda war" at http://www.dxing.info/profiles/clandestine_information_iraq.dx 73 (Mika Makelainen, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: SHOCK AND AWE ON THE AIR --- US STEPS UP PROPAGANDA WAR By Mika Mäkeläinen, Camp as-Sayliyah, Qatar [see original for numerous illustrations!] http://www.dxing.info/profiles/clandestine_information_iraq.dx Surrender or die is the message beamed at the remaining Iraqi Republican Guard soldiers in trenches around Baghdad. Coalition propaganda is aired 24 hours a day over Information Radio, part of a sophisticated psychological warfare operation aimed at winning the war in Iraq with less fighting, less casualties - and more clever persuasion. This article is the most comprehensive report published so far on the technical aspects of the ongoing Iraqi mission of Information Radio. Information Radio, Radiyo al-Ma'ulumat ([blank]) in Arabic, is a US military Special Operations radio station broadcasting anti-Saddam Hussein messages, which are aimed at weakening his support among the Iraqi people and military. [Caption:] A systems operator and flight crewman mans his station on board a U.S. Air Force EC-130E aircraft during a Commando Solo mission in March 2003 (Photo by US Navy) Radio broadcasts are transmitted 24 hours a day from several transmitter sites in the air above Iraq, on the ground in Iraq and on naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Until now, these transmitter locations have remained unknown. The programs however are well-known - or at least they should be - because that is the purpose of the mission. Each program normally lasts about an hour and contains an introduction, combinations of regional and Western music and an information message. A radio propaganda operation often precedes a war, and a war had indeed been planned for months. In December 2002, a hectic operation was underway 17 kilometers southwest from the Qatari capital Doha at Camp as-Sayliyah, which was being prepared to serve as the forward headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in case of war against Iraq. However, a war had already begun - a war for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. [Caption:] A 193rd Special Operations Wing EC-130E Commando Solo is refueled by a 100th Air Expeditionary Wing KC-135 Stratotanker from the Royal Air Force (Photo by US Air Force) For some time, US Special Operations Forces had been operating in and around Iraq preparing the ground for military action. An important part of the work was Psychological Operations (PSYOP). Officially, the purpose of PSYOP is to induce or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to US objectives by conducting planned operations to convey selected information to various audiences in Iraq to influence their emotions, motives, reasoning and ultimately, the behavior of organizations, groups and individuals in Iraq. In short, if the Iraqi military could be convinced that resistance would be futile, the war would become less messy and it would be over sooner than without any psychological warfare. From Doha Airport to the skies of Baghdad The most important field player in the PSYOP warfare is Commando Solo, the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In November 2002 an EC-130 plane had been dispatched from its base at the Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, Pennsylvania, to Qatar, to launch a radio propaganda operation against the regime of President Saddam Hussein. Qatar has gradually become the most important US ally in the Persian Gulf and a host of a number of new military bases. Still, Qatar is eager to play down its vital role in the war against Iraq in order to maintain good relations with other Arab countries. The US is cooperating by keeping a low profile. American soldiers are confined to their bases to avoid fueling anti-American sentiment in the country. The most important US airbase is located at Al Udeid, built to host up to 10,000 troops and 120 aircraft, but the Commando Solo operation is based at a much smaller Camp Snoopy, which is located at the Doha International Airport just southeast of downtown Doha. US troops were first deployed to Doha in 1996, although construction work for Camp Snoopy really got underway in 2000. The Commando Solo, other US special operations aircraft and transport aircraft are not hidden in shelters, but are sitting on the tarmac not far from the airport terminal, which is mostly used by Qatar Airways. The broadcasts became public in mid-December, when Pentagon announced the start of a new Commando Solo operation. On December 12, 2002, an EC-130 aircraft of the Air Force 193rd Special Operations Wing began flying near Iraq. According to the US Defense Department, initially the plane was not flying in the Iraqi airspace, not even in the no- fly zones. From the start this psychological warfare operation included not only radio broadcasts but also leaflet drops, which actually started already on October 2, 2002. Both the radio broadcasts and the leaflets have been prepared by the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is where the Army Special Operations Command is also located. Leaflet drops increased steadily, reaching 37 million on April 4, 2003. In comparison, during the Gulf War of 1991, a total of over 29 million copies of 38 different leaflets were dropped. The first leaflets contained messages urging the Iraqi military not to fire at US and British aircraft patrolling the southern no-fly zone. Later, leaflets have been dropped on Iraqi military forces encouraging them to capitulate, to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction and to leave oil wells intact. Leaflets dropped over population centers have told Iraqi civilians that Coalition forces are targeting the military. The leaflets encouraged civilians to stay at home and to listen to Coalition radio broadcasts. [Caption:] Leaflets have been dropped to Iraq since mid-December 2002, detailing broadcast times and frequencies of Information Radio. US Central Command has published images of most of the leaflets. The English versions of the leaflets are available only to feed the appetite of the western media, while all leaflets actually dropped in Iraq have been in Arabic, which is the native tongue for the majority of the Iraqi people. Leaflets have been dropped using various platforms from fixed-wing aircraft dropping leaflet-bombs to UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters spreading the leaflets. The leaflets are not dropped by the Commando Solo aircraft, as often reported, but leaflets drops and radio broadcasts are separate operations. Thousands of wind-up radios have also been dropped to facilitate the reception of Coalition broadcasts. Five frequencies around the clock A key function of the leaflets has been to inform Iraqis of the frequencies used by Information Radio. From the start, Information Radio has been advertised to broadcast at 18.00 - 23.00 Iraq local time (equal to 1500-2000 UTC during the winter and 1400-1900 UTC from April 1, 2003) on five different frequencies, 693 and 756 kHz mediumwave, 9715 and 11292 kHz shortwave and 100.4 MHz FM. [Caption:] Another version of the leaflets dropped in Iraq (English translation) DXers and professional monitoring organizations were quick to spot broadcasts on 9715 kHz. The other shortwave frequency, 11292 kHz, was also monitored occasionally with a weak signal, while other frequencies have not been reported heard outside the Middle East. Although the reception of signals on the different frequencies varied greatly, it has been generally assumed that all transmissions have originated from several EC-130E and EC-130J Commando Solo aircraft deployed in the area. However, of a fleet of six aircraft, only one Commando Solo aircraft was being used at any given time, and it has broadcast on 693 kHz mediumwave, 9715 kHz shortwave and 100.4 MHz FM. The power on all of these three frequencies has been 10 kW. The aircraft used in the mission are rotated, but all have roughly the same transmitter facilities. In addition to the single Commando Solo aircraft, from the very start Information Radio has been transmitted also from other platforms. On the ground, HMMWV vehicles (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle, HMMWV), also known as Humvees or Hummers, are used by other PSYOP units as platforms for mobile transmitters broadcasting Information Radio. Humvees are designed for use over all types of roads, in all weather conditions and are very effective in the most difficult terrain, making them ideal for conditions in Iraq. [Caption:] A Humvee drives out of a C-141B Starlifter (Photo by DoD). A SOMS-B unit can be transported also in one Hercules transport plane. In PSYOP, a system called SOMS-B (Special Operations Media System-B) has been used since 1997. SOMS-B is a combined radio and television broadcasting station packed in two Humvees and a trailer. SOMS-B units have been broadcasting Information Radio from the staging areas of US troops in Kuwait, and soon after the first coalition ground troops entered Iraq, these mobile transmitters have been broadcasting from Iraq. The exact number of SOMS-B units is not revealed, however, it is more than one. Since mid-December 2002, SOMS-Bs have been broadcasting on 756 kHz mediumwave and 11292 kHz shortwave, both frequencies operated at 1 kW of power and transmitting 24 hours a day. SOMS-B consists of two subsystems, a Mobile Radio Broadcast System (MRBS) and a mobile TV Broadcast System (MTBS), but only the radio system has been used in Iraq. The MTBS can transmit television- quality video using PAL, SECAM (used by Iraq) or NTSC standards. The MRBS would be capable of broadcasting also on FM, although so far FM has not been used. [Caption:] Commando Solo on assignment in the Gulf in March 2003 (Photo by US Navy) Both subsystems consist of a primary shelter Humvee, a cargo shelter Humvee and a trailer. The trailer carries a 33 kW generator, an environmental control unit, and a tent system called the Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH). "The coalition continues to push information to the Iraqi population, and at this point we've now pushed our ground-based communications capability further forward by moving a ground base into Iraq. Up until this point in time, it was in neighboring countries," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks at a Central Command briefing on March 31, in an apparent reference to SOMS-B. However, according to information received by DXing.info, SOMS-B was actually deployed in Iraq already several days earlier. Other coalition countries engaged from February In mid-February 2003, Information Radio transmissions were extended. "We're currently broadcasting on five different radio frequencies 24 hours a day and have been doing so since the 17th of February," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks in a Central Command press briefing on March 25. However, it was not the five frequencies nor the 24-hour transmissions that were new. What Brooks failed to mention is that for the first time Coalition partners were involved - and that the extended transmissions originated from ships. Broadcasts began from coalition naval vessels patrolling in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in the northern Arabian Sea. One ship at a time, primarily performing maritime interdiction missions, has been relaying Information Radio programming using whatever transmitters have been available on the particular ships, says Major Peter Mitchell, US Marines Public Affairs official at Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar. [Caption:] A maritime interdiction operation on an Iranian cargo ship (Photo by US Navy). Currently the ships are broadcasting only on 9715 kHz shortwave. Transmitter power depends on the ship in question. Broadcasts begin at 23.00 Baghdad time - when Commando Solo heads back to its base - and end at 18.00 Baghdad time, when Commando Solo once again begins its five-hour broadcast. Together these platforms make 9715 kHz available for 24 hours a day. Ships from at least three Coalition countries (US, UK and Australia) are rotated so that each ship transmits a few days at a time, before handing over responsibility to another ship. In late March 3-4 ships were rotating, but since the beginning of the naval transmissions in February, a total of 6-10 ships have been involved in the broadcasts. Coalition partners have been reluctant to identify the ships in question to maintain operational security. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, there are three frigates (HMS Chatham, HMS Marlborough and HMS Richmond) and three destroyers (HMS Liverpool, HMS Edinburgh and HMS York) which could be involved. HMS Chatham has previously been reported operating as a platform for broadcasts to Iraq. Commando Solo efforts doubled in March Airborne broadcasts were doubled a few days after the war began. Interestingly, this move was never mentioned in the Central Command press briefings, although for instance the leaflet count has been updated repeatedly. One reason behind keeping a low profile could be that news about a second aircraft would have underlined just how small the Commando Solo resources initially were. The number of Commando Solo aircraft involved in Iraq has never been published in briefings or press releases by the Pentagon and CENTCOM. Around March 25, a second Commando Solo unit began support missions from the Doha Airport. This aircraft transmits on 693 kHz mediumwave, on 4500 kHz shortwave and on 101.4 MHz FM. The broadcast schedule is from 18.00 to 23.00 Baghdad time. Leaflets including the new frequencies have not yet been published, but they exist and have already been dropped in the Northern and Western parts of Iraq, which is where the new Commando Solo operates. According to Mitchell, the second unit is temporary. "This won't be a permanent arrangement. For security reasons, I can't tell you how long two aircraft intend to operate in the Iraqi theater," he says. Officially, 683 kHz has been given as the mediumwave frequency for the second unit, and 690 kHz for the first, but as these split frequencies have never been reported heard by any DXer nor professional monitoring organization, both are likely typos. Only the crew members of Commando Solo would know the truth, but they were unavailable for comment. [Caption:] A member of 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW) prepares his EC-130E aircraft for take off at the Doha Airport in March 2003. (Photo by US Navy) "My understanding is that we're getting the Iraqis close enough to the actual frequency that they're easily picking up the signal. I'm unaware of the specifics of what hobbyists are reporting. I do know that we have ample evidence that the signal is being received and that Iraqis are tuning in," Mitchell says. The different platforms are operated independently by different PSYOP units, but all share the same programming material. Although they have been observed with different program feeds, this is not an indication of different content, but is only due to different timing of specific programs, Mitchell explains. By late March, Commando Solo aircraft were able to fly not only in Southern Iraq, but practically all over the country. However, despite the improved output and reach, some have expressed doubts about the effect of these transmissions. Iraqi resistance has been tougher than expected and much fewer troops have surrendered than anticipated before the war. While the true impact of Information Radio will not be revealed before the war is over, officials at CENTCOM are confident that PSYOP is working well. [Caption:] A member of 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW) prepares his EC-130E aircraft for take off at the Doha Airport in March 2003. (Photo by US Navy) "Listenership is currently determined using intelligence sources. Accordingly, I cannot reveal what we believe the listenership to be until such time that Iraq is secure and we can do actual polling after the fact," says Major Peter Mitchell. At least the Iraqi leadership has reacted to the broadcasts. Before the war began, President Saddam Hussein himself sought to ridicule the operation by making fun of leaflets as weapons. In an interview with US Central Command, Air Force Lt. Col. "Mike," a Commando Solo II detachment commander, said that "We call ourselves weapons of mass persuasion". When the war had lasted for two weeks, evidence was mounting that these weapons of mass persuasion have resulted if not in mass surrenders, at least in mass desertions. Not all of this has been achieved by only leaflets and radio broadcasts combined with traditional warfare; PSYOP tools also include email campaigns, telephone calls, messengers and TV transmissions, which were begun by Commando Solo in late March. This was announced by Brigadier General Vincent Brooks on March 28. PSYOP units also use loudspeakers to reach enemy troops up to a distance of nearly 2 kilometers. Finally, there are also weapons of mass persuasion which the Coalition does not admit having. Several clandestine radio operations such as Voice of Iraqi Liberation, discovered by DXing.info, and Radio Tikrit (see article: Monitoring Iraq: War of the Airwaves) broadcast practically the same message as Information Radio, but are presumably run by the US intelligence community. All together, the US has launched the broadest and the most sophisticated psychological warfare operation in modern history to oust Saddam Hussein. (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, ex-Qatar, DXing.info April 5 via DXLD) Of the frequencies mentioned, 11292 kHz looks like an interesting choice. A quick search on the Internet revealed that this frequency has in the past been used by Radio Iraq International - as well as by a so-called spy station broadcasting in Arabic, // 6645 or 6647 kHz. Anyone hearing the station on 11292 or other frequencies? