** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 15475.98 RC USB, Sat Jan 20 from 1721 checking the best Argentine remote, NO signal from LRA36. Still zilch circa 1800, 1830, 1840, 1948, 2004, 2126, 2158, 2337. Like last week, it`s gone, temporarily or permanently? Wacky new Arg. Pres. ``Motosierra`` Milei is dedicated to ``privatizing`` Radio Nacional, with many personnel already fired. See: https://www.radionacional.com.ar/hay-41-empresas-publicas-sujetas-a-privatizacion/ As Bill Tilford pointed out to me, Esperanza has been removed from the drop-down list of streaming Radio Nacional Emisoras, not boding well, at https://www.radionacional.com.ar/ The external service RAE would seem to be equally threatened, as it is part of Radio Nacional, but its webpage is still up, https://www.radionacional.com.ar/rae/ including an undated 27-minute interview with a RAE Italian guy who visited Esperanza: https://www.radionacional.com.ar/rae-en-la-antartida/ On Jan 19, I asked Manuel Méndez, Spain: ``We are concerned that LRA36 may have been deleted. Can you find out anything from your contacts? Glenn`` - His reply with my translation interspersed: ``Hola, Glenn, LRA 36 en la pasada campaña, la de 2023, tuvo un gran impulso gracias a Juan Benavente, un gran conocer de la radio, radioaficionado y al que le gusta mucho el trabajo que hizo. Hello, Glenn, LRA 36 in the latest campaign, of 2023, got a great boost thanks to Juan Benavente, who really knows radio, is a ham, and really enjoyed the work he did. Yo escribí a Radio Nacional para decirles lo conveniente que sería que Juan continuase a cargo de la emisora durante este nuevo año, o por lo menos que asesorase al nuevo personal que cada año se renueva, con el fin de seguir unas pautas similares a las del año 2023, además sé que Juan Benavente continuaría muy satisfecho haciendo ese trabajo. I wrote to Radio Nacional to tell them how convenient it would be for Juan to continue in charge of the station during this new year, or at least advise the new personnel who turn over every year, with the objective of following guidelines similar to those of 2023; in addition, I know that Juan Benavente would continue to be very satisfied doing that job. Personal de la Base y de Radio Nacional agradecieron mi email y por lo que sé, hicieron todo lo posible para que Juan continuase, pero al final nada de esto fue tenido en cuenta y Juan Benavente ya regresó a la Argentina, así que al final, por lo que yo sé, LRA 36 volverá a los años anteriores, es decir, seguramente tendremos que esperar semanas para que el nuevo personal se forme, tenga los conocimientos necesarios para operar la radio y puedan salir al aire. Personnel at the base and of Radio Nacional thanked me for my email and as far as I know did everything possible for Juan to continue, but ultimately, nothing of this was taken into account, and Juan Benavente has already returned to Argentina; so that means that as far as I know, LRA 36 will return to previous years, that is, we shall surely have to wait weeks for the new personnel to get organized, trained how to operate the station, and then be able to go on the air. Pero no sé nada de que LRA 36 haya cesado en sus transmisiones, no sé de donde pudo saber esa información. Lo que a mi me han comunicado es que volvereán con la campaña de verano cuando sea posible, pero no, desde luego, tal como ha sido en el año 2023. Recibe un cordial saludo. Habrá que estar atentos sobre todo los sábados. Manuel But I don`t know at all whether LRA 36 has ceased transmissions, nor do I know where to find out that information. From what they told me, they will return with the summer session when possible, but not at all, of course, like it was in 2023. Cordial greetings. We must be alert especially on Saturdays. Manuel`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** ANTARCTICA. Just in from Manuel Méndez at 1708 UT Jan 21: ``Hola Glenn, pregunté hoy a Juan Benavente sobre la posible desmantelación de LRA 36, y me dice, y además me pide que lo haga saber en su nombre, o sea, que se nombre a él expresamente, lo siguiente: 1º Juan Benavente sigue vinculado a LRA 36 a través del Comando Antártico Argentino. 2º Los rumores sobre la privatización de la Radio Nacional Argentina son rotundamente falsos e intereados, realizados por la oposición política argentina, pero, repite, son rotundamente falsos. 3º LRA 36 no solo no va a desaparecer, no va a ser desmantelada, sino que, todo lo contrario, va a ser potenciada, recibiendo nuevo material, entre el que se encuentra el nuevo transmisor de 10 kW. Se están organizando para salir al aire con la nueva temporada. Por favor, tradúcelo y hazlo saber en nombre de Juan Benavente, me lo pide él expresamente. Un cordial saludo.`` Google translation improved by gh: Hello Glenn, I asked Juan Benavente today about the possible dismantling of LRA 36, and he tells me, and also asks me to do so in his name, that is, to expressly name him, the following: 1st, Juan Benavente remains linked to LRA 36 through the Argentine Antarctic Command. 