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, DXing.info April 6 via DXLD) Some news on the leaflet front. Quite a few leaflet sets have been published, but not the one listing the most recent Commando Solo frequencies (4500 & 101.4). Here's the most recent one (in English) on the CENTCOM website related to Commando Solo [illustration]: Interestingly, only 9715 kHz is said to broadcast 24 hrs a day, although SOMS-B had been 24 hrs a day much earlier, from the start of Information Radio, on two other frequencies. Not exactly broadcast news, but this could also be of interest. If you hear something on 5102 kHz or 31.2260 MHz, it may be an Iraqi officer trying to get in touch with the US military. Iraqi forces willing to surrender to the Coalition have been told to use these frequencies to inform the Coalition about their intentions. Iraqi officers have been told to tell their name, location, unit size and combat vehicles. The frequencies and other contact information were given in a recent set of leaflets available at http://www.centcom.mil/galleries/leaflets/images/izd-8104.jpg (Mika Mäkeläinen, Finland, DXing.info April 7 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. As of today, beware of Radio Tashkent now on Information Radio's 9715 kHz, with Arabic at 1700-1730 & 1900-1930. From looking at Tashkent's previous summer schedules, I would expect them to be 9715 kHz 1200-1930 UTC. Regards, (Dave Kernick, UK, March 30, delayed until April 6 via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was heard only with very poor/indistinct reception on 909 kHz over the 24-hour reporting period. It was untraced between 2200 5 April and 0628 6 April. [later:] The official main radio station, Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service, has not been heard on the mediumwave frequency of 909 kHz since 1955 gmt on 6 April by BBC Monitoring. The radio has not been heard by BBC Monitoring on any other known frequencies. Associated Press reported at 1027 gmt on 7 April that Iraqi domestic radio had been on the air. Other sources: No other Iraqi state radio, TV or Internet publications can be traced. Source: BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 7 Apr 03 1100 gmt (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Re Good Morning Iraq 31 March: You can hear the BBC Radio 4 feature on Radio Nahrain (4 mins) if you go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listen/listen.shtml and use the "Search the Sound Archive" feature - put "Radio Nahrain" (without the quote marks) as the keywords, and "Good Morning Iraq" will come up in the search results as the eighth item in the list. Regards, (Dave Kernick, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Direct link is http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/radio4/today/listen/audiosearch.pl?ProgID=1049094547 but it cuts off before it is quite finished; anyway, some nice airchex (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1730 GMT 5 APR 03 | Text of report by Iraq-targeted Voice of the Liberation of Iraq on 5 April 1. Announcer: Huna Sawt Tahrir Al-Iraq - This is the voice of liberation of Iraq; voice of democracy, equality and liberation; voice of peace, tolerance and co-existence; voice of civil society; voice of various ethnic groups, religions and doctrines in Iraq. The newscaster introduces station, time and frequency of broadcast. 2. Music. 3. Announcer addresses Iraqis to tell them that at a time when Uday is hiding underground, his criminal cronies attack coalition forces through the cover of displaying white flags, surrender. The coalition forces are fighting to liberate you from Saddam's bloodthirsty regime. Saddam's supporters have no morale. They abducted Iraqi women. He says Iraqis are aware of these people's crimes. He urges Iraqis not to fight the forces which came to liberate them from Saddam's tyranny. He says the country will be liberated from the crimes of this barbaric man and Iraqis will live free in future Iraq. Then he announces: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 4. Music. 5. Spokesman for coalition forces Vincent Brooks says mosques are sacred sites and must not be used for military and objectives. This was an answer to a question on the dictatorial regime's forces hiding inside these sacred Shi'i sites in Al-Najaf to use them as military positions to attack coalition forces. Brooks says only evil forces can engage in such tactics; he says coalition forces will not respond to fire by supporters of the dictatorial regime hiding inside mosques and other religious sites. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 6. Saddam loses control over Iraqi people and time has come to liberate Iraqi people. The duty of coalition forces is to topple Saddam's regime and liberate Iraq. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 7. Music. 8. Indistinct 9. Iraqi television broadcast statement urges Iraqis to fight coalition forces; coaches of Iraqi soldiers heading to airport in southwest Baghdad; US sends reinforcements to secure airport and changed its name from Saddam International Airport to Baghdad International Airport. 10. Pentagon expresses astonishment about Saddam Husayn's call to Muslims for jihad against coalition forces despite his history on killing thousands of Muslims. 11. US forces say they found thousands of boxes containing unknown substances. 12. US State Department's official says US offered 4m dollars to Iraqi National Congress in order to be able to continue its TV programmes directed to Iraq. 13. US president to head for Northern Ireland next week to hold talks with British prime minister; US president's national security adviser rejects any important role for UN in post-war of Iraq. 14. US Central Command officials say Nida unit of the Republican Army suffered big losses. 15. Music. 16. Appeal: Dictator Saddam has exposed Iraqi people to danger and he producing weapons of mass destruction which he hid in urban areas, sites of worship and schools. This is another attempt to hide his illegal weapons from UN inspectors and from those who work to disarm the dictator and to provide a secure life to the Iraqi people. These attempts expose the Iraqi people to serious dangers and bring destruction and chronic diseases to Iraq and neighbouring countries. The coalition forces are aware of Saddam's coward strategy and will not stop the process of disarmament. Iraqi people, you need to move to guarantee your security, that of your families and the security of your neighbours and to inform members of the coalition forces of any suspicious activity or any information on these weapons. The coalition forces want to eliminate this danger from Iraq. So, move now and rescue Iraq. Voice of the Liberation of Iraq. 17. Receiving Iraqi opposition figures, British prime minister says US-British forces to live Iraq as soon as possible and there will be a transitional authority led by Iraqis. 18. Music. 18. Another appeal on Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, his burning of Kuwaiti oil wells and their effect on environment and health risks; Saddam destroyed Iraq and his people. 19. Music. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1730 gmt 5 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) 24 hours later, the next report showed a lot more music ** IRAQ [and non]. Says Iraq's Youth Radio was model for Information Radio content, says Info Radio is coming from Navy ships http://www.msnbc.com/news/891134.asp?0cv=KB20 Personal story of woman serving with British PSYOPS unit- http://www.caithness-courier.co.uk/news.asp?storyvar=3362 US passing out shortwave radio at checkpoints telling people to tune to VOA http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/6497567p-7441482c.html Item including bit of British station in Basra http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/095/nation/British_say_they_ll_stay_as_long_as_it_takes+.shtml More on the station: http://msnbc.com/news/895580.asp?cp1=1 Wash Post article mentioning that CIA set up clandestine radio stations against Saddam http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24073-2003Apr3.html (via Hans Johnson, April 6, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAQ. SHARING WITH SPECIAL FORCES: Yesterday the Monitor's Cameron Barr stumbled across some US Special Forces soldiers in northern Iraq. As the story he contributed to notes (see story), they didn't have much to do. "They were pretty laid back," Cameron says, "and they were as eager - in a low-key, Special Forces sort of way - for information from us as we were for details about them. I have to say, they got the better end of the deal. They didn't tell us a thing, but we briefed them about world opinion on the war, the results of a recent US-Kurdish operation against Islamist militants, and other less weighty topics. They were so starved for information that I asked if they had a shortwave radio. The guy who appeared to be the commander said he had one but couldn't raise any English news. So I gave him some BBC frequencies." (From Christian Science Monitor April 2nd via Hans Johnson, April 6, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** IRAQ. From a much longer story, THE FIGHT YET TO COME about plans to administer Iraq; Reilly, of course, served only recently as VOA Director, but didn`t get along with the staff: (gh) The man entrusted to broadcast the new order to Iraqis over television and radio airwaves will be Robert Reilly, who, as head of Voice of America, relayed information to the communist bloc during the Cold War. [sic] The Observer has also learnt the identity of the person who will be the new viceroy of Baghdad: Barbara Bodine, former ambassador to Yemen, known for a mixture of her expertise in the region and fervent hostility to a politically organised Muslim world. Baghdad will be one of three administrative areas, the others being territory around Mosul in the North and Basra in the South 'the same provinces with which the Turkish Ottomans ruled what is now Iraq for four centuries'. http://www.observer.co.uk/focus/story/0,6903,930591,00.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, April 7, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. See also PROPAGATION at end of this issue; and RECEIVER NEWS ** ITALY. RAI 2 is back on 846 kHz. Heard on 7 APR at 1700 UT (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia), AOR AR-7030 30 m Long Wire, hard-core-dx via DXLD) That was a major outlet put off for `electrosmog` problems (gh, DXLD) ** JORDAN. 11690, 1611-, Radio Jordan, Apr 5. English news about Iraq, and then about North Korea. Fair to good reception only, but at least they're in English. 1613 prolonged music bridge, and repeat of news headlines (about Iraq), weather forecast. TC for 15 past 7. Then ID for 'Radio Jordan 9? FM' (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Is English now ending at 1630 as usual during DST? (gh, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. LITHUANIA (NOT) 9925, 1637-, Radio Dat, Apr 5. I've been checking for them, and have heard nothing for quite some time. Their website http://www.datradio.com has not been updated either, and the RA link is down. Anyone have any information on what happened? Also I think Lithuania has leased out its transmitter to others at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. Today's Washington Post has an interesting story on monitoring broadcasts from North Korea as part of the search for insights into the workings of the Pyongyang regime. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37436-2003Apr5.html (Matt Francis, DC, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: STRAINING FOR THE REAL MESSAGE IN NORTH KOREAN BROADCASTS Monitors Weigh Pyongyang's Rhetoric to 'Filter Out the Facts' By Doug Struck, Washington Post Foreign Service Sunday, April 6, 2003; Page A19 SEOUL -- North Korea says peninsula on verge of nuclear war. . . . North Korea calls Bush "war monger." . . . North Korea threatens to make Seoul a "Sea of Fire." It's all in a day's work for Kim Tae Won. He listens in his headphones patiently, all day, to North Korea's propaganda broadcasts, sorting through the bluster for clues of real danger in the crisis over nuclear weapons. Kim works at one of a scattering of listening posts around the region – in his case, at the South Korean Ministry of Unification -- that constantly monitor North Korea's radio and television stations to watch for provocative moves during the Iraq war. The rhetoric has become more heated since last fall because of tensions over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Many analysts anticipated that the communist state, worried that it is next on the Bush administration's list for preemptive wars, would crank things up once the war in Iraq began. But so far, the airwaves have been relatively calm. The North Korean government has reported on the Iraq war with only a light peppering of editorial flavoring, even using some borrowed American television footage. It has not announced that it plans to restart a plutonium reprocessing plant or test a ballistic missile, the steps that Washington and other governments most fear. For the radio monitors, dramatic announcements are only part of their job. Much of what they do, day in and day out, is try to figure out from routine transmissions just what the reclusive government is trying to tell the world. They weigh the rhetoric, ponder the subtleties, and watch for new names or missing ones to determine changes in the regime's lineup. "It's psychological warfare," said Kang Seok Seung, who helps analyze the information Kim plucks from the broadcasts. "We have to filter out the facts." North Korea largely shuns avenues of normal communication with the outside world. The few foreign diplomats who live in Pyongyang say they get few meaningful messages from the government. There is no independent press inside the country, and the occasional foreign reporters allowed in rarely see anyone important in the government. So the official North Korean radio, television and press outlets become the main voice of the government. Listening for the message is like straining to hear a whisper amid shouts, say monitors like Kim, who has been doing the work for 26 years. The propaganda outlets boil with invective and threats. Some recent samples: "The whole Korean nation will not escape nuclear holocaust," North Korea warns. The "plot hatched" by the United States will "spark a nuclear crisis." A U.S. military exercise is moving "murderous equipment" and "entering a stage of real war." America is "escalating the danger of armed clashes." But even among the florid verbiage, there are useful signals. For example, the monitors pay attention to how foreign leaders such as President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are mentioned. Koizumi, for example, lately is "Japan's leader Koizumi." In Korean usage, that is lukewarm courtesy, a step down from the more respectful "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi" he got after a historic summit in Pyongyang in September. Analysts see that as a sign North Korea doesn't want to insult Koizumi too badly and still wants to keep options open for improved relations with Japan. Personal slanders against the South Korean president have disappeared since the North-South Korean summit in June 2000. Bush, by contrast, gets spitting-mad treatment. He is "warmonger Bush, imperialist Bush," or "that crazy Bush who likes war." It is turnabout for the scorn the Bush administration has heaped on North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, whom Bush admits he "loathes." The monitors pay attention to who says what and when on the propaganda channels. Criticism that simply quotes foreign sources gets the least attention. Statements from a Foreign Ministry spokesman are given sharp attention, as are the editorials in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. The U.S. and North Korean governments both are adept in the language of signals. According to a knowledgeable U.S. source, the Bush administration recently sent indirect word to North Korea suggesting it make a gesture by broadcasting a formal statement of appreciation for 40,000 tons of food aid donated by the United States. The North Korean government took a grudging half-step: It announced the food aid in a two-sentence item on its broadcast -- without any public thanks -- and sent word through private channels that it appreciated the food. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul monitors the broadcasts around the clock, as do other governments. Several ministries in South Korea -- the ministries of unification, defense and information, and even the police -- do similar monitoring. Ironically, what they do is illegal for private citizens in South Korea. Despite budding democracy here, listening to North Korean radio still is a violation of the National Security Law. The ministries and media companies, like the South Korean wire service Yonhap, have to have special permission. "We listen for North Korea's demands and conditions on their political agenda," said Kang Jin Wook, a monitor and reporter at Yonhap. Monitors say they know those on the speaking end of the microphone mean what they say, according to Tadahiro Motomura, vice president of Radiopress Inc., a company that is an outgrowth of the radio room in Japan's Foreign Ministry that listened to foreign broadcasts for Japanese intelligence during World War II. "As far as we know, there is no live broadcast in North Korea. Everything is prerecorded and checked," he said. "I've never heard a North Korean commentator make a mistake. There's an old story that a broadcaster once made a mistake. He was never heard from again." (via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 4085, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, Salah al-Din near Mosul, Iraq. While the Kurdistan Democratic Front is approaching Mosul supported by U.S. Special Forces, I heard for the first time a message in English via this clandestine. On Apr 05 at 2000-2022 there was as usual a long proclamation against Saddam Hussein in Arabic. This was followed by military band music and an eight minutes long, but badly modulated message in U.S. English about the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, instructions to Iraqis on how to safeguard themselves and not provoke fatal incidents at Coalition checkpoints, and requirement that prisoners of war should be treated according to the Geneva Conventions. After Kurdish music the station signed off 2033. 44443. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, 20 to 25 minutes past the hours is the favourite time for English there (gh, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. BRITISH RADIO DJ A FAVORITE WITH BAGHDAD-BOUND April 6, 2003 BY SARAH DONALDSON On the outskirts of a vast American army camp near Kuwait City sits a metal cabin that houses a makeshift radio station. Every day, its small staff transmits a morale-nourishing mixture of familiar pop music, news, sports and dedication messages to thousands of soldiers currently deployed in the Gulf. One disc jockey -- breakfast show host Jonathan Bennett -- is gaining a cult following among the camp's GIs. Often, soldiers will knock on the studio door and thank him for playing a song which, for a moment, transported them away from the heat and the sand and back to the familiar comforts of home--perhaps Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run,'' or something by Garth Brooks. But Bennett is no fast-talking, ''Good Morning Vietnam''-style U.S. army jock. He's a 47-year-old Brit from a London suburb. Bennett is in Kuwait to run BFBS Middle East, a temporary branch of the British Forces Broadcasting Service's international radio network. He has worked for BFBS for 21 years, including a stint in Kuwait during the last Gulf conflict, but he's finding this war "the most difficult job" of his life. His audience is more wide-ranging than ever, partly due to an American "policy change", which means they have not set up a Gulf radio station as they did in 1991. This has led to many U.S. troops tuning into British radio rather than the American service, which is broadcast from outside the region. Secondly, improvements in mobile transmission technology mean that Bennett and his colleagues are broadcasting right to the front line. "The guys can actually tune in while they are fighting if they want," says Bennett. "We've got transmitters further forward than any other time since the Second World War. When I go on the breakfast show in the morning, I'm talking to guys who are resting having come off the front line." Bennett says that at first he didn't know whether to be laid-back or serious. "But, in the end, you just read dedications as straight and as sincerely as possible and have as much of a laugh as you can to take their minds of it." Popular song requests include The Animals' 1965 hit "We Gotta Get Out of this Place" and Thin Lizzy's 1976 rocker, "The Boys are Back in Town.'' Last week, an armored unit in the Iraqi desert mocked a battalion further away from the action with D:Ream's 1993 "Things Can Only Get Better.'' Bennett has no doubt that the music he plays provides a vital emotional outlet for the troops. "As the guys at the front line will tell you, war is nine parts waiting, one part fighting. While they're waiting, the radio can take their minds off things." Daily Telegraph http://www.suntimes.com/output/iraq/cst-nws-radio06.html 73 (via Kim Elliott, Jilly Dybka, Mike Terry, DXLD) Yes, that does raise a troublesome question: why isnt`t AFRTS active on the ground over there with local if temporary outlets?? (gh, DXLD) 'AFN MUSIC WAS LIKE A DRUG FOR US' Six decades of U.S. military radio have left a lasting impact on countries where it has been broadcast --- By Jeremy Herron http://makeashorterlink.com/?E25112B14 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** LESOTHO. 4800, R. Lesotho, 0358-0455 03/30. Vernacular. Booming signal at tunein with Afropops. IS (wind-instruments tones, Balafon?) at 0403, OM with drop in audio reading news until 0409. Lite music, then different OM at 0413, audio back up to prior level, with "animated, rising /falling" talks (religious?) with breaks for choral-style and lite Afropop music. Phone-in program at 0430 with breaks for more choral/lite music. Signal gradually faded under QRN until unusable at 0455 (Scott Barbour, Jr., NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. RTM, VOICE OF MALAYSIA AND VOICE OF ISLAM - NEW SCHEDULES FOR A03 4845 24-hrs RTM Kajang Tamil domestic 4895 2200-0100 RTM Kuching domestic 4895 0800-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 5030 2200-0000 RTM Kuching domestic 5030 1000-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 5965 24-hrs RTM Kajang Malay domestic 5980 2200-1500 RTM Kotakinabalu domestic 6025 0200-1400 RTM Kajang domestic Malay and dialects domestic 6025 1400-1700 VOI Kajang Malay As 6050 2200-1500 RTM Sibu domestic 6060 0400-1500 RTM Miri domestic 6100 1300-1530 VOM Kajang Thai, Burmese As 6175 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English Indonesia 6175 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English Indonesia 6175 0900-1400 VOM Kajang Indonesian 6175 1700-1900 VOM Kajang Indonesian 7130 0400-0600 RTM Kuching domestic 7270 0800-1500 RTM Kuching domestic 7295 24-hrs RTM Kajang English domestic 9750 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English As 9750 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English As 9750 0900-1400 VOM Kajang Indonesian 9750 1700-1900 VOM Kajang Malay 11885 1030-1230 VOM Kajang Mandarin 15295 0300-0700 VOI Kajang English Au NZ 15295 0700-0830 VOM Kajang English Au NZ 15295 1530-1900 VOM Kajang Arabic ME Footnotes: 1. 9665 is registered with the ITU with 250 kW from Kajang 0300-1230 to Au and NZ, as an alternative frequency to 15295 2. Operating times and days for domestic services from Kuching, Sibu and Miri are variable 3. Voice of Islam English is listed 0300-0600 but may be extended to 0700 on some days 4. Kuching 4895 and 5030 are subject to constant disruption due to technical problems and may be discontinued (EDXP World Broadcast Magazine March 30, http://edxp.org used by permission, via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. FORM 1090: So now So Cal has yet one more Sports station, XEPRS/1090, which is targeting the San Diego market specifically. So what? -- Except, it sure was good to hear the voice of an old friend, Wolfman Jack, during that first weekend leading up to their recent debut. 1090 ran a tape loop that weekend, mostly of Sports actualities, et al, but they did give a nod to the heritage of the frequency, and it's most listened to resident, the Wolf...who held court each weeknight at 10PM (right after Reverend Ike) on what was then XERB/1090, circa 1965-1971. Of course, some of us remember hearing the wolf prior to the 1090 engagement, on XERF/1570, out of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. Next time you find yourself there, jump across the Rio Grande to Del Río, Texas, and check out the new Museum dedicated to the memory of Wolfman Jack (source? via Greg Hardison, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. Update of a report I sent to http://www.radiolondon.co.uk a few months ago: In 1999, Howie Castle took Webmasters Chris and Mary across the Mexican border from California, to pay homage to the original site where Wolfman Jack had once broadcast from XERB. Now a shopping plaza, the former XERB site contains a 'mini-mast' (left) (see web site) and a plaque commemorating the Wolfman and the station. Now the Texan town of Del Rio "The Best of the Border - where Old Mexico meets the New West" - is to erect a statue to honour the Wolfman, one of America's best-loved DJs, who died in 1995.The howling hero's rock 'n' roll radio career was launched via the Mexican 'border-blaster' stations. Locals have already had the chance to preview a miniature version of the statue, by sculptor Michael Maiden, which was unveiled during a recent music festival held in honour of the Wolfman. The full-sized sculpture will be unveiled on October 31st - a date known appropriately in the US as 'howl-lowe'en'. Wolfman Jack website here: http://www.wolfmanjack.com/ Del Rio Chamber of Commerce site here: http://www.wolfmanjack.com/ (Mike Terry, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Informándoles que en el mes pasado, XHMVS 102.5 Best FM, es la primera estación en la ciudad de México en transmitir una señal RDS (Radio Data System). El texto que envía es "BEST FM". Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, April 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) {There ought to be a law requiring Spanish RDS in Mexico!} ** MOROCCO. This morning (at 0428) heard Radio Morocco with excellent signal on 11920 kHz. News on the half-hour, followed by an interesting ID at 0435: "Idhaat ul-mamlyakat il-Maghribiya min Tanjer". Strange, it used to go from Rabat, the capital. Is it a local studio relayed on the waves of country's external service? Does anybody know whether other domestic programs (Casablanca, Marrakech, etc.) can be heard in SW? WRTH says nothing about it. 73, (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, April 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PALAU [and non]. The High Adventure Ministries website lists the following stations on their network: - "A transmission site in Germany" (i.e. Juelich) for Europe, Middle East, Asia - "A shortwave facility just north of Los Angeles, California" (i.e. KVOH) - An FM station in Liberia (Monrovia) - "We are currently building a new transmission site in Northern Nigeria where we will broadcast FM, AM and shortwave, eventually reaching most of the continent of Africa." No mention at all of Palau. Does anybody know something about the current status of The Station Formerly Known as KHBN (now something T88..) apart from being used for Radio Free Asia? They once sent me a nice QSL with a nice stamp, it would be nice if there still were some service. 73, -- (Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Well, this appears in the current client listing of George Jacobs, http://www.gjainc.com --- 9955.0 KHBN PALAU 0800-1700 S ASIA 50.0 280 9955.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 SE ASIA 50.0 280 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1700 CHINA 80.0 318 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 CHINA 80.0 318 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1600 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 2100-2400 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 12160.0 KHBN PALAU 1000-1600 S ASIA 50.0 270 13840.0 KHBN PALAU 1100-1600 S ASIA 50.0 270 15725.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1100 S ASIA 50.0 270 KHBN is licensed by the Govt. of Palau as T8BZ The question is whether any or all of the above refers to non-RFA programming, as I suspect it does. HA`s Nigerian plans are long ago abandoned, replaced by a joint venture with WJIE in Liberia, supposedly testing that ex-Lebanon transmitter already on 11515. Has anyone heard it? (Glenn Hauser, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5728.43 --- see UNIDENTIFIED ** PERU. 3329.66, Ondas del Huallaga, 0950 with music interrupted by om ID and CHU making its presence felt. 4790, Radio Atlántida, 1102 hyper announcer, exotic music, ID 1105 4750.10, Radio San Francisco, Solana 1020 several ID's Icom R75, NRD 535D modified, Scotka Noise Reducing Antenna Mosquito ~ News http://uk.geocities.com/dxsf/ Mosquito ~ Radio http://uk.geocities.com/dxsf/1959S38.html (R L C Wilkner, FL, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONTINUED as DXLD 3-060! |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-058, April 5, 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/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early 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 1176: RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 7445 [subject to pre-emption] WWCR: Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0445 on 7415 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0600, M-F 1200 on 7490 WRN: Europe Sun 0430, N. America Sun 1400 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/wor1176.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1176.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html [above now also has upcoming schedule effective April 6] http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS, A-03 revision as of April 3: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html BDXC DX PROGRAMME GUIDE British DX Club web site updates 5 April 2003: The Guide to DX Programmes has now been updated for the summer schedule period on the club web site. Updating is ongoing so there may be further amendements during the next few days to take account of A03 schedule changes. (click on Article Index for the DX programme guide) [specifically:] http://www.users.waitrose.com/~bdxc/dxprog.htm The DX Diary page has also been updated today. http://www.bdxc.org.uk UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL In order to read a few issues of the 'Iraqi Media Behavior'-notes by BBCM please visit Sennitt's RN Media Network-pages or read Hauser's DXL-Digest. Both present a few of these summaries in their publications. And of course a lot other interesting material is there, too. Most interesting are even the added personal comments of both editors. Both publications are up-to-date with recent events and are highly recommended. Their view esp. on Iraq is not focused on Clandestine Radio but on the whole media scene (M. Schöch, Mar 31, 2003 in CRW) DXLD : http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html RNMN : http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq030319.html ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN SOUTHWEST PROVINCE GETS RADIO TRANSMITTER | Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 4 April A radio transmitter device has been inaugurated in Nimruz Province by the Afghan information and culture minister, during a ceremony held there. According to a report by an [Iranian] Dari radio correspondent from Kabul, this Italian-made device was donated by France to the Afghan government. This 1 kilo-watt device can cover a range of 70 kilometres and, according to Afghan engineers, in addition to Nimruz town it can provide services to a further four districts of the province, and Iran-based Afghan refugees living on the Iranian border areas close to Nimruz can also receive programmes from the radio. According to this report, the Afghan government, given its media policies, intends to provide the centres of all provinces with radio transmitter devices. Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0330 gmt 4 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? ** ANGOLA. 7217.3, R. Nacional de Angola, Luanda. 2100 ID in English "This is Luanda, International Service of Angolan National Radio". News and economics, fair 14/3 (Leigh Morris, Coorong SA DXpedition, April ADXN via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. I noticed there was no ABC on 2310 in HFCC - they were there last time (Wayne Bastow, ARDXC via DXLD) Interesting. No Radio Australia listings in it (Ian Johnson, ARDXC via DXLD) Hi Ian, You will find "some" entries for RA under the station title ABC-Radio Australia, but interesting that Shepparton & Brandon TX sites not found there. Regards (Ian Baxter from further south, ibid.) I grabbed it on the 2nd - the first AUS station shows up on 7180 kHz at Darwin. First ABC is on 9720 via SNG. Maybe they've updated it since then (Wayne Bastow, ibid.) See below for discussion of the incomplete and censored HFCC (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. In this week 7 to 12 April, RA Shepparton will be doing some tests and performing benchmarking tests on the J Group of antennas. Anywhere between 2200 and 0600 UT you might hear on 9475 9500 11660 and 6080 regular programming when not sked. This will again occur between June and August. Some of the recent problems of harmonics, etc., hopefully will be knocked over (Johno Wright, April 4, ARDXC via DXLD) J Group antennas? Mmm. What --- new Curtin Arrays or Rhombics at the site? I haven't been past the Lemnos (Shepparton) site during the day for a few months. Sounds like new construction (Ian Baxter, near Shepparton, ibid.) ** AUSTRALIA [?]. Don Rhodes of Yarra Glen, Vic, a long time ARDXC member and experienced DXer, in a recent email reports: ``I have noticed a marked increase in another type of QRM on many of the bands, like a machine gun, and moves about the bands at will. Sometimes covers many khz's. Very strong signals and can completely override even strong cochannel signals; all this since the run up to the middle east war.`` One would wonder if this could be an over the horizon radar type of operation (April ADXN via DXLD) Could this be Jindalee OTH radar in Australia itself, as reported activated in last issue? (gh, DXLD) Don, the Jindalee system, according to the ACA data base has transmitting sites at Laverton and Carnarvon; it may be worthwhile checking these if to see if the signals you mention tally with their transmit frequencies. I have not worked out just what the mode is, but the transmit power listed is quite high, Carnarvon has 23 frequencies from 5 to 21 MHz (there are higher) but there are no 15, 17 or 18 MHz frequencies. I am afraid I have no information from other sources about these OTH radar systems (Allen Fountain, April ADXN Utility ed., via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. ROI via short wave Europe / North Africa 0400 - 2230 6155 0400 - 1800 13730 1800 - 2230 5945 North America East 0100 - 0200 9870 West* 1500 - 1600 15515 * Relais Sackville Latin America 0000 - 0100 9870 2300 - 2400 9870 13730 Middle East 0500 - 0600 17870 Asia & Australia 1200 - 1300 21780 (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, April 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) And that`s all? Checked 15515 at 1530 on April 5 and it continued in German when English used to appear; not especially good signal. At previous seasonal shifts, it took them a while to straighten out the feeds to get the English broadcast on Sackville, but not on Moosbrunn; not sure if they are still trying to do that (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Emissora reativada, 4895 05/04 0845-0905 Rádio Baré, Manaus-AM, musical, locutor anunciando a nova programação em ondas tropicais, divulgação do telefone 2344-0161, código 92 para informes de escuta, ID às 0858 " ZYF 270, Rádio Baré, transmitindo em ondas tropicais na freqüência de 4895 kHz em 60 metros, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Uma nova programação, fique conosco, conversando a gente se entende" 35443 73 (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos, SP, Sony 7600 GR, antena longwire 25 metros, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Schedule for Radio Bulgaria's DX programs in A-03: Bulgarian 1345-1400 Sun 1224 Balk 11700 WeEu 15700 WeEu 1945-2000 Sun 7200 WeEu 7400 ME English 2138-2200 Fri 5800 WeEu 7500 WeEu 2338-2400 Fri 9400 NoAm 11900 NoAm 0238-0300 Sat 9400 NoAm 11900 NoAm 0638-0700 Sun 11600 WeEu 13600 WeEu 1138-1200 Sun 11700 WeEu 15700 WeEu German 1930-1940 Thu 5800 WeEu 7500 WeEu 0500-0510 Fri deleted 1920-1930 Sat 5800 WeEu 7500 WeEu French 2039-2050 Tue 5800 WeEu 7500 WeEu 0139-0150 Wed 9400 NoAm 11900 NoAm 2039-2050 Sun 5800 WeEu 7500 WeEu 0139-0150 Mon 9400 NoAm 11900 NoAm [Suns and Mons irregular] Russian 1445-1500 Sat 1224 Balk 7500 EaEu 9500 CeAs 13600 EaEu 1615-1630 Sat 7500 EaEu 9500 EaEu 1845-1900 Sat 7500 EaEu 9900 EaEu 2345-2400 Sat 11700 CeAs 0345-0400 Sun 1224 Balk 7500 EaEu 9500 EaEu 0515-0530 Sun + Mon 7500 EaEu 9500 EaEu 1045-1100 Sun + Wed 11600 EaEu 13600 EaEu Spanish 1649-1654 Sun 15700 SoEu 17500 SoEu 2118-2123 Sun 11800 SoEu 13800 SoEu 2318-2323 Sun 9500 SoAm 11600 SoAm 0118-0123 Mon 9500 SoAm 9700 CeAm 11600 SoAm (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Mar 26, BC-DX April 3 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CAB DISAPPOINTED BY COPYRIGHT BOARD`S DECISION ON REPRODUCTION OF MUSICAL WORKS For Immediate Release Commercial radio should not be penalized for embracing new technology Ottawa, April 1, 2003, – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) expressed its disappointment over the recent ruling by the Copyright Board of Canada on royalties payable for the reproduction of musical works. The ruling requires commercial radio stations to pay for making reproductions of music for broadcast purposes, such as from a CD to the radio station`s computer system. The impact of this new tariff is estimated at approximately $6.5 million annually, retroactive to 2001. This is an additional new payment for radio stations. ``We are disappointed by this decision,`` said Glenn O`Farrell, CAB President and CEO.`` While we believe that all creators are entitled to fair compensation for their work, we believe that this tariff is unfair, as there is no economic value resulting from transfer of media and no royalties should be paid for it. Radio broadcasters are simply doing their jobs, getting music to Canadians. They are employing emerging efficient technology. They should not be penalized for that.`` In April 2001, the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) and the Society for Reproduction Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers in Canada (SODRAC) filed proposed tariffs for the reproduction in Canada of musical works by commercial radio stations. ``What we do need is the Government to uphold its commitment to amend the Copyright Act to create a meaningful and effective broadcaster exemption, protecting the industry from technology taxes,`` added O`Farrell. The CAB is in the process of reviewing the decision and will determine if it will appeal the decision at a later date. The CAB is the national voice of Canada`s private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, networks, specialty and pay, and pay- per-view services. -30- For additional information, please contact: Kelly Beaton, Vice-President, Communications (613) 233-4035 ext. 351 kbeaton@cab-acr.ca Julien Lavoie, Communications Manager, (613) 233-4035 ext. 331 jlavoie@cab-acr.ca (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS. 6715U, Full Gospel Church, Las Palmas. 