2º, The rumors about the privatization of the Argentine National Radio are flatly false and self-serving, made by the Argentine political opposition, but, repeat, they are flatly false. 3º, LRA 36 not only is not going to disappear, it is not going to be dismantled, but, on the contrary, it is going to be enhanced, receiving new material, among which is the new 10 kW transmitter. They are organizing to go on air with the new season. Please translate it and let it be known in the name of Juan Benavente, he expressly asks me to do so. A cordial greeting (via Glenn Hauser, WOR) {It seems we have totally contradictory info about what`s ongoing - gh} ** CANADA [and non]. 300 MCW kHz, dash and YIV, Jan 18 at 0750 UT, 500 watt NDB at Island Lake MB, coords less than 54/95. Noise blanker on the NRD 545 makes the difference, still awful. Not heard this one in a longtime, since Jan 26, 2023 at 0706. 328 MCW kHz, dash and YTL, Jan 18 at 0752 UT, 1000 watts at Big Trout Lake ON, coords <54/90, which was also last logged along with YIV, Jan 26, 2023 at 0707. This time first audible at 327-USB. More less rare Canadians this time: 332 MCW kHz, dash and QT, Jan 18 at 0754 UT, 1000 watts at Thunder Bay ON, and underneath it JBA, IC, 400 watts at Wichita KS. 346 MCW khz, dash and YXL, Jan 18 at 0758 UT, 500 watts at Sioux Lookout ON, >50/<92 degrees. YXL and QT are the ones most likely to be audible now (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CANADA [and non]. 351 MCW kHz, Jan 23 at 0747 UT, dash and YKQ, 500-watt ND beacon at Fort Rupert/Waskaganish, QC, at 51+/78- degrees N/W. Long time since last logged, March 19, 2023. RG on 350 at WRWA OKC remains gone so no problem there; but a little bit of LIttle Rock from 353 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CHINA [and non]. 11565, Jan 19 at 1621, CNR1 jammer, Chinese talk S7/S9 atop something else, i.e. RFA Chinese via TINIAN at 16-19. CNR1 // on 11670, which is VOA Tibetan via Philippines at 16-17, but nothing of that audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CHINA [non]. 5910, Jan 20 at 0437 CRI via CUBA, S9+40 but undermodulated song; cannot hear any COLOMBIA underneath, off? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CHINA [and non]. 21800, Jan 22 at 2313, S9 but weakish Chinese, must be CNR1 jammer against Sound of Hope on its very highest frequency as wb often outpoints. Only other 13mb signal is weaker 21530.065 JBA carrier, in this case may really be SOH, Miaoli, Taiwan, lacking a jammer since it`s so far off-frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CHINA. 15760.00, Jan 23 at 1614, distorted Chinese at S8/9+5. Also // 13590 very distorted! S7/S9 with no stable carrier to detect; and // 13630 with OK modulation. At 1621, 11565 & 11670 non-distorted CNR1 jammers. 11775 at 1622, extremely distorted Chinese worst of all and splattering +/- 15. Aoki shows CNR1 jammer against SOH on 15760 but only until 1500; 13590 same until 1700; 11775 until 1730; 11670 against VOA, 11565 vs RFA. Jammer sites not known or guessed, but the extremely distorted ones likely from one site different from others. Deliberate? Makes jamming more ``effective``, but a stain upon ChiCom engineering quality for those not knowing such frequencies are really only to jam SOH (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CLIPPERTON ISLAND [and non]. 24955 USB, Jan 24 at 2317, TX5S, ham DXpedition making quick pro-forma contacts, nothing but other station call, 5/9 and 73: seldom giving own call! I heard it once, and then again thrice at 2324. Said ``listening 5/10 up`` but he kept getting calls on same frequency from clueless WX6G, and another one. Mainly working USA and Japan. There was also someone on 24957 USB at times. Details on this DXP lasting till end of Jan: https://clip.pdxg.net/ ``The Perseverance DX Group (PDXG) is organizing a team of experienced DXpedition and contest operators to activate Clipperton Island (IOTA NA-011), currently Clublog #38 most wanted (#26 EU). The team will be QRV on 160-6 meters, SSB, CW, RTTY, FT8, 6m EME, and Satellites. We plan to leave San Diego, California on Jan 11, 2024 and arrive Clipperton Jan 17, 2024. Current schedule is to be on the island for 14 days. The call sign TX5S was issued for this project...`` Before finding TX5S on 24955, I tried other planned frequencies: at 2307, 18130 USB had a domestic IL/FL QSO; 7095 & 21285 with no activity; 14195 with TI5VMJ contacting USA; 28485 no activity but a VA7 on 28486, all USB (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CONGO. 6115, Jan 18 at 0500-0604, no signal from R. Congo into Canary Is SDR which ought to get it if reactivated in its morning, as it was in the evening per Manuel Mendez ---- o wait, at 0607 there is a JBA carrier on 6115 audible when tuned to 6114 USB; could that be Japan, very long path? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 2226) ** CUBA [non]. See FRANCE 9490 ** CUBA. 15140, Jan 18 at 2012, RHC English reactivated after quite an absence, S9+25/30 direct, lite squeal, fairly good mod, the SSOB except USA 15730, 15825. Something`s not wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 2226) see also ** CUBA. 4765, Jan 20 at 0433, R. Progreso, YL speaking softly over somewhat distorted music, S9+30/40. Something`s always wrong at RadioCuba (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CUBA. 6000, Jan 20 at 0438 RHC English, S9+30/40 undermodulated flanked by awful wide noisy spurblobs approx. 