2230 o/m with Gospel program in Korean. Surprising good for only 100 watts, 15/3 (Leigh Morris, Coorong SA DXpedition, April ADXN via DXLD) ** CHINA. CRI A-03, English to N. America/Caribbean 2300-0000...13680,5990 0100-0200...9580, 9790 0300-0400...9690, 9790 0400-0600...9755, 9560 1300-1400...9570 1300-1500...17720, 7405 After News and special reports (special reports air each weekday), regular features on the English Service (all days UT) Monday People in the Know Tuesday Biz China Wednesday China Horizons Thursday Voices From Other Lands Friday Life in China Saturday Global Review, Listeners Garden Sunday Report From Developing Countries, In the Spotlight (from updated http://pw2.netcom.com/~jleq/cri1_skedfreq.htm James Richard LeQuesne, a.k.a. jleq, swprograms via DXLD) As already reported here, 17720 has been missing; the 0400-0600 on 9560 and another frequency has never really been the case; one is at 0400-0500 yearound from Guiana, has been 9730 but now really 9755? And the 9560 from Canada, 0500-0600 during ST, 0400-0500 during DST (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. Local people are protesting at new radio masts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1421365.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1421689.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1422532.stm (via BC-DX, April 3, 2003 via DXLD) These stories date from 4 July 2001 ** DENMARK: Glenn - there's no need to put a question mark after DENMARK (as you did in DXLD 3-057)! World Music Radio (WMR) is indeed planning to return to the air from transmitters in Denmark. Also I don't understand your reference to IRRS Italy. We have no connection to this station. They are on 5780 and not 5790. Besides - I don't think we will be using 5790 after all - because it suffers from severe splatter from powerful Radio Bulgaria on 5800 kHz. I'm afraid I can't give you more details right now about the relaunch of WMR - except that test transmissions (AM only) hopefully are due within a few weeks (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. 4777, Radio Gabon, Libreville, found today 2 Apr 1836-1901 (when they abruptly shut the transmitter off) airing newscast in French followed by African songs 1850 and program in vernacular. It's been ages since I last caught Gabon using this particular QRG. 55433. I fear it's some sort of an erratic use of this old outlet, yet hope I'm wrong! (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX April 3 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Megaradio closed down today at 1100; last played song was Linkin Park's In the End, followed by a countdown. At 1100 sharp a white noise was put on the feed circuit to provide an effect until the satellite output finally went dark at about 1105. Most if not all mediumwave transmitters were switched off between 1100 and 1102. The on-air staff was notified about the deadline not earlier than 0900. My sympathy is with them. Well, I noted the silence at 1200 when doing a bandscan at Hof. Actually it was my intention to use the opportunity of a business trip to take a look at the Bayerischer Rundfunk transmitter at Hof, but finally the train schedule situation prevented me from walking out to the station. And so 1431 had around 1800 now Kopani with Voice of Russia programming and now, at 1915, with Kopani off, some other faint signal. 1575 has Italy instead of the Burg powerhouse. No more high power from Wilsdruff, Wöbbelin and away from low power DRM and utility, also Burg off and silent altogether. For me personally not exactly reasons for being happy (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NDR website, 75 years of radio in Northern Germany, sub pages of technic in 1920, 1930, 1946, 1950, 1960, 1978, and 1992 http://www.ndr.de/ndr/derndr/technik/75jahreradio/19201929.html (Wolfgang Reisnwdl, A-DX Apr 1 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. According to an announcement in the German service of Deutsche Welle heard on 19 March, the supplementary services ("Zusatzversorgung") on SW will be discontinued on 30 March 2003. Only the 4-hour primary services to the various target areas will be maintained. Cost reductions were mentioned as reason for this change. The new DW freq schedule for the period A-03 confirms this change. It can be downloaded at http://www.dw-world.de/dwelle/cda/detail/dwelle.cda.detail.download/0,3830,435653_51479,00.pdf All the morning and noon transmissions in German to overseas areas are gone. This means significant reductions of transmitting hours at the Antigua, Kigali and Trincomalee relay stations. Personally, I regret this change very much. I will miss DW's news service in the morning hours during my overseas trips. In some cases, it might be possible to receive backlobe radiations of primary services to other areas as a replacement. An example is 17845 kHz (directed to Asia), which was received well in South America from 1000 to 1400 UT in January (Dr. Uli Onken DK2GO, BC-DX Mar 29 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. A03 schedule of the RUV news relays in Icelandic: To Europe: 1215-1300 on 15775, 1755-1825 on 13865; To North America: 1410-1440 & 1835-1905 on 15775, 2300-2335 on 13865. The transmissions are provided by Iceland Telecom and are in AM-compatible A3A mode (USB-6dB). (RUV info via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 10330, AIR, 0045, April 5, Strong signal with 10 db over s9 peaks was made possible by nice greyline path between India and Eastern U.S. Lots of aurorl flutter. Subcontinental music with lady announcer. This is a domestic outlet of All India Radio, but I'm not sure which transmitter site (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As per a recent DXLD report from Jose Jacob, 10330 is no longer multi-site, but only Bangalore 500 kW (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. All India Radio : External Services Language Wise --- A 2003 Prepared by Jose Jacob, vu2jos@yahoo.co.in Updated on 2 April 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language UTC KHz Target Area --------------------------------------------------------------------- Arabic 0430-0530 11730 13620 15770 17845 West Asia 1730-1945 9910 13620 ,, Baluchi 1500-1600 1071 9620 11585 Pakistan Bengali 0300-0430 594 Bangladesh 0800-1100 594 ,, 1445-1515 1134 ,, 1600-1730 1134 ,, Burmese 0100-0130 9950 11870 13630 Myanmar 1215-1315 11620 11710 15415 ,, Chinese 1145-1315 11840 15795 17705 NE Asia Dari 0300-0345 9845 9910 11735 13620 Afghanistan 1315-1415 7255 9910 ,, English 1000-1100 1053 15260 Sri Lanka ,, 13695 15020 15410 17800 NE Asia ,, 13695 15020 17510 17895 Australia NZ 1330-1500 9690 13710 SE Asia 1745-1945 7410 9950 11620 W. Europe ,, 11935 15075 17670 E. Africa ,, 9445 13605 15155 W. NW Africa 2045-2230 7410 9445 9950 11620 W. Europe ,, 9575 9910 11620 11715 Australia NZ 2245-0045 9705 9950 11620 13605 NE E SE Asia French 1945-2030 9910 13605 13620 W. NW Africa Gujarati 0415-0430 15075 15185 17715 E. Africa 1515-1600 11620 15175 ,, Hindi 0315-0415 11840 13695 15075 West Asia ,, 15075 15185 17715 E. Africa 0430-0530 15075 15185 17715 ,, 1615-1730 7410 12025 13770 West Asia ,, 9950 17670 E. Africa 1945-2045 7410 9950 11620 W. Europe 2300-2400 9910 11740 13795 SE Asia Indonesian 0845-0915 15770 17510 SE Asia Kannada 0215-0300 11985 15075 West Asia Malayalam 1730-1830 7115 12025 West Asia Nepali 0130-0230 594 3945 6045 7250 9810 Nepal 0700-0800 7250 9595 11850 ,, 1330-1430 1134 3945 6045 7410 11775 ,, Persian 0400-0430 11730 13620 15770 17845 West Asia 1615-1730 7115 9910 ,, Punjabi 0800-0830 702 Pakistan 1230-1430 702 ,, Pushtu 0215-0300 9845 9910 11735 13620 Afghanistan 1415-1530 7255 9910 ,, Russian 1615-1715 11620 15140 E. Europe Saraiki 1130-1200 702 Pakistan Sindhi 0100-0200 1071 5990 7125 9635 ,, 1230-1500 1071 9620 11585 ,, Sinhala 0045-0115 1053 11985 Sri Lanka 1300-1500 1053 9820 15050 ,, Swahali 1515-1615 9950 17670 E. Africa Tamil 0000-0045 9910 11740 13795 SE Asia ,, 1053 4790 9835 11985 Sri Lanka 0115-0330 1053 ,, 1100-1300 1053 ,, 1115-1215 15050 17860 ,, ,, 13695 15770 17810 SE Asia 1500-1530 1053 Sri Lanka Telegu 1215-1245 13695 15770 17810 SE Asia Thai 1115-1200 13645 15410 17740 SE Asia Tibetan 0130-0200 9565 11900 13700 Tibet 1215-1330 1134 7410 9575 11775 ,, Urdu 0015-0100 1071 Pakistan 0015-0430 702 6155 9595 ,, 0100-0430 11620 ,, 0200-0430 1071 ,, 0530-0600 11730 13620 17845(Haj Season) Saudi Arabia 0830-1130 702 1071 7250 9595 11620 Pakistan 1430-1735 3945 ,, 1430-1930 702 3945 4860 6045 ,, 1600-1930 1071 ,, --------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSMITTER SITES USED FOR EXTERNAL SERVICES --------------------------------------------------------------------- KHZ Code Location KW --------------------------------------------------------------------- SW A Aligarh 250 SW B Bangalore (Doddaballapur) 500 594 1134 C Chinsurah (near Kolkatta) 1000 4790 Ch Chennai (Madras) 100 3945 7250 G Gorakhpur 50 702 J Jalandhar 200 SW Kh Khampur (Delhi) 100,250 SW Ki Kingsway (Delhi) 50,100 11935 M Mumbai (Bombay) 100 SW P Panaji [GOA] 250 1071 R Rajkot 1000 1053 T Tuticorin 200 --------------------------------------------------------------------- All India Radio : External Services Time Wise – A 2003 Prepared by Jose Jacob, vu2jos@yahoo.co.in Updated on 2 April 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------- UTC Language kHz (Transmitter site) Target Area --------------------------------------------------------------------- 0000-0045 Tamil 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) SE Asia 0000-0045 ,, 1053(T) 4790(Ch) 9835(Ki) 11985 Sri Lanka 0015-0100 Urdu 1071 (R) Pakistan 0015-0430 ,, 702(J) 6155(Ki) 9595 ,, 0045-0115 Sinhala 1053(T) 11985 Sri Lanka 0100-0130 Burmese 9950(Ki) 11870 13630(B) Myanmar 0100-0200 Sindhi 1071(R) 5990(P) 7125 9635 Pakistan 0100-0430 Urdu 11620(B) ,, 0115-0330 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 0130-0200 Tibetan 9565 11900 13700(B) Tibet 0130-0230 Nepali 594(C) 3945(G) 6045 7250(P) 9810(A) Nepal 0200-0430 Urdu 1071(R) Pakistan 0215-0300 Kannada 11985(B) 15075(B) West Asia 0215-0300 Pushtu 9845 9910 11735 13620(B) Pakistan, Afghanistan 0300-0345 Dari 9845 9910 11735 13620(B) Afghanistan 0300-0430 Bengali 594(C) Bangladesh 0315-0415 Hindi 11840(P) 13695(B) 15075(B) West Asia ,, ,, 15075 15185 17715 E.Af., Mauritius 0400-0430 Persian 11730 13620(B) 15770 17845 Iran 0415-0430 Gujarati 15075 15185 17715 E.Af., Mauritius 0430-0530 Hindi 15075 15185 17715 ,, ,, Arabic 11730 13620(B) 15770 17845 West Asia 0530-0600 Urdu 11730 13620(B) 17845 (Haj Season) Saudi Arabia 0700-0800 Nepali 7250(G) 9595(Ki) 11850(Kh) Nepal 0800-0830 Punjabi 702(J) Pakistan 0800-1100 Bengali 594(C) Bangladesh 0830-1130 Urdu 702(J) 1071(R) 7250(G) 9595(Ki) 11620(Kh) Pakistan 0845-0945 Indonesian 15770(A) 17510(A) SE Asia 1000-1100 English 1053(T) 15260 Sri Lanka ,, ,, 13695(B) 15020(A) 15410(Kh) 17800 NE Asia ,, ,, 13695(B) 15020(A) 17510 17895 Australia, NZ 1100-1300 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 1115-1215 ,, 15050 17860 ,, ,, ,, 13695(B) 15770(A) 17810(P) SE Asia 1115-1200 Thai 13645(B) 15410(P) 17740 ,, 1130-1200 Saraiki 702(J) Pakistan 1145-1315 Chinese 11840 15795 17705(B) (Cantonese/Kuoyu) NE Asia 1215-1245 Telugu 13695(B) 15770(A) 17810(P) SE Asia 1215-1315 Burmese 11620(Kh) 11710 15415 Myanmar 1215-1330 Tibetan 1134(C) 7410 9575 11775(P) Tibet 1230-1430 Punjabi 702(J) Pakistan 1230-1500 Sindhi 1071(R) 9620 11585(B) ,, 1300-1500 Sinhala 1053(T) 9820(P) 15050 Sri Lanka 1315-1415 Dari 7255(A) 9910(A) Afghanistan 1330-1430 Nepali 1134(C) 3945(G) 6045(Kh) 7410 11775(P) Nepal 1330-1500 English 9690(Kh) 13710(B) SE Asia 1415-1530 Pushtu 7255(A) 9910(A) Afghanistan, Pakistan 1430-1735 Urdu 3945(G) Pakistan 1430-1930 ,, 702(J) 4860(Ki) 6045(Kh) ,, 1445-1515 Bengali 1134(C) Bangladesh 1500-1530 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 1500-1600 Baluchi 1071(R) 9620 11585(B) Pakistan 1515-1600 Gujarati 11620(B) 15175(B) E.Af., Mauritius 1515-1615 Swahili 9950(D) 17670 E. Africa 1600-1730 Bengali 1134(C) Bangladesh 1600-1930 Urdu 1071(R) Pakistan 1615-1715 Russian 11620 15140(B) E.Europe 1615-1730 Hindi 7410(A) 12025(P) 13770(B) West Asia ,, ,, 9950(D) 15075 17670 E.Af., Mauritius 1615-1730 Persian 7115(P) 9910(A) Iran 1730-1830 Malayalam 7115(P) 12025(P) West Asia 1730-1945 Arabic 9910(A) 13620(B) ,, 1745-1945 English 7410(D) 9950(D) 11620(B) W.Europe ,, ,, 11935(M) 15075 17670(A) E.Africa ,, ,, 9445 13605(B) 15155 W & NW Africa 1945-2030 French 9910(A) 13605(B) 13620(B) ,, 1945-2045 Hindi 7410(D) 9950(D) 11620 UK & W.Europe 2045-2230 English 7410(D) 9445 9950 11620 ,, ,, ,, 9575(P) 9910(A) 11620 11715 Australia, NZ 2245-0045 ,, 9705(P) 11620 13605(B) E & SE Asia ,, ,, 9950(Kh) 11620(B) 13605(B) NE Asia 2300-2400 Hindi 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) SE Asia -------------------------------------------------------------------- (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082,India, vu2jos@rediffmail.com Telefax: 91-40-23310287 dx-india, reformatted by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. RADIO HONORS: WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY From ARNewsline Report 1338 - April 4, 2003 Amateur Radio Supporting Education' is theme for World Amateur Radio Day. Its coming up real soon. RSGB newsreader Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is here with the details: -- The theme of this year's IARU World Amateur Radio Day is to be 'Amateur Radio supporting technology education in the classroom'. World Amateur Radio Day is marked on the 18th of April each year to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union on that date in 1925. Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, the Chairman of IARU Region 1 writes: "There is no doubt that the future of amateur radio belongs to those that are now in the classroom. In keeping with this theme, I would like to encourage every society in the Region to let our young people know that amateur radio is a unique hobby - simultaneously sport, scientific study, personal pleasure and collective activity. And that radio amateurs today are voluntary and selfless researchers in the technological field of amateur radio, an important resource to every country, and something to be proud of." "But the 18th of April is not only a day to think about our future, it is our day, a day for celebration. All of us, societies and individuals, can celebrate in our various ways - organizing presentations, club meetings, parties, honoring senior radio amateurs who go back to the early years of IARU, or just putting our equipment on the air and making just a single QSO on this day, so realizing how large our ham community is." Jeramy Boot, G4NJH -- Again, the date for this years World Amateur Radio Day is Friday, April 18th. (GB2RS) (Amateur Radio Newsline April 4 via Mike Terry, John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. TITANIC ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EVENT SET: From the ARRL web site (via ASWLC) http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/04/03/1/?nc=1#Titanic Join The Titanic Historical Society and the Yankee Wireless Association for an Amateur Radio special event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Titanic Historical Society and the 91st anniversary of the Titanic disaster. The station will be located at The Titanic Museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. Special event station W1MGY (MGY was the Titanic's radio call sign) will commence on-the-air operation on April 11 at 1330 UTC (the time the Titanic left Queenstown Harbor) and will cease operation on April 15 at 0527 UTC (the time the Titanic's last transmission was heard by the Virginian). Operation will center on the following modes and frequencies: SSB, 3860; 7260; 14,260; 18,160; 21,360; and 28,236 kHz; CW, 7033; 14,033; 18,099; 21,033; and 28,033 kHz; AM, 3885 kHz; FM, 146.52 MHz. A brief hand-sent CW tribute to the Titanic and its wireless operators will follow the special event on some frequencies. A commemorative QSL card is available in return for a QSL and SASE. As part of this special event, low-frequency station will transmit from a location near the museum in Westfield, Massachusetts. Listen for MGY at 185 kHz and copy the Titanic commemorative message. All transmissions will be at approximately 10 WPM using "simulated spark" modulated CW. Send signal report, time and message text accompanied by a 9x12 SASE to receive a commemorative certificate. Send QSLs and reports to Titanic Historical Society QSL, PO Box 51053, 208 Main St, Indian Orchard, MA 01151-0053. -- //Steve// Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS Fountain Valley, CA Email: kb6ojs@arrl.net Web: http://home.earthlink.net/~kb6ojs_steve (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN. I hear always a BUBBLE jammer during dark hours, like Iranian type. Bubble jamming the whole day on 5860 kHz against Farda from Kavalla-GRC (wb Mar 29-31) IRN 11705 bubble jamming, against US Radio Farda Persian, Lampertheim 1700-1900 UT (wb Mar 30) VoA Radio Farda JAMMING is immense these days: 0500-0600 UT all four channels, 9795-LAM, and the KAV relays 9510, 15185, 15290. At 0700 UT the 17835-KAV outlet also been jammed. At night 5860 is subject of jamming too (wb Apr 2) (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. THE COMMAND POST - A WARBLOG COLLECTIVE http://www.command-post.org/ Interesting effort by individuals to get the latest info on the war (Tom McNiff, VA, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service : The official domestic radio station has not been heard since 1400 gmt on 3 April. Internet: The official news agency of the Iraqi Government and other web sites are inaccessible. Source: BBC Monitoring research 5 Apr 03 1400 gmt (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. BAGHDAD HAM CLUB STATION DISMANTLED PRIOR TO BOMBING: The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com relays information from Diya Sayah, YI1DZ-- one of the primary operators at the Baghdad Radio Club YI1BGD station in Baghdad. Sayah reported just prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Iraq that he had dismantled the YI1BGD station equipment and stored it in a safe place -- if there can be such a location in the besieged capital city at this point. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, says he doubts there will be any activity in the near future from YI1BGD "much less any other YI stations." The YI1BGD club station went on the air in the 1970s. The Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs (IARA) remains an International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member-society. Its president is Adnan M. Aswad, YI1DX (ARRL Letter April 4 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. US releases four million dollars for Iraqi opposition The United States released 4m dollars to a major Iraqi opposition group to allow it to restart television broadcasts into Iraq as the US-led war there rages, a State Department official said Wednesday, the AFP news agency reported on 3 April. The decision to release the money to the London-based Iraqi National Congress (INC) for its Arabic-language Liberty Television satellite broadcasts was made by deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, the report said. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1901 gmt 2 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) SENATOR: GOVERNMENT TO FUND IRAQI OPPOSITION TV LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press WASHINGTON - The State Department is releasing $4 million for television and radio broadcasts by the Iraqi opposition, a U.S. senator said Wednesday. Sen. Sam Brownback, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage notified him Wednesday morning that an initial $4 million is being released. Brownback, R-Kan., and several other senators had urged the administration to clear red tape that was holding up State Department grant money. "The Iraqi opposition remains a vital tool for saving American lives in the process of toppling Saddam's regime," the senators wrote in a letter sent Monday to President Bush. "The fact that we are at war with Saddam's regime, and still not fully funding the Iraqi opposition in their struggle to achieve the same goal, is wrong," the senators wrote. Besides Brownback, the letter was signed by Republican Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Jon Kyl and John McCain of Arizona and Norm Coleman of Minnesota. Specifically, they mentioned Liberty TV, run by the Iraqi National Congress opposition group. The group said the satellite television channel went off the air in May 2002 because of lack of State Department funding. At the time, the State Department said grant negotiations had been complicated by problems with INC's financial management. The State Department did not immediately respond to Brownback's announcement on Wednesday. Called Television Hurriah in Arabic, Liberty TV was broadcasting 24 hours a day in Arabic to Iraq, the Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. It presented a mixture of news, current affairs, talk shows, documentaries and entertainment. Brownback said he is not endorsing any opposition group to rule Iraq following the war. "This is not an effort to pick leadership for post-Saddam Hussein, but simply to engage the opposition to Saddam," Brownback said (AP Apr 2, 2003 via A. Sennitt-HOL for CRW via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Iraq SAT TV / Some technical problems this morning before 0830 UT: low quality sound, black and white images. Iraq TV is still on Hot Bird 13 East this day. The news at 0830 UT / The sound seems to be more damaged and deep-sounding in this edition. In the background an image has replaced the curtains --- is it a new studio or a way to apply video effects? They are broadcasting again Saddam's video in Baghdad with several interruptions, tape rewindings, sound/no image or image/no sound sequences. Despite the hard technical conditions Iraq is still broadcasting on satellite. It supposes a well organized network, with numerous broadcasting sites over the country including mobile equipment. 0940 UT / We can think that this media could be on the air for a long time even if the stream is often interrupted as it was the case this morning. Regards 73, (Pascal Perriot, Tours, France, April 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) They seem to have moved locations during the night. Observations by BBC Monitoring and from our own correspondents will be in the Media Network Weblog over the weekend: http://radio.weblogs.com/0121781/ Also don't forget to check http://www.dxing.info for information from Mika Makkelainen who has just been on assignment in Doha (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, ibid.) ** IRAQ [non]. Note this item claims DAB is being used on 1800.9 MHz by V. of the People of Kurdistan, from the Kuwait border!? (gh, DXLD) CAMBIO DE FRECUENCIA - Fernando Mejía Barquera Medios en Irak: antes y después de la guerra 4-Abr-03 RADIO MILITAR O CLANDESTINA Pero es en el terreno de la radio donde hay mayor número de emisoras no controladas por el gobierno. Opera, por ejemplo, Radio Información, en los 100.4 megahertz, en FM, manejada por el ejército estadunidense y ubicada en algún punto al sur de Irak, cerca de la frontera con Kuwait. La propia Radio Información opera en la misma zona dos frecuencias de AM (690 kilohertz y 756 kilohertz) y una de onda corta. En los 1575 kilohertz de AM transmite la emisora clandestina Al Mustaqbal (``El futuro``), ubicada en la frontera con Kuwait. Mediante la novedosa tecnología de radio digital (DAB por su sigla en inglés, Digital Audio Broadcasting) difunde, en los 1800.9 megahertz, ``La Voz del Pueblo de Kurdistán``. Y en la banda de onda corta transmiten al menos cinco estaciones clandestinas adversas al régimen de Hussein: ``Radio Irak Libre``, ``La Voz del Pueblo Iraquí``, ``La Voz de la Revolución Islámica en Irak``, ``La Voz de los Trabajadores de Kurdistán`` y ``La Voz de la Rebelión en Irak``. (from a long article by Fernando Mejía Barquera, Publicado en Milenio Diario, México via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) PICTURE BULLETIN VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1730 GMT 4 APRIL 03 1. Announcer: Huna Sout Tahrir Al-Iraq - This is the Voice of Liberation of Iraq. Introducing the radio station, time and frequency of broadcast. 2. Announcement to Iraqi soldiers saying that Iraqi 1st corps forces, which refused to surrender were bombed by coalition forces. He added that Saddam and his allies were hiding away from the dangers to which soldiers were exposed. 3. News item: Senior US officer said that 500 Iraqi soldiers were killed on Thursday 3 April 03, when they tried to re-control bridge, 30 km south of Baghdad, captured by US forces. 4. Appeal to Iraqi soldiers to abandon Saddam. 5. Iraqi news: a. Explosions were heard in Baghdad and Saddam International Airport. b. Iraqi opposition held meeting in Iraqi Kurdistan and discussed latest political and military developments and future government. c. US House of Representative authorized 80bn US dollars to finance war on Iraq. d. Bush to meet on Friday 04 April 03 Iraqi opposition members, including shi'i and Christians, living in the US. e. Christopher Ross said Saddam's regime was built on terrifying people and that the war in Iraq was not against Iraqi people but against Saddam. 6. Appeal to security forces elements asking them to abandon Saddam or be tried as criminals. 7. Commentary titled "Iraqis will celebrate Liberation". 8. Song. 9. Appeal to Iraqi forces urging them not to put mines that might hurt innocents. The appeal also carried warning to those doing so that they would be severely punished. 10. News item: Quoting journalist of London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reporting on 4 April 03 edition about the return of shi'i cleric Abd-Al-Majid al-Khu'i to Al-Najaf. 11. Song. 12. Announcement to Iraqi people saying end of Saddam and their liberation were near. 13. News item on Al-Najaf published in Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on 04 April 03. 14. Appeal to Iraqi soldiers to abandon Saddam. 15. News item: Iraqi forces clashed with Kurdish forces 10 km from the border line between Baghdad and Kurdish controlled areas. 16. Appeal to Iraqi forces assigned to launch anti-aircraft missiles urging them to abandon their locations or surrender with their equipment to coalition forces and they would be rewarded or otherwise they would be attacked. 17. News report attributed to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Watan published on 04 April 03 on how safe were the bunkers in which Saddam was hiding. 18. Song. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1730 gmt 4 Apr 0 (via DXLD) V. OF LIBERATION OF IRAQ - TRANSMITTER-SITE SPECULATIONS "Do you think from your reception of the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq that it is really located in Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq? [..] Its transmitter does not seem to be the same as the Voice of the People of Kurdistan ?" - Yes I am pretty sure this is based in as- Sulaimaniya orlocation in that region, see also my comments in the lines attached; actually I believe that American specialists are already in the area for quite a while and have upgraded transmitters / antennas of 4025, 4085 in the past months. And then we have 4500, also this I very much believe is ground based not airborne; actually I am guessing that this is the old 4400 or 4415 of V. of the People of Kurdistan, which is no longer on air on that frequency for more than 2 months (W. on Pöllnitz, Poland, Apr 1 2003 for CRW via DXLD) HELP THE IRAQI MAQUIS (excerpt) London Telegraph, March 29, 2003 [Interesting that this editorial asserts that Radio Tikrit is a covert product funded by the State Department ... N. Grace-CRW] http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/03/29/dl2901.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/03/29/ixnewstop.html ...(T)he contrast between America's sophisticated military capabilities and its low-grade political propaganda give a whole new meaning to the Left- wing theory of "uneven development". A combination of sending Condoleezza Rice on to al-Jazeera and dropping millions of crude leaflets on to Iraq does not add up to a hearts and minds campaign. It is illustrative of the marginalisation of the democratic Iraqi opposition that it was not consulted about this PR offensive. Instead of free Iraqis talking to unfree Iraqis in their own language and in line with their own cultural sensibilities, Western military liaison officers are stumbling around speaking broken Arabic. Likewise, the US State Department has long failed to fund the democratic opposition's request for a terrestrial television station. Instead, they have quietly approved the work of Radio Tikrit, on which some ex-Ba'athists broadcast to Saddam's home turf. This is the part of the country where such an enterprise is likely to have least effect, since it is populated by many of those with most to lose from regime change (London Telegraph Mar 29, 2003 via N. Grace-USA, CRW via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. I only found out today that Iraq switched to UT +4 on 1st April. And that was only because a BBC reporter said that it was "a quarter past ten" at 0615 UTC. But the clandestines (e.g. Tirkrit) seem not to have time-shifted. 73, (Andy Sennitt, April 5, DX LISTENING DIGESET) Really? I didn`t notice CNN`s Baghdad clock on UT +4 instead of 3 until April 4 (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. ANALYSIS: IRAQ - PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS | Text of editorial analysis by Chris McWhinnie of BBC Monitoring's Media Services Iraq's state-controlled media proved more resilient in the last week than might have been expected, considering US-led forces were just a few miles outside Baghdad. The main domestic radio and TV channels have continued, albeit on lower power and with some interruptions. However, Saddam Husayn's broadcast media is no longer on the air from Mosul in the north and in Basrah the TV and radio is off. It has been replaced by a new UK-sponsored voice, FM Radio Nahrain, which dovetails neatly with US airborne Information Radio which circles Iraq on AM, FM and shortwave, though reports of US Information TV broadcasts have not been confirmed. The Iraqi Satellite Channel TV has battled on. Interruptions seem to be more technical than military. There is a constant parade of soldiers and a barrage of patriotic songs, interspersed with bulletins of news, successes and extracts from Iraqi press conferences. The channel has become a defiant sign to the media world that if Saddam Husayn's TV is on the air, he is still in control. His appearances and non-appearances on screen have confused, confounded and generated yet more speculation about his well-being and whereabouts. In the USA it is Fox News which has attracted more viewers with a robust pro-US line. CNN, famous for its reports live from Baghdad during the last Gulf War in 1991, has been challenged for its prime position. An editorial in Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said that CNN's style resembled live coverage of the Super Bowl. There are other global TV players: Saddam Husayn reportedly used to watch CNN, BBC World. But he was also reported to be watching Al- Jazeera. Western media hegemony appears to be over and it is Al-Jazeera and its imitators which together have produced an alternative to the western media which so dominated the previous conflict. There is more competition and fledgling Arabic TV stations want to send different messages to new viewers. Around the world the thematic news channels have become demanding consumers of pictures that demand attention. Al-Jazeera claim some 35 million viewers across the Arab world and it is a widely held view amongst commentators and politicians alike, that the station has had a lasting impact on Arab public opinion. From the western politician's point of view, Al-Jazeera has aired video which is deemed too graphic and emotive for the USA and UK. The channel is not alone in this, although it has been singled out for specific criticism. It is not alone in this; almost every Arab TV station apart from Kuwaiti state TV have shown and lingered on such images. Arab viewers see this portrayal of the bloody human realities of war as an indicator of more balance in Al-Jazeera's reporting than western channels, and one which is also delivered in their own language and from within their region. A conduit for Iraqi spokesmen has been the coverage of statements and press conferences by Al-Jazeera TV and its sister news stations. It is curious therefore that the Iraqi Information Ministry has informed Al-Jazeera that Diyar al-Omari, one of its five Baghdad correspondents, is banned from working there. In protest, the channel has stopped all its reporters from working in the Iraqi capital while continuing to run images from its cameras. CNN had already been ousted by Baghdad, but Al-Jazeera seems a strange channel to pick on. Last time Al-Jazeera fell foul of the Iraqi Information Ministry, in July 2002, Uday Saddam Husayn's newspaper Babil, called successfully for the channel's bureau to be reopened. [now, too: see QATAR] In an Australian TV interview Alistair Campbell, director of communication and strategy at the UK Prime Minister's office, said of a question put by an Al-Jazeera correspondent about the execution of Iraqi POWs: "The fact that the question came up at all is outrageous ... complete fiction, but there it was aired. Now that is something we have to get out there ... dealing with it, challenging it, rebutting it." Other Arabic channels are making an impact too. Their tone is a combination of what they show, how they package it and where they are placed culturally, politically and geographically. On 2 April, prior to the 1730 gmt newscast, Syrian Space Channel, essentially a relay of Damascus' domestic service, carried silent video footage illustrating wounded civilian casualties of war. The news programme itself focused almost entirely on the Iraqi situation. It carried factual reports with scenes of wounded children, destroyed buildings and archive Iraqi TV footage of dead US soldiers. The station also carried dispatches from Moscow and Berlin on political figures opposing the war. This was in addition to reports on demonstrations in Arab and other countries against the war. At the same time, Al-Manar Television from Beirut, which is affiliated with the pro-Iranian Hizballah, centred on the crisis. It showed footage of President Bush speaking about bringing freedom to the Iraqi people. This was then juxtaposed with edited footage of wounded children, dead adults, and people weeping in despair and followed by the caption "Freedom, the American Way". The satellite channels, ANN, Al-Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV, MBC's new Al- Arabiyah news channel and many other general Arabic channels, which have given over hours of broadcast time to war coverage, have been joined by a new channel. It is a channel which opposes both Saddam Husayn and the intervention of US-led forces. It is not afraid to broadcast live any images to which it has access. The Iranian-based Arabic television news station Al-Alam, which means The World, started broadcasting last month and is gaining viewers in Baghdad. Test broadcasts started in February this year and full programming commenced in March. Most notably it broadcasts over the terrestrial air waves to TV- starved Iraq, as well as across most continents by satellite. Dishes are banned in Iraq and reception reports of Al-Alam in Iraq suggests that the transmissions are broadcast from high-ground in Iran, which overlooks the Iraqi valley. Based in Tehran and run by IRIB, the Iranian state radio and TV service, it has carried extensive and close-up video of dead and wounded in Iraq. Its rolling coverage is aired under the slogan "War for Control". Al-Alam's on-screen look is similar to that of Al-Jazeera. It shows "An Exclusive Al-Alam" caption when the station plays its own reports. On 1 and 2 April it showed extensive clips of Iraqi civilians being treated in hospitals or lying dead in residential areas. There are English news subtitles or "news tickers" updating news on the war on Iraq from international news agency reports. There is the familiar rolling-news fare of bulletins every hour, live reports from Iraq and studio roundtable discussions with researchers, commentators and experts including Iraqi dissidents and exiles opposed to Saddam Husayn. The managing director of Al-Alam, Hasan Beheshtipur, has said that the Al-Alam TV channel intends to introduce the viewpoints of the Islamic world and counter the monopolization of news channels by Western countries. Beheshtipur said that the objective of launching this network is to interconnect the Islamic world and to disseminate news among them. He said: "This network plans to fill the existing vacuum in news dissemination in today's world." Iran clearly has a fine line to draw between being anti-Ba'ath party and anti-US. It is notable that Iran has chosen to direct pictures rather than just words or voices to the Iraqi people and across the region. The development of TV technology, the rise of media freedom and the spur of Al-Jazeera are together having an impact. Taken together these stations show shocking images of war which do stir hearts and sway the minds of viewers: more than the words of any politician or general. When the fighting stops, the media war seems set to continue. The next fight may be for the control of TV screens in Baghdad and the challenge will be to portray peace and reconciliation, because the horrors which have already entered homes have created memories which cannot be erased. Source: BBC Monitoring research 3 Apr 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. PICTURE BULLETIN OF RADIO TIKRIT 1900 GMT 04 APRIL 03 1. Announcement with musical background: Huna Radio Tikrit: This is Radio Tikrit - repeated several times. 2. Announcer greeting listeners and previewing programmes. 3. Holy Koran. 4. Religious lecture on rejecting violence and adopting peace. 5. News: a. Explosions in Baghdad following attacks by coalition forces. At least seven explosions close to Baghdad airport. b. News attributed to Reuters said US forces fighting for complete control of Baghdad airport countered Iraqi tanks attack and destroyed five of them besides a number of small army vehicles. c. US Central Command in Qatar said Saddam airport was renamed as Baghdad airport. d. Senior source at the Pentagon said the USA might begin to form transitional Iraqi government even before end of war. e. US Army Central Command official spokesperson said about 2,000 of republican guards surrendered to US marines in area between Al-Kut and Baghdad. f. The Times UK newspaper said British forces seized four coaches carrying suicide fighters coming from different Arab countries and holding Syrian documents in western Iraq. 6. Political analysis: On coalition forces seizing and controlling Saddam International Airport. 7. The daily open programme: Announcer greeting listeners and introducing the programme, which was made of commentaries and songs. a. Commentary: Greeting officers and soldiers from Iraqi army and republican guards who joined coalition forces. b. Commentary: Pledging severe punishment to Saddam and his officials. d. Play ridiculing Saddam and his officials. e. Commentary: On war and incompetence of "Saddam forces" to fight coalition forces. f. Commentary: On lies of Saddam and his junta and their claims that they were victorious. g. Commentary: On end of tyrants, deeds of Saddam, his war with Iran and invasion of Kuwait. h. Commentary: On communication between former Iraqi officers living in exile with their colleagues inside the army urging them not to fight. i. See "d" above. j. Commentary: On coalition forces' control of Al-Najaf and Karbala and respect the coalition forces gained after they gave up the idea to enter the sacred areas in Al-Najaf. k. Announcer: Huna radio Tikrit - This is radio Tikrit. l. Commentary: Urging Iraqi people to be patient as liberation was coming soon. m. Announcer: Huna radio Tikrit - This is radio Tikrit. 8. News: See "5" above. 9. See "7 d and i" above. 10. Song. 11. Announcer: Huna Radio Tikrit - This is Radio Tikrit. Source: Radio Tikrit in Arabic 1900 gmt 4 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Voice of Korea - Pyongyang, 9335, Mountain scene card (with Voice of Korea stuck over Radio Pyongyang), letter, Radio Pyongyang banner, English program schedule, pocket calendar, Pyongyang Times paper and Korea Today mag. The calendar changes from a soldier with a gun to a missile when the viewing angle is changed; in 105 days (Wayne Bastow, April Australian DX News via DXLD) ** MALAYA [non]. Re Roger Tidy`s previous historical item: V. of Malayan Revolution was also heard here in Europe then. 6670 and 8998 kHz ceased on July 1, 1981. But "La Voix du Peuple Malais" (Suara Rakyat Malaya) on 7063 kHz appeared on May 4, 1976 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX April 3 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. INICIA TRANSMISIONES XEQK "LA RADIO DE LOS CIUDADANOS" martes 1 de abril, 09:17 PM México, 1 Abr (Notimex).- Con el inicio de transmisiones de la XEQK "La radio de los ciudadanos" se abre un espacio de reflexión, análisis y discusión para la sociedad civil, y el Gobierno Federal busca fomentar la cultura democrática del país, afirmó el subsecretario de Normatividad de Medios, José Luis Durán Reveles. En el marco de la presentación de la XEQK, el funcionario de la Secretaría de Gobernación (SG) expuso que, a diferencia de la que se dirige a los consumidores, la radio pública está dirigida a los ciudadanos. "Ahora la sociedad civil organizada hace de la radio pública un espacio de servicio a la sociedad para fomentar el debate entre los diferentes grupos ciudadanos, tan diversos y disímbolos pero que tendrán un lugar común para expresarse y encontrarse", explicó. En el Estudio B del Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (Imer) precisó que la concreción de la XEQK es una de las acciones de fomento a la cultura democrática de México en la que un número mayor de ciudadanos tendrá la posibilidad de participar en los asuntos públicos y en los asuntos del país. Por su parte la directora del Imer, Dolores Béistegui, indicó que "La radio de los ciudadanos" busca convertirse en un medio de comunicación participativo, no partidario, plural y sin propósitos comerciales o de lucro. Para nosotros, señaló, el concepto del "radioescucha" debe transformarse en "radioparticipante", en un auditorio activo y comprometido con el desarrollo político del país. Con la integración del Consejo de Programación de "La radio de los ciudadanos" el objetivo de la primera etapa se ha cumplido, al dar inicio la programación que crecerá y se consolidará conforme se desarrollen las producciones de las diversas organizaciones de ciudadanos, comentó. Por su parte, a nombre de la ciudadanía, Jorge Villalobos mencionó que el inicio de transmisiones de la XEQK se concreta en un momento importante en la historia de la radio en México, pues se trata de una oportunidad de comunicación sin precedente para las organizaciones de la sociedad civil. "La radio de los ciudadanos" es una estación del Imer pero busca ser una radio de Estado, no de gobierno ni de partido y con una definición específica: que tu alma sea ciudadana. Considerada como la primera en su género por abrir su frecuencia a la participación civil las 24 horas del día, la XEQK tiene entre sus objetivos contribuir al desarrollo de la cultura ciudadana, profundizar en la democracia de la radio pública y fomentar un medio no partidario, plural y sin propósitos comerciales o de lucro (via Héctor García Bojorge, Conexión Digital, Radio-Enlace via DXLD) ** NEPAL. RADIO NEPAL MARKS ANNIVERSARY | Text of report by Nepalese newspaper Kathmandu Post via Nepalnews.com web site on 3 April Kathmandu, 2 April: Radio Nepal, which still attracts the largest audience in the country, completed its 52 years of service, said Radio Nepal in a press statement issued here today. Acclaiming high of its services, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said in his congratulation message that a time has come for Radio Nepal to make use of the latest technology to bring more effect and reliability in its services. "Radio Nepal has continued to play a laudable role in reforming the multi-party democracy," Prime Minister Chand said in his message to Radio Nepal. "Radio still continues to be the world's fastest and most reliable medium of communication. Its relevance is even greater in a country like Nepal," said Mukunda Sharma Poudel, chairman of the Radio Broadcasts Service Development Committee. An estimated 70 per cent of the total population in the country are currently tuning in on Radio Nepal. The government has also established frequency modulator (FM) transmitter in southern belts, where medium wave does not clearly reaches the audience. "Radio Nepal is currently disseminating news and programmes in about 20 different languages," the statement issued by Radio Nepal said. The statement said that Radio Nepal would strive forward to make the news at 0900 more audible and simple to understand. It said in the future, it would begin broadcasting from additional regional broadcasting stations. A small-capacity 103 MHz FM transmitter station has been installed in Jomsom, Mukti Chhetra area, a famous tourist destination. This service would be extended to Bara, Rupendehi and Kanchanpur through the 100 MHz band of FM, the statement assured. A Bardibas-based transmitter destroyed by the Maoists last year is under repair. Radio Nepal said that it has limited resources at its disposal to reconstruct the stations completely since it costs around 450m rupees for purchasing spare parts alone. Japan Telecommunication Engineering and Consulting Services, with the support of Japanese government, has completed a study for the modernization of Radio Nepal. The team submitted its report to the government by 2002 end. "Since then, JICA [aid agency] and the Japanese embassy have been showing up in our office keeping interest in the development of radio in our country," the statement added. Source: Kathmandu Post via Nepalnews.com web site in English 3 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Desde esta medianoche (-3 UT), la hora oficial del Paraguay se atrasa en 60 minutos. Es para dar vigencia al horario de invierno que regirá hasta el primer domingo de setiembre próximo, según el decreto 16.530 firmado por el presidente Luis González Macchi. La hora oficial por lo tanto será - 4 UT. 73 de (Levi Iversen, Paraguay, April 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. Dear Glenn: Any idea about the signal on 6115.0 exactly? (I zero-beat to make sure.) It is a strong signal here in San José, CA. (S9+10) and I listened for about 45' to 0804 this morning. I do not speak Spanish but thought I could make out "Unión...La Radio!" as a repeated station slogan. ILG, WRTH, etc. show nothing resembling this. I *thought* perhaps, judging from the format (rockish Spanish 'hit' type music, seguéd together with brief sounders separating songs, and occasional vo's) that it is a simulcast of another station, perhaps FM. I also think that I heard some numbers repeated, which might have been "768" if I was translating correctly -- I may not have been. Was using an Icom R75 and found ECSS mode helpful with either sideband to improve intelligibility. I alternated between two antennas: a 175 ft unbalanced wire, and a 350 ft balanced dipole. Wire had more QRM but less fading. Have DX'ed SW since the fifties. Gave up on it during my professional career as a broadcaster (classical music host, PD of 5 stations, and chief engineer of about 40 stations over a 25 year period, from 100w FM'ers to several 10-50 kW AM'ers.) Started listening to SW again about two years ago when I dug up a broken Magnavox radio from 1947; it worked so well that in January I purchased the Icom and started getting very serious about DX logging. As I write this, I heard the slogan between songs. It seems to me that the format is all canned, with carts being played between songs and no live DJ whatsoever; maybe automated. I am not altogether sure that they are saying "Unión"; it could be another similar word. I do know that nothing I've heard indicates that it could be 6115.0 Voz del Llano Meta COLOMBIA as given in ILGS data; anyway, that should not be on the air at present. Now it's 0816 and the interference (xtalk that *might* be a Ham image) is so unpleasant that I shall tune out. Best, (Steve Waldee - retired radio consultant/CE, San Jose, CA, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be Unión Radio, Lima, Perú, listed e.g. in 2003 WRTH on 6117, but I believe they have fixed the frequency (gh, DXLD) ** QATAR. IRAQ RESCINDS DECISION TO SUSPEND AL-JAZEERA TV CORRESPONDENTS | Text of report by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 4 April The Iraqi Information Ministry has informed the Al-Jazeera Television offices in Baghdad that it has decided to rescind its previous decision to suspend Al-Jazeera correspondents Diyar al-Umari and Taysir Alluni. While welcoming the Iraqi Information Ministry's move to rescind its previous decision, Al-Jazeera Television announces that it will immediately resume the work of all its correspondents in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. Source: Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1747 gmt 4 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Channel Africa March 30-Oct. 25, 2003 schedule. TIME UT FREQ TARGET AREA LANGUAGE 0300-0325 6160 East & Central Africa Swahili 0300-0330 6035 East & Central Africa English 0330-0355 6035 Madagascar French 0400-0430 5955 Southern Africa English 0430-0455 5955 Northern Mozambique Portuguese 0430-0455 3345 Southern Mozambique Portuguese 0430-0455 9565 Central Africa French 0500-0530 11710 West Africa English 0530-0555 11710 Angola Portuguese 0600-0630 15215 West Africa English 0630-0655 15215 Angola & West Africa Portuguese 1300-1455 21760 West Africa English* 1300-1455 21620 East & Central Africa English* 1300-1455 11780 Southern Africa English* 1500-1525 17780 East & Central Africa Swahili 1500-1530 17770 East & Central Africa English 1530-1555 17770 Madagascar French 1600-1630 9525 Southern Africa English 1600-1630 15245 East & Central Africa Swahili 1630-1655 15245 East & Central Africa French 1630-1655 9525 Northern Mozambique Portuguese 1630-1655 3345 Southern Mozambique Portuguese 1700-1730 17735 West Africa English 1730-1755 17735 Angola & West Africa Portuguese 1800-1830 17735 West Africa English 1830-1855 17735 West Africa French *Saturdays and Sundays only (Channel Africa website via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, DXLD) ** SUDAN. ST0RY Sudan operation is QRT: The ST0RY Sudan DXpedition shut down this week, a bit earlier than expected, after logging more than 49,000 QSOs. Pilot station, Bernd Koch, DF3CB, says the last QSO was March 31 at 1745 UTC, a bit earlier than expected. "The last news and logs were sent from an Internet cafe in Khartoum," he said. DF3CB has prepared an online QSL request form for those seeking ST0RY cards via the bureau. It's available on the ST0RY Sudan DXpedition Web site http://www.df3cb.com/st0ry which includes more information and photos. ST0RY was active in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest over the March 29-30 weekend. Demand for ST0RY was heavy. Most-wanted lists put Sudan in the top 20.--some information from The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com (ARRL Letter April 4 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE STRIKE? From Waveguide The National Union of Journalists is to ballot its 3000 members at the BBC over possible industrial action following the sacking of two journalists from its World Service. Adli Hawwai and Dr Abdul Hadi Jaid were dismissed in February after launching a series of industrial tribunals and appeals against the BBC, all of which were unsuccessful. Over a period of five years and at a cost of up to £1 million to the BBC, Mr Hawwari and Dr Jiad brought 17 tribunal cases, 20 external appeals and reviews, and various other hearings to air their alleged grievances. The BBC described the cases as ranging from the "frivolous to the ridiculous" - but the NUJ said the men were denied a right to appeal against their sacking. The ballot opens on April 9, and will close three weeks later (via Mike Terry, April 5, DXLD) ** U S A. Re Sawa log on 15045? Yep! There was an typing error !! Thanks for the mentioning. was: 15045 S9, 42443 QRM 15050 Egypt should be: 12045 S9, 42443 QRM 12050 Egypt (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I have been listening to 5015 for several hours tonight, trying to identify it, but can only get "TCN Radio Network" as an ID. However, the content is identical as WWRB on 5085, so I suspect that 5015 is a spur of 5085. 5085 comes in much louder to my location in southeastern Montana late evening than does 5015. 73, Wayne ----- (Wayne Leman KL7FDQ QRP ARCI #4454 Busby, Montana Grid: DN65nm http://www.qsl.net/kl7fdq/ April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No legal WWRB IDs on the hour? ** U S A. Hi Glenn, WBOH 4/3/02; 0412 - 0445; 5920 khz; SINPO 54343; preaching and hymns. Not // with WTJC 9370. WBOH SINPO 54242 at 0955 the same day with instrumental hymns. The 1000 ID gave the frequency as 5930 kHz, although it was clearly 10 khz lower. (I listened to the recording to be sure that is what the announcer said.) WTJC was not audible at that time (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC CRACKDOWN Friday, April 4, 2003 By Susan Whitall / The Detroit News SOUTHFIELD -- Talk radio WKRK-FM (97.1) is facing a $27,500 fine, the harshest that the Federal Communications Commission can impose, over a segment it deemed indecent on the station's "Deminski & Doyle Show" in January 2002. New York-based Infinity Broadcasting, the station's owner, has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal it. The move by the FCC, which announced the fine Thursday, appears to signal a new toughness against "shock jocks" that could lead to other radio stations cracking down on smashmouth shenanigans that have slipped by in the past. The FCC was 4-1, with the dissenting commissioner Michael J. Copps calling for hearings into a possible revocation of the station's license. Copps called the segment "some of the most vulgar and disgusting indecency that I have had the misfortune to examine since I joined the commission." WKRK program director Terry Lieberman did not return several phone calls Thursday. In New York, Infinity spokesman Dana McClintock said of the FCC's decision: "We've been offered an opportunity to respond, and we intend to do so." Infinity owns 185 radio stations, with six in Detroit. While there have been occasional $7,000 fines here or there in the past year, and one late last year for $24,000 against a Spanish- speaking station in Texas for obscene jokes, the WKRK decision is notable in its severity. "It's a harsh and rare penalty for one 30- minute segment," said Tom Taylor, editor of Inside Radio, a daily industry newsletter. "You expect the normal $7,000 (FCC) fine, instead of four times that. It may signal the beginning of a new crackdown." Taylor likened its effect on the industry to motorists seeing a police officer pulling over a speeder ahead on the road. "Doesn't that make you slow down a bit?" he said. Considering the air talent on Detroit's morning shows, Deminski and Doyle are usually rather tame. The broadcast took place between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Jan. 9, 2002, and included graphic descriptions of violent and/or demeaning sexual acts inflicted upon women. Before airing the calls, the jocks Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle warned women and children not to listen, " 'cause this is really foul." Infinity's lawyers didn't deny that the Deminski & Doyle material was indecent. Rather, their argument is that the FCC's definition of indecency is "unconstitutional." The concept of indecency is more fluid than that of obscenity, which is expressly forbidden. Entertainment lawyer Henry Baskin, who handles Deminski & Doyle's contracts, thinks it's confusing. "Don Imus called some guy a p---- today on the radio," Baskin said. "So how far can you go? I don't know that there's a clear definition of what's airable and what's not." Deminski and Doyle came to Detroit from Trenton, N.J., in 1999, and while the show has a decidedly macho slant, it usually consists of chat about current events. The show was the highest ranked of WKRK's shows, ranking 10th in the Detroit market in the age 25-54 demographics. The FCC could revoke licenses for Infinity or WKRK-FM if there are further violations. This isn't the first time the radio giant has been in hot water with the FCC. In 1995, it settled several cases for more than $1 million. And the infamous jocks Opie and Anthony, who encouraged listeners to have sex in a church last summer, worked