5992-5996 & 6004-6008. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** CUBA [and non]. 5800, Jan 21 at 0808, wall-of-noise jamming not against nothing since there is also an open carrier, totalling S9+20, no doubt WRMI-10 which is supposed to stop at 0400* after 0300 `Freedom Synergy Radio`, which Needs To Be Jammed since it`s pro-Taiwan, hence anti-Commie, ergo anti-Cuba. WRMI skedgrid with yet another self-contradixion: only the transmitter/frequency atop shows FSR, as System B that hour on 5800; while 9955 switches to System H for Czecho/Slovakia relays. The program sked below does not show FSR anywhere, Cz/Sl on 9955 as System B. But Prague also at 03-04 on 9955 as System H, blank at 04-05; and 5800 unaccounted for on any System after 0300! So I`m not sure if FSR be on the air at all now. BTW, 5800 supposedly on all day long 14-21 Sabbathdays only with TOMBS (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** EGYPT. 9439.995, Jan 23 at 2115-2120, NO signal from R. Cairo in English sesquihour unto UTwente. Something`s egregious in Egypt (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** EGYPT. 9439.931, Jan 24 at 2111, S9+25 of just barely sup/torted modulation into UTwente from R. Cairo, past 2118 as English sesquihour has supposedly started. At least the transmitter be on air today tho much further minus than usual; often nothing at all. Something`s egregious in Egypt (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 17575, Fri Jan 19 at 1610, Horn-of-Africa music, S8/9+5. NOTHING listed anywhen in Aoki or EiBi, but HFCC: 17575 1600 1630 48W ISS 250 127 0 217 1234567 291023 300324 D 17400 AmhMul F RMI TDF 1069 OPM and also line 443 abottom the WRMI skedgrid as Oromia Public Media at 1600-1630 on days 1/3/5 only, 250 kW from Issoudun, FRANCE, in Amharic [only]. With a name like that, shouldn`t it mainly be in Oromo?! WRTH 2024 has this on pp 579-580: RAADIYOONII DIRREE SHAGGAR (RDS), 807 Irenic Court, Eagleville PA 19403, oromiapublicmedia.com, www.fb.com/raadiyooniids and produced by the NGO, OPM. But website is Unfound, with or without www. FB does connect, mainly lots of videos from 2023y, presumably also audio. Eagleville is not indexed or shown even in my 2013 large-scale RMcN road atlas! Found on the web, NW of Phila, near Norristown in Montgomery County (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** FRANCE. 9490+, Jan 22 at 0419, S9 of dead air, little if any jamming. Must be TDF not yet turned off after RMI R. República relay, always askew on high side but not remeasured now. HFCC registered as 0100-0200 & 0200-0300 both daily, also EiBi as 01-03 daily. Aoki shows the second hour extension applies only on days 1267 = UT Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon. I think this correct, or used to be but not rechecked lately. WRMI skedgrid lines 441 & 442 show both on days 7123456, i.e. every; yet start/end dates differ: At 01-02: 291023 to 051123, but 02-03: 061123 to 300324. So that implies it`s always only one hour, but shifted one UT hour later with the end of DST in USA and the Running Dog of Yanqui Imperialism, Cuba. So, Jan 23 from 0153 monitoring 9490 into Maryland and Florida SDRs: nothing yet, but *0156 jamming starts! *0159 R.R. carrier on with the real Cuban NA and s/on, `Recuentro Informativo` totally overriding jamming. The two SDRs can`t agree how far off-frequency, Florida +78-95 Hz, or Maryland +51-67 Hz. But that indicates the transmitter is axually fluxuating some 16/17 Hz up and down. Would you believe than own website https://www.radiorepublica.us/ has nothing about WRMI, 9490, nor any radio, just podcasts with up-to-date entries?! Likewise, https://www.directorio.org/radio-republica/ Careful, if you search without democratico you`ll wind up in non-democratic Cuba itself, like https://www.directoriocubano.info/ (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** FRANCE. 9490+, Jan 23 at 0346, S9/+10 of dead air with hum from TDF, again failing to turn it off at 0300 when RMI República finish. Something`s incompetent at ISSoudun (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** GERMANY. 3975, Jan 20 at 1601, SW Radio, VG into UTwente with Weekend Music Radio, WMR, starting with bagpipes, Scotland the Brave, morphing into othermusic. Following hour is that show with pop music from DJ in Scotland. We had just QSYed from 6160 after WORLD OF RADIO, see USA [and non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 7720, Jan 18 at 0746, Korean weak but noise jamming also audible for first time here. Echo of Hope from S to N Korea from Seoul site per Aoki at 07-03, not *marked as jammed. Gianni Serra, Roma, also reported ``QRM moderate buzz noise``, Jan 12 at 1644-1705 (Glenn Hauser, OOK, WOR) ** KOREA NORTH. 11645, Jan 19 at 1622, sweet choral music in DPRK style, S4/S5 - yes, per Aoki VOK at 15-18 in Arabic/English/Arabic