for an Infinity station in New York. Infinity fired the pair, but the FCC could still take action in that case. Detroit News Staff Writer Adam Graham contributed to this report (Relayed by Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** U S A. Howie Castle alerted us to a feature by Guy Zapoleon of Zapoleon Media Strategies, dated 20th Feb 2003. In the article titled, 'Will Radio Get Better?' Guy writes: Do you ever feel like you're in a horror movie - just when you think things can't get worse something even more horrible happens! Well that's the way I feel looking at radio today. If anyone had told that 13 year old kid who listened to his transistor in the 60's that radio would be dealing with this sad state of affairs I would have put my head in my hands and just cried. So would we! Guy's article is bound to strike a chord with all our Radio London visitors, and can be read in full here http://www.zapoleon.com/zms/kbase.asp and watch out for Part Two. (From http://www.radiolondon.co.uk via Mike Terry, DXLD) Viz.: Will Radio Get Better? (Part 1) Consolidation, generic product, focus on the bottom line, competition from new technologies -- how we got here -- and where we are going. by: Guy Zapoleon | February 20, 2003 Most people desire brand names with the best quality and have been taught to know the difference in brands. Now we plan on giving them watered down generic brands in radio and expect them to be happy about it. NO WAY! Do you ever feel like you're in a horror movie -- just when you think things can't get worse something even more horrible happens! … (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. WEMU DROPS BCMS FROM LINEUP DUE TO POLICY VIOLATIONS YPSILANTI, MI 2003-04-04 WEMU's removal of the Bone Conduction Music Program from WEMU was a difficult and simple decision. It was difficult because BCMS had been a part of WEMU for 20 years. WEMU gave the program an on-air voice when other stations refused. WEMU supported the program in many ways through good and difficult times. The program was a benefit for listeners, the station, and the host. However, the decision to remove the program was a simple decision because there was a clear violation of policy that would not be remedied in the future. The host's employment was not terminated for his support of the current war in Iraq. The actual choice was made by the performance of the program itself. WEMU postponed its spring on-air fundraiser over concern that listeners were appropriately focused on the world situation. Part of WEMU's decision to make this adjustment was to include five-minute news updates during all local programs. This included BCMS. It is the obligation of staff to broadcast those items which are included in the station's official schedule. Not only were the newscasts not broadcast during the program, but also listeners were encouraged to watch Fox News in place of listening to NPR news. Beyond this violation of policy was the expressed position that the violations would continue on the part of the program host. The station could either choose to permit exceptions to policies that exist in the best interests of its audience and staff, or enforce adhere to the policies. In essence, there was no choice. The choice was made by the decisions of the program host. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wemu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=478858 (via DXLD) PUBLIC RADIO STATION FIRES HOST Terry Hughes voiced views on war during his show at EMU By Susan Whitall / The Detroit News Thursday, April 3, 2003 YPSILANTI -- WEMU-FM host Terry Hughes, known on the air as "Thayrone," was fired from the Eastern Michigan University public radio station Wednesday for repeatedly expressing his views about the war in Iraq, and refusing to run NPR news during his Sunday night music program "The Bone Conduction Show." Hughes was fired by station manager Art Timko. "Art said he was 'tired of the fight,' trying to get me to run news on the show and not have an opinion," Hughes said. In between the vintage Detroit R&B and soul music he plays, Hughes has been talking up the war in Iraq, expressing his support for the troops and for President Bush, and denigrating National Public Radio. On his show this past Sunday, among other things, Hughes was explaining why the station's fund-raiser had been postponed: "Because (Bush) has the (guts) to get up to do the right thing after 18 attempts to get everybody to help. ..." Hughes also complained to his listeners about not wanting to run NPR news. "We know if you want a current assessment of what's going on, you're sure not listening to us," he said on last week's show. "You'll be over at Fox TV where they're not bending the news. ... It ain't happening on NPR." Station manager Timko's account doesn't differ much. "He was fired basically over philosophical differences," Timko said. "We have a policy that eliminates or restricts the expression of personal opinion on issues of controversy, and he didn't believe that applied to him." The WEMU station manager admitted: "Thayrone has always been opinionated. But most of what he had opinions about was not controversial. This time, it was." Hughes agrees. "But this is personality radio," he said. "I have nothing but opinions on my show, every show." It's because WEMU is a public radio station that there was a problem. "We need to be balanced in our presentation, and as individual announcers we don't take positions on controversial issues," Timko said. "That's not an encumbrance on commercial radio." Hughes will continue to tape his show at home for syndication. "It wasn't my intention to mess with the station manager," he said. "It's only been my intent to do crazy cool radio in America." (via Mike Cooper, Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent, 5885, colored card shows emblem and communications building. The package also contained a nice card with a view of Samarkand (text in English, Uzbek, and Russian), and an intereresting personal letter from the Correspondence Section. My reception report form was noted as "very beautiful". It has been sometime since I last sent a report to RT, mainly because they rarely introduce new channels, but the NF of 5885 was puton line for A02. There was also a brochure about the Radio Tashkent Quiz for 2003. Response in 8 weeks (Bob Padula, Mont Albert, Victoria, Australia, EDXP via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6949.9 AM, Mar 30, *0242-0248*. The entire show was in the voice of George W. Bush, heavily edited in the studio. Apparently this was his State of the Union speech, complete with applause from the audience of congressmen. In the altered voice, Bush called for a recession and environmental damage. Every child in the USA is to receive three nuclear missiles. After Bush announced his plan to end the civilized world, there was loud applause from the audience. The editing of all this was very well done, with a hilarious effect overall. No talk by any other announcers,and no ID or addr was given. Surprisingly this has been the first political pirate I have heard since KSMR went off the air. 353+ (George Zeller, OH, Free Radio Weekly via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-03 CLASHES / FREQUENCY (MIS)MANAGEMENT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Glenn, re this item: "Another A03 clash is the BBCWS on 11835 (ex- 6135) to CAm. It comes in quite well here this week, but after about 0415 is buried by the VOA African service co-frequency (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Wash., Apr 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST)" Glenn, frequency managers get really irritated by items like this. There is NO clash here. BTW The HFCC term is "collision". Mr. Albertson was listening to two transmissions directed to different parts of the world from a third location, That's not a collision, that's normal shortwave propagation, and has been for the 40 years or so I've been a SWL. It only becomes a collision if listeners in the *target* areas (i.e. Central America and Africa) report interference from the other transmission. I'm not suggesting that clashes don't occur - of course they do - but recent "examples" cited in various reports I've seen all refer to broadcasts to target areas separated by 1000 miles or more. That suggests the DXers concerned don't understand the basic principles of frequency management. Of course it would be nice if every transmission to every target area could have a frequency all to itself - but it ain't going to happen! 73, (Andy Sennitt, RN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Andy, I take your point, but these are rather bad examples. BBC itself recommends 6135 for North America (in March On Air, page 16, and presumably 11835 in April, which I haven`t hunted up). No doubt it is the best/only frequency audible in WNAm during that time period, so it`s a pity that VOA Africa is QRMing it. And if the QRM gets all the way to Seattle, chances are it is also getting to ``Mexico``. Checking HFCC, we are reminded that after 0300 BBC is via Delano, and VOA Botswana is supposed to start on 11835 also at 0300, not 0415, beamed 350 degrees. Padula`s reported clash between Vietnam and China on 11630 involves same target area Asia even tho monitored in Australia. 11895 at 2200 VOA Creole/NHK Japanese is also a valid complaint, NHK from French Guiana or Sackville (not sure which, as this NHK usage is not in HFCC!) would surely cause a problem for VOA in Haiti. Just because it is a clash here outside the VOA target area, does not mean that it is not also a clash within the target area! Must recheck that to see if anyone has moved (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Whatever happened to the 1970s ITU publications (from memory) Tentative High Frequency Broadcasting Schedules & Final HFBS? these were truly world wide and internationally recognized if somewhat peppered with deadwood and inaccuracies. Surely the ITU is still obligated to publish this data and make it publicly available? Non- worldwide HF co-ordination is non-sense. Wonder if the absence of data in the HFCC release is a result of much more widespread distribution of DX news defeating the desire of broadcasters to hide their real transmitter sites. Should we be screening access by broadcasters to DX sites? 73s gd dx de (sam dellit, vk4zss tamborine, australia, ARDXC via DXLD) Hi Sam, As one who likes to DX/QSL TX sites I share your disappointment with this archaic development. One also wonders if this decision by some broadcasters to their respective organisations comes as a result of increased international tension translating into increased probability of jaming & international terrorism? Hopefully it's not a future trend (Ian Baxter, ARDXC via DXLD) Responding to Joe Hanlon's message, DW's new English service 2200- 2300 on 9720 via Trincomalee is a horrendous mess, as noted here in Melbourne. As at April 1, severe intermodulation problems at the transmitter site, with the Indonesian service superimposed on the English! The correct freq for the Indonesian service is 9670 and OK here! 15605 via Komsomol`sk with English 2200-2300 OK. Regards! (Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia, EDXP via DXLD) [Later:] Further to my earlier note about 9720, there are actually two sources of interference to DW's English service 2200-2300 from Trincomalee. One is the transmitter fault, where DW's Indonesian service is superimposed on the English, and under all that there is BBC's Indonesian service from Kranji, also using 9720 2200-2300,as Michael has pointed out. I believe the txer fault will be fixed shortly. Frequency coordination in this case is absolutely horrid: Both Kranji and Trincomalee targeting the same region simultaneously! DW has invited listeners in Australia to work with 9720 for English at 2200, but no good. Parallel 15605 from Komsomolsk better. Think I will listen to DW's English relay on the ABC's Newsradio here in Melbourne (1026 AM) which gives rather good reception during the several releases each day! (Bob Padula, Melbourne, April 2, EDXP via DXLD) THAILAND: Radio Thailand has a new frequency for their evening service which is easily heard in Australia. Noted on 9700 (ex 9810) in En from *1230-1300*. QRM from another Asian station (perhaps South Korea??) on same freq. Not sure why Thailand changed as 9810 is now vacant this evening (Rob Wagner, Australia, VK3BVW, edxp Mar 30 via BCDX via DXLD) The problem is different. The A-03 RTG freq would be like in A-02 season as always on 9885: 9885 1230-1300 RTG RTG1 ENGL UDO 05 132 But on request of RNZI that QRG moved away from 9885 to new 9700 kHz. To free R New Zealand 9885 in 0706-1305 portion. 0706-1105 9885 31 All Pacific, also mid-west USA 0' Daily 1106-1305 9885 31 NW Pacific, Bougainville, Timor, Asia and Europe 325' Daily (Wolfgang Bueschel, Mar 30, BC-DX via DXLD) "9700 is traditionally used by Xian, CNR1, 2300-1400, continuing in A03, 150 KW, to CIRAF43 (China), and well-heard across the primary target for Udorn, which uses 9700 1100-1300 for IBB and R. Thailand services. Another example of excellent frequency selection.... This is the sort of thing which is triggering the ITU proposal for extra exclusive spectrum space below 10 MHz, to reduce mutual interference from national and international transmissions on 9 MHz. The IBB people obviously do not understand that Xian puts out a hefty signal on 9700, even though it is "targeted" for China!..." (Bob Padula, Australia, via Rob Wagner VK3BVW, March 30, ALL VIA BC DX via DXLD) DRM / CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM PRESENTATION ON APRIL 7TH, PLUS EXHIBITORS, AT NAB 2003 News Release For Immediate Release: April 3, 2003 Contact: Siriol Jane Evans, pressoffice@drm.org Las Vegas, NV – A paper titled Digital Radio Mondiale: Features and Requirements from a Broadcaster`s Perspective, will be presented at NAB 2003 by Andy Giefer of the BBC, which is one of the Digital Radio Mondiale( (DRM() consortium`s 80 members. The paper, written by Mr. Giefer and his BBC colleague Simon Gosby, will be given at 11 a.m. on April 7th, in the LVCC, Room N111. It appears within the session International Broadcast Developments, chaired by Dr. Donald Messer of IBB/VOA, another DRM consortium member. Nine DRM members will exhibit at NAB this year: BBC Technology (Booth SU5047); Harris Broadcast Corporation (Booth C404); IDT Continental Electronics (Booth N2403); Kintronic Laboratories Inc. (Booth N2012); Nautel Ltd. (Booth N2312); RIZ Transmitters (Booth N3218); TCI, a Dielectric Company (Booth C424); TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin (Booth N2347) and Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (Booth C2000). DRM is the world`s only non-proprietary, digital system for short- wave, AM/medium-wave and long-wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With clear, near-FM quality sound that offers a dramatic improvement over analog, DRM will revitalize the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. The International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) gave the DRM on-air system its highest stamp of approval – International Standard – in January 2003. DXers and radio amateurs in the U.S. gained access to DRM test transmissions on December 31st, 2002, when they joined the DRM Software Radio Project. The ongoing project gives radio enthusiasts who purchase software licenses (price: approximately $60) the opportunity to receive and analyze DRM`s live test transmissions. Registration information is available at http://www.drmrx.org/ The project is managed by VT Merlin Communications, a DRM member. DRM`s inaugural daily broadcasts will take place this June, during the ITU`s World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC 2003) in Geneva, Switzerland. Commercial DRM-capable receivers are expected to be available in markets worldwide in the next few years. About DRM DRM`s founding members joined forces in 1998 to create a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM information and audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org (Siriol Jane Evans, DRM, Apr 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS: NAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION - APRIL 9 On the convention scene, the annual Amateur Radio Reception at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention is slated for 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday April 9th. The venue is the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada, right next door to the famed Las Vegas Convention Center. This years hosts are again CQ Magazine and Kenwood Communications. Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA and Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU will be there representing CQ. Paul Middleton, K4NUH, will be on hand for Kenwood. Between 800 to 1000 hams in the broadcast industry attend this yearly ham radio social get together. Among them will be top ARRL officials and some of the folks from Amateur Radio Newsline. The National Association of Broadcasters Convention is one of the largest held each year in Las Vegas. It typically draws over 100,000 attendees. More information is on the web at http://www.nab.org/conventions/nab2003 (ARNewsline via John Norfolk, DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO CONTROL From: Victor Keegan, Thursday April 3, 2003, The Guardian Guglielmo Marconi would be rubbing his eyes in disbelief. More than a hundred years after he sent the first radio signal across the Atlantic, the medium he discovered is making a strong comeback. In 2001, the numbers listening to radio exceeded those watching television for first time in seven years. Now it is experiencing a new renaissance as digital radios fall in price and, against early pessimistic predictions, are fast becoming must-have items. Leading the charge is Imagination Technologies which sold 40,000 of its attractive retro £99 Evoke-1 radio over Christmas. It is forecast that digital radio ownership could reach 500,000 by the end of the year and, as prices continue to fall, a million a year later. Since Imagination, in addition to manufacturing these radios, claims an 80% market share of DAB (digital audio broadcasting) processors, it could easily become another UK success story like ARM of Cambridge which designs the chip of choice for mobile phones. Interestingly, both of these have a link with the BBC. ARM traces its ancestry back to Acorn, which made its mark from manufacturing the BBC's range of computers, while digital radio has taken off mainly as a result of BBC investment. The Evoke-1 (which will be joined in May by a portable model costing £170) is a typically global product. Designed in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, the chip is manufactured in Taiwan, after which it is sent to Wales to be packaged into a ceramic chip case before journey ing on to Austria, where the digital radio module is added. It is then dispatched to China for final assembly. Imagination has not got the field to itself as a number of companies are planning to cash in on the digital boom. Digital radio (not to be confused with internet radio), provides clear reliable signals and is a market where Britain has already established an early world lead. There are more than 300 services available and still rising with around half exclusive to digital. But the fascinating possibility is what will happen when tiny DAB radio chips are bundled into mobile phones in a year or two. Unlike the FM radio chips in some current models, they will feature a multiplicity of channels sending voice, data or even pictures and, most interestingly, will include a "return path" from the phone to provide interactivity. Where all this is leading is anyone's guess. People don't currently take radios with them in the hope they might have a spare moment. But if they come as a standard part of a lightweight phone, maybe with a Bluetooth short distance wireless earpiece, it could be different. It could easily turn out to be the biggest boost for broadcasting since radios were installed in cars. And the cost - under £100m so far - pales into insignificance beside the £22.5bn down payment made by the telecom companies for their 3G licences. Digital radio could usher in a new golden age - on a shoestring (via Mike Terry, DXLD) SONY ICF-2010 TECHNICAL GUIDES After a long and worthy career Sony have finally retired the veteran ICF2001D/2010 short wave receiver. To co-incide with this event, this is now the last time Steve Whitt will be making available two well known publications about this receiver: "Get The Best from your Sony ICF-2001D" is a 32 page booklet that covers: * The 2001D family tree * How to hot-rod the Sony ICF2001D (filters, tuning range, overload, reciprocal mixing, s-meter, audio output, FM selectivity, memory wipeout) * Hints & tips (battery choice, whip aerial, aerial socket, static damage) * Questions & answers (pricing, synchronous advantage, external loop & Beverage aerials) * Bibliogrraphy & useful addresses * The rarely seen official receiver specification "Get Even More from Your Sony ICF-2001D" is a 12 page supplement that covers: * More on memory & batteries & tape audio output * Squelch * Dead tuning knob * Remote cassette control * Binaural reception If you are interested in having both booklets sitting proudly along side your historic Sony receiver please e-mail me at steve.whitt@btinternet.com. Stock is limited so first come first served. I'm still using a 15 year old 2001D today and it's still going strong! (Steve Whitt, IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) CINGULAR WIRELESS PETITION CITES ARRL PART 15 POSITION Cingular Wireless has cited an ARRL position in a recently filed Supplement to Petition for Reconsideration regarding the FCC's Ultra- Wideband (UWB) proceeding, ET Docket 98-153. "The fatal flaw associated with unlicensed operations has already been raised by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)," Cingular said. Cingular was referring to the League's February 2002 Petition for Reconsideration in ET Docket 98- 156. In that docket, the FCC proposed allowing Part 15 fixed point- to-point transmitters in the 24.05 to 24.25 GHz band to operate at field strengths of up to 2500 mV per meter, in response to a Petition for Rule Making from Sierra Digital Communications Inc. "It would be arbitrary and capricious for the Commission to permit additional unlicensed operations--such as UWB--without addressing the statutory basis for such operations," Cingular continued. The ARRL has maintained that unlicensed devices that pose likely risk of interference to licensed services should be licensed. The wireless service provider asserted that under Section 301 of the Communications Act, "UWB devices require licenses." Cingular argued in its supplementary petition that operation of UWB devices is likely to be widespread and unsupervised and that licensed operators will not be able to identify interfering parties that are non-compliant with the Part 15 rules that regulate unlicensed devices. Concluded Cingular: "The Commission's authority to permit unlicensed, intentional radiators such as UWB is therefore non-existent." (ARRL Letter April 4 via John Norfolk, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Phil Bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary March 19 2003 through March 30 2003 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 3/19 118 20 3 strong moderate 6 20 108 12 2 minor moderate 6 21 97 17 5 minor minor 8 22 91 30 4 minor no storms 7 23 89 14 3 no storms no storms 7 24 93 20 2 moderate no storms 6 25 98 7 1 no storms no storms 5 26 109 5 2 no storms no storms 3 27 127 8 1 no storms minor 7 28 141 22 5 minor minor 9 29 147 22 4 no storms no storms 10 3/30 155 21 4 minor minor 10 ********************************************************************* (IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-057, April 4, 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/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early 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 1176: RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230 on 7445 [subject to pre-emption] WWCR: Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0445 on 7415 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0600, M-F 1200 on 7490 WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, Europe Sun 0430, N. America Sun 1400 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/wor1176.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1176.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html [above now also has upcoming schedule effective April 6] http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS, A-03 revision as of April 3: http://www.worldofrdio.com/dxpgms.html NEW APRIL EDITION OF NETS TO YOU: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html HFCC A-03 NOW AVAILABLE Klick http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html Download A03allx2.zip file. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) The public version of the A03 HFCC schedule can be downloaded from http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html On the download page it says: Note: Data of BFM and ABU-HFC have been removed on their request. No idea what BFM is, and since it has been removed I guess I'll have to remain in ignorance :-) (Andy Sennitt, April 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ABU being the Asian Broadcasting Union --- wonder if current hostilities led to this? (gh, DXLD) The A-03 HFCC and GJA schedules are now available on their respective web sites: http://www.hfcc.org/data/a03/a03allx2.zip http://www.gjainc.com/A03BYFREQ.htm http://www.gjainc.com/A03BYSTN.htm At time of writing, the A-03 FCC private SW sked is missing from the FCC web site. Also note that the GJA sked is considerably smaller than before, since WSHB-Herald Broadcasting now uses VT-Merlin Communications for frequency management services. 73. (Jim Moats, April 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EIBI`S SHORTWAVE SCHEDULES Dear friends, the university has closed down my account on the http://wwwstud.uni-leipzig.de server. Therefore my website is now on a different server. Nevertheless, it continues to be available via http://www.eibi.de.vu/ If in your bookmarks or on your internet links' page any use of wwwstud.uni-leipzig.de/~pge98crf/ is made, be sure to replace it by http://www.eibi.de.vu/ This is a link to the server where the site is actually located. To avoid confusion in similar cases in the future, only use http://www.eibi.de.vu/ The shortwave schedule is updated to the new A03 season to a large extent already, however, work is not yet completed. I think that's OK for the first week of the season... :-) 73, -- (Eike Bierwirth 04317 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Direct link: http://139.18.51.71/~pge98crf/bc-a03.txt UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Have enjoyed your column in Monitoring Times (which I just subscribed to) and try to read your Digest. Sometimes I listen in RA via computer as reception is iffy on the various stations you're on, and intelligibility is important to be able to really appreciate the details in your show (Steve Waldee - retired radio consultant/CE, San José, CA, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Voice of Armenia noted March 30th with the Sunday English broadcast 0810-0830 on 15270, the evening English broadcast heard 1940-2000 on 4810 and 9960 March 31st, good reception on all channels (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASIA [non]. RFA schedule in A-03, valid til Oct 26th, 2003. RFA currently broadcasts from 1100 to 0700; there are no transmissions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming includes Mandarin for 12 hours, Cantonese for two, Uighur for two, and Tibetan for eight hours. RFA uses IBB transmitters in HOL=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA=Iranawila Sri Lanka, SAI=Saipan & TIN=Tinian NoMariana Isls. And Merlin relays TWN=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE, as well as Irkutsk-RUS and Ussuriysk-RUS relays. Additional transmitter sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications? [gh] RFA A-03 updated schedule of April 2nd, 2003. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 13680T 13820I 15660 17525 17835S 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405T 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11695UAE 11975H 15225T 15695 17730 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1100-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13570 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855H-(from 1200) 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 13645T 15525I 15545 15625 1300-1400 BURMESE 11515 11540 11635 11765T 13745T 15680 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9775T 11715T 13625T 13790T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11535 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 9695T 11790T 13625T 15625 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11590 11705T 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 7540 9905P 11765T 11945T 12025S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 1500-1600 KOREAN 648uss 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 KOREAN 7210irk 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7465 9350I 9370 9555UAE 11780T 13715I 1600-1700 MANDARIN 7540 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 12025S 13690T 15510T 15680 1700-1800 MANDARIN 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 11995S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1800-1900 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T 11520 11740T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9605T 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9850T 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935T 11995S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680 2100-2200 MANDARIN 7540 9455S 9850T 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935T 11995S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455S 9850T 11670S 12080T 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 7455 9490I 9930P 11570 13735T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 7315N 7540 9910P 11785T 11935N 11995N 13640T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 9365 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 9975 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 12010I 13735S 15560P (various sources, updated on April 2nd, 2003, by Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. What`s going on with RA streaming? Caught last part of Feedback, in English until 2130 UT Fri April 4, in which I believe Roger Broadbent said there were no significant A-03 frequency changes, but at 2130 RA went into Indonesian! What if you only want to listen in English? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW RADAR LIVE AFTER 40 YEARS Staff writers APRIL 02, 2003 THE Australian Defence Force's $1.23 billion Jindalee over-the- horizon radar network has made its official debut after 40 years of development. Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill announced the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) would survey the nation's coastline to the north and north-west, providing 24 hour, all weather monitoring of activity in the air and at sea. JORN will be able to detect aircraft and boats at up to 2000 kilometres from the Australian coastline, outperforming conventional radar, which can only operate in line-of-sight conditions. Australia's northern coastline will be under constant wide-area surveillance for sea and air approaches with a new over-the-horizon high frequency radar network. "This cost-effective surveillance will be carried out along a 15 million square kilometre stretch from Geraldton in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland," Senator Hill said. The Jindalee project had its genesis in the 1960s, when the idea of an over-the-horizon radar was first proposed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Its development began in earnest in the early 1990s with the arrival of the Jindalee prototype facility in Alice Springs. The facility in Alice Springs will become part of the JORN network and continue its research and testing role. JORN, which will use radars stationed at Longreach in Queensland and Laverton in Western Australia, will also be used by Coastwatch and the Australian Customs Service to monitor illegal entry, smuggling and territorial fishing violations. JORN radars will be controlled from RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia. Each JORN radar has its own frequency management system. The network will be supported by 17 radar installation around the north of Australia and on Christmas Island. Instead of sweeping through an arc like conventional microwave-based radar, JORN concentrates on separate sectors located between Cairns in Queensland and Geraldton in Western Australia. JORN transmits high frequency radar to the earth's ionosphere, where it is refracted back to earth. Ships or aircraft in the area then relect some of the radio energy back along its original path, allowing them to be detected and tracked. However, JORN does not provide information with the same precision as conventional radar and cannot be redeployed. JORN was built by RLM, a joint venture between Austrlian defence contractor Tenix and the US-based Lockheed Martin group. A Defence spokeswoman said the project cost of $1.23 billion was in line with its original budget. The contract with RLM will include 46 months of support and maintenance (Australian IT http://tinyurl.com/8tuu via Jilly Dybka, TN) I wonder if this will cause QRM for the folks down there (Jilly Dybka, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Radio Austria International English to Europe heard 0530- 0555 on 6155, 1130-1200 and 1330-1400 on 6155 13730, 1830-1900 and 2130-2200 on 5945 6155, 1900-1930 on 1476. Sackville relay to North America heard 1500-1600 on 15515 April 2nd but all in German parallel to 6155 and 13730, no English at 1530 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15515 used to be DW German? ** AUSTRIA. Radio Afrika International (Austria) 17875 n/d card, letter in 3 weeks for an e-mail report. V/s Juma Hauser (Greg Myers, St. Petersburg, FL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. The IS mentioned by Jilly Dybka in DXLD 3-055 is definitely Radio Minsk. They typically put in a decent signal here most nights, but their modulation is very poor. As a result, I can usually make out the IS, which is interspersed by IDs in a couple of languages, I can make out the music, but as for the spoken content, it is usually mostly unintelligible. I just wrote them a letter with a plea to do something about the low mudulation level (Dan Srebnick, NJ, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jill, that was most definitely Belarus` underneath (Mark J. Fine / mark.fine@fineware-swl.com Remington, Virginia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Every year on DST change day, CBK Saskatchewan has an hour to fill since the province stays on CST yearound. A preview of the 25th-hour-special was on Sounds Like Canada, April 4 at 1432-1440 via RCI 13655, 17710 (and should be retrievable ondemand). Sounds like great fun, sort of a never-never land, 0900-1000 UT April 6 on 540 and webcast via http://sask.cbc.ca I guess they take it all back in October (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {remains for a while ondemand as of April 9, but you have to click on multiple clocks to hear all the segments} ** CANADA. 5960, Radio Japan relay (presumed) 0237 3/30, weird digital product on 5945 QRMing 5950 WYFR. Sounded like ute bursts pulsing off/on. Tuned around a bit, found it coincided with Bird Tweeting in a song on 5960. Transmitter limiters broken/misadjusted? (Larry Russell, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. What has become of the CRI relay via Cuba at 1400-1600 on 17720? Nothing there April 4, tho audible direct on 7405 at 1410 check. With Cuba you never know if there has been a permanent schedule change, or the transmitter is just down for some reason (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRI English 55 minutes at 0100 on 9580 [Cuba], 9790 [Canada]; 0300 on 9690 [Spain]; 0400 on 9755 [via French Guiana, ex-9730??] (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Last evening around 1720 - 1930 it was very nice opening towards Africa, among the nicest catches were: 7435, R. Lubumbashi, Congo D.R. All logged with AOR7030 and Wellbrook ALA-1530. 73 (Jarmo Patala, Finland, Apr 2, dxing.info via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) This one is very rarely reported; how about some program details? (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. We plan to organize a Spanish program block very soon. It will start in the morning time here in Costa Rica and we will begin with one day in the week; this might be Friday. So we keep you informed on the latest news. Are there many DX clubs in Spain, as far as you know? Best wishes, (Sonja, RFPI, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. SALVADOR LEW RESIGNS FROM RADIO MARTÍ POST http://www.radioandrecords.com/Subscribers/TodaysNews/homepage.htm Lew was tapped by President Bush to head both Radio and TV Martí, and the Miami Herald reports that he's resigned for health reasons. However, Lew's resignation as Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting comes amid allegations of sexual harassment and favoritism since taking the post in 2001. Lew told the newspaper that he had open heart surgery two years ago and that "working there is extremely hard." Lew says the White House has offered him another position and is mulling over the offer. Lew's Chief of Staff, Fernando Rojas, will serve as the office's interim director until Bush appoints Lew's successor. April 2,2003 (via Brock Whaley for WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) President BUSH has nominated attorney/lobbyist PEDRO ROIG to take over as Director of RADIO MARTI and TV MARTI, the AMERICAN government stations aimed at CUBA. The nomination fllows the resignation MONDAY (3/31) of incumbent SALVADOR LEW and reports that the OFFICE OF CUBA BROADCASTING may have used illegal hiring practices. Chief of Staff FERNANDO ROJAS is running the show while approval of ROIG's nomination is pending. http://www2.allaccess.com/ (April 2, 2003, Brock Whaley
